Aquila Bird Flight Simulator
Welcome, to the real world...
The long and the short of it is I've been insanely busy studying a new aircraft, as well as trying to study and recall the more generic 'how' of the job. It's been a very rough ride. As usual the time they give you for the course is about 2/3's what you need.
I had been working on a few ideas that were on Aquila's to-do list, but I can't continue that for now. It's that simple. Once April arrives, time will open up a little and work on the game can continue. It may be that this will be the opportunity to carry on my efforts with Unreal Engine. In a nutshell, my thinking is that version will have one very large map, which I already have, and it will be available either online or offline, with the weather system to get it feeling like the current version. Then I can go from there.
In the meantime, I have been playing Aquila myself when I simply need a break from iPad presentations and exams. I generally have used the server, when the hotel WiFi isn't down. Anyway thank you for bearing with me while I go through this saga. Check out Server status on Discord, or drop us a line if you want to play online during the UK evening.
I must *stress* this is not the end for Aquila. It's simply me having to get back to normal so I can continue to pay the mortgage. Aquila is a dream project to me. It's not going anywhere.
Thank you so much for your support. It has helped and continues to help real world bird of prey conservation!
All the very best;
Graeme
A Fiery visitation! (update 1.042b)
So yes a bit of fun for November and December. Track down Haforn at night on the multiplayer server, offer them a fish by putting it in the fire, and enjoy the light show. There is now also an achievement for catching a fish too!
Good luck!
Graeme
Update to version 1.041b!
Changes are as follows:
- Unity updated to 2019.4.30f1 to fix shader issues present on the previous release.
- Fish code replaced to be more universal, to use for more animal types in the future.
- Fish added to more locations in all three maps, and they can wonder freely within a distance from their 'home'.
- Fish can be seen from a greater distance.
- Mirror networking package updated to latest version.
- Enviro weather system updated to latest version.
Nothing ground-breaking I know, but hopefully it'll make the game more stable.
Any questions feel free to ask. Discord is probably the fastest for me to see.
Thanks for reading. :)
Graeme
Current state of the game
However it's apparent that the level of work required to convert and decorate three 14km x 14km terrains for streaming, and the re-code required to support streaming, versus the drop in performance just isn't worth fighting with. I shouldn't have to be reinventing the wheel to make up for something that I believe Unity should include, which is large terrain support.
There are a couple of things I can, and will, do to the terrains. However it'll never be what I want it to be... in Unity.
However there are things I feel Aquila does well:
- I never thought multiplayer would work as well as it does, and the controller mapped wing positions just opens more doors again. Who needs emotes when you can just express yourself with head and wing posture? ːsteamhappyː
- Flying at night in a thunderstorm is scary stuff, and even worse on a moonless night!
- The flying makes me smile. When flying/soaring at height with motion controllers, it feels just right. I've had complaints about the controls for sure, and with motion controllers it is not easy. Pre-covid when Aquila was at shows, I had numerous pilots try Aquila and say it feels like flying. There's a learning curve, and I can do my best to help, but this is a flight simulation. It takes practice.
- The framework for catching/holding/dropping stuff is there.
Where is this heading?
My intent is to bring Aquila over to Unreal Engine, which supports large terrains and streaming natively. I can bring so much of what I've learned over to Unreal, but I have more to learn before I can start work on an Unreal Aquila.
What this means for you?
Of course if you've purchased Aquila, the new version will be right here. I'll make sure there's a means to use the Unity version if you prefer it.
In the meantime?
I'll still be playing on the server - I enjoy buzzing about too much, and it's great workout! I'll be on Discord always (it's on my phone and pc). Always up for a multiplayer flap-about - remember server state is always on Discord. There will still be some changes to the current Aquila, that will let me add some ground decals. If you try and join the server and it's off, the game tells me and I can fire it up - Discord is awesome.
I was just conscious that it can be quiet here. The project is most certainly not abandoned. It just gives me many headaches! Please feel free to get in touch, particularly on Discord. I'd love to hear from other flying/bird nuts. :)
Thanks for reading. :)
Graeme
Online Sunday at 9 pm UTC!
I'll be running another online session on Sunday evening at 9pm UTC/UK time. I will be generally targeting this time most Saturdays, certainly for an hour... maybe 2...
Previous events have worked out well, I got loads of feedback and a little bug list to fix. Now those bugs are squished (mostly ... I'm sure more will appear!), I'm ready to do it again. It's just nice to give everyone a chance to fly together and see how it works out. :)
With the latest patch, if using VR you have the option of mapping your birds wings to your motion controllers. I'd love to see this working with more players. For non-VR play it's mostly been a case of improving reliability and swatting bugs, mostly with regards to camera views.
That said... I'll start with the Canada map, and switch depending on Discord chat.
Come and say Hi in our Discord channel here: https://discord.com/invite/cmeNm4r9bQ
Feel free to take video, screenshots, share them here... I’d love to see all of it. Even the bugs. Although Steam can be unreliable with it's broadcasting, I will be broadcasting if it'll do it. The first time I managed to crash in to a lake the first time I tried to fish... very embarrassing!
Please check out the Tutorial Videos ( HERE ) for a control guide, particularly for motion controllers in VR. The in-game tutorials cover the bare minimum, and not everything.
Hope to see you online. Feel free to get in touch if I can help in the meantime.
Graeme
Update to version 1.03671!
Latest changes for 1.0371b:
- Beta version for controller-mapped wings. This setting is available in the Settings page and works for the bald and golden eagles only at the moment. The harpy will simply be the default harpy eagle without wings mapped to controller positions.
