Version Available (Take 2)

I thought i's create a brand new thread with some details on how to get the latest version.


First, what you'll need...

Windows 7 or Windows Vista
DirectX 10
Fairly fast PC (dual core and above)
Decent GFX Card (512MB Ram)



Second, what you MAY need to download and install...

DotNet 4.0
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=17851

SlimDX runtime
http://slimdx.org/download_mar11.php (Select the Dotnet 4.0 download and run it)



Third, the link to the engine.

http://www.blokworld.co.uk/techtest_hd.zip


Latest changes

More sounds added, messing with some ambient wind sounds.

Have Fun, and if you get any nice images post them in the creations section.

New version available.

Not a lot different on the surface, few more pics on the start screens.
Big change is the change to a seperate thread for world simulation / physics which hopefully works a bit better than previously.

New version available.

Mouse staying visible fixed in Sticky mode.
Now using a re-usable buffer pool to build chunk meshes, this seems to have stabilised memory use at around 1.1 GB.

Memory use still balloons while digging or building, the Garbage Collector eventually gets round to cleaning up this.
I haven't bothered researching this area since Loading and saving will be getting entirely re-written.

I'm interested in whether its fairly glitch free while flying along for you guys.
I get a tiny occasional hike every so often, i'm assuming there must be some weird scenario in my sim code i'll have to research.

i want a version number so i can know when there is a new version available

Maybe an installer could be a solution for the "version problem"...
There could also be an update function that only overwrites changed files and keeps saves.
If needed write ma a PM Slaihne...

Greets,
croxxx

New version available. (it's starting to get big i'm afraid)

Changes...

Underwater should feel more, err, watery.

Transparent blocks now draw both sides again. (I always hated the disappearing faces thing).

Transparent blocks now show a water surface on the bits that touch water.

Fogging has been much improved, hopefully you should only see 'popup' when the distant landscape has clouds behind it. Clouds will be getting altered shortly so that even this popup goes away.
Oh, on the subject of fog, ignore the circle you might see when up high and looking down. This is an artifact caused by my old skydome, it's getting changed to a sphere an i know about the artifact.

More blocks have been added (not enough unfortunately) but there's better windows, more bricks, colours, an interesting scaffold block and more.

You can now switch between 2 render modes; HD (with all the pixel lighting), or the original version. The original version still has a lot of the kipple left over from the HD render path but i'm working on getting it removed.
The original version should be faster (it is on my machine) but your mileage may vary.
Currently it only affects the solid / transparent blocks (not water) but will eventually affect everything.

The player light now shines on everything rather than just the solid blocks.

I think that's the lot.

I'm interested in whether the Non HD mode changes things for you guys with slower GFX cards, so please let me know if it makes a difference.
Once i get the kipple removed i'm taking the original download offline and will be back to a single version.

Have fun.

Do you change the engine download everytime a new version is up?

Yes, i replace the old zip with the new version.

Tyvm c:

New version up for download.

Small changes..

Start screen now show last positions where you altered the landscape / built. Shows last 250 positions with most recent places in red , rest in yellow. Note, if you change blocks in lots of adjoining chunks, they may appear as a single 'fat' + sign. In reality this could be 20 odd seperate markers all overlapping.

Also adjusted the save code. I noticed i was stupidly saving out 9 times what was needed (chunk altered + all neighbours) when a chunk was altered. It's been reduced to the altered chunk only.

Let me know if there are any issues please.

Slaihne wrote:New version up for download.
Let me know if there are any issues please.

The download link takes us to a Server Error...

"401 - Unauthorized: Access is denied due to invalid credentials.
You do not have permission to view this directory or page using the credentials that you supplied."

Try it now

Slaihne wrote:Try it now

Alright, it works. Thanks!

Cheers for the heads up

Hi!

I downloaded the latest version of your Block Engine for download, I was amazed by your videos, so I wanted to test it.

Unfortunately, when I click on "Single Player (creative)", I get this error:
"Object reference not set to an instance of an object."

I have both SlimDX runtime, and DotNet 4.0.

Any idea, how can I fix it?

My PC: 3.00 GHZ Intel Pentium Dual Core, HD2600 XT videocard, 2*1GB RAM (in dual channel), Windows 7 x86.

Do any of the other buttons work for you? (Options and then the buttons after that)

Slaihne wrote:Do any of the other buttons work for you? (Options and then the buttons after that)

Yes, they work, I can set the graphics, controls, and what I want, except start the game. All the menus/ meu buttons are working.

The log file doesn't contains anything about the error.

I'm assuming this is the first time you've installed this?

Could you try unzipping to a different folder / drive on your machine and trying to run from there please?

I normally get that type of error if i forget to include a resource in the release package, but that normally is thrown at the loading resources screen.

If the new folder thing doesn't work try this...

Is there a TESTSAVE folder in the game folder? If not, create one. If there is delete it.

Just to be clear,. You click on "Single Player (creative)" and get the error. So you don't even get to see the map?

Slaihne wrote:Just to be clear,. You click on "Single Player (creative)" and get the error. So you don't even get to see the map?

Exactly. Pressing "Single Player (creative)", I get the error, and it crashes.

I can't be a great deal of help atm (i'm at my dayjob).

Does the screen swipe off (like it would for options etc) and then crash or does it crash as soon as you click?

Doesnt it mean that some kind of code is not instanced like.. its =null means you gotta debug so you know where the error has been occured.. might sound abit difficult but its not thaaat difficult

If the screen swipes off to the left and then the error occurs then it's probably occurring in the draw code for the "Select Start Position" menu.
(I just tested this by forcing the same error in the draw code).

If the crash occurs the instant "Single Player (Creative)" is clicked then the error is elsewhere.

I just gave the download version another go into a clean folder and it works fine here. So i'm at a bit of a loss.

One thing, what country are you from and what language is your version of windows? (I got bit by the whole language thing before).

Slaihne wrote:
One thing, what country are you from and what language is your version of windows? (I got bit by the whole language thing before).

I'm from Hungary, and I'm using Windows 7 x86 Hungarian.

can you post a screenshot of when you ge the error please (pm me the link if you want).