Public Beta

[ranger822]

ITO2 will be released soon. A few notes apply before folks proceed with downloading. I apologize for the long-windedness but I really want to prepare folks for ITO2 properly and dispell any notions of a perfect theater that with one click you will be off and flying ITO2. The truth is Falcon is so complex now with so many executables, bugs, and different user configurations and experience levels that getting any Falcon program installation perfect is not easy. What I can promise you is if you get it right like it is on my computer you are going to really be pleased.

1. ITO2 will use CobraOne.exe - the database has been heavily edited and much has been added to the stock FF3.1 database. This database will not work with RV or OF (as far as I know). Those of you may wonder, why the heck did we decide to use Cobra and FF3.1 to build around? The simple reason is that a year and a half ago - that was what we were advised to build around, namely FF3.1, and it seemed like the best, most logical course of action. Unfortunately, as anyone involved with theater development may tell you - the long lead time from start to finish sometimes precludes a release. How many theaters can we count of late that started and never released or had so many problems or were left incomplete? Team members come and go, the project can stall, or interest in an old database or executable to run it may wane. The decision was made, for better or worse to not wait for RV/FF4 to begin this project. Else, the project would have just begun and project projected to finish some time in late 2008!

2. Separate efforts will need to be made to adapt the existing ITO2 database for other executables. The good news is I have detailed spreadsheets listing textures, parents, etc to aid folks in the conversion process. I will offer my assistance to any credible group effort to port ITO2 for the public non-commercial use. However, it will not be an efficient use of my time to try to asist one individual working on his own install, though I will try to answer questions for those using Cobraone. I have already offered to assist FF Team with a working RV version which I personally would love to see working.

3. ITO2 is really only fully appreciated (IMHO) if you have purchased Aeyes payware pits for the F18, F15, and A10, as well as nearly all of his freeware pits. F4ITDG made a decision to build a database around some very good 2d and 3d pit models and obtained Aeyes' permission to adapt the pits to his graphics and build an installer which allows users to enjoy the fully range of new Israeli A/C and make use of Aeyes pits at the same time. If you do not have Aeyes pits you are going to have to make some adaptations of the cockpits folders and possibly edit the database to some degree to avoid problems. If you have all the same Aeyes pits I used to build the database then you will likely have fewer problems. If you have custom pits they may or may not work because the pit graphics must be tailored for the 2d and 3d cockpit models by CCC, Baldeagle, and Buzzz57. Similarly, unlike RV, ITO2 will present older computer systems with some frame-rate challenges. If you have 2GB RAM and a 2.66GHz system with a Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB Ram graphics card you should be able to run 1600x1200 resolution with a reasonable frame rate for most of the campaigns.

4. F4ITDG team was too small to execute a detailed and thorough beta testing period. The bottom line is I built the database, checked each model and cockpit my self in a simple take-off TE and flew the aircraft back to the airfield for landing. Eyran Millis went further and ran tests using his campaigns and flew actual combat missions to test weapons and functionality. CCC also tested using a different system, but that was the extent of our testing. Every new a/c has been flown but every possible configuration of the aircraft and detailed shakedown of the flight models remains to be done. The decision has been made to release the project now - in its current form rather than continue to test with our limited resources until it is perfect. Therefore, those who want to fly ITO2 are welcome but please remember that if you encounter problems that are not within the scope of the readme instructions included with the installation the best we can do is try to work thru those issues.

We will make a post in the next few days on the latest updates since our last posting on progress to include some late additions for skins, models, etc. For the moment, continue to wait - but not to long

[T_Rex]

Sounds great.

I think it'll rock, whichever exe it uses.

[ranger822]

Kfir pics

Made 7 sets:
1) 101 Squadron - grey scheme
2) 109 Squadron - old desert scheme
3) 113 Squadron - old desert scheme
4) 143 Squadron - grey scheme
5) 144 Squadron - new desert scheme
6) 253 Squadron - new desert scheme
7) 254 Squadron - grey scheme













Lavi pics -

reference for the skin was from internet - a pic that CCC sent me. Interestingly, there were several other graphics images on the net but they all got the left and right sides of the paint scheme mixed up. I decided to use the wings as the basis to determine which side was correct. The stenciling is updated with the Hebrew text and the colors were also updated. I elected to skip making a bunch of different tails. The 101 Squadron is completely fictional for the Lavi as it never made it into serial production.












Tu-22 blinder pics

Made 3 skin sets:

1) Iraqi Grey & Green Scheme
2) Iraqi Sand & Brown Scheme (not in database)
3) Libyan Sand and Green Scheme (not in database)

Set 1 and 3 are available in the DB. Set 2 will be made available later as an skin replacement for folks to play with. The Iraqi Grey/Green and the Libyan skin are verified with multiple sources and actual photos.

















