APB Dev. Blog :: January 2nd, 2010, New Year Edition Options

Happy New Year, everybody! I haven't bothered to do a blog lately, but a lot has been going on internally. But first, I'd like to discuss Cold Fusion and what we're going to do with it. Let me elaborate on some of the things I mentioned in the site news around the release. Pardon the wall of text here, and pardon some less-than-positive but completely honest feelings towards Beta-era gameplay.

The 1.3.0 Cold Fusion release went pretty smoothly. In fact, considering it's been two years since Beta came out, it went astoundingly well. We were able to test on the official server, get it back up for the public, provide files to mirrors, and get everything rolling a lot faster than I expected. There was very little downtime, and the only small snag we had were a few hours spent using an outmoded server bot because the actual box owner was not around to configure the newer setup. I'd like to thank Dommo for being there to get us going at zero hour, he was running blind there and pulled it off great.

Honestly, I'd like to be able to wash our hands of the Beta-era everything and move on, with a full focus on the future. But that's slightly irresponsible, and therefore you're going to get a 1.3.1 patch for everybody who downloaded 1.3.0 full and for the 1.2.0 stragglers who are waiting for a patch version.

The 1.3.1 patch will fix the Hind armor issues, give the Medium Tank some more potency, introduce a few terrain alterations, and hopefully correct some lingering balance issues. We never had a chance to thoroughly run Cold Fusion through balance testing, as it was caught in the midst of Gamma testing and, additionally, we've taken on responsibilities for testing Reborn.

Just a quick aside there before we continue, to clarify: All of our BHP testers are now also Reborn testers, which will give us another environment in which to detect TT-related bugs that otherwise would not have exposed themselves as readily in the APB environment. A Path Beyond and Apocalypse Rising are priorities of course, but that works out fine due to the rate at which internal builds come out for each of the three projects. If it ever becomes a burden and our testers cannot meet their commitments, we will address it.

Continuing on, there will be a 1.3.1 compatible dedicated server (FDS) but unsurprisingly, that must wait for 1.3.1 client version to be given the green light. The idea is to include a server ready to go out of the box, with all the configuration files set up beyond a few customization bits, a server bot ready to rock, and support for socketed communication internally instead of old, slow file I/O.

The last Beta-era version will be 1.4.0 and it will include some new code modifications that will provide better server-client interaction, including the capacity for us to push new map downloads. This way, if we ever do release a new map, the server itself will be able to provide you with the content. Gamma and anything using Scripts 4 is planned to natively include this functionality, but we're bringing it early due to an uncertain release schedule for Scripts 4.

Hopefully, as long as things go smoothly, we'll have Gamma out some time this new year. It is based completely off a cleaner set of... well, everything. Everything from the presets database, to the strings, to the code, to the actual inclusion of models and textures will be easier to continue working with.

As I've said before, Cold Fusion is still built directly on top of Beta aside from using Gamma's string base. This makes it very old, clunky, and even a bit unfamiliar to us after working with Gamma so long. Plus, many "balance adjustments" in 1.3.0 and 1.3.1 are obsolete already! We are working in gamechanging adjustments here, that have no bearing on Gamma in the scope of those broader gameplay changes the future version entails. All the minor tweaks we could make to the Medium Tank or Tesla Tank in 1.3.0/1.3.1, none of them make sense in 2.0.0 and need to be discarded and forgotten by players.

It's not particularly fun to be working on this older version, and the staff are all eager to get back to work on the fun work. We're all here to have fun, and to help you have fun, and 1.x.x is like eating fish sticks compared to the big, juicy steak that is 2.0.0 APB. We've got that sucker on the grill though, and it's nearly ready to come off. To extend the analogy far too long, we're just waiting for TT to finish setting the table and call the guests over. We can't have APB 2.0.0 to the public before Scripts 4.0 goes public.

Allied Turret Destruction

Did you know, the Allied Turret actually has an inside area? You'll get a small peek in when you've finished blowing the thing up! Cuddling's been working on finishing up a new explosive end to the Turret's life, which you can view a preview of below.

That is an earlier WIP video, and since its creation, there have been some changes. You may notice strange texture striping effects on the missing pieces, an artifact of breaking apart the existing solid base. Naturally that's going to be fixed, and the "neck" of the turret has been adjusted into a toothed ring instead of a solid disc. The interior of the base will probably get some minor decoration done, as well.

The FDS

It's a bit silly to keep the term FDS, as everything about APB is already free. But, the free dedicated server right now is being worked on by a group of people who are aiming to bring you an easy-to-use, understandable, functional server experience. Deadpikle, Zunnie and Reborn, Danpaul, Dommo, and APB player Catalyst all have their hands in the pot here.

