Down with MBP 1.03! All Hail 1.10
by Matan · in Marble Blast · 07/22/2008 (4:40 am) · 4 replies
Hey all,
You might be wondering what has happened with MBP 1.03 and why is it called MBP 1.10 now. Well then, here's our excuse:
The community had given us a lot of input from the very start of Marble Blast Platinum. We got complaints on the installations, we got complaints on bugs and errors (especially from the 1.02's OOB message that quits your MBP [one member got really mad when he was about to beat a very hard level when the game had quit]), we got complaints on some features [Anti-Hack system among others] but above all: suggestions.
Well, we took everything in [and shed a few tears] and started working to do everything you wanted. However, it was not enough to make it 1.10. So what did?
Towards the end of making Marble Blast Platinum 1.00 our coder, Spy47, had the vision of making leaderboards. Unfortunately we ran out of time so we never got around to finish it. Until today. At this time of post, the leaderboards system is now in beta testing and still being developed. This build is so good, that we had to re-write quite a lot of codes so that everything will run smoothly!
So let's talk about the leaderboards environment and what should you expect to see in it, and in MBP 1.10:
First off, the Anti-Hack is removed from the MBP side of the game, so you can press Play and modify any level to your wish without the error handler screaming that you can't play the level because it was modified.
However, it does come back for the leaderboards. The leaderboards system will be completely a non-cheating environment. Since everyone will now be able to play in a non-cheating method, the leaderboards system will now become the community's official leaderboards instead of the forums.
When you enter the leaderboards area, you'll be required to enter your own username and password! That's right, you get your very own account! Once inside, you'll immediately join the chat room area, where you can talk to anyone who's online! Furthermore, you can add your own friends!
You'll also notice a button that leads to the gameplay area. In that area you'll be connecting to our server which will give you your own top-10 times for a certain level as well as the global leaderboards, to the top 10 players. You can also check the global leaderboards and see your rating total compared to the top 10.
Another thing you'll notice is the introduction of many achievements. All those achievements are found in the leaderboards section only, and only 8 of them can be found in the normal-MBP environment. Some of these achievements relate to Marble Blast Gold and another referring to a GarageGames marble. So what is it about?
There are FOUR leaderboards:
- Marble Blast Gold : That's right, all 100 levels! Some were modified and new screenshots were taken to make them awesome!
- Marble Blast Platinum : Play the original 120 levels with a lot of all new modifications.
- Marble Blast Platinum - GarageGames Marble : Play the entire Marble Blast Platinum again with a single marble which is 1.5 times the size you're used to. Some levels had been modified for that marble but otherwise the rest are fine.
- Custom Levels
For more information, we have set up a small Question-Answer space that will answer some of your most important questions.
So what else is new for 1.10? Here're a few listed fixes and additions (of 80+ in total!) :
- Many level changes, now including an Easter Egg in each level and a UT Tip at the top of the mission files.
- A few community suggestions are now part of MBP 1.10, such as a cancel button if you press the demo recording button by accident.
- GUI fixes
- New marbles and many new custom marbles and many fixes to previous marbles such as 'Mid-P' and '3D Marble' now sized to match the originals.
- Teleport Timer! Now you can teleport the marble faster or slower with your own customizable teleport. Deafult at 2.5 seconds.
- When taking screenshots using Ctrl+L, they will be taken in PNG rather than JPG, thus fix a serious crash that occured when you switched to the level in the level selection screen.
- New texturings such as the Time Modifier and Random Powerup items! We even included the old texture of the Random Powerup for those who like the old one more. Other textures are level specifics.
- Added many things to the Help/About section and renamed it to Manual.
- Customizable screen resolution option
To see all changes made for 1.10, check the topic that will be created for it with the release of MBP 1.10.
Finally, we have this to say:
Because Marble Blast Platinum 1.10 is so big and had been modified a lot from the original MBP, we had to create a new installer for it so it'll make things easier. The Windows/Linux installer will remain the same [just with the new additions] and will have a modified 'After Installation Instructions' text file. The Macintosh one will now be fully-automatic, with the MBP Alpha Installer now releasing in a final version. No more painful and confusing instructions!
We hope you'll enjoy MBP 1.10,
- The Marble Blast Platinum Team
You might be wondering what has happened with MBP 1.03 and why is it called MBP 1.10 now. Well then, here's our excuse:
The community had given us a lot of input from the very start of Marble Blast Platinum. We got complaints on the installations, we got complaints on bugs and errors (especially from the 1.02's OOB message that quits your MBP [one member got really mad when he was about to beat a very hard level when the game had quit]), we got complaints on some features [Anti-Hack system among others] but above all: suggestions.
Well, we took everything in [and shed a few tears] and started working to do everything you wanted. However, it was not enough to make it 1.10. So what did?
