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Iraq, Western Asia (1980-2003)


Iraq, Western Asia (1980-2003) Terrain
February 13th, 2017 (1st Release)
by Menrva


>For Strike Fighters 2, Recommended Full-5 Merged
This is a complete remake of the DS/IR terrain released long time ago by Wrench.
The entire map has been retargetized and retiled using a whole new tileset, combining tiles from JSF_Aggie, Stary, Centurion-1 and my bad transition tiles. All major water bodies, lakes and some minor rivers have been hand-tiled. The Caspian Sea coast had to be hand-tiled as well. Numerous target areas have been added in order to expand playability, targets of opportunity and year range.

This terrain features a fresh new 250m resolution heightmap (instead of the stock 500m resolution), allowing for greater details and precision in elevation changes; overall it provides the whole terrain with a better look.

The terrain spans from September 22, 1980 (the beginning of the Iran/Iraq War) to May 1, 2003 (the end of major combat operations of Operation Iraqi Freedom); it is designed for the Iran/Iraq War, Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Fox and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Iraq is Enemy, Iran is Friendly, other countries are Friendly as well. Due to limitations in the terrain engine, and not wanting to make three different terrains, I opted to set Iran as Friendly together with other countries such as Saudi Arabia. While you might see US planes spawn in Iran during Single Missions even if the 1979 Iranian Revolution already happened, it's up to the users to play with missions in the editor to fix any historical oddities.
Targets reflect Real World events as accurately as possible; for instance, after the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, Kuwaiti airfields are set as Neutral, enemy targets appear inside Kuwait, etc. Some airfields won't be available after a certain date and/or will change name according to historic changes. Various Operation Desert Storm expeditionary bases and FOBs have been added, and will appear only during Operation Desert Storm dates.
All main targets are in their Real World locations (I tried to be as accurate as possible, to such a level that even surpasses ThirdWire's stock terrains). Shiraz Int'l Airport and Prince Sultan Airbase are beyond the Wall. However, if you have SF2NA, long range AI flights can be generated from such airbases.

Ground Objects are not included. You can obtain most of them from Wrench's original Iran-Iraq terrains, or from other mod packages.


>Credits (in no particular order):
-Wrench, who reworked the original terrain and provided the CombatACE community with plenty of mods and scenarios to play with. He gave me invaluable advise, the tools I needed and introduced me to the beautiful, exhausting world of terrain modding/making. Thank you, sir!
-swambast, who offered to build two high quality 3D models (Mosul Dam and Mosul Grand Mosque), featured for the first time in this terrain, it's an honor! He also provided major help in tracking and fixing common and uncommon bugs. If the terrain is stable (no CTDs), it's his merit!
-Nyghtfall, for creating 3d models of the Kuwait Water Towers and Kuwait Freedom Towers.
-tiopilotos, for providing reworked .tga tiles with new alpha channels. Much appreciated!
-Spudknocker, who helped me complete the 1980-2003 beta version of the terrain, providing additional target areas.
-gerwin, whose TFDtool has proved to be essential in today's terrain making. If the terrain is pretty accurate to RL it's also because of him. I included his very nice Airfield 7+8 Addon Pack, too.
-MigBuster, I have included some of his great hi-res textures for runways.
-mue, for the improved shaders he made, which I have included and reworked for the terrain, and for the tools he made for SF2 modding.
-luk1978, for the waternormal bitmap he shared at the SF2 screenshots thread. Your mods are very interesting!
-Crusader, who provided me with the info I needed about ODS and other stuff related to targets.
-JSF_Aggie, for his high quality DS tileset, which I have expanded with my horrible transition tiles.
-7eleven, who directed me to a website filled with Desert Storm related info.
-Centurion-1, since I used some tiles from his Desert 4 Mountain Regions+ Addon. I tried to contact you for permission, but it seems RL got in your way. Your WIP mod about the Iran/Iraq war gave me the motivation to complete this terrain. The least I can say is thank you. Best of luck, mate!
-Stary, because his tilesets are pure art. I borrowed a few TODs and tiles from his excellent IsraelME tileset.
-Gepard, for his great tutorials about terrain making, in the SF1 Knowledge Base at CombatACE. It's a gold mine!
-Stratos, who supported me support during the terrain's development.
-krfrge, who has produced a tutorial for recreating SF2-like planning maps, which prompted me to work on templates and my own high quality planning maps. Thank you very much!
-comrpnt, for his Approach and Airfield Lighting Pack mod packages for SF1 series, which I reworked and included.

I am totally sure I missed someone, especially because the terrain was born from Wrench's original ones. So I also included Wrench's original readme files from his IR and IR2003 terrains to the end of giving proper credit to everyone involved directly or not.


