NetWar / News: Recent posts

Documentation in javadoc form is now availible for netwar at http://netwar.sf.net/javadoc.

Due to a variety of limitations found in Java (especially performance issues) and overwhelming demand by our programmers, Netwar will be translated from Java to C++. Once the translation is complete, all future versions of Netwar will be in C++ only, not in Java.

Accompanying this change will be several changes to the way things are done, which will ultimately make it much easier to create new units. As a result, we may actually create and release a unit editor in the distant future (the old way of coding units made such a thing impossible, now it may even be convenient).... read more

The first version of the new fading vision system is in place. It will cause units and other objects to fade in or out depending on how close you have a unit that can see. Other details include the fact that some units (especially the beam sniper) will need a 'spotter' in order to be able to use their full range.

I intend to tweak the details quite a bit, so if you have any suggestions about this they are certainly welcome.... read more

High Contrast mode is in the CVS repository (meaning it will be in our next release version as well).

Activate High Contrast mode by pressing 'h' on the keyboard (it is a toggle).
While in High Contrast mode, the minimap will be displayed with a different color scheme, to increase readability:
white = impassable terrain/obstacles (such as trees).
black = passable terrain.
green = your units + base.
red = enemy units + bases.
blue = allied units + bases (or it will, once alliances are added to the game).... read more

In order to promote compatability with JDK 1.4 (or so I'm told), Kyle has performed a massive renaming project. As a result, many file names have been changed. Everyone should be extra vigilant to make sure that no new errors were caused by this, and also to make sure that no new errors are submitted (cause you changed something and used the wrong filename, etc.)

If all goes well, we will so begin to incorporate features in 1.4 that are not available in 1.3. In the mean time, we want everything to be compatable with both. Be sure to submit any errors you find.

I've been reminded of this one so many times that I thought it deserved to be a news item now that I've finished it.

Basically, many people have complained that the SHIFT + Click method of selecting multiple units is a serious pain when there are many units under your control. So, now you can also select multiple units by clicking and dragging to form opposite corners of a rectangle (one where you click down, one where you release). The units in the rectangle are selected (and all others are deselected).... read more

Project Netwar was originally started as a class project for CmpSc 50 at our University. But, now the class is over. That means we can now accept outside help to continue developing Netwar.

Just because the class is done, doesn't mean we are.

Netwar 0.4.0 has been released.

added Tiles
added impassible terrain
some backend stuff (javadocs and seperation into packages)

I've been having technical difficulties with CVS since we started this project, but now the problems have been fixed and I can CVS my own work up, instead of having Jkomut do it for me. It's about time I get credit for my own work ;)

Anyway, the problem consisted of two things:
1) It claimed it couldn't chdir to my home directory. I thought this made no sense, since I was in a sub-directory of my home directory. After many weeks, I finally learned last night that I needed to ssh into the CVS repository itself exactly once to create my home directory on that machine.. someone could have told me sooner. Now I can CVS more than one file at a time on my account. And there was much rejoicing...... read more

The HexType (along with some crappy gif tiles) is compleately operational and has been tested in the pre-packaged version of netwar. I have not checked whether or not my code can load gif's from the package because upon integration into the packaged version, some bug has surfaced that crashes the program.Once we find the source of this bug, (probably in the network panels) we can see if HexType is package-loading-capible.
-Kyle

It only took Daniel and I several hours but we now have the source code seperated into packages. Why did we do this you may ask?

1. It was necessary to get it into a jar file

2. It makes our code somewhat more modular.

3. Makes JavaDocs easier to navigate.

4. It was a requirement for submission in the programming course some of us are taking.

So, what does this mean to the end user? Nothing right now but it will make it easier for us to program the game as it gets more complex and it help new developers joining the project to get up to speed quickly.

This is a milestone release of Netwar. We have been spending our friday nights programming in the networking and we finally have a great release. Download it and give it a try. What we need is some testing over the internet to be done. If you were successful or unsuccessful in getting a connection over the internet please please please tell us about it. Post a message in the forum.

JKomut has successfully created the RMI stuff that makes our networking work! The initial trial run only used a single machine, but the RMI registry and client server code all worked, so that means that it will be ready to integrate into our program very soon.
Unfortunately for me that means I have even more pressure to get all my code up to date :)

Way to go Jason! Keep it up!

Awesome As Always ;)
-Istaran Majin

The new release of Netwar is out, and successfully released and everything! This version is a big step up for us. It includes all the basic functionality of the game except for additional players. Since this is a multiplayer only game, that is a big loss... however, we DO have unit creation, weapons, and unit destruction (the last two go together :) Although it is not really a playable game yet, it is a fun toy.... read more

Thanks to Daniel Grund, our lead programmer, we now have a basic website with screenshots!

http://netwar.sourceforge.net