This is the fourth part of our LSPDFR 0.4 Preview Series.  Not caught up yet?  Check out the rest of this series here: https://www.lcpdfr.com/forums/forum/880-news-updates/

 

It's probably the most critical component of the mod, so it follows that with any new version of LSPDFR, you can be pretty confident that the underlying systems which enable police pursuit gameplay will be updated.  LSPDFR 0.4 is, of course, no different in this regard, and following on with the general theme of 0.4's development (which is more less pulling everything out and ripping it to pieces), we've taken the opportunity to revamp much of the pursuit gameplay in the mod.

 

As an aside, we had hoped to publish this preview at an earlier date but unfortunately due to both @LMS and myself being away from home, on various different continents in the past month or so this was a little difficult.  Nonetheless, we hope that you enjoy this preview and that it nicely illustrates just a couple of the changes that we've made to pursuits, as alluded to in our last post about AI improvements.

 

 

Pursuit Interaction Menu

 

Since LSPDFR 0.3, we've had an Interaction Menu, à la GTA Online, which has, as you would expect, facilitated interaction between you as a player and your character and their job as a cop.  While this is cool and all, there's definitely a number of areas where the interaction in LSPDFR falls a little short, with pursuits being perhaps the most obvious.

 

In LCPDFR for GTA IV, there were a couple of toggles available during pursuits - notably the option to force or disable the usage of lethal force.  With 0.4, however, we think we've far surpassed that by introducing a handful of new options which definitely provide more control than ever.  

 

 

The Pursuit Interaction Menu in LSPDFR 0.4 offers advanced controls for the current pursuit, as well as the ability to disengage.

 

The cool thing about the new Interaction options for Pursuits is that it ties in nicely with the new customization options introduced in 0.4, and covered earlier in our previews.  So, not only can you define and configure law enforcement agencies to your liking, but you can also carry this through to pursuits too by designating a specific agency to handle the chase.  If, for example, a pursuit that starts in Los Santos crosses multiple jurisdictions then it's entirely probable that you'll end up with a number of agencies joining, which depending on the circumstances and/or your own preferences, might not be so desirable.  With the new Interaction options, you could simply specify that the initiating agency (i.e. the LSPD in this case) handles the pursuit, leaving the other agencies to mind their own business.

 

Similarly, there's a lot of other practical usefulness be found in these options: we've brought back the ability to force on/off the usage of lethal force against pursuit suspects, and there's also the ability to enable or disable pursuit intervention tactics (more on these below).

 

And of course, for those in search of the ultimate exercise in boredom (I mean, err, realism), then you might find that setting a pursuit into Tracking Mode - where ground units will hang back and follow from a distance, leaving your small air force of helicopters following above to do all the work in true Angeleno fashion - makes you feel so much more at home.

 

 

Pursuit Intervention Techniques

 

As alluded to above, LSPDFR 0.4 also introduces a number of changes to the artificial intelligence in pursuits.  Currently, the main tactic employed by NPCs in GTA V during pursuits is to rather aimlessly ram into the back of the suspect vehicle in the unrealistic belief that this is actually going to help end the pursuit.  Of course, this usually just results in the cop crashing into oblivion, and it looks really, really dumb too. 

 

So, naturally, one of the coolest new additions to LSPDFR 0.4 is the implementation of a working PIT maneuver:

Demonstration of NPC officers bringing a pursuit to a safe conclusion through successful usage of the new PIT maneuver in LSPDFR 0.4

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiFFFho3hd0

 

 

As cool as this is, we know that NPCs performing PITs may not be to everyone's taste, and that it may not be suitable in every circumstance, so these can easily be enabled or disabled on-the-fly, during a pursuit, through the Interaction menu by changing the Tactics option.  If pursuit Tactics are disabled, pursuing NPCs will not attempt PIT maneuvers, and they will also shy away from most other advanced tactics, like blocking.

