BISim Announces Significant Performance Optimizations, New Capabilities in VBS3 v3.9.0

Orlando, FL — Bohemia Interactive Simulations, a global developer of game-based simulation software solutions, announced today the release of VBS3 v3.9.0, which includes a range of new features, new capabilities, and some of the company’s most significant network performance optimizations to date. 

Customers can download VBS3 v3.9.0 at bisimulations.com/support/downloads on Wednesday, May 4.

“We have optimized the latest version of VBS3 to provide increased performance, stability and reliability for large networked multiplayer scenarios,” said Otakar Nieder, senior director of development for Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim). “Based on our test scenarios, we can confidently connect 200 clients to one dedicated server without performance issues while maintaining over 30 frames per second on the server.” 

Nieder also added that BISim developers refactored scripts to provide more efficient updates and, by optimizing the network communication, have increased the bandwidth VBS3 is capable of using so VBS3 can take advantage of 1GB LAN networks.

In addition to these optimizations, VBS3 v3.9.0 includes a range of new features and capabilities: 

• VBS Chalkboard - VBS3 includes a newly released add-on application called VBS Chalkboard. Currently in use with the U.S. Special Operations Command, VBS Chalkboard allows administrators to add military symbols, shapes and grid lines to the 2D and 3D maps. VBS Chalkboard also enables users to draw diagrams on screen and add text to maps in VBS3. 
• Universal component system - VBS3 now includes a powerful new weapon customization system that allows administrators to customize attachments including lasers and scopes for U.S. Marine Corps weapons, preview it in a new 3D user interface, and immediately apply these custom configured weapons to scenarios in real time. The system provides a framework for future model configuration in VBS3.
• Enhanced mortar functionality - The functionality of USMC M224 and M252 mortars has been enhanced to work with indirect fire. Mortars can now be operated by mortar teams in networking scenarios. The mortar can be aimed with the help of a functional M32 Lightweight Handheld Mortar Ballistic Computer (LHMBC) object that has been added. Forward Observers can utilize the M32 LHMBC to pass targeting information to the mortar teams, who can use it to aim the mortar and execute a fire mission.
• VBS Radio enhancements - VBS3’s voice communication system includes a new voice activation feature. Local chat uses voice activation while radio remains push to talk. Additionally, voice communications recordings now show up in AAR as icons. 
• VBS Gateway improvements - VBS Gateway, the DIS/HLA/CIGI interoperability gateway for VBS3, now allows users to track munitions and cultural features to ensure more accurate entity mapping, includes a new Entity Details Panel for viewing all attributes and an image of the entity, enables logging options to be changed at runtime, and further simplifies the active entity categories for easier searching.   

Starting in version 3.9.0, a new localization framework allows a per-language and per-location customization of the user interface in VBS3. VBS3 v3.9.0 includes a French language localization and can be set in the Main Menu. As requested by vendors for U.S. allies, VBS3 also supports an Arabic language version of the user interface with right-aligned text for certain UI elements and optional Eastern Arabic numerals. The Arabic UI version is currently available separate from the baseline version. A Korean translation of VBS3 is also available upon request.