Voice Adventure - Direct Ascent

[DocHoliday]

Again, yes I've decided it's time to launch another beta version of my neverending project. I've polished it a bit, but
there still a lot more work.

But before you download it, be aware of this:

Direct Ascent to ISS, Orbiter addition, freeware, (c) Janez Vidmar 2004
=======================================================================
designed for Orbiter build 031105, 031217
beta version - Please report bugs and don't be offended by CTDs

*****************************************************************
 WARNING: THIS ARCHIVE WILL OVERWRITE 2 FILES WHEN YOU EXTRACT IT. READ
 THIS DOCUMENT BEFORE PROCEEDING!                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                           
 FOR TECHNICAL REASONS I HAD TO INCLUDE THE RADIO.CFG FILE FROM THE    
 \Sound\cfg DIRECTORY AND CONFIG.CFG FROM \Sound\deltagliderIII.      
 THIS FILE ONLY SETS THE DEFAULT FREQUENCY THE                        
 DELTAGLIDER WILL USE TO PLAY RADIO SOUNDS IN MY CASE IT WILL START    
 PLAYING A SEQUENTIAL FILE WHICH IS DIRECTLY TIED TO THE TIMING OF    
 THE GAME. IF YOU LET IT BE OVERWRITTEN NO HARM WILL BE DONE, BUT IT  
 WAS MY DUTY TO PROPERLY REMIND YOU OF THIS BREACH OF ORBITER ADDON    
 RULES AS SET FORTH BY DR. MARTIN SCHWEIGER.                          
*****************************************************************

If you do not wish the archive to overwrite the file do the following. Answer "no" to the overwrite dialog box and
after the rest of the files have been extracted, start the Direct Ascent to ISS-Ready for takeoff scenario in the main
scenario folder. Set the frequency for your radio receiver to 101.112 and then exit the simulator. Also exit the
Orbiter Launchpad as certain variables remain initialized until you totally exit the simulator. Restart the Orbiter
simulator and again start the Direct Ascent to ISS-Ready for takeoff.scn scenario. Read on.

-Requirements-
1. Daniel Polli's (orbiter.danSteph.com) last DeltaGliderIII Alpha version released up to 2nd June 2004
2. Daniel Polli's OrbiterSound 2.5
3. Dr. Schweiger's Orbiter Space Simulator, latest version of course

Get it here, there's also a bit of background logic described here (no formulas, promise):
http://orbiter.vidmar.org/direct-ascent.php

Voice Credits:
- Freespace2dotcom, for his rendering of Cmdr. Retro Jackson's voice (so far only one instance, but hopefully we'll
develop the story further)
- A female synthesized voice, got it on the web
- A random clip from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (as radio chatter)
- All the rest I think is me

Enjoy!

[DocHoliday]

Some additional info:

- the computer voice is missing words like "point" when stating numbers and a few others, so bear with me..
- the data that is reported vocally is dependant on TIME, not the actual Orbiter data, so it may be off depending on
how accurate your flying is (make sure to engage full thrust when told to and make sure to keep your pitch as close
to 10 deg as possible after takeoff - it will affect reality vs. voice synchronization)
- you will notice that after you reach orbit and are given the final status briefing, the voice briefings stop. That's
another technical glitch, unsolvable until new Orbiter release arrives.. Namely, there is a limited number of .wavs I
can stick in a single sequential file.. So in the NEXT version I will have the user switch frequency, to continue the
adventure.. I mean there IS this GUY that needs to be saved!
- some voice clips are not properly integrated into the story (Freespace and the Hitchikers guide clips), so think of
them as distraction during the boring minutes of waiting

I'll be offline for the most part of the weekend so shoot your comments away

Cheers,
Janez

[DocHoliday]

Oh, and do read the readme file, the story background is in it

[Krytom]

Wow, that is soooooooooo cool. The timing is perfect. When my fuel was 50% it said "Satus: fuel fifty percent"


Although there is one thing which I'm wondering about. At the start of the scenario the DGIII seems to be in the
fields surrounding KSC. It's pointing in the right direction but it is not on a runway or a landing pad. Is that supposed
to be?

