WinBolo 1.14 Progress Report and Testing

Some initial internet game testing has begun on WinBolo version 1.14. Testing is going well. It is not feature complete yet though. Here is a list of the new features, improvements and changes in 1.14:

* Skin support: Zip files containing skins can now be used. Skins can contain a new window background, new game graphics and sounds. An information file can also be placed which will can contain your name, notes or any other information about the skin. The format for skins are bitmaps and sounds are wav files. I'll be putting up the default skin shortly so skin authors can start working off that. (Note that graphics are 16x16 currently and stretched to 32x32 when played in double size view. A future version of WinBolo may support a seperate skin file to use in double size view mode.
* Builtin Server: WinBolo will no longer run an external server when started from the client. This will fix the problem some people have with starting servers and getting a "WinBoloDS.exe not found" error message.
* Cheat Fixes: Detects and drops players found using known cheats and cheating methods.
* Player quit message: A message is now sent to all players in the game that they have quit the game. Now it is possible to tell the difference between when a player quits or when they drop from the game.

Server commands
The following new server commands are available once the game is started:
* say: Sends a message to all players in the game as a network message.
* info: Displays each players name, IP address, number of bases and pillboxes owned as well as over all game information

New command line options:
-autoclose: Automatically quits the server when all players have left the server.

WinBolo.net
The following changes to WBN will be available. WBN will still work with 1.13 games although the new information will not be present.

* Game version is sent to WBN.
* Game locked/unlocked status is sent to WBN.
* Player left game message sent to WBN.

Other fixes including:
* "Brains can not be found" erorr message when multiple attributes are set on the brains directory.
* Fix for driving into a enemy base while shooting it and sending your builder out results in you shooting your builder.
* Fix for screen going black after dying and are unable to continue playing.
* and other fixes.

I had originally hoped for this to be out before christmas (a nice present for you all) but it is currently looking like it will be early January. Initially the Windows client/dedicated server and linux dedicated server will be available. The linux client will follow later. The log viewer will not be included in 1.14. It has not been decided if the ability to create logs will be included.

Happy Christmas Elvis.



Desmo


p.s. any word about the submarine facility or the new weapons (nukes,
smart cluster bombs, bunker busters and bio-weapons?)

well, I ask that you don't release 1.14 until a few things are addressed ...
http://www.lindstein.se/bolo/winbolo.html
is a good list, also, fix the damn refueling rate you were supposed to fix for 1.11 if fixing everything on this list takes you a year, I would be happy with waiting a year.

Min

While I don't always like your methods or tone, Min, I have to agree with you on the content of this one.

I also consider what's at http://www.lindstein.se/bolo/winbolo.html as more important than new features. However I would be happy with 1.14 as the features listed by Elvis above if 1.15 would fully address the macbolo-winbolo issues.

This is overall Elvis's choice, of course. But I agree with Min and after reading that page (which btw was what I was looking for in here, thanks min!) it effectively summarizes and describes the macbolo winbolo issues I have. I wish there were something more I or other people in the community could do to help this happen.

I would personally pay the price of a new computer game, for winbolo, if this guy Oscar (author of the link min gave) were satisfied and able to say "I see there has been substantial effort into making winbolo like macbolo and I can find no more anomalities". Although I think it will take a lot of patience and tweaking -- I can imagine features are a lot more fun -- I believe the end effect will be worth the time. (both because I believe it will increase the number of macbolo players playing winbolo and because current winbolo players will enjoy the game more, if not right away then once they get used to it)

my 2 cents
-Canuck

my full return to winbolo comes at 1.14's release!
thanks for the update

rock on Elvis

Nee!! :mrgreen:

Desmo wrote:

p.s. any word about the submarine facility or the new weapons (nukes,
smart cluster bombs, bunker busters and bio-weapons?)

He could tell U, but then he'd have to kill U.

:lol:

Knight_o_theNee wrote:

my full return to winbolo comes at 1.14's release!
thanks for the update

rock on Elvis

Nee!! :mrgreen:

1.15' release not 1.14's!




dumbass :wink: :D
peace

Elvis! Send it to me! I'll do the beta testing!

Elvis! Send it to me! I'll do the beta testing!

Canuck wrote:

While I don't always like your methods or tone, Min, I have to agree with you on the content of this one.

ya, sorry about that, I've gotten blunt these days ... no tact.

Canuck wrote:

I also consider what's at http://www.lindstein.se/bolo/winbolo.html as more important than new features. However I would be happy with 1.14 as the features listed by Elvis above if 1.15 would fully address the macbolo-winbolo issues.

well, I'm sure this would be fine, but elvis releases a new major version about every year ... so ... this would mean january of 2005 for 1.15 ...

Canuck wrote:

This is overall Elvis's choice, of course. But I agree with Min and after reading that page (which btw was what I was looking for in here, thanks min!) it effectively summarizes and describes the macbolo winbolo issues I have. I wish there were something more I or other people in the community could do to help this happen.

agreed, it is elvis's choice, which is why my statement was formed as a request. blunt as it may be.

