Topic: UPDATE #1  (Read 17246 times)

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Offline FA Frey XC

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UPDATE #1
« on: December 24, 2010, 03:55:02 am »
Update # 1.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

We've moved our ISP from Time Warner cable to Verizon FiOS.  We've gone from 3 Mb down / 1.5 Mb up to 35 Mb down / 35 Mb up. I've posted some of the speed tests, and they are amazing. What does this mean for you?

  • Relaxed bandwidth constraints on the FTP
  • Relaxed bandwidth throttling on HTTP
  • Relaxed Freymeister who's loving FioS

We're in the process of decommissioning UBER-LOKI, the webserver for Dynaverse.Net and associated services (FTP , IRC, Directory Services, Teamspeak) and moving everything to a new, much upgraded and more powerful THOR.

This has actually already been completed, and your reading this off the new server. Look for tweaks and the occasional possible oddity as we tighten the bolts down on this lovely beastie.

This also means we've established the codebase and codevault for the SFC4 project. As I said, we've got the brightest minds in our community working on this, and I'm sure we'll see more return... but here's a quick list (because I can't help but brag!)

Bonk
Firesoul
Marstone
NuclearWessels

So, what's the goal?

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Goals

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#1 Update the EAW codebase to compile on new(er) code. The objective here is to allow the game to run on Vista / Windows 7.

#2 Update the EAW codebase to match the fixes / enhancements available in SFC: OP.  (This will allow us to optimize the serverkit, as the serverkit for EAW never had any issues with MySQL.)

#3 Unlock the stuff buried inside EAW for use in SFC4.

#4 Upgrade the engine itself if possible to something more current.

#5 Roll out the Strategic Combat Simulator interface (SCS)

#6 Introduce Crew Pools, online enhancements and perpetual career tracking online with the ability for Campaign Masters to issue medals, commendations, etc.

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So there you have it ! Finally, your update!

We wish you the best on this Merry Christmas season, and have a great New Year!

And don't forget, the donation button is right there on the menu bar, and on the front page of D.Net!

Save some of that Christmas cash and pitch in to support the ONLY Official Starfleet Command site online.

Regards,

« Last Edit: December 24, 2010, 04:34:58 am by FA Frey XC »
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Offline Capt Jeff

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2010, 04:48:05 am »
Well Done !


 :woot:
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Offline Strayy

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2010, 06:17:09 am »
All Hail Adm. Frey     Great work !!!!   :notworthy:

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Offline Centurus

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2010, 09:59:11 am »
*sets several star systems on fire*  TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!  *feels tap on shoulder, turns to see Murray, and hears what he says*  Oh sh*t, what do you mean I just torched several of our own star systems.  Oh boy, this is gonna be a long day.
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Offline FA Frey XC

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2010, 02:05:52 pm »
Also, if you didn't notice, we've incorporated (well, Bonk did, that man is a GENIUS, I tell ya!) facebook, twitter, and a buncha other stuff.

Help spread the word! D.Net has been, and always shall be, your friend for everything SFC ... and beyond!

What does that mean? Tune in, there's still MORE to COME.

Muhaahaaaaaa

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Offline Roychipoqua_Mace

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #5 on: December 25, 2010, 07:40:42 pm »
Thanks for the update, and the goals sound exactly like what this game needs!

Offline Lepton

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #6 on: December 25, 2010, 07:42:58 pm »
And this didn't happen two and a half years ago because? 

SFC4 announcement was May 2008. 

Kudos on the hardware and infrastructure upgrades but how that relates to upgrading a game designed to run on hardware and software technologies that are 5 to 10 years old depending on your perspective is not clear to me at all.


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Offline IndyShark

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #7 on: December 25, 2010, 07:50:46 pm »
That is great news! I can't wait to see it

Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #8 on: December 25, 2010, 07:51:14 pm »
And this didn't happen two and a half years ago because? 

SFC4 announcement was May 2008. 

Kudos on the hardware and infrastructure upgrades but how that relates to upgrading a game designed to run on hardware and software technologies that are 5 to 10 years old depending on your perspective is not clear to me at all.

