WOFF Development Update 18 March 2020

WOFF Development Update

Hello everyone, hope you are all staying safe.
WM and I both seem to have a cold or flu (no idea which type though). We are carrying on as best as possible in the current climate. I am sure we will all need some normality to hang on to.

As posted on the website and Facebook -

Currently, we are working on a new expansion of WOFF. Full details of its contents and how it will be available will appear at a later date. We believe it’s going to be yet another game changer as several areas will be worked on and improved.

One important area is our AI - already the best in WW1 flight sims - this is being overhauled further and improved in many areas to up the immersion! New AI code to allow new appropriate decisions. Dogfights are more dynamic and intense, and now often lasting longer.

During a fight, AI Pilots will still at some point try to escape the fight (at great risk to themselves) to get back over their lines as really happened in WW1, however they will be more aware of the fight around them and will re-engage combat if necessary whilst looking for their exit!

AI are more aware of enemies in all the various tasks they do and will be able to defend themselves better. For example when landing or taking off they will better able to react to immediate threats.

The Observer gunners are improved, for example new code allows the Fe2b to operate as a fighter! Gunners will be more responsive.

We have added a new REPLAY function so after the mission you can see what happened, with many filters and slick ways to watch it. Just to correct some comments this is not a video reply, but a mission overview with tracking of aircraft and what happened to them and enemies.

There will be new aircraft and some updates to many other aircraft.

These are just a few of the new changes, and we hope to post more details in the future.

Looking forward to it!

This is all great news. The additional aircraft will be excellent and the improvements to the AI are intriguing.

Can't wait.

Cheers

Huzzah!

Looking forward to the new content

Can you tell us what aircraft we may expect to see Pol - or is it still in the planning stage?

I am so excited to see this. Improvements to AI with longer and more challenging dogfights. Improvements to rear gunners. Better escapes, etc. Sounds like a must have expansion to me.

Which aircraft is still being decided, we are working on some that are at various stages of development and will decide nearer the time which to release. Thanks Hellshade we hope so.

I'm doing a lot of testing and all I can say is, I'm blown away. Really a joy doing campaigns. Before it was already the best AI, but now it's still raised to another level. AI is so smart in what he does and what not. It feels so human and inpredictable. It can happen that there is a furball of 30 aircraft and in the end none or only one is killed. If they run, the do it very humanlike and clever. Still they simply may run and panic, but if they see one is stalking them, they often turn and fight, waiting for a better opportunity to escape. If one is following and sees that he can't catchup he will abandon the fight. If you do fly home, do not forget to turn your head because you are used that when a fight is over it's over, because sometimes it is not over. AI may fly away just to regroup and wait for a better opportunity. They may continue with their patrol etc. and only those who are damaged will go home. They may go home, but decide to help you or another one out if in trouble, and then go home together. There are many many improvements in AI only. Those ton of other things not mentioning. You will be amazed :-)

Great, a new expansion soon after PE

.

SWEET SWEET SWEET! Now comes the bad part, waiting. You guys are the best.

.

Most excellent! I look forward to all the improvements!


Gosh, Pol and WM, be careful and be well! Not to be overly dramatic, but the symptoms of the coronavirus are quite similar to a bad cold or the flu. Plus, my understanding is that both the U.S. and U.K. governments have been somewhat slow in getting out information about the seriousness of this illness. An article in the N.Y. Times today from a U.K. emergency room doctor quotes him as saying the U.K. medical system is "on the edge of an abyss."

Although I am definitely not a medical doctor, my understanding from reading up about this illness is that the main symptoms of the coronavirus are: 1) Fever, 2) Persistent, dry (non-productive) cough, 3) Tiredness and fatigue, and eventually 4) difficulty breathing. Unlike a typical cold, the virus does not usually cause significant nasal congestion. Unlike the typical flu, the virus also doesn't usually produce significant nausea.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I think I speak for everyone when I wish both of you good health and a speedy recovery!

Amen to that. Stay safe everyone. And to the devs....what a great time to stay inside and just code. lol

Thanks guys, I'm hoping it's just a cold, no fever yet just aches and a cough so fingers crossed. WM is similar I believe although he is in a different continent!
Problem is there's the usual colds and flu making the rounds too of course.
LOL Hellshade - no change there then!

Yes, my girlfriend has a sore throat and fever. She went to the doctors today and they said they don't have enough tests for everyone so they gave her an antibiotic and sent her back home to self quarantine for 14 days. I need to at least want to see if the antibiotic works for her before I can go back to work even though I have no symptoms. More time to fly, I guess. lol

Jeez, stay safe, Hellshade.

Eventually, all of us are going to wind up catching this virus. The question is, will there be enough ventilators to treat everyone who needs breathing assistance?

I am currently self-isolated as of today, as I have a cough - currently no fever - but my work has said they don't want to see me for the next 2 weeks - so more time to fly and skin!

Hope everyone keeps safe and healthy.

Sorry to hear that Todd hope it's just regular flu (not that that doesn't have risks too!).
and Beanie - anyone who has it we have to pray for the best.
OK to get back to topic best wishes for everyone and back to some WOFFing.

Thank you for describing this and all the other bits of AI improvements. sounds amazing for sure....


I hope this logic can be applied to landing and taking of sequences, too.....

Now guess what...

Count me in for this NEW and fun Up Grade.

The old Geezer !! I turn 83 in a few weeks .

The new AI sounds impressive. Thanks for the continued development of our beloved obsession!
I will purchase when it comes out, of course, but also try to scrape up a donation now as well, to keep you guys fed through the "end times" (grin).



Covid, cold and flu are all viral based, so getting an anti-biotic seems weird to me. Any idea what the Doctor's logic is on that? Heads off pneumonia or something?

The New A1 sounds fantastic and the REPLAY is a GREAT addition. That was the one thing I really missed from my ROF days.

Best wishes to everyone. The new developments will in a sense make for a new experience. It is wonderful to have something uplifting to look forward to.

Hurrah!!

A return of the replay. Can't wait for that. Much missed feature.

Looking forward to any additions as always.
Thanks OBD!