Canuck wrote:

I would personally pay the price of a new computer game, for winbolo, if this guy Oscar (author of the link min gave) were satisfied and able to say "I see there has been substantial effort into making winbolo like macbolo and I can find no more anomalities". Although I think it will take a lot of patience and tweaking -- I can imagine features are a lot more fun -- I believe the end effect will be worth the time. (both because I believe it will increase the number of macbolo players playing winbolo and because current winbolo players will enjoy the game more, if not right away then once they get used to it)

I would pay far more than the price of a new computer game. currently winbolo's balance is not right at all, stuff like the pillbox's shooting too far has to be fixed very quickly in my opinion. Anything directly gameplay related should be addressed. I believe oscar's priorities show that nicely.

Canuck wrote:

my 2 cents

my 1 cent in change. You gave me too much!

Min

ps. you roxor canuck.

nice double post maxx.

i'd like to beta-test, too, please :mrgreen:

Since the first time I played Winbolo, I have always wondered why there was no map overview.

Because there isn't one in Bolo.

Rainheart wrote:

Because there isn't one in Bolo.

That's not entirely correct, at least in the sense that there was indeed an overview in bolo. Virtually no one used it though -- it tended to grind the computer to a virtual halt, like playing on a 14.4 modem or something.

There definetly was a map overview in Bolo. Min mentioned a resource problem to me also, but that was on pre-powerpc Macs. If it lags, you don't have to have it open.

Well, I couldn't remember, it was like 8 years ago since I played macBolo :P

Map overview was badly broken in Mac Bolo. You couldn't really rely on it, since it would randomly stop displaying the view from certain pillboxes. I think I prefer the game without it anyway... it's a crutch. :D

I remember the mac overview, it worked out great on the school server! Unfortently macbolo got banned because of us playing it all the time! But of course these were imacs so I'm sure it ran alot smoother than older macs. Good times. :lol:

Elvis wrote:

Cheat Fixes: Detects and drops players found using known cheats and cheating methods.
/quote]

ya, i love this idea, but i know a few players like playing "speed bolo" thus in order to play speed bolo you need to use hacks, sooo by saying this, are you going to have speed bolo in winbolo 1.14? i really don't care but i was thinking about this for a while. peace

You can still use 1.13 when 1.14 is out if you want to play "speed bolo"

Nemokrad wrote:

You can still use 1.13 when 1.14 is out if you want to play "speed bolo"

w00t! w00t! Speed bolo rox!

Elvis wrote:

Some initial internet game testing has begun on WinBolo version 1.14. Testing is going well. It is not feature complete yet though. Here is a list of the new features, improvements and changes in 1.14:

* Skin support: Zip files containing skins can now be used. Skins can contain a new window background, new game graphics and sounds. An information file can also be placed which will can contain your name, notes or any other information about the skin. The format for skins are bitmaps and sounds are wav files. I'll be putting up the default skin shortly so skin authors can start working off that. (Note that graphics are 16x16 currently and stretched to 32x32 when played in double size view. A future version of WinBolo may support a seperate skin file to use in double size view mode.
* Builtin Server: WinBolo will no longer run an external server when started from the client. This will fix the problem some people have with starting servers and getting a "WinBoloDS.exe not found" error message.
* Cheat Fixes: Detects and drops players found using known cheats and cheating methods.
* Player quit message: A message is now sent to all players in the game that they have quit the game. Now it is possible to tell the difference between when a player quits or when they drop from the game.

Server commands
The following new server commands are available once the game is started:
* say: Sends a message to all players in the game as a network message.
* info: Displays each players name, IP address, number of bases and pillboxes owned as well as over all game information

New command line options:
-autoclose: Automatically quits the server when all players have left the server.

WinBolo.net
The following changes to WBN will be available. WBN will still work with 1.13 games although the new information will not be present.

* Game version is sent to WBN.
* Game locked/unlocked status is sent to WBN.
* Player left game message sent to WBN.

Other fixes including:
* "Brains can not be found" erorr message when multiple attributes are set on the brains directory.
* Fix for driving into a enemy base while shooting it and sending your builder out results in you shooting your builder.
* Fix for screen going black after dying and are unable to continue playing.
* and other fixes.

I had originally hoped for this to be out before christmas (a nice present for you all) but it is currently looking like it will be early January. Initially the Windows client/dedicated server and linux dedicated server will be available. The linux client will follow later. The log viewer will not be included in 1.14. It has not been decided if the ability to create logs will be included.

I say Rock on but isnt winbolo supposed to be a COPY of bolo


But Still i cant wait till it comes out it will be so COOL.





Same thing as Madd Maxx
Ill do testing




Merry Christmas Elvis,
-DarkDwarf

It seems like some brand-new features are coming out ahead of several unaddressed bug fixes that have been repeatedly requested. I'm glad for the skins since they'll make Winbolo look like a Barney cartoon for the kiddies and like the Teletubbies for burnouts like SJ and flad, but skins are really just dressing on the salad.

Elvis... I worry that what I'll have with 1.14 is fancy dressing on pretty good lettuce, but with some lingering stale croutons. I respect your decisions since it's your baby, but let me ask ya one question: who do you respect more, Bill or Linus?

Perhaps this version or the next Elvis could implement some sort of team-marker. I don't know if it'd be different coloration of the tanks or a symbol by the player's name. For instance, one team would all have § in front of their name. Something along those lines.