Difference between revisions of "Release Notes 016"

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<h2>Major changes</h2>
+
<h2>Major Changes</h2>
 +
This is a short list for game websites
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
 +
<li>Migration from GLUT to SDL
 
<li>New game type:  Core
 
<li>New game type:  Core
 +
<li>Several weapon and module changes and upgrades
 +
<li>Better voice chat for all platforms
 +
<li>Screen shots fixed
 +
<li>Soccer pick-up dropped and soccer ball inertia added
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
  
<h2>New features</h2>
+
<h2>Gameplay</h2>
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li>New game type:  Core
+
<li>Added Core game type.  Destroy enemy cores to winCore health can be set in the editor.  
<li>Migrated from GLUT to the SDL frameworkThis brings several improvements like faster rendering on Mac and nicer Input programming.
+
<li>Added loadout presets.  Players can save loadouts with Ctrl-1/2/3 and load them with Alt-1/2/3.  Loadouts are saved via INI and can be viewed with the /showpresets command.  
<li>Added /leveldir admin command to change folder where levels are readChange affects current session only, and will not be saved in the INI.
+
<li>Upgraded Sensor increases passive viewing range and allows spybug placement without using a weapon slot.  Spybugs are now placed with double-click
<li>-help cmd line option now displays meaningful help
+
<li>Added spawn shield.  Protects newly spawned players for several seconds until they move, activate a module, or fire a weapon
<li>Loadout presets: define them with Ctrl-1/2/3, retrieve them with Alt-1/2/3.  They persist in the INI between sessions.  You can see your current preset definitions with the /showpresets command.
+
<li>Energy recharge rate increases while idle and doubles while idle in a loadout zoneHostile loadout zones drain energy.  
<li>Mouse wheel zooms in and out in the editor
+
<li>Removed soccer ball pick-upThe ball is now “heavier”, and other objects, like TestItems, are heavier as well.
<li>Implemented 2-tier snapping in editor -- hold space to disable grid snap, but still snap to wall corners and other items; hold shift-space to completely disable snapping
+
<li>Triples consume about 20% less energy than in the 015 series
<li>Plugin system for the editor -- users can write scripts to generate items in the editor and bind them to hot keysInlcudes simple curve generation tool as a sample.
+
<li>Bouncers are more effective against the Armor module
<li>Music sub-system addedPlays Ogg Vorbis music files
+
<li>Loadouts no longer carry over from level to level -- now you start a new level with the default loadout
<li>Screenshots work now and are saved in PNG format
+
<li>Added top scores in single-team games like Rabbit and Bitmatch to lower right corner
<li>64-bit Intel Mac build available now
+
<li>Player ratings are determined by kill/death ratio. If you die more, your rating is negative
<li>Sensor module is now gives increased sight passively
+
<li>Forcefield engineer abuse has been greatly reduced. Note: Original forcefield behavior can be accessed through 'EngineerUnrestricted' instead of 'Engineer' in Specials
<li>Sensor module now deploys Spy-bug with a double-click; this means Spy-bug is now part of the Sensor module and not separately equipped
+
<li>Team bitmatch suicides no longer hurt team score
<li>Spawn shield
+
<li>Teleporting onto a loadout zone triggers loadout change, just like flying onto one
<li>Voice chat works on all three platforms and uses the SPEEX codec for better audio
+
</ul>
<li>Bouncers do more damage to the Armor module (3/4 damage instead of 1/2)
+
 
