I generally dislike announcements about upcoming releases. But, barring any catastrophic bug reports, I'm looking to release 1.3pb4 by the end of today (Thurs June 12th, 2008, by midnight PDT). There'll be more news posts on the boards here when it happens.
(update): Top level changes since pb3, from my list:
The major improvements of pb4, compared to 1.3pb3 are:
- More features, including weapon linking, thumpers, and variable gravity DM maps
- Increased vista compatability
- Many more modder features, such as 60-char ODF names, inheritance, tons of new tuning values, etc
- Performance optimizations
- Fewer resyncs, units (human & AI) should warp less online
- Ability to replace CD music w/ OGG files
- More crash fixes
- Easier to host games w/ automatic UPNP, Windows Firewall support(*)
*: requires router w/ UPNP support, and Windows Firewall as your primary firewall; other firewall software/hardware will still need some manual attention
-- GSH
Awesome. What does this pb4 have new in it :?
Read the changelog.txt file when its released :p
Updated initial post w/ my top-level notes on what's new.
-- GSH
The download size should be about 45 MB, so DL is about 6.5 minutes for 1.5 mbps.
Current PB4 ChangeLog size is 281 KB. PB3 ChangeLog size was 52 KB. PB2 was 168 KB. PB1 was 311 KB.
PB4 is ONLY 45megs? Wasnt pb3 like a hundred-something-megs?
Lets hope there are no more delays, I would seriously like to start porting SRV into PB4.
PB3 is 42megs
Then what BZ2 thing was 100+ megs?
Anyway, someone who can may wanna post this in the News section on BZ2MD.
done
Just a comparison on the download sizes of patches, from my server at home:
1.01 patch: 1,715,200 bytes
-rwxr--r-- 1 nathan users 1715200 Jan 13 2000 BZ2BetaPatch1.01b.exe
1.1 patch: 3,378,358 bytes
-rwxr--r-- 1 nathan users 3378358 Feb 26 2003 battlezoneiiupdate_v11.exe
1.2 patch: 6,475,643 bytes
-rwxr--r-- 1 nathan users 6475643 Feb 26 2003 BattlezoneIIupdateUS.exe
1.3pb1 patch: 37,986,304 bytes
-rwxr--r-- 1 nathan users 37986304 Feb 28 2004 bz2_v13PublicBeta1_english.exe
1.3pb2 patch: 30,449,664 bytes
-rwxr--r-- 1 nathan users 30449664 Feb 28 2006 BZ2_v13PublicBeta2_english-rc3.exe
1.3pb3 patch: 43,827,200 bytes
-rwxr--r-- 1 nathan users 43827200 Aug 10 2006 BZ2_v13PublicBeta3_english.exe
1.3pb4 patch: 46,488,576 bytes
-rw-r--r-- 1 nathan telnet 46488576 Jun 10 00:44 BZ2_v13PublicBeta4_english.exe
plus, separate modder data: 6,616,437 bytes
-rw-r--r-- 1 nathan telnet 6616437 Jun 10 00:46 modder_data_pb4rc3.7z
The shrinkage from pb1 -> pb2 is due to switching compression methods in the installer to .7z (7-zip) format, a more efficient compressor.
-- GSH
Just to clarify one specific feature listed.
Quote
- More features, including weapon linking, thumpers, and variable gravity DM maps
The weapon linking can be disabled by the host, which it is disabled by default. The host can choose to enable it for himself/herself and for clients through the extra options page. I felt it may be worth bringing this point up since some people have a fear of change.
GSH... I love you!!!!
Ken had a part in the patch too.
of course - i love him too!!!
Wich one do you love more? :-o
i love my self, more :)
abaut ziping formats
PPl use *.zip then better users use rars.
Some one will not install pb4 coz of rar or .7z (7-zip)
Im not using .7z (7-zip), maybe i will later.
1.3pb4 is distributed as a .exe people can just run. Only the modder data (.xsi, .bmp/.pic/.tga) and DLL source are .7z files. You do not need the modder data to play pb4. If you're a modder who really wants the data, then installing 7-zip is free and a good idea. 7-zip compresses things at least 50% better than .zip does.
(And, the main pb3/pb4 installer uses .7z compression internally. All the files are compressed with that in the 43MB exe, decompressed to memory, and written raw to disk or to a .pak file. All of which happens behind your back. I like it that 7Zip handed out a DLL to make such things really easy.)
-- GSH
this post just MADE my day GSH... its 12 in the morning here in europe and im going to sit up ALL night refrshign this until i get it =]
its only 9 in the morning here in aus so i will get it while all of you are asleep :-P
Its out in about 1.5 hours. Yes I've been counting down the entire day.
Sad thing is I already have it and I'm counting down.
"- Ability to replace CD music w/ OGG files"
i was toying of the idea of making a music player for the Escape Sound shell .cfg file whereby you could select an .ogg format track to play, sort of like a very very basic media player intergatrated into the shell...
looks like i dont have to anymore =]
You can't select the ogg file specificially like you suggest which sucks.
You are also limited to the music files the map .trn file calls. And you are limited to 11 files.
okay maybe i WILL make my shell modification then. thanks to GBD's 'over MSN instant shell goon to genius lesson' ive got loads of crazy ideas...
probably why AV's are more frequent atm :D
Quote from: Commando on June 12, 2008, 11:21:59 PM
Its out in about 1.5 hours. Yes I've been counting down the entire day.
Sad thing is I already have it and I'm counting down.
lol C... when you say 1.5 hours... how long now? GBD reckons its about 6 hours away!
actually dont worry
I JUST GOT IT =] - theres a secret place to get it! but i will not share because i wish to watch you sufffeeeeeeeeeeeeer!
and also i dont think GSH would be happy... lets just say i had a lucky find
off to play! enjoy waiting hehe!
thankyou jamsh - i found it too
GSH - do you mind if i tell the world??
Yeah, the link hasn't been posted because we are waiting for the pb4 board to go live and the pb3 one to go into archive. Only a few people can do that. I don't have admin access so I can't.
GSH knows people found it, I told him myself, and he wasn't surprised. If you find it, great. I don't believe GSH will get mad if you find it. He literally posted the link to it.
It's here. Drop by http://www.bzuniverse.com/forum/index.php/board,33.0.html (http://www.bzuniverse.com/forum/index.php/board,33.0.html) .
-- GSH
Also, remember to thank Commando, Red Devil, GreenHeart, and the rest of the grunts who did, well, the grunt work. :-D
The mod guys need to be thanked too, but that can wait until after the mods are released. ;)
Happy hunting!
Quote from: GSH on June 12, 2008, 11:15:40 PM
1.3pb4 is distributed as a .exe people can just run. Only the modder data (.xsi, .bmp/.pic/.tga) and DLL source are .7z files. You do not need the modder data to play pb4. If you're a modder who really wants the data, then installing 7-zip is free and a good idea. 7-zip compresses things at least 50% better than .zip does.
(And, the main pb3/pb4 installer uses .7z compression internally. All the files are compressed with that in the 43MB exe, decompressed to memory, and written raw to disk or to a .pak file. All of which happens behind your back. I like it that 7Zip handed out a DLL to make such things really easy.)
-- GSH
*.exe format thats even better :-),
ty all ppl who we all contribute for new better pach :-D
It says your limited to 11 files, but GBD and I had it go right over that in testing.
Do Whau?
GBD, there were more than 11 BZ1 tracks and we got them all to play. Remember?