You can't have multiple users (heck even just one) doing an initial checkout of a large project over only 1.5 mbit up. (with a zillion other services running on the same pipe too) 35 does the job much better. I can do an initial checkout before I grow a beard...

Hardware consolidation relates to residential electrical and budget limitations. (simple facts of life)

I have explained why this did not happen when it was originally announced. I will send you a PM. I prefer not to dig up old skeletons in public.

Also let me make this absolutely clear, as I am being forced...

This will NOT be SFC4. It will be EAW for Vista/7. That is all. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I had desired/intended that it not even be announced until actually tested and ready for release, but Frey gets excited and I cannot blame him, I am too. (and it is his show...)

Offline Lepton

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #9 on: December 25, 2010, 08:03:20 pm »
EAW for Vista/Win7 sounds like a much more reasonable goal.  Glad to hear it, but I thought there wasn't even a complete codebase to work from.

As to infrastructure, seems that I get many multiple gigabyte downloads whenever I want over bittorrent in hours or sometimes days depending on the number of seeds and peers and that's with a measly 1.5 mbit down and 600 kbit up.


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Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #10 on: December 25, 2010, 08:32:09 pm »
Glad to hear it, but I thought there wasn't even a complete codebase to work from.

That remains to be determined. (thus my hesitance to have anything announced at all) BUT as of moments ago I can say, with trepidation, that it looks like there may be everything we need there. May be. The old VSS db was rather tangled. I have yet to come up with an svn checkout command for the imported db that does not recurse into the redundant directories of the old VSS layout resulting in an absurd recursion and a checkout well into the tens of gigabytes (should be less than 4 anyway...)

Way more details than you need to know, or I am obliged to explain. I'm busy dig?  (insert grinch, bah-humbug etc.. ;) ;D) Unless you want to help and Frey approves of it....

As to infrastructure, seems that I get many multiple gigabyte downloads whenever I want over bittorrent in hours or sometimes days depending on the number of seeds and peers and that's with a measly 1.5 mbit down and 600 kbit up.

I do not believe there is an scm that implements bittorrent. And running the tracker is an entirely different matter than downloading stuff... the issue is not downloading from my end, but uploading from the Dynaverse.net end to multiple users see... (while running a separate webserver, teamspeak, The Forge ,the directory services, xenocorp hosted sites, DNS, etc.. etc.. etc. There is only so much you can cram down a residential cable connection and expect it all to arrive without corruption.)

I like subversion on ssl.

Offline Lepton

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #11 on: December 25, 2010, 09:00:10 pm »
I'm sure it's in good hands but I really loathe these grand announcements especially when they have been made in the past and nothing was delivered.  Loads of work may have been done, but ultimately that makes little difference to an end user.

I realize that for testing purposes that you guys are likely to want to keep access to the end products as open as possible, but might I suggest a Minecraft-ish approach.  If I remember correctly, people paid for access to the Minecraft alpha.  If money and time are issues, I'd suggest a similar system wherein people could help fund the site and the game updates while gaining early access to something that isn't entirely ready for everyone.


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Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #12 on: December 25, 2010, 09:14:44 pm »
I am not going to go into why what happened before happened the way it did (it is why I left for two years). I had pretty much nothing to do with it. That is as much as I will say. I do not want this dragged out of me. I will not disrespect the team.

Money is not the problem. Comprehension of the problem was the problem. I comprehend. Period. Foot down. Not another word.

Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #13 on: December 26, 2010, 07:58:24 am »
Didn't mean to be cranky on ya yesterday, just my plate was very full and I wanted to get this done. I just built the EAW 2.0.3.4 client (I was hoping for 2036, but this will do) against the last usable directx for it (summer 2004) and the correct platform sdk. It runs. No serverlist as I have not configured the directory servers to accept it (though I can rebuild and fudge the version, as I do not believe the 24 to 36 changes are that significant or difficult to reproduce - esg/hellbore and one other thing... as far as I recall). But I will test the singleplayer functionality of my build first. Then I will either reproduce the fixes or go back to the VSS database and see if the last two versions got corrupted somehow (VSS is notorious) or if we never got those in the first place - not so easy to tell - I can ask MagnumMan)

The eaw serverkit code is present so we have a matched set. But I have not built it yet. I will address the version issue in the client first(?). Now I can get started. For all I know my build environment may have already resolved vista issues, but I need to get a client matched up to the patch level the directory server will accept, or edit the directory server config to accept 2.0.3.4 as well.

