Patch: May 4th, mouse control, bug fixes, new map

[lamster]

================================================== ===============
May 4th, 2010

Added official map tbd_underpark (thanks Mandrad)

Updated graphics for tbd_cave

Added custom cursor and map borders for mouse mode, improved precision of control; press F1 to open the console and type "mouse true" to activate

Hangar Deck now allows you to hover your community points for a points-by-source breakdown

Added "LAN Servers" tab to server list

Added "Export -> Screenshot" to map editor

Bots that just spawned and are pursuing a stationary objective powerup (e.g. the ball after a goal was just scored) will fly at half throttle to give non-bot teammates a chance to grab the powerup first

Fixed bug that would sometimes prevent dunks from scoring (dunk = flying directly into the goal while carrying the ball)
Fixed rare bug that allowed more than one ball to enter play
Fixed team switch bug in 1-life modes
Fixed console auto-completion bug
Fixed rare bug that caused objects near the edge of the screen to flicker
Fixed incorrect badge display on award screen caused by players leaving while the awards are showing

[Ajuk999]

Thanks Lamster, I appreciate all of the updates. The Export Screenshot for Map Editor will prove to be useful.

Good Work Guys.

[Loli.ta]

Very cool update, no more bots taking mai bombs! Nice work as always.

[tgleaf]

Thank you! Sounds like great fixes... the half-throttle idea is a smart solution to that problem. And the goal dunk for a miss happened to me this morning, so I'm glad to see that resolved.

[mikesol]

So how exactly can I see my community points?

I've tried:

* Hovering mouse over the community points menu on the left
* Clicking on planes
* Hovering over planes
* Hovering over my negative points
* Hovering over the "click here" thing
* Hovering over random areas of the screen


Side note: I just realized a patch never even downloaded when I've logged on. Thoughts?

[MajorPayne257]

I'm loving a lot of stuff in this patch! Thanks for the hard work.

[lamster]

mikesol -- patch will deploy in about 5 minutes. Then you'll be able to click Hangar Deck -> Community Points and hover the text that says "You have X points" for a breakdown

[as red as black]

nooooooo!!! i loved double-ball madness when games were 5-5!

[Radium]

Originally Posted by as red as black

nooooooo!!! i loved double-ball madness when games were 5-5!

Lol, me too. Everyone was following one ball while i picked up the second and went right into the goal without anyone trying to stop me. hehe

[Ajuk999]

Originally Posted by lamster

mikesol -- patch will deploy in about 5 minutes. Then you'll be able to click Hangar Deck -> Community Points and hover the text that says "You have X points" for a breakdown

I received it.

But when I try to log on, it tells me "Unable to Connect to Login Server Please try again in 5 minutes" ----Problem Fixed


Also good work with the training map!

[Evan20000]

Very nicely done. Good to hear that bots won't cause you to lose games anymore.

[mikesol]

So I'm looking at my point break down and I have no idea why I have so many negative points. I somehow have managed to get -169 (100 less from before the patch). Also, my facebook account is giving me 0 points even though I have the app linked. I even clicked on install the app again and still nothing =/

[elxir]

HUGE BUG

http://i43.tinypic.com/125ku9l.jpg

double goals are possible

[elxir]

it appears that it happens on dunks

[elxir]

also >:{ that you fixed the old dunk bug. stealing dunks is an art form!

[gemigemi]

Thanks for awesome ball updates (according to patch notes only, haven't played yet).

I hope the double score -bug gets fixed asap.

[elxir]

Originally Posted by gemigemi

Thanks for awesome ball updates (according to patch notes only, haven't played yet).

I hope the double score -bug gets fixed asap.

we are actually starting to enjoy it. it adds a whole new strategic element. max ball score would have to be 8 or 10 though.

[CCN]

Kep the double goal dunks, it is so awesome cool.
So fun, game is actually improved in my opinion.

[Sarah Palin]

Dunks are great.

It's harder to carry the ball all the way in, so it's nice that now there's an incentive for that risk.

Up the game to 8-10 goals and it should be fine.