>Disclaimer:
This is a freeware; yet it can be redistributed ONLY in other CombatACE mods/mod packages.
Any changes to the terrain package's files and/or any copy-and-paste attempts of their contents are NOT authorized if you plan to release them in other mods. But permission might be granted to those who request it to me at CombatACE.
This terrain may NOT in any way, shape or form be used in any payware additions.


 

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GREAT !!!

 

I would like to report that problem with 'untextured'  black buildings I had in terrain from Spudknocker's campaign is no longer present.

All bulidings are textured correctly..

I didn't notice trees...but hope its ok.

 

And this terrain is cool, 

Thanks.

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GREAT !!!

 

I would like to report that problem with 'untextured'  black buildings I had in terrain from Spudknocker's campaign is no longer present.

All bulidings are textured correctly..

I didn't notice trees...but hope its ok.

 

And this terrain is cool, 

Thanks.

 

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad that the bug you experienced with the early version of the terrain is no longer present. Trees have been removed from certain tiles, since there are rough mountains, and they would look bad. I hope that in the future some artists manage to make a whole new tileset for it, with better TODs.

 

BTW, with little modding knowledge this terrain can be made to work with Spudknocker's campaigns, since this one is also a better-looking version with the plus that Iran's got new SAM sites which were totally missing from the early version.

Edited by Menrva
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Terrain package updated to Version 1.01. Minor tweaks here and there, it might be worth re-downloading.

Edited by Menrva
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Terrain package updated to Version 1.02. Major changes and bug-fixing, it's well worth re-downloading this time.

Edited by Menrva
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5 hours ago, Fuzzyinthe348 said:

Hey  brothas,

My runways are not showing up. Any word on how to fix this? Much appreciate!

This should happen since you don't have the Desert terrain from SF2, so you might have another SF2 title, like SF2E, or SF2V or SF2I. My terrain uses the stock Desert terrain files as a base. But don't worry, there is an easy fix. Inside the terrain folder, find the IraqWA.ini file, and open it with Notepad. You'll find that the referenced CatFile is the Desert.CAT. Since you don't have SF2, but some other stock terrain, enable a different CAT instead. If you have SF2E, you have the GermanyCE terrain, etc.

So, double slash the Desert.CAT line and enable one of the different CAT files from the list below, according to which SF2 game you have:

CatFile=..\Desert\Desert.CAT
//CatFile=..\GermanyCE\GermanyCE.CAT
//CatFile=..\VietnamSEA\VietnamSEA.CAT
//CatFile=..\IsraelME\IsraelME.CAT

I hope I have been clear enough. Just follow these simple instructions and let me know if it works.

Edited by Menrva

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7 hours ago, Fuzzyinthe348 said:

Thank you my friend, this worked! I have SF2:I so it makes sense.

Glad it works! Enjoy the terrain, it took me years to develop it!

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I am truly amazed at the quality my friend! I have to say my favorite part so far is the mountains. Looking forward to your future works!

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Terrain package updated to Version 1.03; small fixes and the addition of high quality planning maps! 

Edited by Menrva

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Terrain package updated to Version 1.04; among minor additions, the terrain's folder has been cleaned up of many unnecessary files. Users are advised to remove the previous version completely.

Edited by Menrva
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On 2/13/2017 at 2:49 AM, Menrva said:

The terrain won't work with the current Operation Desert Storm campaign available at CombatACE, so I leave the job of updating that campaign to other modders.

Sorry for the obviously dumb question - but what are the chances we could see a campaign built specifically for this map? I'd love to give the map a whirl..but have no idea how to make a campaign for it. Or can I just install it and make Quick Missions on it?

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28 minutes ago, beachav8r said:

Or can I just install it and make Quick Missions on it?

You can play with it already, feel free to create quick missions! As for an updated Desert Storm campaign, a team is being formed, and it will use this terrain. Just check the following thread: https://combatace.com/forums/topic/91614-upgrade-for-odscalling-modders-new-and-old/

You have no idea how wrong the original Desert Storm map was. This one is very accurate in terms of target locations. Also, it comes with most if not all Iraqi airbases, and there are Iranian bases as well, for the 1980-88 Iran/Iraq War.

Edited by Menrva
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Great job again.

Did you add more air defence  sites ? It is like i have threat everywhere today...

although ...i had to spend few minutes for editing types and targets ini....for my own Iran - Iraq purposes.

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1 hour ago, yakarov79 said:

Great job again.

Did you add more air defence  sites ? It is like i have threat everywhere today...

although ...i had to spend few minutes for editing types and targets ini....for my own Iran - Iraq purposes.

Well, I added them since the definitive version 1.0. Latest update simply fixed some minor things, and I added more border posts. The beta Iran-Iraq terrain missed lots of Blue Side SAMs, so this one is more complete.

