Public Test of Update 1.4

We’re proud to announce the public test of Version 1.4. If you’re looking to try out all the new features of the upcoming version before its official release, then the public test server is the place for you to be.

Not only is this a great opportunity to get a glimpse of the future of the game, but you will also be able to actively influence the final look of the update by providing valuable feedback to our developers. Through your help, they will be able to test the newly created features under life-like conditions and smooth out whatever rough edges still remain, based on the findings of the public test participants.

Main Features of the 1.4 Test Version

• Five new Tier VI Premium aircraft – one for each nation in the game
• Two new maps: Winter War and Hidden Airbase
• Improved matchmaker
• New airframes for a multitude of aircraft
• Various interface improvements both in battle as well as in the hangar
• New SD/HD versions of the client (see the explanation in the Patch Notes)

Please find the full list of changes in the Patch Notes section below.

How the Public Test Works

When it is time to run a public test, the developers will release a test version of the client.  This can be downloaded by following the instructions below.  Make sure that you follow all of the instructions carefully, so that you don’t accidentally cause problems in your normal play account.

The test account is completely separate to your normal account. It will have a set of special rules for crediting experience, credits and gold. This will allow you to unlock all the contents of the game quicker, in order for you to be able to fully test the new features.

As such you will receive:

• 2,000 gold for your 1^st victory of the day
• 5,000 gold for your 10^th victory of the day

Additionally, the following multipliers will be applied on the public test server:

Your test account will be a copy of your play account as it was on 8 May 2014. This means that all the planes purchased or researched on your regular account by this date will also be available on the public test account from the start.

The progress achieved on the test server will not carry over to your regular World of Warplanes account.

Financial transactions are not possible on the test server and payments will not be accepted.

Public Test General Rules

Participation in the World of Warplanes Public Test is free. All players are eligible to take part in the public test as long as they registered before 8 May 2014.

The test server will run all day long without interruptions or resets. We will communicate in advance when the testing period will be over and when the public test will be closed.

How to Join the Public Test

1. Download the test client installer.
2. Make sure you pick a save location that is different to your regular World of Warplanes game files. Save and run the installer (6.5 GB).
3. Run the new copy of the game. The launcher will download all the additional data. (SD: 3.17 GB, HD: 4.96 GB)
4. Log in and start playing. Remember to post your feedback to this forum thread.

Thank you for taking part in the public test. Good luck and have fun!

Patch Notes

New Planes

New Premium planes will be added both in the game as well as in the Premium Shop:

• Bell P-39Q-15 Airacobra - Tier VI Soviet fighter
• Supermarine Spitfire V DB 605 - Tier VI German fighter
• North American Mustang Mk.I – Tier VI British fighter
• Kawasaki Ki-88 - Tier VI Japanese fighter
• Grumman XP-50 – U.S. Tier VI heavy fighter

New Maps

Two new game maps were introduced:

• Secret Airbase – available for battles using Tier V-X planes
• Winter War – available for battles using Tier I-V planes

Improved Matchmaker

A new version of the matchmaker will be introduced with this update. Compared to the old one, this matchmaker has more flexible mechanics to better balance the two teams.

• Better overall balance of individual planes in a battle in terms of their type, tier and nation
• Greater focus on an even number of Flights in a battle
• More attention to the composition/lineup of a Flight (to better reflect its true value in battle)
• Reduced chance of being the lowest-tier plane in a battle for multiple battles in a row

Aircraft Balancing

Module Progression

Update 1.4 introduces new airframes for a multitude of planes. Players who have previously researched any of these planes will have the new modules researched as well. Players who already owned any of these planes will have the new modules not only researched but also added to their inventory so that they can be mounted immediately.

USSR:

• Yak-7 – added a new top airframe "Yak-7B" that will be researchable after the initial "Yak-7А" module
• Yak-9 – added a new stock airframe "Yak-9Т", while the previous stock airframe "Yak-9М" becomes researchable as the upgraded module
• La-7 - module "3х 20-mm B-20 (S)" can now be researched from the previous "2х 20-mm ShVAK (1941) (S)" and also be mounted on the original "La-7 (1944)" airframe
• Yak-3 – added a new top airframe "Yak-3 (1945)", which will be researchable after the stock "Yak-3 (1944)" airframe
• Yak-9U – added a new top airframe "Yak-9U (1945)", which will be researchable from the stock "Yak-9U (1944)" airframe
• Yak-15 – added a new stock airframe "Yak-15-UMO", while the previous airframe "Yak-15" becomes researchable as the upgraded module

Germany:

• Bf 109 F Friedrich – added a new stock airframe "Bf 109 F-3", while the "Bf 109 F" airframe was renamed to "Bf 109 F-4" and moved so it is now the upgraded module
• Bf 109 Z Zwilling – added a new top airframe "Bf. 109Z (G)", which will be researchable after the initial "Bf 109 Z (F)" module
• Fw 190 D – added a new top airframe "Fw 190 D-11", which will be researchable after the initial "Fw 190 D-9" module

USA:

• P-51A Mustang – added a new intermediary engine "V-1650-1", which will be required in order to research the P-51D Mustang. Players who have the P-51A Mustang and the top engine "V-1650-3" researched will receive this new, intermediary engine researched as well.
• P-51D Mustang – added a new stock engine "V-1650-1". The previous stock engine "V-1650-3" becomes researchable as the upgraded module. The former top engine "V-1650-9" was removed from the list of available modules for the P-51D Mustang. Players who had the P-51D Mustang purchased with this "V-1650-9" engine mounted will receive the new top configuration with the former intermediary engine "V-1650-7". Former owners of the "V-1650-9" engine will be compensated 150,000 World of Warplanes Credits.

