reported by Joris-Jan van 't Land on October 29, 2019

FROM: High Command

TO: Arma 3 Users

UNIT: Main Branch

ACTIVITY: Game Update 1.96 (Contact Improvements, Miscellaneous Fixes)

SIZE: ~7.8 GB / ~841 MB (depends on Contact ownership)



NOTES

Contact consists of 2 data packs / folders:



Contact (via PLAY CONTACT or -mod=Contact ): for the singleplayer "First Contact" campaign experience (accessible only to owners - optionally loaded)



or ): for the singleplayer "First Contact" campaign experience (accessible only to owners - optionally loaded)

Contact (Platform): for most other use cases, including sandbox multiplayer (loaded by default for all players)

Consider using the Steam client option to verify the integrity of the local game cache to avoid corrupted data after downloading this update.



Consider defragmenting your HDD after downloading large updates.



Updating a deeply moddable game and its platform is not without risks. We use various methods to communicate upcoming changes to our awesome modding community, such as via the Dev Hub. We also co-operate directly on troubleshooting, and we offer an opportunity to test updates via our Release Candidate tests. Modders, server administrators and other members of the community do their best to prepare for updates and to address issues post-release as quickly as possible. Please be mindful of some interruptions (especially in the first hours / days after a release) while we all work to improve the game together.



A Legacy Build Steam branch is available for advanced users. It contains the previous significant main branch version (1.94). It can be used to compare specific changes between major releases. The access code for this branch is: Arma3Legacy194



Steam branch is available for advanced users. It contains the previous significant main branch version (1.94). It can be used to compare specific changes between major releases. The access code for this branch is: This update does not apply to the experimental Linux and Mac port betas.



You can find the servers in the Steam library (switch the filter to "Tools") - "Arma 3 Server" (based on your OS, it will download the Windows or Linux version).



Administrators can also use the command-line SteamCMD utility. The app ID is to be 233780.





NVIDIA GameWorks™ Technology provided under license from NVIDIA Corporation. Copyright © 2002-2018 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA® and PhysX® are trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation and are used under license.



In case of problems, please check the Bohemia Interactive support F.A.Q., Arma 3 F.A.Q., BattlEye F.A.Q., or Launcher troubleshooting guide.



You can help us to further improve the game by posting your feedback on the Feedback Tracker.



CHANGELOG

DATA

Added: This is War 6th Anniversary Remix music track into the game and Digital Deluxe Edition



Added: Localized Livonia PDF topographic maps to the Digital Deluxe Edition



Added: Very limited platform functionality for the vanilla Spectrum Device (documentation forthcoming)



Added: Missing private keywords to BIS_fnc_3DENInterface (General Discussion - Dev-Branch)



Added: DLC parameter to configs of Tractor, Offroad (Covered) & Mini UGV - FT-T143422



Added: A new (5th) Utility for searching and listing of available script commands



Added: Support for an object's group for BIS_fnc_hasItem (the item will be searched in the inventory of all members of the group if a group is passed as parameter)



Added: A new optional parameter to specify BIS_fnc_drawArrow's base width



Tweaked: Alien Entity behavior routines



Tweaked: Livonia bushes' resistance against armored vehicles



Tweaked: Reduced armed Striders' secondary ammo explosions



Tweaked: Portable weather station wind indicator rotation direction



Tweaked: Adjusted MAAWS position on characters' backs in order to fix clipping with some scopes in certain stances - FT-T143005



Tweaked: Body trail effect of some jets



Tweaked: Small LDF loadout adjustments



Tweaked: The Print Config Utility will now show a selection dialog on multiple matches instead of auto-selecting the first match



Tweaked: Chemical Detector digit display precision



Changed: Moved Contact animations to the platform



Changed: Moved Contact music to the platform



Changed: Moved Contact hand-drawn map markers to the platform



Changed: Moved Contact hand-drawn font to the platform



Changed: Made the Chemical Detector part of the platform*



Changed: Made the Spectrum Device part of the platform*



Changed: Moved APR and Blindfold overlays to the platform



Changed: Livonia prop addons were decrypted to PBO



Fixed: The Contact Welcome Screen counter was not working correctly in Contact mode



