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PlenderJ,
I'm going to set fire to you!
FirstKnight,
You appear to right. I think the customer pages on BTinternet are down for some reason.
Rats.
Well, there's nothing I can do about that. I'm sure they'll come back up shortly.
I'll keep checking and post when they become available. Thanks for trying to have a look though. You won't be disappointed when you try it, it's nearly a real game now!
Isn't it PlenderJ???!!?!
Yeah.
****ing ****-hot game.
... now when do I get paid ?
at least this shows that there willing to adjust things to make it easier to new players of the game (sentence) like me i emailed some one a will ago to let u know the sight for online ???????? is ok but i dont think ur done with it yet :)
:) :( :o :p ;) :D :cool: :rolleyes: :mad: :confused: :eek:
I can only assume you're talking to me, and the statement was :
"Yeah, fuc*ing $hit-hot game."
$hit-hot is an experssion meaning something is good....
i am talking to u but not about fuc*ing $hit-hot game im talking about when u said that there not on the right track
Wazup,
PlenderJ's just being, well, PlenderJ. He's like that. Sometimes you just have to smile and nod knowingly and maybe pat him in the head saying soothing words.
He does, however, come up with some nearly sensible suggestions so we kind of tolerate him around here.... ;)
emphasis on the 'nearly'
Although I couldnt figure out what to do I think the game is great! From what I saw its got quite a bit of potential once its developed more fully.
Thanks DarkVelius.
It's a standing issue that no one knows what they're doing in the game. We're working on the manual at the moment (see Behemoth's signature) but it's slow going. I'm hoping to have mech construction online by the end of this week (I keep pushing the deadline back though) and then the game will be playable as a game.
I think I'll get some work done on the manual this evening actually.
Behemoth,
Have all the manual bits I've thrown at you been plugged in now on the website?
Ya know arbiter, when more than one person works at something, it usually gets done quicker ;)
I have no idea what you mean.... :o
Sounds like you're offering to write the manual for us....
No I detest writing manuals.
But I'd help with any pieces of code you throw my way.
Don't we all...
Well, at the moment there's not a lot to help with. Most of what I'm doing is tidying up code (looking at some of the code I wrote in the beginning I'm surprised it actually worked! - it's amazing what you learn in 10 months) and working on screens, there's no stand alone modules to help with.
When I come to working on AI and network play I'd probably need some help then...
Well craft was full of complex methods that kept getting upgraded as it were.
Anyway yeah whatever you want.
I would say that the game has high protentional. I did notice a few minor spelling errors under the tech tree, plus you can delete and/or change the text under the information. It also told me that I had researched the nanobiotics 3 times when it was only 16% done. I would also say you should make it so if you move the mouse to the far side of the screen, that it should scroll, and make it so that it will warn you when you aren't researching anything, or atleast when you get done. I also dislike the screen that pops up when you end a turn, it become very annoying, very fast.
Gaming_World,
Thanks for the comments!
The spelling errors will get ironed out in due course and I've now fixed the bug whereby you can delete the descriptions in the research screen.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean when you say it told you you'd researched something three times. Could you explain in more detail please or take a screen print?
There will be a 'research complete' screen when you begin your turn for any techs complete, but that isn't implemented yet. A warning when you're not researching anything is a good idea - I'll add that to my list.
The screen that pops up between turns is because more than one human player can be playing at the same machine (hotseat). If this screen wasn't there, you'd be able to see what the other guy was up to when you come to have your go.
It's also there as a password screen so you can play by eMail. When you've had your go, you're presented with that screen and can't progress past it unless you know the password, so you can't take your opponents goes for them and hope they don't notice.
If you have any suggestions as to how this could be improved then it would be good to hear them.
Have I answered everything? No. Screen edge based scrolling is something we've discussed elsewhere as not everyone likes it. Other suggestions were scrolling with the middle mouse button depressed. If enough people think that they're required, I could implement them both and have the switched on/off on the options screen.
Again, thanks for your comments. The more feedback we get - the better this game is going to be!
What I mean by it saying that I had researched something 3 times, is that in the bottom box, it said that I had finished researching that 3 times, and I could still research it, and that I was researching another tech. You also need to make it so that you have to research the techs in order (as the one that was researched 3 times, was at the bottom-right)
Since you dont seem to be using the left mouse button for anything, maybe you could let the user click that button and then move the mouse to move the view, and then click it again to stop the "panning" mode. Kinda like if you click the mousewheel in Internet Explorer, you can pan the webpage in the way i explained above. Go ahead, try it.
or you could make it so that when you press the right mouse button, it will scroll. (kinda like they do it in sim city 3K.)
Yes, but Arbiter already has it so if you right-click on a unit/building it will bring up a context menu.
Sas,
I was just thinking, what a good idea that was until I remembered that left clicking is used to select units/buildings. It's also going to be used for targeting ranged fire.
I think that was it was decided to go with the middle button (for those that have it). I'll also have a look at the screen edge scroll as per Gaming.
Gaming,
I'm sorry, I'm still not sure what you mean. The techs are set up so they should all be researched in order. Could you attach a screen print please (as a jpg) so I can see what you mean.
