Prepar3D v4.2 Features and Enhancements
Release Notes
Prepar3D v4.2 continues to improve on the groundbreaking Prepar3D v4 simulation platform. The new v4.2 release welcomes three new user controllable helicopters, new rendering techniques for improved virtual reality (VR) performance, countless legacy bug fixes, and even a couple new exciting experimental features to give users a feel of where the platform is heading! This is the first release to feature new helicopter capabilities, including scenario controllable artificial intelligence (AI) and autopilot functionality. Additionally, many developer requests were addressed, and we look forward to the Prepar3D ecosystem continuing to create high-end content that pushes simulation boundaries to new limits.
The following list of updates has been categorized based on the installer required. The Client installer is required for Prepar3D v4.2, however the Content, Scenery, and SDK installers are optional. You must first have Prepar3D v4 installed to utilize the Client only installer. To install the Prepar3D v4.2 Client, you must first uninstall the previous Prepar3D v4.0/v4.1 Client through Programs and Features in Windows Control Panel. The Prepar3D v4.2 Client update will require you to reactivate your product, however if you have an internet connection it will be automatic. For more information please view the Prepar3D v4 Download/Installation Instructions from the Prepar3D.com Downloads page.
Prepar3D Client
General Platform Updates
New Features
- Added Single-Pass VR support for improved VR performance.
- Added headset selection to the VR menu
- Added helicopter AI capabilities
- Added helicopter autopilot functionality
- Added support for ground based waypoint and wingman AI
- Added Voice Control (experimental). See Using Voice Controls for more information.
New Features (Professional Plus Only)
- Added Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) Collision PDU support
Fixes and Improvements
- Fixed crash that could occur when moving windows across different GPUs
- Fixed issue in VR where the red top-down cursor would only show in the left eye view
- Fixed issue that could cause AI to jitter when viewing recordings
- Fixed flickering issue in VR when changing to a sensor view for the first time
- Fixed bug preventing graphics profile names from saving correctly
- Fixed issue with the crash view being misaligned in VR
- Fixed issue in the flight planner screen where altitude units would not sync with user preferences
- Fixed issue with full screen not correctly blacking out monitors with certain resolution settings
- Filenames containing a '.' character are now supported
- Added additional VR error messages to assist in debugging common issues
- Specified content errors will now only be reported once
- Added pop-up message that is shown when graphics driver crashes allowing scenario to be saved before shut down
- Fixed issue preventing navigation visual ribbons from properly appearing in instant replay and recordings
- Fixed issue where invalid ATC options were assigned to ground vehicles
- Fixed issue where commands assigned to numeric keys with modifiers (i.e. shift + 1) would not execute when the ATC window was open
- Fixed crash that could occur when having the ATC window open for an extended period of time when using a ground vehicle
- Fixed Scaleform crash occurring in various third party add-ons
- Corrected time zone processing so the date changes correctly when switching to an airport in a different hemisphere
- Fixed several time zone issues including updating GMT references to UTC, updating daylight savings time dates, fixing default time zone locations, and fixing international date line behavior
- Added "Message Text" option to enable or disable additional information text messages including opening the aircraft canopy
- Fixed issue where Air Traffic views would not correctly sync in VR
- Fixed issue preventing HTC Vive headsets from being used on machines with Oculus Software installed
- Fixed crash with Ultra Water when using third party add-on aircraft
- Fixed crash in Scaleform sound playback
- Fixed Unicode error with CustomAction payload strings
- Fixed crash that would occur when deleting the last assignment in the Controls user interface
- Fixed several issues with the recording system including objects spawned from a SpawnList not appearing, avatar animations not playing, and bookmarks not saving all data
- VR settings can be now set to persist
- Fixed issue where base AI could overwrite AI behavior states
- Fixed issue where heading would be lost when AI tug was turned on
- Fixed issue that could cause incorrect or corrupt textures to load when having several scenery add-ons installed through the Add-on Package setup
- Updating vehicle airspeed in the map UI no longer causes the pitch and bank to reset back to 0
- Autopilot airspeed increment and decrement can now be mapped to keyboard commands
- Fixed bug where desktop resolution would not revert to its original value when exiting in some cases
- Fixed issue with sky color being incorrect when volumetric fog was disabled
- Fixed issue with focal points being incorrectly colored in IR Black Hot camera mode
- Minor improvements to terrain paging performance
- Camera definitions now use content pathing when loading Scaleform movies
- Gauge events and scripts are now processed by the user object when the avatar is detached
- Scaleform overlays can now be set to source data from a camera's target object
- Corrected frustum offsets for cameras. Fix corrects Roll being incorrectly handled across the platform for cameras.
