W:A 4.0 Beta Update

[Deadcode]

I've been working incredibly hard on the Worms Armageddon patch. It's really an amazing feeling, after such a long break... For the past couple months I've been more inspired than ever! I've very much been following my intuition in choosing which parts to work on, and what to aim for.

This has led me unexpectedly to implement something much sooner than I thought I would be doing. I was streamlining the recorded-game file format... But this morning I suddenly realized that I was doing more than just creating a file format – I was laying the foundations for fully customisable hosting!

Because, it so happens that the header format I designed for recorded games will also be ideal as a new scheme file format, that can be sent online in a hosted game! You get all the things The Fiddler used to be able to do – fully customisable weapons, and the ability to create missions.

So for this reason, I have made the decision to name this patch Version 4.0 Beta.

So, now that I've figured out what my intuition was leading me to, I will update you on what I've accomplished so far and where it is leading. First, what I've done since the previously posted Beta Patch Update:

• Implemented a flexible and efficient "game initialisation" format, to be used in recorded-game files, schemes, and online games. The format will easily accomodate additions while being backwards-compatible. By that, I mean that future versions of W:A will be able to parse and recognize older versions of the format; if a hosted game contains players with older versions, the newer versions will emulate the older for compatibility.
• In all front-end screens with a Chat Bar, the chat bar now gets default focus (so you don't need to click on it before typing)
• In host/join, the Message History: a) Now carries through to extra rounds and the finish of a game, b) Can now be read after the host or all other players have left a finished game.
• Localisation is improved. Your Nation is set directly from geographic location information if available (Location in Regional and Language Options), and your Language is set in a more direct manner. It will be easy to implement a Language Override option if this is desired.
• Volume can be changed in-game and in the Options menu of the front end. Using this allows you to balance the game volume with MP3s, voice chat software, etc.
• Fixed: Flag and rank icons were loaded all at once outside a channel, but one by one, slowly, inside a channel. This has been fixed; they now refresh along with the game listing.
• Fixed: Previously, if – at the continued-round stage – only players of a single ally remained after others quit, all buttons would be disabled and the game would have to be killed externally. This has been fixed.
• Fixed: Before, powerful weapons with Damage×2 could have their blast radius artificially limited, resulting in a bizarre combination of widespread damage with a relatively small hole. Now the effective blast radius limit is doubled.
• Fixed: The glitch in which graves could absorb arrows was not fully fixed in the first beta; an arrow hitting a grave at the same time as it would have hit land was still absorbed. This is now wholly fixed.
• Fixed: At a certain water level, Crates and Oil Drums would float, throwing the game into an endless loop.
• Fixed: There was a mismatch between the Fall Damage threshold speed, and the threshold speed at which the Parachute was activated. There was a small space between where your Worm could accrue fall damage without the parachute activating. This only happened when the worm was sliding, for example from the Rope.
• Fixed: A bungeeing worm used to look very odd when pointing more than 45 degrees from downwards. Now it progresses smoothly through 360 degrees of rotation.

Primary things that are to follow:

• Take the now-finished "game initialisation" format and apply it to things other than just recorded games – i.e., loadable schemes and hosting. Since the format covers everything, it will then be possible to host Custom Missions.
• Ability to Import Fiddler schemes.
• An Editor for the new scheme format. At first it will be necessary to first import a Fiddler scheme to get the already-existing options, then use the editor to modify newly added options – but then the Editor will be expanded to be self-sufficient.
• Add a button in Host/Join screens that parses the Effective Version and shows you what legacy game-logic bugs will be effectively fixed or emulated, and what post-legacy game-logic features will be effectively present or missing.
• For Hosts, show which players possess older versions of the game, and red-flag them if features are being used (i.e. colour maps or new scheme options) that will prevent them from being able to play, forcing the host either to downgrade the map/scheme or boot the players.
• Supplement the above with a Scheme Comparator, which will compare a Host's scheme with all the schemes you have yourself, find the most similar one, and show you a list of differences which will be viewed as an expandable/collapsable outline.
• Create a Server and Client/Server protocol that will take full advantage of the new paradigms/features of W:A 4.0. This may involve modifying the existing one, or starting from scratch – this will be decided when the time comes.

[AleX2]

oh sweet
What's the release date?

[redwraith]

Very nice, deadcode!

Will the successor of 3.5 beta2 be 4.0 beta or is there going to be a patch between these?

I have got another suggestion for the patch: Is it possible to change the fact that one sometimes loses a turn by falling down somewhere although fall damage is disabled?

PS: The 4.0 patch is going to be the best patch ever. It won't be just a patch, it will be an ADDON! I really appreciate your work.

Cya

[Deadcode]

Originally Posted by redwraith

Very nice, deadcode!

