Next Edition of Flight Commander Being Built

Aspiring Wing Commander modders are still using Flight Commander to build their own campaigns, and eddieb is hard at work on the next version of the game engine to give them even more abilities. A full release is still a ways off, but some exciting improvements have already been integrated. Feature and issue progress can be followed on the tracker here. Download the current version of the mission builder here

Some have been asking what features will be in 1.7. I'm about to get married, so the wedding is my priority, and I won't be able to release anything until afterwards. But here's what I already got done

• AI uses decoys against dumbfires
• Display shield flash when hitting shielded part of a cap ship
• Music change on Torpedo run
• Change shield color
• Add after debriefing movie.
• Add a timer with a callback for scripting
• Show ship name in the viewer
• In-game lua console
• weapons xml tag
• Mission timer wrong when pausing

And here's some items that are partially done

• Multiple friendly wings
• More comms, and the AI to use them. For example, the AI congratulates you on a kill. Announces it is taking over the wing when the wingleader dies.
• More interactive menus in the gameflow. Buttons will highlight when you mouse over them, the scrollbars work. More stats and fiction in the ship viewer.
• An improved mission editor
• Give the user a choice of joystick

Robotech FC Mod Kicks Off

Seeing as how you have a well rounded engine already...and I have ALL the models I need...how about this? I have plenty of ideas on my own, as well as plenty of models, sprites, and sound f/x. I'm going to have some fun with this and see where I can take it.

Next on the list:

1. Add some borrowed audio to the animated "face shots" I already have. This will be for communication traffic. I have all the characters from the first war portrayed.
2. Build a Cat's Eye recon plane
3. Import all the Pods
4. Create some simple missions to test everything to this point.

I'm still not sure whether I want to be my own pilot or someone pre-created. I guess it's only a secondary problem. The real trick is making a good combat experience, and then enhancing that experience with a story line. At least I already have the plot and some minor characters already taken care of.