Airship Dragoon Beta Demo
by Steve Acaster · 08/16/2013 (6:17 pm) · 38 comments
Got some free time over the weekend? Maybe you'll like to try this. Not the final version of the demo, just the beta.
yorks.deta.in/download/AirshipDragoonDemo.exe
The demo comprises of one single battle level - you have to play the redcoats, in a temperate environment, with clear weather, on a Clear Area mission. All settings are medium. That doesn't mean the Ai will always pick the same team or tactics, and deployment zones are randomized (there's 4 each level).
Known issues:
The GUIs are laggy, it takes a full second for the canvas to push a dialog.
That's about it, just a few little tweaks I'd like to make.
------------------------
I had used the Torque3D 3.0 MIT zip system, and I'm quite certain that has caused the laggyness. Also *.ogg files really do not like to be zipped and can cause the application to hang. Zips also really don't like recast navMehses. Good news on the zip front is that password protection works fine.
*.mis.dso fails as the application cannot find the MissionGroup. I can't remember if you're actually supposed to compile the *.mis files or not ... I'm beginning to think not.
It's been about 3 years since I last had to package a demo so my mind is pretty blank on how I did it last time. It's distributed in the free version of the clickteam installer - I think I used Inno last time.
Anyway, if you've got a spare half hour give it a play. And remember to RTFM.
Oh and as ever, thanks to Ronny for the bandwidth.
About the author
One Bloke ... In His Bedroom ... Making Indie Games ...
#2
08/16/2013 (7:55 pm)
I think you can zip it up though. 
#3
They can be compiled, but....they are not loaded/exec'ed. But2.... I haven compiled .mis files and in script where the mission file is loaded I've added an isFile( missionfile.mis.dso). If found then exec the .dso if not exec the .mis
The download of your game is finished, so I leave...
08/17/2013 (2:43 am)
Congratulations Steve, downloading now.Quote:*.mis.dso fails as the application cannot find the MissionGroup. I can't remember if you're actually supposed to compile the *.mis files or not ... I'm beginning to think not.
They can be compiled, but....they are not loaded/exec'ed. But2.... I haven compiled .mis files and in script where the mission file is loaded I've added an isFile( missionfile.mis.dso). If found then exec the .dso if not exec the .mis
The download of your game is finished, so I leave...
#4
08/17/2013 (3:11 am)
Good on you, Steve. I'll grab this and have a crack as soon as I have more bandwidth to play with. Stupid backwards country!
#5
08/17/2013 (4:36 am)
Aye, been a years since I packaged anything for export ... memory too hazy to remember all of the ins and outs of it! :P 
#6
08/17/2013 (6:09 am)
Quote:I'll grab this and have a crackDan you shouldn't be taking drugs man..
#7
08/17/2013 (2:59 pm)
Nice. I shall have to try this out.Quote:Zips also really don't like recast navMehses.Oh dear... did they end up working in the end? Or did you have to leave them outside the zip? I suspect this is because I didn't go through Torque's filesystem with the navmesh load/save code, just used C FILE pointers.
#8
Nope, le Zeep no likey le navmesh ...er .. ey!
Put them on a non zip folder with the same name (eg: levels/myNm.nm) then there is no problem.
I've never tried zip compression before, so, just figured I'd see how it went. Live and learn, baby! ... oh wait ... I'm not Telly Savalas
... wait... what?!
08/17/2013 (4:19 pm)
@ Mr BuckmasterNope, le Zeep no likey le navmesh ...er .. ey!
Put them on a non zip folder with the same name (eg: levels/myNm.nm) then there is no problem.
I've never tried zip compression before, so, just figured I'd see how it went. Live and learn, baby! ... oh wait ... I'm not Telly Savalas
... wait... what?!
#9
on the 'Tactical Battle Demonstration Game' load/deploy screen if you click one of the options boxes. ie. Objective: Clear Area, etc. you get the text repeated in black where you clicked. (not very important I know)
on the troop equipment screen you can select light armour for anyone by clicking All and selecting light Armour. It's not in any except Fusilier's class equipment (not sure if this is a bug but it's odd)
when you put a trooper into cautious advance mode sometimes the troops start bouncing from standing to crouching and back (very annoying)
..
Thats all so far, can't wait to play the full thing :-)
08/17/2013 (6:08 pm)
ok, here are the bugs I have spotted so far:-on the 'Tactical Battle Demonstration Game' load/deploy screen if you click one of the options boxes. ie. Objective: Clear Area, etc. you get the text repeated in black where you clicked. (not very important I know)
on the troop equipment screen you can select light armour for anyone by clicking All and selecting light Armour. It's not in any except Fusilier's class equipment (not sure if this is a bug but it's odd)
when you put a trooper into cautious advance mode sometimes the troops start bouncing from standing to crouching and back (very annoying)
..
Thats all so far, can't wait to play the full thing :-)
#10
I wanted to comment now as I think my first impressions are the most important to getting a player to continue.
My first impressions, I didn't understand the equipment and deployment screens very well, I moved people over to be deployed but it would be better if they where removed from the first list.
I would like to be told when it is my turn.