All,
The next version is due out shortly with full industry and mech construction. Watch this space....!
I'm wetting myself already...:D
So am I .... /me minimizes the other 7 internet explorer windows.
*blush* ;)
Apart from numerous bug fixes, the latest version has unit building functionality. The opportunity to rename buildings and save mech designs.
As usual, right click on stuff and fiddle around to try and break stuff. The factory is used to produce components, built from resources (you'd normally mine for resources, but for testing purposes, you start with loads). The warehouse stores raw materials and components, and these are plugged together in the construction yard.
A mech MUST HAVE torso, chassis, reactor and location (the combo box in the mech design screen) - have a play and see what you think. (Id better get back to work :D)
PS: existing users dont need graphics.zip, only graphicsadd.zip
I've just downloaded and installed the program. But as soon as I run it, it tells me that the graphic file gwme.bmp file was missing. I've unzipped all the graphics files, and the only graphics files i can find are numbered graphic files.
sounds like you didn't download graphicsadd.zip. Download this, unzip it, and put the contents of it into the graphics directory, and then try again...
good luck
Ive downloaded the additional files but am still missing disruptor.bmp .....
I downloaded the graphicsadd folder, but when I unzipped it, it unzipped into a graphicsadd folder, so when I copied all the files into the graphics folder, then it worked. Now I've just got to find time in work when the directors are not watching so that I can play it ;)
I copied them over but it still dont work !
I imagine all this seems a bit silly at the moment, but it'll all slot into place as the game takes shape, for example, when you have 12 construction yards, it'll help to have them all with different names, so you can pinpoint where to create a particular mech.
Everything is slowly coming together, thank you all for you continued support and help with testing.
Please, keep your feedback coming...
Could you at least make the fog of war pure black, or even stripey ?
It looks the height of tackiness with that red/starry background ;)
i agree :rolleyes:
ok, no problem
that'll be done for the next release.
PlenderJ,
Have you played around with mech building yet?
I found 2 bugs in the game. First, try to view the compents that you have completed before you complete any. I tryed this, and the game shut down on me (leaving my screen res at 800 by 600 [YUCK]). Second, once you get some compents done, goto the build mech screen. Then in your data box, try to view the next mech design. This locked up the game, forcing me to use ctrl+alt+delete. I also liked the old way you had the skill tree set up (verical with all skills displayed at start) more then your current one.
Oh yah, plenderj, nice job insulting your self.
Gaming,
Thanks for the comments.
1) Where are you viewing the components? In the component viewer, build queue or warehouse?
2) I'm aware of this. It's looking for the next live mech to display and as you've just started there aren't any, so it goes into an infinite loop. This will be fixed in the next version.
3) The research screen hasn't changed. ;) You know how you select a unit and press '@' to explore all the map? Well, this also gives you all the techs (which is possibly what you meant when you said you researched something several times - had you done this after you used the cheat?)
The techs only become visible when one of their dependancies have been researched...
Also,
How did you find using the mech design screen screen? Did you build a couple of mechs? Do you have any comments regarding the layout etc of the screen or the process as a whole?
I was viewing the componets at the ware-house. It is odd how you say that the tech screen hasn't changed, since before I downloaded the version I have now, it was verical, not horizatol. Alslo, I think that your mech disign screen is good, but hard to use with-out graphics. Which I know you will have done soon.
I would like to know if your arvitar is the Starcraft Arbiter picture.
Once upon a time, when I thought QB was cool, I designed some pretty intense AI for an RPG that never went anywhere. Just wanted to say (I didn't read all the posts, so this may have already been mentioned) that the easiest way to design a believable AI is to use a lot of randomizing in your algorithms. If person X's health is 70% and Person Y's health is 40%, he might THINK he's got a chance. Roll the dice, and at, say 1 outta 10, he might charge the guy anyway. 2 Outta 10 might make him step back, and try to repair himself, 3 outta ten will have him make a bee-line for his backup, while 4 outta 10 will have him just flat run away. Watching what his buddies decide to do can change his odds, too.
Just an idea.
-Javin
Behemoth,
Hear that? Listen to what the good man says - "It's hard to use without graphics". Come on, chop chop! :)
Gaming,
I'm fairly convinced the tech screen hasn't changed. You're making me worried now. Also, I've no idea why the warehouse screen would crash, there's virtually no code in it. *sob*
PS - Yes, the image is from StarCraft.
Javin,
Thanks for the comments to do with AI. That's something we will be addressing, but not for a while yet.
PS - have you downloaded the game yet?
It must just be my comp. I was also playing around with the program, and when I saved it then loaded it back up, it wouldn't let me modify any mechs (even ones that I just made)
Gaming,
Once a mech has been built its properties cannot be modified, they can only be changed before they're created...
Arbiter ; I went into the mech-creation screen, and there was a textbox at the top of that screen with a - and + button either side.
Well I think it was the mech screen. Anyway, if you press the - button the game crashses and leaves you in 800*600 res.
Then in relation to the components for creating mechs, each screen I went to said I had met the requirements for that component. So I clicked on an item, and then clicked on the 'add to building queue' (or whatever it said). But that didnt do anything as far as I can tell. I did it for all components and it did nothing really ....