<li>Energy recharge changes:  recharge slightly faster if your ship isn't moving; double recharge if not moving in a loadout zone; hostile loadout zones reduce energy.
+
<h2>Client</h2>
<li>Servers have a persistent ban list now that is saved in the INI.  See admin commands /ban and /banip
+
<ul>
<li>Allow /mute in server lobby
+
<li>Added music sub-system. Plays Ogg Vorbis music files.  You can test it by placing files in the 'music' sub-directory
<li>Added /resetscore command
+
<li>Fixed screenshots; now use PNG format
<li>Additional scoreboard marks for admins (@) and level changers (+)
+
<li>64-bit Intel Mac build available now
<li>Editor option to disallow robots
+
<li>Fixed voice chat for all operating systems, with improved quality
<li>Add inertia-like behavior to objects.  This means larger items like TestItems take more shots to move
+
<li>Reduced leave/join spamming in lobby
<li>Soccer changes:  pick-up has been removed for good and the Soccerball has more inertia
+
<li>Allow /mute in server lobby  
<li>Add /shuffle command for admins
+
<li>Fixed some game lobby bugs with leaving/joining being out of sync
 +
<li>Added scoreboard marks for admins (@) and level changers (+)  
 
<li>Joystick profiles are now kept in a separate INI, joystick_presets.ini, that can be adjusted and added to for your joystick
 
<li>Joystick profiles are now kept in a separate INI, joystick_presets.ini, that can be adjusted and added to for your joystick
 +
<li>Smaller text should look crisper throughout the game
 +
<li>Line smoothing is now officially part of the game
 +
<li>Removed -jsave and -jplay cmd line options. It's been ages since they worked, and it's unlikely they ever will
 +
<li>-help cmd line option now displays meaningful help
 +
<li>Added engineer to help screen
 +
<li>Added Bitfighter icon for the taskbar
 +
<li>Diagnostics work a little better and will not show joystick info if none is attached
 +
<li>Allow for more than 32 different types of game objects for future expansion
 +
<li>Reduced CPU usage on diagnostics screen
 +
<li>Reduced CPU usage for overlapping asteroids
 +
<li>Migrated from GLUT to the SDL framework. This brings several improvements like faster rendering on Mac and nicer Input programming.
 +
<li>Fixed message rendering problem with disabled loadout indicators
 +
<li>Multi-line chat is now indented to prevent spoofing
 +
<li>Prevent impersonations with spaces in a username
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
<h2>Bot scripting</h2>
+
<h2>Editor</h2>
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li>Lua added copyMoveFromObject, Lua getCurrLoadout and getReqLoadout can now be used for ships
+
<li>Added mouse wheel zooming in the editor
<li>Removed deprecated getMove() method -- if your bot still relies on this, it will no longer work
+
<li>Implemented 2-tier snapping in editor -- hold space to disable grid snap, but still snap to wall corners and other items; hold shift-space to completely disable snapping
<li>Migrated onTick() to a standard event -- this will let bots unsubscribe to onTick events if they like (bot start out subscribed to onTick by default). See wiki for how to use this to make the bot sleep for a time.
+
<li>Added plugin system for the editor -- users can write scripts to generate items in the editor and bind them to hot keys. Includes simple curve generation tool as a sample.  
<li>Created nexusOpened and nexusClosed events.  See wiki for details.
+
<li>Added editor option to disallow robots
 +
<li>Added 'tab' filename completion in editor levelname entry screen
 +
<li>Added mouse wheel scrolling for existing level names on levelname entry screen
 +
<li>Removed dedicated wall-editing mode (Ctrl-A)
 +
<li>Game statistics not recorded when testing a level from the editor
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
<h2>Bug Fixes</h2>
+
<h2>Hosting</h2>
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li>Fix team bitmatch suicide score
+
