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.
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Comments

  • Thyth is pretty adamant on giving out the Tribes 2 installer only in its original format as it appeared on FilePlanet. You will not be distributing your own version of the installer through this site.
  • To avoid any legal liability, we distribute the original freeware installer, and a user applied patch. Consequently, we will not permit linking to an installer that is pre-patched on this site, and cannot permit you to claim that it is a TribesNext installer of any sort.

    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.
  • I was worried that would be the case. I planned on releasing it with all the original credits and eula n stuff.

    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.
  • If you leave out the TribesNext patch, and adhere to the restrictions I outlined above, go wild.
  • Ok, cool.

    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.
  • Uh, you know you don't need to package it in an MSI, right?

    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?
  • Things done so far
    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)
  • Moved to Mods and Customization, since this is not a support issue.
  • I've been browsing the forums and have decided it would probably be a good idea to add tribal ide and the torquescript reference into my installation to be accessible from the start menu.

    Any other suggestions or objections?
  • Ok, I think I'm ready to distribute my installer, but first I've got some questions for Thyth.

    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?
  • For legal liability reasons, that is not acceptable.
  • I'll remove all reference to TribesNext then. Now how does it sound?
  • That sounds fine.
  • Well, then. How do you recommend I distribute it?
  • I've got a problem now. When I load broadside, it screws up and loads thin ice. :-\

    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.
  • I figured it out. Tribes 2 was storing settings and DSO files in %USERPROFILES%\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\Dynamix\Tribes2". I took Metallic DSO remover and modified it into what I call Advanced Cache Deleter which deletes all settings and dso files out of all the folders. This could also fix other errors like the arial font error I described earlier, but it's too late at night for me to test that now.

    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.
  • 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.

    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.
    I've got a problem now. When I load broadside, it screws up and loads thin ice. :-\

    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.
  • Thanks for the input, but I've already fixed the problems.

    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.
  • edited October 2009
    My Advanced Cache Deleter is now ready for everyone.

    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.
  • Don't be a dick. I said it wouldn't do anything in those circumstances as a safeguard. If you don't trust it, open it up in notepad.
  • I did open it up in notepad. My first instinct was that the thing deleted your Tribes 2 folder. After re-reading it, I saw %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\VirtualStore which is a folder I don't recognize. Is this Vista/7 specific or something? It doesn't exist on my XP system, and surely doesn't exist on pre-XP. Nobody on #tribes seemed to know what's in there, and someone with Vista said the folder was completely empty.

    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.
  • I was having some problems getting choice to work. At first I thought is was the GOTO command giving problems, so I rearranged things.

    As for the virtualstore folder, that' where my computer is storing all the DSOs and settings. I'm running 7 64 bit.
  • My new installer is good enough to distribute now. How should I distribute it?

    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.
  • Is it safe for me to register at TPB so I can distribute my new package?
  • Would someone modify the hud for flying vehicles to include a boresight symbol?
    I'd do a lot of these mods myself, but I really don't know how.
  • I'm adding deploy inventory station and turret objectives to the courses which have AI support. I've also created deploy motion sensor objectives and the ability to create them from within the AI editor.

    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.
  • edited October 2009
    I've identified a problem with ACD.
    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.
  • Is anyone actually keeping up with this thread?
    No offense just curious.
  • Yeah, I'm a little disappointed with the lack of feedback I'm getting. If any of you have any (constructive) suggestions, please post them.

    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.
  • 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 can't help you there. But I do estimate the installing computer will need at least 512 MB RAM and 5 GB Free space (trust me)
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