RELEASE 3 IS OUT!!! LINUX, PC, OSX!

[Omega]

the music is cc-by-sa so do i have to ask for permission??

No.  CC-By-SA is your permission.  You already have it.  You would only have to ask if you wanted to use it under different terms than that license.

I see, i don't know if i'm ok without asking them first though...

I can assure you that if it is CC-BY-SA, you will never have to ask unless you want to, for example, redistribute it under a different license, etc. Otherwise, the entire CC-BY-SA license is worthless. No sense in annoying the copyright holder with unnecessary emails, just be sure to credit them in an AUTHORS text file and you're good.

One idea would be to give each 'subfaction' one unique unit also that plays to their strength

GAE does have subfactions, but last I saw, the AI was totally dysfunction for them.

[Mr War]

we're meaning something different by sub-factions i think man

[Ishmaru]

the music is cc-by-sa so do i have to ask for permission??

No.  CC-By-SA is your permission.  You already have it.  You would only have to ask if you wanted to use it under different terms than that license.

I see, i don't know if i'm ok without asking them first though...

I can assure you that if it is CC-BY-SA, you will never have to ask unless you want to, for example, redistribute it under a different license, etc. Otherwise, the entire CC-BY-SA license is worthless. No sense in annoying the copyright holder with unnecessary emails, just be sure to credit them in an AUTHORS text file and you're good.

Wouldn't the author have the right to ask that he be notified when someone uses his work?? He is supposed have the right to not let someone use his work if its not in the way he wants.

GAE does have subfactions, but last I saw, the AI was totally dysfunction for them.

Not sub faction like how GAE does it but more like separate faction with same units with different base values / some changes to tech tree.  Its similar to Generals Zero Hour, with USA Laser General, USA Airforce General, USA Superweapon General  they are separate factions but based on same base USA tech tree. The changes in each is more value based other than tree based so changes would be similar to advance wars like i said.

One idea would be to give each 'subfaction' one unique unit also that plays to their strength

Good idea! I have to think of some unique units! =D

Oh I was also thinking of adding a pre-deployed mode, much like the no base mode from red alert 1.  You start with pre-set units based on which sub faction you choose. This would be a separate tech tree. Kinda like adding a new game mode. :)

[John.d.h]

Wouldn't the author have the right to ask that he be notified when someone uses his work?? He is supposed have the right to not let someone use his work if its not in the way he wants.

The author retains all moral rights, which means that they have certain acts of recourse if, for example, you used their music in a porno movie or something.  The fact that anyone decides to license their work under CC licenses means that they want you to be able to use their work.  Many people do like to be notified when you're using their work, but it is not an obligation under any CC license.  It's more an act of courtesy than anything.  "Hey, just to let you know, I'm using that track of yours in a game I'm working on." "Oh cool, glad you like it."

[Ishmaru]

So If you haven't seen on mod db already, I have been experimenting with a new look & feel for Annex, changing it fro a bright, unsaturated, and arid look to a dark, colorful sci-fi look. I've been getting mixed reviews and been wondering what your ideas are:

OLD:
[spoiler]

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[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/18/17106/annex_screen3_AD.jpg[/img][/spoiler]

NEW:
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[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/18/17106/Awsome_1_AD.jpg[/img][/spoiler]
[spoiler]

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[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/18/17106/Awsome_4_AD.jpg[/img][/spoiler]
[spoiler]

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[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/18/17106/Awsome_2_AD.jpg[/img][/spoiler]

Although more earth like, I just felt old color scheme was boring, lots of dull browns and greys. The new scheme looks very un-earth like, but has a nice fitting feel.
Note: Unit Structures haven't been updated yet.

BTW I was going more for an post apocalyptic world, hence darkness.

Thoughts??

[Omega]

Honest opinion: I preferred the old look. It's very good, but not quite as good, in my opinion.

Constructive Criticism: It looks great, but I'd rather see it on an opposing faction. *wink*

[ElimiNator]

Both look good but I have to agree with omega. The new look makes everything look ruined/burned.

[Hagekura]

I agree to omega and eliminator.