I'm off to play some singleplayer missions in it to see what I get.  ;D ;D ;D

When I have something ready for dynaverse play it will go out to the beta group. Actually I may post this build for them just for fun and to get more singleplayer testing done...

Offline FA Frey XC

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #14 on: December 26, 2010, 04:54:01 pm »
I'm sure it's in good hands but I really loathe these grand announcements especially when they have been made in the past and nothing was delivered.  Loads of work may have been done, but ultimately that makes little difference to an end user.

I realize that for testing purposes that you guys are likely to want to keep access to the end products as open as possible, but might I suggest a Minecraft-ish approach.  If I remember correctly, people paid for access to the Minecraft alpha.  If money and time are issues, I'd suggest a similar system wherein people could help fund the site and the game updates while gaining early access to something that isn't entirely ready for everyone.

Hey Lepton, thanks for your feedback and I appreciate your point of view.

Just a quick point of pride - and I'm speaking frankly here because I understand and (believe it or not) respect your point of view. I understand why you think of it this way. So I would ask you if you truly realize that we work entirely on a volunteer basis, and I pay for everything pretty much out of my pocket. Are you aware that I run 3 DL580's and 2 DL380's (HP Proliant servers) out of my house, which is 60 years old?

I've been working very hard at my Real Life job to get to this point - the point where I can run whatever I want to run without having to worry about amperage constraints and blowing fuse boxes. And unfortunately, volunteer's kinda come and go... you get people that say "OMG I'm so dedicated" .. then 3 months later you find out they lied about everything, including who they said they were, and burn off.

That's happened several times over the last two years.

Considering such, and the sanctity that I feel when dealing with the EAW source (which we do have a complete codebase of), we can't just look at the dollah signs, but instead must consider how best to offer those who are truly interested in participating in such a grand endeavor a fair chance in contributing. To abscribe a monetary amount to gain access in any manner would violate the very core of the ethical standards we've maintained since day one.

On a side note, I honestly don't remember seeing a single donation associated with your account. Did I miss something? I apologize in advance if I did.  Perhaps you might consider supporting us instead of criticizing us - and I'm not just talking about money :) (although it's always nice) - you've been here a long time, Lepton - it's mainly for people like you we do all this.

Please don't forget that.

Regards,
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Offline IndyShark

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #15 on: December 27, 2010, 08:27:11 am »
Frey for President in 2012!

Offline ShadowDiver

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #16 on: December 27, 2010, 04:17:45 pm »
If i donated an HP DL580 G7......

Would I be considered dedicated? .... and would I get like a lifetime membership, a ship named after me or just a Thank you and a Lousy Cheesma T-shirt depicting me getting gassed from Stoney or Merlin....

Offline FA Frey XC

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #17 on: December 27, 2010, 08:47:38 pm »
 :o

 :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:

Regards?

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Offline Ronin

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #18 on: December 30, 2010, 06:28:17 pm »
I don't care that it isn't ready. I mean, I will be thrilled when it is, but the thing that has me excited is that you gents are still working on it. That's a hell of a collection of skills represented by the names you introduced as being on the design team. The sort of brain trust that can, given resources, time and opportunity make just about anything happen with our beloved game.

So I am content to bask in the glow of the possibility of a working SFC2 Dynaverse and the hope that the knowledge gained thereby might lead one day to the SFC4 that has been dreamed about for years.

To all those contributing time, energy and skull sweat, thank you. And my hat is off to you all for refusing to rehash old disagreements. Continue to look forward, not backward, and see great things happen!

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Offline Payne

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #19 on: December 31, 2010, 11:52:12 am »
Don't listen to Ronin, he is luring you into a false sense of security so he may ..uh....do bad things?  Something anyways, the jerk.

