Version 3.014 Release Notes

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SB Pro PE 3.014 (Open Beta) Release Notes

Version 3.014 is made available exclusively as a patch (approximately 26 MByte download) in a self-extracting archive:

http://www.eSimGames.com/updates/SBProPE3_014.rar

The Open Beta version is intended to be installed over an existing installation of version 3.011. In other words: Do not uninstall the previous version 3.011 of Steel Beasts Pro PE, or the CodeMeter runtime software 5.10a!

Note: This version will not run without a license for the Open Beta version!

The Open Beta license is free of charge. It requires an existing license for SB Pro PE 3.0.

Licenses are available in limited quantity only, and will cease to function on May 15, 2014. They may be ordered from the eSim Games website: http://www.esimgames.com/?page_id=1643

Purpose

The DirectPlay programming interface has officially been deprecated by Microsoft. (This is the reason why many users of Windows 8.1 have trouble connecting to multiplayer games (not only with Steel Beasts, but other games as well.) A new “network stack” has been developed to ensure continued support of multiplayer sessions in the future.

The purpose of the Open Beta program is to verify that our new network stack provides the same functionality as the previous one (and to check if a few new functions make your life easier and that they work as intended).

If you notice strange behavior during network sessions, please report them either in the Tech Support section of the SteelBeasts.com user forum, or use the contact form sheet of www.eSimGames.com

Compatibility Warning

The beta version is neither network compatible with the regular Steel Beasts version nor with the previous beta version 3.012! All test participants are advised to coordinate in advance with which version they intend to play (we hope that you will choose the new version, obviously, so we get some feedback if it works as it should).

Installation

The Open Beta does not come with an actual installer.

Instead, the archive contains two executable files, a renamed copy of the regular version of SB Pro PE 3.011, and the actual beta version executable SBProPECM.exe, version 3.014.

Extract the archive.

Copy both executable files, and paste them into the ..\Release folder of your SB Pro PE installation. Typically this folder will be found in C:\Program Files(X86)\eSim Games\SB Pro PE\Release This will overwrite the existing executable with a new one; this requires Administrator privileges.

CodeMeter

The Open Beta relies exclusively on time-based licenses that may only be installed into the virtual CM container that is part of every SB Pro PE installation since version 3.0. You will recognize these CM containers by their serial code 128- or 32767- (followed by a ten digit numeral code). After registering for the Open Beta version (see above) a license ticket will be mailed to your email address. Use the link to connect to the WebDepot to activate the license ticket. Remember that your browser security settings for these https connections are set to a “medium” level.

User Interface Changes

  • The default log level is now set to 'TRACE' (the one providing the most detail)
  • Changed the implementation of the dialog showing the available command line options (brought up if the '--help' command line option is specified) to be sized independently of the user's display screen dimension.
  • Network related changes:
    • Increased the timeout for disconnect to 30s
    • Fixed the session name being retained from another host (if the client started a host session of his own)
    • Clients no longer can set the port and will use whatever port is available (the port setting textbox has been removed from the session setup menu)

SB Pro PE Server

The server version requires a new executable as well, but will work with the regular license. If you want to host beta game sessions, please contact eSim for details.

Known Issues

Changes in the night time scene rendering have accidentally eliminated the view restrictions for computer-controlled units that were implemented prior to version 3.011. This issue prevails.

The Leopard 1A5-GE (cast turret) has the 3D interior of the Leopard 1A5-DK (welded turret). The Leopard 2A5A2has the turret roof of the Leopard 2A5-DK. Squint harder!

The Autosave function is not recommended to be used when working with scenarios based on the Terrastan map. These scenarios tend to exceed 100MByte in size, and writing all that junk to disk while you are plotting a route for a unit especially in that area with the many walled fields in the northern part of the map can make it nearly impossible to get any meaningful work done because of the frequent and time-consuming disk accesses.

Bug fixes without database entry

  • The HUD overlay will now be re-enabled when starting a new mission
  • Fixed a bug in the 'condition' window where a textbox showing a unit's callsign was not properly resized to accommodate long callsigns (see http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?p=256281)
  • Added a number of missing damages to the 'damage if' and 'repair if' menus in the Mission Editor (Laser warning receiver, missile launcher, autoloader, smoke grenades, and searchlight). Also made a further change to bug #1099 (the 'gunner' damage was missing from the 'repair if' menu)
  • Fixed a bug where, in multiplayer sessions, troops could not mount a vehicle owned by another player (if this player was not the host)
  • Fixed crash in "In Progress Session Join Wizard" caused by a combination of mouse wheel & key input

Resolved Bugzilla entries

Bug description is listed only if the bug status changed since version 3.011:

  • Fixed bug #982; it is no longer problematic to delete the last node of a custom line, see http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=20556
  • Fixed bug #3393; repaired suspension damage will now also eliminate the wonky driving
  • Fixed bug #3399; you may now lase waypoints from inside a vehicle’s driving cabin
  • Fixed bug #3408; M2/M3 Bradley driver’s NVG is now rendered greenscale
  • Fixed bug #3417; when selecting visibility: on/off for computer-owned routes and waypoints, the checkmark will now immediately update
  • Fixed bug #3427; start Steel Beasts with the command line option --safemode to ignore (and reset!) the user’s options.dat file. This can be used to recover from a wrong or invalid configuration file (for example if a screen resolution that is not supported by the current display (adapter) was specified). specifying this command line will make SB Pro ignore all other options (the log level will be set to TRACE)
  • Fixed bug #3428;
  • Fixed bug #3431; Steel Beasts should no longer crash in the assembly hall if the command line parameter --fullscreenwindow=TRUE
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