UI POLISH AND NEW PLAYER MODIFICATIONS

• Edited first-time help texts for brevity
• Changed screenshot to PrintScreen
• Fixed a bug that allowed TR MAXes to unload full clips by reloading right after anchoring
• Made it so jumping cancels all recalls and rematrixes.
• Fixed a minor bug where destroyed Router teleport pads would still emit sound.
• Polished cursor graphics so they stand out better
• Increased the font size of the session stats window
• Scrollbar in empire description on the character creation screen now shows only if needed
• Improved the W graphic on the proximity radar window
• Platoon default chat color is now bright orange which should be much easier to read
• Tweaked the third person camera speed to compensate for mouse wheel and keyboard use
• Increased default mouse sensitivity
• Increased default opacity of windows to increase legibility. This will only affect new players.
• Due to player feedback we added "Invert Map Mouse look Zoom" as a toggle game option
• Removed some un-needed space from the Performance Window
• Continent map now uses a more "RTS Style" mouse scrolling where placing the mouse at the edge of the screen will scroll and won't get blocked by windows or the top toolbar.
• Changed the new character default certifications to have ATV and Harasser instead of Armored Assault 1. This was to avoid the confusing "Invalid Armor" situation for new players until they are more familiar with the game.
• Improved the first-time help when opening the map in warpgate selection mode
• Improved the first-time help when opening a map in normal viewing mode
• Slight increase in default size of the radar window to better align with other windows
• Added pop up helps for using weapons and medkits the first time you enter a battle zone
• Corrected an issue where you could select a row on the CE window leaving a yellow highlight that would last until you logged
• Changed the Boomer icon to be easier to tell from the HE Mine icon
• Added tooltips to icons on the CE Window
• Changed order of icons in the CE Window to mirror ACE fire mode selection order
• Revised the Certification training mission text so it refers to the correct 6 hour unlearn timer rather than the old 24 hour timer
• Made it so reserve ammo does not display for Switchblades, Flails, and Cavern Turrets. Since you can never reload these weapons anyway there is no point to display 0 for the reload reserve.
• Corrected an issue where vehicle timer text could overlap with the vehicle name on the Vehicle Terminal selection window
• Changed the font used on ammo boxes in the inventory window
• Modified position of holster numbers in inventory window
• Fixed bug where the driver of some vehicles would not start in first person camera view from the vehicle pad
• Fixed text strings that were referring to old window names (ex. "Soldier Management" is now "Game Windows")
• Decreased default time that first-time help windows stay up to 60 seconds (reduced from 120)
• Mosquito radar icon should not disappear after traveling through a warpgate.
• Removed tooltips from the Create Character screen face grid and the Select Outfit Decal dialog.
• All flak projectiles (Burster, BFR Burster, Skyguard, and Flaklet) now detonate upon impacting flight vehicles and flying BFRs.
• Added Session Stats, Performance, and Combat Engineering to Game Windows window
• Added window name and hotkey next to buttons on Game Windows window
• Changed some window titles
• Outfit Info -> Outfit
• Vehicle Access -> Vehicle
• Soldier Management -> Game Windows
• Organizational Info -> Players (which is more intuitive for the P key mapping)
• Default key mapping changes
• Outfit is now O
• Character is now U, instead of O. While neither is intuitive, at least U is EQ2 standard, and allows O to be Outfit, which is intuitive.
• Made session stats window default to not showing for new players
• Changed session and performance stat windows to save their visibility state in same way other windows do.
• Removed "show session stats" option from Options:Game; players will just use the key mapping
• Tweaked appearance of Performance Stats to look like other stats
• Improved layout of front end screens by grouping buttons by importance, and increasing contrast between back/next and secondary buttons
• Eliminated unnecessary/erroneous tooltips from front end
• Replaced X button with more explicit EXIT button
• Eliminated confirmation dialog when exiting the game
• In server list, fixed column heading from SERVER LIST to SERVER
• Changed character creation step 2 so BACK button goes back to empire selection, not character selection
• Slightly tinted planet backdrop in front-end with complementary color to set off foreground controls more
• Edited empire description texts so that they do not require scrolling in English
• Added zone name to loading screen
• Polished loading screen presentation
• Removed unnecessary "Name" header text from Favorites tab on Equipment terminal
• Changed NEXT button on character creation to read FINISH
• Removed "Are you sure you want to disconnect?" confirmation when Back button is pressed on character select screen
• Changed first-use-help window appearance to contrast more with normal windows, and be easier to read. It also auto sizes its height to the text (up to a point), and only shows the scrollbar if needed.
• Numerous small tweaks to the popup texts for clarity (ex. changing "Press the G key to purchase from the terminal" to "Press G to use the equipment terminal"), aesthetics, and brevity.
• Changed server names from "Markov (and Johari)" and "Emerald (and Konreid)" to just Markov and Emerald
• Disabled first-time help for sanctuary (obsolete now)
• Tweaked alignment of many windows for polish and consistency
• Performance stats window and soldier management pane are hidden by default now
• Commented out behavior of auto-showing performance stats window in response to link dead warning
• Increased default height of vehicle, equipment, and BFR windows, so players can see a bit more without scrolling.
• Fixed bug where windows would try to avoid overlapping vehicle damage display; this would cause bad-looking default alignments
• Fixed alignment of re-spawning dialog; it would move to a bad spot when you increase resolution higher than 1024x768
• Made "Invert Flying Input" the default, so up = up and down = down, which is a lot more intuitive for new players
• Hooked in timed help triggers for the following events:
• First infiltration suit
• First MAX suit (different help for each empire's)
• First equip weapon with multiple fire modes
• First equip weapon with multiple ammo types
• First acquire of vehicles with special actions (AMS, ANT, Flail, Router, Switchblade
• Driving instructions on first acquire of a ground vehicle
• Piloting instructions on first acquire of a BFR
• Flying instructions on first acquire of an air vehicle
• First passenger Instructions on how to bail aircraft and ground vehicles
• Removed the "You have left the world" confirmation dialog except in cases of link death
• Fixed very minor visual bug on macro bar (pixel overlaps on separator bars)
• Gave infiltrator visibility gauge a little bit of padding on either side; it was previously too close together in with H/S/A
• Made camera in/out work as zoom in/out while in first person
• Removed Chat and Radar toggles from Soldier Management. Leaving the key mappings in, in case anyone logs out with them hidden being able to re-show them.
• Removed Soldier Management behavior of auto-aligning itself with top or bottom of screen.
• Changed default location of container and rearm windows so that the two windows will not overlap by default.
• Vehicle pane will come up centered now by default
• Changed "Toggle UI" to just F10 by default
• Windows:
• Moved most window toggles into HUD (all except chat window)
• Unmapped toggles for Chat, Radar, and Star Help by default
• Unmapped toggle for Solider Management in expectation of it being changed
• Changed Vehicle to Alt+V
• Changed Outfit to Alt+O
• Changed Stats window to Alt+S (so you don't constantly toggle it on/off while crouching)
• Changed Performance window to Alt+P
• Changed BFR strafe from Alt+Q/E to Shift+Q/E to avoid clashes with window mappings
• Changed order of key mappings in list to better group related functions
• Unmapped toggles related to squad waypoints and experience
• Removed nVidia and redundant PlanetSide Logo splash screens
• Made login screen look more like server select screen, to reduce visual pop in transition
• Removed Help button from all front-end screens, just not necessary anymore
• Tweaked appearance and default location of Friends monitor
• Changed exclamation help window to allow overlap
• Changed default locations of performance window and indicators (crouching, etc)
• Vehicle direction indicator no longer auto-opened, though players can still toggle it.
• Fixed bug where UI is briefly visible at start of drop pod sequence
• "Game Windows" window closes on Esc, or when button pressed. The idea is to make it a window that you use only when you can't remember the hotkeys.
• Added "Invert Map Mouse look Zoom" Game Option, for players who are used to the old direction

