The EDGE Project

File Release Notes and Changelog

Release Name: 1.29 RC #4

Notes: This is the EDGE 1.29 RC#4 (Win32) Installer.

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Changes: CHANGELOG FOR 1.29 (since 1.28) =============================== (Date: SEPTEMBER 5th 2005) Bugs fixed ---------- + crash loading a savegame with dynamic lights when D/L disabled. + fixed crash when starting a level in deathmatch mode. + quotes (") usable in response files (for filenames with spaces). - Arch-vile no longer resurrects monsters into itself. - don't display "Entering" on intermission when map is last one. - fix for ONCONDITION-WEAPON in RTS scripts. - fix for teleport on MAP06 (going to wrong place). - boss brain can now be hurt from rocket explosions. - DDF parser will catch angles over 360 degrees. - watching a moving monster while dead is now smoother. - allow KEY_GREENCARD and KEY_GREENSKULL in DDF. - berserk strength now lasts the whole level. - night vision wasn't affecting the sky, fixed. - damage over 1000 no longer hurts invulnerable players. - monsters on different sides now attack each other. - problems mlooking up/down while zoomed are fixed. - sides of extrafloors would not scroll properly, fixed. - autorun is remembered in the config file again. - fixed some missing mid-masked textures (Eternal MAP28). - smoking tracers sometimes wouldn't produce smoke. - revenant missiles fixed to match the original. - fixed stair-building bug (e.g. TNT MAP16). - some problems handling the mouse-wheel were fixed. - rotated automap could omit parts of a map, fixed. - fixed an issue with window positioning on Win32. - fixed MUS playback on certain devices in Win32 - some continuous floors had wrong heights, fixed. - spawning of Voodoo dolls (Thanks to dsalt) Old Fixes (from EDGE 1.28A) --------------------------- + Windows 95 support. + fix the crouching bug. - look for patch lumps first in between P_START/P_END. - handle ALT+TAB better under Windows. - handle non-power-of-two textures in GL mode. - allow brain-shooter without any shoot spots (Darren Salt). - allow compiling without DEVELOPERS define (Darren Salt). - fix for some memory trashing problems (Darren Salt). Features removed / changed -------------------------- + software rendering has been removed. We don't have the time to maintain the software renderer anymore, and keeping two renderers means that adding new features (like slopes and models) needs twice as much work (if not more -- doing things with OpenGL is usually a lot easier than doing it with software). + the demo format has changed, and previously recorded demos won't work anymore. The new format has the ".EDM" extension (but omit this when using the -record and -playdemo options). - screenshots are now available in JPEG or PNG format. New "screenshot" console command (Note: it does not capture the console itself). - using { } comments in DDF files, and ';' comments in RTS scripts is now deprecated, since these characters will probably be needed in the future when improving DDF/RTS. Use // comments instead. - the "CONSTANT" dynamic lighting type (in DDF) was removed. General improvements -------------------- + drag and drop support. You no longer have to use the -file option to specify filenames (wad files etc). Everything before the first option is considered a filename to add. This allows you to drag a (self-contained) WAD onto the EDGE executable to play it. + OpenAL as the new sound system. OpenAL is a 3D audio library which can take advantage of hardware sound mixing. + support for OGG/Vorbis Music playing. OGG/Vorbis is music format similar to MP3, but is free from patents and does not require any royalty fees. You can use them as normal files, or as lumps in a WAD file, as these examples (for playlist.ddf) show: [01] MUSICINFO=OGG:FILE:"d_runnin.ogg"; [02] MUSICINFO=OGG:LUMP:"OGGRULEZ"; + native support for DeHackEd and BEX patches, both as normal files (with .DEH or .BEX extension), and also as DEHACKED lump in a wad. Patch files can be added with the -deh option (like in other Doom engines). EDGE converts the patches to DDF, and stores the result in files with the .HWA extension, which are loaded automatically. - ability to use 32-bit screen modes (16.7 million colours). You may have to change your desktop to 32-bit mode for this to work. - new startup, with progress bar. The