[CCN]

Just been thinking, if you decide to keep dunks for 2 points maybe you could post it on steam " Altitude Ball dunks are here!" in update news or some shizzle.
I know I read lots of update news and impule bought a few games off of it.

[poofighter24]

kinda had a brain burst after watching the awesomeness that was the double-goal dunks. fyi, it only triggers when you dunk it at an angle - hitting it straight in the middle scores only one point.

obviously, 90% of the **** I am going to type is going to be impossibly hard to code, but I think it would be hella fun.

let's say we keep the 2-goal dunks. it adds a whole new element to the game, sure, but it kind of screws up a lot of what made ball ball, and makes it more worth it to push en masse tbd-style, which I'm not sure is what we want. ifwe keep 2-goal dunks, we should probably add 1, 2, and 3-point shots to the ball mode to keep the long-rage specialists happy. maybe make a large circle-type thing similar to the mouse control circle around the plane (but invisible) and have some sort of notifier next to the throttle/health/mana bars saying how many points a shot at that range would be?

don't really think it needs to be balanced by plane, heavier planes that can lob farther wouldn't have the advantage of being able to zoom in quickly and jam it in, so it would create more strategy by forcing light, ball-running planes to think about whether it would be easier to try to zoom in and dunk it or try to dish it to a hippo/bomber (who would suddenly become useful on offense) for a long bomb. it's definitely far-fetched and the idea could def use some work, but I personally think it would be hella fun. I doubt 9/10 of current ball players would agree though >_>

oh yeah, and for this to work games would need to go up to 11. or something.

edit: oh yeah, maybe make it easier to block a dunk (like elxir said he enjoyed) if the plane is in the right position at the right time. that way, swooping planes trying to make a dash towards the goal would have to make quick decisions on the fly on whether to go for the layup (1 point) or try and jam it in through an opposing plane (2 points)

[lamster]

The double goal bug has been fixed in the latest patch. Please let me know if you see any more double goals.

Very interesting bug! The inconsistent (buggy) behavior was definitely unfair, but perhaps a (properly implemented, consistent) tiered scoring structure could be fun. Feel free to continue discussing gameplay ideas inspired by the bug

[elxir]

Originally Posted by lamster

The double goal bug has been fixed in the latest patch. Please let me know if you see any more double goals.

Very interesting bug! The inconsistent (buggy) behavior was definitely unfair, but perhaps a (properly implemented, consistent) tiered scoring structure could be fun. Feel free to continue discussing gameplay ideas inspired by the bug

I did a little thinking and here is what I came up with:

1) Increase the score to like, 7 or 8 for victory.
2) Adjust the goal structure like so:
---- http://i43.tinypic.com/24m9bg7.jpg
3) the yellow box area is where you must dunk to receive 2 points. don't forget the sweet double goal noise.
4) the white line in front is a friendly wall, to keep you from shooting the ball in. you must carry it in. i assume you can recess it so it won't interfere with regular shots.

This is why this is hilarious:

http://i43.tinypic.com/eld05.jpg

[CCN]

I was hoping to have a little more time to practise in an empty server to see if I could find some consistency in the double shot >_>
Hmmm, but I like Elixirs box area thing!

Edit:
Apparently if you died in the goal with the score, the 2nd score came. So to benefit from double points you had to do a low health dunk, lawl!

[Sarah Palin]

Lamster: here's my suggestion, with an eye to making it easy to code.

Throw: 1 point
Dunk: 2 points
Long Throw: 2 points
(play to 9 to win)

Here's how to implement this:

1. If the ball flies into goal (throw), that's 1 point. If the goal has to "take" the ball from a plane (dunk), that's 2 points.

2 (optional). Additionally, if it's a throw, look at the "countdown to Ball Lost" timer. If the ball has been loose for more than 3 seconds, that's a long throw worth 2 points.

This would require only code that is already in the game such as the ball possession timer. It would also not require redesigning any maps, objects, etc.

I hope to see some sort of dunk incentive in the future as it was a lot of fun while it lasted.

[argonide]

Mouse control still pretty hard. If your thinking about making it available to new players to ease them in it could use some stalling assistance. E.g. don't slow the plane down past the stall point unless the mouse is touching the plane or something. Maybe some a.i assistance could make it viable lol.