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Hi Menvra

I'm trying to add the Oilrig that we can find in this superb terrain in my Europe Terrain . However, and I don't know why, the 3d model does not show up in game..... it does in the target area editor....... I have never seen something like this. Any idea?

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On 25/2/2018 at 2:10 PM, FRPignon said:

Hi Menvra

I'm trying to add the Oilrig that we can find in this superb terrain in my Europe Terrain . However, and I don't know why, the 3d model does not show up in game..... it does in the target area editor....... I have never seen something like this. Any idea?

Hi! The Oil Rig shows up fine on my terrain.

Make sure you have added the needed entries in the _types.ini, and copy all the Oil Rig related files (check Gepard's package here:  https://combatace.com/files/file/12331-small-oil-rig/).

 

Edited by Menrva

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1 hour ago, Menrva said:

Hi! The Oil Rig shows up fine on my terrain.

img00001.thumb.JPG.27c595654e022a5f9fee4d149cb03766.JPG

Make sure you have added the needed entries in the _types.ini, and copy all the Oil Rig related files (check Gepard's package here:  https://combatace.com/files/file/12331-small-oil-rig/).

 

 

Nothing. Everything is at the correct plane, with correct names and the entries are in the _types .ini....... and nothing, it does not show up.

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2 hours ago, FRPignon said:

Nothing. Everything is at the correct plane, with correct names and the entries are in the _types .ini....... and nothing, it does not show up.

FRPignon, send me a PM with more details. I can double check your files. Let's leave this thread of my terrain package.

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48 minutes ago, Menrva said:

FRPignon, send me a PM with more details. I can double check your files. Let's leave this thread of my terrain package.

 

Ok I'l do that, because I'm really confused, I don't know what it going on..

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Terrain package updated to Version 1.05; nothing big, just minor changes.

Edited by Menrva

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Terrain package updated to Version 1.07. Check the Changelog for full details.

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This is happening when I choose fo fly with IRIAF side.

Some tips?

img00291.JPG

img00292.JPG

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8 hours ago, madvad said:

This is happening when I choose fo fly with IRIAF side.

Some tips?

No idea, I don't know on which airfields you spawn. Anyway, don't bother. The terrain needs to be updated to the latest version which is included in ODS 30AE. I lack time due to RL unfortunately. Some day I'll manage to update it fully.

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  • Similar Content

    • By Menrva


      View File Operation Desert Storm: 30th Anniversary Edition
      Welcome To Duty
      Built with the extraordinary expertise and dedication of modders from CombatACE.com, Operation Desert Storm – 30th Anniversary Edition promises to be the most complete total conversion ever made for Strike Fighters 2 by ThirdWire.
      Fly with more than 50 aircraft ranging from Cold War relics to the most advanced platforms. Gain air superiority in the mighty F-15C Eagle or challenge the Coalition with the agile Fulcrum. Support troops with the A-10A Thunderbolt II, bomb strategic targets with the stealthy F-117A Nighthawk, lead airfield denial operations in the iconic Tornado.
      Enjoy a beautifully rendered scenario on a scaled and accurate terrain. Fly over the lakes and rivers of Mesopotamia, the oil-rich fields of Kuwait, the mountains of Iran and Turkey. Take-off from aircraft carriers stationed in the Persian Gulf to watch over Kuwaiti oil rigs. Perform landings and patrols in more than 90 airports and air bases in the Middle East.
      Take part in different campaigns including the Iraqi blitzkrieg on Kuwait and the US-led liberation of the Kuwaiti Emirate. Discover how the Iraqi Army was one of the biggest in the world, through the eyes of American, British, Canadian, French, Italian and Arab pilots. Test your skills and abilities flying for the Iraqi Air Force during all stages of the conflict.
      Thirty years after, Operation Desert Storm still remains the largest air operation of modern warfare to date. Modders and flight sim enthusiasts at CombatACE teamed up to bring you a unique product in the lite flight sim world. Exquisitely detailed aircraft and paint schemes are delivered in a well-researched and thorough order of battle.
      The ODS 30th AE Development team would like to thank CombatACE.com, its admins, moderators and contributors.
      We are sure you will enjoy and appreciate this high-quality freeware product. From the aviation enthusiasts, to the aviation enthusiasts... and for the pilots of tomorrow.
       
