New installation package
Hi,
I want to create a new .msi based installer for everyone to use to install tribes with, but I need some help.
First off, I've managed to make a version which includes the tribes next patch and works.(most of the time)
Second, I want to update the card profiles so that it automatically recognizes modern video cards and cranks the settings up accordingly. I need help with this.
Third, some of the machines I use my current installer on, will only get past the intro and then an error message saying the arial font must always be available pops up. I have no idea why it does that.
Also, I've added bot support to a bunch of the CTF missions and upped the max # bots to 60 with no problems.
My installer is currently 511MB and in my opinion, is more stable and reliable than the original that is being distributed. I'd just like to make it better with some more perks and reliability.
I want to create a new .msi based installer for everyone to use to install tribes with, but I need some help.
First off, I've managed to make a version which includes the tribes next patch and works.(most of the time)
Second, I want to update the card profiles so that it automatically recognizes modern video cards and cranks the settings up accordingly. I need help with this.
Third, some of the machines I use my current installer on, will only get past the intro and then an error message saying the arial font must always be available pops up. I have no idea why it does that.
Also, I've added bot support to a bunch of the CTF missions and upped the max # bots to 60 with no problems.
My installer is currently 511MB and in my opinion, is more stable and reliable than the original that is being distributed. I'd just like to make it better with some more perks and reliability.
Comments
And, for security reasons, I can't recommend anyone download the TribesNext patch from anywhere other than this site, since the average user has no way of knowing if the version you want to distribute has backdoors or extras to capture account passwords, or such.
Ok if I leave out the tribes next patch and distribute it somewhere else without linking to it? I'd still like to make it.
So could someone help me workout the problems?
1. I want it to include modern card profiles.
2. I need to eliminate those errors. (about the arial font.)
Basically it's the same as the original, except it includes some basic perks that everyone would like. I you have a suggestion of your own I'd like to hear it.
Tribes 2 doesn't have to be "installed", just exist somewhere on your hard disk.
In other words, a self-extracting ZIP would work just fine.
Still, the trust issues are pretty huge. If I need to match hashes on all the files, I might as well just install using the existing installer.
As for automatically setting video card settings, really now? This is the big improvement that you're going for?
1. Increased max bots to 60 (Thinking about making that higher.)
2. Increased max player to 128 (Thinking about making that higher.)
3. Increased number of maps that support bots.
4. Changed the way maps are stored.*
5. Decreased installer size to 511MB
The reason I even mentioned card profiles is because I thought that might be causing a few errors on some computers. After all, I've had tribes give errors on a bunch of computers. How it was installed didn't seem to matter. I want to change that with a newer, better installer that includes fixes. As for trust, only through time I can prove my trustworthiness. Once I finally come up with an installer, I encourage anyone skeptical of what I have done to scrutinize the hell out of it.
* I repackaged the maps so that all the files are in a single .vl2 file. (subject to change)
Any other suggestions or objections?
Thyth, is it ok that I removed the dead internet shortcuts from the start menu and replaced them with a link to the downloads section here?
Also, on the add remove programs list, I kept Dynamix listed as the publisher, but I replaced the update and support links to their corresponding pages on tribesnext.com. Ok?
Bear in mind that I HAVE REMOVED the TribesNext patch and kept the original READMEs and EULA even for Tribal IDE. I'm still having trouble with that Arial font error, though it seems to only happen on some computers.
What do you think?
I started off by replacing broadside's .mis and .ter files with fresh copies from the installer on this ste, but that didn't work. I then removed all .ter files and .mis files except for broadside's .mis file, and it still manages to do the same thing! It actually loads thin ice despite it being the wrong mission and my having deleted it too!
I'm stumped here... help.
So as it stands, here are the features of my installer:
1 Max bots allowed set to 60
2 Max total players increased to 128
3 More maps support bots
4 Includes Tribal IDE along with the TorqueScript Reference
5 Includes DSO remover and my Advanced Cache Deleter
6 All .mis files are unpacked in the missions folder for easy editing
7 The installer does NOT include any reference to Tribes Next.
I still would like to hear some suggestions on how I should distribute it.
When that happens to me I had just opened Base.vl2 as a zip file and started the game, forgetting to change it back. When I do change it back, it will still pop up until you delete the fonts folder in the mod folder that you started tribes with. But that's just me, it may be different for you.
That has also happened to me before, it's most likely a syntax error in the mission file. Host a game in the host tab and quickly hit the grave key(~) for console, when it pops up, you should be able to scroll and see a syntax error when the load stage executes the mission file. That being the case, it will automatically cycle missions to the next valid one.
Right now I'm adding bot support to more missions, and I'm going to update my Advanced Cache Deleter to be the only cleanup util necessary.
Once I get it ready, I'll post a torrent file for it here, if that's ok with Thyth.
There are 2 things you need to know, though.
1 Put it in the GameData directory and create a shortcut to it.
2 It'll refuse to do anything if you installed tribes in the C:\Dynamix folder. The reason is that the settings deleter would probably zap all your tribes files if it didn't.
I'm anxious to hear what you guys think!
Scroll down a few posts to download the newer version.
After a third reading, I saw where the main menu was. Why did you sort it so far out of order anyway? I just assumed that it went straight into the full delete.
As for the virtualstore folder, that' where my computer is storing all the DSOs and settings. I'm running 7 64 bit.
I added bot support to what I consider the best courses.
The following CTF missions have bot support:
Acid Rain Archipelago
Beggar's Run Damnation
Death Birds Fly Desiccator
Dust to Dust Hillside
Katabatic Lakefront
Magmatic Minotaur
Raindance Recalescence
Reversion Riverdance
Rollercoaster Sanctuary
Sandstorm Slapdash
Starfallen Thin Ice
Tombstone
There were some courses where the bots just weren't smart enough to navigate on their own, so I didn't add bot support to them.
I'd like for someone to fix the way the bots navigate.
Other than that, just tell me how to distribute it. The current size is 509MB.
I'd do a lot of these mods myself, but I really don't know how.
There is something I'd like some feedback on, though. Would the majority of you guys like for the bots to chat less? (prevent them from saying "defend our base!", "Thank you", and "You're welcome.")
Please tell me if you'd like that.
When using Vista or 7, if you modify a mission, the modified mission and terrain files will be stored in the Virtual store folder. The settings deleter in ACD deletes all files in that folder, so that would erase your modified missions.
Please download this new version and delete the old one to avoid any problems.
No offense just curious.
I plan on registering at TPB and posting a torrent for my installer here as soon as I am satisfied with the Bot support. Initial seeding will be slow, because I only have a 256k upload rate.