Planet Descent

From the Front Page => News Board => Topic started by: -<WillyP>- on January 31, 2010, 03:40:36 PM

Title: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: -<WillyP>- on January 31, 2010, 03:40:36 PM
For more info, visit this thread at the DBB (http://descentbb.net/viewtopic.php?t=16315). To make a long story short, Matt Toscshlog, Jeff Slutter and Kevin Bently are working on the 1.5 patch, for users of Windows, Linux and Mac. And releasing the source, too. Here is a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oasEAoPHk7I) made by Kevin Bentley showing D3 on two Macs and a Linux machine playing together in a net game. And, hey, there is also a new post at http://www.descent3.com/ (http://www.descent3.com/)!
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: D2Disciple on January 31, 2010, 05:40:43 PM
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EDQ6oIZ43x8/SkOxdgjDHPI/AAAAAAAAAMs/j3p_ZkR6XBg/s400/so_much_win.png)


... And that is all.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: Scyphi on February 02, 2010, 01:34:08 PM
That pretty much sums it up right there. What else is there to be said? :D
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: -<WillyP>- on February 02, 2010, 03:30:20 PM
I am sure someone will think of something.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: SaladBadger on February 02, 2010, 05:24:05 PM
We'll be getting the source code eventually. That means hackers like me can see how D3 works and work upon it (http://basementnet.dyndns.org/ryan/phpbbsmilies/icon_Razz.gif)
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: NUMBERZero on February 02, 2010, 06:48:59 PM
We seriously need to reinvent D3. There are so many things that we can change. Maybe something that changes the physics when you go outside that makes the ship fly like a fighter and goes faster (idea below). Space even! You could recreate the space assault on the CED Station that was told in the Descent books! Import all of the old D1/D2 bots! Old weapons! A D3X-XL! (just don't let Karx make that before us ;) But of course we cannot take the name)


Outside and space flight characteristics idea.

Your main thruster power has been inreased to it's full power. Why it is not at full power when indoors is because of a safety precaution. The ship does not want you hammering into a wall [In space or in the atmo, if you crash into something, your vision will be distorted, momentarily stunned, unable to move and you lose shields]. Your sliding will not be as effective because your anti-gravity drive does not have anything stable to push off of, but the closer you get to a large object, the more effective it becomes to help you push away from that object if you want to.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: S13driftAZ on February 02, 2010, 08:16:02 PM
We seriously need to reinvent D3. There are so many things that we can change. Maybe something that changes the physics when you go outside that makes the ship fly like a fighter and goes faster (idea below). Space even! You could recreate the space assault on the CED Station that was told in the Descent books! Import all of the old D1/D2 bots! Old weapons! A D3X-XL! (just don't let Karx make that before us ;) But of course we cannot take the name)


Outside and space flight characteristics idea.

Your main thruster power has been inreased to it's full power. Why it is not at full power when indoors is because of a safety precaution. The ship does not want you hammering into a wall [In space or in the atmo, if you crash into something, your vision will be distorted, momentarily stunned, unable to move and you lose shields]. Your sliding will not be as effective because your anti-gravity drive does not have anything stable to push off of, but the closer you get to a large object, the more effective it becomes to help you push away from that object if you want to.

Well, that would be cool, but then it wouldn't be Descent 3 anymore. Over-realism kills games
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: SaladBadger on February 03, 2010, 03:40:34 PM
I'll be blunt -- outer space enviroments and introducing book elements are very, VERY low on the list of things I want to look at. Besides, hunter's already given us a good enough space
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: Scyphi on February 04, 2010, 07:22:25 AM
But having the source code would make it that much easier to make those space fights, wouldn't it? ;)

And I'm interested in this space fight on a CED station idea...

