Thoughts on the latest update for this F-14A focused world
For the past year or so, my interest in VRChat aviation has been leaning towards Player versus Environment (PVE) experiences. Human players working together to defeat non-player controlled units while flying combat aircraft. Similar to the missions you would find in arcade flight games like Frontiers Reach, Ace Combat and Nuclear Option. In comparison to Player versus Player Worlds (PVP), there are very few PVE worlds. Today I am happy to say that a new one has joined my list!
On October 5th, 2024, F-14A Tomcat - Naval Interceptor by VTail64 received its first major update since the public launch on December 23, 2023. While there were minor updates for quality of life and bug fixes, update 1.2.0 brings a notable addition and a chance to write about the new experience. This update world is available to play now, so go and try it yourself!
I have a few thoughts on this update I'd like to discuss.
FLIGHT
This was discussed in our first article about this world months ago, but as someone that frequently flies the F-14A/B Tomcat in Digital Combat Simulator World, I feel like I want to give a bit more detail.
I strongly believe that world creator VTail64 has one of the best flight models in VRChat developed for the F-14 Tomcat. From the player-pilot level, knowledge from the DCS representation of the Tomcat translates extremely well to this representation of the aircraft. Maneuvering speeds, approach angles, engine response, optional manual wing sweep, wings ripping from the aircraft if airframe overstressed - even the intensity and a volume of how the aircraft shakes during high AoA maneuvers at low speeds - it is spot on.
The detail of the flight model is there, though its creator has made minor compromises to make the aircraft a bit more accessible. During combat, these compromises are hard to see. Not a complaint. VTail's representation of the F-14A still feels somewhat underpowered, just as the early iterations of the real aircraft was, with airspeed and energy management being the deciding factor in combat. Players more skilled with their aircraft, with a deeper understanding of how to properly maneuver the F-14A will stand out. The option to simply increase thrust to full afterburner and power through any disadvantageous position is not viable most of the time. Though, high speeds and hard maneuvering are extremely useful against the newest threat in the airspace.
SAM THREAT
The signature feature brought by update 1.2.0 is the inclusion of non-player controlled AI surface-to-air missile (SAM) units. The inclusion of a SAM threat to a world like this one is interesting. Like a majority of its counterparts, F-14A Tomcat Naval Interceptor seems perfect for being a dedicated PVP experience. The aircraft carrier players spawn on is complimented by a Enemy Airfield with REDFOR aircraft, letting players split into teams on their own or choose to engage in a battle royale. For PVP to happen, it would need to be a large block of uninterrupted air space. A SAM site using its longer attack range to constantly disrupt the traditional VRChat aviation PVP battles could be a major experience spoiler if not done correctly.
The geography of the world was configured correctly to separate the PVP and PVE experiences. To the north is a large island with smaller islands which host the SAM sites scattered across them. Behind the north islands is a mainland which has been placed outside of the player accessible area. To the south is the Enemy Airfield where REDFOR aircraft are kept. Between each land mass is the Aircraft Carrier where players/BLUFOR spawn. This effectively splits both PVP and PVE areas.
The SAM unit used is visually similar to a MIM-23 HAWK missile system. The SAM Sites come in slightly different flavors like a bare bones setup of a supply vehicle supporting a single M192 missile trailer or a more complex configuration using multiple support vehicles. This version of the HAWK has been tuned to fit the world nicely with its real world theoretical range intentionally reduced to make it more of a short-range system. With exact distances being hard to measure at this time, let's say its range is short enough to visibly see most of the missile launches the moment they happen - which is easier said than done.
The missiles are about as fast as you would expect them to be, leaving aircrews with only seconds to identify, countermeasure and evade the incoming missiles. This is where highspeed and hard maneuvering come in. The missiles can be outmaneuvered, but only if players are actively dumping chaff and using well timed high-G maneuvers to force the missile to fly by. Though this leaves players at lower energy states, susceptible to counterattacks.
