Gamer Centered Entertainment
SATR3.11 has some exciting new features for both Battlefield Operators and Gamers. SATR3.11 has some cool efficiency improvements.
This blog covers what is new in 3.11.
NOTE: 3.11 is backwardly compatible with older versions of the 3 series. In other words, if you have SATR3.1 or any other 3 series software this new SATR3.11 will all work together. (Please note: SATR3.11 does have some new sound effects which your older units will not have. But they will function together!)
NEW SOFTWARE VERSION - SATR3.11
Here's what's new:
Some operators require Battle Royale games to be run over large areas which means the circle needs to start very large and shrink ultimately down to one small area around a single Battle Royale Box.
If boosters we used, previously they would each have their own circle right to the end. Now I have the boosters have a distance where they cease to retransmit the immunity signal.
Here is an example using 10 boxes, ideally with whip antennas. (See mock-up below.)
The master controller radio commands with Refresh Scores will search for devices consistent with the currently selected mission requesting each device to send its current score to this master controller.
This is especially useful in Battle Royale missions when the game is nearing the end to collect the latest gamer status.SATRInit options: With the red/black button hold-downs there is now a quick rebuild option that just restores the config file. Most corruption occurs to this file and means it does not need a complete rebuild of all the .dat files.
This is now a Battery Discharge option on the test menu accessed using the red button on boot, a good idea for battery conditioning to completely discharge the battery before recharging.
We have added melee RF range splash damage to the Battlefield Live theme shotguns to make them better reflect the spread effect of shotgun pellets.
PROXIMITY MINE The Claymore Mine now has a new software-enabled proximity mine meaning that it explodes whenever a gamer gets too close! This is a variation on the “claymore mine” emulation.
Technically it works by continually sending an IR signal and if enabled an RF signal as well (radio bomb) then if this hits someone, the target gaming gun radios to the Mine that it has hit someone and the bomb will explode! In other words, a gamer has got in close proximity and the bomb goes “Kaboom!”.
The mine remains silent with no flash until a target comes into range.
This is going to be deadly in live-action gaming scenarios!!
The functionality of the simple controller has been expanded significantly to allow all the popular missions supported by SATR3 to be run without having to learn the full master controller. (The comprehensive master controller has hundreds of options!)
The Simple Controller assumes the gaming guns are preset and software locked to prevent inexperienced staff members from changing these settings. Similarly, Battle Boxes are now assumed to use the default “Recommend Options” which allows them to be set on boot by the operator just selecting from a simple menu to run our standard missions.
The Simple Controller will now have the ability to change from Low Light or Bright Conditions (indoor/outdoor) mode, as even the simplest operation might sometimes be in low light conditions like inside while at other times they are operating in bright sunshine. In bright sunshine, the gaming units need to use a lot more infrared power as all infrared sensor sensitivity drops dramatically outdoors.
Running any event, using the pre-recorded phrases to tell the players what is happening or what they need to do is very valuable and can be used safely where the phrase is played on their gaming gun wherever they are on the field is a fantastic group management tool.
The command “Switch Box Teams” is included. This is great if you are running an event on a single crew member. It is just so efficient when changing ends to simply switch box teams so that a box like a Medic Box changes from Red Team to Blue Team by radio. When running an event by oneself, saves a lot of time and walking. When it does the function, the box itself flashes the color of the team it has changed to which does make it clearer.
The command “Refresh Scores” is included. This is especially useful for Battle Royale but in other missions, it has proved useful to request the latest scores from the mission appropriate devices or gaming guns to get the latest score onto the controller. There is no harm in triggering this at any time. This works with the fact we have already added the Mission Scoring to the simple controller in the earlier code versions.
NEW SOFTWARE VERSION - SATR3.10
- Improved Mission Scoring via the Master Controller
- Improved Digital Radio Efficiency
- Double the ammo for all weapons in the Battlefield ROYALE theme
- New "Recommended Options" replaces "Spare Device" options.
- Boosted digital radio range for Supply Crates in the Battlefield ROYALE theme
- NEW: BASIC CONTROLLER which is even simpler than a Simple Controller.
- Reorganized the command list order in the Simple Controller
This new software version offers Improved Monitoring of the Scoring Right From the Master Controller. SATR3.10 offers improved Mission Scoring direct via the Controller. This is the most significant change in this new version.
It offers improved mission-based scoring to the master controller. For example, the Controller will calculate the winning team in the Domination Game even with lots of boxes and then will announce the winning team on the gamer's gun.
Monitoring of the game results was previously done by using monitor commands (still available) or using SATRWare.
SATRWare is great for fixed venues, especially indoors, but for mobile operations or simple outdoor games over larger areas, the master controller is more practical. Supported on the controller including a simple controller are the following game scores:
The latter two game options are best done on a controller that is not also running the game timer as receiving lots of incoming updates from the gaming guns may slow the controller down.
However, generally, these are not timed mission anyway. Free for All can be used in a Battle Royale style game where it is every gamer for themselves, no teams
Except for Rush, when the mission ends the controller works out the winner for you and gives the user the option to play the winning team phrase.
This screen shows a single point Domination game (aka "capture & hold" game) in progress. The red team currently has the Domination Box (aka "game box") in control for 2 min 40 sec. The Blue team has it in control for exactly 2 minutes. And the Purple team has it in control for 1 min & 4 sec.
At the end of the game the display shows the winner and gives the Operator to issue a sound effect to all gaming guns. In this case B, for blue is the winning team, since the Blue team controlled the Domination box for 2 minutes and 44 seconds in total.
The latest live gaming engine is more efficient in relation to the radio system. Both in transmitting and receiving. Whenever the system processes a radio packet it can slow down including the timers. Changes have been made at the driver level to reduce this delay (3.10I+ code).
A lot of the radio traffic sent from gaming guns and boxes is for SATRWare integration, there is no 3 options on each SATR device to specify the level of integration:
By default, there is partial integration which provides enough data to run the new master controller scoreboard without significant delays on the gaming guns or boxes. On full integration with the scoreboard, the system has been optimized to reduce lag.
This makes the system more reliable in collecting device information.
In Battle Royale theme, the ammunition has been doubled on each weapon. Field test found that gamers were running out of ammunition too quickly. Afterall the “Battle Royale” is a winner-take-all competition so players need as much ammo as possible!
We found the healing lock out option while “realistic” was a little frustrating to the players.
Gamers love playing “Fortnite for Real”. So, except for very small children and school groups, all our sessions now run with Battlefield Royale theme. This has been a real hit with the gamers. Battlefield Operators will need to bump up the number of Battle Boxes in their arsenal as the supply crates add a very important element to the game.
To get a battle box into recommended options is very easy, just hold down the red button while turning the box on, it will ask if you want to reset, select Yes. This is much faster that going through all the menus and reduces vastly the chances of the staff getting it wrong. This is so simple; we use this now for our short-term rentals as well.
The way it works now is that the very first thing an operator will want to do is to select what game to play, then set how long to play it for. Next, an operator will want to get players ready using the briefing command (pause and reset). Once everyone is in position Start the game and then if required End the game. Finally, when the event is over, an operator may need the FIND command.
The commands in bold are the most common once and the ones that most operators should need to run our recommended games
Building on past innovations, the new SATR3.11 software is exciting for both Battlefield Operators and Players.
The previous release, SATR3.10 software, was published in September 2020. It also offers Operators and Gamers alike some exciting new features.
What do you like best about the live gaming engine improvements?