      Minimum Requirements
      Required products from ThirdWire:
      Strike Fighters 2, July 2013 patch Strike Fighters 2: Israel, July 2013 patch Strike Fighters 2: North Atlantic, July 2013 patch Full support for:
      Mission Editor DLC Campaign Customizer DLC System specs:
      OS: Windows 7 x86 Processor: Dual Core 2.7 GHz Memory: 4.0 GB RAM Hard Drive: 17.0 GB Free Space Video Card: 1024 MB DirectX 10  
      Sneak Peek
       
      Disclaimer
      CombatACE.com shall at all times retain ownership of the Software as originally downloaded by you and all subsequent downloads of the Software by you. The Software (and the copyright, and other intellectual property rights of whatever nature in the Software, including any modifications made thereto) are and shall remain the property of CombatACE.com and of the respective developers/modders.
      In no event, unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, shall CombatACE.com, or any person be liable for any loss, expense or damage, of any type or nature arising out of the use of, or inability to use this installer or program, including, but not limited to, claims, suits or causes of action involving alleged infringement of copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, or unfair competition.
      The Operation Desert Storm: 30th Anniversary Edition modification does NOT comply with CombatACE's Freeware Licensing. Various contents of this modification are exclusive, as such you are NOT allowed to share, redistribute and/or make use of the mod and/or its contents for other purposes, without the consent of the mod's developers. Contents of the modification are the copyright of their respective authors.
       
      Notes about the installer
      Beware, the mod is available only in the ISO format. You can either mount it on a virtual drive, burn it on a DVD like in the good old days, or unzip it with 7-Zip or equivalent software.
      The installer will automatically detect your installation of the required Strike Fighters 2 games by reading through the registry keys. Game folders that are copied from or manually moved from where they were originally installed are not supported. You need all three aforementioned Strike Fighters 2 games and they must be installed with ThirdWire's original installers, not manually copied from other sources nor moved elsewhere after installation to other folders or drives. If you do not meet any of these requirements, installation cannot proceed and you are on your own. If you install all required games properly, the installation of the mod will proceed correctly as intended. The installer then lets you choose where to install the mod folder; you can even install the mod on a different drive or partition than the one where Strike Fighters 2 is installed. No further user input nor manual edits after installation are ever required; the installer takes care of creating all proper links to your desired path for the mod folder. After installation is over, simply run the mod by using the created Desktop and/or Start Menu links.
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      Suggestions on common issues
      Make sure that you are using your dedicated GPU. By default, Strike Fighters 2 usually selects the integrated GPU you may have on your CPU, which is much weaker in terms of VRAM. In case you have frequent crashes or black/missing textures, I highly suggest you download and install the DXVK graphics wrapper (x86 DLLs) into your Strike Fighters 2 game folder: https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk. You need a Vulkan-compatible GPU. The wrapper can greatly improve the experience with the mod. With DXVK I can play the mod on a mere Intel UHD 710, whereas without it the mod would always crash to desktop. Go to Sound and set Sound Channels to 32. We got reports that 16 is not enough and will cause crashes on some systems, due to the higher quality sounds included within the mod. The mod is pretty heavy for the game engine despite huge optimizations. Strike Fighters 2's engine is 32bit only and apparently does not manage VRAM properly; consecutive campaign missions might show black/missing textures on objects or cause crashes to desktop because the game does not release the occupied VRAM from the previous mission you played, thus the more missions are loaded consecutively, the more easily you may run out of memory. Set Ground Objects to Medium or Low, Horizon Distance to Near, and Shadows to Medium or Low. These are the most troubling settings. Avoid Unlimited settings as much as possible. If the mod used to work and suddenly crashes to desktop, updating or reinstalling video drivers should help. Make sure that DirectX June 2010 Redistributables are also installed, they are included inside the ISO disk image of the mod. Inside the mod folder, you'll find some extra text files. "(Coalition Order of Battle)" should be of your interest; the mod's terrain covers the entirety of Iraq, at the cost of not having all of Saudi Arabia; this means that a number of important units are based on airbases that are beyond the in-game playable area. With those units you always spawn near the target area, you'll never get to start from a runway nor to land on the assigned runway beyond the invisible wall. You have an entire list of the affected units in the aforementioned text file. By pressing ALT+N, the plane returns to base automatically. The mod is fully compatible with the Campaign Customizer and Mission Editor DLCs by ThirdWire. The Campaign Customizer might be an alternative way to experience those off map units I mentioned previously, since it assigns you to a random airbase of the in-game flyable area. Escort missions are often broken, this is not an issue of the mod, but a bug of the stock game; sometimes the AI flight you escort does not engage its target and keeps flying in a straight line instead of following waypoints, thus the trigger for mission success will never happen. Abandon the mission or retry it if the issue happens, sometimes it works. Pray for ThirdWire AKA Tsuyoshi Kawahito to work on a 64bit version of Strike Fighters 2, maybe even with support for DirectX 12. With that done, any out of memory issues should become an old memory. Submitter Menrva Submitted 01/16/2021 Category User Made Campaigns  
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