Arvoch Alliance SE 2.2408-2.2498 Updates...

[Vice]

Version 2.2408 includes the following improvements:

- Added ability to directly set the text detail setting in the main Options menu.
- Added threat level bars to target, ship, and object direction indicators.
- Added single key/button mapping option for full IDS Off mode (page 4).
- Minor improvements and fixes.


Notes:

Threat Level Bars Added to Indicators - Small lines have been added below the target, ship, and object direction indicators on the HUD to indicate threat level beyond just color. One line is friendly, two is neutral, and three is hostile. Image indexes have been added to accommodate the new indicators and their shadows.

[Vice]

Version 2.2418 includes the following improvements:

- Increased planetary terrain detail at greater distances for the 'Very High' setting.
- Rendering system updated for more physically accurate lighting and material properties.
- 'Advanced' control input system updated in efforts to work better with Proton.
- Added ability to reset RGB values to 100 in HUD Configuration with right click.
- Switched checkboxes to filled circles to better distinguish from exit buttons.
- Lightning effects revised for delays between flashes and a softer sequence.
- Automatic text detail setting increase applied for 2K and 4K resolutions.
- 32-bit legacy code/modules removed.
- Minor improvements and fixes.


Notes:

Rendering System Updated - New shaders and accommodating textures have been implemented in an effort to move away from the earlier rendering approach that resulted in some specular wash-out, oversaturation of colors, and somewhat flat response to light on object surfaces. The new system takes into account material properties along with revised lighting calculations to render cockpits, ships, stations, and cities with a more physically accurate metallic appearance. The new rendering approach is also designed to work with the existing texture index framework for any custom media. Some adjustments might be desired for the specular index to better align with the new rendering approach.

Advanced Control System Updated - The 'Advanced' control system has been updated in efforts to work better with Proton, including solving the crash issue that could occur when attempting to start the Axis Configuration menu and enable input response. For whatever reason(s), certain links between a running app/game and dependent libraries aren't established when running in a Proton environment in ways that can prevent DirectInput devices from communicating (axis and button signals). Every effort to try and establish a link in code was not successful during testing over the last few months, so there appears to be something inherent within certain Proton versions that prevent input from working as needed. But it was discovered that changing task focus and/or activating a message box (on either the DLL side or game side) somehow helped establishes a link between the two so that DI devices can respond on axis and buttons inputs. The game will now check for running in a Proton environment and if detected, it will attempt to automatically adjust task focus in an effort to enable response through DI. This approach has been working in testing in recent weeks. The player can optionally create a text file named 'protonmode.txt' in the save data folder and enter a number in the first line. Entering the number 1 will enable the message box prompt (displaying a dialogue box indicating the non-Windows mode is being initialized, click OK to continue). Entering any other number will instruct the game to try the automatic task focus approach. The game may still delay upon closing (something may get stuck with the Proton 'steam_app_0' process for unknown reasons), so shutting it down from the Steam menu or manually may be needed on some systems. But this approach should at least enable the advanced mode to work for some Proton environments. Players can continue to use the 'Limited' mode if they'd prefer to avoid such conditions for the advanced mode.

Planetary Detail Increase - Planetary terrain detail has been increased at greater distances for the 'Very High' setting. This means more mesh detail will be added at farther ranges, bringing in more surface detail sooner when approaching planets. This will require a bit more performance and video memory, but the increase is relatively minor and most systems already using higher detail settings in other categories can likely handle it well. Also keep in mind that the terrain update rate is also adjustable to regulate the impact of data processing in the background for these data operations to reduce stuttering or to reduce processing times as best applies for a system's performance.

[Vice]

Version 2.2428 includes the following improvements:

- Excalibur and Rail Cannon secondary weapon listings now show other applied hardpoints, displayed in parenthesis and/or dim.
- Improvements to how custom ship texture image sets are managed in relation to global options for consistency.
- Dedicated texture image indexes added for HUD object target indicator shadow and asteroid indicator shadow.
- Button frames updated for a cleaner and more color consistent look.
- Mouse click sound updated for a softer and more tone like effect.
- Evoch-E frame updated for cleaner wing structures.
- Minor improvements and fixes.

[Vice]

Version 2.2448 includes the following improvements:

- Position of secondary station for multiplayer modes in cave environment moved to provide more room through entrance.
- Fix for damage points not being properly awarded in human-vs-human battles in Dogfight multiplayer mode.
- Added ability to apply custom global missile structure, texture, and effects.
- Added ability to specify custom individual detail map textures for all ships.
- Minor improvements and fixes.


Edit 12-8-2025 - Update rolled out to add the following changes/improvements:

- Added bypasses to ignore persistent input from left/right Windows keys while game is running.
- Added custom sound effect option for self-destruct countdown sequence and stopping self-destruct.
- Added 'jumpdriveready.wav' sound file option to customizing options for jump drive ready alert.

[Vice]

Version 2.2458 is available and includes some minor fixes along with some multiplayer functional improvements. This update is being given its own version number due to changes in the multiplayer system that require this as a minimum build to communicate.

[Vice]

Version 2.2478 includes the following improvements:

- Added options for alternate shield and hull weapon impact sounds for player hitting hostile ships.
- Added ability to enable TrackIR while in-game without requiring exit and relaunch from main menu.
- Added custom secondary animation image import option for capital ship explosions.
- Minor improvements and fixes.


Edit 01-28-2026: Update available which fixes the left menu shadow remaining behind in VR when disabling the point mode, updates some menu text, revises certain menu frames, fixes an issue with the VR controller flight/throttle text labels (which could appear jumbled and difficult to read), and provides a revision to a font image to better support certain foreign language translations.

[Vice]

Version 2.2488 includes the following improvements:

- Jump drive warp tunnel rendered about 50% darker for improved visibility.
- Added option to set custom missile lock indicator roll rate (added to 'gauges.txt').
- Added ability to apply individual custom in-game text lines without altering other original lines.
- Added a dedicated scoreboard at the end of Dogfight, Squadrons, Strike, and other multiplayer battle modes.
- If VR controllers are detected on a first start of the game, Flight Control Type is set to Joystick/Controller.
- Improved multiplayer session state indication when player limit is reached in Steam lobby mode.
- Improvements to AI ship collision avoidance to reduce chance of station impacts.
- Minor improvements and fixes.


Notes:

Applying Custom Text Lines - To apply individual custom text lines, use the filename 'text-customlines.dat' in the \hud folder and specify only the lines you want to change (ie #=TextLineValue). This will apply the custom lines of text you specify while leaving original lines loaded from 'text.dat' or 'text-lang.dat' in place.

[Vice]

Version 2.2498 includes the following improvements:

- Customizing options expanded to support frame-specific HUD folders.
- Lighting parameters in shaders adjusted for enhanced contrast and light response.
- Console menu elements made brighter for improved clarity and frame distinction.
- Added ability to specify custom target object scaling factor (target MFD).
- Added ability to specify custom detail map scaling factor.
- Increased scaling factor for small ship detail maps.
- Texture updates for improved detail.
- Minor improvements and fixes.