Hello Folks
I'm working on an open source combat flight simulation called SimuLab and pleased to announce that early technology demonstrator is available for download and test. Besides realistic flight dynamics and terrain based on real world height data, don't expect too much from the game right now. I'm the only developer of the project for now.
Screenshots accumulated during development:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43342833@N04/
Same Screenshots parked on the website:
http://cms.simtechnologies.de/screenshots.htmlDownload:
http://www.simtechnologies.de/pub/sl/release.exeInstallation:
1. Install Sun Microsystems JRE 1.6.++
http://www.java.com/de/download/manual.jsp2. Unpack release.exe on a path without spaces ("My Documents" might be problematic)
3. start run.bat with doubleclick to start in gui mode
4. start simulab.bat to begin simulation
Usages:
1. In the gui, only configuration and exit buttons usable. Options of the config menue have no effect yet.
2. Joystick support in simulation: currently disabled (the next thing i address soon)
3. Arrow keys control pitch and roll
4. Comma and dot control rudders
5. "A" and "Y" control thrust
6. "B" should control brake
7. "F" should control flaps (cycles 3 positions from fully retracted to fully extended)
8. Click and drag mouse to change view orientation
9. Wheel mouse controls the "zoom" (culling frustum view angle)
10. "C" cycles pre-defined camera locations mounted on the aircraft
11. "W" toggles wire frame mode of terrain presentation
12. "D" controls terrain model quality
13. "ESC" leaves simulation
Key Features:
1. Multi-Plattform: works with Windows 32bit, Linux 32bit (tested with XP SP3, Vista and Ubuntu 9.04, 9.10)
2. Java Based, technologies: Java3D, JOAL, JInput, Batik
3. (still) native flight simulation engine also in use with FlightGear (the JSBSim)
4. CLOD Terrain Optimizing Engine
5. Real World height data from SRTM GTOPO 30 v.4 Dataset (world height data packed qualityloss in 13GB)
6. Commercial models for most aircraft and some vehicles consdered for use (model protection must be implemented)
7. Aircraft performance described in XML format (very accessible)
8. SVG Renderer for GUI (entire gui is implemented in XML + JavaScript). If you can paint with inkscape or Aodbe AI + have JavaScript skills, you can do anything from styling to additional features in the GUI without touching base application.
9. Visual model from F-16D (my old model)
10. Flight dynamics from F-22A (so don't wonder about performance :D)
11. Database modelling 95 aircraft, Indian, Pakistani aund USAF Europe Airforces
12. Serial Numeber for all AFs listed above
Planned Features:
1. Multiplayer also with copilot mode (pilot + wso mode for example)
2. Toolset for experimenting with avionics, performance, engines etc.
3. Configurable avionics assets
4. possibility to program guidance logic for guided missles
5. full freedom of movement (you can leave aircraft, try yourself as FAC etc.)
6. Carrier operations
7. Realistic, NATOPS-based F/A-18C/D simulation as initial aircraft (after this stage, any aircarft should be model-able)
8. Multy-Crew aircaft modelling (f.e. AWACS)
9. Carrier operations, also with under-deck operations, mission planning rooms for online preflight breefings
10. community integration consisting from PHP/MySQL based server (any virtual squad may have own host) with integration into application gui for modelling virtual squad operation schedule, awards, mission history and so on
11. Extensive campaign logistic, personal and finite aircraft, personnel, weapon ressources
12. ground units integration (control SAM site f.e.)
13. artifical intelligence (my primary interest and focus on release 2 or 3)
14. weighted network play mode based on UDP and multicasting
This message is also a call for help: Modellers, Skinners and OF COURSE programmers asked to join the project and make the planned feature list reality. Skills required for programmers (at least one):
- Java (Multithreading skills desired)
- C++ and C (temporary reqirement)
- C# (questionable but may be desicussed)
- JavaScript + SVG/XML (the gui part)
- PHP + MySQL (no html and javascript here, pure JSON service)
Regards
Paul aka "Outlaw" admin AT simtechnologies.de