Money Burning in My Pocket!!

[Nemesis30]

Is there a ballpark release date for this one? Got money burning a hole in my pocket...

[stall84]

same with me.

Could you atleast let us know which stage you guys are at?

Last I heard it was in 'Alpha' 'Build'. I have no idea what that is, but I know what a beta version is.. obviously it comes after alpha... so.. any news? we are very hungry

[Tactics]

The Sims 2 is gold. Pre-orders ship on the 14th and it will be in stores on the 17th. Blow your load on that, because COTR wont be any time soon - me thinks.

Dont worry, you can still kill stuff; Im going to hire a gardner, put her in room with no exit and starve her to death. Im also going to abuse my children daily and fill the maid with my demon seed every chance I get.

[Arjuna]

Tactics,

Get some therapy mate. If Sims2 does this to you, then you're in big trouble.[;)]

[Arjuna]

Re Where we are at. Alpha stage means that stage where we are still adding feature code - ie the game in incomplete. Beta is when all the planned features are there but the program is still pretty buggy and/or needs testing. Gold is when we've signed off on the product - ie it's finished.

Paul, whose been doing the Campaign feature has been off sick these last few weeks. Steve "Golf33" Long has been busy developing Estabs and scenarios for the Italian/Greek clashes along the Albanian border and for Malta. I've been busy developing and tweaking AI. We now have new Delay code that divides a delay force into two blocking groups and leap frogs these as the enemy advances or outflanks the forward blocking group. The new delay code also better manages the HQ/Bases and arty units. Initial testing looks very impressive, though much more testing is required before we can tick this off. I have reviewed the movement algorythms and associated reaction code. Moving forces are now much better at changing formation, bypassing or launching quick attacks.

Complimenting this I have also revised much of the formation code. In particular, I have revised Road Column and All Round Defense formations to better manage support and line support units. Supporting this I have made changes to the Get GTI ( Ground of Tactical importance ) function to ensure that line support and support units are not allowed to deploy forward of line units.

Next week I embark on implementing Slop Effects and Mixed Mode movement code. The Slope Effects code will allow us to slow down move rates as units try and climb slopes. In some cases where the slope is greater than 30 degrees it will prevent motorised units from entering but still enable foot units to traverse the location. The Mixed Mode movement code willl manage such cases. This code is needed to realistically simulate the steep terrain of Greece and Crete.

So as you can see we are still a way off yet. If all goes well we should be ready to go into beta phase late October ( touch wood ). Yet as with all orginal coding work you never know when you might strike a difficulty that can set you back.[:)]

[Neilster]

Next week I embark on implementing Slop Effects

This is the deleterious effect on one's troops of poor quality food[:'(]. Think of it as simulating a malfunctioning goulash cannon. That harsh Greek terrain was murder on the chow wagons.

Cheers, Neilster

[Hartford688]

ORIGINAL: Tactics

Dont worry, you can still kill stuff; Im going to hire a gardner, put her in room with no exit and starve her to death. Im also going to abuse my children daily and fill the maid with my demon seed every chance I get.

Child abuse jokes. Nice.

[EricGuitarJames]

ORIGINAL: Hartford688

ORIGINAL: Tactics

Dont worry, you can still kill stuff; Im going to hire a gardner, put her in room with no exit and starve her to death. Im also going to abuse my children daily and fill the maid with my demon seed every chance I get.

Child abuse jokes. Nice.

I'm more concerned about that poor maid[X(]

Well we can be thankful that the poor soul is taking out his frustrations in a 'game'[;)]

[Arjuna]

ORIGINAL: Neilster

Next week I embark on implementing Slop Effects

This is the deleterious effect on one's troops of poor quality food[:'(]. Think of it as simulating a malfunctioning goulash cannon. That harsh Greek terrain was murder on the chow wagons.

Cheers, Neilster

[:D]

Actually to be more correct it is the product of too much work and not enough play.[;)]

[pamak1970]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

Re Where we are at. Alpha stage means that stage where we are still adding feature code - ie the game in incomplete. Beta is when all the planned features are there but the program is still pretty buggy and/or needs testing. Gold is when we've signed off on the product - ie it's finished.

Paul, whose been doing the Campaign feature has been off sick these last few weeks. Steve "Golf33" Long has been busy developing Estabs and scenarios for the Italian/Greek clashes along the Albanian border and for Malta. I've been busy developing and tweaking AI. We now have new Delay code that divides a delay force into two blocking groups and leap frogs these as the enemy advances or outflanks the forward blocking group. The new delay code also better manages the HQ/Bases and arty units. Initial testing looks very impressive, though much more testing is required before we can tick this off. I have reviewed the movement algorythms and associated reaction code. Moving forces are now much better at changing formation, bypassing or launching quick attacks.

Complimenting this I have also revised much of the formation code. In particular, I have revised Road Column and All Round Defense formations to better manage support and line support units. Supporting this I have made changes to the Get GTI ( Ground of Tactical importance ) function to ensure that line support and support units are not allowed to deploy forward of line units.

Next week I embark on implementing Slop Effects and Mixed Mode movement code. The Slope Effects code will allow us to slow down move rates as units try and climb slopes. In some cases where the slope is greater than 30 degrees it will prevent motorised units from entering but still enable foot units to traverse the location. The Mixed Mode movement code willl manage such cases. This code is needed to realistically simulate the steep terrain of Greece and Crete.

So as you can see we are still a way off yet. If all goes well we should be ready to go into beta phase late October ( touch wood ). Yet as with all orginal coding work you never know when you might strike a difficulty that can set you back.[:)]

Arjuna,
since you talk about slope movement and the like i would like to ask something.
In HTTR ,motorized units can enter and move through forests.
Are you planning in cota to have forest areas impassable to armored or mechanized units?(when there is no any road of any kind of course)
This is more realistic ,since i know Greek terrain and i actually have terrain evaluation studies from the Greek military staff college.

[Makoto]

so can we count on umm, a christmas release? Perhaps January? [;)]

[EricGuitarJames]

ORIGINAL: Makoto

so can we count on umm, a christmas release? Perhaps January? [;)]

Quite probably, except there's no specific year[;)]

[Arjuna]

Ah give us a break Eric. What a cheap shot mate! Although, you may end up being right. You never know with original R&D coding.[;)]

[Arjuna]

As to motorised unit moving through woods etc. Currently the code does not support mixed mode movement. By that I mean that if terrain is passable to foot, then it must also be passable to motorised units. With the new code I'm developing, this restriction will be removed and we will be able to have foot units enter forest while motorised ones cannot. Actually allowing the units to do so is easy. What is difficult is catering for all the cases where a force can no longer reach its assigned objective or where part of the force can but part cannot. This affects all the reaction, reassessment and planning code for just about all tasks. So it's a big job.

[pamak1970]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

As to motorised unit moving through woods etc. Currently the code does not support mixed mode movement. By that I mean that if terrain is passable to foot, then it must also be passable to motorised units. With the new code I'm developing, this restriction will be removed and we will be able to have foot units enter forest while motorised ones cannot. Actually allowing the units to do so is easy. What is difficult is catering for all the cases where a force can no longer reach its assigned objective or where part of the force can but part cannot. This affects all the reaction, reassessment and planning code for just about all tasks. So it's a big job.

I understand what you mean.
Another issue would be the motorized infantry .
For example a motorized infantry unit can disembark leaving the vehicles behind and attack or travel through forest.

[EricGuitarJames]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

Ah give us a break Eric. What a cheap shot mate!

AAaahh, you know I luv you weally, glub, glub[:D][:D]

[Arjuna]

[:D]