- If you try and join the official server, and it can't connect (if the server is off for example), a Discord server message will be sent from your pc that I'll see on my channel. I can then fire it up or fix it if something is wrong.
- The server generates status messages on the Discord channel, saying whether it's online and on which map, players joining/leaving etc. Basically it gives me awareness of what is happening.
- Various bugs fixed with regards to view selection. This mainly affected the non-vr version of the game.
What's next?
- Ongoing work on the terrain. and enhancing the sound ambience.
- Also get that Harpy eagle mapped properly with the controllers, like the other two birds...
Feel free to come and say Hi on Discord, and thank you for playing!
All the best;
Graeme
Small update to version 1.03651!
Latest changes for 1.03651:
- The Valentines hearts were becoming confused about which map they were on, when you joined a network game after playing an offline game. This could lead to the 'stat' being saved to the wrong map after you find a heart. This has been fixed. If you never play as client on a multiplayer, or play on the official server, or only play offline, you'll never encounter this bug.
Known issues:
- I've been made aware of an issue in relation to SteamVR. If you start the game using VR and have no control, using a gamepad or motion controllers, click on the game window (not it's title bar in window mode) a couple of times or switch to full screen and click on the game window or any option with the mouse. That should sort it out. Failing that, view your SteamVR controller bindings and check that for using motion controllers (any brand) it says "oculus_touch" as the profile in use. It should be the default. If you're using a gamepad and VR, it should say Gamepad.
- For the issue above, starting the game from SteamVR home should avoid the issue.
Above all, please get in touch using Discord, here, or email, if I can help.
Thanks for playing!
Graeme
Online Saturday at 9 pm UTC!
Previous events have worked out well, I got loads of feedback and a little bug list to fix. Now those bugs are squished (mostly ... I'm sure more will appear!), I'm ready to do it again. It's just nice to give everyone a chance to fly together and see how it works out. :)
With the latest version there is now weather synchronised between the players, and I can select any time and date. By default it's set to early Summer, so we could get anything except snow with that. I have a custom weather controller that gives weather patterns depending on the season and location... I did note that on the Canada map it started raining, and just rained and rained and rained, before turning to Heavy rain. Remarkably like the actual Graham Island to be honest, but I might tone that down a little.
That said... I'll start with the Scotland map, and switch depending on Discord chat.
Come and say Hi in our Discord channel here: https://discord.com/invite/cmeNm4r9bQ
Feel free to take video, screenshots, share them here... I’d love to see all of it. Even the bugs. Although Steam can be unreliable with it's broadcasting, I will be broadcasting if it'll do it. The first time I managed to crash in to a lake the first time I tried to fish... very embarrassing!
Please check out the Tutorial Videos ( HERE ) for a control guide, particularly for motion controllers in VR. The in-game tutorials cover the bare minimum, and not everything.
Hope to see you online. Feel free to get in touch if I can help in the meantime.
Graeme
New update to version 1.0365!
Latest changes for 1.0365:
- New settings page on the title screen, allowing you to set:
* custom date/time options including day length. Day length can be between 12 and 1440 minutes (a real time day). It can also be frozen at a particular time, so you can make a sunset that never ends for example. Weather still cycles no matter the time option.
* Volume can be set for music, the wind sound, and ambience. All under an all-encompassing master volume.
* Death can be disabled, and is disabled by default. This is handy if you're learning to fly. :)
* Control axes can be reversed, if you need to. Bare in mind the tutorial assumes default settings.
* You can set MSAA level specifically, as well as overall graphics quality level.
- Weather controller tweaks to deal with wind strength vs day length.
Known issues:
- A couple of times I've noticed I couldn't take off from a tree with motion controllers, despite flapping sufficiently hard. If this happens, you can use the 'Y' key or holding triggers and looking straight up to short-cut into the sky. It's not happened enough yet for me to work out why yet. If you've had this bug, please get in touch.
- The game, with identical settings, runs better on Oculus Home than Steam VR. I think this is a graphics setting within Steam VR, as I think my system is super sampling. If you're running a high end system, chances are you won't notice anyway!
What's next?
- The terrain. I'm aware that low level terrain details are an issue. I have a plan. Just have to see how it goes!
Thanks for reading, and for playing. :)
Graeme
New update to version 1.036!
If you have issues with this new version, you can switch to a 'previous version' branch on your Steam games properties. However the previous version is *not* compatible with the server due to the weather changes and it will likely go wrong.
Latest changes for 1.036:
- More realistic weather pattern with a custom weather controller for Enviro. Works over network games, although there are small differences in the look of the sky on each client.
- If no one is on the official server, it'll pause the clock or reset to morning if it's night-time.
- Chase view angle adjusted.
- Gui alpha value reduced so it's barely visible when inactive.
- Fixed the slow drift left and backwards that the camera suffered in non-vr mode over time.
- Santa's sleigh limited to December only.
- Thermals die when over water, or in rainfall, as well as when the sun is near below the horizon.
- Gui Hud text adjusted to green for visibility.
Latest changes for 1.0352:
- Various tweaks to landscape settings across both versions, to bring Enviro and the terrain in line with each other.
- Fishing sound is correctly 3d now.
Latest changes for 1.0351:
- Net code updated to synchronise server/client weather. Weather is still randomly generated for now...
- Enviro settings tweaked, although there is still an outstanding OpenVR distance clipping grey band. :(
Latest changes for 1.035:
- Enviro Initial weather system testing. Truesky removed.
- Columbia thermals made taller.
Catch us on Discord or drop us a line if I can help with anything at all.
Many thanks for reading. :)
Graeme