WARNING 1 : THIS IS A TEST

WARNING 2 : SKINS ARE CONVERTED THE FIRST TIME YOU RUN THE TEST PATCH - IT TAKES 2 MINUTES OR SO

Hello Racers.

Here is a new test patch W26. Please see the list of changes below.

Here is some information about the major changes in this series of test patches :

- Most notably, the number of cars in a race has increased to 32.
- Also, false starts are now possible (LFS does not hold you at the start line - you must make your car go)
- Skin improvements including high resolution premium skin download service

There are various improvements related to skins including the option to download high resolution skins while online, for a small charge of £1 for 2000 downloads. The low resolution downloads are still free. We have to charge for the downloading of high resolution skins because of the increased bandwidth and the need to buy and maintain more internet servers for LFS online usage which is always increasing. Please note, we are not selling skins. The skins remain the property of their owners. Your copy is a high resolution compressed version of the original. This is a charge purely for the downloading service which allows you to see other cars' skins in higher resolution.

Downloaded skins are now always saved and shown in compressed form. The original jpg is not saved on other computers. This allows the best use of memory and the quickest load from disk.

To use your own jpg skins, or to view skins that you manually download, save them into your skins folder - you will then find them selectable in game, just as before. You can see your manually downloaded skins compressed or not compressed according to the option for local skins. There are now 4 skins folders but you can ignore them all, just forget about them and just use the skins folder as usual.

skins : you save jpg skins that you want to select in game
skins_dds : lfs uses this to store dds (compressed) versions of your local skins
skins_x : lfs stores automatically downloaded low res skins
skins_y : lfs stores automatically downloaded high res skins

NOTE : SKINS ARE CONVERTED ON THE FIRST RUN OF THIS TEST PATCH - THAT MAY TAKE 2 MINUTES OR SO

If you want to use this service, you can make a payment at www.lfsworld.net or at the main site https://www.liveforspeed.net/?page=shop

To deal with the increased memory usage, there is also a skin purging system which removes unneeded skins from your graphics card memory, some time after they were last used. You can see the list of skins in use in the Misc Options screen. White means the skin is actually in use. Black means it was recently used and is hanging around a while in case it is used again (to avoid a disc access). In the past, LFS just left all skins in memory until you changed track or weather.

Changes in TEST PATCH W26 :

FIX : MP Replays could not be played back at all
FIX : Repeated messages when AI are trying to reset

Changes in TEST PATCH W25 :

Now supporting TrackIR with 6 degrees of freedom
Button look is now added to the yaw output of TrackIR
Automatic unpause when starting or restarting a replay
Ignition key "I" is now assignable to any key or button
Pit instructions fuel load can now be adjusted in 1% steps
Pit instructions and live settings now work in single player
SHIFT+G gear shift selection no longer stops replay recording

InSim :

Admins can now use the IS_REO (race reorder) packet
New packet IS_MSX - allows typing of longer messages
New packet IS_MSL - output a message on local computer

FIXES :

SPR with pit stop would often go out of sync at the pit stop
SPR with different help flags could go OOS when changing view
If reset allowed - driving out of bounds results in safe reset
AI drivers reset now safe - no reset if it could cause a crash

Changes from W to W24 :

Multiplayer :

Up to 47 guests can connect to a host
Max cars in multiplayer race increased to 32
In demo still only 12 racing but up to 15 can connect
Car is no longer held at start line - false starts possible
Start lights time between red and green is changed each race
Avoided most of the "Can't x - a player is connecting" messages
Implemented a new "canreset" option while leaving hotlaps valid
Automatic spectate if you drive out of bounds when reset not allowed
Global handicaps for class balancing (set by master server)
Remote car's handicap shown in F11 menu, tyres in F12 menu
Grid reordering is now done on end race as well as restart
Kick and ban votes are held open a little longer

Racing :

Start and pit fuel loads range from 1% to 100%
Qualifying sessions now start from the pit lane
Qualifying out lap is no longer counted as a valid lap
Single player now allows up to 20 ai cars (powerful pc)
New voluntary handicap system in pits (part of setup)
Added preload setting to clutch pack differentials

Display :

