Crew Chief GTR2 Enhancements Plugin Setup Instructions, Known Issues and Changelog

[The Iron Wolf]

DXVK Update to v2.4.0 (Vulkan 1.3 driver required):
https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/g...iwf_latest.zip

This version uses some very recent Vulkan features. For Nvidia, driver 560.70 or newer recommended.

Sample launch scripts updated to show different DXVK settings can be used in VR without changing the dxvk.conf.
https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/g...le_scripts.zip

EDIT: it appears that version v2.4.0 broke ReShade in VR. I'll investigate at some point, but for VR use I recommend v2.3.1 https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/g...IWF_032024.zip
EDIT2: fixed in Beta 3.3.0.4 (available at CCGEP Discord).

[The Iron Wolf]

Plugin 4.0.0.0 (Out of Band)

https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/gtr2/ccgep.zip
or https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/gtr2/ccgep_avx2.zip for processors with AVX2 support.

What's new in this version?
* Crash fixes.
* Keyboard controllable mirror and eyepoint adjustments.
* Options to ensure correct UI/loading screen aspect ratio in both 2D and VR simultaneously.


Bugs:
* Fix crash on switching between tracks with and without DRS rules defined. The fix also reduces the risk of crashes with Motec Enhancements and Wipers.



VR:
* BREAKING CHANGE: Existing VR users, please read as behavior changed slightly.

Introduce menuOverlayWidthScale and menuOverlayHeightScale settings. Now it is possible to have VR menu UI to match aspect ratio of the UI you are using in your GTR2 drop.

Suggested menuOverlayHeightScale values (assuming that menuOverlayWidthScale is at 1.0):
- DuckFreak UI (16x9 aspect ratio) - 0.5625
- Stock UI (4x3 aspect ratio) - 0.75

OpenVR behavior change:
- If you want old OpenVR UI behavior, set menuOverlayHeightScale to 1.0.

OpenXR behavior change:
- If you used menuOverlayVerticalOffset setting, you may need to adjust it. To begin with, simply divide old value by 3 and keep adjusting from there.

* Introduce graphicsApply2DSqueezeUIInVR setting that applies 2D UI squeeze in VR. See "VR UI Aspect Ratio settings" in the manual for why you may want that. In short, if you run VR and your desktop is ultrawide/triple screen, this is highly recommended setting to learn and use.

* Introduce settings for adjusting VR mouse cursor (red glove) to your liking - cursorWidthScale/cursorHeightScale


Graphics:
* BREAKING CHANGE: if you previously used CCGEP per-car FFB adjustment it will need to be re-done as it is now stored in .cchdc-prefs file.

- Allow mirror scale adjustment using Left Ctrl+Num4/Num6/Num8/Num2 keys. Please note that feature has a limitation - you would still need MIRROR.bmp to define resolution and FOV for mirror. If you see cars disappearing at the edges of the view, make MIRROR.bmp _wider_ (I run 2048x512 here). I could not find a way for adjusting mirror FOV independently of MIRROR.bmp dimensions.

- Mirror adjustments and FFB scale saved to .cchdc-prefs file. If for some reason you want to disable that, set savePerCarPreferences to 0.

Demo: https://youtu.be/afSZfHQQrQA

* Allow eyepoint adjustment using Right Ctrl+Num4/Num6/Num2/Num8/Num7/Num9 keys. To enable this functionality, set graphicsEnableEyepointAdjKeys to 1. Demo: https://youtu.be/bE2qSxu-tYE

* 2D UI squeeze can now be calculated automatically by using the graphicsAutoCalculate2DsqueezeForUI setting.

* 2D UI squeeze now works correctly on the loading screeen, in paused states and with pitboard visible.

* You can now drop in file named cc_gtr2_squeeze_border.png to override the image used for border.



FFB:
* BREAKING CHANGE: Real Feel Plugin keys input is now disabled because it conflicts with mirror/eyepoint adjustment keys (thanks Shovas for catching this). If you need RFP keys, set ffbRFPEnableKeys to 1.



Rules:
* Improve processing of F1 DRS rules.


CCGEP ReShade AddOn:
* Disable ReShade effects when pitboard is visible as it can cause weird image with some effects, for example AO.
* Fix for DXVK v2.4.0 depth broken in VR. Latest DXVK fork version can be used now.