 

 

A closer look at the termination of the pursuit, with the suspects surrendering, after a successful usage of the PIT maneuver.

 

 

Air Support

 

Throughout the history of our two mods, air support has always been a touchy subject.  For those of you who played LCPDFR, you will likely still carry with you many terrifying memories of those white and blue flying death machines.  In previous versions of LSPDFR, things generally weren't that much better either - especially when your pilot decides, in a moment of wisdom, that flying through the bridge, rather than over it, is the best course of action.

 

With 0.4, we've taken the time to address some of the most frustrating issues with air support, with a particular focus on dramatically increasing both the usefulness, and lifespan, of our helicopters.  Specifically, you'll notice that helicopters in LSPDFR now fly at a much more realistic height and will properly increase or decrease their altitude as the situation requires, such as when a pursuit is passing through a heavily built up area.  They're also far more competent at actually keeping up with the suspects they are pursuing and will do so with a degree of intelligence, rather than just trying to fly directly above them.

 

 

A watchful LSPD air support unit circles overhead, tracking as a suspect attempts to flee on foot.

 

Furthermore, we've built in special modes for our air units, giving them the ability not only to follow suspects, but also to conduct searches over wide areas - something which is especially useful when ground units have lost visual, or are attempting to locate a target.

 

In addition, our helicopters are also responsive to changes in the conditions of pursuits they follow - such as if a suspect is in a vehicle or not - and will adapt accordingly.  When tracking a suspect on foot, air units won't simply hover above them but will engage in a more realistic flying pattern where the aircraft seeks to maintain continuous movement, while operating varying angles to compensate for possible obstructions like buildings.

 

 

Not a helicopter, but just in case you were wondering what happened to the guy pictured above...

 

 

This, though, definitely is a helicopter.  It's also not flying at street level!

 

As always, stay tuned for more news about LSPDFR 0.4 as we progress towards its completion.

Everytime you guys release a new update, I feel like a child on christmas evening 😄

Keep up the good work, I'm really looking forward to lspdfr 0.4!

Look good, glad you guys are making progress and can't wait to see the finished product. Keep up the good work 👍.

Good god, you guys made the police pursuit AI actually sensible in V? There's no other word for you, you're wizards.

Amazing! Looking forward to it!

holy shit, this is amazing. Thanks for keeping us updated!

 

I'll admit, recently I've lost interest in LSPDFR due to frustrating things like incompetent AI and lack of variation in pursuits. However, this does look like a promising update and it makes me want to play it again. I also hope you've addressed the annoying issues in 0.3 like the AI doing u turns on highways and accidentally triggering a pursuit with a random civilian while there is one already active.

Looking good can´t wait for the new update take your time 😉

Finally! And even more awesome that expected!

 

I still hope there will be some integrated AI partner(s) feature...  

Hooray, so another how many months until a 0.1 update is complete?.....😒

So I was about to go to sleep.. then I saw this post... now I cannot sleep...😠

the day this comes out is going to be christmas to me. especially if coastal callouts comes out the same week!

Edited July 28, 20187 yr by stickycabbage

0.4 is looking incredible, but the improved AI is definitely my favorite thing right now. ALL HAIL OTHER UNITS USING THE PIT!

I hope they add a realistic taser x26 Just like lcpdfr

Edited July 28, 20187 yr by heuuu

Looks amazing.. now what you should do is add a tracking bar so we could see where you guys are and what you have left until the update 😀 *hint hint*

Looks great. Thanks for the update!

I like this and all, but will there be a roadblock option?

4 hours ago, GTALawEnforcer said:

Hooray, so another how many months until a 0.1 update is complete?.....😒

 

The increase in version number is in no way proportional to the extent of the update. Pretty much everything is rewritten (again).

Will there be callouts added? Like in LCPDFR?

So excited for this! however will there ever be a working police dog? i know that there are modded ones likei nherocop but lspdfr blocks the action of the dog catching a suspect. Any fix for this at some point?