WARNING : THIS IS A TEST

NOTE : THIS DOES NOT CONTAIN NEW PHYSICS / VW SCIROCCO / ROCKINGHAM

Hello Racers, here is a new Test Patch : Z18.

It is online compatible with version Z.
You can view hotlap replays made in version Z.

ABS brakes have been added to 5 cars (as a setup option) so for now you cannot upload hotlaps made in Z18.

Please keep a backup of your LFS.exe from version Z so you can go back to Z if there are any problems.

Changes in TEST PATCH Z18 :

Changes in the multiple monitor support system :

New slider : Screen angle - to set the angle between monitors
New slider : View offset - to move the steering wheel off centre

The FOV slider no longer sets the total FOV. Instead, you set the
FOV of the main screen. LFS then calculates all the necessary
fields of view and offsets per screen according to your settings.

This allows a much wider range of setups. You can use a wider
field of view without needing to set your monitors to an extreme
angle. The new settings also make a dual monitor setup usable.

Other updates :

Option to force external views to use full width
Connections list is now shown in alphabetical order
New key : SHIFT+Z to show the mouse cursor when it would be hidden
Names in race position list can now be clicked to view that player
Slight increase in wheels LOD reduction distance (increases detail)
Increased maximum value of Mirror LOD user setting (default now 0.3)
New text command /showmouse [yes/no] does the same as SHIFT+Z

Fixes :

FIX : A crash if a car drove outside the path area (no camera found)
FIX : Central message sub-text disappeared if escape menu was active
FIX : Flicker using roll function in SHIFT+U mode above 100 fps
FIX : LOD was wrongly affected by the previous rendered image
FIX : A debug message appeared when changing the AA setting

KNOWN ISSUES :

LX4 number plate intersects with spare tyre
SHIFT+U mode : "follow car" with frame rate above 100 fps, the observed car appears to shake (if moving)

Changes in TEST PATCH Z17 :

Fixed tyre related multiplayer OOS / JOOS bug found in Z16
Bezel compensation remained active even when not applicable

Changes in TEST PATCH Z16 :

Improved multiple monitor and curved screen support :

The number of left and right screens can be manually entered in the
View Options screen.

If you specify more than one screen, multiple views are rendered in
different directions. This allows much wider fields of view.

2 screens - maximum FOV 180 degrees
3 screens - maximum FOV 270 degrees
4 or more screens - maximum FOV 360 degrees

As before, there are two separate sets of settings. Wide mode
becomes active when the screen width is 3 or more times the height.
Normal mode and wide mode have all the same settings, but normal
mode defaults to 1 screen, while wide mode defaults to 3 screens.

The old single projection 3 three screen mode can be reproduced by
setting the number of left and right screens to zero.

A curved screen can be supported by setting the number of left and
right screens to the maximum of 5 each. This 11 screen setup is
an approximate cylindrical projection, ideal for curved screens.

Various other setups can now be properly supported, for example :

- A 5 screen setup with each screen at 45 degrees - total FOV 225
- A 3 projector setup with each screen at 90 degrees - total 270

Other new settings :

Bezel compensation - allows for the gap between monitors
Screen widths - for centre and side screens with a different width

Note :

External views (TV, helicopter and SHIFT+U mode) are always drawn as
a single render and confined to the same area as the 2D interface.

Other changes to view system :

Two button look (left + right) is now double the one button look and
this allows up to 180 degrees look (like old versions of LFS).

Rear look (instant 180 degree view from centre of car) is now the
same on all cars (no longer shows a virtual mirror) but is disallowed
if the host activates forced cockpit view.

Cockpit view Z-buffering has improved so you should not usually see
missing parts of your seat or the car body when looking around.

