Well, it's my turn now.
I have nothing of great interest to say - but I did want to have the 1000th post.
And I've got it.
This has turned into a monster thread hasn't it...
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Well, it's my turn now.
I have nothing of great interest to say - but I did want to have the 1000th post.
And I've got it.
This has turned into a monster thread hasn't it...
Speaking of monsters, whats happened with behemoth ?
He no longer has the ability to come on line quite so often these days.
For the past couple of weeks he's been living with his girlfriend and has no net connection and he's also changed jobs, so he has no net connection there any more.
He's still alive though as we get drunk regularly. He should become a little more active in the near future as he moves back home.
Hmm yeah I've no net connection at home with my g/f.
Thus the reason I'm only online during the day when I'm supposed to be in work or in lectures ;)
Arb,
Congrats with the 1000th post !!
Uhhm, i'm still trying to figure out what the h*ll is wrong with my computer (because you said it has nothing to do with the game)...
What i'm NOT gonna do is a total format, but i'll try deinstalling some apps and cleaning up the regesty (my english still sucks)
Icheb
Well if you're willing to go to drastic measures, you could always just send us money instead...
LOL
Do you really think i have any money to send ?
LOL
:D :) :o :p
LOL ahahha
Just a question...
When will we be able to do something serious again ?
arb : still didn't have the time to do that other test (it appairs Sentience is bigger then one 1,44 mb disk... ;))
Icheb
i still cant get it to work.................:(
Icheb,
Yep, it is a bit big. I'd be interested to see if it works on that other machine though.
And you wish to send money, feel free - but send it me. I'll ensure PlenderJ gets exactly the amount he deserves... :D
Motox,
What's the problem?
If it's out of memory errors then try booting Windows clean (i.e. with no other apps running). That doesn't run Windows and then close the apps, make sure they don't run at all.
There are also two ways of running Sentience, with DC's and without. In the options.ini amend the UseDC's to true or false and try both settings.
Arb,
I think Motox has the same prob as i have...
And, sorry, i still haven't got the time to run it on the other machine :(
D****d school, tomorrow the last day before a week vacation :D
Icheb
Ok,
I'm interested to see if it will work on this other machine of yours as it's a completly fresh build isn't it?
There no other software besides windows installed (remember though, you do need DX7+).
Good luck with it...
Arb :
I'm going to try it now, just repacked it to .RAR and copied to disk.
btw : The comp isn't mine, he's just here for repairs... :D
Icheb
Okey dokey, keep me posted!
i still cant play yet :(
Motox,
Did you try the suggestions in all these posts?
I've come to the conclusion that it's not down to Sentience, it's down to the setup of the machine.
If you've got loads of **** running or the machines not been shutdown in ages or any number of a myriad of reasons then Sentience may have trouble running.
The out of memory only occurs on peoples machines when they are computer literate (i.e. they tend to have all sorts of crap on them/running in memory etc).
On fresh builds it's fine, on 98% of machines it's fine.
I'm no longer spending any more effort making changes to Sentience in order to fix it, because I no longer think it's broke. It's down to the machine it's running on.
I will however continue to provide suggestions as to how you can get your machine to run Sentience. I shall create a troubleshooting doc at some point.
Basically, there will no longer be Sentience releases in order to address this problem as I don't think it's something I can solve by changing code.
Thanks Arb....Quote:
Originally posted by Arbiter
If you've got loads of **** running or the machines not been shutdown in ages or any number of a myriad of reasons then Sentience may have trouble running.
The out of memory only occurs on peoples machines when they are computer literate (i.e. they tend to have all sorts of crap on them/running in memory etc).
BTW : was is directx7 or 8 ?
Icheb
Icheb
DX7. But it will work fine with DX8 (which is what I have on the dev machine).
PS - I'm basically saying that it tends to be the people who know what they're doing with computers and have custom configured their machine that Sentience doesn't work on.
Take for example a souped up GTi with lowered suspension. It can't go over speed bumps. Not because the driver is crap, but because he's customised his car.
Does that make it clearer? :)
yes, thanks
I am not agree...Quote:
I've come to the conclusion that it's not down to Sentience, it's down to the setup of the machine.
I use DX 8 too.Quote:
Originally posted by Arbiter
Icheb
DX7. But it will work fine with DX8 (which is what I have on the dev machine).
PS - I'm basically saying that it tends to be the people who know what they're doing with computers and have custom configured their machine that Sentience doesn't work on.
Take for example a souped up GTi with lowered suspension. It can't go over speed bumps. Not because the driver is crap, but because he's customised his car.
Does that make it clearer? :)
But you are right, i tried it on a standard machine with no upgrades, and it worked fine.