Satellite file updates:


CCGEP Monitor update:
Add track wetness info and add some minimal Dark Theme UI support.
https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/g...tor_latest.zip

[The Iron Wolf]

DXVK Update to v2.4.1 (Vulkan 1.3 driver required):
https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/g...iwf_latest.zip

[The Iron Wolf]

Plugin 4.1.0.0 (Out of Band)

https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/gtr2/ccgep.zip
or https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/gtr2/ccgep_avx2.zip for processors with AVX2 support.

What's new?

This version includes the intial set of features that aim to improve GTR2 pit stops.

Pit Stops:
* Make pit stop duration configurable so that more true to series pit stops are possible. See the "Pit Stop changes" section in the manual. Demos:
- F1 1994 pit stop. Refuel + tire change: https://youtu.be/jsC5B4OaX34
- F1 2011 pit stop. Tire change, refuel not allowed: https://youtu.be/XcGvPm7GDNQ

Note: videos above demo early versions of the feature and double tire issue is fixed in this version.

Rules:
* Introduce rulesAllowRefuelWithEngineRunning and rulesPlayerDisallowRefuelInRace settings.

AI:
* Introduce aiRaceFirstStintTireWearAdjustPct and aiRaceFirstStintFuelUseAdjustPct settings that allow reducing pit stall crowding during the first in race pit stop.

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Satellite file updates:

CCGEP ReShade tools:
* Add iMMERSE Sharpen effect to TIW-VR-iMMERSE-Pro.ini preset. Thanks @Shovas for hinting this change.
https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/g...ols_latest.zip

DXVK Update to v2.5.0 (Vulkan 1.3 driver required):
https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/g...iwf_latest.zip

CCGEP Monitor update:
* Add "Active AI Adjustments" page that shows active hacks applied to AI vehicless.
https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/g...tor_latest.zip


Thanks to @shovas and @TShirt for their help with this version.

[The Iron Wolf]

Plugin 4.2.0.0

https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/gtr2/ccgep.zip
or https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/gtr2/ccgep_avx2.zip for processors with AVX2 support.

What's new?

* AI behavior changes that reduce chaotic pit stop behavior in rain and long (1-2hr) races.

* F1 2009 KERS rules (player only).

* DTM 2013 DRS rules (player only).

* Visible open wheeler suspension motion in cockpit view.

* New configuration and modding convenience features.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AI:
* Introduce experimental aiRaceSmartTireChangeDelay feature. See the "Smart Tire Change Delay" section in the manual for more details.

* Add ability to override AI performance per track. This can be done via .ccgdb file:

[AI]
aiOverrideBrakePowerUsage = 0.7
aiOverrideBrakeGripUsage = 0.7
aiOverrideCornerGripUsage = 0.9

Rules:
* Introduce simple F1 2009 KERS rules. There are many limitations, so check out "KERS Rules" in the manual. Demo: https://youtu.be/SVbXiitxJGA

* Introduce DTM 2013 DRS rules. Demo: https://youtu.be/Mp-K6hUPvCk Non-VR (TrackIR) demo by Shovas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQUmXfG3C_I

Graphics:
* Introduce graphicsAnimateSuspensionInstanceInAllViews feature that enables SUSPENSION .cas instance animation in all views. This is useful in openwheelers, and in most cases will require car changes as well. Demos:
https://youtu.be/nltLaKtyVLo
https://youtu.be/6IksWVv9ZgE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuewPYGeLJY (thanks Looseether and Wingnut)

* Fix paused squeezed view looking weird color with some mods.

* Intorudce an attempt to fix LCD screen missing on some systems. Set graphicsReject16BitSurfaces to 1 to enable. It is still important to use graphicsVideoModeWindowWidth/graphicsVideoModeWindowHeight or command line switches to set the desired resolution and use DXVK if hardware allows.

Modding:
* Introduce new ability to quickly tune FirstPersonDriverPosition .car file value. See "Offset Tuning Mode" in the manual. Demo: https://youtu.be/XQAbaB22lm8

* Adjust Eypoint tuning output to include estimated .car file Eyepoint value.

Tires:
* New convenience overrides: tiresPlayerFrontWearMult and tiresPlayerRearWearMult.


----------------------------------------------
Satellite file updates:

CCGEP Monitor update:
* Monitor app updated to visualize the effects of aiRaceSmartDelayTireChange feature: https://thecrewchief.org/downloads/g...tor_latest.zip


Thanks to:
* TShirt for his help with KERS and DRS car edits and testing.
* Rex007 for visualizing openwheeler suspension problem in videos and help modifying F1 2011 car.
* Richard Wilks for his insights into workings of KERS.
* Geri for his testing of LCD missing fix.
* Shovas for testing.