Quick Take: Squad Battles Version 4.0.3.4

Hi all, we wanted to share some further news for Squad Battles.

For all that may not be aware, unlike other series, we do not currently have all the revised Squad Battles titles at the same release level. The table that follows shows the state of each updated title.

Advance of the Reich	4.03.1
Eagle Strike	4.03.1
Grenada	4.03.2
Red Victory	4.03.1
The Proud and the Few	4.03.3
Winter War	4.03.1

 

We are planning to move all the above titles to version 4.03.4 by the end of the year.

So, people are aware of what has changed since 4.03.1, below is the current changelog.

 

4.03.4 Changelog

Bug Fixes

·         Fixed: Fix crash when End of Battle song finishes.

·         Fixed: Indirect Fire should not be blocked by friendly units.

·         Fixed: Prevent multiple immoblizations.

·         Fixed: Prevent screen tearing when changing zoom levels.

Enhancements

·         Draw Rice Paddies in 3D mode.

·         Support for Night Shading added.

·         Burden of Command graphics included.

 

4.03.3 Changelog

Bug Fixes

·         Fixed: Uncrewed guns hide other counters in the hex.

·         Fixed: Loading a vehicle with passengers onto another vehicle with a "Can Carry" flag and on-board weapons results in the on-board weapons being transferred to the new passenger.

·         Fixed: Vehicles being carried by other vehicles show as separate counters on the map.

·         Fixed: Vehicles with passengers stacked with weapons on the ground are drawn with an offset.

·         Fixed: Corrections for Quality Modifier & Alternate Density Optional Rules.

·         Fixed: Error reporting when more than one weapon is selected.

·         Fixed: 3D graphics for bridges and explosions.

·         Fixed: Corrections for IR and Visual detection. Visual and IR Detection devices will not reveal the unit using them. IR Detection Devices will not be subject to scatter.

·         Fixed: Corrected the Jump map terrain drawing.

·         Fixed: Selecting Help in Dialogs where available will open the User manual at the applicable page. We are now including SumatraPDF (with permission) to enable this behaviour.

Enhancements

·         Background music is now supported, and volume can be separately controlled.

·         Victory Point calculations added to the Strength Dialog.

·         Changed Editor icons.

·         Uncrewed guns now have a symbol indicator on the map.

·         Changes to graphics:

o   New counters. The prior counters are available in the Alt directory under each nationality.

o   New 2D & 3D Jungle graphics.

o   New 2D & 3D building graphics.

o   Various other 2D & 3D terrain changes across all map types.

o   Water edges next to beaches are now drawn in 3D mode.

·         Unit box changes

o   Moved weapon strength indicator to bottom left of the box.

o   New font for units.

o   Special load attributes are displayed in weapon alt box.

o   Company colours added to unit boxes in Hex Info area, using the border around name for Company Markings.

o   Armor is displayed in front of vehicles box instead of Crew.

·         Enhanced terrain preview box text.

·         Senior leaders are highlighted with the alternative highlight colour, where applicable.

·         Scenario features such as entrenchments now remain visible when selecting "Toggle Units".

·         Game will now load different region map features in 3D mode.

·         Adjusted Cave error message.

·         "Sparse Fill" function added to map editor.

·         Updated User manual.

 

4.03.2 Changelog

Bug Fixes

·         Fixed: Fix CTD when opening the "Rolling Barrages" dialog.

·         Fixed: Added exception handling for the SoLoud audio engine.

·         Fixed: Map Editor wouldn't open sub-maps correctly.

·         Fixed: Map pasting in the Map Editor.

·         Fixed: Proper placement of asymmetrical hexside features.

·         Fixed: Embankment hexsides were not drawn in 3D mode.

·         Fixed: Slopes were clashing with certain map features.

Enhancements

·         Replaced DirectSound with SoLoud audio engine.

·         Added dialog-based volume control.

 

There are some significant fixes and changes here, particularly for titles that are currently version 4.03.1. Several crash-to-desktop bugs have been squashed, as has issues with editors, and a range of graphical glitches. Some of the key enhancements are across a range of areas.

 

For sound, the inclusion of the SoLoud audio engine, gives us additional abilities, including volume control of the various sound streams. We introduced background music, with the 4.03.3 release of Proud and the Few, and the other titles will also ship with appropriate accompaniment. Players can also add their own wav or mp3 music into the music directory, to play during play, if they so choose. Personally, I find the music at half volume works perfectly with the other sounds. You can adjust the volumes, or choose to turn on or off each of these categories, under settings.

 

Graphically, you can expect some ongoing improvements. We will be introducing new counters as well unit boxes that indicate additional information, such as company colours. In our Quarter Three Update, we showcased our recently purchased Burden of Command graphics, using Falklands as the test case. We have done some additional work and decided that we can include some of these graphical assets in the upcoming 4.03.4 patch.

 

I want to emphasise; this will be an iterative approach. We are comfortable releasing the terrain elements and the pyrotechnics but will have ongoing work for other assets. For example, the current 3D infantry and vehicles will not be updated in this round, but the existing graphics will work with the new terrain. We also expect that we will be replacing and/or updating many of our building graphics over time. The Burden of Command graphics did not cover either the Pacific or Eastern European theatres, and we have some work to do to create those. We showcased the new 300-pixel 3D zoom level in the Quarter Three Update. That will not be included in any title until we have the new 3D infantry and vehicles completed. We do not want to enlarge the existing units, but would rather wait until we have all the assets available.

 

We are also reviewing all our 2D graphics to try and make the transition between 2D and 3D more seamless, as well as looking at improving the resolution. There is a lot of potential work in this area.

 

One other change, is that we have been reviewing all the data elements (weapons, load etc) to use the additional explosions and other effects. We can better differentiate, both the size and type of weapon with the expanded, available pyrotechnics.  It is early days for the changes we plan graphically, but we hope you are happy to receive the graphical updates as they become available. There are a lot of man-hours needed to update each title, and we are working as quickly as resources allow.

 

The other change that is both graphical, and game play related is night shading. This was introduced into the Panzer Campaigns series recently, and we think it is very applicable to the scale that Squad Battles portrays. Night Shading will be available in any scenario designated as night.

 

When will these updates be available? We are working on them now, but there really is a range of theatres to include, all with different graphical requirements. As mentioned, we hope to have all six listed above updated by the end of the year, while maintaining progress on the Falklands title. Falklands will be our first ‘complete’ remaster, including all the ‘final’ graphical items, such as the additional 3D zoom, vehicles, soldiers and more. That will help you all see where we want to take the series as we both refresh the old, and work on new titles.

 

Following are a few sample screen shots, taken from Advance of the Reich using the Burden of Command 3D graphics. Remember, these are all Work in Progress, but the comparisons, where shown are obvious. All screenshots are 3440 x 1440 and can be clicked for full-size.

The following series compares the current 3D to the new.

 

 

The following shots are a selection of summer images. There is a plan for both fall, and barren maps where applicable.

 

Here are some comparisons between the old and new winter images.

 

And following are some example winter screenshots.

 

These next images are the current iteration of the 2D graphics. There is work being done here, but note the revised counters.

 

And finally, here is a summary sample of a few of the different pyrotechnics that will be included.

 

We hope you like the look of what you see here. I want to mention again there are a range of placeholder graphics included, and we expect various element to change before release. There will be additional improvements in future patches beyond 4.0.3.4, as we have a lot of work to do on buildings, soldiers and vehicles, that we will share as completed.

 

Till next time.