I do remember a few months ago (if remembering correctly) i saw this thread the first time and tested the prog, but did not reply because it worked...
And indeed did i try it on a few more machines with not entirely normal configs and there i got the famous mem error....
Icheb
Hoorayyy!
Right, I'm now totally convinced it's nothing wrong with Sentience. Thanks for proving that Icheb, I can now carry on working happily.
So, now we get down to the important questions.
What do you think of it?
What can be done to improve it?
What errors have you come across?
Is there anything functionality you've always wanted in a game that you'd like to see in Sentience? (Besides PlenderJ's dancing naked ladies :rolleyes: )
PS - did you check the credits? :)
Arb :
I don't have the time at the time to answer all the questions...
I will just give you some details (first impression) because i uhhm, uhh didn't exactly have much time to try it (the person who i was repairing the comp for wanted it back).
I might be able to try it on my Pentium 100... (the only problem with that is this :
1. It has no disk drive
2. It has no cd rom player
3. It's a total wreck
....)
What do you think about a kind of score system worldwide, so that players can compete with eachother (my english indeed is bad) ? (a by internet updated score list for players)
Maybe a bit more use of background sounds in the game it's self.
A screenshot or something else in the credit screen to fill up some empty space, or you need to add more names ;)...
BTW : i liked the credit screen ;) :cool:
I know that all this would cause the game to grow in size very much but i think it's worth it.
Icheb
p.s. I will answer the rest of the questions later... (and give you a time to create a reaction to this... :D :cool: )
<I added this later> :
Maybe the idea of naked ladies is a good one ;)
You can add it in the main menu and the credit screen, maybe with a cheatcode you have to enter first...:p :) :D :cool: :p :) ;)
Icheb,
Thanks for the response.
Well, at least now you know the problem's with the machine and not with the game, you can tinker around with your comp until it works.
Well, that's a very health P100 you have there. You don't need either of the drives to play Sentience (use Direct Cable Connect to transfer it across). :)
A worldwide score system would be nice, but at the moment I don't have any kind of permanent connection to support a site and don't have the experience to create a remote hosted site that can deal with it.
Behemoth however, is a bit of demon with web pages/sites so I'll see if I get him to knock one up.
Nice idea.
Eventually we're going to have background music, but no one's going to download 600mb of atmospheric tunes to test so I've shelved that as very low priority.
As for the credits screen. I do need some more names, but people don't get on there for doing nothing you know. They have to provide a serious amount of assistance to be considered.
Plend's on there at the top 'cos he's been testing it since it was a little nipper, and he's actually provided some very useful comments and suggestions (just look at his bug lists!).
You're on there 'cos you've been very instrumental in tracking down the cause of the out of memory bug (especially since you couldn't even run the game and therefore had no reason to remain interested in the project).
If it's of any use to you when you're playing type [@] (which is [SHIFT] + ['] ;) ) which pulls up a very ugly and half function cheat screen.
Well, when you get chance throw up a list of comments. I'm quite looking forward to these now!
With the scoring system, my dad and I have the knowledge (and books) to create a system like that. I have less experience then him with perl though. I wouldn't mind helping you with that part of the code. And, you have yet to get the map-editor code to me.:rolleyes:
Oh yeah. Ooops.
I can't remember what it is you need anymore.
Could you eMail me (or post in the comms forum) a definitive list of what you want and I'll get it to you as soon as I can.
Ta.
Arb, is Sentience gonna have any special effects/particle systems in the future? It would make battles a bit less boring :)
Jotaf,
I'm not sure at the moment. There's certainly going to be a bit more animation (e.g. whooshing missiles, laser beams etc), but I can't guarantee how good they're going to look.
Also, I don't think I'd be able to implement anything like a particle engine into the framework for a number of reasons. One, I'm not good enough, two, Sentience eats memory and processor power as it is - god only knows what would happen if I try making it do anything complicated!
If you can think of any special effects you'd like to see then let me know (in the comms forum), but there's definately going to be some form of freak weather effects (which have a real effect on terrain, units and buildings... :) )
Icheb,
You had chance to look at the game in any depth yet?
No, sorry...
Have to disassemble 1 comp, repair 2 comps and redesign the place i work :S
I will try to do it asap... but currently (i am sorry to say) it's a bit low on the priority list.
Icheb
No probs - just curious... :)
bollox to that
You wanna step outside and say that Irishman?
Just for all who are interested, work is still continuing on Sentience.
I've spent the last few days hunting down bugs and stuff so its quite a bit more stable.
I'm also working on diplomacy (which you can't see much of at the moment) and also implementing biological creatures in the game.
A friend of mine was looking at it last night and he said it was rather complicated. Do anyone have any ideas how we could make the game less complicated yet retain the depth and scope of the game?