console window that used to appear (Win32) is gone, and under Linux messages are no longer printed to the terminal. When GL-Nodes must be built for a wad, this is also done during startup. - Linux: fatal errors produce a pop-up dialog box. EDGE can now be run by double clicking the executable. Support for CD music. - support V3 and V5 GL-NODES. EDGE now includes glBSP 2.10, which can handle very complex levels (which overflow the old limits), e.g. Deus Vult MAP05. - Boom compatibility changes: the type of level (Edge or Boom) is detected when starting a new game, and if it doesn't match the current mode (or the result was mixed), then a dialog asks you whether to change mode. When using -warp, the mode is changed automatically. Two Boom features were also added: line-to-line teleporters and platform toggle linetypes. A couple of Boom-related bugs were fixed (e.g. P1/PR doors with the lighting effect). - source code uses more C++ features, and more of the EPI (Edge Platform Interface). The "Zone" memory manager has mostly been replaced. - emulation for Doom's original lighting (optional). - can toggle window/fullscreen mode in set-resolution screen. - new gameplay option to disable automatic weapon switches. - sky looks a bit better, with a stretch option in Video menu. - the old "sky flooding" trick is now emulated. - emulate the FRIEND bit on things in the map. - missing wad files (given with -file) now produce an error. - monster spawning will keep the parent's AMBUSH status. - night vision and god-mode effects use colour from colourmap. - correct map names for TNT Evilution and Plutonia Experiment. - detects and repairs TNT's MAP31 bug (missing yellow key). - intermission text screens can now be skipped. - console now slides up/down, smaller font. - can disable mouse-look in the gameplay options. - number of RTS tip slots increased to 45. - RTS tips are sent to the console. - smaller savegame files. New DDF features: ----------------- + can load DDF files (with ".ddf" or ".ldf" extension) directly from the command line. Drag and dropping them should also work. + new IMAGES.DDF file. The corresponding wad lump is DDFIMAGE. You can define any type of images in this file (textures, flats, sprites and screen patches), and they will override any from the WAD file with the same name. There are three supported types so far: solid colours, image files, and built-in types, as follows: IMAGE_DATA = COLOUR:#FF7F00; IMAGE_DATA = BUILTIN:QUADRATIC; IMAGE_DATA = FILE:"retex/startan3.png"; IMAGE_DATA = LUMP:JPG:"JFLOOR48"; The built-in types are only used to create special images for dynamic lighting and shadows. The FILE and LUMP types are the most useful, and support both PNG and JPG images. NOTE: When using filenames, directories must be separated by / instead of the \ character which is normally used under Windows. The reason is because the \ character has a special meaning in DDF: it is the escape character, and "\n" is used to put newlines into DDF strings. The following commands are also available: X_OFFSET = 10; // specify the X and Y offset, e.g. sprites. Y_OFFSET = 20; // SCALE = 2.0; // scaling and aspect. Bigger scale makes the ASPECT = 1.0; // image bigger (cover more space). Bigger aspect // makes the image wider (height is unchanged). SPECIAL = XXX, YYY; The following general purpose specials are available: CROSSHAIR // for weapon crosshair sprites: center it on screen + new FONTS.DDF file. The equivalent wad lump is DDFFONT. This is used to define fonts (the set of character images for drawing text). The following example shows the available features: [FOO] TYPE=PATCH; // PATCH is the only type so far PATCHES=FONTP33("!"), // put a character in "" quotes FONTP65("A":"Z"); // use : for a range of characters MISSING_PATCH=FONTP00; where the FONTPxx names above are the patch names. When using ranges, the name (e.g. FONTP65) is for the first character. It must end with digits so that EDGE can work out the other patches properly (FONTP66 will be "B", etc). The missing patch is optional. Having a patch for a space (" ") is also optional. - new STYLES.DDF file. THIS IS EXPERIMENTAL !! The idea is to define the background colour/image and text font/colour/scaling information (and sounds too) for various parts of EDGE's user interface. It may undergo significant changes (without keeping compatibility), and it might