But like always, I think I'll wait and see what comes up. :)
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: Blackwolf454 on February 04, 2010, 10:59:06 AM
I download the 1.5 patch but I can't get it to work with Descent 3 for some reason
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: D2Disciple on February 04, 2010, 11:34:58 AM
It's interesting you mention that, Blackwolf. A "1.5" patch has been around for quite a while now (and even mods such as Pyromania are built off this "patch"). Fact is, it's unauthorized, as the patch was never actually released. It's actually the developer's property, and therefore the legality of this "1.5 patch" circulating the internet is questionable at best. However, said developers are working on releasing the actual 1.5 patch sometime in the near future (to which WillyP is referring and linking to). That will be the official (and legal) 1.5 release.

Until then, 1.4 is the final authorized build of D3, so stick with that. I know you'll see 1.5 patches everywhere, and I highly doubt it's even worth Matt's, Kevin's, and Jeff's time to file a lawsuit with anyone. Still, 1.4 is what everyone uses online, and is considered to be the most up-to-date version of D3.  :)
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: -<WillyP>- on February 04, 2010, 04:15:13 PM
I don't think anyone cares about the legality of the 1.5 patch anymore, but what was released was unfinished and as buggy as the original game. 1.4 isn't perfect either, but better than 1.5, and most net games are on the 1.4.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: NUMBERZero on February 04, 2010, 08:13:10 PM
The only significant update that I know of that 1.5 did was to fix the 3rd objective not being completed after completing it in Level 13. On the other hand, I heard that it just adds more bugs!
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: Thomas on February 05, 2010, 08:19:42 AM
It's interesting you mention that, Blackwolf. A "1.5" patch has been around for quite a while now (and even mods such as Pyromania are built off this "patch"). Fact is, it's unauthorized, as the patch was never actually released.
You're confusing "unauthorized" and "never actually released", or let's better say you make both statements identical. This is wrong.

Its release was very well approved and authorized. Sure, it was released as being not the final release, but everything else had ceased anyway.

Aenn's based Pyromania on a version he had the permission to use.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: D2Disciple on February 05, 2010, 08:51:58 AM
Thanks for the correction. I had always been told it was never authorized for download and was thus technically a break in end-user agreements. My apologies.  ;)
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: Thomas on February 05, 2010, 09:02:34 AM
The only significant update that I know of that 1.5 did was to fix the 3rd objective not being completed after completing it in Level 13. On the other hand, I heard that it just adds more bugs!

Not so long ago I tried this 1.5 version (maybe 6 months). It does fix the -mission bug of which I think is vital for a missions folder containing around 750 missions.

The rest of that "patch" is a nightmare. ;-)

With StartSP (http://www.dateiliste.com/en/descent-3/6-descent-3-files-section/74-startsp-a-wrapper-for-qdescent-3exeq.html) the -mission bug is not fixed but it makes it bearable.

As far as I remember there's only one server that pops up every once in a while that runs 1.5.
It would be ideal if we could currently switch between the versions, but the differences are too big.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: NUMBERZero on February 05, 2010, 04:30:32 PM
Outside and space flight characteristics idea.

Your main thruster power has been inreased to it's full power. Why it is not at full power when indoors is because of a safety precaution. The ship does not want you hammering into a wall [In space or in the atmo, if you crash into something, your vision will be distorted, momentarily stunned, unable to move and you lose shields]. Your sliding will not be as effective because your anti-gravity drive does not have anything stable to push off of, but the closer you get to a large object, the more effective it becomes to help you push away from that object if you want to.

