Version 2.27 Patch 0

Version 2.27 Patch 0 Changes
======================

Added bump mapping and specular mapping to planes, vehicles, buildings and other objects. The bump mapping options can be enabled or disabled in the advanced menu of the graphics detail menu.

Added short range ground clutter in the form of grasses, rocks, and other small vegetation. The options to control this feature are located in the graphics options menu.

*Note that enabling new graphics options may have a negative effect on your systems performance, especially when used in conjunction with long visibility distances, antialiasing, and other options found in the advanced graphics menu.

Added an in-game background downloader for the hi-res texture pack. If you are running a max texture size of 1024 or greater and your hi-res texture pack is out of date, it will perform a background download of a patch. Once the patch is complete you will be notified and the patch will install the next time the game is started.

Added the Fi 156 Storch. This is the first observer plane and can be operated out of all fields except for carriers. It has the ability to carry vehicle supplies but the supplies are not parachute equipped and must be landed to be successfully deployed. It also has its own set of icon rules. Salute to cactuskooler for providing the default skin. Note that the Storch uses a fixed pitch propeller that can be oversped like the WW1 planes.

Added 88mm flak at all bases. The AA round of the 88 uses a variable fuze to set the distance at which the round detonates. The distance is displayed on the left side of the screen and uses the tank sight range keys (c and v) to change the distance. The mouse wheel can also be used for fine adjustment if it is not mapped to anything else. It can also switch to AP rounds for use against tanks.

Changed how icons settings work and the icon distances used in the main arenas. There are now 4 classes of icon settings governing aircraft, vehicles, observer aircraft, and flak guns. The distance at which each of these classes can see another class can all be individually set. The PT boat is now in the same class as vehicles.

The below radar altitude icon setting has been replaced with sysvar that controls the % reduction in icon range when a plane is below the radar alt. Added another sysvar to control the % reduction in icon range when a vehicle or plane is stopped on the ground.

The following icon rules are implemented in the main arenas.

Aircraft now see tank icons at 1250 yards instead of 1500.

Observer aircraft can see tank icons at twice the distance of other aircraft.

Observer aircraft icons are visible to 3k for all other classes.

Flak can see aircraft icons out to 9k.

Planes below radar alt have their icon distance cut in half.

Being stopped on the ground cuts your icon distance in half. This works for planes and vehicles.

All other icon settings remain unchanged from previous including 6k aircraft icons.

External view mode is now disabled in manned guns.

Icons now mask when the vehicle or plane is hidden behind vegetation.

Added a less obtrusive dialog box that appears in the upper left corner for items such as join requests.

Fixed some typos in the Panzer IVF loadouts.

Added a bomb loadout option to the 109E.

External engine sounds are no longer heard when your engine is running.

Changed the default fighter launch point at ports and vehicle bases.

Wirbel and Ostwind turrets can no longer take on indefinite damage after they've been destroyed without eventually destroying the vehicle.

Changed the cockpit head bounds on the F6F.

Changed the default skins of the P-47D-25 and Spitfire I.

Fixed a bug with the mission editor not saving missions properly.

Fixed a crash bug that happened when jumping between bombers in a formation after a bomber had been destroyed.

The film viewer now saves its window size and position between sessions.

Collision messages are now recorded in films.

The CM weapons option screen now displays the hangar aircraft names instead of the shape names.

Found missing stars and returned them to their splendor.

Corrected shading when using detailed terrain on water during dusk and dawn.

Corrected issues with the sun not displaying as intended such as how it displays on the horizon and.

Fixed a graphical issue where the elevators would not always display in the correct position.

Fixed an issue where a defunct squad member could not be ejected from the squad.

Fixed a number of issues with the sun and horizon such as an uneven horizon fade, the sun getting cut off above the horizon, and hills not blocking the sun correctly.

Fixed a display issue in the B-17's landing gear.

Fixed an issue with enemy Panzer 4F turret not rotating correctly.

Fixed some missing polys in the town.

Fixed an issue with the A6M2/M3 landing gear shadow not rotating correctly.

Fixed issue with A6M's not showing squad art.

Fixed issue with P40's landing gear indicators.