v3.3 [Jun 12, 2016]
General Platform Updates
New Features
Multichannel (Professional Plus only)
Creating add-on content that integrates with Prepar3D has been simplified and also supports enabling and disabling add-ons from within the application
Controller axis sensitivity can now be set per flight mode (normal, slew, etc.)
Menu keyboard key now opens the context menu on the active view
Fixes and Improvements
Fixed tab order and typos in various UI screens
Fixed bug that prevented ground vehicles from updating their door system
Improved avatar record and playback
Fixed bug where panel-only state could load incorrectly depending on the scenario
Fixed crash that could occur when leaving vehicles with many gauges
Restore Local Time Setting in the Go To Airport UI is now on by default
Fixed bug in Select Vehicle screen that prevented vehicles from being selected after clicking the search box
Fixed issue where uninstalling could fail to deactivate license on Windows 10 in some cases
Position freeze user is now automatically turned off when hosting multiplayer
Updated installer to include .NET 4.5.1
Scaleform MenuWindow now displays a scrollbar when text overflows window size
Fixed bug where pressing '0' would not activate the last option in the ATC menu.
Fixed bug that prevented setting KEY_ADF2_RADIO_SWAP
Fixed bug where panel keyboard shortcuts would also activate ATC options if ATC window was open
"Display fuel quantity as weight" setting in Fuel and Payload screen now saves correctly
Updated item ordering in the multiplayer drop-down menu
Fixed bug where Time Preview slider would not stop moving when hitting Apply
Canceling out of the Select Airport screen will no longer unpause the simlulation
Fixed bug that could cause label text to be invalid when being displayed in multiple views
Fixed bug where opening the Scenery Library UI would change the title of Prepar3D Scenery to FS9 Scenery
Fixed memory leak that could occur during scenery library reloads
Fixed throttle issues when using X Grip joysticks
Fixed bug that prevented custom mini panels from opening when loading a scenario
Scaleform multiple choice options no longer add brackets around user-defined menu items
Fixed bug which prevented temperature and winds aloft layers from being read in correctly when decoding WINDS ALOFT metar data
v3.1 [Dec 11, 2015]
- Added OGG audio file support
- Added Scaleform sound support
- Added axis calibration screen to the Control Settings Calibration tab
v3.0 [Oct 1, 2015]
Gauges and panels as well as scenario object content can be built using Adobe® Flash® and integrated using Autodesk Scaleform.
Several UI screens have been replaced with Scaleform implementations such as the ATC window, the Menu System, the InfoGen, and Menu Prompts. These aforementioned UI can be themed by third party developers.
Enter and exit vehicles in Avatar Mode Avatar fully controllable in first and third person views
Third party avatar support
v2.5 [Feb 12, 2015]
General Platform Updates
Fixed a crash that would occur if licensing check on startup failed
Fixed a bug where thumbnail images for missions and aircraft were not matching up properly
Renamed missions to reflect their content
Restructured path configuration files to support third party developers
Fixed issues that would prevent multiplayer missions from correctly validating
Added several new settings available to use with a multiplayer mission
Rendering and Performance Updates
Added post process for night vision that includes bloom
Added a light scalar to camera so that NVG cameras can have a brighter scene
Added a configuration option to the Prepar3D.cfg and Camera Definitions that allows cameras to share a single terrain view
Added an option to specify whether or not a panel should write alpha when rendering into a texture
Improved long range sensor capabilities by allowing plug-ins to set the scenery load origin for a camera independent of its location
Fixed a bug that would prevent the HideAircraft flag from hiding aircraft attached effects
Fixed a bug that would cause all extrusion effects to draw with a visible sawtooth pattern
Fixed a bug where the exclude VC panels sensor setting was not working as intended
Fixed a bug that would cause effects with smoke and fire to appear blue
Fixed a bug that would prevent rotor wash effect from rendering
Fixed issues with the bridge pylons that would cause them to look tall/stretched
Fixed issues with resolution differences between shadow views and main views causing shadow artifacts to appear
Fixed issue that caused clouds to face vertically
Fixed out of memory issues with the Vehicle Selection Screen
Fixed an issue that would prevent effects from visually displaying if the effect was at a low level of detail distance
Fixed issues with shaders failing to compile if material is created without setting a specular map
Fixed an issue that would cause some aircraft to load with the engines turned off
Fixed an issue that would prevent engine wash effects from rendering
Fixed an issue that would cause none facing sprites to be half their size
Fixed an issue with landing light ground polygon fading based on view direction
Fixed an issue with to rain and snow effects not taking into account precipitation rate adjustments
SimDirector Updates
Added an Undo feature in SimDirector. Undo allows a user to undo and redo most actions in their mission. A history window provides visual feedback of what actions have been done
Added a Measure Tool to SimDirector. This allows the user to measure distances in several different unit types
Added a setting that allows the user choose whether or not they would like to load their mission in Prepar3D after closing SimDirector
Added the ability to preview actions from the visualization window in Preview Mode in SimDirector
Added an option for hiding icons and bounding boxes in SimDirector
Added catalog preview into the catalog and created object preview
Added an Effect.cfg file to configure where system looks for effects
Added ability to edit mission while in Preview Mode
Added a setting that allows the user to filter object references by group
Added the ability to copy values from the condition editor
Added better error handling and error reports for missing Mission Briefing files
Added a unit converter to several distance related properties
Added the ability to read friendly names for third party models
Added option to set whether SimDirector controls or Prepar3D controls have precedence when hovered over the Prepar3D window in Virtual Instructor, Flight Instructor, and Preview Mode
Fixed a bug where saving scenario alters camera orientation
Fixed bugs dealing with multiple item selects
Fixed bug that effected saving properly observation profiles
Fixed a bug that would prevent the file name from updating and saving properly in different modes
Fixed a bug that would prevent pop-up windows from scrolling through all the options
Fixed a bug that would prevent the context menu in the logic editor from opening properly when using non-standard DPI settings
