PROJECT: Playtest Thread III

[Maquiladora]

Is it just me or does turnlength.txt not work with the playtest?

Actually it doesnt, i tried the same turnlength.txt for a scenario in 1.11 and it worked in 1.11 but not the playtest.

[Martin Gühmann]

Originally posted by Maquiladora
So are we ready for a new playtest?

Well if anyone can tell me how I can link the source code against DirectX 9.0, without dirty tricks or at least if we can agree on what are not dirty tricks, then there shouldn't be a problem, except this tiny one of placing the readme.txt somewhere into the source code tree.

-Martin

[J Bytheway]

Can anyone think of any remotely plausible way we might implement automated tests of some kind to allow us to determine whether any given version is worthy of release?

[J Bytheway]

Well, here's a new playtest version for you, in three parts because it's topped 10MB now... If someone with webspace wants to merge the three archives into one, that would probably be helpful.

[Edit: I've removed appstr.txt and put the brief changelog back in the readme to address Martin's concerns]

Note that this version was not compiled in .NET, so it is not necessary to have the .NET runtime environment (or the two dlls mentioned in the first post) to use it. Of course, having them will not hurt anything.

[files removed]

[Note: this version is now obsolete - the next version is available here]

Changes:

2005-05-17
Added: /debugai and /debugcells commands in chat window
Changed: Some diplomatic agreements to have limited duration
Added: New restriction fields to buildings and tile improvements
Added: Bitwise operators in SLIC
Changed: Piracy AI
Added: New Anet library dlls (to fix XP hosting problems)
Added: Leader name support
Fixed: Misc. crashes and memory leaks
Added: Support for multiple ctp2_data directories
Added: Flag to prevent units being used as barbarians
Fixed: Incorrect city style name display in cheat editor
Fixed/Changed: AI worker allocation
Fixed: Server listing in bootserv.txt
Added: (Currently not useful) optimize slider button in domestic manager
Added: Optimize specialist button to city manager
Changed: National manager and city manager to show net rather than gross food and production
Added: DisplayLevel field for tile improvements
Fixed: Bug with government name display in message
Fixed: Misc GL errors
Added: "Turns to growth" display on main map
Added: Support for immobile units
Added: Ranged bombarding
Changed: The method by which televangelists are recognized as special
Changed: Method of caravan cost fix - now mods should have reasonable caravan costs
Changed: Default colour scheme to get player 1 blue by default
Added: Detailed changelog to playtest version
Added: Brief changelog to playtest readme

[demon59]

Will this new playtest release work correctly with AOM (or other mods)?

[Ekmek]

Originally posted by demon59
Will this new playtest release work correctly with AOM (or other mods)?

only one way to find out...playtesting

[Martin Gühmann]

Two things John:

1. I don't know whether it is a very good idea to remove the brief change log altogether by replacing it by the very elobarate change log with details like fixed types and readded comments to the source code. I think a brief change log should only contain things that the user will notice like fixed bugs, added features. So maybe a brief change log in a seperate file that contains all the info contained in the change log part of the readme in the last playtest version.

2. What I definatly know is that appstr.txt has nothing to do in the playtest relase, as this is a file that is language dependent and actual doesn't belong into the executable folder.

Originally posted by demon59
Will this new playtest release work correctly with AOM (or other mods)?

Not better then the version before. So far we don't have slic build in dynamic arrays.

Another problem you will find is that if you try to load a modfree save game from a previous playtest, that the game will crash. That's why because we added some extra goods. Starting a new game helps.

If you really want to continue an old modfree game then use the files in the attachment. You just need them to unzip them into your ..\ctp2_data\gamedata\default folder. Note that these files are only minimal files, so you might find in your Great Libary some broken good links.

To make the game use these files use the ModSwapper option: Original without goods

Another remark about the additional *.dll's you needed to run the last playtest is that you don't neede them as I guess John used VC++ 6.0 to compile the *.exe.

-Martin

[Protra3211]

I had Winrar but trail time is over and need to buy it now because program will not run even if you try to redown it load again . Dont like to use credit card on line has any one seen this progam at any compoutor stores. I have not and would hate to miss out on new playtest as the AI is getting better.

[Martin Gühmann]

Well my WinRar 3.30 still works, it didn't recogneize yet that the trial period is over, even if it should. Did you try to manupulate your system clock, or did you try to find some free unrar programs?

-Martin

[Maquiladora]

Seems to be fine so far, definitely faster in most places than the previous playtest, is this because of some changes in Martin's original vision fixes? I havent looked carefully but it seems to work somewhat differently than the last playtest regarding border vision.

Anyway my scenario save loaded fine once i replaced const.txt (luckily i didnt make too many changes there), and just had to do the good values in goods.txt.

[Ekmek]

Cant wait to try it, especially my culture only stuff... but I must get my own compiler going too (must... not.. get... distracted... by...new ctp2 playtest...)

[Martin Gühmann]

Originally posted by Maquiladora
Seems to be fine so far, definitely faster in most places than the previous playtest, is this because of some changes in Martin's original vision fixes? I havent looked carefully but it seems to work somewhat differently than the last playtest regarding border vision.

I can't remember that I changed anything concerning vision. But there are a lot of differences in comparision to the last version. John uses a different compiler.

His build doesn't contain incorrect incremental linkage problems, actual the last playtest shouldn't contain these problems either, as I should have done a complete rebuild before posting.

Then we have DirectX issures, my version was linked against DirectX 7 and the DXMedia and so far no one told me how I can link my version against DirectX 9.0.

And then the differences on the code level, Fromafar did a lot of stability fixes, I also cleaned code explicit cast, corrections so that variables match. Signed/unsigned corrections. Well actual I don't know whether these have an effect, but I did this to make the .NET compiler quit.

And one code change in particular I did was to add the anti-symmetric Squad_Strength operator. In brief testings it seems to have an positive effect, but only if the AI needs transporters.

-Martin

[Maquiladora]

Actually im having problems setting the goods values. It always only gives +1 commerce for every good, no matter what values i use for each, food prod and commerce in good.txt.

Am i missing something else in another file?

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by Martin Gühmann
-Martin

I think definitely one change in the border vision is when you meet a new civ, their whole border appears under the fog of war again, whereas it didnt in the march playtest, you had to re-explore to see it i think.

[demon59]

Originally posted by Protra3211
I had Winrar but trail time is over and need to buy it now because program will not run even if you try to redown it load again . Dont like to use credit card on line has any one seen this progam at any compoutor stores. I have not and would hate to miss out on new playtest as the AI is getting better.

I'm not 100% sure about the forum rules for linking other sites, so just do a web-search for "IZArc". It's freeware, and it handles almost 50 different archive formats. Hope this comment doesn't fall into the "spam" catagory.