Small map colours can be changed : Options-Display-Interface
Small map cars more than one lap ahead are a different colour
Automatic show results - leaves small map visible when driving
Hide / show results removed from options - now available on CTRL+TAB
Timing info is show in yellow after winner crosses line or time over
Yellow finished message is no longer duplicated in central text
Connection bars are not drawn if they would obscure tyre info
Qualifying cars on out lap are drawn orange (others yellow)
Qualifying position is shown in yellow like race position
Added text on screen showing the reason for a penalty
Display option : Virtual steering gauge
Display option : Rotate small map

Interface :

Added button to spectate from garage
Scroll though autocross results with PgUp / PgDn
SHIFT+P now enters garage from game setup screen
SHIFT+O now enters options when watching a SP replay
New keys SHIFT+S (spectate) and SHIFT+P (go to pits)
Removed the sound effect of a racer pitting or spectating
Escape menu improvements : can use keys (listed on screen)
Race control message now has priority over wrong way message
Wider FOV and more view pitch available (for extreme settings)
Filter added to list of games to avoid hosts which allow reset
Place objects is now switched off when entering race or qualifying
FIX : Start restriction countdown was missing from OK button in pits
FIX : Q / X / ESC / ENTER keys did not exit from pits if player in race

Skins :

Replay skins download screen new "always" and "never" options
High res premium skin download system (£1 for 2000 downloads)
System to purge skins from graphics card memory when not used
Skin download and preload during connection after loading track
Improved the "new colours" system - combined with skin selection
Skins in skins folder are not converted to dds if using full skins

InSim :

New version of InSim allows up to eight TCP or UDP connections
More race tracking info and many packets added (see InSim.txt)
More commands now work on AI drivers : /spec /pitlane /p_xxx
More commands work even if player joining e.g. /spec /laps
New /i command to send a message to a race control program
Race penalty can now be removed with /p_clear command
Send all players to their pits with /pit_all command

System :

Removed the option not to use HVS if it is available
Better messages showing the reason for disconnection
Admins can now edit and /axsave layouts while online
Admin ban dialog now asks for a number of days to ban
Admins can now see other admins in list of connections
Added short track name to SPR, MPR and RAF file formats
Added handicap mass and restriction to hotlap file header
Increased maximum physics objects due to more cars on track
Start grid remains when track or config changes (if possible)
FIX : Removed the need to pass a split after receiving admin penalty
FIX : The TAB key did not work with /press /ctrl and /shift commands
FIX : Autocross checkpoints in line could cause rapid lap count bug
FIX : Path followers were reset when an object was added or removed
FIX : Path follower reset caused a glitch or an out of bounds reset
FIX : Some objects were not drawn after exiting pits while paused
FIX : Start lights were not shown in some of the training lessons
FIX : Autocross layout number of laps sometimes did not load
FIX : Message "NETWORK FATAL : NOTSOCK" when joining a host
FIX : Find user in S2 mode looking for racer on S1 host
FIX : Occasional crash when exiting from List of Games

DOWNLOAD :

PATCH (Version W must already be installed) :
www.liveforspeed.net/file_lfs.php?name=LFS_TEST_W26.exe

ZIP VERSION (If you prefer a zip file) :
www.liveforspeed.net/file_lfs.php?name=LFS_TEST_W26.zip

DEDICATED HOST (for hosting only) :
www.liveforspeed.net/file_lfs.php?name=LFS_S2_DEDI_W26.zip

whoa!! w26? already?? thanks scawen!!

Yes, just a couple of fixes, I couldn't leave it without MP Replays working and I knew that would be a quick fix.

Right, now... it's my day off coding!

My W24 replays are now running with W26, thanks.

It solved the mpr problem for me, but I still can't view my spr that i made on w25 (I get a pop up saying "Track start positions do not match").
spr is attached.

When trying to make a new spr i noticed weird behaviour which i noticed last night as well.
When I save a replay, it wants to immediately view it but I can't use any of the controls (tab, v, whatever). I'm definitely in the replay (seeing as I can't enter the controller menu), but i cant do anything.
The most weird thing about it is that I can still fast forward beyond to what i have recorded (replay was 1 minute, but i can view further).
This was a qualifying session in single player btw.

Quote from mikey_G :

It solved the mpr problem for me, but I still can't view my spr that i made on w25 (I get a pop up saying "Track start positions do not match").
spr is attached.

When trying to make a new spr i noticed weird behaviour which i noticed last night as well.
When I save a replay, it wants to immediately view it but I can't use any of the controls (tab, v, whatever). I'm definitely in the replay (seeing as I can't enter the controller menu), but i cant do anything.
The most weird thing about it is that I can still fast forward beyond to what i have recorded (replay was 1 minute, but i can view further).
This was a qualifying session in single player btw.

