NEWS: Graphic Engine, Profs balance, Instanced cities,..

[Chrisax]

Friday with Means - May 29th, 2009
NOTE

For those attempting to convert their resource databases to log-in to the latest version on Test server:

Make sure you have 2.5GB free space on the same drive as AO before starting the patch...or you might run into interesting issues that will be fixed in the next version.

For those who run out of space and are unable to continue:

Free up some more space...then:

Inside your "cd_image\data\db" folder inside your Anarchy install folder:

Rename the "old_rdb.dat" to "resourcedatabase.dat".
AND
Rename the "old_rdb.idx" to "resourcedatabase.idx".

Then start the AO patching process again.

This week:

If all goes well with the above attempt to split the database...it should no longer be "full". This also means that the current version on test will contain the updated version of the "Sunrise Luxury Residence" apartments. Anyone who wants one on test can use an "Extruder Nutrition Bar" on the door of the apartment to get both their Access Key and their new "Phasefront Classic - Charon" limited edition vehicle. This of course will work differently once on Live...but a good deal on Test right for all our loyal testers. NOTE: Wait at least 30 seconds after logging in to do this process...this is also fixed in the next version.

Planning began for implementation of the engine. Enno took a few days off to make us some new features between last week and now, including:
- Specular and reflective textures for character models.
- Addition and code support of new attractors for character models. (For boots, belts, thighs, calves (calfs?) upper arms and lower arms that will have additional real mesh items to display...ie: A belt component platform you can SEE on your character.)

This was where I was truly sad to recognise the loss of time on the previous engine. What could have been done in terms of great new features in the same amount of time would have been great to have. Knowing it is the right decision doesn't make this loss any less painfull...but I'm sure it will be worth it in the long run.

This Thursday there were only 6 spam messages total accross all Dimensions. The automated systems have not even been turned on yet. It feels good to make progress.

Client side chat filter lesson from Macrosun for the upcoming client-side chat filter (currently on the Test Dimension):

Basics:
/filter enable - enables the filter.
/filter disable - disables the filter without deleting any of the added filters.

Adding and removing filtered words:
/filter add <word> - adds a word to the filter.
/filter list - lists all the active filters
/filter del <number> - deletes the specified filter (where <number> is the line number from 'list').

Simple example of filtering any line that includes the word 'bob':
/filter clear
/filter add bob
/filter enable

More advanced stuff:
The chat filter supports a subset of regular expressions. AO is old, and so is our regex parser, so not everything will work as you'd expect in a more modern implementation. Escape sequences inside character sets might not work as epxected for example. The most common constructs should work though.

Example that filters various variants of 'egpal', 'plox', 'plx', and 'plz':
/filter clear
/filter add [pP][lL1][oO0][xX]
/filter add [pP][lL][xX]
/filter add [pP][lL][zZ]
/filter add [eE][- _.]*[gG][- _.]*[pP][- _.]*[aA][- _.]*[lL]
/filter enable

Other Work:

This week was also consumed with finishing up some of the goodies for this years birthday. Thanks to the player who suggested that "Serenity Island" wouldn't be complete without some kind of "Montalban" style suit.
Image:

Work also continued on the level 150ish Shadowlands team instance to be released as part of the 18.X series.

Balancing Efforts

Some criticism (understatement) has been made concerning the "band-aid" style fixes to some professions. Keep in mind some of these changes ARE temporary while we work out the larger issues of retooling all specials and healing. A temporary fix means that the most affected professions can perform adequately while we make more significant changes without having to wait until we are done to be effective. Slapping an AS weapon on everyone is not the current team's idea of balance...big changes are necessary. We know and we are working on it.

The monitoring of our new hosts indicates everything is going much better than we ever could have expected.

All in all a good week with good progress. Feels like we are getting there.

Thanks for coming with us!

[Elrojo]

Escape sequences inside character sets might not work as epxected for example

!filter add epxected

Anyhow, all sounds good. I say leave in AS for Crats!!! most people hotswap an AS weapon anyway. Free.... sounds good to you?