Ladies and Gentlemen,
on behalf of the entire BMS development team, I am happy to announce that the latest iteration of the Billion Soft Falcon 4.0 total conversion modification - Benchmark Sims 4.35 U2 - is available for you to enjoy as of RIGHT NOW!
BMS 4.35 U2 requires a legit installation of a Falcon 4.0 (all older and newer versions are accepted alike, i.e. Microprose, Hasbro, GOG, Steam, Retroism). The check is performed both at setup time and every time you start BMS. If no valid installation is found, BMS will exit with a corresponding error message.
U2 is an incremental update on top of 4.35 base + U1, so you need to have the BMS 4.35 Full Installer package and Update 1 available on your PC. You can both update your existing 4.35 base + U1 installation as well as perform a fresh 4.35 base + U1 + U2 installation from scratch, as you like. See the installation instructions below for details.
This mod may not be used for any commercial purposes. Any such use may constitute a violation of the intellectual property of Billion Soft (Hong Kong) Limited and the non-commercial Terms and Conditions under which Benchmark Sims make this mod available to you.
Installation instructions (they will be shown as well once you run the U2 installer):
_DESTINATION FOLDER: Update 2 must be targeted at the original Falcon BMS 4.35 Setup folder, NOT at your Falcon BMS installation location! After the update installer has been finished, it will run the Falcon BMS Setup program to either apply the update to an existing BMS 4.35 base + U1 installation (choose ‘Manage product updates’), or perform a fresh 4.35 base + U1 + U2 installation from scratch.
CONFIG FILE: U2 does replace your existing config file! Make a backup of the config file but do not replace the newly installed one. Use the backup as a reference for settings that may need to be put back in place.
Step-by-step details:
(1) The pre-requirement for installing the update is to have the original BMS 4.35 Setup folder available. That is the one with the blue colored Setup.exe. Take a note on the folder name where this exe is. This folder is NOT your actual game folder that you use to start BMS itself. It’s the folder wherever you downloaded and extracted the original BMS 4.35 base installer.
(2) Note: You need the original BMS 4.35 Setup folder + U1, as U2 is incremental only (like all BMS updates).
(3) Next, RUN (do not unzip) the U2 installer. It will ask you where the BMS setup folder is. Select the folder that you have identified in the 1st step.
(4) Note: Running the U2 installer will NOT actually install U2! Instead, it will update your original BMS 4.35 Setup folder + U1 to include the new U2 data.
(4) After the U2 installer has finished, it will run the blue colored Setup.exe that you have identified in the 1st step. Either perform a fresh new installation, or update your existing 4.35 base + U1 installation by choosing ‘Manage product updates’. U2 will now be shown in addition to the 4.35 base + U1 installation.
(5) After the update, when starting BMS, the version string in the BMS UI will now read:
Falcon BMS 4.35.2 (x64) Build 23835_
Here’s the 4.35 U1 -> 4.35 U2 changelog:
Generic Information & Known issues:
===================================
— The build number string in the Falcon UI will read "4.35.2 (x64) Build 23835" after the update.
— The shortcuts in the start menu and on your desktop will NOT be renamed to U2, they will still read "Falcon BMS 4.35" after the update, feel free to rename them manually.
— The following change log is by no means complete. Its purpose is to give you a quick overview about the highlights. You can expect tons of smaller tweaks and fixes.
— If you have any questions or found bugs regarding the change log items please always! reference the revision number, e.g. "(r12345)".
— Note: None of the manuals have been updated yet. The 4.35.1 manuals remain valid.