United Kingdom:

• Westland P.1056 – weapon "2х 40-mm Vickers S (W)" replaced with "2х 40-mm Rolls-Royce BH (K)".

Adjustments to Required Modules in the Tech Tree

• The Tier V Beaufighter, for which you previously had to research the “2x .303 Vickers K” rear gunner on the preceding Tier IV Blenheim F, will now require the "2х 20-mm Hispano Mk. I (F)" gun to be researched in order to unlock it.
• The Beaufighter’s research cost was reduced from 11,700 XP to 9,630 XP.
• The tier of the airframe "Blenheim V" for the Tier IV Bristol Blenheim F heavy fighter was reduced from Tier V to Tier IV. Its corresponding research cost was also reduced from 4,350 XP to 2,150 XP.
• Fixed the bug with the research cost of the machine guns "4x .303 Browning Mk.II (F)" for the Tier IV Bristol Blenheim F. The corresponding research cost was reduced from 5,200 XP to 2,100 XP.

Other

Corrections were made to the displayed tiers of certain modules in the hangar:

• "АМ-38F" engine (available on the IL-2(t) and IL-8) increased from Tier VI to VII
• "АМ-42" engine (available on the IL-8 and IL-10) increased from Tier VII to VIII
• "Mercury VIS" engine (available on the Bristol Bulldog, Bristol Type 133 and Blackburn Skua) increased from Tier II to III
• “Bristol 146 K8088" airframe (available on the Bristol Type 146) reduced from Tier V to IV
• "20-mm B-20EN" turret (available on the IL-10) increased from Tier VII to VIII
• "20-mm B-20EN" turret (available on the IL-20) increased from Tier VII to VIII

Changes to planes’ characteristics:

USA:

• P-51A Mustang - reduced weapons’ accuracy and the acceleration/deceleration with the top engine "V-1650-3"
• P-51D Mustang - increased accuracy of stock weapons and the energy loss when using flaps
• P-51H Mustang - increased accuracy of the stock weapons, the optimum speed for all configurations and the energy loss when using flaps

Graphics and Interface

• Added a new feature to the lead-aim indicator. Depending on the distance to your target the aiming circle will now change colour and size slightly to help you determine when to open fire.
• Added a new animation representing the plane’s arrival on the battle scene during the loading screen. Also added the option to return to the loading screen table once in-game.
• Reduced transparency of the planes’ markers in the battle interface to increase readability. Marker settings updated.
• The in-game help screen (reached by pressing the F1 key) was updated.
• Chat shortcut messages from Flight-mates are now displayed in a different colour than messages from regular team members.
• Notifications about scored assists in battle are now being displayed to all players in-game.
• Improved the free camera in the spectator mode. 
• Removed the possibility of dismissing a plane’s crew via the right mouse button.
• Changed the way that module tooltips are displayed so that they don’t obstruct the view on other modules in the progression tree.
• Changed some of the visuals regarding battle events on the mini-map. Left-clicking anywhere on the mini-map in order to indicate something to your team will now have its own visual that is different to the one displayed when one of your team’s ground targets is under attack.
• Added new graphical elements to the battle missions interface.
• Minor bugs fixed for the display of battle missions.

Replays

• Fixed some bugs related to the mechanism responsible for the recording and playback of replays. As a result, replays that were recorded using Versions 1.2-1.3.1 will no longer be compatible with Version 1.4.

HD/SD Client

Starting with Version 1.4, there will be two versions of the game client – HD and SD.

The HD version will continue to feature the full range of options, including all maximum-size textures, for those who want to play using ‘High’ and ‘Very High’ graphics settings.

The SD version, on the other hand, is aimed at people who do not wish to play on the highest graphical settings and are looking to save space on their hard drive. They will thus be able to download a reduced version of the client, which contains all the assets that are necessary to play on up to the ‘Medium’ graphical settings.

When updating to Version 1.4 through the launcher, the game will automatically download the version that corresponds to your currently chosen graphics settings.

If your graphic settings are set to ‘High’ or ‘Very High’ settings, the HD version will be downloaded. This will add around 1 GB of additional data to your current client.

However, if your graphic settings are set to ‘Personal’, ‘Very Low’, ‘Low’ or ‘Medium’, the launcher will download the SD version. As a result, your final client folder will shrink in size by about 50%.

Users of the SD version will have the option to upgrade to the HD version from within the client. If you’re installing the game for the first time, you’ll be able to select which version you want to use during installation.