[JDR]

Originally Posted by Sarah Palin

Lamster: here's my suggestion, with an eye to making it easy to code.

Throw: 1 point
Dunk: 2 points
Long Throw: 2 points
(play to 9 to win)

Here's how to implement this:

1. If the ball flies into goal (throw), that's 1 point. If the goal has to "take" the ball from a plane (dunk), that's 2 points.

2 (optional). Additionally, if it's a throw, look at the "countdown to Ball Lost" timer. If the ball has been loose for more than 3 seconds, that's a long throw worth 2 points.

This would require only code that is already in the game such as the ball possession timer. It would also not require redesigning any maps, objects, etc.

I hope to see some sort of dunk incentive in the future as it was a lot of fun while it lasted.

2 points for bounce-in goals too, imo
not counting off the goal posts of course. something like a nearby wall.

[D4rt]

I personally think that it would be rather lame if extra points are awarded from dunking or long shots. Some of the most awesome and skilled goals are not those shotten from a long distance or dunked in to an empty goal, but those that involve good team playing and epic fights in front of the goal area, ending up in a crack in the defense that the offense exploits succesfully.

Sure it would be something new and fun, but from a competitive view point it really isn't a good thing. Especially considering that ta-tactics usually end up in a dunk... it would kinda ruin the game if 3 succesful ta-runs equals to win.

[mlopes]

I didn't play altitude since yesterday, before the patch so I didn't experience the 2 points bug, but I have to go with D4rt on this one. The best goals almost never end up in a dunk, the double score would prize the weakest goals.

Maybe there could be a variation from the standard ball mode with 2 point dunks, cause it could be fun to have a reason not to shot as soon as you can but try to dunk instead, but the original mode should stay as it is.

[Mt.Vesuvius]

Yay moar updates!1!11!

[Ajuk999]

I never noticed the map borders.

[ufo]

when are we to expect new skins? i certainly understand it ain't the first on your priority list..

[wolf'j'max]

Originally Posted by Ajuk999

I never noticed the map borders.

Not that it makes the map any better..

Thanks to mandrad! Underpark is really awesomw!!

[gameguard]

new caves is way too bright. It burns my eyes :<

[Mandrad]

Originally Posted by gameguard

new caves is way too bright. It burns my eyes :<

Underpark?
Lower contrast?

EDIT:

Just realised that cave has indeed changed. And, wow, looks great!!! Who did that art upgrade?

[Massi]

Same as Mikey I now have -169 CP.

[lamster]

If you think your community points are messed up please send an email to support@nimblygames.com with your account email or VaporID and an explanation of which parts of your point breakdown are incorrect (to view your CP breakdown, hover 'You have X points' under Hangar Deck -> Community Points).

[Sarah Palin]

Those of you who didn't get a chance to play with 2x dunk, trust me it's good.

It really adds a strategic dimension - deciding whether to take an open shot for 1 point, or risk carrying it in for 2 points.

Originally Posted by JDR

2 points for bounce-in goals too, imo
not counting off the goal posts of course. something like a nearby wall.

That would require new code, which, looking at recent updates, makes it vanishingly less likely to be implemented.

My suggestion only uses code that's already in the game (as far as I know):

1. the timer that starts when a ball is not being carried
2. goals being coded to "take" a ball from a plane that runs into them

[Sunaku]

Originally Posted by Sarah Palin

It really adds a strategic dimension - deciding whether to take an open shot for 1 point, or risk carrying it in for 2 points.

The thing is, 90% of the time, there is no risk at all carrying the ball to the goal.

Edit : By the way, what's with these devs caring about their game ? You can't even go to sleep that you introduce a funny bug AND fix it in the same time, not fair ;(

[nesnl]

Just so everyone is aware, the ball score limit is a server side configurable option. I think when the mode was initially made the 6 goal limit kind of became the standard and that's why you see it now. So all of the suggestions about 'make the limit 9 or 10 goals' that can already be done now. The thing would be if you changed the scoring structure you would then have to go to each server and update the configuration file. I realize it's a small detail, but just thought I would throw that out there (pun intended).