DF-21 Forums

[lucius]

This is also on the blog here.

DarkXL version 9.08 is well on it's way now. Once it is done Gromas Mines and the Detention Center (level 5 and 6) will be fully functional, the secret area in level 4 that uses a shoot switch will work properly, the central core will move up and down once you pick up the Phrik in level 4, Phase 1 Dark Troopers will be functional (needed to beat Gromas Mines), solid color 3DO's that should be textured (such as bridges and the shuttle in the Detention Center) will be textured correctly and more.  In addition - due to fixes I'm making for Level 5 and 6 - Ramsees Hed and the Robotics Facility will most likely be completable. And Nar Shaddaa is already beatable for me in the current build I'm working on. This means that as of the next build - 9.08 - levels 1-9 will most likely be fully playable and completable.  This build should be out in a few days.

Some screenshots of various features/fixes that I've already implemented for Build 9.08:

[3DO texturing fixes - now the various 3DO bridges in the game are properly textured]



[The shuttle in Detention Center is now rendered correctly and functions properly as well]



[Shoot switches now function properly]



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DarkXL....http://darkxl.wordpress.com

[Tsophika]

Awesome news! Those switches look great with the glow effect. I can't wait to test it out.

By the way, are you actively reviewing the Codeplex site? I have some bugs from the latest builds and I do want to make sure you'd rather have them there than posted here.

[klasodeth]

Ooh! I can't wait to play Detention Center.

[BlazingPhoenix]

I can't wait to beat detention center!

[lucius]

[Jimmy Chicken]

This is excellent news indeed. lucius, you should be commended at the rate you are popping out these updates.

[swaaye]

Thanks for all of the hard work.

It's interesting how good some of the 'ol Dark Forces textures look with filtering. It's a shame that the DOS game couldn't do 640x480 like the Mac version. I always felt cheated over that.

[tnoyce]

Lucius, this is just awesome (As usual!). Looking forward to checking out the build when it's ready.

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Tim Noyce

[lucius]

So for the first time today I was able to complete the Detention Center with almost no cheating. The one area I had to cheat was with the force fields, since the INF isn't setting/clearing the wall bits (the message is being sent but not implemented) - but that's going to be implemented next. So I decided to take some screenshots of my journey, since I haven't actually seen many of these areas in DarkXL before due to not being able to cheat through the elevators. I fixed a major oversight that by itself fixes most of the INF in the game.

My journey (only showing areas not previously shown - so the initial areas before the primary elevator are skipped):
















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DarkXL....http://darkxl.wordpress.com

[Marley]

Brilliant, my fortress level that I've been building for years on and off (mostly off) contains quite complicated force field switching. would be a good test of the engine. Are you planning to add custom level loading from the console for this build?

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*ZaP*

[Tsophika]

Awesome. I was able to cheat up to Block N but not the other areas!

You know, after all these years I still don't know what triggers those force fields to be passable. Is it switched randomly? Can someone enlighten me?

[lucius]

[Marley]

It's a timer - you can see it happening by watching the light levels pulsating within the fields from what I remember. Whem it stops - you run. Took me ages to work out, very clever.

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*ZaP*

[Burning Gundam]

Those images of Detention Center are amazing.

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I don't think outside the box... I customize it.

[Marley]

oops, started posting before lucius. Good news about the console.

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*ZaP*

[DF4GL4ever]

Don't forget code to make the floor mines render the correct fme down the road Those bright yellow lights kinda give them away in the dark.

[lucius]

[Marley]

Think detention centre was my favourite level - the lift puzzel is just awesome, was stuck on it for ages, plus it has my favourite music (repeated in a few other levels too).

[BlazingPhoenix]

I like how that floor texture glows, it's a bit too subtle, but you can notice it if you look closely at it. Very neat.

[lucius]

[lucius]

Another update.

Detention Center is finished - fixed some non-critical INF issues. There may be bugs, but it's fully playable and "done" as far as the next build is concerned.

Ramsees Hed is also "finished" and fully playable and completable.

Robotics Facility is almost fully completable, the only remaining issue is the boss fight. But the teleport chute works, setting the charges works, the escape and end of level work (if you cheat past the door that opens once the bosses are dead).

And of course Nar Shaddaa is still completable.

I'm probably going to make Jabba's Ship completable as well since it's so close already.

In addition a variety of fixes and features have been implemented.

These include (but not limited to):
*Exploding walls - walls that are solid but you can blow up using explosives.
*Set/Clear bits for INF - making force fields function properly.
*Dynamically switching adjoins (obviously since DC works).
*Stop delays of less then 1 seconds now supported - this caused numerous bugs with lights flickering too fast, displays animating too fast and other problems.
*Non-player objects staying on second heights properly, so the Commando standing on the shuttle in the Detention Center works properly.
*Magnetically sealed walls with reflecting blaster bolts.
*Order of loading issues causing some objects to be assigned to incorrect sectors.
*Teleport chutes.
*Secret tracking, the proper percentage of found secrets is now displayed in your PDA.
And more.

So I have to get the boss fight working for the Robotics Facility, handle damage floors/sectors (including the gas mask), implement a few additional enemy logics (all very similar - melee) and get this thing out there. With this build, over 70% of the game will be completable and playable.

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DarkXL....http://darkxl.wordpress.com

[Tsophika]

Sounds great! Thanks for the update.

[Gez]

Excellent news!

[Marley]

Wow, it's amazing how far we've come really and now it really seems like we're entering the end game. Woot

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*ZaP*

[dinohog]

Can't wait for the detention level complete. There are two rooms that I was never able to get into in that level and I really want to see what is in there.

[tnoyce]

Lucius,

Again, it is just amazing how quickly things can progress.

Looking forward to the new release.

Keep the faith!

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Tim Noyce

[Patrick Haslow]

Hey Lucius, those screenshots are looking tasty. Excuse my ignorance (and laziness), but when you are working on making a DF level "completable", does that mean you are acheiving that by making DarkXL compatible with those DF missions? If so, does it tend to get easier for each new level, as the next level you focus on benefits from code changes you made to run the previous levels? From your posts it seems to be true.

P.S. GLOW effect is a nice touch. Does that just get applied to any "bright-mapped" color in a .PAL file?

[lucius]

[Patrick Haslow]

That is a wonderful thing to hear. I really look forward to playing through!

[Dreadopp]

Sounds great!