But all that aside, this is for EAW then?  I was rather hoping any changes would be made for OP.  However this turns out, great to hear something is being done.

Offline FireSoul

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #20 on: December 31, 2010, 04:40:49 pm »
Don't listen to Ronin, he is luring you into a false sense of security so he may ..uh....do bad things?  Something anyways, the jerk.

But all that aside, this is for EAW then?  I was rather hoping any changes would be made for OP.  However this turns out, great to hear something is being done.

It'll have to be to EAW: it's what we have the sources to. I don't think we have OP sources.


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Offline USS Mariner

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #21 on: January 03, 2011, 12:31:38 pm »
Don't listen to Ronin, he is luring you into a false sense of security so he may ..uh....do bad things?  Something anyways, the jerk.

But all that aside, this is for EAW then?  I was rather hoping any changes would be made for OP.  However this turns out, great to hear something is being done.

It'll have to be to EAW: it's what we have the sources to. I don't think we have OP sources.

Unless I'm mistaken, they share the same base code, and from what I'm reading in the announcement, it appears that EAW is pretty much going to receive OPs weapons and enhancements. The (hyperbolic) difference between the two is what, a few dozen lines of code? That sounds like a really minor issue compared to bringing the base code of the game into something that can run in a multi-core computing world, let  alone the probable water-torture necessary to fix things like the UI ratio, DirectX updating/integration, a whole new interface, etc.

Besides, this not only sounds like a much more reasonable goal than, say, building an entirely new SFC game from near-scratch (which is what the SFC4 announcement sounded like to me), but in order to even attempt a new SFC, just modernizing and retooling the code is not only the first, but vital for that to even get off the ground, even if it may get stuck in development hell for eternity.

I'm really glad I decided to drop by the site early, cause this year already sounds like it's gonna be a great one.
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Offline FPF-Tobin Dax

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #22 on: January 03, 2011, 02:32:49 pm »
Don't listen to Ronin, he is luring you into a false sense of security so he may ..uh....do bad things?  Something anyways, the jerk.

But all that aside, this is for EAW then?  I was rather hoping any changes would be made for OP.  However this turns out, great to hear something is being done.

How is Ronin being a jerk? He's just posting a positve comment. Why are you calling him or anyone here a jerk?
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Offline knightstorm

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #23 on: January 03, 2011, 02:52:51 pm »
Don't listen to Ronin, he is luring you into a false sense of security so he may ..uh....do bad things?  Something anyways, the jerk.

But all that aside, this is for EAW then?  I was rather hoping any changes would be made for OP.  However this turns out, great to hear something is being done.

How is Ronin being a jerk? He's just posting a positve comment. Why are you calling him or anyone here a jerk?

I think its supposed to be good natured ribbing.

Offline FPF-Tobin Dax

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #24 on: January 03, 2011, 02:59:18 pm »
Put in a smiley then.  ;)
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Offline knightstorm

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #25 on: January 03, 2011, 03:16:52 pm »
Well, this part of the post would seem to indicate that he's not being serious.

Don't listen to Ronin, he is luring you into a false sense of security so he may ..uh....do bad things?

Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #26 on: January 03, 2011, 03:24:12 pm »
Right, that is how I took it. Ronin is a Romulan no? The SPQR that does not exist? ;) Everone stay cool, we're off to a good start and want to keep the good vibe going. The more positive the input here the better our focus will be (though we'll be looking for quality critique on the children of this project in due time...) Though it's OK to make sure everyone is playing nice Postman, don't worry, all your hearts are in the right place.

Offline The Postman

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #27 on: January 03, 2011, 07:24:50 pm »
Right, that is how I took it. Ronin is a Romulan no? The SPQR that does not exist? ;) Everone stay cool, we're off to a good start and want to keep the good vibe going. The more positive the input here the better our focus will be (though we'll be looking for quality critique on the children of this project in due time...) Though it's OK to make sure everyone is playing nice Postman, don't worry, all your hearts are in the right place.

