The beginning of a change in development direction?
It has been a little over a year since one of my favorite bush flight games has received a major update. Though my attention was elsewhere at the time, I still saw this major update for GroundFall release on October 27th, 2024. The developer of the game, Snow Creature, may seem like they are rather inconsistent if you look at the recent events and announcements page of the Steam listing, but they are rather active in the game's official Discord server. Even during the seemingly quiet periods, the developer and community are actively engaged. There is a main point I'd like to discuss, but it is important to take about the update as a whole first:
The Key Points
Season Maps: In the grand scheme of things, the star of the update for version 0.9.6D Papa is probably the new approach to map creation and updates moving forward. The developer has stated that starting with this update, an unusual release schedule for new content has been started. At the beginning of each season of the year, GroundFall will receive a new base map. That base map will then receive regular updates as the season progresses.
Pure STOL: The existing maps in the game has been reclassified as smaller, challenge maps focused on landing at a series of different airstrips (or places long enough to fit an aircraft!) with gradually increasing difficulty. The developer describes these as follows, "think of these maps like racetracks in a driving game."
Non Player Characters: For a time, non-player characters had tutorials tied to them, but they are now separate. Tutorials are now presented as books for players to interact with, which guide them throughout their learning process. NPCs offer side quests for players to engage in as they fly through each map.
Flight Experience Refinement: The bug fix and minor changelog this time around is rather large, but let's focus on flight model related updates. Back in November 2023 there were also a few noteworthy improvements related to this. I'll talk about them all at once.
Natural Point Track IR head tracking is now supported when flying the aircraft from the cockpit point of view.
Flap physics were reworked with multiple flap position settings for different flight regimes.
Tuned aircraft trim responsiveness and effect.
Aircraft weight impacts flight performance and handling - whether it is cargo, fuel or pilot weight. Operations at high altitude are heavily impacted by this. Plan ahead!
Optional Survival Mode
This is perhaps the most substantial change to GroundFall thus far. You would argue that the updates about flight model map development are higher priority, but I think that overlooks the impact of the choice to make survival elements optional in this game. Even during its initial concept in 2018, GroundFall had survival game elements built into the core of its experience. I would say it is a signature part of its identity that differentiates it from many other flight simulators.
To put things in perspective, the original concept of the game was to have players fly to different locations and complete side objectives using a basic short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft as their primary means of transport. Maintaining a steady supply of food, sleep and medical supplies is just as important as keeping the aircraft operational. Whether they were flights to simply check out a new airstrip or complete an objective, players had to bring necessities to remain independent in a remote lifestyle. Rope, cutting tools, food, water, medical supplies, hunting rifle, compass - each of those were just as vital as fuel to keep the engine running and tools to repair damage that may accumulate during rough backcountry flying. Pushing the player's in game character too hard by not sleeping or staying exposed in the harsh weather can also increase fatigue to the point vision is impaired, and the character could die from over exertion.
I can think of a few times I had to spend the evening in a cabin on the side of a foothill in contemplation. Whether I should try to fly my wing damaged aircraft back to an airport for repair or hike thousands of meters to a small airport where I know tools for repairs are and then walk them back. I am hard-pressed to think of current games that give a similar experience.
As of October 27th, 2024, the survival options are now disabled by default, but they can be toggled back on easily from the in-game menu. To clarify, what is disabled is the need to eat, sleep and remain hydrated. If player health is reduced too much by receiving damage somehow or crashing the aircraft, they could still use in game health items or respawn to wipe damage. Similarly, if an aircraft has received too much damage to fly, the aircraft also respawns at is initial spawn point at the home airport when the player respawns. The aircraft will still need to be refueled by players and can be repaired at remote airstrips.
The fact that survival elements are now optional shows that Snow Creature listened to feedback from their player base as an open-minded developer. They were even willing to adjust a core component of the game's identity. Though I am very used to the survival part of the game, I can fully understand why someone who is flight sim focused would just want the backcountry STOL experience without all the extra parts. GroundFall can finally deliver that.
Flying with them turned off, I noticed that I've been progressing through the first Season map and the Pure STOL maps much faster than before. Even the way I approach for landing has changed with the consequences being so heavily diminished. Though, this has encouraged me to push the absolute limit of the low speed flight envelope farther than I would have with survival options turned on. I find myself at the bare minimum engine output, maximum flap setting and immensely short approaches just so "see what would happen". The outcomes are frequently destructive but also very educational for my survival runs. In a way, it allows for practice in a less stressful environment.
While I look forward to the new seasonal map and update schedule its developer has announced, I sincerely hope GroundFall never completely removes its survival element. In fact, I hope that system gets a bit more refined in the future to make construction of new buildings, delivery and storage of supplies, maybe even some type of extended mission that requires a player to be kept far from the home airport to have players operate remotely for days on end. I'll be watching where it goes!
About the Writer
Co-founder of Skyward Flight Media. After founding Electrosphere.info, the first English Ace Combat database, he has been involved in creating flight game-related websites, communities, and events since 2005. He explores past and present flight games and simulators with his extensive collection of game consoles and computers. [Read Profile]
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