A presentation on the just released The Tomorrow War: Factor K was posted on 31 May 2007 on the Alexander Zorich site:
http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation.htm
Here's an English translation for those whose Russian is a little rusty:
The Tomorrow War: Factor K - Presentation
“The Tomorrow War is the best fantasy game of 2006” - The World of Fantasy
So, the game The Tomorrow War: Factor K, the continuation of The Tomorrow War, has been published and went on sale on June 1st.
What new things await the virtual pilots in Factor K compared to The Tomorrow War?
Let's have a look at what Crioland and 1C have announced in the official synopsis.
Distinctive features of the game:
Updated graphics and special effects
New planets with unique features
Newer types of fluggers, starships, and ground equipment
A continuation of the space saga written personally by Alexander Zorich
Flights of fluggers and starships under your immediate command
A multitude of refinements introduced at the request of players
It must be said that this is all true.
Let's take a look at each of these points, and we will see what can make us happy in Factor K.
1. Updated graphics and special effects
Cloudiness. A selection of screenshots have already been published on the 1C site which show the new cloud technology. The clouds are indeed a great wonder. On the majority of planets the clouds are found at a “typical” altitude of 5-15 km, but different situations can be encountered. In some places the clouds literally cling to the ground, while in other places the mighty mountain peaks penetrate the cloud layer and look straight at the stars...
Landings on water. In spite of the fact that the flight model of the fluggers has not changed substantially, the appearance of the “Senmurv” hydro-flugger in the game demanded the addition of the corresponding visual effect of sliding on the water. This effect has been realized in the appearance of classic “whiskers” of the hydro-flugger's floats.
Cracks on protective screens. Now with damage of the nose-section of the flugger, the wide-spread cracking of the protective screen of the pilot's cabin is taken into consideration.
Damage Model. The damage model of fluggers and starships has been re-worked for the better.
Anti-aliasing. Full-fledged anti-aliasing of scenes is now present. (Attention: By default, this is turned off in the Options since, as is the case in all modern games, qualitative anti-aliasing is very demanding on the computer's resources.)
Graphics and Special Effects
A mountain peak pierces the cloud layer http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/clouds1.jpg
The uplands of this nice planet are swathed in the clouds http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/clouds11.jpg
The “Andromeda” flies in the dense haze which begins from the very ground http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/clouds7.jpg
Cracks in the protective screen http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/glass.jpg
The hydro-flugger “Senmurv” takes off from the water http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/senmurv01.jpg
This newcomer was fought off in striking fashion http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/explosion.jpg
2. New planets with unique features
A series of new planets and natural satellites have been introduced into the game.
The most unusual planet is the famous Glagol (with the gigantic Cauldron and the canyons of the rivers Styx-Sine and Styx-Cosine), but others are nice as well:
The planetary giant Urmiya, belted with a ring of cosmic garbage and covered with a frozen methane ocean over which towers gigantic volcanic peaks;
The double planetoid Fraskij;
The fertile Terta, a huge industrial center of Condordia; Terta has four moons to which you can fly without special problems (if you wish).
New ground infrastructure objects deserve special mention: cities, factories, shipyard facilities.
Planets and Infrastructure
Glagol, a mystery planet http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/glagol.jpg
The center of Sinanja, the capital of Terta http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/sinange.jpg
Terta, the valuable trophy of our warfleet http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/terta.jpg
3. Newer types of fluggers, starships, and ground equipment
In all, more than 15 new space and ground fighting units have been added to the game which belong to the Great Race, the Chorugs, the Jagnu, and the Gyps.
Of special mention are the “Sea Eagle”, the “Senmurv” , the “Griffin”, the battleship-carrier “Suvorov”, the squadron tug “Snow Leopard”, the heavy tank “Shamshir”, the walking Chorugian tank, the Chorugian carrier, discopter, battle-planet ships, Jagnu corvettes and Gyps guardians (in the novel Moscow Time the teacher Vokhur called them the “Demon Midwives”).
We stress: These are indeed the new units. Almost all of the starships and fluggers you met in The Tomorrow War have their own place in Factor K. The same applies to the Jagnu Paladins and Astrofaks etc.