Bonk, I think you need some rest or a vacation.  :) This is my 1st post in this thread. I think you have been working so hard at trying to make this work for all of us, that you are starting to see things. In any case, thanks to you and ALL of the DNET crew for putting up with all of us and I hope I can start to contribute on this as soon as I can.
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Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #28 on: January 03, 2011, 09:05:19 pm »
Oops, meant to say Tobin. Yes, been thinking about the beta group members... and you all end in n ... Tobin, Postman, Ronin. Definitely gonna call it an early night tonight.  :D

Offline Klingon Fanatic

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #29 on: January 05, 2011, 04:09:33 pm »
I am very confused about this whole topic.

I no longer own SFC: EAW and only have SFC: OP.

Is this project going to end up being like Mektek and what happened to the Mechwarrior: Mercenaries game?

That community updated the Mercenaries game engine, added custom mechs/other vehicles, online support and re-released the updated game for free.

Am I on track or am I really missing something?
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Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #30 on: January 05, 2011, 04:40:12 pm »
Sort of on track.

We are updating EAW so the dynaverse will work on Vista/7. (to produce a patch to apply to an existing EAW 2.0.3.6 install)

If we had the code for OP we would do it for that. But we do not.

That is step one. (Don't have a set of EAW discs? Hold that thought... but please give me a bit... only now in the last month have I been able to start this in earnest)

Then... we can start updating it to be on par with OP (but on one map layer - I think we can all agree that sucked...).

Then we can start talking all that great (hate to use the phrase) SFC4 type talk... engine upgrades, directx, races, andros, thols etc etc... and we're not on someone's production schedule, so it can be done right...

And yes evenutally that will be released as a community product essentially for "free". (Still under proprietary license restrictions of the original product though - i.e. not open source.)

Space Navy Control, an open source clone from scratch remains a possibility, but now that I have the EAW code in hand it would be silly not to try and fix it up first.

It will not be the same as any other community result as we are unique in our licence restrictions, however, the Dynaverse will live on, I swear, by the blood of a thousand targs!  :)

Hopefully that might clarify things a bit for you?

Offline USS Mariner

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #31 on: January 06, 2011, 12:00:44 am »
I really think that, when you get EAW working on Vista/Win7, something to really keep in mind is the possibility of enabling multicore support, as most newer machines now are at least dual core. That might help later on in development, given that I doubt you'll do something as drastic as reworking the code to x64.
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Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #32 on: January 06, 2011, 02:26:17 am »
Smartheap smp is not cheap. We could build our own... but then it would be worth more than the product itself. Definitely something to chew on anyway... then EAW can rape ALL your cpus!!!  ;D

(actually I'm not sure if we don't already have the old smartheap smp libs... and I think I flipped the multithreaded switch in my compiler for the test build to the beta group... but it will take much more than that... it still saturates only one cpu.)

Just don't say .net. It is never going to happen with SFC, for many reasons.

64 bit? SFC does not currently need to address more than 4GB of ram, so I cannot see the need, nor would I encourage an application development path that would require >4MB of RAM for the game.... not all of us can afford movie house render quality super gaming computers... and I'm pretty sure 32 bit precision is more than sufficient for all the calcs...

edit: regarding open source library replacements for things like smartheap, miles, gamespy, won... we are relatively restricted by licensing - if we used any GPL components they would have to be unmodified... or wait, if we did use gpl components and modify them we are only obliged to release the code for the open source component modifications, not the entire product right? I need to think that through (not for immediate implentation, but eventually, we will need to replace those old libraries as they will be holding us back - already are... restricted to vc6 compiler... etc. etc.) I'll need to have a good long chat with someone well versed in software licensing issues. Or at least run my interpretations past some legal folks at aome point before we release any majorly modified product. (thus for now, the nice & safe approach of just try to fix it as is if at all possible... then move on.)