The SAM sites do not instantly launch on players, but do track them as they approach, eventually gaining missile lock and launching when players enter their effective range. Currently SAM sites attack all aircraft that enter their range. For aircrews working together, this opens up the ability to use tried and true original anti-SAM tactics dating back to the 1960s. Having one aircraft intentionally fly at high altitude, drawing missile fire to itself while a lower altitude aircraft sneaks up on the distracted SAM site.
VTail's F-14A now features a radar warning receiver (RWR) - which continues to be rather uncommon in VRChat aviation - helping players find and defend against the SAM sites. Though with only the RWR at the Tomcat's disposal, that is still not an easy task. And really, it should not be. The F-14A Tomcat is definitely not a purpose built air defense suppression platform with standoff air-to-ground weapons designed to combat SAM threats. At this time, update 1.2.0 does not have unguided bombs or other air-to-ground weapons available to the Tomcats. Players will need to use the aircraft's internal 20mm cannon to destroy the SAM sites after approaching them and evading their attacks. The terrain of the island defended by the HAWK sites is made of hills and valleys that daring players can use to fight against the SAMs by terrain masking.
As things are now, the surface-to-air missile sites are a fun challenge. In a strange way, I almost do not want a dedicated air defense suppression aircraft to be added to the world just to make players have the thrill of facing down missiles head on. That's just an odd personal preference though. That aside, the inclusion of surface-to-air missiles to the world has been handled well and is one of the better presentations of air defenses I've seen in quite a few PVE worlds.
MAIN MENU, OPTIMIZATION
F-14A Tomcat Naval Interceptor having a launch menu on par with a full fledged game is impressive. There are things in this menu I honestly wish were in a few other flight games and simulators.
Upon joining the world a title screen offers the option to quickly adjust general graphics quality settings and turn on tutorials for the aircraft if needed. When in the Ready Room, the common spawn point of the world, the board on the western wall showing the title screen of the world has a detailed menu.
There players can access tutorials, adjust controls, access unique features like photo mode, instrument tutorials, in-game dial menu visibility and graphics settings; to name a few. In particular, the graphics settings are well done. Outside of the overall graphics settings for VRChat, specific settings for clouds, lens flare, aircraft culling, post processing, sun shadows, etc. can be independently adjusted with text and picture explanations to inform players about what they are adjusting and how that will change their experience. Because this menu is in the enclosed Ready Room, it is out of necessity that preview pictures should demonstrate what the outside world will look like. But in practice, it made me wish a few other complicated flight simulators would have a similar ability from their menu screens before loading into a flight.
The extended graphics settings let players optimize for quality or frame rate. With there being so many variables that could effect the player experience, including their own hardware limitations, the depth of customization further ensures a positive flying experience.
TRAINING TOOLS
I'd like to express appreciation in particular for two In-Game Tool options that people familiar with aircraft in general or experienced with the Sacc Flight system used for VRChat aviation would probably never use. There has always been a universal tutorial for desktop or VR touch controls in VRChat aviation; they are available in the prefab just about every flight world uses. Few creators bring tutorial or training tools directly into the cockpits of the aircraft.
With the F-14A being an analog heavy cockpit, it can be hard for players new to aviation or unfamiliar with reading clusters of instruments to learn. Generally people are given all vital altitude, speed and weapon information in the heads up display object provided by the prefab. They appear on every fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft seen in VRChat. Custom made cockpits with realistic, working instruments is less common.
Activating "Digital Dials" replaces instrument gauge faces with digital displays showing solid numbers for speed, altitude, etc. This is a good starting point for brand new players.
The next option, "Instrument Guide" can be used as the next step in learning. When more comfortable with flying the aircraft, players can disable Digital Dials to show the original aircraft cockpit but then enable the Instrument Guide to have visible labels on high priority instruments. This lets them learn how to read the original instruments correctly.
Eventually all of these guides can be turned off, letting players enjoy the unassisted cockpit experience. You have to appreciate the ability to teach people about aviation even when others are not around.
What may seem like a simple update has a decent amount of depth when looking closer. Though the time between the release of F-14A Tomcat Naval Interceptor and the first major update was quite long, the quality of this update more than makes up for it.
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.
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