An-12 pics

Made 3 skin sets:
1) Iraqi AF - white/grey
2) Egyptian AF - white/grey
3) Syrian AF - overall grey








An-26 pics











Tu-16 pics

Made 2 Skin Sets
1) Egyptian AF
2) Iraqi AF





















Additional New Models - no pics - sorry

IL-76
IL-78
A-50

Updating of weapons and armor vehicles was also done - - too many to pic - take a look thru the Tacref when the download is made public

All models by CCC - of course!

[Sherlock]

Beautiful work guys. Congratulations on the pending release!

[i_hawk]

Awesome work guys!

[molnibalage]

Yes, yes, yes! When will we fly it?

[ranger822]

@molnibalage - release has already begun, you should see public links surface soon unless some major problem surfaces with the downloads.


UAV
















Clemenceau




This added to the DB and will see action in Falklands Theater


A-50





Note this new model is used in slightly different variants for the IL-76 and IL-78 tanker. SKins made for various countries. The cockpit shot is experimental. I was looking at trying to adapt the B-52 pit for some transports. I was able to get everything moved around except for one gauge in this panel view. This won't be in the public database. But, interesting development work.

New A-4N




CCC added a few more lumps and bumps


M9ACE

[i_hawk]

Really hope ITO2 can be converted somehow to RV... in RV i did fly Israeli campaign (one that i modified from the original with a new trigger file, lost the .cam file since HD crash, but trigger is secure) for about 2 days of campaign with only 1 CTD that was not reproductable... it never been that stable before... and of course FPS was in the sky. and SFX, you know hehe

[ranger822]

If RV could be made to work with Korea it should be possible make it work for ITO2. The first step is probably to just get it running without the cockpit work which will be ITO2 signature - all the primary a/c have a pit with 2d and 3d pits linked. If you forgo that and just get the basic DB running the cockpit work can be set up later.

New flight models, tacref, etc all need to be changed out - not a big deal but it will be much easier to replace Korea Theater with Israeli and get it running that way - ITO2 has too many textures, models, parents, and CTs created to try to deconflict using RV/FF4. That is just my opinon - but we can try to convert it both ways.

[Snake Man]

release has already begun, you should see public links surface soon unless some major problem surfaces with the downloads.

Please let me know about the release, links and stuff when its available. I would like to post PMC Tactical news/rss feed about it.

Also I think it should be proper to add dedicated Israel page to our theater pages?

[ranger822]

Wilco - PM sent

An Israeli page sounds nice . . .

[ccc]

the installer looks good.

great job 8)

[molnibalage]

@molnibalage - release has already begun, you should see public links surface soon unless some major problem surfaces with the downloads.

I don't understand. What does it mean? Please write simply I can't understand what you wanted to tell me. It means me a link for download.
Thanks!

[ranger822]

@molnibalage - not sure I can state it any more clearly. Release has already started.

However, what may not be clear is the release strategy. I won't try to explain the why or the how. The important thing is you will have ITO2 on your computer free of charge, and soon.

[molnibalage]

Any news?

[phoenix]

Amazing work guys

Great to see this theater come so far and hats off to you guys on what looks like some fantastic additions with regaurds to the database... 8)

Beers all round

[ranger822]

The public beta was released a few days ago and some folks on FF Team besides CCC and myself are looking at it now. Some problems were identified but I believe the showstoppers were fixed last night - at least on my laptop test-bed. I am waiting for confirmation from others before a final tweaking of the installers. Overall, it looks like ITO2 will now work, with some very minor issues on the 3d cockpit MFDs and RWR output, on computers/laptops with less than 1600x1200 resolution.

[ccc]

i think ITO2 is getting close to the release date.. after i disabling months' hard work on pits 8)

[molnibalage]

YES! YES! YES! YES!

[molnibalage]

i think ITO2 is getting close to the release date.. after i disabling months' hard work on pits 8)

What nearly?

[ranger822]

CCC is referring to a thread you haven't been able to read - ITO2 is almost perfect now - he hasn't had a chance to test my latest installer fix it but I have.

I don't think there will be any need to disable the cockpitsIsraeli folder or replace it with the Korea folder's cockpit folder. . .

However, since we have been able to get some testing done we have found a few more little items that we would like to fix -- shouldn't take long - given we have been at this for about 18 months now. . .

Be of good cheer though - it is really fun playing ITO2

[molnibalage]

Roger!