<li>Added /leveldir admin command to change folder where levels are read. Change affects current session only, and will not be saved in the INI.
<li>Teleporter, added Delay option in levels for teleporters      <<=== what is this??
+
<li>Added /ban and /banip for persistent server ban lists.
<li>Teleporting onto a loadout zone triggers loadout change, just like flying onto one
+
<li>Added /resetscore command
<li>Console command history now working in a sane manner
+
<li>Added /shuffle command for admins
<li>Messages render with disabled loadout indicators
+
<li>Removed optional hostAddr cmd line parameter for -dedicated <hostAddr>. Specify host address (only rarely needed) with the existing -hostAddr option
<li>Indent multi-line chat to fix clever impersonations
+
<li>Removed -server cmd line parameter; not sure it really ever worked at all
<li>Only spawn a robot if a valid script was detected
+
<li>Incorrect admin and levelchange password entries are now logged in server log
<li>Prevent impersonations with spaces in a username
+
<li>Fixed rare crash with bot zone generation  
<li>Fix rare crash with bot zone generation
+
<li>Console command history now working in a sane manner
<li>Fix some game lobby bugs with leaving/joining being out of sync
+
<li>Reduce the leave/join spamming in chat
+
<li>Don't send game statistics to master server when testing a level from the editor
+
<li>Robot team messages now only go to the team
+
<li>Forcefield abuse has been greatly reduced.  Note:  you can return to the original forcefield behavior by specifying the level Special of 'EngineerUnrestricted' instead of 'Engineer'
+
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
<h2>Other changes</h2>
+
<h2>Bots & Scripting</h2>
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li>Reduced CPU usage for overlapping asteroids
+
<li>Robots are smarter with forcefields
<li>Removed -jsave and -jplay cmd line options.  It's been ages since they worked, and it's unlikely they ever will
+
<li>Robot team messages now only go to the team
<li>Removed optional hostAddr cmd line parameter for -dedicated <hostAddr>.  Specify host address (only rarely needed) with the existing -hostAddr option
+
<li>Robots only spawn if a valid script is detected
<li>Removed -server cmd line parameter; not sure it really ever worked at all
+
<li>Removed deprecated getMove() method -- if your bot still relies on this, it will no longer work
<li>Smaller text should look crisper throughout the game
+
<li>Migrated onTick() to a standard event -- this will let bots unsubscribe to onTick events if they like (bot start out subscribed to onTick by default). See wiki for how to use this to make the bot sleep for a time.
<li>Tab does filename completion in editor levelname entry screen
+
<li>Added nexusOpened and nexusClosed events. See wiki for details.
<li>Mouse wheel will scroll through existing level names on levelname entry screen
+
<li>Lua added copyMoveFromObject, Lua getCurrLoadout and getReqLoadout can now be used for ships
<li>Triples consume about 20% less energy than in the 015 series
+
<li>LUA scripts print to the OGLconsole
<li>Removed dedicated wall-editing mode (Ctrl-A)
+
<li>Loadouts no longer carry over from level to level -- now you start a new level with the default loadout
+
<li>When requesting admin or level change permissions, incorrect passwords are now logged in server log
+
<li>LUA scripts print to the OGLconsole
+
<li>Diagnostics work a little better and will not show joystick info if none is attached
+
<li>Reduced network load by convert objects from a 32-bit mask to an 8-bit type number
+
<li>Robots are smarter with forcefields
+
<li>Add engineer to help screen
+
<li>Add Bitfighter icon to the taskbar
+
<li>Line smoothing is now officially part of the game
+
<li>CTRL + A mode has been removed from the editor
+
<li>Top scores are rendered in single-team games like Rabbit and Bitmatch in lower right corner
+
<li>Player ratings are determined by kill/death ratio.  If you die more, your rating is negative
+
<li>Reduce CPU usage on diagnostics screen
+
 