Fixed a bug that would remove referencing of an ownship if the ownship aircraft was changed
Fixed a bug that would prevent multiple external properties from updating in monitoring
Fixed a bug that would cause issues with loading missions located in Program Files
Fixed a bug that would prevent visual model from updating orientation changes reflected in the property grid
v2.4 [Oct 12, 2014]
General Platform Updates
- Fixed a crash when saving/loading scenarios due to corrupt object configuration files
- Custom camera orientation will now load correctly when multiple views are open
- Saving the Internal Vehicle Cast setting with setting profiles
- Fixed issue of blending between unlimited visibility layers
- Resolved an indefinite hang when selecting the observer role in multiplayer missions
Rendering and Performance Updates
- Corrected issues with batched objects and airport lighting on systems with multiple graphics cards
- Fixed an issue with BGL objects that were causing a memory leak and crash
- Fixed an issue with clouds being rendered quadruple the intended size
- Fixed an issue with particle effect scale being larger than intended
- Fixed an issue with multiple texture entries in panel configurations not being rendered
- Fixed issue with vertical geometry spikes
- Corrected an issue with cursors causing issues when HDR was enabled
- Added transparent panel support for auxiliary windows
- Fixed issues with custom camera post process settings not properly loading
- General fixes to terrain shadow artifacts
- Fixed issues with material z-bias level behavior not being consistent
v2.0 [Oct 30, 2013]
An all-new, modern DirectX 11 rendering engine that can take advantage of modern day graphics cards
The core rendering system in Prepar3D has been completely overhauled and updated from DirectX9 to DirectX 11.
Prepar3D is now able to better take advantage of modern graphics hardware. This has two main benefits to the user:
Increased performance and control over what is displayed
The further ability to have modern rendering features added to the rendering engine, including:
A fully dynamic shadow system, including internal virtual cockpit shadows and terrain shadows.
A new HDR lighting system featuring tone-mapping that brings increased immersion when training in all times of day.
Volumetric fog and increased fidelity of clouds and weather.
SimDirector – a brand new, modern training scenario generation tool suite
A new set of tools was required for the rapid creation of training scenarios. SimDirector eclipses the legacy Object Placement Tool and adds drag-and-drop support and a new virtual instructor for more dynamic delivery of training feedback to trainees using Prepar3D.
The introduction of a new Professional Plus version of Prepar3D for military training
In addition to the academic and professional licenses of Prepar3D, a new Professional Plus license has been released to support military training. Professional Plus brings an extensible military weapons training capability, as well as Learning Management System interfaces.
A fully-configurable, dynamic weapons system has been added to Prepar3D to allow our military-focused customers the ability to perform weapons-based training using Prepar3D. Support for targeting, bombs, missiles, guns, and countermeasures are included, as are examples to show you how to implement features in your training.
User interface updates, as well as many other exciting updates to the core platform.
Prepar3D v2 features an entirely redesigned user interface which makes it faster and easier to customize your learning, training and simulation experience in Prepar3D.
Many additional configuration options have been added to give users additional control on what and how Prepar3D performs it’s rendering and simulation.
An updated SDK including many requested features and a new iSimObject API that allows developers full control over their SimObjects.
An all new SimObject API allowing developers to implement their own flight, aerodynamics and physics models in their simulations.
A new custom post-process system which allows developers to write custom effects to be applied to the rendered image to further customize how Prepar3D’s image is generated.
A whole host of other additions to SimConnect, the gauges and panels systems, and the modeling SDK. Please see the SDK for additional details.
Four brand new air vehicles:
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor from IRIS Flight Simulation Software
Lockheed Martin F-35A from Dino Cattaneo and the India India Alpha Foxtrot Echo team
Beechcraft Bonanza A-36 from Carenado
Extra 300s from Alabeo
v1.4 [Aug 21, 2012]
- New user interface – Users now have a Windows 7 compatible drag n’ drop interface with customizable settings. Quickly create and save your favorite missions.
- Multiple monitor settings saved – Users can quickly save panel and scenery window locations across multiple monitors with flight files. Prepar3D remembers the settings upon restarting a flight and restarting Prepar3D.
- Internet multi-player capability – Users across the globe can collaborate with others within the Prepar3D environment to train for their missions or tasks.
- Multi-channel capability – Users can harness the power of this new feature to operate Prepar3D with multiple computers creating a more expansive viewing capability all the way up to 360 degrees field of view.
- Sensor camera options – Users can experience night vision and infrared sensor camera options to enhance military mission or night flying training.
- Realistic scenery – Millions of square kilometers of the earth have been checked and upgraded to accurately represent the urban environment. High resolution 12 cm content added for specific locations.
- Higher quality graphics – Users will experience higher quality graphics such as more realistic rainy or snowy weather with the modernized shader model 3.0. Also offered for higher quality graphics are increased texture limits which can be set as high as 4096 x 4096.
- Underwater environments – Users can take their simulation experience underwater with submarines and the U.S. Geological Survey’s coastal bathymetry.
- Enhanced developer toolset – Developers can use the Prepar3D environment to create new training solutions for the most modern platforms. To aid in rapid development, Prepar3D is now compatible with Windows 7 and Visual Studio 2010; it offers a Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) user interface, an external simulator capability that provides enhanced control of the simulation code, new code samples updated in the Software Development Kit (SDK) documentation and support for the latest 3DStudio Max tools. Developers can also create a richer user experience with higher resolution terrain by taking advantage of the increased texture limits.
- Expanded Hardware Controls – Users, especially fighter pilots, can now train with realistic hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS).
