APB Dev. Blog :: July 19th, 2010 Options

Hey everybody and welcome back. We've been busy testing new builds lately for both Gamma and Nuclear Winter and so far things are surprisingly on track. One thing you'll all have to look forward to is the new launcher and server browser, which is going to also of course feature the news briefs and integrated manual. It's shaping up to be a hell of a lot more flexible than the old one, which never really got to where it should have been.

Neat Features!

Beyond the typical stock options you'll be able to push things a little further, so we will continue by encouraging you not to actually use the in-game configuration options. The different settings are actually also commented, so you will know precisely what you are adjusting and what it'll do for you. The manual and server listing will all be easily updated from our end of course, and the manual will also have a second part that reviews each unit so you know what to do with it (and in Gamma's case, know the changes). We're making a bunch of videos, to be displayed both on Youtube and in the launcher itself for convenience, that also give an atmospheric insight into using each unit.

The server listings themselves will be based off a rough "master server" concept but beyond that we are designing it to be pretty much peer-to-peer discovery. That means that you won't need to fuss around adding servers by hand, or at least not as much (you can also now directly punch in an IP, which is saved, for temporary direct connect purposes). But the cool idea is that once you know one server, you could possibly find them all.

Now, this has obvious advantages. Right now, to successfully host an event, a server owner needs to start advertising ahead of time and hope people see it and add the server to their list. The current broke-ass launcher, many people don't bother with due to its errors, so they may not even see the news. Now, a server owner will be able to toss up an event server, and their primary server can tell you about it! Suppose APBFR is hosting a fanmap event... they could have their main server announce the new server, and label it as "APBFR Fanmap Event 8/21" and then you'd know what it's for, when it is, and see it without any extra effort.

We'll also be more proactive about checking servers, to see if they're actually up and what their status is. No explicit need to check the forum here or IRC for player counts and whatnot.

Infantry Stuff!

Feuerteufel is a masochist apparently because he's readily at work on new skeletons and actually willing to go through setting up new animations for them. Eggman's also reappeared to lend a hand hopefully. One problem in the past has been making the long coats look okay, but there might be a solution yet for that Do realize that this stuff will take quite a long time before it's all complete, unfortunately; there's simply a ton of things that must be done.

NW Radio Commands

Here's your new list, based on results from what we've seen so far. BattleLaugh has voiced some new clips for you happy campers.

Ctrl + 1: Building needs repairs!
Ctrl + 2: We need mines!
Ctrl + 3: Beware enemy mines!
Ctrl + 4: Don't buy Demolition Trucks!
Ctrl + 5: Hold your fire!
Ctrl + 6: Get out of my way!
Ctrl + 7: Affirmative.
Ctrl + 8: Negative.
Ctrl + 9: That's real. Disarm it!
Ctrl + 0: That's a decoy. Ignore it.

Alt + 1: I need repairs!
Alt + 2: Get in formation.
Alt + 3: Move out.
Alt + 4: Follow me.
Alt + 5: Hold position.
Alt + 6: Retreat!
Alt + 7: Enemy forces to the North.
Alt + 8: Enemy forces to the South.
Alt + 9: Enemy forces to the East.
Alt + 0: Enemy forces to the West.

Ctrl + Alt + 1: Defend our Barracks!
Ctrl + Alt + 2: Defend our War Factory!
Ctrl + Alt + 3: Defend our Construction Yard!
Ctrl + Alt + 4: Defend our Refinery!
Ctrl + Alt + 5: Defend our Helipad!
Ctrl + Alt + 6: Defend our Silo!
Ctrl + Alt + 7: Defend our Ore Truck!
Ctrl + Alt + 8: Defend our Service Depot!
Ctrl + Alt + 9: Defend our Radar Dome!
Ctrl + Alt + 0: Bolster our defenses!

Other stuff!

Wallywood's been working on a lot of sounds to replace old ones, such as the ancient humvee-engine'd Ranger idle and to make the weapons sound a bit more clear. Wait till you hear Volkov's reload, it gets the point across that it's just not any old gun. Part of refreshing the older maps, and the new ones of course, also will involves placing all kinds of ambient sounds. That's Wallywood territory, at least getting the sounds, but he's also learning to use LE for placing things around now. We have the nearly-final new model for the Chinook helicopter, but I didn't want to post it because the poor thing's engines are much too tiny; we'll get that fixed and show it off later. Also, here's a celebratory video that the APB-FR clan made recently to honor the 14th of July:

Nom Nom Nom Launcher.

Looks good, KEEP IT UP

No "intelligence dubious" radio command? aww

Liking what I'm seeing of the new launcher though. I might actually use it ^.^

Thousand thanks for including our parade !

New Launcher seems to be really good. That will really help community events. As a clan active member, I can just say : UP !

Keep the good work, this month blogs are wonderful.

New launcher will be epic !

Thank you for featuring our vid

Looking good as always,keep it up!

Excellent work with the new launcher. You might want to add that engineers can't recover their golden wrenches through refill, though.

What's a general?

Where is my clan tag?



Very nice updates. Can't wait for the new launcher. Also, I do like the new manual. It's much better than the old one we have. (Old as in Rocket Troops had stingers and supply trucks were buildible)

Indeed launcher looks great

Launcher is looking good, I see.

New skeletons and animations to go with them? Awesome.

Excellent work with the new launcher. You might want to add that engineers can't recover their golden wrenches through refill, though.

I believe this was included in the section of it that explains how repairing structures works.

Looking good. This will all be worthwhile one day. They will say the W3D engine is dead, but it has only had a facelift!