I think that the user should start with a few mechs. Maybe a few low level ones, and a high level one.
Also the production of buildings is a must in my opinion.
1 more thing ; the res. I deteste 800*600 :)
The vast majority of people are using 1024*768 nowadays, and if they're not, then they should be. So I think you should run the game at 1024*768.
There is another reason for this, and its because if the game crashes, you are left at 800*600 which is a bit of a *****.
Now it doesnt take all that long to bring the res back up, but I would prefer to not have to.
Anyway, keep up the good work :)
- jamie
PlenderJ,
And how are we my little leprechaun?
I'm aware of the problem with the text box at the top - that's been fixed for the next version.
Right, the add to build queue button adds the component to the build queue. The component has a certain number of industry points attached to it and the player produces a certain number of industry points per turn which are used to create aforementioned components.
Click the menu button just above turn complete and choose industry. You can view the build queue there. Every turn components will be produced in the order they were added to the build queue and will fall into the warehouse.
Add 1 weapon, 1 reactor, 1 torso and 1 chassis to the build queue and skip the next 5 turns or so (to produce the components). If you check the warehouse, they should be in there - if not check the build queue to see if they've been finished yet.
Once you have one each of all of these then go to the mech design screen and choose new mech.
Select where you want it to be built first (using the drop down) then click chassis and choose the chassis, same for the rest. You should be able to save the details then. Exit the screen, click next turn and your mech should be sat there waiting.
Cool as!
Let me know when you've created a mech please and if you've got any ideas for streamlining the process.
Thanks!
PS The game was originally 1024*768 and Behemoth and I decided to lower the res. There is no way on Gods green Earth I'm converting it back.
:eek:
Well give me the source and I'll do it.
**** sake it looks horrible ;)
I wouldn't let a lunatic like you anywhere near my baby!
Well at least I've made money from my babies ;)
$1100 since their release a few months ago.
Eh?
What babies are these?
And why're you making dollars not pounds or punts?
Arbiter: drop the changeres function into the package for the next download...
BTW im out of the office all day today, so I probably wont be able to reply to anything...
Well the program I wrote called "Whaddayagot".
And the reason its in dollars, is because I have registered with RegNow.com and they provide secure SSL connections for c/c details etc, so all monies go through them, and they're in the states.
Behemoth,
It's easier to right click on a bit of desktop and change the res back that way than it would be to run a program to change it for you.
PlenderJ,
Good going on that program. Nice little earner...
Anyway, Sentience is going to whoop ass when it's complete.
Everyone,
Have people created a unit yet? I just want peoples thoughts on the entire process from start to finish.
oh, sorry...
:) Yeah, actually, I did download the program, and just simply ran it as far as getting into the gaming level. Curiosity more than anything. I'm sorry, but I simply don't have the TIME to trouble-shoot it, though from what I saw, it looks like a pretty solid start.
I'm currently in the process of designing a 3D RPG, as well as a ton of Applications for work, so I'm totally swamped. Spend too much time in front of the geek box as it is. :rolleyes:
-Javin
Quote:
Originally posted by Javin
Spend too much time in front of the geek box as it is.
-Javin
.... and you have the audacity to call yourself a programmer ?
Be gone !
;)
With my problem, I saved the game, then loaded it back up, then created a new mech disgin, then it wouldn't let me modify the new disgin.
I should also note that I shut down the game after I saved the game. Then restarted it a few hours later before loading it back up.
Gaming,
Did you have components in the warehouse to build the mech with?
yes, 1 of each componet.
I finally got some time for sentience ;) here's some points i noted:
Warehouse > Components > Subscript out of range
Generated map > sometimes visual terrain doesn't match where buildings are placed
Mech design > click on the + or minus, slows down, then crashes.
and also, when i close the app, i want to return to the initial resolution. I tried to build a rmv but it didn't complete, also i think i built a laser component. I probably need some other components to finish the rmv
First of all I'd like to congratulate you guys on what I've seen so far.
Graphics are excellent, resource and building system are inovative and well done!
Now for a few problems:
-Interface is not intuititive:
The clicking business is OK, but highlighting the current choice in the menu's would be nice (mouse-over event)
A little info about the object the mouse points at, would be welcome.
A factory is a factory and can be recognized as such, but if you're using a lot of different buildings, it can get confusing. Use the tooltips!
Same thing in the component building section. If I click on a component and then click add to building queue, does building start or not? Where do I see it? Wouldn't it be better to increase the number underneath the selected component from 0 to 1 and so forth?
-Critical Error(53)!
I build some components in the factory (or at least I think I did), ended the turn and then tried to acces the storage where my components should be kept and ...
Error 53!
Result: Kicked out of the game
That's it so far, but I'll keep looking for some bugs.
PS: Maybe you guys could use a program like Failsafe for debugging purposes. It add line number to your code, creates a general error handler, making sure no critical errors will crash the game anymore and returns a messagebox holding vital information (error type, message, number, module or form where error occured, function or sub and line number.) about the error and allows the user to add a text explaining what he was doing when the error occured. Then the user can mail or print this info.