You'll end up with a ready-to-rock APB server executable package, server-optimized game data, newer-leaner-faster gameserver bot for management and IRC interaction, plus a small how-to/instructional guide. This will make things easier than ever, and don't forget that you will also be able to rent affordably-priced servers (while supporting APB's own contributors) for your clan if you contact the Mp-Gaming guys. They've been hosting our official gameserver for free forever so I don't mind plugging them a little but it's objectively a good deal.

By the way, zunnie's gathering the final bits and pieces he needs for the game mode support we're planning on including. That will be normal (AOW/C&C) mode, capture the flag (CTF), snipers mode, and infantry-only.

It's due out, well, once 1.3.1 is ready and it's tested and approved. Not long.

Other Stuff!

We've shown off the new tracers and whatnot, but Gamma is also going to have some new explosions and other impact effects. Mammoth Tanks have quite a large blast then their huge shells impact, and all shell impacts kick up plumes of dirt when you hammer it into the ground or shattered bits of rock from a cliffside. A goal is to replace as many of the old-APB and ancient-Renegade explosions as we can with things that look better, aren't as annoying, and possibly run faster even. The V2 trails, for example, use less particles but look far better than they ever have.

Eggman's been busy but will get back on track rigging and animating all the weapons once he gets a chance, I know we haven't shown much on that front for a while. Raapnaap actually was sighted recently, and he is (we hope) finishing up some mapwork for Cold Fusion that we can release with the 1.4.0 build. We might pull r34ch's unfinished Camos map (there were several in Red alert, not just the one you all know) out and get that done, too. Plus, Occult13 is working on some sweet new effects for AR plus a new mission-oriented APB map that I know you'll love. Third Allied mission from the original!

MOTY 2009

Yeah, I know, we've already said it. But if you haven't yet voted to nominate A Path Beyond and Apocalypse Rising, please take the time to do so now. Nominations end on the 5th of January, which is only three days away! Be sure to log in at ModDB and get your friends to nominate us as well.

Please visit both our game profiles after visiting the Bluehell Productions page. Once at the profiles scroll down and hit this big VOTE button to nominate us for this years awards. We also reccomend nominating other various mods in the C&C community to keep us strong and alive and show Electronic Arts how important modding is to all of us.

You can vote to nominate as many projects as you want during this round of voting, so please nominate as many worthy C&C projects as you want. After the Top 100 Mods and Top 100 Indie Games are tallied, you then vote for your three favorite. Even if you do not plan to vote for us in the final rounds, we'd appreciate your nominations at this phase!

Which version of AM3? 3a or 3b? Also, will the turrets be enterable?

This post has been edited by Jeod: Jan 2 2010, 07:12 PM

Gotta love the turret animation and great news about the FDS!

How come we never see the little gremlins that man the turrets?

This is awesome.

Can not wait for that map : D

Can't wait for the FDS ! If I understand, it will include special game modes ?

Excuse me im new what windows os do you have to have.
sorry I know this is the wrong fourum but i dont know where

Most any XP, Vista, Windows7 , I think even win 2k works.

When are we going to get a more precise 1.3.1 changelog? IE what kind of medium changes, what terrain is being changed, and what falls under "lingering balance issues" (I assume mines is part of that).

Its still being worked on, so stuff could change..........

Turret kill animation is on par Chronojam physics-wise, KEEP IT UP!
Btw, nice new avatar, I noticed the Timberwolf up there.

:Edit: I noticed a Door on the back of the Turrret, does that mean it can be manible or entered with an MCT or will it stay like it is now in CF with no doors and it acting like an outpost more than a building?

This post has been edited by ScorchEMD: Jan 3 2010, 07:39 AM

Being able to enter and use the Turret would be pretty sweet, and when you hop out it returns to being an AI

The 1.3.1 patch will fix the Hind armor issues,

Finally, I was getting tired of being gun downed by Rangers, Captains and Sargents.
Keep up the Good Work!

Offtopic, Thanks Nod Guy, it is an honor to finally join the fourms after 13 months.
The Avatar was emailed to me by a friend.

Ho, very nice turret animation BTW !

Welcome Tsar

Turret kill animation is on par Chronojam physics-wise, KEEP IT UP!
Btw, nice new avatar, I noticed the Timberwolf up there.

:Edit: I noticed a Door on the back of the Turrret, does that mean it can be manible or entered with an MCT or will it stay like it is now in CF with no doors and it acting like an outpost more than a building?

Mechs are the avatar theme of the month for us, it's a silly thing we do. Right now, defenses will not be enterable but that might change if we feel it adds something. The defenses are pretty smart.

A more exact 1.3.1 changelist will be available once it's more-final, we have to mostly make sure nothing breaks when we mess with armors since LevelEdit is terrible. Also, our patch maker recently threw a fit and we need to get that fixed up.