- Fixed issue with loading third party dlls on Windows 10
- Undocked windows now correctly persist their maximized state when application is restored after being minimized
- Fixed left-eye lag seen in Oculus Rift VR headsets
- Fixed performance and stability issues with Ultra Water on Nvidia 10 series cards
- Improved AI waypoint following
- Fixed issue where cameras would save incorrect field of view values in some cases
- Fixed issue where batched objects would have incorrect positions at high altitudes
- Fixed tab order in Fuel and Payload UI and Failures UI
- Fixed small freezes that would occur when using the SimConnect text menu
- Fixed issue where Scaleform panels would flicker in SLI when undocking views
- Fixed issue where F-22 ground radar would flicker in SLI
- Improved performance for render-to-texture (RTT) views and plugins in SLI
- Improved Dynamic Lighting performance by filtering lights based on distance and size
- Adjusted the size of stars in reflections
- Fixed crash that could occur when certain jetways would animate
- Fixed issue where opening the context menu in undocked views would cause a slight delay
- Fixed incorrect tooltips in the Information options page
- Fixed issue that would cause text added through SimConnect to draw twice each frame
- Fixed cloud lighting inconsistencies between multiple views
- Fixed issue that could prevent certain model parts from becoming visible after switching between views
Fixes and Improvements (Professional Plus Only)
- IP address of machine is now automatically detected in the DIS menu configuration
- Fixed issue that could cause weapons to draw in the incorrect location depending on viewing angles inside the Virtual Cockpit
- Fixed issue that prevented the avatar from reloading weapon systems on a scenario load
SimDirector Updates
New Features
- Added support for configuring new helicopter AI capabilities
- Entities and Mobile Scenery now support AGL altitudes
Fixes and Improvements
- Fixed issue which caused scenario cameras to disappear when renamed
- Fixed issue where resize cursor would incorrectly appear in certain locations in the Selected Properties view
- Fixed crash that could occur when importing object groups
- Fixed crash that could occur when playing a flight recording
- Fixed incorrect terrain origin with scenario cameras
- Fixed issue that would cause objects to disappear after deactivating their corresponding waypoint list
- Added validation for missing object references in AI behaviors
- Fixed crash that would occur when setting the current waypoint of an object to a value out of range
- Fixed issue that prevented focal points from drawing after switching to an external view
- Fixed issue where translate and scale gizmos would incorrectly activate when dragging the mouse over them
- Fixed issue with drag selection not deselecting appropriate objects
- The waypoint window is now opened when creating a waypoint list
- Clicking a selected object now deselects all other selected objects
- Fixed selection issues seen when dragging icon clusters
- SetGaugeActions now persist their values when changing variants of the same vehicle
- Fixed issue where scale gizmo could be selected for the user ownship
- Fixed crash when running Comprehensive Scenario Validation
- Fixed driver crash caused by dragging multiple SpeedTree objects
- Fixed issue where moving objects would snap to their original location when moving while the translate gizmo was active
- Fixed issue where the rotate gizmo would jitter when selecting certain axes
- UI elements no longer lose focus when mouse moves over the 3D map view in Windows 10
- Reduced SimDirector loading time
- Fixed issue where SimDirector would hang on shutdown with third party add-ons installed
- Fixed serialization issue with the ScaleformPanelWindow
- Moved mode change buttons to a separate ribbon tab and refactored base ribbon tab layout
- Snap to Ground is now set to off by default
Prepar3D Content
New Features
- Added CH-53E Super Stallion Marine and Navy variants as default selectable vehicles
- Added MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawk variants as default selectable vehicles
- F-16A and F-16AM HMD reticles now display in VR
- New placeable scenario objects added:
- Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV)
- Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1
- Generic Jet Fighters
- Special Forces Boats
- Container Ship
- Ro-Ro Cargo Ship
- Transporter Erector
- 6x4 Truck
- M901 Patriots
- M777
- Tanker Truck Yellow
- Lowboy Semi-Tractor Trailer
- Desert Hawk 3.1
- Indago UAS
Fixes and Improvements
- Updated default avatar cameras to use the avatar as the data source for Scaleform overlays. This corrects errors with the compass when using multiple views.
- Improved F-16 HUD readability
- Moved UH-60 default eyepoint to center of the seat
Prepar3D Scenery
Fixes and Improvements
- Fixed large trench running through Syria
- Fixed coastline dips in Guam
- Fixed runway Z-order issues at KNRB
Prepar3D SDK
New Features
- Added Voice Control PDK plugin and service to add custom voice commands to the system (experimental)
- Added Voice Control SimConnect sample
- Windows and panels can now be placed in 3D space using the PDK
- Added AttachPointService providing location and orientation of attached objects
- Grass can be added as autogen on airport backgrounds
- Added SimConnect camera type to create external AI cameras
- Added ability to listen to SimConnect_Text messages with SimConnect_SubscribeToSystemEvent
- Scaleform panel samples for:
- Airspeed Indicator
- Altimeter Instrument
- Artificial Horizon Indicator
- Autopilot
- Control Display Unit
- Cyclic and Collective
- Heading Gauge
- Magnetic Compass
- Multi-Function Display
- Vertical Speed Indicator
Fixes and Improvements
- Fixed bug preventing VK_NUMPAD keys from being handled correctly through SimConnect
- Add-on dlls now automatically search current directory for dependent dlls
- Fixed issue where SimConnect_RequestFacilitiesList would not return the complete list of relevant facilities in some cases
- Fixed incorrect pointer type in GetParameter function in gauges.h header
- Unified SimConnect and simulation variable functionality by providing the same capabilities in each system
- SimConnect_RequestAttachPointData now correctly returns the requested object id and also supports SIMCONNECT_OBJECT_ID_USER
- Fixed Unicode bug when exporting models with duplicate parts
- Fixed bug preventing the ExternalSim sample project from building in debug. ExternalSim is deprecated, please see SimObject API as the recommended replacement.