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Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Sun, 21 October 2007 12:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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Nova was trucking along nicely. The race designer is finished. Job done. Lots of other stuff to do, though.

But, due to health problems I have to call it "a day". I'm moving all the stuff to SourceForge. I should get that sorted out in time. The code is there ... I just have to sort out the web.

That is my job for tomorrow. Sorry folks. I've made (I think) a good start with Nova. But, if any one cares, it is up to them to pick up the project now.

Hey! I've actuallly got a refrence in Wikapedia (sorry about the spelling but vallium does strange things to your mind). great while you are taking it ... hell when you stop.

Bye folks! I've met some nice people. But ...

Cheers guys, sorry I didn't manage to finish Nova.

Ken


Ken



Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Sun, 21 October 2007 21:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
AlexTheGreat is currently offline AlexTheGreat

 
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ken-reed wrote on Sun, 21 October 2007 12:09

Nova was trucking along nicely. The race designer is finished. Job done. Lots of other stuff to do, though.

But, due to health problems I have to call it "a day". I'm moving all the stuff to SourceForge. I should get that sorted out in time. The code is there ... I just have to sort out the web.

That is my job for tomorrow. Sorry folks. I've made (I think) a good start with Nova. But, if any one cares, it is up to them to pick up the project now.

Hey! I've actuallly got a refrence in Wikapedia (sorry about the spelling but vallium does strange things to your mind). great while you are taking it ... hell when you stop.

Bye folks! I've met some nice people. But ...

Cheers guys, sorry I didn't manage to finish Nova.

Ken


Ken, I'm sure that lots of people reading this are really concerned!

I don't know what the problem is but I hope like hell that you can recover.

Thanks for everything!!!

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Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Mon, 22 October 2007 21:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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Thank you for the nice words. No, there is no chance of recovery. I'll get everything into sourceforge that I can.

Ken




Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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icon7.gif  Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Tue, 13 November 2007 17:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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Well, Nova isn't quite dead yet Smile

Here is a list of the more recent updates:

Implented the secondary racial trait cheap factories.

The documentation pages (what little there are) have all been converted to HTML (from aspx).

A new dialog has been added to the Component Editor to define mine-layers.

The Maximum Population Growth parameter has been implemented.

There is now a Scores report.

The Race Designer will now let you load a race file to look at and modify race files (only your own). Once subitted to a game, changes will have no effect. I now consider the Race Designer completed.

Race files can now optionally have a password to reload them. I can't see any reason to use this feature but there was stuff about encyption I wanted to learn.

Ken



Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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icon9.gif  Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Sun, 25 November 2007 03:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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All the code amd binaries for Nova are in SourceForge (project ID stars-nova). If someone wants to pick it up that would be nice. It's pretty close to Stars! version 1.0. No minefields yet though Sad

The web page will hang around for a week or so. But then it will be gone.

Regards

Ken



Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Sun, 25 November 2007 05:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
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ken-reed wrote on Sun, 25 November 2007 09:12

All the code amd binaries for Nova are in SourceForge (project ID stars-nova). If someone wants to pick it up that would be nice. It's pretty close to Stars! version 1.0. No minefields yet though Sad


The SourceForge page would be http://sourceforge.net/projects/stars-nova/ I guess.

The files there have a date of Nov 13th. Are those the latest?

Wish you well, my friend. Cheers



So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Fri, 30 November 2007 00:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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They are the most recent. But I've fixed a few very tiny bugs since then. I will post an update when I can but I'm not well just at the moment.


Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Thu, 03 January 2008 02:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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The stars-nova homepage has moved to:
http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net.

The NTLworld address will hang around for a bit then (once I've read how to do it) will automatically redirect people to the new address for a while. Then, due to getting a divorce, that page will vanish.

Now everything to do with Nova is in SourceForge (project stars-nova. URL:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/stars-nova




[Updated on: Thu, 03 January 2008 02:49]




Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Thu, 03 January 2008 10:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
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A single turn file sent to all players? Wow, mamma! Confused


So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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icon7.gif  Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Thu, 03 January 2008 11:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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One of the aims of Nova is Keep it simple! Some bits, such as the battle engine, are naturally complex. But, no reason why we can't use modern techniques Smile


Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Sat, 05 January 2008 07:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
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ken-reed wrote on Thu, 03 January 2008 17:28

One of the aims of Nova is Keep it simple! Some bits, such as the battle engine, are naturally complex. But, no reason why we can't use modern techniques Smile

I guessed so, but, what's so difficult about splitting turn-data into each player's own bucket? Sherlock

Plus, that would also avoid sending the same potentially big file to all players... Whip



So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Sat, 05 January 2008 08:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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Well, sad person that I am, I've adopted the Microsoft approach. E-mail and other resources are cheap, generating one file is cheaper in code than generating and distributing - oh, let's say say 5 separate files. Besides, the turn files are small - currently 26KB in the test game I'm running. It only includes updates to data stored locally on player's PCs.