New Combat Equipment
Fighter-Sturmovik “Sea Eagle” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/orlan5.jpg
Hydro-flugger “Senmurv” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/senmurv5.jpg
Barrage Fighter “Griffin” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/grif2.jpg
Carrier “Suvorov” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/photo0105.jpg
Tug “Snow Leopard” evacuates a heavily damaged frigate under enemy fire http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/bars2.jpg
The superheavy tank “Shamshir” in a concentration zone http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/shamshir1.jpg
Chorugian Walking Tank http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chorugian_tank2.jpg
Chorugian Hive Carrier http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chorugian_hive_carrier_1.jpg
Chorugian Discopter: ugly but very dangerous http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chorugian_diskopter_2.jpg
Chorugian Battle Planet Ship http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chorugian_battle_planetship3.jpg
Jagnu Corvette http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/jagnu_corvette_1.jpg
Gyps Guardian http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/vigilant1.jpg
4.A continuation of the space saga written personally by Alexander Zorich
This is a fact. What can you add?...
Rumyantsev, Pushkin, Byelokon', Berdnik, Comrade Ivanov and a series of other characters from The Tomorrow War actively participate in Factor K. But of course, new characters also appear. Some of them were episodic heroes of the trilogy or were at the least mentioned on its pages, but a series of other characters were created specially for Factor K.
Also, after long meditation over the game The Tomorrow War it was decided:
a) to increase the volume of radio chatter on the air
b) to insert scripted scenes directly into the combat sorties
This means the following: now long pauses seldom reign on the air, of course, this is true only if the player does not fly off for half an hour into the depths of space (in such cases the medicine, so to speak, has no effect). The long drawn-out periods unavoidably associated with certain prolonged flights is now better than in the first game, covered by diverse contact between pilots and the high command. Time acceleration is an additional means of battle against the long drawn-out periods (this is described in greater detail below).
Game characters
It's easy to recognize the commader of the X-cruiser by the black neckerchief. And the Special Unit “Scorpion” fighter by the process of elimination. http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars1.jpg
The starship officer of materials who lies in the medical capsule is familiar to all who have played The Tomorrow War http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars11.jpg
It's immediately obvious: This person is a prominent scientist of State significance http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars3.jpg
The father-commanders http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars4.jpg
Squadron-captain Trifonov. A real eagle! http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars5.jpg
A talented youth, one month in a front-line squadron http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/thumbs/s_chars6.jpg
Yakhnin, the most effective torpedo-carrier pilot in the Russian Military Space Force http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars7.jpg
You have never before seen the (zaotara?) of the Good Conference so close? http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars8.jpg
Comrade Ivanov. He is already a general, but as before, he prefers the civilian http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars9.jpg
Osnaz has already learned the main thing: “Halt! Claws behind your head!” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars15.jpg
Robot-barman. A twin of the one who was established in The Three (?), but nevertheless a different one, its fate is also different... http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars17.jpg
Gaj The Titanium Hide is hale and happy as usual http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars13.jpg
5. Flights of fluggers and starships under your immediate command
By the end of the war with Concordia, Andrej Rumyantsev was promoted to First Lieutenant and was busy with the duties of the commander of Squadron I-03 2nd Gv. OAKR. Correspondingly, on those combat sorties in which he is accompanied by fluggers of his own squadron or some attached ships, the possibility arises to give orders to subordinate forces. A special menu for giving orders has been created, and an additional information window has been added for the representation of subordinate fluggers.
The menu for managing the squadron is activated with the key “\”, this is a backslash (on most keyboards the “\” is located near the “Enter” key).
The activated menu appears from the right, over the armaments panel. A second press of “\” will remove the menu.
The menu appears as follows:
1. Attack my target
2. Attack the group target or system
3. Form up
4. Follow me
5. Defend the indicated target
6. Defend the indicated group of targets
7. Defend me
8. Act independently
When you see this menu, the keys from “1” to “8” give the corresponding commands (that is, the default values of the keys “1”...”4” connected with the control of the autopilot cease to function in this menu on the basis of the context).