[Ishmaru]

Burned Ruins was actually what i wanted since day one, Since this takes place in one of the most war torn regions in the world. I just went about it in different ways... Also this faction is suppose to look a bit dingy, They are actually lower technology & economy than Northern Empire (that's why they don't get any mechs or lasers till late game).

Can you guys answer these for me:

-What about the original do you guys prefer?

-Do you not like new camo, tileset, lighting or all 3?

-What could I change to make new version better than original?

[Psychedelic_hands]

No offense but new colours are really unappealing. The new camo just doesn't look as quality of a texture as the old one. And some places just look too dark like random blackspots on units.

But Im not againist a darker game, its just not looking as good.

[will]

Have you considered using solid colour instead of splodges?

Most of all, I hate giving you encouragement before you've even released something!  We want to play it, not stare at screenshots ;)

[Hagekura]

I like new tileset, lightings. but unit textures, especially the tank's texture looks like burned as eliminator pointed out.　The stained texture looks kinda extreme. ( I think the mech and bomber's textures are ok. and human textures are cool).
so I recommend you to redo at least the tank's texture.

[Ishmaru]

Perhaps i will just use try old tank texture and hue it to the orange camo the infantry has, unless anyone else has any ideas.

@ will i still have LOTS of fixing before i can release it, unless you really want to play a super CPU/GPU heavy game with bugs in it. :P
Sorry, Ive been avoiding posting updates because i don't want to keep teasing you guys.

[ElimiNator]

I like the new tile-set, just not the camo.

[John.d.h]

Might I suggest cleaning up the seams on some of your tiles as well as on your tanks?

[Omega]

Might I suggest cleaning up the seams on some of your tiles as well as on your tanks?

Yeah, at the bottom left of the second image, you can notice the seems are a bit off, but otherwise the tilesets are amazing, as always.

[Mr War]

I think it's only the tank where the camo doesn't look so great - on the mech and jet it looks fantastic. Maybe scale it down to be more tiger like, or up to be broader. This is just constructive feedback, overall it looks amazing man.

[Ishmaru]

So whats new??

If you recall my last news post talked about having later tiered units split between two structures, the Tech Lab and Silo. Now the divide is deepen now that those units require specific upgrades from either of those structures. For example before a MRLS needed a Silo to be produced, now requires a Silo and the "Ballistic Weapons" Upgrade. Each of these two structures have four upgrades that are needed to produce units and give various other bonuses to your faction.

Also hero no longer requires both Silo and Tech Lab, but needs either a Silo or Tech Lab, and her special ability will depend on which you own. Silo gives her the Nuke ability, and Tech Lab gives her Satellite Beam attack. If you have both Silo and Tech Lab she will have both abilities, but they share one counter so only one could be used at a time.

Annex: Conquer the World also has a new feature: Ability to customize your single and multi-player battles! In the upcoming beta you will have the ability to choose between 5 modes (tech trees):

Base Battle:
Default gameplay mode. Play with all 3 Tiers including Hero Character. Start with a Refinery and 10 Drone Workers.
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[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/18/17106/annex_normal_AD.jpg[/img][/spoiler]

Pre - Built:
Same as Base Battle but start with a small functional base with a Refinery, 2 Warehouses, a Barracks, a Factory, 10 Workers and 5 Grunts. Great for those wanting to get into battle quickly!
[spoiler]

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[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/18/17106/annex_pre_built_AD.jpg[/img][/spoiler]

Tier 1 Only:
Exactly what the name suggests, limits game to only starting units, Which are Refinery, Warehouse, Barracks, Factory, Bunker, Workers, Grunts, Rocket Grunts, and IFVs

Tier 1 & 2 Only:
Exactly what the name suggests, all units as in Tier 1, and includes units requiring the "Advanced Weapons" upgrade, including: Mini Gunners, Mortar Infantry, Harvesters, Battle Tanks, Strikers, Hangar, Scouts, and Gunships, all units requiring a Silo or Tech Lab are disabled.