</ul>
 
</ul>

Latest revision as of 00:10, 29 January 2012

Major Changes

This is a short list for game websites

  • Migration from GLUT to SDL
  • New game type: Core
  • Several weapon and module changes and upgrades
  • Better voice chat for all platforms
  • Screen shots fixed
  • Soccer pick-up dropped and soccer ball inertia added


Gameplay

  • Added Core game type. Destroy enemy cores to win. Core health can be set in the editor.
  • Added loadout presets. Players can save loadouts with Ctrl-1/2/3 and load them with Alt-1/2/3. Loadouts are saved via INI and can be viewed with the /showpresets command.
  • Upgraded Sensor increases passive viewing range and allows spybug placement without using a weapon slot. Spybugs are now placed with double-click
  • Added spawn shield. Protects newly spawned players for several seconds until they move, activate a module, or fire a weapon
  • Energy recharge rate increases while idle and doubles while idle in a loadout zone. Hostile loadout zones drain energy.
  • Removed soccer ball pick-up. The ball is now “heavier”, and other objects, like TestItems, are heavier as well.
  • Triples consume about 20% less energy than in the 015 series
  • Bouncers are more effective against the Armor module
  • Loadouts no longer carry over from level to level -- now you start a new level with the default loadout
  • Added top scores in single-team games like Rabbit and Bitmatch to lower right corner
  • Player ratings are determined by kill/death ratio. If you die more, your rating is negative
  • Forcefield engineer abuse has been greatly reduced. Note: Original forcefield behavior can be accessed through 'EngineerUnrestricted' instead of 'Engineer' in Specials
  • Team bitmatch suicides no longer hurt team score
  • Teleporting onto a loadout zone triggers loadout change, just like flying onto one

Client

  • Added music sub-system. Plays Ogg Vorbis music files. You can test it by placing files in the 'music' sub-directory
  • Fixed screenshots; now use PNG format
  • 64-bit Intel Mac build available now
  • Fixed voice chat for all operating systems, with improved quality
  • Reduced leave/join spamming in lobby
  • Allow /mute in server lobby
  • Fixed some game lobby bugs with leaving/joining being out of sync
  • Added scoreboard marks for admins (@) and level changers (+)
  • Joystick profiles are now kept in a separate INI, joystick_presets.ini, that can be adjusted and added to for your joystick
  • Smaller text should look crisper throughout the game
  • Line smoothing is now officially part of the game
  • Removed -jsave and -jplay cmd line options. It's been ages since they worked, and it's unlikely they ever will
  • -help cmd line option now displays meaningful help
  • Added engineer to help screen
  • Added Bitfighter icon for the taskbar
  • Diagnostics work a little better and will not show joystick info if none is attached
  • Allow for more than 32 different types of game objects for future expansion
  • Reduced CPU usage on diagnostics screen
  • Reduced CPU usage for overlapping asteroids
  • Migrated from GLUT to the SDL framework. This brings several improvements like faster rendering on Mac and nicer Input programming.
  • Fixed message rendering problem with disabled loadout indicators
  • Multi-line chat is now indented to prevent spoofing
  • Prevent impersonations with spaces in a username

Editor

  • Added mouse wheel zooming in the editor
  • Implemented 2-tier snapping in editor -- hold space to disable grid snap, but still snap to wall corners and other items; hold shift-space to completely disable snapping
  • Added plugin system for the editor -- users can write scripts to generate items in the editor and bind them to hot keys. Includes simple curve generation tool as a sample.
  • Added editor option to disallow robots
  • Added 'tab' filename completion in editor levelname entry screen
  • Added mouse wheel scrolling for existing level names on levelname entry screen
  • Removed dedicated wall-editing mode (Ctrl-A)
  • Game statistics not recorded when testing a level from the editor

Hosting

  • Added /leveldir admin command to change folder where levels are read. Change affects current session only, and will not be saved in the INI.
  • Added /ban and /banip for persistent server ban lists.
  • Added /resetscore command
  • Added /shuffle command for admins
  • Removed optional hostAddr cmd line parameter for -dedicated <hostAddr>. Specify host address (only rarely needed) with the existing -hostAddr option
  • Removed -server cmd line parameter; not sure it really ever worked at all
  • Incorrect admin and levelchange password entries are now logged in server log
  • Fixed rare crash with bot zone generation
  • Console command history now working in a sane manner

Bots & Scripting

  • Robots are smarter with forcefields
  • Robot team messages now only go to the team
  • Robots only spawn if a valid script is detected
  • Removed deprecated getMove() method -- if your bot still relies on this, it will no longer work
  • Migrated onTick() to a standard event -- this will let bots unsubscribe to onTick events if they like (bot start out subscribed to onTick by default). See wiki for how to use this to make the bot sleep for a time.
  • Added nexusOpened and nexusClosed events. See wiki for details.
  • Lua added copyMoveFromObject, Lua getCurrLoadout and getReqLoadout can now be used for ships
  • LUA scripts print to the OGLconsole