With the help of these eight keys it is possible to very effectively and flexibly command the fluggers of one's squadron. We won't look into the nuances of this process here, we will say only that the whole complex system of tactical management realized by Crioland is quite proper and deserves high marks.
Concerning the control of starships.
The process of piloting a starship is not distinguished in any real way from the control of a flugger, but for X-transport a special menu exists, the contents of which changes from one sortie to the next in connection with the reprogramming of the navigational system (astroparser), but in each case it remains completely obvious.
Concerning flights on a starship, I wanted to point out only a couple of the more important aspects:
1.The tug “Snow Leopard”, as with other orbital tugs of the “Vajgach” type, is not adapted for movement in the atmosphere. Don't tempt fate – you will blow up!
2.The threshold speed which must be assumed for completion of X-transport is 5 km/s (which is in a somewhat simplified form, but in general accurately reflects the objects of the material world of The Tomorrow War). At lower speeds X-transport is not possible.
3.For starships only the consumption of luxogen is considered. Reserves of other types of fuels are taken to be sufficiently significant that their consumption makes no sense for counting in the passage of those flights in ordinary space which the player is obliged to complete.
Old friends in new operations
A “Kish” type frigate over the cosmodrome http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/balh_at_yazd.jpg
X-cruiser “Kljuchevskij”: submersion http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action3.jpg
Light carrier “Sardar” goes into the breach http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/sardar.jpg
The good old “Durandalle'”. Now it is possible to observe the work of the cannons in “External camera” mode http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/fire.jpg
A frigate of the type “Hamburg/Kamarad” in combat defense of a carrier http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/hamburgs.jpg
The pilot of this “Durandalle'” is busy with classic air hooliganism in the spirit of Chkalov http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/hooligan.jpg
In such motley company our “Khagens” fly, alas, not from the good life http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/hagen.jpg
As before, senior officers of the GSA gladly fly the “Curassiers” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/curassier.jpg
...and the storm parties (?) http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/curassiers.jpg
6. A multitude of refinements introduced at the request of players
They are indeed a multitude. We will name only the most essential.
6.1The time acceleration function has been introduced (Keyboard “I”). The function increases the internal game time several-fold. This is very convenient during times of long flights. But it is necessary to keep in mind that the acceleration of time excludes any radio communications from the beginning. Also, time acceleration is not always available in flights over the surface of a planet and in a number of special cases.
6.2 Different modes for supplementary firing points in defense of the tail and/or the upper hemisphere have been introduced:
Completely automatic (by default)
Semi-automatic
Manual control
Off
Switching of modes is realized by the combination CTRL+L
The “Completely automatic” mode corresponds to that in The Tomorrow War: aiming of the gun ring is produced on the nearest target, after which continuous fire is maintained until exhaustion of energy reserves or the supply flow of ammunition (for solid state cannons).
The “Off” mode corresponds to the complete absence of the gun ring, that is, the gun ring does not fire in any circumstances.
In the “Semi-automatic” mode, the gun ring fires only at the currently locked-on target (if a target is absent in its field of fire, the gun ring will not fire).
Finally, in the “Manual control” mode, the gun ring is locked in its own base position (for example, for the “Fulminator,” the barrels are retracted backwards, for the “Sea Eagle” the barrels are straight forward), after which it fires from its base position and only when the “Fire” button is depressed (by default – Left Mouse Click). This regime is especially comfortable on the “Sea Eagles”, the gun rings of which are armed with two 85mm cannon. Together with the remaining forward barrels of the flugger in firing in Salvo mode, which by default is realized by the combination of Left+Ctrl+Left Mouse Click, this allows the “Sea Eagle” to bring down on the enemy a veritable squall of fire.
6.3Among the various combat camera modes there has now been added “HUD without the player's flugger.” As before, the combat camera mode is switched by means of Keyboard “V”. And now external camera views are carried out using Keyboard “F7”. After you get used to the changes, you will understand that it is indeed more comfortable than it was earlier.
6.4The addition of an autopilot Cruise control function (Keyboard U).
6.5The addition of an autopilot “Match speed” function (Keyboard combination Ctrl+N).