Well, that would be cool, but then it wouldn't be Descent 3 anymore. Over-realism kills games


Have you been in an outdoors fight? They are stupid! I was tussling with someone for 7 min. I was getting real close. I could see his ship starting to short until BAM! Wabbit took my kill. I then had a grudge against Wabbit for a while.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: SaladBadger on February 05, 2010, 06:12:18 PM
If you don't like that then go play games designed for such gameplay. Descent III obviously isn't.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: NUMBERZero on February 05, 2010, 06:52:35 PM
Well, then that's one thing that we can tweak to make it better.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: Scyphi on February 06, 2010, 05:30:55 PM
That's what I was thinking, tweak D3 to improve on those outdoor areas so that they're a little bit more bearable. :)
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: S13driftAZ on February 07, 2010, 08:53:39 PM
Have you been in an outdoors fight? They are stupid! I was tussling with someone for 7 min. I was getting real close. I could see his ship starting to short until BAM! Wabbit took my kill. I then had a grudge against Wabbit for a while.
Me and my pops played 1v1's in outdoor levels for years. Its called widening out in your skills. Not that I have any of course, but I learned how to do some serious dogfighting. Uninterrupted.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: -<WillyP>- on February 08, 2010, 04:32:38 AM
I think the big issue with outdoor MP levels is not going to be solved with hacks to the source code, but with level designers building levels that are more fun outdoors. Most outdoor multiplayer levels are just too big and too open.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: SaladBadger on February 08, 2010, 02:30:38 PM
What zero seems to want is more dogfighting-like phyisics. Less sliding and more thrust forward. (which would completly kill D3 and I would never play such mods)
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: -<WillyP>- on February 09, 2010, 04:41:22 AM
Well that goes back to the level design. Most, maybe all, outdoor MP levels are just too big and open. If you build a large open area, then try to add obstacles, you can run up the face count very quickly and bog the game. So you need to build a small area to begin with and keep the face count of whatever structures you add down. Thee speed of the ship is only an issue when you need to cross a large area with no cover. Then someone you are not even aware of can hit you with an MD or a homer from clear across the map and you never see it coming. Even some of the popular indoor maps suffer from this effect to a lesser extent.

The best maps are the ones that balance some larger rooms with small ones and interconnecting tunnels. Subway Dancer, Skybox, and most of the more popular levels for anarchy are essentially a number of dog-fighting rooms connected in this manner. Indika has rather small dog-fighting rooms, but same idea. There are lots of corners to dodge around. That's not true in the outdoor levels. A faster ship would help but I don't think a reasonable speed increase would help enough.

Anyway, if you want to increase the speed of the ship you don't need source code to do that.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: NUMBERZero on February 09, 2010, 12:31:28 PM
I think a super problem is that the weapons are too slow. They should go faster outside or AT LEAST use parent speed. Sure, everyone can mod their .gam, but a patch would be a sweeping thing for everyone.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: SaladBadger on February 09, 2010, 04:16:14 PM
Sure, everyone can mod their .gam, but a patch would be a sweeping thing for everyone.

that isn't the intention of 1.5
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: S13driftAZ on February 09, 2010, 04:24:11 PM
I think a super problem is that the weapons are too slow. They should go faster outside or AT LEAST use parent speed. Sure, everyone can mod their .gam, but a patch would be a sweeping thing for everyone.
I'm starting to think me and zero have nothing in common in our personalities

Anyways, I think this patch should be resolving more important matters like not crashing all the dang time while I play online. What the hell is wrong with kernel32.dll that makes it so that whenever there is some epic chaos happening, it crashes?
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: Scyphi on February 11, 2010, 07:02:42 AM
S13Drift has a good point. As much as it'd be neat, the 1.5 patch should really focus on fixing D3's most prevalent bugs first and foremost.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: NUMBERZero on February 12, 2010, 12:27:42 PM
I understand that now. Fix the bugs (isn't D3 one big bug? :P).

If we are extremely lucky, I'd like1.6 to contain gameplay improvements.
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: SaladBadger on February 12, 2010, 01:31:20 PM
If we are extremely lucky, I'd like1.6 to contain gameplay improvements.

Code: [Select]
/me begins counting how many users that'd annoy
Title: Re: Kevin Bently Working on 1.5 Patch for d3, Video of D3 Netplay on Linux, Mac
Post by: Scyphi on February 13, 2010, 06:34:43 PM
Well...obviously one. ;)