Status?

[WilliePete]

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

ORIGINAL: WilliePete

Mad, it seems like the release date is slipping away again. How close are we now?

Slipping away from what?

We are on here daily discussing with you guys. It's not like the forum is dead; with no new posts in months. This update is close to being released. It gets closer everyday. Erik will tell you when it's done. Our job is to get it there and try to keep you guys updated. His job is to polish it up and give it to you.

It's funny because the forum members want updates. Then they want release dates. Then they want to know why so long. Then they start saying things must not be going well because it's still not released and nobody will say exactly when it's coming out. Computer programming is an art. And Stridor is one of the best at it I've ever seen.

BUT we aren't giving it to you until it's ready. Plain and simple. Like it or not, that's the bottom line. We know you guys are frustrated that it's taking so long. Imagine being on our end where we've worked on it for so long. You didn't even know it was coming, for way more than a year, after we started working on it.

You're not going to get a patch/update that needs 3 or 4 patches of it's own before it works. If that was the case you wouldn't be discussing this with me.

Keep the faith. IT'S COMING!!

Good Hunting.

MR

Thanks, Mad! I appreciate you taking the time to explain. I remember a short while ago you mentioned that there was just one issue that was holding things up. Then some time after that I read it was solved, but then it was decided to add grass and more time would be needed to iron things out. Then a few more weeks went by with nothing new being mentioned about release and that's why I said release seems like it's "slipping away."

I of course appreciate all that you do here. I'll keep the faith... for another 2-3 weeks anyway

[Mad Russian]

Yes, that's right. We finished up the last issue. Then there was a new feature added. This was grass textures and it effects both the visual effects of the game and can have an effect on LOS. It's that adding grass textures to about 75 maps and then retesting them to see that they are all still balanced within reason.

We are going forward with that daily and working diligently to complete the demo scenarios as well.

That's all that's left on our plate for the PCO update.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

ORIGINAL: WilliePete

I'll keep the faith... for another 2-3 weeks anyway

It would be my guess that you will some kind of movement within 2 weeks.

But I'm just guessing.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Prince of Eckmühl]

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

This was grass textures and it effects both the visual effects of the game and can have an effect on LOS.

Does each clump of grass degrade LOS and sighting?

If so, it seems like the calculations involved would eat-up a lot of CPU cycles![X(]

And it's a good thing that the game is WEGO, rather than RT!

[Stridor]

Yes each clump of grass is considered for LOS.

Grass has become a really big and important part of infantry fighting now.

S

[junk2drive]

ORIGINAL: Prince of Eckmühl

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

This was grass textures and it effects both the visual effects of the game and can have an effect on LOS.

Does each clump of grass degrade LOS and sighting?

If so, it seems like the calculations involved would eat-up a lot of CPU cycles![X(]

And it's a good thing that the game is WEGO, rather than RT!

The sighting ray either hits a target, or a clump of grass. Same difference.

The good news is that Stridor found a way to add the grasses without it costing very much in CPU or GPU.

[Prince of Eckmühl]

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

The sighting ray either hits a target, or a clump of grass. Same difference.

The good news is that Stridor found a way to add the grasses without it costing very much in CPU or GPU.

Interesting...

Is the LOS degradation imparted by the clump(s) cumulative, per-instance, that is?

If it completely blocks the bottom ray, does that mean that the vehicle that's then partially-obscured is hull-down?

EDIT: "Found this in the Screenshot of the Day" thread:

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

I thought I posted about this but I can't find it.

Yes the plants conceal / effect LOS in and out.

Currently the map maker decides the scale of the plant. Then decides if the plant will block LOS. Then he uses the scale as a multiplier of the min and max size of the blocking function.

So you might see waist high grass that doesn't block at all, or blocks standing troops like it is 2 meters high, or only blocks prone troops.

I apologize for not following the thread more closely. I had the impression that the grass was mostly eye-candy. Hopefully, the grass will work out as-planned, with no unintended consequences!

[junk2drive]

It started out as eye candy and you know by now...

It does make a difference if you are troops and prone, kneeling, standing, riding on a tank or a TC.

[diablo1]

Ok I have used a mod to change that green tracer fire to red will I have to remove the mod and then install the patch and reinstall the mod or is the patch just bits and pieces of files and not the entire .exe? Or can I just leave the mod, install the patch over it and then reinstall the red tracer fire afterwards?

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

Ok I have used a mod to change that green tracer fire to red will I have to remove the mod and then install the patch and reinstall the mod or is the patch just bits and pieces of files and not the entire .exe? Or can I just leave the mod, install the patch over it and then reinstall the red tracer fire afterwards?

You will have to reinstall your mod.

Sorry
rick

[Yoozername]

ORIGINAL: Prince of Eckmühl

ORIGINAL: diablo1

Stop readin my posts then cause I am not going to stop being who I am....got it? Good. [:)]

Blame it on "big brother" if you will, but the client software through which you access this forum can be configured to output both the WAN IP address and the local MAC address of everyone who posts here. That's what the login authentication process is all about. Even if a poster changes ISP, the client can be setup to reveal that same information regarding a local machine. I'm in no way associated with the developer or the team of volunteers who have worked so hard on the update, but that's just a simple fact. I know that it's true because I've had administrator's rights on a game forum in the past.

