Note for non-BAT users: starting with v2.0 you no longer need "Mission Pro Combo for v4.12.2m" by benitomuso. MPC-PLUS v2.0 includes everything you need EXCEPT the QMB missions that must be downloaded separately.
BAT users will find in the first post a patch that can be installed on top of v3.8.X.
Having said that, let's get down to business... What's new, you ask?
~ THE HANGAR ~A visual aircraft selector has been solely missing in this game from day one. Back in the day not all PCs were ready to load and render many planes on screen but years later this can be finally realized.
The Hangar is accessible from the Arming screen but it is only available for Quick & Single Missions. Access to the Hangar was carefully designed to be out of the way so if it doesn't work for you, just... don't use it!
When you access your Hangar 20 planes will be rendered on screen.
Loading times and performance will vary depending on the power of your machine. Modded planes are more detailed and this will also impact performance. Any modern PC should render the screen in few seconds and SSD storage will certainly help.
If you click on aircraft besides the main window, browsing should be fast since it will only load one extra object with each click.
Not much else to explain here. I hope you enjoy this long awaited feature as much as I enjoyed building it!
~ THE OBJECT VIEWER ~Reviewed, Reworked, RevampedAccessible from the Main Menu, the Object Viewer hasn't gotten much attention in the last years. Modded planes weren't listed and we were missing most of the objects.
For MPC-PLUS v2.0 I reviewed the code and implemented some usability adjustments and the Object Viewer is actually usable now!
The viewer now remembers zoom and orientation:
To make the Object Viewer work in BAT you will need some files that can be downloaded in the first post. These files will be included in the next BAT patch but you can get them right away.
~ THE OBJECT BROWSER ~FMB's new Object Browser was introduced in a previous post but let's review it in detail again. Access the Object Browser from the View menu:
The Object Browser is optimized for a 1920x1080 resolution. I changed the default size of the regular object selector to take advantage of the configuration below, which I found optimal to work with:
The collapse/expand button is your best allied: the browser won't load/render objects while collapsed. Use the button often for best experience.
The Object Browser will only work with static objects (house icon). It is more than a viewer or a browser, it works in conjunction with the regular selector via synchronization but it can also replace it: you can build a scene using the Object Browser alone if you wish to do so.
Not much to explain about usage, just a couple of remarks:
- Right click on blue window to unselect the object (when selected)
- Left click on blue window to bookmark/unmark an object (valid for the current session only)
Regarding responsiveness, I am afraid there is little that can be done. Objects get rendered fast once in memory, but it takes time to read the various files from the SFS. The faster the HDD/SSD, the better the experience, just like with The Hangar.
Last, MPC-PLUS v2 includes an
improved FMB cursor. Get back the original cursor by deleting the 3DO folder found in the download.
You will find download links in the first post. Let me know how this update works for you. Take care and...
SEE YOU IN SKIES!