MISSIONS

• Training Missions have been further revised
• Revised all of the training missions to flash the "Next" button in any mission step that requires pressing the button to advance and does not explicitly instruct the player to press the button. The button will start flashing after a short delay. The length of the delay will correspond to how much text is displayed in the mission window.
• Adjusted mission window appearance
• Added a "Show Mission List" button to the Mission Status window. This button appears after completing a step in a mission to provide an easy way to call the mission list back up.
• Mission window auto-changes between full and minimized views based on whether there are currently any objectives
• Removed "Cancel Mission" button on Mission window. Pressing X now cancels the mission
• Changed color of "Mission Cancelled" text to red
• Scrollbars on mission window only show when needed
• Corrected an issue where missions stop or gate randomly preventing completion. Now you should be able to complete all the missions on the 1st try!
• Missions should indicate the key that you currently have configured for the specified action, rather than instructing you to use the default keys
• Changed wording of option to "Show First Time Help" instead of "Show Star-Help Training"
• Revised the "Map" and "MAX and Infiltration Suit" training missions.
• Found the bug that was causing training mission steps to occasionally fail to advance.
• Fixed a missing string token in the Implants training mission.
• Fixed bug where equipment terminal and inventory window would appear in a non-user-friendly position during Basic Training mission with default UI settings
• Removed the HUD training mission

MAP AND RADAR

• Tactical overlay settings are now saved correctly between sessions
• Removed the default key mapping for the Tactical Overlay as it was too easy for new players to accidentally turn it on or off and not know they did.
• Unmapped most display toggles by default (all but Tactical); as a new player it was very easy to accidentally toggle something off (like hitting Q and suddenly you can't see yourself) and not know how to recover or even worse, not even know it is turned off. ("Where are you guys? I can't see the squad!")
• Removed buttons and title bar from radar window
• Added text display of current range to top right corner of radar. Needed when auto-zooming in and out
• Continent map now re-centers and zooms out when map switches to warpgate destination or drop location selection, so you don't need to pan or zoom to select.

LOOKING FOR SQUAD (LFS)

• Removed LFS toggle from chat window (moved to status bar)
• Due to player feedback the find squad pane is no longer launched by toggling on LFS
• Added "Toggle LFS" Keymap (ALT-L by default)
• Added key maps to tooltips on LFS and Game Window
• Corrected an issue with the "Auto LFS On" game option where you would be placed LFS even if this option was toggled OFF

Live Version 3.10.3 - 11/01/2006

Update Highlights

• NVIDIA Cg DLLs have been updated from 1.0 to 1.4.
• Holiday features have been removed (hats, gift boxes, tree lights, and the /humbug command)
• Fixed a bug where the Lasers on the Aphelion and Eclipse would not always do damage when fired directly upon a stationary target.