I think I'm approaching all this pretty sensibly. (but I have never led such a project, so be patient with me, and if someone better qualified and equally dedicated comes along then I'd be glad to heave off responsibility for leadership of the project on them with my consultation, but for now, it is just me. And perhaps I am best qualified, I got the client built within hours of obtaining the source. Evil Dave is in on it and I am immensely pleased that he has not been able to resist diving in... where he said he'd be around only for consults... FireSoul also has a working build environment now. Our main scripter and shiplist guys are in. (whoot!) FireSoul intends to maintain some reference build environments (via VMs?) as we go. Though no obligations here... as I phrased elsewhere I want everyone to have fun with this and not feel like it is work, and to feel they can contribute where they want to and are able to and be part of it all... but build environments are a critical factor for us... which SDKs... etc. etc. My leadership style will be one of stewardship.

Also I might as well let it out that we DO NOT have the art assets for the game. (hint, hint... get ready modelers and texturers and UI guys...). Expect some solicitave emails/PMs - start thinking about your portfolios and if you might like to participate... (but not right now - hold off a bit - just start thinking about it.) marstone's work is as important as ever. Quicksilver tools are not included in what we have from what I can tell, just the libs and headers...  but we should be able to build .q3 editing tools with that much more easily now though.

So, in summary, it is not going to be overnight, and it is not immediately going to be what people want. But we have actually started now. I am confident that the people involved intitally have the expertise and experience required for a good start. Once we are solid and have a steady build process and tidied up repository, then we will begin looking to include more members on the coding team. (unless as mentioned, a super-lead materialises)

I'm so excited, but I have a huge list of things to do and I keep getting distracted by discussion (that's OK, we need to think all this through carefully).

I'm still laying the surrounding groundwork for the sucess of the project (all will be made clear in time) and have not dived into the code full on yet myself, it is killing me, but hopefully I'll be free do so very soon. I know exactly where I want to go in the code...

* Bonk scurries off back to work...
« Last Edit: January 06, 2011, 03:21:53 am by Bonk »

Offline Ronin

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #33 on: January 07, 2011, 07:16:29 pm »
For the sake of clarity, Payne was kidding. We're old friends. We flew against each other back on MPig in the SL days and finally flew together when Whoo talked us into joining SoV in the league that was started up and played here a few years ago.

Besides... he flies Klingon. Where he comes from the comment he made could be seen as roughly equivalent to "hiya sailor, lookin' for a good time?"

Not a big deal, either way. But I wanted to assure everyone here that I am 100% certain that his comment was meant as nothing more than evidence of our friendship and does not blight this thread and the hope it represents in any way. Also, I very much appreciate my SHG brother TobinDax stepping up with murder in his eye at the possibility of a verbal slight having been levied my way. <S>
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Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #34 on: January 08, 2011, 04:11:49 am »
OK, that out of the way (which was pretty much exactly as I understood it, name confusion aside...)

I feel obliged to explain my progress, or lack of it.

I am currently held up writing an EAW CD key generator. It seems Taldren did not provide that (at least one entire directory of the source tree is missing). Khoromag got only what they needed for maintenance and no more, and what we have came from Khoromag.

I have not even touched any network or Dynaverse code yet. (I officially had the source in my hands as of Dec 27th 2010). Two weeks later I am still working on EAW distribution. No sense updating the code if most players no longer have their disks. Last night I managed to produce an EAW CD Key Validator, so my key generator should not be too far off, however I expect it to take some time from here to get a proper EAW CD Key generator produced. Trick is what was the seed? Where did Taldren start? I have no idea, key uniqueness is going to be an issue. That information is just not available.

Personally I still find it very hard to believe that someone, somewhere does not really have the complete project intact, art assets and all. How could an entire staff of a 10 year old company totally destroy ALL of their assets with complete and total efficiency? Makes no sense.. Where is Taldren's hardware? Has it been sold? Is it still in a bank's warehouse somewhere? Did they never own it and used a hosted code management solution? Leased servers? What was the deal? How can it ALL be completely gone? I just don't buy it. (Not that I think anyone is lying to us, just that the real information is being withheld for some unknown reason)

Anyway, (grumble, grumble), I'm stuck on making a CD Key generator for now. The Dynaverse code will have to wait.

But  - in the interests of staying positive... we are lucky we at least have this! Better than a poke in the eye!  :)

Offline Soreyes

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #35 on: January 08, 2011, 04:28:28 am »
Soreyes comes lurking back from his adventurs over in the Freelancer universe. (the only kitty there making a ton of money, J'inn would be so proud)

From what I have read, things seem to be swimming along here. I still keep in practice playing the single player game.