even be scrapped! USE AT OWN RISK. - RELOAD states for monsters. This is controlled by the new command RELOAD_SHOTS and the new action RELOAD_CHECK, which increases the monster's shot count and if the limit has been reached, it enters the RELOAD states. RELOAD_RESET will reset the shot count to zero (not normally needed, but could be handy for special effects). For players, RELOAD states are used whenever their weapon reloads. They are optional though. - new SEQUENCE command for ANIMS.DDF. Use it to specify the full animation sequence. Names cannot be used twice. For example: SEQUENCE = TEX1, TEX2, TEX3, TEX5, TEX8; - PICKUP_EFFECT = SWITCH_WEAPON(xxx) Required for #VERSION 1.29 and higher to make the Berserk powerup switch to the fist (in earlier versions it will be added for you to maintain compatibility). - able to specify a colour directly in COLMAP.DDF, without needing any wad lumps. The command is: GL_COLOUR = #FF9030; // orange - NOTARGET attack special, causes the bullet or missile to go straight ahead and ignore the monster/player being aimed at. - ULTRA_LOYAL thing special. Friendly monsters don't turn into enemies when hurt by your weapon fire. - SIDE_IMMUNE thing special. Friendly monsters are completely immune from your weapon fire. - support for "Ghosts", which means that a bullet or projectile attack will pass straight through an enemy. The new things.ddf GHOST_CLASS command takes a set of letter flags (just like IMMUNITY_CLASS). The new SIDE_GHOST special is similar to SIDE_IMMUNE, except that it makes bullets/missiles from "friendly fire" pass straight through. - EXPLODE_RADIUS command for things and attacks. Normally the explosion radius is the same as the damage caused, but this command forces the explosion radius to a particular value (e.g. 200). The amount of damage is not affected. - EXPLODE_IMMUNE and ALWAYS_LOUD thing specials. These attributes are both set by the BOSSMAN special, but now they can be specified individually. - NOZBUFFER thing special for "particles" (smoke puffs etc) which prevents visual glitches when many are floating near each other. - HOVER thing special, like in Heretic. Sprite must be above the ground for it to work properly. - BERSERK_MULTIPLY for attacks.ddf controls how much damage the attack causes when the player has the Berserk powerup. - SILENT_TO_MONSTERS is now an attack special too. - FORCE_PICKUP special for thing.ddf (items). - DIE action for things and attacks (mainly for BEX compatibility). - WHEN_APPEAR in DDF and RTS now accepts simpler values. You can use a range for the skill (e.g. "3-5"), you can omit the skill or the netmode part (e.g. "DM" means deathmatch on any skill, and "3" means Hurt-Me-Plenty on any netmode). Finally, you can add the '!' character to the beginning to negate it, e.g. "!SP" means never in single-player, and "!4:5" means never in skills 4 or 5. New RTS features: ----------------- + new RTS menu system: SHOW_MENU title option1 option2 ... SHOW_MENU_LDF title option1 option2 ... JUMP_ON MENU label1 label2 ... MENU_STYLE style_name The RTS menu will pause the game (including all scripts) until the user presses a valid number key. Savegames are also disabled while the RTS menu is shown. Once the menu is finished, the JUMP_ON command will test the result, and jump to the matching label. It will fail to jump if there aren't enough labels, or menu could not be shown (netgame). The title can contain newlines (given by "\n"), to make multi-line titles. Newlines don't work in the options however. The MENU_STYLE command gives the style for the next SHOW_MENU command. If you don't specify a style, the default style is [RTS_MENU]. - "ALL" keyword for the START_MAP line, which causes the script to be spawned on every map. - lines in RTS scripts can be extended over two (or more) actual lines by placing the \ character at the end. A silly example: SHOW_MENU "title" \ "option one" \ "option two" \ "option three" Note: there must not be any spaces after the \ character, otherwise it doesn't work. New weapon stuff ---------------- + weapon handling has been generally improved (especially the way clips work). Anything using the CLIPSIZE command is considered a "clip weapon", and will store ammo inside of its clip, even when not selected. + support for manual reloading (new key in Keyboard Options), and also next-weapon and previous-weapon