Towards the end of making Marble Blast Platinum 1.00 our coder, Spy47, had the vision of making leaderboards. Unfortunately we ran out of time so we never got around to finish it. Until today. At this time of post, the leaderboards system is now in beta testing and still being developed. This build is so good, that we had to re-write quite a lot of codes so that everything will run smoothly!
So let's talk about the leaderboards environment and what should you expect to see in it, and in MBP 1.10:
First off, the Anti-Hack is removed from the MBP side of the game, so you can press Play and modify any level to your wish without the error handler screaming that you can't play the level because it was modified.
However, it does come back for the leaderboards. The leaderboards system will be completely a non-cheating environment. Since everyone will now be able to play in a non-cheating method, the leaderboards system will now become the community's official leaderboards instead of the forums.
When you enter the leaderboards area, you'll be required to enter your own username and password! That's right, you get your very own account! Once inside, you'll immediately join the chat room area, where you can talk to anyone who's online! Furthermore, you can add your own friends!
You'll also notice a button that leads to the gameplay area. In that area you'll be connecting to our server which will give you your own top-10 times for a certain level as well as the global leaderboards, to the top 10 players. You can also check the global leaderboards and see your rating total compared to the top 10.
Another thing you'll notice is the introduction of many achievements. All those achievements are found in the leaderboards section only, and only 8 of them can be found in the normal-MBP environment. Some of these achievements relate to Marble Blast Gold and another referring to a GarageGames marble. So what is it about?
There are FOUR leaderboards:
- Marble Blast Gold : That's right, all 100 levels! Some were modified and new screenshots were taken to make them awesome!
- Marble Blast Platinum : Play the original 120 levels with a lot of all new modifications.
- Marble Blast Platinum - GarageGames Marble : Play the entire Marble Blast Platinum again with a single marble which is 1.5 times the size you're used to. Some levels had been modified for that marble but otherwise the rest are fine.
- Custom Levels
For more information, we have set up a small Question-Answer space that will answer some of your most important questions.
So what else is new for 1.10? Here're a few listed fixes and additions (of 80+ in total!) :
- Many level changes, now including an Easter Egg in each level and a UT Tip at the top of the mission files.
- A few community suggestions are now part of MBP 1.10, such as a cancel button if you press the demo recording button by accident.
- GUI fixes
- New marbles and many new custom marbles and many fixes to previous marbles such as 'Mid-P' and '3D Marble' now sized to match the originals.
- Teleport Timer! Now you can teleport the marble faster or slower with your own customizable teleport. Deafult at 2.5 seconds.
- When taking screenshots using Ctrl+L, they will be taken in PNG rather than JPG, thus fix a serious crash that occured when you switched to the level in the level selection screen.
- New texturings such as the Time Modifier and Random Powerup items! We even included the old texture of the Random Powerup for those who like the old one more. Other textures are level specifics.
- Added many things to the Help/About section and renamed it to Manual.
- Customizable screen resolution option
To see all changes made for 1.10, check the topic that will be created for it with the release of MBP 1.10.
Finally, we have this to say:
Because Marble Blast Platinum 1.10 is so big and had been modified a lot from the original MBP, we had to create a new installer for it so it'll make things easier. The Windows/Linux installer will remain the same [just with the new additions] and will have a modified 'After Installation Instructions' text file. The Macintosh one will now be fully-automatic, with the MBP Alpha Installer now releasing in a final version. No more painful and confusing instructions!
We hope you'll enjoy MBP 1.10,
- The Marble Blast Platinum Team
#2
Other things i like:
LeaderBoards (why not)
New Marble Textures
Teleport Timer
Customizable Screen Resalution - Sometimes this clumsy moniter for my moms new PC Blocks half of the screen in black! Gr!
New p-up Textures p-up means powerup incase you don't know.
OH MY GOD 340 LEVELS
(if i could spam it would be 1000000 omgs!!!!!!!)
WOW! NICE ONE
07/30/2008 (8:18 pm)
I like the Cancel Button for the Recorder. lots of times i've accidently hit that button. i also like the new Picture taker thing. Now i can make pictures! Other things i like:
LeaderBoards (why not)
New Marble Textures
Teleport Timer
Customizable Screen Resalution - Sometimes this clumsy moniter for my moms new PC Blocks half of the screen in black! Gr!
New p-up Textures p-up means powerup incase you don't know.
OH MY GOD 340 LEVELS
(if i could spam it would be 1000000 omgs!!!!!!!)
WOW! NICE ONE
#3
I'm a person that constantly mods his own version of MBG/P and needs to reinstall games all the time, so I can't keep manually installing the updates every time I install it.
Just have the downloads already the newest version so people that are new to Marble Blast can jump right in.