Arb,
As i just entered this thread (and the work on the game) when it was quite complecated allready, i agree with that friend.
You may need to write a kind of guide how to begin with it.
If the more stable version is done, i'm willing to give it a try again.
I did another test on another comp last night, even more polluted then my comp, and the game worked perfectly, i think it isn't down to the memory.
The systemresources of the other comp were 67 %, mine are 45 %.
So maybe that is the problem.
BTW: i've been thinking about something, that friend of me where i tried Sentience thought it was rather boring because there arent much of moving graphics (read : DX7 (or 8) moving graphics).
Maybe it's an idea to par example change the creditscreen to a moving screen (the names moving from one side to another, or appairing and dissappairing.)
(I know it's much work, i just am trying to begin in DX programming 2 days ago, i have not been able to create something nice yet :(.)
Awaiting your response,
Icheb
Well a lot of games allow for complication, but dont force it on the user, by having all those options under n menus, or the user has to click on an Advanced button.
Actually in Age of Empires II, there was a button you could press that added loads of other features to things. The ability to group your armies, to make formations, to make them to advanced things etc. And all you had to do was click on that button to make it all appear....
Something like that perhaps ?
Icheb, you've mispelt "appearing" and "disappearing"
i mispelt more things then only that...Quote:
Originally posted by plenderj
Icheb, you've mispelt "appearing" and "disappearing"
i'm not very good at english but most people can understand me... ;)
Yeah I like fishsticks too !
what the h*ll are you talking about ?!Quote:
Originally posted by plenderj
Yeah I like fishsticks too !
Icheb,
I think your English is pretty good actually - although your spelling isn't the best, it's a damn sight better than my spelling in any language other than English.
And besides, you're probably easier to understand than PlenderJ to talk to face to face. He's Irish and they forgot how to speak ages ago.
I work with an Irish guy (from Cork) and when he's excited it's like he's talking a foreign language!
I will eventually get round to tarting up the credits screen, but that's not high on my list of priorities at the moment.
Plend,
Good idea bout turning some of the options off, but what options would be classed as advanced? We've also implemented some AI models for mechs, so you can basically build one, give it an AI model and then forget all about it.
Also, stop confusing Icheb. The poor little mite doesn't know what to make of you...
Hehe ben the cork accent is unique in its ability to confuse anyone not from cork. Thankfully I know lots of people from cork so I've mastered the language, but 'tis a tricky one at best like :)
It's so funny hearing him call a colleagues name. A girl I work with is called Ruth, which in Cork tongue, translates as Root.
He can be standing five feet away shouting Root! Rooooot! and Ruth has no idea she's being called.
Laugh? I nearly bought my own beer!
Yeah the cork accent can be a larf :)
LOL
But back to work now :
Arb, i didn't mean only the credit screen, i essentially ment the gameplay.
I understand the gameplay (interface) comes before the creditscreen ;)
Plendj (or how should i call you) :
You don't know what you're saying when you're saying it, do you ?
BTW : what does Bollox mean ?
Icheb,
We're going to put some animations in the game at some point to liven it up, but at the mo I'm concentrating on the gameplay. You can be testing the gameplay whilst we're working on the prettiness.
As for Plend, you can call him what you like. I call him any of the following: Plend, Irish, Me old Mucker, c*ntybollocks or anything that springs to mind at the time.
I never call him Jamie! ;)
PS - Bollocks are your testicles.
K...
I still havent got the time to get my networkconnection running.
So i still am not able to test it.
When everything goes well, i am going to have a brand new computer in a month or two.
(i just accepted an order to repair and maintain a number of company systems.)
Icheb
Humph.
I go to all the trouble of figuring out what was causing the problems with Sentience and you're too busy tugging your pud to have a look at the game properly!
Only kidding.
I'm trying to think what else can be added to main game screen to provide a bit of light relief for the eyes, without making it seem cluttered.
Perhaps I could do with a box (maybe where the written reports go) that constantly changes with little graphs and information and stuff.
I've got an idea in my minds eye that where the written reports box is, there'd be a multi purpose readout, with likkle buttons at the side to toggle what's currently displayed. It can also be set to cycle through all the reports (which will be the default setting). There will also be a button to press which give you news of last turns events (if something interesting happened, then maybe it should flash)
Mint! There's an idea.
Ok, what kind of information would people like to see in that report box?
For a start we should have:
Energy readings (last 50/100 years or so)
Faction might (over last 50/100 years)
Overall faction status (bar chart comparing the factions?)
Ok - now we're getting somewhere. We could also do with something over on the right hand side which moves in some form so the screen is balanced. I don't like the idea of a dancing mini map, so we're pretty much left with the unit/building status thingy.