I noticed I found it hard to see where I can go (mouse look a bit sensitive maybe limit the angles?) or if my soldier sees someone. Maybe an easier mode to show the bad guys location in the distance? I would even suggest an easy mode to show where the enemy troops are at all times?
I also didn't feel the messages where noticeable, "Out of range" etc again an easy mode to show distance to target and my effective range could give a clue, maybe even a rendered circle area to show how far my range is currently?
I usually zoomed out to move my troops, and I noticed if I told someone to move and then went to move the next while they moved they would stop. I wanted to quickly move my troops about to get in to the action!
The buttons are a bit confusing which is on/off. And what they do. I am guessing you'll have a tutorial to guide a new player a bit.
The thing I liked the most was the atmosphere, I liked to look at the painted look of the world, an option to draw the grass and higher detail at a further distance would be nice :-).
I will give it another go tonight. I was wondering how to put them in to crouch, maybe I should read the instructions, but hey I always jump straight in to a game and I think most players do?
So somethings I mentioned there maybe a feature for, so sorry if it is I just didn't notice how to do it, which I would say is often the case with games features get lost if they aren't clear to the player. With that said is there a shortcut for "move", I attempted 'm'.
@David I thought it was a feature to give any equipment to any class, but they'll be less effective with it, which I thought was cool. So I could give my sapper a .303 rifle etc.
Thanks Steve it's a fun game, and I felt sorry for my guys that I ran to their deaths and "went nuts" as I left them in the open.
08/17/2013 (7:49 pm)
Hey Steve I was enjoying playing it last night and will try to get time to play again.I wanted to comment now as I think my first impressions are the most important to getting a player to continue.
My first impressions, I didn't understand the equipment and deployment screens very well, I moved people over to be deployed but it would be better if they where removed from the first list.
I would like to be told when it is my turn.
I noticed I found it hard to see where I can go (mouse look a bit sensitive maybe limit the angles?) or if my soldier sees someone. Maybe an easier mode to show the bad guys location in the distance? I would even suggest an easy mode to show where the enemy troops are at all times?
I also didn't feel the messages where noticeable, "Out of range" etc again an easy mode to show distance to target and my effective range could give a clue, maybe even a rendered circle area to show how far my range is currently?
I usually zoomed out to move my troops, and I noticed if I told someone to move and then went to move the next while they moved they would stop. I wanted to quickly move my troops about to get in to the action!
The buttons are a bit confusing which is on/off. And what they do. I am guessing you'll have a tutorial to guide a new player a bit.
The thing I liked the most was the atmosphere, I liked to look at the painted look of the world, an option to draw the grass and higher detail at a further distance would be nice :-).
I will give it another go tonight. I was wondering how to put them in to crouch, maybe I should read the instructions, but hey I always jump straight in to a game and I think most players do?
So somethings I mentioned there maybe a feature for, so sorry if it is I just didn't notice how to do it, which I would say is often the case with games features get lost if they aren't clear to the player. With that said is there a shortcut for "move", I attempted 'm'.
@David I thought it was a feature to give any equipment to any class, but they'll be less effective with it, which I thought was cool. So I could give my sapper a .303 rifle etc.
Thanks Steve it's a fun game, and I felt sorry for my guys that I ran to their deaths and "went nuts" as I left them in the open.
#11
@Steve, a quick equip button that equips a troop with his basic class equipment would be useful and maybe a load ammo button to quickly equip ammo for your selected weapons.
@Edward, you crouch by using the slider at the bottom right.
@Steve, 3 icons for crouch, walk, charge would be more explanatory.
For a Beta, It's pretty stable :-)
08/18/2013 (3:39 am)
I have to agree the equipment and deployment screens where a bit confusing the first time around.@Steve, a quick equip button that equips a troop with his basic class equipment would be useful and maybe a load ammo button to quickly equip ammo for your selected weapons.
@Edward, you crouch by using the slider at the bottom right.
@Steve, 3 icons for crouch, walk, charge would be more explanatory.
For a Beta, It's pretty stable :-)
#12
Yeah I'd have to agree with David, it is very good for a beta! I didn't want to mention too many good things or you'll think its done...
Just hoping to give an insight to make it even better :-)
08/18/2013 (3:47 am)
@David ah the slider, I was a bit scared to touch that. I thought it was to set how passive/aggressive they'll be.Yeah I'd have to agree with David, it is very good for a beta! I didn't want to mention too many good things or you'll think its done...
Just hoping to give an insight to make it even better :-)
#13
On the battle screen you don't get a choice on the options for the demo. There's sliders and stuff in the real game.
Yep, the deploy screen is a bit complicated. It's a sort of thing that the player learns to use - check instructions button in the top right corner of the screen if you get lost.
Light Armour is a Fusilier class item, so it's only in the Fusilier class. Other classes take a negative Actions modifier if deployed with it (but do get the protection it offers) - if you toggle info and then the item button you can get info on it.
You can equip one troop and then selected one of the "clone class/all" buttons to save you doing all of them individually. You'll get a warning if there's an issue (eg: some troops not strong enough to carry it all).
Bouncing crouched troops? Not on my PC unless there's some sort of loss of focus. I'm using a forced update on pose to get the Ai to animate properly (because stock T3D is a bit knackered with this).