6.6Now it is possible with a single press of the CapsLock key to clear all elements of the interface, including target markers, the mouse cursor and the like. On this keystroke the “Infrastructure” menu disappears from the radar.
(If you have turned on the view from the cabin, the cabin itself does not disappear, but the HUD view and all virtual markers will disappear.) Of course, this possibility was added in order to facilitate the most attractive and high-quality screenshots. (However, be careful! During loading of the radar, which demands rubbing shoulders with someone, one can, by lack of familiarity, forget what it means to press CapsLock and to begin to become confused as to where the mouse cursor and “Infrastructure” menu are shared.)
6.7With the aid of special indicators on target markers, the level of damage which has been inflicted on the selected target or the subsystem of the target will be displayed. For example, one can see approximately how long an enemy fighter or a motor group of an enemy starship will remain alive.
...Well, the main thing is that The Tomorrow War is a war. In space, in the atmosphere and on the surface of a planet.
“Senmurv” inflicts a bomb blow http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/assault.jpg
View of “Combat camera without the player's flugger” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/view_hud_1.jpg
“Griffin” conducts battle over Aras, one of the satellites of Terta http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action14.jpg
A damaged Chorugian Hive Carrier repels an attack by Russian fluggers http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/hive_carrier_in_action.jpg
A starship leaves the atmosphere of a planet http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action12.jpg
View of “Combat camera with player's flugger from 3rd person perspective” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action1.jpg
Such a salvo from four “Shamshirs” can incinerate a company of ordinary tanks http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action15.jpg
A Concordia frigate flies away into the X-matrix while under fire from sturmoviks http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action5.jpg
A “Fulminator” with combat damage maneuvers over the remote area of a cosmodrome http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action9.jpg
The general panorama of battle of a Concordia squadron http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/sefid06.jpg
It's not enough that the astrofak was well entrenched, it still fires back http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/astrofagus.jpg
A tank-landing ship under escort by a frigate began movement into a landing zone http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action8.jpg
Wallpaper
http://www.zorich.ru/games/zavtra_vojna/wallpapers.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I bet BradMick will have a fit when he sees this.
http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation.htm
Here's an English translation for those whose Russian is a little rusty:
The Tomorrow War: Factor K - Presentation
“The Tomorrow War is the best fantasy game of 2006” - The World of Fantasy
So, the game The Tomorrow War: Factor K, the continuation of The Tomorrow War, has been published and went on sale on June 1st.
What new things await the virtual pilots in Factor K compared to The Tomorrow War?
Let's have a look at what Crioland and 1C have announced in the official synopsis.
Distinctive features of the game:
Updated graphics and special effects
New planets with unique features
Newer types of fluggers, starships, and ground equipment
A continuation of the space saga written personally by Alexander Zorich
Flights of fluggers and starships under your immediate command
A multitude of refinements introduced at the request of players
It must be said that this is all true.
Let's take a look at each of these points, and we will see what can make us happy in Factor K.
1. Updated graphics and special effects
Cloudiness. A selection of screenshots have already been published on the 1C site which show the new cloud technology. The clouds are indeed a great wonder. On the majority of planets the clouds are found at a “typical” altitude of 5-15 km, but different situations can be encountered. In some places the clouds literally cling to the ground, while in other places the mighty mountain peaks penetrate the cloud layer and look straight at the stars...
Landings on water. In spite of the fact that the flight model of the fluggers has not changed substantially, the appearance of the “Senmurv” hydro-flugger in the game demanded the addition of the corresponding visual effect of sliding on the water. This effect has been realized in the appearance of classic “whiskers” of the hydro-flugger's floats.
Cracks on protective screens. Now with damage of the nose-section of the flugger, the wide-spread cracking of the protective screen of the pilot's cabin is taken into consideration.
Damage Model. The damage model of fluggers and starships has been re-worked for the better.
Anti-aliasing. Full-fledged anti-aliasing of scenes is now present. (Attention: By default, this is turned off in the Options since, as is the case in all modern games, qualitative anti-aliasing is very demanding on the computer's resources.)