Infantry Only:
Also fairly self explanatory, Limits gameplay to only combat infantry. However this mode changes tech tree to a new scaled down system, having only 4 Structures: Refinery, Warehouse, Barracks, and Bunker. You can use all infantry from Tier 1-3 as well as your hero, but you must purchase their corresponding upgrade from the Refinery before use.  Both starting resources, and structure durability greatly reduced.
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[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/18/17106/annex_infantry_only_1_AD.jpg[/img][/spoiler]

And there will be even more in the future!

Each of these mods will contain the East Ocean Alliance as a playable faction.

Well, I'm done with the major part of my file system restructuring, moving all art, and sound elements to their own respective folders and out of the tech tree folder (which is standard procedure for MegaGlest mods). Since this is a standalone mod I took liberties and changed up the system a bit, which helps in reducing overall game size, and should help speed up performance( I believe ) It also gave me an opportunity to make these new modes using tech trees, while keeping file size down, each added tech tree is a mere 10kb.

Also I gave the player the ability to choose a High or Low detail version of the Annex Tileset.
This turns off 3D grass Fx for those who need added performance.
[spoiler]

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[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/18/17106/high_and_low_poly_annex_AD.jpg[/img][/spoiler]

Whew i'm... outa... breath.....
Other changes are balance changes, bug fixes, and even more optimization.

Anyways ill be leaving for a month long journey to the west, so I'm trying to get a beta out before end of the weekend! Enjoy!

And i want to remind you it is a standalone mod and just a standalone mod, sorry but no addon format for either MG or GAE.

PS sorry but I haven't had time to fix textures like tank and ground. Hope you all forgive me, and Ill get to that when I get back!

[Omega]

Two comments:

moving all art, and sound elements to their own respective folders and out of the tech tree folder (which is standard procedure for MegaGlest mods).

Wha? Since when?

And i want to remind you it is a standalone mod and just a standalone mod, sorry but no addon format for either MG or GAE.

But... the addon format works *best* for stand alone mods! Please read the wiki page for more understanding. There is not one reason NOT to use it! It makes installation easier for all kinds of mods, being it maps, tilesets, techtrees, or a mixture of, for all engines, GAE, MG, and Glest! There is no reason not to use it. None whatsoever.

https://docs.megaglest.org/Addons

[ultifd]

Great! If only this could have been a bit earlier though... :-X

Well, the one reason not to use it is that if it's an addon, the menu has to be the same as MG or GAE right? I'd imagine the G3D that ishmaru made is pretty cool.  As for GAE, I'll just say non-solid makes a noticeable difference in megabytes...

[Ishmaru]

Great! If only this could have been a bit earlier though... :-X

What u mean?

[Omega]

Great! If only this could have been a bit earlier though... :-X

Well, the one reason not to use it is that if it's an addon, the menu has to be the same as MG or GAE right? I'd imagine the G3D that ishmaru made is pretty cool.  As for GAE, I'll just say non-solid makes a noticeable difference in megabytes...

No, you can still replace the menus models. Just replicate the exact folder structure from the installation directory. Files that appear in a different location in GAE would need a duplicate, but would still work. The MG only files would be ignored by GAE, and vice versa.

As for the filesize, it's not that much, a test with an older version of Military has 26.1 MB solid and 28.7 MB non-solid. Smaller mods will have even less of a difference (you'd see the most impact by solid compression when there is more similar files). Hardly enough to justify compatibility. You'd be surprised just how many players get hit by difficulties when installing mods of any type, and the main cause is that there is no standard to that. Loads of people post "bug reports" here because they had an extra folder when installing the mod, etc. Plus, even loads more would just dismiss the game when they failed and not even bother to post here. Standardization = good.

[Ishmaru]

By standalone I mean it complete with its own executable file, and it generates its own appdata folder. Ill be releasing a .7z full version (67mb )and .zip full version (85 mb) (for those who don't want to install another program like 7zip) Just extract/unzip to where you want game (ex: destop, my documents, program files) , then run executable, and have fun! No confusion there, as long as everyone understands it is its own game.

[Ishmaru]

BETA! RELEASED SEE FIRST POST!

[Hagekura]

Yay finally!
I've played some games and it was fun and stable. :thumbup:
I'm surprised the Infantries are smaller than I've expected, but this is not problem, I'll get used to it.
I'll report some more feedbacks later.