The world has changed. Internet connectivity is cheap. People's time is expensive - not only in money (which does not apply to my Nova hobby) but in terms of time - I've lots of other things to do. I grab time to play with Nova when I can.

I'm implementing missile accuracy at the moment.

As I keep saying, this is just a learning project for me. The fact that we now have a very playable (open source) Stars! v1 is a very unexpected bonus Smile

One other point. I've now switched to the 2008 version of the (free) VS Express tools. They are nice but not compatible with earlier versions (but you just need to make a few tweaks to a few files so that they can be). Nova will also need version 3 of the .Net framework (also a free download).

I have one problem, I have VS 2005 which I was using for binary releases. This no longer works with the new 2008 VS Express versions.

I've added to my "list of things to do" a new binary release mechanism. I don't think that will happen before february. Sad (I've a divorce to sort out,find a new place to live and set up a new ISP, etc.)

The test game is going well. Everything pretty much works. Lots of stuff still to do (minefields for example). But, I've learned a lot (which was my intention) and I'm still learning (which is great).

All the latest stable stuff is in SourceForge. Including the Nova homepage, source code and latest binaries.



[Updated on: Sat, 05 January 2008 08:20]




Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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icon5.gif  Nova is not Stars! Thu, 10 January 2008 17:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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How close should Nova be to Stars!? I'm inviting a discussion here.

Nova was meant to be a personal excuse to learn a few new things. Wow! that has been a total sucesss! But, we have a new game here now. it works! Friends and I are playing it (yes, we are finding bugs but they are fixed within a day).

I've been speaking to some of my combat opponents of various Stars! games and they just simply do not use some options (for example, cheap engines ... nobody (in the crowd I'm in) has ever selected this option... that's just one of many examples.

Should I bother implemeneting it?

On the plus side, Some friends and I have being playing Nova and it seems to work just fine. The only gripe is "Ken, you must implement minefields soon". Right, Mine layers are now in the component database. In this month's release they will be in the ship designer, Next month they will actually lay mines.

The month after that the mines will be active. Sorry if things are a bit slow but I'm dealing with a divorce, change of job, finding a new home, sorting out a new ISP (my wife has grabbed my current one) and my liver is packing up (four pills four times a day).

For those "in the know" as Marvin said "Life? Dont't talk to me about life!.

Ken

PS Never give up, never surrender! If you have not seen starQuest you should Smile

PS Best regards to all, especialy the people who sent me e-mails wishing me well. They did wonders for my morale! Which is why Nova is still moving forward. Thank's guys!




Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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Re: Nova is not Stars! Thu, 10 January 2008 18:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dogthinkers is currently offline Dogthinkers

 
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ken-reed wrote on Fri, 11 January 2008 09:49

How close should Nova be to Stars!? I'm inviting a discussion here.


I'm a supporter of making a perfect clone, removing clear 'flaws'.... And only then making (optional) mods.

Quote:

it works! Friends and I are playing it (yes, we are finding bugs but they are fixed within a day).


w00t! Well done ken-reed, nice stuff!

Quote:


I've been speaking to some of my combat opponents of various Stars! games and they just simply do not use some options (for example, cheap engines ... nobody (in the crowd I'm in) has ever selected this option... that's just one of many examples.

Should I bother implemeneting it?


Well, I'm a CE addict... I've played it in something like 50% of my games. It's not suited to every race/universe I've played, but in the ones I've used it it has proven itself to be a worthy choice. So yeah, I'd want to see it in. I would tentatively suggest that you implement all the LRTs exactly as they are, but with a view to possibly tweaking some of them *later*, once the template of 'vanilla stars' is complete (example: later on, make MA with the MA LRT efficient enough to actually have value.)

Quote:

PS Best regards to all, especialy the people who sent me e-mails wishing me well. They did wonders for my morale! Which is why Nova is still moving forward. Thank's guys!


I'm one of the ones that's been sitting quietly, but attentively watching your progress (Nova) and silently wishing you well (the rest.)


[Updated on: Thu, 10 January 2008 18:16]

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Re: Nova is not Stars! Fri, 11 January 2008 09:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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OK, Stars clone (version 1.0) it will be. After that, who can say? Razz

There are quite a few things about Stars! I simply do not like. For example, intercepting hit-and-run tactics are hard Sad

Oh well, this has turned out to be one hell of an interesting "hobby"

Just to panic people Smile I've started learning SQL.

Regards,

Ken (with tongue firmly in cheek)

Razz



Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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Re: Nova is not Stars! Fri, 11 January 2008 13:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
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ken-reed wrote on Thu, 10 January 2008 23:49

How close should Nova be to Stars!? I'm inviting a discussion here.

I'd say, as close as you can possibly make it, within reasonable effort. Time for [lots of] tweaking/improving later. Cheers


Quote:

I've been speaking to some of my combat opponents of various Stars! games and they just simply do not use some options (for example, cheap engines ... nobody (in the crowd I'm in) has ever selected this option... that's just one of many examples.