Graphics and Special Effects
A mountain peak pierces the cloud layer http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/clouds1.jpg
The uplands of this nice planet are swathed in the clouds http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/clouds11.jpg
The “Andromeda” flies in the dense haze which begins from the very ground http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/clouds7.jpg
Cracks in the protective screen http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/glass.jpg
The hydro-flugger “Senmurv” takes off from the water http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/senmurv01.jpg
This newcomer was fought off in striking fashion http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/explosion.jpg
2. New planets with unique features
A series of new planets and natural satellites have been introduced into the game.
The most unusual planet is the famous Glagol (with the gigantic Cauldron and the canyons of the rivers Styx-Sine and Styx-Cosine), but others are nice as well:
The planetary giant Urmiya, belted with a ring of cosmic garbage and covered with a frozen methane ocean over which towers gigantic volcanic peaks;
The double planetoid Fraskij;
The fertile Terta, a huge industrial center of Condordia; Terta has four moons to which you can fly without special problems (if you wish).
New ground infrastructure objects deserve special mention: cities, factories, shipyard facilities.
Planets and Infrastructure
Glagol, a mystery planet http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/glagol.jpg
The center of Sinanja, the capital of Terta http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/sinange.jpg
Terta, the valuable trophy of our warfleet http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/terta.jpg
3. Newer types of fluggers, starships, and ground equipment
In all, more than 15 new space and ground fighting units have been added to the game which belong to the Great Race, the Chorugs, the Jagnu, and the Gyps.
Of special mention are the “Sea Eagle”, the “Senmurv” , the “Griffin”, the battleship-carrier “Suvorov”, the squadron tug “Snow Leopard”, the heavy tank “Shamshir”, the walking Chorugian tank, the Chorugian carrier, discopter, battle-planet ships, Jagnu corvettes and Gyps guardians (in the novel Moscow Time the teacher Vokhur called them the “Demon Midwives”).
We stress: These are indeed the new units. Almost all of the starships and fluggers you met in The Tomorrow War have their own place in Factor K. The same applies to the Jagnu Paladins and Astrofaks etc.
New Combat Equipment
Fighter-Sturmovik “Sea Eagle” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/orlan5.jpg
Hydro-flugger “Senmurv” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/senmurv5.jpg
Barrage Fighter “Griffin” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/grif2.jpg
Carrier “Suvorov” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/photo0105.jpg
Tug “Snow Leopard” evacuates a heavily damaged frigate under enemy fire http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/bars2.jpg
The superheavy tank “Shamshir” in a concentration zone http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/shamshir1.jpg
Chorugian Walking Tank http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chorugian_tank2.jpg
Chorugian Hive Carrier http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chorugian_hive_carrier_1.jpg
Chorugian Discopter: ugly but very dangerous http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chorugian_diskopter_2.jpg
Chorugian Battle Planet Ship http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chorugian_battle_planetship3.jpg
Jagnu Corvette http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/jagnu_corvette_1.jpg
Gyps Guardian http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/vigilant1.jpg
4.A continuation of the space saga written personally by Alexander Zorich
This is a fact. What can you add?...
Rumyantsev, Pushkin, Byelokon', Berdnik, Comrade Ivanov and a series of other characters from The Tomorrow War actively participate in Factor K. But of course, new characters also appear. Some of them were episodic heroes of the trilogy or were at the least mentioned on its pages, but a series of other characters were created specially for Factor K.
Also, after long meditation over the game The Tomorrow War it was decided:
a) to increase the volume of radio chatter on the air
b) to insert scripted scenes directly into the combat sorties
This means the following: now long pauses seldom reign on the air, of course, this is true only if the player does not fly off for half an hour into the depths of space (in such cases the medicine, so to speak, has no effect). The long drawn-out periods unavoidably associated with certain prolonged flights is now better than in the first game, covered by diverse contact between pilots and the high command. Time acceleration is an additional means of battle against the long drawn-out periods (this is described in greater detail below).