Other updates :

Click car arrow on small map to view that car
Included Slovenian translation of training lessons
New key : SHIFT+O to enter options from SHIFT+U mode
Pit speed limit is now shown below the pit direction arrow
Misc option "Shadow generation" to select optimal shadow draw
Headlights and tail lights can now be switched on by pressing '3'
V / TAB / P / HOME / F1 / F2 / F3 / F / SHIFT+M / N work in options
Virtual dash uses symbols (soon to be implemented on real dashboards)

Fixes :

FIX : Pit lane arrow is now only shown in driving views
FIX : Pit lane arrow was shown even when car was going the right way
FIX : Autocross editor buttons were wrongly scaled with the interface
FIX : Physics objects & smoke can now be seen through your windscreen
FIX : Selected object in editor vanished behind anything transparent
FIX : Turn signals were switched off if car received any damage
FIX : Crash in game setup screen after removing a player

Changes from Z to Z15 :

Graphics :

Updated wheels on Formula BMW
Improved wheel drawing system including rotating brake discs
Improved shadows - sharper and ambient shadow effect now included

Interface :

Direction to turn is shown when leaving pit garage
Improved order of "sort by version number" in List of Hosts
New message from host replaces "Did not receive guest info"
Progress indicator for skin downloads while joining a host
Unlock screen : clear button to remove name and password
Blue and yellow flags removed from cruise mode

Misc :

Implemented ABS brakes in XRG / RB4 / FXO / XRT / FZ5
InSim : Traction Control and ABS are now reported in IS_NPL packet
InSim : New packets to start / search replays and take screenshots

Fixes :

FIX : MPR buffer overflow vulnerability (reported by muhaa - thanks)
FIX : Could cross finish line without passing all route checkers
FIX : Skin names containing a '.' could not be loaded in LFS
FIX : Colour extended into skin download progress indicator
FIX : F12 tyre display for remote car could go off screen
FIX : MRT5 gear indicator and fuel gauge are now visible
FIX : Short cuts were possible in slalom course training
FIX : Autocross route checkers only worked for one lap
FIX : LFS could crash when many cars were in view (e.g. during MPR)
FIX : Vista 64 power save switched off monitor in full screen mode
FIX : No response in List of Hosts after failing to join a host
FIX : Lightmap (lighting on cars) was positioned inaccurately
FIX : Follower view angle setting changed when LFS restarted
FIX : Closing X connects (message in List of Hosts screen)
FIX : Mouse steering was stuck on full lock after minimising window
FIX : Player name was wrong in entry screen on entry or after replay
FIX : Added checks to prevent guests joining with no user name or ID
FIX : OOS starting race after joining autocross host in entry screen

DOWNLOADS :

PATCH Z to Z18 (Version Z must already be installed) :
www.liveforspeed.net/file_lfs. ... me=LFS_PATCH_Z_TO_Z18.exe (2.2 MB)

DEDICATED HOST Z18 (non-graphical version for hosting only) :
www.liveforspeed.net/file_lfs.php?name=LFS_S2_DEDI_Z18.zip (1.6 MB)

Good job!

So fast.

I have to test it.

Shift + U Tilting the view still flickers above 100fps.

i noticed that in shift+u and you watch, if you then tilt, although it doesnt do it like before where the entire screen flickered, its just the car that your watching does it.

i set full AI on rallycross and followed one of the ones in the middle of the pack, and messed about with the view options through shift+U.

i also set all the LOD's to 1.00 or highest they will go.

maybe that is something to do with it.

edit:

after a bit of testing, it only happens when Vsync is off.. if you set it to on, you can set it to any FPS you like.. and it will be fine. i tried 60 up to 100 and it was ok on all.

changing the LODS made no difference.

Quote from Taavi(EST) :

Shift + U Tilting the view still flickers above 100fps.

Are you sure you have Z18? Please check the entry screen.

I could reproduce the bug in Z17, found the problem, fixed it and now cannot reproduce it any more.

Also flickers with no roll set with SPR replays.

This is my entry screen.

Quote from Taavi(EST) :

Shift + U Tilting the view still flickers above 100fps.

Are you very sure,

For me its Solved!
I am running 320 fps, i had it before , but not on Z18!

Having not tried it this may be a silly question, but....

If I have two screens, one in the center and one to the left, is there support to keep the center screen as it is normally in LFS, and then for the left screen to just carry on the view on that side? Like a 3 monitor setup but with no right monitor...

