NFSMW - Helicopter Options

HelicopterOptions — Version 2.0

New Source Code: GitHub Repository

Version 2.0 is a complete rebuild of HelicopterOptions. The police helicopter now flies and chases much more competently, almost everything is configurable, and the entire mod is safer and better behaved.

Compared with the original V1.0.1 release:

Added

Chase-speed control that prevents the helicopter from crawling on straight roads, with optional minimum and maximum chase speeds.
Movement prediction so the helicopter aims toward where you are going and eases off when you brake or turn sharply.
Stopped-player handling that keeps the helicopter nearby when you stop instead of allowing it to drift into the distance.
Sudden-turn recovery that re-centers the helicopter after hard U-turns and handbrake turns.
Stability protection that gently levels the helicopter if it rolls, pitches, or spins too far, allowing it to recover instead of tumbling uncontrollably.
Configurable attacks, including control over attack frequency, angles, timing, and spacing.
Follow-only mode that prevents the helicopter from attacking.
An option to prevent repeated ramming attacks.
Optional pursuit aggression that can gradually increase during longer pursuits.
A safety system that returns control to the game if something goes wrong, ensuring that the helicopter continues working.
Additional options such as never losing sight of the player, unlimited fuel, adjustable flying height, turning behavior, and acceleration.

Improved

The helicopter keeps up with the player and follows corners much more naturally than before.
Movement is smoother and more stable, with built-in protection against the uncontrollable spinning behavior found in the original release.
Logging is clearer, written in plain language, and protected against flooding the log file.

Fixed

Resolved the long-standing spinning and instability problems from the original release.
Corrected numerous internal values that did not accurately match the game’s real behavior.
The mod now reliably recognizes the supported game version and starts cleanly.

Configuration

Settings are now divided into fourteen topic-based INI files located in:
```
scripts\HelicopterOptions\Configuration
```
Every configuration file includes plain-English explanations, recommended ranges, and default values.
Missing configuration files are recreated automatically.
Existing configuration files are never overwritten.
The default settings noticeably improve the helicopter immediately, while experimental and difficulty-increasing options remain disabled by default.

Compatibility

Only supports the English PC Version 1.3 executable. Unsupported game versions are left completely untouched.
Works alongside other ASI mods such as Bartender.
When another mod has already changed the same part of the game, only the conflicting HelicopterOptions feature is skipped. All other compatible features continue working.
All changes are applied only to the game’s memory and are fully removed when the game closes.

Removed

The old single configuration file, which has been replaced by the fourteen topic-based configuration files.
The preset system.

Old V1.0 Build.
NFSMW - Helicopter Options is a configurable ASI mod for Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2005 that expands how the police helicopter behaves during pursuits.

This mod is made for players and pursuit modders who want the helicopter to feel less passive, more consistent, and more useful during chases. It gives the heli its own editable INI options for movement, acceleration, braking behavior, ram/skid-hit behavior, heli-sheet handling, visibility behavior, and other experimental tuning.

Features:

Configurable helicopter movement and acceleration behavior

Optional braking and pursuit-following adjustments

Optional ram / skid-hit cone tuning

Lead and height tuning for how the heli follows the player

HeliSheet options to reduce idle hovering caused by stale elevation data

SeeThroughWalls option to help stop the heli from losing sight of the player in tunnels or blocked areas

Optional exit behavior edits

Optional speed and vision tuning

Simple INI setup

Works as an ASI mod

Installation:
[list=1]
[*]Make sure you have an ASI loader installed.
[*]Copy HelicopterOptions.asi and HelicopterOptions.ini into your NFSMW scripts folder.
[*]Edit HelicopterOptions.ini to change the helicopter behavior.
[*]Launch the game.
[/list]

INI Sections:

[Patches::Core]
Main patch toggles for the mod.

[Chopper::Skid]
Controls ram / skid-hit behavior.

[Chopper::LeadHeight]
Controls how the heli follows, leads, and positions itself around the player.

[Chopper::Movement]
Controls helicopter movement, acceleration, turning, and follow behavior.

[Chopper::Exit]
Controls optional helicopter exit behavior edits.

[Chopper::HeliSheet]
Controls heli-sheet handling. These options can help stop the heli from being held back by old elevation data near bridges, ramps, and interchanges.

[Chopper::Speed]
Optional speed tuning. This section should be adjusted carefully.

[Chopper::Vision]
Controls visibility behavior. SeeThroughWalls can help prevent the heli from losing sight of the player in tunnels, behind walls, or blocked areas.

Notes:

This mod can make the police helicopter more aggressive depending on your INI settings.

Some options are experimental and should be changed carefully.

Multiple helicopters are not officially supported by the base game and may phase through each other.

Made for Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2005.