Fixed: Missing aircraft wing vortices - FT-T142848



Fixed: A typo in the LDF Mk6 mortar backpack led to the creation of the wrong weapon when assembling it - FT-T142948



Fixed: The sidearm proxy on Heli Coveralls [LDF] in 3rd person view



Fixed: Footstep sounds of timber piles



Fixed: The Skate Helmet was missing NOHQ and SMDI maps in-game



Fixed: Missing attachments in Arsenal after loading a save



Fixed: Profile voices 09-12 were not working correctly - FT-T143719



Fixed: Flickering face on the back of the Tractor



Fixed: Offroad dashboard artifacts when HBAO was turned on



Fixed: Shading artifacts on leaflets



Fixed: Aileron movement for A-164 and MQ-4



Fixed: The " InBaseMoves_assemblingVehicleErc " animation had small movement defined which caused the character to move away from the original position when used in a loop



" animation had small movement defined which caused the character to move away from the original position when used in a loop Fixed: AAF and CSAT ghillie injury materials - FT-T137525



Fixed: Eye flares popping up a low resolution texture upon first load



Fixed: The death screen is now showing a vehicle and its weapon in case an enemy was operating a vehicle



Fixed: The position of subtitles changed when using the optics mode of the Spectrum Device Jammer antenna even when it was not needed



Fixed: Katiba GL muzzle flash in 3rd person view - FT-T144083



Fixed: Various object position issues on Livonia



Fixed: Many translation / localization issues



Fixed: Missing Contact music track durations added and incorrect durations were tweaked



Removed: Get in actions for empty drones (UGV / UAV / Autonomous Static Turrets / SAM Sites, etc.) - FT-T142713



* Note: this gear is primarily cosmetic; limited features are only available in the context of Contact's campaign and gameplay.







Potential Spoilers ("First Contact")



Added: Missing TI to the Alien Network's legs and core, and fixed other graphical artifacts



Added: Missing Post Process effects in Going Dark and Close Encounters



Added: Pistols to Krupin and Severov for that added Spetsnaz cool-factor in Carpe Noctem



Added: An extra check to ensure dialogue is playing in the right order when the alien arrives at the radio tower in Carpe Noctem



Tweaked: Raised an ammunition cover to avoid clipping in Anomalous Phenomena's hub



Tweaked: Reduced the time between untying Kesson and taking his blindfold off in Anomalous Phenomena



Tweaked: Made a slight adjustment to conversation sync, when Major Homewood complains about the sudden change of weather in False Negative



Tweaked: The road block composition has been adjusted in Going Dark



Tweaked: Anomalous Phenomena / Carpe Noctem - Parked and abandoned vehicles now have disabled electronics (some also will no longer start)



Tweaked: Alien Entity will now also engage vehicles



Fixed: The Alien Entity waypoint was not working if the initial movement grid was not initialized



Fixed: The Alien Entity was scanning its own (matter) balls on some occasions



Fixed: An exception case during the Mini UGV system check, where the player may have the arm already raised, is now handled in Close Encounters



Fixed: Several conversations in Close Encounters are now terminated when a task is completed prematurely



Fixed: The sampling anomaly task area in Close Encounters was a small distance from the main group of anomalies



Fixed: The sound effects on the Mini UGV disconnect were a second or two out of sync in Close Encounters



Fixed: The laptop now shows a black screen after the Mini UGV disconnect in Close Encounters



Fixed: There were some missing static sound effects during the Mini UGV disconnect in Close Encounters



Fixed: Cpt. Spender's remark about the lights flashing in the first contact scene came a few seconds too early in Close Encounters



Fixed: Going Dark will now fail if the player tries to reach the sinkhole black site too early



Fixed: LDF troops will now run, instead of walk, to investigate Cpl. Stype's distraction at the burn pit in Going Dark



Fixed: The AFO could be seen with binoculars at certain points in Going Dark, before the final scene



Fixed: Added additional fail safes for the blue-on-blue event, preventing laser guidance from the player's rangefinder in False Negative