Game characters
It's easy to recognize the commader of the X-cruiser by the black neckerchief. And the Special Unit “Scorpion” fighter by the process of elimination. http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars1.jpg
The starship officer of materials who lies in the medical capsule is familiar to all who have played The Tomorrow War http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars11.jpg
It's immediately obvious: This person is a prominent scientist of State significance http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars3.jpg
The father-commanders http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars4.jpg
Squadron-captain Trifonov. A real eagle! http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars5.jpg
A talented youth, one month in a front-line squadron http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/thumbs/s_chars6.jpg
Yakhnin, the most effective torpedo-carrier pilot in the Russian Military Space Force http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars7.jpg
You have never before seen the (zaotara?) of the Good Conference so close? http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars8.jpg
Comrade Ivanov. He is already a general, but as before, he prefers the civilian http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars9.jpg
Osnaz has already learned the main thing: “Halt! Claws behind your head!” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars15.jpg
Robot-barman. A twin of the one who was established in The Three (?), but nevertheless a different one, its fate is also different... http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars17.jpg
Gaj The Titanium Hide is hale and happy as usual http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/chars13.jpg
5. Flights of fluggers and starships under your immediate command
By the end of the war with Concordia, Andrej Rumyantsev was promoted to First Lieutenant and was busy with the duties of the commander of Squadron I-03 2nd Gv. OAKR. Correspondingly, on those combat sorties in which he is accompanied by fluggers of his own squadron or some attached ships, the possibility arises to give orders to subordinate forces. A special menu for giving orders has been created, and an additional information window has been added for the representation of subordinate fluggers.
The menu for managing the squadron is activated with the key “\”, this is a backslash (on most keyboards the “\” is located near the “Enter” key).
The activated menu appears from the right, over the armaments panel. A second press of “\” will remove the menu.
The menu appears as follows:
1. Attack my target
2. Attack the group target or system
3. Form up
4. Follow me
5. Defend the indicated target
6. Defend the indicated group of targets
7. Defend me
8. Act independently
When you see this menu, the keys from “1” to “8” give the corresponding commands (that is, the default values of the keys “1”...”4” connected with the control of the autopilot cease to function in this menu on the basis of the context).
With the help of these eight keys it is possible to very effectively and flexibly command the fluggers of one's squadron. We won't look into the nuances of this process here, we will say only that the whole complex system of tactical management realized by Crioland is quite proper and deserves high marks.
Concerning the control of starships.
The process of piloting a starship is not distinguished in any real way from the control of a flugger, but for X-transport a special menu exists, the contents of which changes from one sortie to the next in connection with the reprogramming of the navigational system (astroparser), but in each case it remains completely obvious.
Concerning flights on a starship, I wanted to point out only a couple of the more important aspects:
1.The tug “Snow Leopard”, as with other orbital tugs of the “Vajgach” type, is not adapted for movement in the atmosphere. Don't tempt fate – you will blow up!
2.The threshold speed which must be assumed for completion of X-transport is 5 km/s (which is in a somewhat simplified form, but in general accurately reflects the objects of the material world of The Tomorrow War). At lower speeds X-transport is not possible.
3.For starships only the consumption of luxogen is considered. Reserves of other types of fuels are taken to be sufficiently significant that their consumption makes no sense for counting in the passage of those flights in ordinary space which the player is obliged to complete.
Old friends in new operations
A “Kish” type frigate over the cosmodrome http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/balh_at_yazd.jpg
X-cruiser “Kljuchevskij”: submersion http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action3.jpg
Light carrier “Sardar” goes into the breach http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/sardar.jpg
The good old “Durandalle'”. Now it is possible to observe the work of the cannons in “External camera” mode http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/fire.jpg
A frigate of the type “Hamburg/Kamarad” in combat defense of a carrier http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/hamburgs.jpg
The pilot of this “Durandalle'” is busy with classic air hooliganism in the spirit of Chkalov http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/hooligan.jpg
In such motley company our “Khagens” fly, alas, not from the good life http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/hagen.jpg
As before, senior officers of the GSA gladly fly the “Curassiers” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/curassier.jpg
...and the storm parties (?) http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/curassiers.jpg
6. A multitude of refinements introduced at the request of players
They are indeed a multitude. We will name only the most essential.