Will the successor of 3.5 beta2 be 4.0 beta or is there going to be a patch between these?

That depends on how soon Team17 will let it be released.

Originally Posted by redwraith

I have got another suggestion for the patch: Is it possible to change the fact that one sometimes loses a turn by falling down somewhere although fall damage is disabled?

The option for that already exists and is called LossOfControlDoesntEndTurn. The new scheme format uncovers it, and many other options that were previously hidden!

[redwraith]

Awesome! The patch will be perfect. At the moment I can't think of another feature request for the patch. Btw, why do you lose the turn sometimes when you fall down and sometimes not? What are the reasons? Is there also other cases where the LossOfControlDoesntEndTurn will apply?

Cya

[PsyDome]

i take it that the new schememaking possiblities will allow us to set number of mines/oil drums, instead of the set 8, like in worms 2?

[Deadcode]

Originally Posted by PsyDome

i take it that the new schememaking possiblities will allow us to set number of mines/oil drums, instead of the set 8, like in worms 2?

Not only that, but you will be able to place them wherever you want (or at random if desired, or a mixture). I also plan to add the ability to attach them directly to map files (the ability to place them in specific places is already there, but you'd need to match the scheme file to your map).

[totomds]

Good job mate!

Keep it comin,
toto

p.s. Team17 please support Deadcode!!!!!!

[Deadcode]

Originally Posted by redwraith

Awesome! The patch will be perfect. At the moment I can't think of another feature request for the patch. Btw, why do you lose the turn sometimes when you fall down and sometimes not? What are the reasons? Is there also other cases where the LossOfControlDoesntEndTurn will apply?

I'd be fascinated to know that as well... in fact I've always wondered. I haven't analysed enough of the code to know yet, at this point.

BTW, I just fixed another bug: In a game with Stockpiling and the Aqua Sheep cheat enabled, stockpiled Aqua Sheep would be lost in the next round. Them bugs are dropping like flies!

[M3ntal]

I just thought of another bug:

When you set the water level for water drops, if someone then dies and drops a donor card onto the floor, the donor card drowns and the game just sits there waiting for it to land (which it will never do).

Heh, you should set up an escalation process DC .

[Deadcode]

Originally Posted by M3ntal

I just thought of another bug:

When you set the water level for water drops, if someone then dies and drops a donor card onto the floor, the donor card drowns and the game just sits there waiting for it to land (which it will never do).

Yep, that's already fixed:

• Fixed: At a certain water level, Crates and Oil Drums would float, throwing the game into an endless loop.

(Donor cards, utility and weapon crates are the same object internally.)

Originally Posted by M3ntal

Heh, you should set up an escalation process DC .

Hmm, I get the feeling that's supposed to be funny but I don't get it! Mind explaining?

[M3ntal]

Originally Posted by Deadcode

(Donor cards, utility and weapon crates are the same object internally.

Oh, cool.

Originally Posted by Deadcode

Hmm, I get the feeling that's supposed to be funny but I don't get it! Mind explaining?

It's what many larger companies have internally for handling critical bug reports that need immediate attention. They get "escalated" above all the other bugs as they have a higher priority and are generally severe problems that have a serious impact on sales/functionality.

My analogy was that you are dealing with so many bugs and new feature requests from the community, you seem like the support services department of a large company, and us the customers/QA.

[bloopy]

Originally Posted by Eggi

S! YOU BE MAKING WORMS ARMAGEDDON SO GOOD THAT I FEEL THAT I WANT SAUSAGE

I feel the same way Eggi! I must say it is brilliant to see someone using their skills to improve a game they enjoy for the benefit of all, thanks Deadcode, sausages all round!

May I suggest an option to host a game that only people with the new patch can join, to save the complications of an insufficiently patched player joining when the host is intent on using options that only work with the new patch.

[Keeper]

You've really got something going here.

Umm... what's with the sausages?

[Spadge]

Originally Posted by totomds

Good job mate!

Keep it comin,
toto

p.s. Team17 please support Deadcode!!!!!!

We are.

[Squirminator2k]

What's happening with the WA/WWP interconnectivity? Is this still planned?

[Wishmaster]

i think spadge said yes, although i think he didnt say when.

its burried in the other patch thread somehwere. :P

[SargeMcCluck]

Originally Posted by Squirminator2k

What's happening with the WA/WWP interconnectivity? Is this still planned?

Yes.

[Wishmaster]

thats a funny echo

[SargeMcCluck]

Originally Posted by Wishmaster

thats a funny echo

I'm 100% sure, you said "I think". So it wasn't an echo.

[Wishmaster]

heh, but i only said i think. Because i didnt want to trawl through the million post long thread to find it. I could have said yes but then knowing me id be instantly corrected by a more active member of the form.

