BZ2 1.3pb4 is almost here!

[GSH]

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

[Wraith]

Awesome. What does this pb4 have new in it

[Zero Angel]

Read the changelog.txt file when its released :p

[GSH]

Updated initial post w/ my top-level notes on what's new.

-- GSH

[Red Devil]

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.

[Steeveeo]

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.

[General BlackDragon]

PB3 is 42megs

[Steeveeo]

Then what BZ2 thing was 100+ megs?

Anyway, someone who can may wanna post this in the News section on BZ2MD.

[General BlackDragon]

done

[GSH]

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

[Commando]

Just to clarify one specific feature listed.

- 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.

[bigbadbogie]

GSH... I love you!!!!

[Commando]

Ken had a part in the patch too. 

[bigbadbogie]

of course - i love him too!!!

[General BlackDragon]

Wich one do you love more?