Any suggestions?
TNX... Will remember it ;)Quote:
Originally posted by Arbiter
Humph.
I go to all the trouble of figuring out what was causing the problems with Sentience and you're too busy tugging your pud to have a look at the game properly!
good ideaQuote:
I'm trying to think what else can be added to main game screen to provide a bit of light relief for the eyes, without making it seem cluttered.
That could make it more interesting for new playersQuote:
Perhaps I could do with a box (maybe where the written reports go) that constantly changes with little graphs and information and stuff.
I've got an idea in my minds eye that where the written reports box is, there'd be a multi purpose readout, with likkle buttons at the side to toggle what's currently displayed. It can also be set to cycle through all the reports (which will be the default setting). There will also be a button to press which give you news of last turns events (if something interesting happened, then maybe it should flash)
Arb, do you know AOE II ?Quote:
Ok, what kind of information would people like to see in that report box?
For a start we should have:
Energy readings (last 50/100 years or so)
Faction might (over last 50/100 years)
Overall faction status (bar chart comparing the factions?)
Ok - now we're getting somewhere. We could also do with something over on the right hand side which moves in some form so the screen is balanced. I don't like the idea of a dancing mini map, so we're pretty much left with the unit/building status thingy.
The timeline bar is a concept that can be used (i mean the bar its self, not the things it says), it would make the game maybe a lot bigger, but i think it would be worth it.
Will think off more ideas later (when on school) :D...
Icheb
I downloaded it, patched it with the updates, did everything I possible could to get the game working - but I couldn't :(
I get an out of memory error (err 7) when the load process is at the end.
I have 384MB of memory, of which 60% is available now... should be enough, don't you think? ;)
I'd love to try it...
So Arb, another person with the same problem.
There should be a solution to it...
I know how it works, allways when you try something hard in programming it doesnt work, and that is allways because you made it only at 1 comp, so you only know if it works on that comp...
[To Arbiter only]
BTW : Arb, can you test a dutch prog (the installation of it) for me ?
The prog gives me a hard time when trying to install.
[/To Arbiter only]
I hope we can find a solution with testing...
TexMurphy : Have you tried Dc.zip allready ?
Place the options.ini file in the scripts dir.
Yes, I did... well I forgot to put the options.ini file in the scripts folder (I thought it was supposed to be in the root).
Anyway, I still get the same error, and an additional one when I start the game:
Sentience: MemDC's: true
Now where did that come from? :)
Nice game...can't even get past the splash screen :p
Memdc's = true isn't a error.
ARB, when are you going to respond ?
Arbiter will hopefully explain the rest...
What the?
Damn thing just swallowed my post!
TexMurphy,
Restart your machine and once it's loaded, close down all running programs immediately. Then try running Sentience. It should work - if not, then you need to boot windows without loading all the stuff in the first place. Sentience works fine after a fresh install of Windows, but can fall over on heavily customised machines.
Also try setting the options.ini to say memdc's: false. Open it in notepad and just edit the text file.
Icheb,
I don't have a phone line at my new house, so I can only reply when I'm at work... ;)
I'll try and streamline Sentience some more but I'm not going to spend too much more time on it - it works on most machines and that's good enough for me...
Also, I'll test that thing for you if you wish, but you'll have to wait 'til I can get a phone line in my new house so I can download it.... :)
Arb, you should really work a bit more on that bug before you add more stuff to the game... it seems that a lot of people are having problems with that and it will be a lot harder to fix it later, when you have twice the code you have now :)
And I'm 99% sure it's a never-ending loop that constantly increases an array ;) (happened a lot of times before to me)
Evening all.
Icheb,thanks for sticking with the project as long as you have. Its dedication like that that's going to get us a pretty cool end result.
All (yes Jotaf, that means you ;)), I've not forgotten you, its just difficult (read: impossible) to post from work. I can occaisionally read these forums though, so dont think I'm ignoring you.
Jamie, hahah! Marty's on to you...and all over 7 and a half inches hahaha!. Oh well, at least you've got Sentience ;)
Ben. Thursday. Beer! :D
By the way - we've been discussing teleportation technology and jump-stations. That should keep Jotaf entertained for a while :p
Arb :
i agree with you, the thing yesterday ate my post too.
Maybe it was my own fault, running a very unstable program and trying to post at the same time.
(don't worry, got nothing to do with Sentience:))
I think you really should listen to Jotaf because i'm not the only one who has a selfbuild comp.
Plend :
Yes, i know i made another mistake here somewhere with my english.
Behemoth :
Teleportation tech ?
I'm interested... :)
Do you have a firewall at work or something (or do we just post (read : spam) to much ? ) ?
Icheb