Anyway no harm done. heehee

[Paul.Power]

Originally Posted by SargeMcCluck

Yes.

Good!

(Valley of the Monosyllables, Part the First...)

[Wishmaster]

what?!?

[UnKnown X]

Originally Posted by Deadcode

Not only that, but you will be able to place them wherever you want (or at random if desired, or a mixture). I also plan to add the ability to attach them directly to map files (the ability to place them in specific places is already there, but you'd need to match the scheme file to your map).

Will you be able to just place them in the terrain editor instead of having to change the scheme all the time? Or did I miss something?

[CanibalBoB]

Firstly, great job on making a patch. It'll be amazing.

Secondly, you said you wanted to add Fiddler usage online? Well, the Fiddler doesn't seem to work for the latest beta patch, so will a new Fiddler need to be released, or are you incorporating this into the game, or will the previous Fiddler work again?

Again, great job, I hope you get paid well for this.

[Keeper]

i think he's putting it in the game rather then let another program muck around in the settings.

Ditto, for you DC, this patch is gonna be great. I can't wait to get a hold of all the new features and stuff. er... question, Is the settings going to be easier to miipulate than fiddelers. I'm a web designer so I understand the X/Y axis in pixels as it's the only mesurement I use as of late, but what about the stuff described as uknown or I don't know in the fiddler.. are you going to be a bit more discriptive than "fudge boy"

One other thing to spadge,

I just sent an e-mail to AJP telling him that he seemd preoccupied, but it apears to be a comon traid among the admin. your posts are short and sweet... right to the point.

How about some suportave words for DC, ya know like "we think that DC has some good ideas, and he's doing a fine job"

instead of "we are"

(if at any point you guys want to tell me i'm a pain in the a$$ go ahead, your probably right.)

Later,
Cade

[JOExTWAx]

I bet it's a pain in the ass to ban you twice and for you come back again and spam around.

I agree though, Deadcode is the man =D He should be offered some sort of partnership or full time role in t17, since he's such an integral part in their development of high quality games.

<cynicism>

Then they wouldn't be releasing any more 'donkey-of-a-game's' like Worms 3D, 'cheap, fast, and unoriginal games to make a quick buck' such as Worms Blast, or any more 'let's trick everyone and make a clone game to make them spend an extra $45' game's like Worms World Party

They would be all 'amazing-more-popular-than-halo, tony-hawk, and-counterstrike-put-together-with-excellent-reliability- and-superb-multiplayer-support-with-great-replayability-and-tons-of-features'-game

</cynicism>

Muahua gogoo Deadcode, you're the best thing to ever happen to worms, except rainless days when the robins can't eat them ;D

[Mdk]

wow, fantastic job deadcode...

The only think I can think of that you haven't already included an option to automatically skip turns if you have to go do something temporarily (ie..phone, someone at front door). Maybe this idea is lame, but I've often wished it was available whenever someone went to get a drink or something, leaving us to wait his entire turns out (hey, 45 seconds or more per turn add up!).

Keep up the good work deadcode!

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by JOExTWAx

I bet it's a pain in the ass to ban you twice and for you come back again and spam around.

I agree though, Deadcode is the man =D He should be offered some sort of partnership or full time role in t17, since he's such an integral part in their development of high quality games.

<cynicism>

Then they wouldn't be releasing any more 'donkey-of-a-game's' like Worms 3D, 'cheap, fast, and unoriginal games to make a quick buck' such as Worms Blast, or any more 'let's trick everyone and make a clone game to make them spend an extra $45' game's like Worms World Party

They would be all 'amazing-more-popular-than-halo, tony-hawk, and-counterstrike-put-together-with-excellent-reliability- and-superb-multiplayer-support-with-great-replayability-and-tons-of-features'-game

</cynicism>

Muahua gogoo Deadcode, you're the best thing to ever happen to worms, except rainless days when the robins can't eat them ;D

well looks like the new nic didn't go far JoexTwax.. thanks for blowing it for me. Not that it matters now, AJP already said that he's going to unban me anyway.. i've been e-mailing him about it. I don't think he's happy about the whole thing though... not that I blame him.

But as I told DC and AJP, I WILL be buing a copy of W:A as well as a few other T17 products as soona s I can come up with the cash and as soon as I find a store in my area that sells the games. I've only seen Worms Blast in a shop almost 30 miles away.... I live in the booies.

Wal-mart doesn't even cary it in my area. Worst comes to worst and I'll order them online

Peace out,
Cade,

Thanks for blowing my cover again JoE

[JOExTWAx]

Again? That would be the 1st time. Anyway, you make it too obvious. You sign up on a noob name, and spam every thread. When I see a new member like sinclair or Cade who's spamming, and pretending to know everyone I know it's an alias ;-D