 ;D ;D


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Offline Klingon Fanatic

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #36 on: January 08, 2011, 12:50:06 pm »
I understand that a key code needs to be generated because SFC: EAW and OP are not being published and are becoming rarer and harder to find games every day.

Can't you just make a patch for SFC: OP that downgrades it to use the base EAW stuff? IIRC the EAW shiplist/fighter list will work in OP...

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Offline FoaS_XC

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #37 on: January 08, 2011, 12:52:56 pm »
We don't have the OP source, just the EAW source (and it seems it is a bit stripped down).
Robinomicon
"When I was 5 years old, my mom always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy.” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment and I told them they didn’t understand life."

Offline Payne

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #38 on: January 11, 2011, 09:39:51 am »
Your defenders will not protect you forever, Romulan.

Your hull shall feel the knock of death from my Bird of Prey yet!  Mwahahahaha...ha....haha....hack...spit ...ok I'm too old for that.


And yes, Ronin and I have been brothers in arms for 10+ years now.  :)

Offline Victoria

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #39 on: January 11, 2011, 10:48:56 am »
I may have only posted here a few times, but I've been lurking on this site for years following this project.

I'll wait 10 more years if I have to, because this game and it's community are worth sticking around for.

I only wish I could help in some way.   :(

Offline FPF-Tobin Dax

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #40 on: January 11, 2011, 11:06:40 am »
I may have only posted here a few times, but I've been lurking on this site for years following this project.

I'll wait 10 more years if I have to, because this game and it's community are worth sticking around for.

I only wish I could help in some way.   :(

You could be a tester when Bonk has something for us to try out.  :)
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Offline Victoria

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #41 on: January 11, 2011, 11:17:51 am »
I would LOVE the opportunity...

Seriously, I have no programming skills, which unfortunately seems to be the most critical need of this project, but aside from that I would be happy, and honored to help with anything within my abilities. Time, I have. I can even donate some funds now and then. Just wish I knew language/programming so I could help tackle the real problems. 

Offline KBF-Crim

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #42 on: January 13, 2011, 09:44:03 pm »
My only skills are making grown men cry and crashing forums...but they still let me help... :coolsmiley:

Offline ShadowDiver

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #43 on: January 14, 2011, 09:44:44 pm »
You could give modeling a try?
FoaS got me started and I am trying to learn the basics....hopefully someday you'll see some of my ships here..
and maybe they might add them to an update so everyone can see them.

Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #44 on: January 14, 2011, 10:16:46 pm »
I would LOVE the opportunity...

Seriously, I have no programming skills, which unfortunately seems to be the most critical need of this project, but aside from that I would be happy, and honored to help with anything within my abilities. Time, I have. I can even donate some funds now and then. Just wish I knew language/programming so I could help tackle the real problems.

Actually, it seems I have only one active beta tester at the moment. I don't really have another new build to test yet (will be a few more weeks at least) but I do have some rather mundane testing to be done before we get there. Ideally, you'd have EAW and OP and be experienced in their use and configuration on XP and Vista. If you're really interested, send Frey a personal message (perhaps quoting this) to see if it would be OK with him and if so I can add you to the group. It won't be very exciting to start, but there is at least one (replicate) test I need done posted in there that is not complete and I will soon have several more (requiring a good high speed connection... though DSL would do too).

Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #45 on: January 17, 2011, 06:56:22 pm »
Progress report:

We are experiencing a 10 day paypal delay. I initiated the transaction on the 11th and it still has not gone through. (Paypal is almost useless in Canada because of this) It is a trade tariff (blame our Canadian banks). Next time I need to do business in the US I will pay the $20 for a money order and Fedex, it is a thousand times faster than Paypal. Literally. RBC wins.

Does my frustration show?  ;)

Soon the actual work will begin. I am still in waiting mode...

Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #46 on: January 29, 2011, 02:54:03 am »
No longer waiting on paypal, I got proactive and came up with my own solution. *pats self on back*

I am now waiting on beta testers before I can proceed. I'm going to put the call out to group by e-mail.