Fixed: Exception dialogue from Squad Leader is now dependent on his line of sight towards the player in False Negative



Fixed: Matter balls had no TI when being carried by the Alien Entity



Fixed: Alien Entity 'lights' were not glowing in TI



Fixed: Some Alien Network's inner parts were not visible in TI in some LODs



Fixed: Various smaller issues in Anomalous Phenomena and Carpe Noctem



Removed: Disruptive save game during a blackout at the end of Carpe Noctem



ENGINE

Added: Script commands removeDiarySubject, removeDiaryRecord, and setDiaryRecordText



Added: calculatePath will now support both generic presets such as "car" or "man" and vehicle class names



Added: RVExtensionRegisterCallback and an "ExtensionCallback" mission Event Handler



Added: PlayerConnected and PlayerDisconnected Event Handlers were extended with _idstr (a string version of _id)



Added: #monitor and #monitorDS was extended with player count info



Added: #monitor and #monitorDS are now retained after server restarts



Added: Extended checkAIFeature and enableAIFeature to support the enableAI / disableAI feature set



Added: enableAI / disableAI "RADIOPROTOCOL"



Added: toUpperANSI and toLowerANSI



Added: "drawLocations" parameter for toggling location name drawing on the map - FT-T77593



Added: Support for 'any' and '<null> ' to parseSimpleArray



Added: getObjectFOV command to get an object's FOV



Added: New script command isActionMenuVisible



Added: New script command isGameFocused



Added: New script command isGamePaused



Added: New script command getMissionPath



Added: New script command getPosWorldVisual



Added: currentPilot command (returns the currently piloting unit)



Added: getDiverState command (returns the current diver state of the unit)



Added: The in scripting command can now be used also with strings



Tweaked: The default lobbyIdleTimeout was increased to 300 seconds



Tweaked: Default values for timeout were changed to: votingTimeOut=10 mins, roleTimeOut=15 mins, briefingTimeOut=10 mins, debriefingTimeOut=10 mins, lobbyIdleTimeout=25 mins



Tweaked: Improved performance of toString



Tweaked: Enabled the waitUntil return value warning instead of break as default



Changed: createDiaryRecord now accepts additional parameter showTitle, which can hide the typical Date, Time of entry format title



Fixed: DSCheckSignature did not always work correctly with v3 signatures



did not always work correctly with v3 signatures Fixed: The RVExtensionVersion function definition not matching the Windows one (the "int outputSize" function arg was missing)



Fixed: The PathCalculated Event Handler would fill each path node with [X, Z, Z] instead of [X, Z, Y]



Event Handler would fill each path node with [X, Z, Z] instead of [X, Z, Y] Fixed: The array version of the callExtension script command did not check if the function name argument is a string



Fixed: Random shadow artifacts when drawing roads in the map



Fixed: The set command would allow creation of arrays with an over-the-limit size



Fixed: append would not check for infinite recursion when adding an array to another array



Fixed: Incorrect color of thermal modes if the first optic mode was day light only and the second one was GHOT for example



Fixed: UAVControl would return either the driver or the gunner but never both



Fixed: Server did not restart with missionsToServerRestart set



Fixed: #monitor and #monitorDS were showing wrong memory usage



Fixed: #monitor and #monitorDS were not transferred after server restart



Fixed: Passing controlNull to tvExpandAll caused a CTD



Fixed: tvDelete returned "" when it should return nothing when the control is null



Fixed: tvSort and tvSortByValue would fail if an optional parameter was not passed to the command



Fixed: Deleted EH would trigger when a unit enters a vehicle



Fixed: currentMuzzle and currentWeaponMode could return a number instead of a string



Fixed: Compartments lights were drawing light flares in certain situations



Fixed: The FOV of all vehicles would change when the player FOV changed



Fixed: A potential Backpack inventory glitch



Fixed: An issue where "-name=aaa bbb" would create a profile folder "aaa bbb" instead of just aaa bbb (without quotes)



Fixed: Script file paths were trimmed too aggressively in error messages



Fixed: Return value of attachedTo if the command was used on objNull



Fixed: Memory alignment issues



SERVER