6.1The time acceleration function has been introduced (Keyboard “I”). The function increases the internal game time several-fold. This is very convenient during times of long flights. But it is necessary to keep in mind that the acceleration of time excludes any radio communications from the beginning. Also, time acceleration is not always available in flights over the surface of a planet and in a number of special cases.
6.2 Different modes for supplementary firing points in defense of the tail and/or the upper hemisphere have been introduced:
Completely automatic (by default)
Semi-automatic
Manual control
Off
Switching of modes is realized by the combination CTRL+L
The “Completely automatic” mode corresponds to that in The Tomorrow War: aiming of the gun ring is produced on the nearest target, after which continuous fire is maintained until exhaustion of energy reserves or the supply flow of ammunition (for solid state cannons).
The “Off” mode corresponds to the complete absence of the gun ring, that is, the gun ring does not fire in any circumstances.
In the “Semi-automatic” mode, the gun ring fires only at the currently locked-on target (if a target is absent in its field of fire, the gun ring will not fire).
Finally, in the “Manual control” mode, the gun ring is locked in its own base position (for example, for the “Fulminator,” the barrels are retracted backwards, for the “Sea Eagle” the barrels are straight forward), after which it fires from its base position and only when the “Fire” button is depressed (by default – Left Mouse Click). This regime is especially comfortable on the “Sea Eagles”, the gun rings of which are armed with two 85mm cannon. Together with the remaining forward barrels of the flugger in firing in Salvo mode, which by default is realized by the combination of Left+Ctrl+Left Mouse Click, this allows the “Sea Eagle” to bring down on the enemy a veritable squall of fire.
6.3Among the various combat camera modes there has now been added “HUD without the player's flugger.” As before, the combat camera mode is switched by means of Keyboard “V”. And now external camera views are carried out using Keyboard “F7”. After you get used to the changes, you will understand that it is indeed more comfortable than it was earlier.
6.4The addition of an autopilot Cruise control function (Keyboard U).
6.5The addition of an autopilot “Match speed” function (Keyboard combination Ctrl+N).
6.6Now it is possible with a single press of the CapsLock key to clear all elements of the interface, including target markers, the mouse cursor and the like. On this keystroke the “Infrastructure” menu disappears from the radar.
(If you have turned on the view from the cabin, the cabin itself does not disappear, but the HUD view and all virtual markers will disappear.) Of course, this possibility was added in order to facilitate the most attractive and high-quality screenshots. (However, be careful! During loading of the radar, which demands rubbing shoulders with someone, one can, by lack of familiarity, forget what it means to press CapsLock and to begin to become confused as to where the mouse cursor and “Infrastructure” menu are shared.)
6.7With the aid of special indicators on target markers, the level of damage which has been inflicted on the selected target or the subsystem of the target will be displayed. For example, one can see approximately how long an enemy fighter or a motor group of an enemy starship will remain alive.
...Well, the main thing is that The Tomorrow War is a war. In space, in the atmosphere and on the surface of a planet.
“Senmurv” inflicts a bomb blow http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/assault.jpg
View of “Combat camera without the player's flugger” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/view_hud_1.jpg
“Griffin” conducts battle over Aras, one of the satellites of Terta http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action14.jpg
A damaged Chorugian Hive Carrier repels an attack by Russian fluggers http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/hive_carrier_in_action.jpg
A starship leaves the atmosphere of a planet http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action12.jpg
View of “Combat camera with player's flugger from 3rd person perspective” http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action1.jpg
Such a salvo from four “Shamshirs” can incinerate a company of ordinary tanks http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action15.jpg
A Concordia frigate flies away into the X-matrix while under fire from sturmoviks http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action5.jpg
A “Fulminator” with combat damage maneuvers over the remote area of a cosmodrome http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action9.jpg
The general panorama of battle of a Concordia squadron http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/sefid06.jpg
It's not enough that the astrofak was well entrenched, it still fires back http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/astrofagus.jpg
A tank-landing ship under escort by a frigate began movement into a landing zone http://www.zorich.ru/games/k_factor/presentation/in_action8.jpg
Wallpaper
http://www.zorich.ru/games/zavtra_vojna/wallpapers.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I bet BradMick will have a fit when he sees this.