Should I bother implemeneting it?

Why not, unless it was staggeringly difficult to cram in? Sherlock

Think of the "Primitive Stars" games, or the OWW races, or... Cool

But perhaps you should get minefields working 1st, mainly to counter those pesky "hit-and-runners" Twisted Evil



So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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icon14.gif  Re: Nova is not Stars! Fri, 11 January 2008 15:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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Right, doing missile accuracy at the moment. That will be in the January release. I'll then work on minefields (tricky - which is why I've been putting it off), that's a complex bit of coding - not just showing the field - that's simple - now, hitting ships going too fast through certain coordinates - that I will have to think about Razz


Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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icon5.gif  Re: Nova is not Stars! Fri, 11 January 2008 17:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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By the way, Nova really could do with more "pre-alpha testers". It basically works, there are a lot of features missing, but I need feedback on what to sort out next (bugs included).

The next major feature to do is minefields. (Implementation starts February).

But, if there is anyone who would just like to have a play and tell me what I've obviously got wrong, feel free. I will not be offended. In fact, I would welcome all comments (especially if they tell me how to fix the problem) Smile

Regards

Ken (still alive and kicking)



Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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Re: Nova is not Stars! Sun, 13 January 2008 01:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Coyote is currently offline Coyote

 
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ken-reed wrote on Fri, 11 January 2008 14:56

By the way, Nova really could do with more "pre-alpha testers". It basically works, there are a lot of features missing, but I need feedback on what to sort out next (bugs included).



It's easier to test compiled stuff Very Happy

ken-reed

..tell me what I've obviously got wrong, feel free. I will not be offended. In fact, I would welcome all comments (especially if they tell me how to fix the problem) Smile



Leave as much stuff as you can flexible and open to modding - not just techs but the race wizard too - and I'll be happy. I've got some thoughts for some interesting scenario games and also a very different race wizard ruleset as part of a mod / alternate set of rules.


[Updated on: Sun, 13 January 2008 01:13]

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Re: Nova is not Stars! Sun, 13 January 2008 04:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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Quote:


It's easier to test compiled stuff Very Happy



There is a binary release on SourceForge. But I'm a bit stuck at the moment for this month's release. I've upgraded to the free 2008 versions of the VS Express tools (nice) but they "upgrade" the project files so they no longer work with my full 2005 version of Visual Studio which I was using to build the binary release.

Visual Studio Express does support a binary release mechanism but only for one application at a time. So I'd have to do downloads for each of the 4 components.

Not the end of the world but a bit of a pain. I'm busy reading the help files at the moment to see if I can do better. My objective is to ensure that Nova can be built with free tools. Nobody should have to actually pay to play with the beast.

Ken



Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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Re: Nova is not Stars! Sun, 13 January 2008 23:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Coyote is currently offline Coyote

 
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ken-reed wrote on Sun, 13 January 2008 01:53


Visual Studio Express does support a binary release mechanism but only for one application at a time. So I'd have to do downloads for each of the 4 components.



A .rar is fine too.

Smile

When you release the next soure I'll re-download all the required utilities and try it out.

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Re: Nova is not Stars! Mon, 14 January 2008 07:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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Quote:

A .rar is fine too.


Yep, but it means people have to sort out where to put things, sort out the start menu, blah, blah.

The more I'm reading about the "One Click" install the more I like it. I don't know if SourceForge will support it, though.

Still, new stuff to learn. And that's what I want. Got a bit more reading to do before I settle on how I release binaries.

There will be a January release of Nova (nothing visible has changed but the battle engine has been improved ... missile accuracy, damage done by a hit or a near miss, etc.)

Then it's minefields ... Bugger, that's going to be hard. Still, it will make me think and that is the whole point of the project Smile

Ken

PS I lost the test game. I was JOAT, my friend was Hyper-Expansion. He won Sad



Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Fri, 18 January 2008 17:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ekolis is currently offline ekolis

 
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Whoa, you're back to working on Nova? And you upgraded to C# 3.0? Sweet! Very Happy


Mr. Flibble says...
Game over, boys!

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icon12.gif  Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Sat, 19 January 2008 06:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ken-reed is currently offline ken-reed

 
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Whoa, you're back to working on Nova?


When I can. But, things will be stagnent for a while. I've a divorce to deal with, I've got buy a place to live, I've got to move, I have to change my lawyer, etc. etc.

My lawyer is a really nice guy. My wife's is a complete and utter bastard. Time to fight "fire with fire" Smile

Ken

Down but not out. And picking himself up! Imagine the Rocky theme as you read this Smile



Don't let the Stars! fade away.

http://stars-nova.sourceforge.net

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Re: Don't Let the Stars Fade Away Thu, 24 January 2008 20:06 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Coyote is currently offline Coyote

 
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It's the EYE OF THE TIGER!


Very Happy

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