Matrix Games Forums

Hello everyone,

Please try this new beta and let us know if it helps your game. This is a major update to Vietnam that includes a UI overhaul for scenario selection and the main menu, as well as updates to the map graphics. We're intending this to be the new baseline for future updates for Vietnam. To install this update please go to your Campaign Series Vietnam File Downloads in the Matrix My Page section of the webite or from the game's store page.

IMPORTANT NOTE: this version will not work with older saves. As such, please make sure to finish your current games before installing this new version or start new games after installing this version. For additional details in this build, please see this document: Changes in 2.00.00 (January 19th, 2025)

IMPORTANT NOTE: This version requires uninstalling the previous version before installing the current one. Be sure to complete your ongoing games. Going forward, before installing any new updates, please ensure that all game modifications are disabled using the JSGME tool, if you had previously enabled any of them.

Errata
• Numerous typos fixed throughout the manual for 2.00

Enhancements
• Implemented a new front-end launch dialog, replacing the multiple old interface dialogs.
• Added subfolders to the Scenarios\ folder to organize scenarios by campaign.
• Campaign is a now a column in the new front-end interface for easier navigation.
• With the old front-end code deprecated, the need for the 2008 C++ redistributable has been removed. The lastest redistributable are now in use.
• Updated all Help buttons to open context-specific chapters in the game manual.
• Introduced a new SITREP dialog with a Force Status tab and enhanced the old Strength and Victory dialogs as tabs. The old dialogs are now deprecated.
• Implemented a new Find Locations dialog with a grid view instead of a text area.
• Implemented a new Find Objectives dialog with a grid view instead of a text area.
• Standardized all dialogs with buttons centered in the middle of the interface.
• Enlarged and updated the Artillery Support and Close Air Support dialogs, providing more informative content instead of the many abbreviations used previously.
• Added a new Standing By for Orders dialog for player to choose between available options, as set in Lua.
• Added the Scenario Description template to Scenario Editor's New Scenario dialog.
• Added and updated approximately 40 CSEE functions, both for Lua for interacting with game engine, and game engine interacting with Lua.
• Added a new Check for Orders status menu item and CSEE functionality for player / CSEE interaction. CSEE can now provide options for the player to choose from.
• Created a revised csmklua.pl utility for generating scenario Lua skeletons. In addition to skeleton code, it includes pre-existing functionality, such as supply availability through the Check for Orders dialog, and computer side battle plans for Artillery and Airstrikes.
• Created a new csmkutxt.pl utility for generating Unittext.txt platoon descriptions from platoon*.csv data in the OOBs subfolder (requires converting platoon*.oob files using the csoob2csv.pl utility first).
• Added North Korea to Order of Battle editor for Vietnam.
• Enhanced the Report dialog, used by Scenario Briefing. The dialog is now larger and includes a Copy to Clipboard button.
• Opportunity Fire target selection now considers whether the target stack contains ground-only, air-only, or mixed units and selects targets accordingly.
There is a 50% chance that the maximum number of attacks per hex may be smaller or larger than the set parameter (Adaptive AI parameter #126: max_hex_opfire_attacks).
• Helicopter flight time now defaults to 12 turns (previously: 9) (Adaptive AI parameter #140: helo_turns_until_refuel).
• Updated default values and added new options to the game configuration, which is saved to the Windows Registry. The game now saves the selected options for Visible, Reachable, Landable LZ hexes, and Command Range Hex Highlight settings.

Fixes
• Fine-tuned the error message for Recon Reveal to include a notification if the unit is not capable to perform a recon reveal. Note that not all units categorized as Recon are eligible for this action. The ReconUnit flag under Capabilities in the Unit Handbook indicates whether a unit is qualified.
• Fixed the issue with Scenario Editor not able to save line breaks in Scenario Description dialog.
• Fixed the issue with AI indirect fire having been restricted too much for Vietnam 1.30 and Middle East 2.30.

Graphics
• Map 3D images are now completely revised into 250 metre per hex scale by Bill “MausMan” Blake. Old legacy graphics continue to be available as well (require a simple folder rename).
• Fixed the Lebanon and Pro East 3D Unit Base graphics that were broken in version 2.30.
• Adjusted all background images to the same Sepia effect, brown for Middle East.

Data
• Order of Battle: North Korea added with historical information covering 1948-1985.
• Numerous platoon edits, tweaking assignments for NATO and 2D symbols to ensure consistency.
• Numerous platoon edits, tweaking infantry type units, ensuring consistency with values, in particular movement and firecost.
• Unified the init.ai Adaptive AI base file, although with the init.lua and user.lua CS Event Engine base files, into single versions for all Modern Wars series games, replacing the previous game specific versions for Middle East and Vietnam.
• Standardized the platoon OOB file column CounterCell2d to store the unit category in twelve unit categories.
• Middle East now also uses the Counters file template, which includes the four identical rows of twelve-unit categories, allowing up to four armed forces branches to be depicted in a standardized manner.
• Fixed the issue where init.ai previously had a too low threshold for allowing indirect fire by the map.
• New CSlint tools in the Tools folder: csoob2csv.pl and cscsv2oob.pl scripts for converting Platoon data between the proprietary in-game format and common comma-separated value (CSV) files.
• Completely reworked CSlint tools in the Tools folder: an enhanced csmklua.pl script for creating CSEE Lua files for scenarios. The current version will generate a skeleton file and also adds advanced Scripted AI logic, including support for Scenario Briefings, Logistics and Artillery and Airstrike management. Expect this to be enhanced in the future!