File Updates:
=============
- Falcon BMS.cfg [color][b]YES[/b][/color]
- IVC Client.ini [color]NO[/color]
- RTTClient.ini [color]NO[/color]
- RTTServer.ini [color]NO[/color]
- Key Files [color]NO[/color]
- Note: Please [b]always [/b]update the files manually. [b]Don't copy paste![/b]
Table of content:
=================
01\. CTD fixes
02\. Falcon BMS.cfg changes
03\. Shared Memory changes
04\. Tool updates
05\. Key File & Input fixes & updates
06\. Multiplayer fixes & improvements
07\. ATC fixes & improvements
08\. Weather fixes & improvements
09\. Various code fixes & improvements
10\. Various data fixes & improvements
01\. CTD fixes:
==============
- Fixed CTDs related to gndai. (r23563)
- Fixed CTDs after map erase, iterator is invalided for that position. (r23591)
- Avoid dangling pointer after deleting pn->subPartData. (r23592)
- CTD fix when pilot nid is above hardcoded 686\. (r23637)
- Fixed gndai waypoint CTD. (r23646)
- CTD fix in the whole ATC state machine, rule out helos from ATC entirely. (r23681)
- CTD fix in landme (null ptr check). (r23702)
- Locked simloop UpdateATC, since this can be called from campaign thread (race condition CTD). (r23765)
- Fixes alpha CTD due to different viewports. (r23432)
- Fixes nullptr PAKmap CTD. (r23348)
- CTD fix, related to nullptr insertion of GroupDrawLists. (r23356)
- Fix for pure virtual CTDs. (r23389)
- Tons of other CTD fixes.
02\. Falcon BMS.cfg changes:
===========================
- Added missing lines in the Falcon BMS.cfg (r14319):
* set g_nRespawnTimeforStuckAI (default 6 minutes). ReagTimer and DeagTimer adjusted accordingly.
* set g_bHostDisableP2pForDubiousConnections (default 0/false). Should be activated for large MP events.
Note:
- U2 *does* replace your existing config file. Do *not* make a backup!
- Instead, re-configure from scratch based on the new file, otherwise you'll miss new config options.
03\. Shared Memory changes
=========================
NONE
04\. Tool updates
================
- Fixed the BMS Editor 'Model Viewer' (r23421)
05\. Key File & Input fixes & updates
====================================
NONE
06\. Multiplayer fixes & improvements
====================================
NONE
07\. ATC fixes & improvements
============================
- Make sure DigitalBrain rWindex is aligned with the ATC / Airbase in the whole landme function. (r23681)
- ATCMsg is missing a break statement. In case of lParked, info can be destroyed and default case will access it.
- Fix for ATCBrain::GetOppositeRunway (r23629)
- pointer in ATCBrain::ProcessQueue() gets deleted twice. (r23652)
- Fix in ATCBrain: Pointer nextTakeoff may become dangling during function. (r23660)
08\. Weather fixes & improvements
================================
NONE
09\. Various code fixes & improvements:
======================================
Note: The following changes may include data & 3ddb updates as well.
- Fixed ground Units not reaggregating and memory corruption as well. (r23506)
- Fixed ObjectLOD races -> missing cockpit and model problems. (r23562)
- Fixed repairing code in campaign thread. It will now send a message to SimLoop thread and all clients to repair the given feature. (r23564)
- Fix Squadron stores ressuply when aircraft are coming back home. (r23580)
- Added critical section during ObjectLOD::Unload.This can avoid a leak, in the case of unload/load/unload sequences. (r23593)
- Fix for out of bounds access in the O_Output WordWrap function. (r23606)
- Prevent accessing the team array out of bounds. (r23607)
- Avoid buffer overflow write, which caused memory corrupption in SetAcLoadout. (r23611)
- Fixed TGP being blocked after loosing a flight element. (r23611)
- When movieClose is called, we can release the surface twice, causing undefined behavior. (r23621)
- BaseBrain lastTarget is not referencing the object it points to. As a result, it may become dangling when targetPtr is dereferenced. (r23627)
- Fixed UI_UpdateOccupationMap (r23637)
- Fixes deadlock due to ArrestorDraw. (r23639)
- Fix for SimVehicleClass::Sleep is not nulling death message. (r23661)
- Make sure to call ClearTarget on SimBrain destructor, to avoid leaks. (r23664)
- Fix for Weapon fire msg is converting helicopter to aircraft. (r23665)
- Fixed overruns within the 3D-interpolationfunction (MissileClass::GetRMax, GetRneMax and GetRopt)when it tries to access the assumed 3D-data. (r23692)
