SBP update release delayed again

[Skybird]

Due to factors for which eSim claims only partial responsibility, but also names the Spanish defence ministry, the major addon planned for release before christmas got delayed. The new official language formula now is "not before January 2009", which means it could also last longer. The beta team of theirs also raises some points that should be addressed before release.

Their weekly progress update has been discontinued since early November, but the feature list already sounds extremely impressive. What became known until they stopped to publish the news, can be found in the SBP resources sticky. Beside myriads of minor bug fixes, the addon will offer the Centauron, Pizarro, Leopard-2E, Tunguska, CV-90/35, NH-90, RBS-70 (a SAM),and implementation of new model data formats, air strikes (abstracted or simplified), now activated selection of time-of-day and according sky and weather templates, and much more.

After almost three years and half a dozen upgrades and major patches for free, it will be the first release they charge their customers for, as has been announced from the very beginning that from some time on they would need to do. the price model is not clear, but will hardly be greater than 30 bucks, probably much lower. Prices for the complete SBP package (for new customers) will raise a bit, too.

The upgrade will install as a completely new and full installation, and comes with a new designed, updated manual replacing the old.

[Lieste]

Nils placed a number of images of the new vehicles in the gallery at www.Steelbeasts.com (http://www.Steelbeasts.com)

[ReM]

comes with a new designed, updated manual replacing the old.

There is definitely some room for improvement there: the manual that came with the game is basic at most.

I'm also surprised that the German Benutzerhandbuch (which is a better source of information) has not been translated into English yet.

[Lieste]

While the SB manual is simple this is largely by design, as the features of individual vehicles differ - some because of different functionality of the prototype vehicles, and some because of more advanced features added since the first releases, not all of which have been added to the existing catalogue yet.

The wiki: http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php/Main_Page
has a lot of useful information already, and more is being added.

More or less detailed information is provided for the operation of the M1A1(HA), Leopard 1A5DK, Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2A5DK. Other pages detail the creation of terrain maps, mission creation, battle planning and tactics etc.

In addition the tutorials are fairly thorough, and you should be able to operate a vehicle or platoon after following the complete set for a single type. The briefing notes remain available from the map screen btw, by selecting the 'briefing' radio button on the right pane.

[Skybird]

Posted yesterday:


At least one more week will be spent with bugfixing. According to our workplan for this year we must be finished with all PE related work by the end of Week 7. I think this means that we will send the gold master for production in Week 7, which means that week 8 and 9 would be the preorder phase, week 10 the start of shipping.

Expect shells starting to fall in March, then.:yeah:

[Deamon]

It is getting increasingly difficult to resist the urge to buy SBP.:)

[porphy]

It is getting increasingly difficult to resist the urge to buy SBP.:)

In that stage resistance is futile, you have already made up your mind, right?

As Oscar Wilde put it. "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."

The only struggle you have to do now, is to not give in before for the latest version and add on is ready to ship. :salute:

cheers porphy

[Skybird]

At simHQ, Ssnake gave a hint on the price for an upgrade two weeks ago.

25$.

At current date, that is 19.43 Euros, 17.52 Brit-Pounds, 39.51 Aussie-Dollars.

Don't now about shipping in- or excluded, VAT. Remember, this is not a download, but material delivery of a new CD and new manual.

It is my personal speculation, but probably they will rise the price of a complete new package for novices to around 150$, I assume.

[Chucky]

Well,I await the upgrade with baited breath!
To anyone who wants a modern tank sim,well,this is the one boys!!

[Voyd]

I just placed my order on Sunday...I figure by the time I get comfortable with the sim, the update will be ready to order...can't wait for it to arrive (one more day? :06:)!!

Voyd

[Voyd]

WOOOHOOOO!!! Just got it today...been going through the tutorials :rock:!!

[Skybird]

If you run into questions or problems, ask. However, I'm about to start a complete system reinstall after getting some sleep, which will get me stuck for the better part of the day since this time it is a cold manual install and no image being copied over (as usual), and I use to reformat several times, so even when assuming I do not run into unexpected troubles I may be absent for some time. Porphy and quite some other people here can help as well.

Behave everybody! :woot: :D

[andym]

WOOOHOOOO!!! Just got it today...been going through the tutorials :rock:!!

Oh dear,now you will find that you slip into a different time continuum,you start playing at 1900 and before you know it its 0200!!!!!It has a steep learning curve but its well worth it!

[porphy]

Good times ahead of you Voyd, nothing beats taking a Sabot out of the blue as you think you sneak your way forward undetected. :salute:

[Lieste]

http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=12188

The new stuff is pretty good, and will be worth the wait btw ;)

[Skybird]

Beta testing set to end this (11th) week, according to eSim's technical director.

By his earlier announcements, expect preorder phase immediately after that, while the CDs are getting produced in the factory. preorder gives you a small financial benefit, if I am not mistaken.

I hope to have my copy by the end of this month. :DL About time - since my system reinstallation three weeks ago I have no running installation of SBP - for the first time in three years.

Plenty of tasty stuff coming, several new 3D cockpit surroundings with the new vehicles, additions to existing cockpits (IVIS-style map displays), AAA-tanks, Australian, Italian and Spanish combat vehicles, a new Leopard-2, time-of-day rendering, armed pickups, plenty of bug-squashing, tuning of existing elements and AI behaviour, adressing infantry, and much more. This will be the most senior upgrade/addon/mod/patch they have released so far, much bigger in content than the swedish tanks-upgrade two years ago.

[Lieste]

VM and Sean made a preview movie showing some of the new/enhanced stuff for the Update.

http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=12936

[porphy]

Thanks for the heads up Lieste. It's going to be good. :yep:

[Lieste]

Yep, I've been having a blast :yeah:

[Skybird]

Nice video, so very "lecker-lecker"! Reminds us all that it really gets about time that they start shipping it.

If they sticked to their timetable Ssnake confirmed just days ago, Beta-testing ended last week, so since this week it should be in the factory.

IF they stick to their timetable. As SBP tankers you know that their announcement on timetables and time plans need to be multiplied, usually. :DL

[Lieste]

And preorders are open...

Two weeks :D be shure...

[Skybird]

And preorders are open...


It seems I got a serious rival in first announcements of SBP-news, eh? :D

[Skybird]

This thread was about delay, and the delay is over.

:DL

:salute:

:yeah:

:woot: