Brief Room Episode 3 went up on Friday and now that I’ve had a chance to listen in on the responses I’ve got a brief summary of some of the key points. Check it out below.
The episode and summary
You can watch the video above for the full context and all of the questions answered. I’ve focused in on some of the highlights that I think may catch folks attention. There are some interesting revelations so lets get to it.
The “new project”
First, there’s plenty of talk about the “new project” which for now remains untitled. We have confirmations of new technology for the project with DirectX 12 confirmed as the API of choice.
Other new technology being implemented includes a new damage model that will have more systems simulated (including turbochargers) and a greater range of subsystems that can be affected by damage. They will also be making visual improvements that show off these damage effects visually. Additionally, there was discussion about adding API bullets to Great Battles and the answer is no for that sim but yes for the new sim – apparently Great Battles damage system doesn’t have a means for incendiary bullets to cause incendiary type damage such as increased chance of fuel tank fire.
A new career mode with more player control over the squadron was also mentioned. Additional tasks as Unit or Regiment Commander (titles the used) would have you do things that include managing fuel and supply for the unit.
The new project will also support AI with a simplified system that will allow for formations of large bombers to be in the project without the associated performance hit. They did confirm that the large bombers are not planned to be flyable at this point.
Early on they also revealed that their follow on project, the one after the “new project,” will be in the Pacific somewhere with several references across the Q&A to everything from carrier operations to amphibious aircraft.
Great Battles answers
There were also interesting reveals and questions answered about Great Battles.
We already learned, in the previous video, that several new aircraft were planned and that list seems to have grown a bit. In addition to the Spitfire IXc, Ta152, and I-153 that are confirmed, we are also likely to see the Ju-87D-5, Yak-3, La-7 with the possibility that the IL-10, Tu-2 (which sounded like 22 in the discussion but in the comments appears to be the Tu-2), Fw190A-9 and Bf110F-2 as all being possible.
Some of these aircraft are being added outside of the Career mode as they feel that they are popular airplanes for online battles.
There was a question about the B-25 and B-26 becoming flyable. They said that they don’t think they will be at the current time due to their complexity, however, the B-25 was a possibility for their future Pacific based title. The same answer was given when asked about the potential for an IL-4.
AQMB features are going to be added to the Flying Circus map at some point in the future with indications that it would come after the next Volume was complete.
Finally, two other items that I noted that were of interest. First, a revision to the P-40E and its engine timer issues with the potential for a modification or a later engine model being used to increase its available power/engine timer limit. This update is possibly coming at the end of the winter. The second, a new look at the P-47 and its flight model happening in the first half of the year.
Interesting stuff
It looks like at this point that Great Battles is lined-up for another year worth of content that includes a fair number of Collector Planes, Flying Circus content, and the chances at fixing some remaining issues with the current sim while the team continues to work towards the next project.
Even more interesting is the mention that the project after would be a Pacific based sim. It seems to be the direction that a lot of the industry is moving in right now with Combat Pilot, DCS World, and now seemingly 1CGS tackling the area. Some changes to how they are approaching this from before must be in place as we’ve been told for many years that the sources for certain aircraft were just not possible for the 1CGS team to go on and create. Whatever the case is … that seems to be the direction though I don’t think we’ll be talking about that realistically until the latter half of the 2020s.
Stay tuned as always!
Stormbirds 
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