keys. + eight new ammo types, AMMO9, AMMO10 ... upto AMMO16. The old ammo types can (optionally) be called AMMO1 ... AMMO8. The limit on holdable weapons has also been increased from 32 to 64. - there are many new specials. The following new command is used to give specials for the secondary attack: SEC_SPECIAL = xxx; The ones in the plain "SPECIAL" command apply to the primary attack (some might apply to the whole weapon). The following specials are available: SILENT_TO_MONSTERS : don't wake up those demons ANIMATED : UP and DOWN states are animated NO_SWITCH : don't switch to new weapon if ammo runs out NO_TRIGGER : prevent reloading by pressing fire button FRESH : reload empty clip when fresh ammo is picked up NO_MANUAL : disable manual reloading key NO_PARTIAL : manual reload: clip must be empty to refill it When using the ANIMATED special, the weapon sprite doesn't raise up or lower down. Instead the UP and DOWN states should show an animation. The RAISE and LOWER commands _must_ occur once, in the very last frame. - there are now empty states. These are shown (instead of ready states) when the primary attack runs out of ammo. You must use the "EMPTY" action in the empty states, for example: STATES(EMPTY) = ABCD:E:1:NORMAL:EMPTY; - there are also WARMUP and SECWARMUP states. These will be entered when firing the weapon from the READY states (not for refiring). These states jump to the ATTACK and SECATTACK states when finished (i.e. you don't need #ATTACK at the end). - Edge now supports IDLE states. These are entered from the READY or EMPTY states after a certain time has elapsed. The minimum time is given with the IDLE_WAIT command. There is also an IDLE_CHANCE command which is the chance to enter the idle states when the timer runs out. If the timer runs out and the random test fails, then the timer is reset to 1/10th of IDLE_WAIT. For example, "IDLE_WAIT=20" means that the random test occurs at 20 seconds, 22 seconds, 24 seconds, and so forth, until it succeeds. If the chance is 100%, is succeeds on the first try. - Crosshair actions have been re-enabled. The following actions are now available. SETCROSS(FRAME) : crosshair jumps to the given frame TARGET_JUMP(FRAME) : crosshair jumps IF player has a target FRIEND_JUMP(FRAME) : crosshair jumps IF player target is a friend SETCROSS can be used anywhere, but TARGET_JUMP and FRIEND_JUMP can only be used in the crosshair states. The old "TARGET" action (disabled for a long time) has been made obsolete. - Finally, there are now DISCARD and SECDISCARD states. They are similar to the PARTIAL special: if you press the reload key with a half-empty clip (i.e. neither empty nor full), then the clip is discarded and the DISCARD states are entered. These states must end with the CHECKRELOAD action to cause the weapon to reload. New command-line options | console variables -------------------------------------------- -deh <file> Specify a DeHackEd (or BEX) patch file. You can have multiple patch files after the -deh option. -audiodev <name> Forces OpenAL to select <device-name> device -bestaudio Make OpenAL to select the best device in windows. Normally the "DirectSound" device is selected. -maxaudiochan <n> Maximum number of audio channels to use -nearclip <n> NEARCLIP Control the OpenGL distance clipping. -farclip <n> FARCLIP Increasing farclip allows a huge level to be fully seen, but decreases depth accuracy (may cause glitches). -(no)hqscale HQSCALE Turn on/off "High Quality" image scaling. -(no)hqall HQALL Use HQ2X on _all_ images (textures and sprites). Normally only the HUD gfx are scaled. This option can slow things down, since it needs 4 times more video memory. -(no)smoothmap SMOOTHMAP Turn on/off anti-aliasing of automap. -(no)diskicon DISKICON Turn on/off the flashing disk icon. -(no)fadepower FADEPOWER Turn on/off fading of powerup effects. -(no)hogcpu HOGCPU Turn on/off the behaviour of hogging the CPU. When enabled, gameplay may be smoother, but disabling it gives more time for other programs to run. Hats off to... -------------- Special mention to Erik Sandberg's contribution to EDGE. It's worth a note that he did a shedload of quality work and made a special effort to make sure we were GPL legal - something we maintain now. We do this since because we have recently removed the software renderer, we removed about 90% of the work he put into EDGE.