Quote from Taavi(EST) :

Shift + U Tilting the view still flickers above 100fps.

if you enable vsync @ 100fps does it still happen?

Quote from Taavi(EST) :

Shift + U Tilting the view still flickers above 100fps.

It doesn't flicker on my pc(and it was flickering at Z17).

Quote from Taavi(EST) :

Also flickers with no roll set with SPR replays.

This is my entry screen.

What for hardware do you have ?

I am on a Q9950, ATI HD4890, Asus P45, 4gb Memory, 32-Bit Windows 7! (last week drivers).....

I can confirm that with Z18, the observed car flickers when the fps are > 100 in Shift-U mode.

E: Roll doesn't matter, and you have to set the option to follow the car. If the camera is still or you move it around manually, no flickering occurs.

Quote from mcintyrej :

Having not tried it this may be a silly question, but....

If I have two screens, one in the center and one to the left, is there support to keep the center screen as it is normally in LFS, and then for the left screen to just carry on the view on that side? Like a 3 monitor setup but with no right monitor...

Yes.

As you are UK I guess you drive on the right of your car, so you would probably set set 0 right monitors and 1 left monitor.

Set "monitor angle" to be the true angle that the second monitor is set relative to the first monitor (e.g. 30 degrees).

You can also use an offset to improve the view, as you can see in the attached photo.

I can't download Z15 neither Z16 Scawen do you know why?

Quote from Scawen :

Yes.

As you are UK I guess you drive on the right of your car, so you would probably set set 0 right monitors and 1 left monitor.

Set "monitor angle" to be the true angle that the second monitor is set relative to the first monitor (e.g. 30 degrees).

You can also use an offset to improve the view, as you can see in the attached photo.

Looks brilliant! Thanks for the in depth reply.

Quote from (The Stig) :

I can't download Z15 neither Z16 Scawen do you know why?

In Patch Z18 Include All the Fixes that was made after Patch Z, So why do you need Z15 , Z16 ?

Quote from AndroidXP :

I can confirm that with Z18, the observed car flickers when the fps are > 100 in Shift-U mode.

E: Roll doesn't matter, and you have to set the option to follow the car. If the camera is still or you move it around manually, no flickering occurs.

OK, I confirm I can see this new bug.

Added it to the known issues.

Good job Scawen, I tested all new features & bugs and it works fine (e.g. the flickering is not reproducable in my LFS). I like the alphabetical sort of the conn list, it's a lot easier to count the team members connected etc, also the differentiation of the host & other players is a good solution.

Anyway, you can add '3' to the reserved keys list.

By the way, Czech translation's up to date

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=els9MiXpB7g

Intel2Duo E2160 (1.8GHZ)
GF8600GT
2GB DDR2

Folks, how do I spread LFS over two monitors?

Windows uses both as one big desktop.
I set LFS to use one monitor in the middle, one on the right.

Resolution is set to 1680x1050.

Any hints, please? Would love to try the new features.

Cheers.

Quote from hotmail :

In Patch Z18 Include All the Fixes that was made after Patch Z, So why do you need Z15 , Z16 ?

Agree'd. But im not sure if its the same what i mean.

If i have default Z and i download then i miss the Z1 to Z17 or all the new updates are included in the latest test patch?

Quote from bukhem :

Folks, how do I spread LFS over two monitors?

Windows uses both as one big desktop.
I set LFS to use one monitor in the middle, one on the right.

Resolution is set to 1680x1050.

Any hints, please? Would love to try the new features.

Cheers.

Go into Options... Screen. Can you see a mode whose resolution is the same as your desktop?

If so, then click that resolution.

If that works (LFS goes full screen over two screens) then you can follow what I said in this other post :
http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?p=1281581#post1281581

Quote from hazaky :

Agree'd. But im not sure if its the same what i mean.

If i have default Z and i download then i miss the Z1 to Z17 or all the new updates are included in the latest test patch?

Z18 includes everything from Z1-Z17.

I really hope nobody actually downloads & installs Z1 to (Zn-1) prior to upgrading to Zn