Plan for Ken
by Ken Finney · 04/11/2002 (7:15 am) · 6 comments
Just a quick update:
Closed BETA rev 1.3
Within the next couple of weeks we'll be boosting the current Alpha revision to BETA 1.3 and handing it over to the Closed BETA Wrecking Crew for decimation. This rev is the last "tech only" rev, which comes very close to nailing down the technology feature set of TubettiWorld. The final hoop before the Alpha becomes BETA is convincing me that the game server will not crash at any time. That may take a few more days of bludgeoning.
Some interesting things that I think will make it into 1.3 Closed BETA are:
1) Land, sea and air vehicles: pickup truck, skateboard, zodiac, car ferry, helicopter and hot air balloon.
2) Home spawn designation capabilities for players (in addition to the current Initial Spawn, Resume Spawn and Death Re-Spawn features).
3) Herd flocking. (Currently only a small flock of sheep. The ownership transfer component required to enable sale of the sheep is due to be overhauled, so the 1.3 version will just flock around a bit :-)
4) Agriculture (also dependent on the same things as herding, so the initial Corn Fields will just sit there and grow, then reset to seedlings when ripe. Yep, they grow ! :-)
5) New weapon set. These are not critical at this time, but the modeler went bananas, so we have a ton. From memory: Colt Peacemaker revolver, Thompson SMG, Knife, Machete, Ross Rifle, DB Shotgun, Baseball bat (TubettiVille Slugger :-), Fighting stick/pole, Fists (not actually modeled, but there is a fist "weapon" that works), Hockey Stick (hey, I'm Canadian, eh !), and Popsicle Stick Snapper (as seen in the Tubetti Enterprises team logo). Oh yeah, and Darts.
6) Functioning Dart game for the pub.
Closed BETA rev 1.4
After that, the expectation is to release the first gameplay rev to Closed BETA (1.4). This will contain the state-of-the-art Behaviour Evaluator & Contact Tracking System (affectionately known as "Miss Manners" :-). This will also be the debut for the new Database back end. The DB guy has been heads-down on this for a month now and it's looking good. This back-end is essential for the above mentioned CTS as well as the Resource Manager, Strat Manager & the persistence functionality.
After a month of poking at 1.4 in Closed BETA, fixing any reported bugs and anomalies that surface, we'll be getting together for a meeting to hash out the 'Behavioural Matrix', which will be the key ingredient for automatic server-side evaluation of player interactions. I have made contact with a behavioural scientist at Trent University; I'm anticipating she will be of great help to us in this area.
I've commissioned a professional to generate the base player character "Standard Male" with phase 1 & 2 animations, and hope for delivery in time for the 1.4 Closed BETA.
Open BETA
Current intent for Open BETA, to be coordinated with GG is October/November.
Closed BETA rev 1.3
Within the next couple of weeks we'll be boosting the current Alpha revision to BETA 1.3 and handing it over to the Closed BETA Wrecking Crew for decimation. This rev is the last "tech only" rev, which comes very close to nailing down the technology feature set of TubettiWorld. The final hoop before the Alpha becomes BETA is convincing me that the game server will not crash at any time. That may take a few more days of bludgeoning.
Some interesting things that I think will make it into 1.3 Closed BETA are:
1) Land, sea and air vehicles: pickup truck, skateboard, zodiac, car ferry, helicopter and hot air balloon.
2) Home spawn designation capabilities for players (in addition to the current Initial Spawn, Resume Spawn and Death Re-Spawn features).
3) Herd flocking. (Currently only a small flock of sheep. The ownership transfer component required to enable sale of the sheep is due to be overhauled, so the 1.3 version will just flock around a bit :-)
4) Agriculture (also dependent on the same things as herding, so the initial Corn Fields will just sit there and grow, then reset to seedlings when ripe. Yep, they grow ! :-)
5) New weapon set. These are not critical at this time, but the modeler went bananas, so we have a ton. From memory: Colt Peacemaker revolver, Thompson SMG, Knife, Machete, Ross Rifle, DB Shotgun, Baseball bat (TubettiVille Slugger :-), Fighting stick/pole, Fists (not actually modeled, but there is a fist "weapon" that works), Hockey Stick (hey, I'm Canadian, eh !), and Popsicle Stick Snapper (as seen in the Tubetti Enterprises team logo). Oh yeah, and Darts.
6) Functioning Dart game for the pub.
Closed BETA rev 1.4
After that, the expectation is to release the first gameplay rev to Closed BETA (1.4). This will contain the state-of-the-art Behaviour Evaluator & Contact Tracking System (affectionately known as "Miss Manners" :-). This will also be the debut for the new Database back end. The DB guy has been heads-down on this for a month now and it's looking good. This back-end is essential for the above mentioned CTS as well as the Resource Manager, Strat Manager & the persistence functionality.
After a month of poking at 1.4 in Closed BETA, fixing any reported bugs and anomalies that surface, we'll be getting together for a meeting to hash out the 'Behavioural Matrix', which will be the key ingredient for automatic server-side evaluation of player interactions. I have made contact with a behavioural scientist at Trent University; I'm anticipating she will be of great help to us in this area.
I've commissioned a professional to generate the base player character "Standard Male" with phase 1 & 2 animations, and hope for delivery in time for the 1.4 Closed BETA.
Open BETA
Current intent for Open BETA, to be coordinated with GG is October/November.
About the author
#3
Anyway, I am exited about driving through the cornfields of Tubettiworld in a pickup truck while blasting innocent bystanders with the "Peacemaker" :) Actually, I'll be good...
Scott
04/13/2002 (1:15 am)
As I read through this post I was getting excited to play, but by the end it left me wondering if you were being sarcastic about the "behavioural matrix" stuff and that scientist at Trent U. Are you serious?Anyway, I am exited about driving through the cornfields of Tubettiworld in a pickup truck while blasting innocent bystanders with the "Peacemaker" :) Actually, I'll be good...
Scott
#4
04/13/2002 (9:48 am)
No sarcasm there at all.
#5
04/15/2002 (9:49 am)
There is some serious intellect going into this game and I, for one, cant wait till the open Beta. Ken, how long have you all been working on this game? From what I understand you started quite a while ago - even before Torque was released.
#6
04/17/2002 (3:58 pm)
Justin - Since 1999 wrt the behavioural aspects. 
Torque Owner Matt W
Crazy canucks!
Cool stuff Ken!