Scenarios
• Several Tet Offensive related scenarios are included that deal with the assault on Hue 1968.
• Several LAM SON 719 related scenarios are included that deal with the Invasion of Laos 1971.
• The above scenarios now include an accompanying CSEE Lua file. In this iteration, the files introduce Logistics, Scenario Briefings and Scripted AI controlled Artillery and Airstrikes. This is PHASE ONE of the csmakelua2.pl scripting.

Mods
• Upgraded Gary Collins’ 3D Alternative Unit Base mods to align with the current graphics template standards.
• Added Jason Petho 3D Marker and Map Mod that utilizes the classic map markers and modifies the Thicket graphics.

Manual
• The manual has been revised to the 2.00 UPDATE.

Hi Guys
Got this up and running with no problems. It works well with the (make objects 125% larger option on as well.

Thanks very much.

Kind regards
Ian

Thanks, Max and team, for providing the open beta, and Ian, thanks for giving it a try already! Glad to hear everything’s working well.

Do post here if you have any questions or spot any issues!

Hi Crossroads
Thanks for that. I am looking at trying my hand making a version of the JTS Korean War mod "Task Force Smith" scenario that will run in this game, making very clear of course that its not a piece of original work.

Kind regards
Ian

Installed update and everything reset to very small fonts. I did apply all display fixes in Tech support post regarding hi-res displays. Can anyone help? Thanks

In display settings in your desktop try resetting to "make objects 125% larger before launching the game and revert to 100% afterwards. The text is a bit larger and the displays are still visable.

Best of luck
Ian

Thanks Hop. I fixed by using the Vietnam exe file instead of shortcut. Go figure?!

The year or so old LOS bug still exists in this Beta. Without that fixed I can't bring myself back into Vietnam or Middle East. The quickest way to test this is just start a game with no LOS and check each enemy hex.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 8&t=405558

alwaysdime wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:41 pm The year or so old LOS bug still exists in this Beta. Without that fixed I can't bring myself back into Vietnam or Middle East. The quickest way to test this is just start a game with no LOS and check each enemy hex.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 8&t=405558

The bug with regular FOW that allows to click at a hex without friendly units on it, to see visible hexes from there, have proven to be quite elusive, unfortunately. It is still in the to-be-fixed list, though. Until that, from that thread:

Crossroads wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:01 pm Meanwhile, as a workaround, either do not click at hexes you don't have units at, or select Enhanced FOW.

bruce205 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 4:23 pm Thanks Hop. I fixed by using the Vietnam exe file instead of shortcut. Go figure?!

Trying alternate Display resolutions and Scale options hopefully does that. As why clicking an exe directly differs from selecting a shortcut, no idea myself, either. Go figure indeed. Glad to hear you were able to sort it out. Computers, eh.

Seems to be 2 files in the zip. Are they to be installed one after the other?

Phoenix100 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2025 3:44 pm Seems to be 2 files in the zip. Are they to be installed one after the other?

Yes, and the installer does that automatically. The file was too large to fit in one installer executable, hence the two files.

Ok. Thanks.

Crossroads wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 8:49 pm

alwaysdime wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:41 pm The year or so old LOS bug still exists in this Beta. Without that fixed I can't bring myself back into Vietnam or Middle East. The quickest way to test this is just start a game with no LOS and check each enemy hex.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 8&t=405558

The bug with regular FOW that allows to click at a hex without friendly units on it, to see visible hexes from there, have proven to be quite elusive, unfortunately. It is still in the to-be-fixed list, though. Until that, from that thread:

Crossroads wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:01 pm Meanwhile, as a workaround, either do not click at hexes you don't have units at, or select Enhanced FOW.

Found the bugger! It was a faulty airlevel check that should not even have been used in the first place for this use case. Fixed for both games, for engine, and for Scenario Editor as well.

It's a great update for CSV. Many thanks that you're all (both?) still working on this great series and improving it. I really look forward to proper CSEE scripts for CSME.

Crossroads wrote: ↑Sun Feb 02, 2025 5:59 pm

Crossroads wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 8:49 pm

alwaysdime wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:41 pm The year or so old LOS bug still exists in this Beta. Without that fixed I can't bring myself back into Vietnam or Middle East. The quickest way to test this is just start a game with no LOS and check each enemy hex.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 8&t=405558

The bug with regular FOW that allows to click at a hex without friendly units on it, to see visible hexes from there, have proven to be quite elusive, unfortunately. It is still in the to-be-fixed list, though. Until that, from that thread:

Crossroads wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:01 pm Meanwhile, as a workaround, either do not click at hexes you don't have units at, or select Enhanced FOW.

Found the bugger! It was a faulty airlevel check that should not even have been used in the first place for this use case. Fixed for both games, for engine, and for Scenario Editor as well.

That's great to hear. When do you think a build will be released with this fix? I've been wanting to check out the new versions but this bug has been a no go for me for some time now.

Matrix is in the process of preparing the installers for the official release versions. Those will then be hand back to us, to test them throroughly. All things going well, Vietnam might be available already by the end of play next week. Middle East perhaps a week or so after.