Air Traffic Control (ATC)

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Rhino
Retired PR Developer
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Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Rhino »

This is something I forgot to include in my last Falklands Update but better late than never :D

This is another of the many small new gameplay features I'm testing out in PR:F and hopefully may see it being rolled out across all of PR in time if it works out well :D

The definition of Air Traffic Control (ATC) is "a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through controlled airspace. The primary purpose of ATC is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other support for pilots when able."

Air Traffic Control (ATC) in how we have implemented it is very similar to this and is more of a "role-playing" role aimed at the commander position but can be fulfilled by any player wishing to do it, to help direct aircraft around the airbase or carrier and via communication, ensure there are no aircraft taking off when one comes into land.

The ATC also gives the player in it a very nice view of the airbase or carrier and being able to see planes taxiing out to the runway or coming in to land, with also a nice big zoom to see objects from a long way away :D
BAM Rio Grande ATC:

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HMS Invincible ATC:

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But this isn't just about giving the commander a nice place to sit to conduct ATC from as the ATC comes with a few little toys on top of that.

The first is main base radar support, to detect any incoming threats to the airbase, using the "vbf2 UAV radar" that when it picks up an enemy unit, it flashes red on the minimap with a small "bleep" sound to all the players on the team. Unfortunately due to another limitation of the BF2 engine this is only limited to 3km range, where I would have like to have more than that on the Falklands and there is no way of making it pick up only air targets, but that's ok in the case of the Falklands since the radar only sweeps over water and in the case of the Argentine airbase, Argentina as well where there should be no enemy ground forces and if there are, bad luck for them :p
It should also be noted that this radar is only active when a player is sitting in the ATC, can't set it to work without a player in the vehicle its on.

On top of the radar, all the air base weapons are also linked to the ATC as one vehicle. This dose however mean when you try and jump in an AA weapon you do jump into the ATC if no one is already in it, just like if you try and jump in a chopper with no one in it you jump into the pilot's seat. You simply just need to switch between the ATC and the base defence weapons using the F1 to F8 keys like you would on any other type of vehicle with multiple seats.
It should also be noted that these weapons have no delay to use timer, so you can switch from the ATC and fire the weapon right away, without having to wait for it to "warm up" like most weapons in PR.
BAM Rio Grande Defence Weapons:

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HMS Invincible Defence Weapons:

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This defence system, mixed in with the radar on the ATC should give anyone at the base a significant advantage with defending their base against enemy attack ;)



To enter the ATC you simply need to walk up to the front door of the Argentine one, or inside the control tower then press "E", and for the carrier ATC, simply walk up to one of the doors on the island and press "E". Alternatively you can also walk up to a base defence weapon and press "E" to enter it.
BAM Rio Grande Entry Points:

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HMS Invincible Entry Points:

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While back in 1982 their where no UAVs, it should be noted that if this dose get implemented into other maps in PR with a modern force then the ATC will most likely become the UAV control station like the ACVs are now, and ACVs will just be reserved for maps that don't have an airbase for that team.


This we hope will give the commander another important and effective role he can play in the battle that should encourage more players to play as commander ;)


Cheers for reading! :mrgreen:
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rodrigoma
Posts: 1537
Joined: 2012-03-22 21:21

Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by rodrigoma »

This looks inetresting, Im interested to see what kind of roleplaying and interactions will the pilots have with the commander ingame.
another great update, that nearly makes up the falklands as a compeltely different game XD
Doc.Pock
Posts: 2899
Joined: 2010-08-23 14:53

Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Doc.Pock »

another great one rhino. :) ill be glad to shoot them daggers with this awesum new tool :D
Tit4Tat
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Joined: 2009-12-11 12:41

Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Tit4Tat »

great effort rhino, always nice to see something new and fresh for PR series.
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Arnoldio
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Arnoldio »

Intredasting, these little things are so awesome. :D
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hobbnob
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by hobbnob »

I look forward to pestering the enemy base and then trying fruitlessly to run away :D
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Felix
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Felix »

i can remember sitting in the ATC on HMS Invincible on the last test, or is it just me?
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Kevokpo
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Kevokpo »

Always wondered why when you got in the AA of the brit carrier you appeared in the air control tower, I never saw this coming :D

Excellent news
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richyrich55
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by richyrich55 »

Yea uhhh Rhino, we love you <3
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Rhino
Retired PR Developer
Posts: 47909
Joined: 2005-12-13 20:00

Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Rhino »

FelixCopyCat wrote:i can remember sitting in the ATC on HMS Invincible on the last test, or is it just me?
Yes it was in the last open beta, but only on HMS Invincible. Although since then there is no longer a massive, buggy radar sweep across the wrong part of the map from the radar, and instead you now just don't see a radar sweep, only enemy units being picked up on the map :)
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40mmrain
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by 40mmrain »

oh man I'm going to give jets call signs, and make them request take off and landing and stuff
Nugiman
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Nugiman »

How does the commander communicate with the pilots, when he gives them orders?
Via mumble, talking to the squadleader of the Air squad? Or is there a direct way?
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Rhino
Retired PR Developer
Posts: 47909
Joined: 2005-12-13 20:00

Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Rhino »

Mumble is most likely the best way, no new way to communicate if that's what your asking.
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Jafar Ironclad
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Jafar Ironclad »

40mmrain wrote:oh man I'm going to give jets call signs, and make them request take off and landing and stuff
Will actually be a thing that matters once you're managing 48 jets in the air on this map. ;)
hobbnob
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by hobbnob »

[R-CON]Jafar Ironclad wrote:Will actually be a thing that matters once you're managing 48 jets in the air on this map. ;)
Are you being serious about 48 jets? seems a bit excessive, 20 max surely?
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Vista
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Vista »

hobbnob wrote:Are you being serious about 48 jets? seems a bit excessive, 20 max surely?
I guess 128 layer? But still, that's alot :confused:
Rhino
Retired PR Developer
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Rhino »

vistamaster01 wrote:
hobbnob;1819296 wrote:
[R-CON]Jafar Ironclad;1819295 wrote:Will actually be a thing that matters once you're managing 48 jets in the air on this map. ;)
Are you being serious about 48 jets? seems a bit excessive, 20 max surely?
I guess 128 layer? But still, that's alot :confused:
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hobbnob
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by hobbnob »

MOTHER OF GOD
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Jafar Ironclad
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by Jafar Ironclad »

Yup, and that's the one VW layer, so it needs to support boosted player counts as well, lest we have people durdling on the deck.

Remember Ace Combat? That'll have nothing on the skies over the Falklands.
hobbnob
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Re: Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Post by hobbnob »

I really hope that layer ends up as popular as Mutt city, with all jets and helis it should stop pilots going ridiculously high up to avoid the AA FOBs
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