Topic: Behind the sences
I'll write up this post for people who haven't heard yet.
Currently zer is writing up a new client which is simpler then what it was going to be. Still powerful but currently will be similar what the current client is (Until the new server). This new client is going to work for the current server, and beta testing shouldn't be too far away it seems. I have currently been testing this new client and so far it's much better in a lot of areas. Once this is out to the public then zer will start on a simpler server then what was going to be planed. But still going to have lots of changes compared to the current server. What’s going to be added? Well that’s up to zer. Then once that is done maybe there will be updates over time to make both server and client as powerful as planned.
NOTE: This client will work with the current server, there won’t be a reset! You will have your chars!
So far what’s new in the new client? :
-New and better patching system.
-XML based GUI. Meaning custom GUI's will be easier for us to make. Maybe for players too?
-Client side scripting language.
-Chat indents messages so players can't ghost.
-Able to have more than one npc window at a time (but not with the same npc)
-Npc name on chat windows to show who your talking too.
-Going into a building won’t show under other buildings to.
-95% of the code is rewritten, so hopefully all those client bugs will be gone.
-Able to run in 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (AMD64) Linux builds and soon Mac. Maybe also windows mobile if I annoy zer enough :P
-More support for different languages.
-Items on the ground have different colours depending on the item. White - normal, blue - magic, etc...
-Logout
-Chat history, so you can resay things without retyping them.
-Can type longer chats without any problems now.
-'Legendary' title between royal and godly
-More options.
-Locked down items won’t show tooltips.
-Support for larger game resolution.
-Cut and paste for chat.
-Next server ready.
-Render everything with OpenGL. Meaning very good fps for graphics cards that support it. And a option to turn it off.
-New item art.
-Unkillable scripts like signs, chests, npc's have no heath or mana bar now.
-Advance colour matrix effects, on most things. E.g. I can make the GUI semi transparent.
-Ar now shows attacks per min, and amour shows blocking per hit or so...
-If something like a person/item is showing then you can target it. E.g you can be targeted if you hide behind a large heath bar. You can only target that monster if you target its art.
-Fade in text effects.
-A much better particle system.
-Particles are able to be scripted
-Smarter pathfinding.
-Projectiles art now stops when they hit a monster or player.
-Able to see npc's, monsters and players on the mini map using different colours.
-Smarter map patcher, it doesn't lag while patching.
-Coloured messages in stasis messages.
-New skill icons. (Wu is currently finishing them)
-A few other minor things...
Current new client benchmarking: (old now)
Using OpenGL has given a large boast on fps.
If your graphics card has v-sync on then the fps will max at your screen fps.
My screen maxes at 60 fps. Using a Nvidea FX5200 graphics card.
Which the game uses a CPU usage of 17%-23% standing still
And max of 60% of other things. Seems to sit around 33%.
With the game minimized it uses 1% and if the game isn't focus it uses 11%.
So far the fps is usually maxed out, other than some heavy places like the great mines.
If your graphics card has v-sync turned off then you could get fps from 100-400 or more. Of course using more CPU usage (about 60% for me).
Still more room for improvement.
Without OpenGL:
About the same fps as the current client atm but with about 80-90% CPU usage.
Old client benchmarking:
With my computer I get average 30fps with 99% CPU always. Unless minimized which is around 1% CPU.
I'll update the list when things change.
Things that are also being looked at (which is a list of things that been said in this forum and the gm forum):
-Chat filter.
-Market filter.
-Larger market max. Maybe with pages so it doesn't lag.
-Able to see who's in a chat channel.
-Maybe for s chat, just have that you can just type your message without typing s.
-Friends list.
-Get a message when you have mail. Instead of when logging. Like check every 10 min or so.
-Able to see your total resists.
-Able to see damage done with all spells (ebolt, b rain, bliz, etc)
-Maybe unable to target spells on npc’s?
-Maybe an afk option, which if you set yourself as afk you kneel down and maybe a *afk* message on top.
-Hunger meter.
-Instead of lumberjacking saying you miss the tree, it says you swing and end up only with splinters.
-Maybe have a gm/m name be a different colour in chat or have a small image like a star or even just bold e.g. [GM].
-Trees being chopped town, and leave a stump.
-Client chat logs.
-Takes 10 seconds to logout, this could be just controlled by the client for now until the new server can control it.
-mIRC type scripting.
-Dead bodies fade away after time same with blood splatters.
-map edges, mirror the ground titles beside it, so instead of looking at a blurry mess heh. Or if you can make it that you see the next map that would be even better.
-See what spell effects you have on yourself and the time they have left, like in the top right corner.
-Real glow on items.
-Able choose what is the default attack.
-More mail options. (Delete, sent, know which mail has items, send to groups of people, fade read mail, spam control).
-Better trade window.
-Better sound/music.
-Finish icons.
-Repatch broken maps.
-Arrows in quiver.
-Water more realistic.
-Xp bar.
-In game options.
-Make items show dura in bank and when clicking the information button when buying an item from an NPC.
You can also list other client changes/updates if you think they should be Added. Make sure you don't repeat anything I've listed. Note this is for the client only, No sever changes!
People keep asking me when is this going to be out. Well this is a hard one to tell, it depends on what extras are going to be added and the current bugs need to be fixed, and some areas are still missing...
So what’s still left so far?(not including the extras)
Bugs:
Current Stats: 64 bugs closed, 57open.
Sshots located at www.faldonrpg.com which are from zer.
And yes I spelt scene wrong, but seem I can't change the title.