Announcements

A group blog by LS-RP Staff in Official

Major Update 1.4

Entry posted by ImperiumXVII in Development Updates · September 7, 2023

1,540 views

Hello on this hot Thursday evening! We have here our second update this week with Major Update 1.4 which includes the long-awaited engine and fuel overhaul that everybody has been wanting ever since they found out spending $$ on the best engine just meant better fuel economy.

GiamPy has written a great highlight below so I won't touch too much on that, instead here is our changelog for today's update:

Changelog:

- Added Faction Management Page in UCP
- Added Government Clothing
- Added Vehicle Engine Performance System
- Added the ability for administrators to issue refunds through the UCP

- Fixes a problem where you could immediately unimpound a vehicle after it was impounded
- Fixes a problem where female shirts were being offset by 1 in /clothes
- Fixes a problem where furniture transparency was not reverting after existing the selection mode (/sf)
- Fixes a problem where you couldn't select a furniture in an interior with more than 700 items
- Fixes a problem where admin-duty staff could not un-impound vehicles
- Fixed a problem where you could not rent vehicles when they were previously impounded
- Fixed a problem where premium members did not receive the correct furniture slots for company and faction properties

- Tweaks automation system to include new clothing mods
- Tapered pay is no longer included in the company cut

As I'm sure you've seen in #git, we are hard at work pumping out updates for you guys that you've been requesting for a while - you may have also noticed we cleaned up the Suggestions board and forwarded a lot of it for us to discuss, refine and plan. Some things seem to have slipped in under the net, for example certain animations that you may find in /animations that are tailored toward a more niche style of roleplay...

Without further ado, GiamPy's first major feature!

Feature Highlight

Vehicle Engine Performance System

_{Author: GiamPy}

In the last few months, the server has led players down a road filled with questions about the true impact of engine upgrades. Prior to our latest update, investing in more powerful engines merely meant parting with your hard-earned in-game currency, with zero noticeable improvement in your vehicle's performance. Moreover, it often resulted in higher fuel consumption, leaving players pondering the wisdom of such upgrades.

Listening closely to the valuable feedback from our dedicated community, we have embarked on a mission to revolutionize the gameplay dynamics associated with vehicle engines. This transformation hinges on a sophisticated and dynamic algorithm that can significantly alter the in-game experience based on the engine chosen during vehicle purchase on our in-game in-character, pdm.com.

The Algorithm

Our algorithm has been meticulously crafted, incorporating a multitude of factors, and as we continue to evolve our system, we may even introduce additional variables to further enrich the algorithm's accuracy.

Here, we outline the key factors currently influencing the new system:

1. Vehicle Class (weight)

At the heart of our algorithm is the vehicle class, serving as the foundational factor. Although determining precise vehicle weight via RageMP is a challenge, we use vehicle class as a proxy for weight estimation. Each vehicle class is assigned a coefficient, influencing its weight-related attributes:

Compact: 1.2
Sedan: 1.1
SUV: 0.9
Coupe: 1.0
Muscle: 0.95
Sports Classics: 0.95
Sports: 1.2
Super: 1.2
Motorcycles: 1.4
Off-Road: 0.9
Industrial: 0.85
Utility: 0.85
Vans: 0.9
Service: 1.1
Emergency: 1.1
Military: 0.85
Commercial: 0.8
Open Wheels: 1.0

A higher coefficient implies a lighter vehicle, while a lower coefficient indicates a heavier one. Consequently, SUVs, despite potent engine options, begin with a handicap due to their inherent weight. We have also made adjustments to certain vehicle classes, such as Off Road, Industrial, and Utility.

For sports cars, we've provided a boost, as they tend to be lighter than sedans or coupes.

2. Fuel Type

Our engine system currently features two fuel types: petrol and diesel (electric vehicles are in development). Just like in reality, each fuel type comes with distinct advantages and drawbacks.

Diesel vehicles offer more torque, providing superior initial acceleration compared to petrol vehicles.

Petrol vehicles, on the other hand, boast enhanced maximum speed, although their fuel efficiency may lag behind diesel counterparts, especially with high-performance engines.

3. Emergency Vehicles

In alignment with real-life counterparts, emergency vehicles (law enforcement, fire department, etc.) now exhibit superior performance, enabling them to keep pace during high-speed pursuits.

All emergency vehicles have received a 20% performance boost (both max speed and acceleration).

4. Engine Technology

Engine technology takes center stage in choosing the right engine for your custom vehicle.

Currently, we evaluate engines based on the number of cylinders they possess.

Future updates may introduce more dynamic considerations, such as turbochargers impacting acceleration.

Presently, engines with more than 6 cylinders (e.g., V6, i6, W6) receive performance enhancements, with the boost scaling linearly based on cylinder count (a V8 surpasses a V6, for example).

5. Engine Volume

Engine volume represents another crucial factor.

Realistically, engines with larger displacements generate more power than their smaller counterparts. Consequently, greater engine volume equates to higher maximum speed.

Notably, this factor does not influence acceleration.

6. Engine Horsepower

Last but certainly not least, engine horsepower is a highly anticipated factor.

It requires no elaborate explanation: higher horsepower translates to greater maximum speed.

Realism and Perception

To ensure that these performance enhancements are not only realistic but also perceptible to players, all final values are boosted by a factor of three.

However, these enhancements are restrained within a plausible range, avoiding scenarios where 900HP 9.0L engines with 12 cylinders turn vehicles into rocket ships.

What's next?

In our diligent review of the diverse engine options available on pdm.com, we have observed instances where certain vehicles feature engine configurations that diverge from realism. For instance, there are listings for engines labeled as "TDi V4, V6, V8," which, as automotive enthusiasts are aware, defy the basic principles of engine design; an engine cannot simultaneously possess 4, 6, and 8 cylinders.

Additionally, we've noted peculiar anomalies such as muscle cars offering diesel powerplants, a departure from the authentic characteristics of such vehicles.

Rest assured, we are committed to enhancing the user experience with our forthcoming update.

Our goal is to align all pdm.com vehicle listings with the genuine real-life counterparts found in the world of Grand Theft Auto V. This means ensuring that engine options reflect the realism and authenticity that players expect from the server..

Conclusion

While our system has undergone rigorous testing within our development environment by our dedicated Staff Team, we acknowledge that perfection remains elusive.

We commit to continuous fine-tuning of the algorithm to achieve a balance between vehicle performance and the value of investing in pricier engine options.

Your feedback is instrumental in our journey toward the success we envision.

We hope you enjoy this exciting addition to the server and, most importantly, have a blast on the roads of Los Santos!

_{Disclaimer: All coefficients, enhancements, and factors mentioned in this post are for in-game purposes only and do not reflect real-world automotive performance metrics.}