By admin on
Friday, May 18, 2012
Today's Progress!
Nathan's replaced the old entity's physics engine for the new one, with some work needed to be done for the new physics to be appropriately utilized by the server/client multiplayer. We've also got some other fixes in the works for the UI and mouse positions, but them' are small potatoes to the new physics system!
MrVorgra has also been doing an awesome job preparing new prefabs for Blockade Runner, allowing Micah and Terah to focus a bit more of their time on the upcoming character animations and concept art. We really appreciate your work MrVorgra!
We'd also like to remind anyone out there who's got some prefabs they'd like to have added to the next update with Blockade Runner that they can do so here. =D
- Aaron
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By admin on
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Today's Progress
Nathan's implemented the new physics engine and tested successfully its rigid body collision! The plan at the moment will be to put the collision in for the ships first since it'll be more than a tad quicker, and then on to the humanoid movement proper!
New physics model should mean tighter and more realistic collision for the ships, possibly even (unless something goes awry) the ability to push another ship around! Should have a test of this tomorrow.
Master Server Down Temporarily
The mater server is down for the moment, but Direct IP should still work properly. Some new message is causing the master server to crash, we're investigating the cause...
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By admin on
Thursday, May 17, 2012
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By admin on
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
0.59.0 is available!
All new prefabs by Mr Vorgra, specific prefabs can now fire projectiles or provide thrust, and several improvements including auto-entity-removal after 5 minutes of idle time launch the first of the updates this week for Blockade Runner!
NOTE: wyUpdate on the new server is acting up, for now please use the download above...
Netcode Upgrade
Most importantly for this update, we've upgraded to a newer version of the netcode library. The switch fixed some issues, however there's still some work that'll need to be done before the multiplayer can be considered properly "stable" for on-line play with LAN (local) working best at the moment.
Humanoid Movement Next
The rest of this week's main concentration for Nathan will be the full humanoid movement system so you can actually walk around your ship!
The humanoid movement will be using a physics model that will provide for smooth collision on all of the angles and complex geometry, as well as allow full 6-degrees of freedom with the gravity plating so you can walk about your ship any direction.
The introduction of the new physics engine will also end up being used for the ships to allow proper collision and thrust in the weeks ahead, so it's a bit of a two for one development-wise!
New Vote Soon...
We'll be asking everyone in the community soon to do another priority vote! The votes help us to organize the development and focus on what YOU think will improve Blockade Runner the most!
Improving the online multiplayer netcode is an obvious topper, but it takes a lot of tests to isolate all of the individual causes for the different issues, and will have to be dealt with over the course of time.
More interesting to us is whether dramatic framerate improvements for larger ships would be more important to you than say, new weapons or some asteroids to start mining from. Things like that. =)
Changelog
Release Notes - 0.58.4 > 0.59.0
- Added server timer for clearing unused entities (defaulted to 5 minutes)
- Added prefab engines can now output thrust
- Added prefab weapons can now fire projectiles
- Added prefab weapons can have their settings modded to specify fire position
- Added new community-made prefabs by Mr Vorgra and Cynaff! (great work guys!)
- Added prefab large engine bell
- Added [F] to pilot entity display when inside an entity
- Added server sends a warning message during server reset
- Added server resets player positions during server reset
- Added popup for when user attempts to join incorrect version of Blockade Runner
- Changed [F] now can pilot a ship in the editor
- Fixed blank chat messages are no longer sent
- Fixed prefabs could sometimes shoot themselves
- Fixed larger prefabs could cause crashes when near the edges of an entity
- Fixed direct IP crashing during enormity check
- Fixed going from editor to multiplayer still had some bugs
- Fixed clearing of entities after exiting multipayer game
- Fixed exiting the game while piloting an entity prevented others from piloting
- Fixed initial possession of an entity required you to go out and back into an entity
- Fixed cannot remove an entity that's spawned ontop of you
- Fixed collision boundary for "schematics" in the editor was incorrect
- Fixed master server not sending password info properly
- Fixed numerous multiplayer and master server issues
- Fixed chat would make indicators dissapear
- Fixed other inputs could be pressed while in chat
- Improved [ESC] menu in multiplayer
- Improved options menu design
- Improved textfields
- Improved indicators so they have a background
- Improved updated netcode library to latest version for future stability (may be the cause of some temporary bugs
- Improved [ESCAPE] menu in multiplayer
- Improved exiting a multiplayer game and entering options could mess up the game
- Improved [ENTER] can be used to close popup messages
- Improved weapon indicator
- Improved master server detection
- Improved in-game chat colors
- Improved options menu code and display
- Removed SOL.brd due to some incompatibilities with 0.59.0
- Removed editor debug text
- Removed debug display caption
- Returned offline activation
Report bugs in the Bug Reports Thread, and stay tuned for further updates!
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By admin on
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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By admin on
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Today's Progress!
Some last minute fixes, a bunch of UI changes, and some successful tests of the multiplayer! We've been testing with heavy latency without any severe issues occurring, so things are definitely improving!
Micah and Terah have also been integrating some of the community made prefabs and researching more on IK chains and animation techniques before the character movement engine is completed.
Screenshots
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By admin on
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
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By admin on
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Server Change
We're switching over to an all new server for the website and the forums and some systems might be down. If you experience any difficulty purchasing or activating Blockade Runner, please e-mail us at support@zanmgt.com!
Today's Progress
Micah and Terah are doing further work on the character models; the rest of us have been further diagnosing any issues from the new server code. High packet loss still seems to be an issue we'll have to work out in the weeks ahead.
As the multiplayer netcode is fine-tuned, we'll be turning our attention to the humanoid movement system this week, allowing you to actually walk inside and be blown away from your ship! It's really a totally different experience to walk the halls of your ship as its blown to pieces!
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By admin on
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Today's Progress
Today was mostly focused on upgrading the netcode to a more modern version of the code, with Zack and Nathan solving a major hurdle with the new net-code upgrade not wanting to send chunks properly. It appears the problem is gone, so tomorrow we'll be doing some more tests and see about doing another release!
When we do the release for 0.59.0 we'll also be upgrading the master server with a newer version that should solve some problems with the server browser, with the effect of also possibly causing 0.58.4 to behave incorrectly with its own server listings. Just a heads up. =).
Also don't forget that wyUpdate is now available for updating Blockade Runner be sure to give it a try when 0.59 is out, it'll come in handy as we rapidly make new builds to Blockade Runner!
Let's Play Stuff+ Video #3!
He's at it again with Stuff+'s latest "Let's Play", this time with his ship finally give an... "intriguing" name. ;D
Join the next multiplayer Let's Play by Stuff+!
Stuff+ is preparing to setup a multiplayer video for his next let's play and would like to film your ship in action in the multiplayer for Blockade Runner!
He's still around the planning stages for this week's bout, but if you'd like to show of your ship and your piloting skills for all to see, make your mark in the Multiplayer Extravaganza thread and be a part of the action!
Screenshots
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By admin on
Sunday, May 13, 2012
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