Are you saying harley9699699, a Matrix Recruit, is somehow monitoring things?

Prince, your post has to be the most amusing thing I have read in awhile. A true insight into your social skills. I like this tidbit:

I'm in no way associated with the developer or the team of volunteers who have worked so hard on the update, but that's just a simple fact.

[morganbj]

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

ORIGINAL: WilliePete

I'll keep the faith... for another 2-3 weeks anyway

It would be my guess that you will some kind of movement within 2 weeks.

But I'm just guessing.

Good Hunting.

MR

At my age, a movement every two to three weeks is greatly appreciated. So, if I get a movement in just two weeks, I'll be very happy indeed.

[jinchoung]

actually, i'm looking forward to "greatest tank battles" on the military channel covering kursk before i get my hands dirty with ostfront.

oh and btw, will the docs cover which scenarios would be good ones for newbs to start with? as i mentioned before, i generally don't like dealing with a lot of units... more than a dozen and i'm kinda lost so i hope in the docs or maybe even here, there can be a list of scenarios that are small and yet give a good flavor for the kind of action in theater.

thanks again, hanging tight, rock on.

jin

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: jinchoung

actually, i'm looking forward to "greatest tank battles" on the military channel covering kursk before i get my hands dirty with ostfront.

oh and btw, will the docs cover which scenarios would be good ones for newbs to start with? as i mentioned before, i generally don't like dealing with a lot of units... more than a dozen and i'm kinda lost so i hope in the docs or maybe even here, there can be a list of scenarios that are small and yet give a good flavor for the kind of action in theater.

thanks again, hanging tight, rock on.

jin

In the scenario selection screen, if you highlight a scenario in the list, you can see a breifing in the window to thr right. You can also see in the lower right corner a graphic that tells you the size of the map (right hand column) and the complexity of the scenario (left column). The complexity might not always be a good measure of number of units since sometimes units will be included that will not actually enter the battle.

Also, keep in mind that having more units may not be as bad in PCO as in some other games. You can choose to limit your orders to just the HQ unit (Platoon HQ) and the other units in that platoon will take their orders from him, without the need to give order to each individual unit.

Thanks
Rick

[jamespcrowley]

What do the 'Easy', 'Normal' and 'Hard' modes relate to? Number of enemy numbers, maybe?

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: James Crowley

What do the 'Easy', 'Normal' and 'Hard' modes relate to? Number of enemy numbers, maybe?

In most cases that is true, if the Scenario designer has set it to take advantage of those settings. What they do is to change the amount of points allocated to a side. So if you are playing German side and select easy, the Russian AI will recieve fewer points to buy units, on Hard setting, you would get fewer points.

Thanks
rick

[gijas17]

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

ORIGINAL: gijas

LOL... MR, yeah, those tanks froze up really quick near Moscow in December. It's a long way from being a King Tiger to. Had to keep them running 24/7 or built fires underneath them, geeez can you imagine if they forgot to put up a gas can nearby.... instant Bonfire.

I stand at correction MR. The scenario was called "something - Tula." which is S of Moscow but related to the battle.


"According to Glantz by early December, the temperatures[57] dropped as low as twenty to fifty below zero. The German troops, who still had no winter clothing, were freezing, and their vehicles were not designed for such severe weather. More than 130,000 cases of frostbite were reported among German soldiers.[37] Frozen grease had to be removed from every loaded shell[37] and vehicles had to be heated for hours before use.

The Axis offensive on Moscow stopped. As Guderian wrote in his journal, "the offensive on Moscow failed...We underestimated the enemy's strength, as well as his size and climate. Fortunately, I stopped my troops on 5 December, otherwise the catastrophe would be unavoidable."

Once gamers see how PCO plays I expect to see alot of mod support for it. Whoever was doing the Moscow mod may come running back to finish it.

Good Hunting.

MR

@ MR... it was Mraah that was working on the Battle of Moscow scenario (Operation Typhoon) for PCK in 08 - a little belated but better late than never. I feel better now.

Operation Typhoon RCG

[Mad Russian]

****   UPDATE!   ****

WE are definitely moving away from our original idea of releasing in 4th Quarter 2010. Seems like that is already past??!! [8|]

We are almost half way through 1st Quarter 2011 and we are working on getting out the demo.

Once that happens the game is set. No more additions. Which is where we are now.

A bit more playtesting and balancing of the older scenarios to make sure we didn't lose any content along the way. Which is where we are now.

A bit more checking the air pressure to make sure you get a smooth ride when you climb in. Which is where we are now.

Again, my two weeks is still looking pretty good for SOMETHING to happen. Anything that you guys see happen will be big steps towards release.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

ORIGINAL: gijas

@ MR... it was Mraah that was working on the Battle of Moscow scenario (Operation Typhoon) for PCK in 08 - a little belated but better late than never. I feel better now.

Operation Typhoon RCG

Well, where is Mraah these days anyway? Has anyone told him we want his Operation Typhoon campaign once we get PCO out to the masses?

I'm sure he'll be interested in finishing when he sees all the things he can add now.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Jacko]

Take your time. We will wait for this game, even if it takes another year. Well, preferably not of course, but you know what I mean. [:)]