Impact of 4.33 on Add-on Theaters

[Sherlock]

What’s the (final) word on this guys? I know the tile format changed somehow. Let’s talk specifics…

Were there any other changes to 4.33 exe that will drive changes to existing (and future) add-on theaters?

Thanks for your (knowledgeable) input!

[molnibalage]

Dee-jay said in another thread expect anything beyond CTD free is very unlikely. They have to be rebuilt.

[Dee-Jay]

Simple … any theaters made for 4.32 must be converted to a 4.33 standard.

To make it works, 3rd party theater Dev as to re-start their DB using stock KTO one as basis to ensure a proper code/data interaction.
mission.dat should (must) also be updated, Strings.xxx also, and UI reworked to have the new features.
Other than this, few other “minor” (more or less) changes, and they are go.

Maybe more … I do not have the full picture.

For the moment, the only one compatible 4.33 I know is https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?23469-Balkans-Theater-of-Operation-for-BMS-4-33 … and soon, ITO will be available.

[Chuckles]

Sherlock, 4.33’s .TDF file format has changed from 4.32. The changes are very minor, but new theatres should adhere to the format. The BMS manual has some examples and provides additional information. As per specifics, the DB changes in 4.33 will cause issues with aircraft selections when using cam files build with 4.32. My Eurowar campaign, which uses stock 4.32 DB entries, is unplayable in BMS 4.33 due to CTD. Carrier War is works fine with land based aircraft, but since carrier operations have changed, carrier based aircraft don’t work. Needless to say, I am completely rebuilding Korea 2012 using brand new BMS 4.33 Save.cam files. At little time consuming, but not too difficult since Mission Commander’s improvement make it a much easier tool to use as compared to Tacedit.

[Sting]

Great to hear you are updating your campaigns Chuckles, you did a great job and I enjoyed flying them.

[Chuckles]

@Sting:

Great to hear you are updating your campaigns Chuckles, you did a great job and I enjoyed flying them.

Thanks for the complement. Just wanted to mention that with the new/updated aircraft, Eurowar in particular will be much more fun to fly. Unlike 4.32 Korea 2012, which was based on the original Microprose campaigns, Korea 2012 4.33 will based on the new 4.33 campaigns. 4.33’s campaigns are a huge improvement over what I used originally. Carrier War and Redux are back and even better. All carriers will include a squadron of EA-18G jets. Finally, I made extra use of aircraft with updated/improved cockpits. The Grippen in now in Eurowar, while the AV-8 gets much more exposure.

[Jackal]

@Chuckles:

Thanks for the complement. Just wanted to mention that with the new/updated aircraft, Eurowar in particular will be much more fun to fly. Unlike 4.32 Korea 2012, which was based on the original Microprose campaigns, Korea 2012 4.33 will based on the new 4.33 campaigns. 4.33’s campaigns are a huge improvement over what I used originally. Carrier War and Redux are back and even better. All carriers will include a squadron of EA-18G jets. Finally, I made extra use of aircraft with updated/improved cockpits. The Grippen in now in Eurowar, while the AV-8 gets much more exposure.

Eerrr… nothing new about the Tornado and Typhoon, may I ask?
You know I can’t fly (live) without the first one :lol:

Best regards,

[Chuckles]

@Jackal:

Eerrr… nothing new about the Tornado and Typhoon, may I ask?
You know I can’t fly (live) without the first one :lol:

Best regards,

The EF2000 Typhoon will still be found in Eurowar as it was before. Though I reduced the squadrons from two to one in order to able to include the Grippen. The Tornado gets two versions, German and Italian, in all Eurowar Campaigns. Also, Eurowar will get fewer USAF fighters and thus, more European Air Force fighters. One more change I forgot to mention, The Greek, HAF F-15C Block 52 CFT now appears in all three Eurowar campaigns. I have a little more tweaking to to do, but I assure you that Eurowar will give a much better mix of aircraft than the 4.32 version.

[Dee-Jay]

… Forgot to say: when I say DB I am also talking about the SIM folder of course.

[Chuckles]

Dee-Jay, in the new *.TDF file, I see a new entry:

simdata dir

simdatadir Sim

Does this entry allow the use of a custom simdata folder in an addon theatre while maintaining the BMS 4.33 simdata untouched?

[molnibalage]

@Chuckles:

Dee-Jay, in the new *.TDF file, I see a new entry:

simdata dir

simdatadir Sim

Does this entry allow the use of a custom simdata folder in an addon theatre while maintaining the BMS 4.33 simdata untouched?

Yes. You can make completely speatated theater from original.

[Shadow]

@Chuckles:

Dee-Jay, in the new *.TDF file, I see a new entry:

simdata dir

simdatadir Sim

Does this entry allow the use of a custom simdata folder in an addon theatre while maintaining the BMS 4.33 simdata untouched?

Nice one

[Arty]

and how exactly does this theater sim folder works?
You have to put inside all the sim files and alter the ones you want or just the altered ones?

[Lukas]

of course…at least it was the first thing I did after 4.33 download (copied whole directory structure and edited few of them)
@Chuckles
Are you integrating JAS-39 into new 4.33 version of your Korea?
Are u really talking about grippen (not Viggen)?

BTW Mirage F1 is OK now I think…good one for Desert Storm

[molnibalage]

@Arty:

and how exactly does this theater sim folder works?
You have to put inside all the sim files and alter the ones you want or just the altered ones?

My bet is on “all”. When you do this with DB you also use the whole DB not just a part of it.

[Chuckles]

@Lukas:

of course…at least it was the first thing I did after 4.33 download (copied whole directory structure and edited few of them)
@Chuckles
Are you integrating JAS-39 into new 4.33 version of your Korea?
Are u really talking about grippen (not Viggen)?

BTW Mirage F1 is OK now I think…good one for Desert Storm

Sorry about the typo, I meant Viggen.

[Dee-Jay]

@Arty:

and how exactly does this theater sim folder works?
You have to put inside all the sim files and alter the ones you want or just the altered ones?

I do not really know. Just try.

[molnibalage]

@Dee-Jay:

I do not really know. Just try.

Because of size of \sim I have to say who cares? Simply use the whole and replace what you have to replace.
So even most of dat files are same as original the result is the same.

[Dee-Jay]

Be careful guys … do not use old 432.dat files (maybe possible critical changes here!) Not necessarily CTDs (?), but possible misbehaviors.
Start on a 433 stock basis (as for anything else as recommended).

[molnibalage]

@Dee-Jay:

Be careful guys … do not use old 432.dat files (maybe possible critical changes here!) Not necessarily CTDs (?), but possible misbehaviors.
Start on a 433 stock basis (as for anything else as recommended).

This is why I decided not even test my MOD with 4.33. It seems to me pointless. It seems to me easier rebuild the whole mod from 0. It is not hard or complicated it is just boring…
If you have documented changes (I made some doc. myself) this is just “click, clik, type and test”. Nothing else. Only propblem it requires lots of time.