08/03/2008 (7:32 pm)
Can you ask Phil to update the .dmg and .zip file downloads with the newest versions as soon as they come out?I'm a person that constantly mods his own version of MBG/P and needs to reinstall games all the time, so I can't keep manually installing the updates every time I install it.
Just have the downloads already the newest version so people that are new to Marble Blast can jump right in.
#4
EDIT: to the post above myn. They probably already planned that as Version 1.01 and 1.02 were packed along with ultimate into the full download.
09/04/2008 (1:25 pm)
Hm. does this increase the chances of multiplayer? i mean. since you managed to get an actual server up. then that could potentially allow seen servers. only problem is finishing. but hey. what about that video of you matan vs jase. everything looked like it worked great. exept a good fact we would like is a collison mesh for the marbles and multiple start areas. collison mesh so that marbles don't just go flash right through each other. Multiple start areas so marble don't stand one ontop of the other. and set Gems to points like in IA's version. you must think i'm stupid to say this becuase you might say "Speaking of IA have you forgotten they made multiplayer?" well no i didn't and please read the whole post. having mbp multiplayer would be plain cool. cuz then... you can play with the Random Powerup. and we can play on any new levels. it would be perfect.EDIT: to the post above myn. They probably already planned that as Version 1.01 and 1.02 were packed along with ultimate into the full download.
Matan
- The leaderboards are an enhancement implemented into Marble Blast Platinum to allow the player to play against different players around the globe in a competitive leaderboards environment. The player may collect Achievements to further enhance his/her rating globally and thus reach higher scores in the leaderboards.
I am a current holder of a World Record or ranked 2nd or 3rd in the Leaderboards found in the Marble Blast Forums. What will happen to those records?
- Assuming you have an account and had registered, you may request to manually have the staff transfer your times over to the new leaderboards [think about the poor staff and request it ASAP!].
Why wasn't my time for level 'X' had been transferred?
- Marble Blast Platinum 1.10 contains many new additions to levels and changes them. Because of these modifications, some levels had been changed [route used may have been modified] and as such their current time no longer holds. Players will have to work again on those levels in order to reach low times.
How many points do I get awarded in every achievement?
- Awarded rating points are not given to you at any given stage. The only real way to tell the estimated amount of points you get per achievement is to check your global score before and after achievement being unlocked and finding the difference.
How can I tell how many points do I get for a certain time? Is there a formula?
- The formula for the rating system is not available for public. It basically contains several random values that change in each level, thus make every level's rating formula unique. Those values can be found in the mission files.
An example of a completed mission file now containing the new values:
// UT Tip: It's the same route as you're used to, just with a few minor adjustments.
//--- OBJECT WRITE BEGIN ---
new SimGroup(MissionGroup) {
new ScriptObject(MissionInfo) {
desc = "Welcome to the Battlecube Series!\nThis series is dedicated to Alex Swanson.\nHave fun!";
name = "Battlecube";
level = "25";
artist = "Matan Weissman/Alex Swanson";
type = "beginner";
startHelpText = "Find the diamonds but don\'t fall off!";
time = "60000";
goldTime = "33000";
UltimateTime = "23000";
PlatinumBonus = "1500";
UltimateBonus = "2600";
Standardiser = "17500";
BaseScore = "35000";
BaseMultiplier = "2";
The Achievement, 'The Dragon's Destiny', requires me to hit both 65 million points in the global leaderboards and to have my username displayed in 300 levels. The ratings won't allow to reach such high scores, not to mention that the release contains 340 levels, the competition will be too tough! How can I even reach this?
- Leaderboard achievements award players with rating points for their global rating score as they unlock those. While the award score is not shown for any achievement, be sure that the more you unlock, the further you get towards the 65 million points goal. Hint: The achievement does not require to get every single Ultimate Time, Gold Time or Achievement, but does require most of these in order to pass.
With regards to the amount of levels, more levels will be released as time passes. Be sure to download future updates which will include many custom levels which will help towards that final achievement.
What will happen with the Custom Levels World Records? Will those also be transferred?
- Unfortunately, not. You will have to work on those levels again.
How come my levels do not appear in the Custom Leaderboards? Aren't they good enough?
- The only 'automatically added' levels are any MBP Staff level [either MBG or MBP] made at any time [so their first level and onwards, but they reserve the right to choose which levels].
The only other ways are:
- Be placed at the top 3 of any Level of the Month (2007 onwards)
- Winner OR Runner Up in the Level Competitions.
Currently there is no other way, but we might (read: most likely not to happen but who knows) add others but that could be from our own choice.
I'm a Macintosh user, will I be able to play?
We don't know yet about those. There have been quite a few ongoing problems and we're not sure if those will work. You can always try!