Offline Strat

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #47 on: January 30, 2011, 03:21:20 pm »
I'm in beta group. I have win 7 x64.

Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #48 on: January 30, 2011, 03:29:09 pm »
Cool!  8) Get yer butt in there man!  (The beta testers forum that is, I have some questions)

Offline Lepton

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #49 on: January 31, 2011, 08:01:45 pm »
How goes the war?

Beta testers?  An elite group to be sure.

Nice to see things moving along.


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Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #50 on: January 31, 2011, 08:56:29 pm »
It is almost moving too fast for me. Considering we started a month ago. The fun is going to start soon.  :multi:

I hope to have several preliminary announcements ready this week.

Offline USS Mariner

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #51 on: February 02, 2011, 09:45:59 am »
I have Windows 7 x64, running on Core i7. I own copies of both EAW and OP. I'd like to join the beta group.
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Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #52 on: February 02, 2011, 10:01:56 am »
Genie said, "Consider it done".

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #53 on: February 04, 2011, 09:28:28 am »
This is great news, and I am excited that progress is being made!

I first heard of this while doing missions in Star Trek Online, where I recently joined the Xenocorp Fleet once again.

I am an old-time SFCer vet...several of us are in STO as well. 

I will pass this news, and a link to this information, on to the Klingon Black Fleet was well.  Most of them probably already know of this, but you never know.  They are also in STO.


Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #54 on: February 04, 2011, 09:35:05 am »
ZTempest!  :)  I remember you. I'm so pleased to see the old regulars checking in on our progress. Reinforces my motivations.

I have to keep telling myself not to use the Taldren "soon"! (No dirt eatin promises here either... ;)) But... soon!  ;D

Offline LordSaxon

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #55 on: February 06, 2011, 09:56:10 am »
Just knocked the dust off my long-lost copy of SFC-EAW and installed it, is there REALLY gonna be a dyna campaign to play on?!?! Oh the humanity!

Offline Bonk

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #56 on: February 06, 2011, 12:19:35 pm »
I saw that. Kudos on keeping your discs - not many have managed... (solution forthcoming...)

- Dave is working on fixes and features at a rapid rate.
- I'm working on finding the easy fix for vista.
- Marstone's q3 work is progressing well.
- Firesoul is making requests for code modifications to EAW to make OP+ the best OP+ it can be.
 (hmmm used in EAW Community Edition it won't exactly be OP+ will it? More like EAW-CE stock ... Anyway...)
- SFHQ is not really allowed to "play" unless on vacation for now.
- Art requirements at planning stage.

So yes, we will get there one way or another. Determination and tenacity only begin to describe our obsession. ;)

Offline Strayy

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #57 on: February 12, 2011, 11:47:24 am »
Great !!!!  cant wait to put another server in the Tavern....    :notworthy:

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Offline Lepton

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #58 on: February 13, 2011, 10:06:51 pm »
Reinstalled EAW!  WOOT!


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Offline FA Frey XC

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #59 on: February 15, 2011, 06:14:32 am »
Reinstalled EAW!  WOOT!

Holy @*@# did we just get a "WOOT" out of LEPTON?

DID I GO INTO THE FRIGGIN MIRROR UNIVERSE OR WHAT?

:P

Your faith will be rewarded, regardless of how you expressed it :D

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Offline Sirgod

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #60 on: February 15, 2011, 09:14:55 am »
ROFL.

Stephen
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Offline Dizzy

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #61 on: February 23, 2011, 01:22:21 am »
I just KNOW I have that EAW disc here somewhere... Oh, and DONT CHANGE THE CAMERA SYSTEM IN EAW!!! IT PWNS OP!

Offline Soreyes

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Re: UPDATE #1
« Reply #62 on: March 01, 2011, 02:46:33 pm »
Goes looking through the stacks of old CD's. Hmmmm "Tie Fighter" "Sam & Dave" Ahhh SFC 2...... Lets see running win7 with 8 gigs ram.

OK I see there are no Suicidal Kittys here so I might as well raise my Paw. ;D


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