Patch: Nov 12th, improved router compatibility, bug fixes, sound tweaks

[lamster]

================================================== ===============
November 12th, 2009

added NAT traversal via UPnP -- you can now host servers without forwarding ports on your firewall
improved connection stickiness -- users with multiple IPs (e.g. simultaneously wired into local connection and neighbor's wireless network) should no longer have trouble logging in or staying connected

you can now add friends via nickname under Friends -> Add Friend

fixed a few bugs

Remixed sound effect volume levels across the board based on forum feedback (firing sounds are louder, pickup sounds are softer, etc).
Adjusted sound engine rules to promote better mixing (simultaneous explosions blend better, others' afterburners are softer, etc).
Removed beeps and robotic elements from a few sounds.
Replaced a few new sounds with their older counterparts.

These sound adjustments were all relatively easy to do on our side. Next up we'll be asking the sound designers for a few revisions. Please post your detailed, specific feedback concerning the latest sounds to this thread so that we can perfect the sounds in the next revision. I want to hear exactly which sounds aren't working for you, exactly what you don't like about each one, and any suggestions you have for improving those specific sounds. Detailed comments about the overall soundscape (e.g. other peoples' weapons are too loud, multiple explosions going off at once make it too hard to hear the action on my laptop speakers, etc) are also appreciated.

Note: I will post the old sound pack when the next revision of sounds is ready -- all feedback in this thread should focus strictly on the new sounds.

[lamster]

Those who've had trouble hosting their own servers (other players can't join, etc) -- please try again with the new patch and let me know how it goes.

[Pieface]

Amazing update, can't wait to play tonight. I'll certainly post later on when I get a chance to try my server again and tell you how it goes.

Thanks for everything you guys do, you're the best!

[Niko0olas]

still people cant see it
=[

[lamster]

You need to enable UPnP on your router -- most home routers support it, and it's usually as simple as clicking a checkbox somewhere in your router configuration. If not try submitting a bug report (launch Altitude, press F1 to open console, then type reportBug) and we'll look for problems.

[DiogenesDog]

Sounds I like:
- Miranda charge-up: Should be bassier imo, but it fits the plane / isn't annoying.
- Miranda shot bounce
- Shots hitting planes / base. Might be cool if this varied by plane type?
- Bomb drop
- Goal sound in Ball
- Crash against wall
- Explodet mine deploy. Not exciting, but it works and anything "better" would probably just get annoying.
- Explodet rocket detonation. Might be cool to differentiate thermo & normal tho.
- Explodet mine following sounds
- Mine explosion sounds
- Defuse bomb in progress
- spawn
- turret destroyed
- bomber flak
- bomber default tailgun
- bomber grenades (well they're not great, but they get the job done)
- bomber bombs (altho sound should maybe be longer?)
- Biplane machine gun (altho lacks some punch)
- Miranda reverse
- Miranda prepare to charge
- emp launch / detonate / crackle on guys that got hit
- loopy rocket attack (kind of meh, but non-offensive)
- base destruction sound
- afterburner (it sounds really lo-fi and ghetto, but it works)
- ball pickup (might work as the standard powerup pickup noise?)
- Ball Lost sound
- Most UI sounds (barely notice them, which is probably good. the swoop sounds when the elements move on/off the screen are genuinely nice too.)
- All engine / stall sounds
- wall powerup deploy and collision sounds
- shield powerup deploy sound
- health pickup (not awesome, but good enough)

Sounds I don't like:
- Heavy Cannon: I know I'm the only person who doesn't love this, but wtf it sounds like some kind of rubber bouncing noise. gogogo copy the Druuge sound here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlt3yGGo0ss I'd also love for it to have a unique impact sound & particle fx on shoot-throughs.

- turret shooting: just doesn't sound like a gunshot

- turret shot explosion: weak sounding

- Acid shot: Too high tech.

- Acid explode: Sounds like a gunshot flyby sound or something. Might be cool to have more of an air wooshing followed by a short burbling noise or something? I dunno.

- Explodet rocket launch. Doesn't sound powerful enough.

- Shoot ball: just really the wrong direction. also too long.

- Ball bounce: too alien sounding, go with something more like a standard cartoon rubber bounce

- Big Bomb explosion: sounds like crashing, not nearly powerful enough

- bomb defuse finish: way too high tech. maybe a fizzle / hiss sound?

- biplane primary: just a little too typewritery, doesn't really sound like a gun

- miranda charge move: should be a bit longer / have some fade-out I think. altho the overall sound of the thing is just weird and not what I'd expect.

- time anchor: great sound, but totally belongs on a photon cannon, not an evasive move.

- powerup pickup: too high tech.

- award screen awards appearing: just bad.

- the bubble sound when you mouseover select stuff. not terrible, but it sounds cheap/kiddie.

- missile powerup launch: just a horrible abortion of a sound. sound sound way more low tech, with a big launch whoosh and a roar while it flies through the air.


Other stuff:
- Victory / defeat jingles would be nice (actually changing the awards screen based on this would be cool too)

[Pieface]

Well I just tried my server again, and this is what came up:

[12 Nov 2009 19:51:27,328] INFO: Configuring UPnP
[12 Nov 2009 19:51:30,338] INFO: No UPnP gateway found

What worries me is that no UPnP gateway was found, as I definitely have UPnP set up on my router... Any ideas? As usual, only people on my LAN can join the server.

[lamster]

Send a bug report and I'll take a look. We should be able to get something working if UPnP is enabled.

[Pieface]

Ok, I sent a bug report from within my server. Hopefully we can get this working!

[spc]

i had hopes for the hosting servers without port forwarding cause i could never get port forwarding on my router. then i found out my router (2wire) doesnt support UPnP :/ so no hope for me?

[[J.C.] Technician]

so this means my app for building servers could work now?
or do the server builders still have to configure their router?

[[J.C.] Technician]

Originally Posted by lamster

================================================== ===============
November 12th, 2009

added NAT traversal via UPnP -- you can now host servers without forwarding ports on your firewall
improved connection stickiness -- users with multiple IPs (e.g. simultaneously wired into local connection and neighbor's wireless network) should no longer have trouble logging in or staying connected

you can now add friends via nickname under Friends -> Add Friend

fixed a few bugs

Remixed sound effect volume levels across the board based on forum feedback (firing sounds are louder, pickup sounds are softer, etc).
Adjusted sound engine rules to promote better mixing (simultaneous explosions blend better, others' afterburners are softer, etc).
Removed beeps and robotic elements from a few sounds.
Replaced a few new sounds with their older counterparts.

These sound adjustments were all relatively easy to do on our side. Next up we'll be asking the sound designers for a few revisions. Please post your detailed, specific feedback concerning the latest sounds to this thread so that we can perfect the sounds in the next revision. I want to hear exactly which sounds aren't working for you, exactly what you don't like about each one, and any suggestions you have for improving those specific sounds. Detailed comments about the overall soundscape (e.g. other peoples' weapons are too loud, multiple explosions going off at once make it too hard to hear the action on my laptop speakers, etc) are also appreciated.

Note: I will post the old sound pack when the next revision of sounds is ready -- all feedback in this thread should focus strictly on the new sounds.

hey lamster, i enabled the upnp on my router, but my servers tell me there was no uPnp gateway found. Is there an extra step i have to take?

[lamster]

Usually you just need to enable UPnP -- which router do you have? You may want to try updating its firmware from the manufacturer's website.

[[J.C.] Technician]

i have a linksys wrt54g. i have it enabled and have dmz enabled