Just taking a stab in the dark here but would that be because of W25 having problems and now the code is changed so anything made in W25 would now be obsolete ......

MPR's working again, thanks Scawen!

I just joined a W23 server and when speccing someone in an FZR their handicap said 100kg even though in the pits it says the handicap is only 80kg. The XRR handicap was 40kg while speccing so it was correct.

Quote from brads82 :

Just taking a stab in the dark here but would that be because of W25 having problems and now the code is changed so anything made in W25 would now be obsolete ......

indeed, just tried to do it with w26 and I had the same problem. No surprise there as there were no changes to the code regarding single player mode.

Quote from Scawen :

Pit instructions and live settings now work in single player

Thank you for this change!!! Makes testing for league races so much easier for me!

Keep up the good work!

What is the status of the handicap ?
I mean the value for each car?

If you join a server with network debugging ON (SHIFT-F8) you should see the handicap values.

Quote from Davo :

I just joined a W23 server and when speccing someone in an FZR their handicap said 100kg even though in the pits it says the handicap is only 80kg. The XRR handicap was 40kg while speccing so it was correct.

My guess is that the FZR drivers setup had 100kg handicap on it. Maybe for offline practice or something like that. The driver just forgot or didn't know that the handicap got reduced and thus was driving with 100kg.

Quote from mikey_G :

It solved the mpr problem for me, but I still can't view my spr that i made on w25 (I get a pop up saying "Track start positions do not match").
spr is attached.

When trying to make a new spr i noticed weird behaviour which i noticed last night as well.
When I save a replay, it wants to immediately view it but I can't use any of the controls (tab, v, whatever). I'm definitely in the replay (seeing as I can't enter the controller menu), but i cant do anything.
The most weird thing about it is that I can still fast forward beyond to what i have recorded (replay was 1 minute, but i can view further).
This was a qualifying session in single player btw.

Thanks. I've tested and it seems that qualifying sessions in single player do not make valid SP Replays.

Surely a day off from coding means you can leave the forums well alone as well? Enjoy your day off, dammit!

Quote from Bob Smith :

Surely a day off from coding means you can leave the forums well alone as well? Enjoy your day off, dammit!

eh well maybe a day off coding don't mean a day off the forum i mean who's going check for the bugs reports from us. He will lose track of bugs ect.

Well the bugs will be there if he gets back... i am afraid

Just upgraded to W26 dedicated host.

Note that lfsworld and live_progress script display the host as "W17".

E.g. http://www.lfsworld.net/pubsta ... %5Bnoobs%5D+meow+%28iB%29

Dunno if it's related to master server settings or if it's any harmful at all. Just a heads up.

Edit: Fixed within seconds after I posted this. :-OOOO

MMMM right i can turn my wheel left and right but when i press down on my gas peddle it don't work ever since i put patch 26 on now on other games it works but when i try lfs patch w and higher it don't save my buttons how i set them up but when i go back on lfs the buttons i set up went back to my old buttons now my peddles do work and there pluged in its just lfs.

Quote from faster111 :

MMMM right i can turn my wheel left and right but when i press down on my gas peddle it don't work ever since i put patch 26 on now on other games it works but when i try lfs patch w and higher it don't save my buttons how i set them up but when i go back on lfs the buttons i set up went back to my old buttons now my peddles do work and there pluged in its just lfs.

Recalibrate

Quote from garph :

Recalibrate

Thank god i remember stotty telling me the axis it works now.

OOS Error when watching replay with car that have voluntary added mass

Quote from The Stig PL :

OOS Error when watching replay with car that have voluntary added mass

Thanks, yes I see this happens if you press 1 while racing, but if you then watch the replay from the replay menu, it works the first time then goes wrong when it loops.

Quote from Clownpaint :

And yet again, it has managed to fix itself without any reasonable explanation. Very odd.

This has happened to me each time I've installed the latest test patches now.

The Alt-tab thingy is Windows issue not LFS directly.
NVIDIA nor ATI dont recomend using ALT-TAB when you want to minimeze game.They said its Windows issue and I never heard Micorosft would say something against it.

I had same issue with other games as well.Nothing new.Sometimes the ALT-TAB work weird in windows.

Hope you enjoyed your day off mate, you deserve it more than anyone I know