I don't want a "range of movement ring" because I want the player to make the decision whether they can get into cover or leave their fella in the open. With practise you get a feel of how far everyone moves, but it's still a bit open to whether they can make it or whether they will be left exposed to fire.
Options (top right) -> Instructions buttons will give the Tactical Battle manual. Whatever screen you're on (deploy, battle, campaigns, etc) will automatically display that information, but you can select any buttons to read the instructions for everything. Also available in the Main Menu.
Thanks for the feedback chaps, more welcomed!
[edit]
08/18/2013 (8:27 am)
'Ello chaps.On the battle screen you don't get a choice on the options for the demo. There's sliders and stuff in the real game.
Yep, the deploy screen is a bit complicated. It's a sort of thing that the player learns to use - check instructions button in the top right corner of the screen if you get lost.
Light Armour is a Fusilier class item, so it's only in the Fusilier class. Other classes take a negative Actions modifier if deployed with it (but do get the protection it offers) - if you toggle info and then the item button you can get info on it.
You can equip one troop and then selected one of the "clone class/all" buttons to save you doing all of them individually. You'll get a warning if there's an issue (eg: some troops not strong enough to carry it all).
Bouncing crouched troops? Not on my PC unless there's some sort of loss of focus. I'm using a forced update on pose to get the Ai to animate properly (because stock T3D is a bit knackered with this).
I don't want a "range of movement ring" because I want the player to make the decision whether they can get into cover or leave their fella in the open. With practise you get a feel of how far everyone moves, but it's still a bit open to whether they can make it or whether they will be left exposed to fire.
Options (top right) -> Instructions buttons will give the Tactical Battle manual. Whatever screen you're on (deploy, battle, campaigns, etc) will automatically display that information, but you can select any buttons to read the instructions for everything. Also available in the Main Menu.
Thanks for the feedback chaps, more welcomed!
[edit]
Quote:you get the text repeated in black where you clicked. (not very important I know)Oh yeah ... that shouldn't be happening! Using the wrong textGui, GuiBubbletextCtrl- should be GuiTextCtrl
#14
08/18/2013 (9:41 am)
another quick game just reminded me about another niggle, sometimes when you move you seem to overshoot your destination and turn around to face the wrong direction, I seem to think I remember reading somewhere in the forum about this problem, am playing again now so will post problems if I come across them :-) 
#15
Make T3D Read Binary Mission DSO Files (For Release Builds)
08/18/2013 (11:39 am)
Steve I have a resource to get compiled DSOs to work its a one line changeMake T3D Read Binary Mission DSO Files (For Release Builds)
#16
If you look in the background you will see another Dragoon doing the same
08/18/2013 (3:15 pm)
There still bobing when crouched on my copyIf you look in the background you will see another Dragoon doing the same
#17
Check your FPS. I reckon it's losing focus on the engine's need for 32ms updates. Try lowering lighting to "low" setting. That'll disable shadows.
08/18/2013 (5:15 pm)
@DavidCheck your FPS. I reckon it's losing focus on the engine's need for 32ms updates. Try lowering lighting to "low" setting. That'll disable shadows.
#18
08/18/2013 (6:02 pm)
@Steve, lowering my screen rez, dropping most settings etc. seems to have fixed it, annoying to say I can run Crysis at max everything Lol
#19
I'm on a crap old PC with a GTS250 (512mb) and get a constant 60fps with all settings on medium.
You have updated Dx and your GPU drivers?
[edit]
Actually having said that I tend to run at 720p. At fullscreen 1080p I get 30 fps (even with all settings maxed - there's no performance change at 1080) and no bobbing.
In other news, I lengthened the move raycast to take in the total battle area (no more too far message - just the out of bounds one), and have tried some different - and completely superior in all respects - encryption, goodbye laggy Guis. Troops can still overshoot in Charge! mode.
08/19/2013 (6:39 am)
You're not on a laptop or something? Your primary GPU is the one doing the work? I'm on a crap old PC with a GTS250 (512mb) and get a constant 60fps with all settings on medium.
You have updated Dx and your GPU drivers?
[edit]
Actually having said that I tend to run at 720p. At fullscreen 1080p I get 30 fps (even with all settings maxed - there's no performance change at 1080) and no bobbing.
In other news, I lengthened the move raycast to take in the total battle area (no more too far message - just the out of bounds one), and have tried some different - and completely superior in all respects - encryption, goodbye laggy Guis. Troops can still overshoot in Charge! mode.
#20
I installed the game, no issues, runs flawlessly.
As not a big fan of that kind of games I didn't understand very well how to play it, but tomorrow when I have more free time and will give it a try again.
By the way it's always good for the first launch of the game to start at Fullscreen (makes better impression), so have it in mind for the official release :)
08/19/2013 (8:28 am)
congrats Steve,I installed the game, no issues, runs flawlessly.
As not a big fan of that kind of games I didn't understand very well how to play it, but tomorrow when I have more free time and will give it a try again.
By the way it's always good for the first launch of the game to start at Fullscreen (makes better impression), so have it in mind for the official release :)
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