- Added precondition checks and fixes in 1, 2 and 3D-interpolation function. (r23693)
- Fixed bogus values being read outside the data table array. (r23693)
- Fixed memory leak in SimWeapon::launcher. (r23718)
- Fixed bad cockpit text drawing outside Start and Finish frame. (r23726)
- Fixed memory corruption in CameraDrawList. (r23727)
- Fixed zero devision in GetRMax. (r23736)
- Fix to avoid deleting any waypoint from SimVehicleClass which is shared with gNavigationSys waypoints. (r23737)
- Avoid dispatcher races (UI and campaign for example) when leaving campaign or 3d (depending on game type). (r23739)
- Added Copy paste functionality in edit box and chat command line. (r23755)
- AIM120 fixes: That makes MADDOG shots a defensive of WVR mode as expected. (r23761)
* MADDOG : goes active as soon as off the rail and scan with a limited range capability
* MADDOG : does not loft anymore since has no information on range when fired
* HOJ : HOJ is only capable when the missile went active
- Fixed AI reacting to missile too early when missile was in HPRF instead of MPRF. (r23762)
- Fixed out of bounds fix in ooutput: when SetText is called on an existing O_Output. (r23770)
- Fixed Terrain loading race. (r23774)
- Fixed Shadow map was not being cleared after sundown. (r23792)
- Fixed race possibilities while exiting campaign/TE. (r23795)
- Fixes nan values due to InJetWash computation. (r23435)
- Fix Heat Blur positioning and velocity when aircraft is in Idle. (r23401)
- Fix heat Blur not oriented correctly with vectoring thrust. (r23401)
- And many, many more.
10\. Various data fixes & improvements:
======================================
Note: The following changes may include code & 3ddb updates as well.
- Updated ambiant light since we have real moon now. (r14084)
- Fixed TracersGreen and TracersRed missing alpha channel. (r14141)
- Fixed Al-Tariq bomb : mimic the GBU-54 instead of the GBU-12\. (r14142)
- Fixed F18 series totally out of control while landing. (r14186)
- F-16 Cockpits updated. (r14333)
* Made flight control stick move (very little)
* Fixed seat adjustment switch. Now it has the washer and jam nut on the sidewall to hold the switch.
* Added more switches on the 2 seater F-16s for more real life accuracy.
* Textures updated.
- Fixed JFS Start does not work in all non F-16 cockpits. (r14339)
- Fixed Unit Flight's element for ASW, ECM, Recon and Tanker types. (r14340)
- Updated American F-16 CCIP pit avionics panel to the more correct panel. (r14347)
- Fixed RSAF F-16 IFF panel. Digits were not working. (r14347)
- Fixed F-16 Sufa cockpit. Changed from Aux Comm to IFF panel. (r14350)
- Cleaned up some texture misalignments on the night lighting and missing backlighting in some areas of some cockpits. (r14360)
- Disabled the MAP switch on the PXIII F-16 since it is not used. GPS switch now moves instead of the GPS and MAP switch. Hotspot updated. (r14360)
- Fixed Sufa Altimeter (6 digit). Was only showing 1/2 the digits. (r14360)
- Fixed ALS for Kimhae RWY 36R that had one element in the middle of the Taxiway A. (r14365)
- Updated shaders. (r14370)
- All Hotas Basic key files are now available in the UI Controllers Setup "Load Keyboard". (r14375)
- Fixed F-16 EAF incorrect AGM65G loadout. (r14377)
- Various Texture updates.
A) The primary distribution method is by TORRENT, as always:
Falcon_BMS_4.35_U2_Incremental.torrent
File: Falcon_BMS_4.35_U2_Incremental.torrent
Size: 17.97 KB
MD5: f3a86fa395f740dad76c8a45cfb7af83
File: Falcon_BMS_4.35_U2_Incremental.exe
Size: 115.38 MB
MD5: a68e8a933c88bb31d8b275cb57e50d8b
B) If you can not use the torrent - please DO try it first! - we will have direct links as a fallback (as soon as the torrent is “stable”):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AtDlhlQfDLAFIwUid6HSdY63SG7nyJNS/view?usp=drivesdk
Please do NOT post alternate download mirrors in the forum if you want to offer a mirror. Give the torrent some time to get stable (won’t take longer than a day). If you want to offer a mirror, please PM one of the mods, they will take care about adding the links here.
A big THANK YOU to everyone in the BMS development team and to the gents from BILLION SOFT who made this release possible!
Now download and enjoy!