[freespace2dotcom]

Ah, It's  been ages since we brought this up.

I got my microphone ready, and it's the weekend.

Let's get the recording on the way!

[DocHoliday]

Cool freespace. I guess you can fill in any gaps you think are "fillable"

Krytom. I'm glad the timing works. It's all set to go off at a specific time in the mission, so I really cannot predict how
things are going to work out on other peoples' computers. How do you like the female computer? Adds a bit of
variety doesn'it

Well, since you need to take off on the 47 deg heading and since I am too clumsy or lazy to calculate the proper
parameters you'd need if you wanted to first lauch from a pad vertically and then thrust horizontally, I guess taking
off from the grass is .. normal

The rest of ya: Come one, I expected a little more feedback!



Post Edited ( 11-22-04 08:16 )

[freespace2dotcom]

I've sent a half-dozen lines to you. all are ones I thought needed some commentary from the sarcasm king.

I hope you can use them.

[DocHoliday]

Yeah, but I can't decide whether to have the "pilot" (you) respond to EVERY prompt from mission control or to use
your voice for some other purpose... The clip with your voice is currently used more as background traffic (ANOTHER
DG3 taking off, for example) than the actual voice of the pilot

There are some technical limitations as to how many files you can use in a sequential track.. On the other hand I
could join more wavs into a a single one, but then I'd end up with rather large .wave files that wouldn't be kind to
framerate

Argh...

[freespace2dotcom]

ah, I see the dilemma.

well. if you do figure out what it is that you wish to get done. lemme know.

I'll be here....

[DocHoliday]

Thanks!

[freespace2dotcom]

say, whenever the next orbiter(and soon after, orbiter sound) comes out, won't there be more slots for that
sequential editor, or is my memory playing tricks on me?

[DocHoliday]

No, no, I think you're right.. Although even now, the slots aren't limited.. Just that if you stick more than 25 or 26
sounds, the whole sequential track is lost... Orbiter reports bad frequency and you can't reopen the file in the editor
either and you have to start from scratch. I learned this rather painfully.

[DocHoliday]

There I did it. I put the thing on the Main forum as well. Let's see what happens

[She_Da_Lier]

How about making a DLL? You could make (of course if you can code ) a plugin module. That would solve the problem of
limited sequence as well as the synchronisation problems.

[DocHoliday]

I can't code Not in Orbiter anyway. I probably could learn (I can hold my own in VB generally), but I am low on free
time as it is.

But I would love to help someone who can... I've been bugging Dan to add event triggering to OrbitSound (events
such as altitude, speed, combination of factors). If I ever come up with a general concept for ascent trajectories, a
DLL would really be the next logical step.. Couples with a MFS maybe... but that's all out of my range of capabilities
and time

[DocHoliday]

Sing with me everyone! *I'm stooopid, I'm stoopid*

The ZIP file had a corrupt file hidden inside and it created a folder called 101.112 MedEvac. This folder is no longer
used, it has been replaced by 101.112 MSS Ascent. Since there are two folders with the same frequency the
sequential file doesn't work and kills ALL the fun...

Please download the pack again and DELETE sound\radio\101.112 MedEvac folder.. It's empty anyway, but
screws up everything..

Sorry

[Krytom]

Yup, and you double posteded.

*I'm stooopid, I'm stoopid*

[Atom]

No dummy, that was to make sure everyone understood. Right Doc?!

[DocHoliday]

No, actually we were testing an antispam feature with Dan, and the forum sort of "disconnected" me, but not quite,
so I posted twice, coz I wasn't sure what was going on

Anyway, did you try the scenario.. Does it work okay?



Post Edited ( 11-26-04 08:39 )

[Krytom]

I had already removed the file before you posted about it so it worked fine for me.