State of the Empire
38 Comments - 8339 Views
Browser Support, Textual Advertising, Syn3h, etc.
Submitted By admin on 10/02/09
Mars Explorer, admin, Official
This Document originally posted in the "Mars Explorer" Group
Greetings Everyone!
Here's a quick post to keep you up to date on the latest Martian tidings.
- 64 bit Safari (OS X Snow Leopard):
Several performance and usability issues afflict Unity's latest webplayer runtime in Apple's latest browser - and the two which are harming Mars Explorer the most are a pathetic framerate when not in fullscreen mode, and a loss of cursor locking when the game is. I reported these issues to Unity over a month ago, and they have now fixed the cursor locking issue. I will be able to include their patch in Mars Explorer as soon as they releases the next Unity engine update. Unity's Mac webplayer engineer recently informed me that the framerate issue is actually Apple's fault, and that they are waiting for Apple to update Safari to resolve it. In essence: you will soon be able to maximize Mars Explorer in Safari to enjoy the game fully, but for now I recommend that everyone download a native Mars Explorer app or use FireFox. - Chrome:
Thanks to Google for releasing such an awesome browser, and The Dude for diligently requesting that I support it, I finally got around to tweaking ATIServer's authentication protocol a bit and you can now login to - and enjoy all the features of - MarsXPLR.com with Chrome! I am not sure if the Mars Explorer webplayer works correctly or not, as the current Mac Chrome release doesn't support browser plugins and the beta release has issues with the Unity plugin, but if any Windows Chrome users could reply, that would be fun to know. - In-Game Advertising:
Due to Mars Explorer's phenomenal growth of late, I am facing rather large bandwidth bills...Since I am not ready to transition to the Syn3h identity and release a paid version of the game, and I certainly don't want to abandon it, the decision for me to spice up the lobby with some nonobtrusive textual ads was a pretty easy one.The latest 2.22 webplayer version up now includes some special new technology I wrote to connect to AdBrite's OTX network and intersperse the lobby's server list with some nice looking text ads. The most compelling aspect of the advertising system I am implementing is that it provides a very easy and effective mechanism for anyone to bid directly on ad space inside Mars Explorer through a cpm or "dedicated airtime" approach, which should be a lot of fun!I have AdBrite's system set to deliver only the "family friendliest" ads, and I can manually override any ones that I don't deem wholly appropriate. The interest and relevance of the ads should increase over time as AdBrite starts to figure out what kinds of things Martians are interested in. The server list ads will be included in the native apps in the next release of Mars Explorer, which will probably be issued when Unity releases the next bugfix of their engine.
- Networking:
I have resolved several issues with the dedicated server implementation, and it should now be working great! The only problem is that there are so many players out there that they rapidly overrun my server hardware when I run everyone's games through the dedicated server. If you want your games to be as smooth and reliable as possible, just enable the "Utilize Dedicated Server When Hosting Games" option in the lobby settings. As long as everyone doesn't use the option, we should be good to go for now :) - Worlds:
Many thanks to everyone who has submitted a new custom world to me! I am sorry I am in such a backlog right now. Please don't be disappointed if it takes a couple more weeks to get your world into the game... - Whirld:
The official Whirld 3 release is being delayed because I am in negotiations with Unity to allow me to set up an on-thy-fly Whirld bundling service to automatically package everyone's worlds. This is tricky, because creating the Whirld bundles requires that the build machine be equipped with a Pro Unity license. If Unity allows me to do it, everyone will be able to package their own worlds whenever they would like to! In the mean time, I plan to release an "unofficial" Whirld release within the next couple days to get everyone started preparing their worlds for Mars Explorer. I unfortunately don't have a timeline for the official release, but it will be worth the wait! On the subject of Unity world creation, here's an awesome extension to Unity's terrain system that is soon to be unveiled... - Syn3h:
I am making significant progress on Mars Explorer's successor! I am essentially building upon everything I have learned from Mars Explorer, and rewriting every bit of code to take it to a whole new level of performance and reliability - and more importantly - enable many incredible new things that we could only dream of before. Here's some of the new stuff which will be technically feasible:
- Vastly more reliable and smoother networking, powered by my own networking system running on the Lidgren library
- Fully iPhone and iPad compatible multiplayer action
- Less crashes, much faster performance
- Many more players in multiplayer games
- Infinitely scalable, distributed, player hostable dedicated servers to ensure we never run out of capacity
- Lots of other fun ideas that I just may get a chance to add: spherical worlds, dedicated racing and CTF modes, global chat, much smarter bots that may even be able to work with you as a team, etc etc.
- Etc:
- Sorry if I haven't gotten back to you recently. I have quite a bit going on, including this rather exciting project to provide myself with a serviceable workstation so that I can continue to spend my time on the things I love, like Mars Explorer :)
- Squabbling. If you are creating multiple accounts and sending mean PMs from them (Necon, as a hypothetical example), be warned: I will be temporarily banning people (week or so) who send mean PMs to other players. I am not forcing you to like other people - I am simply upholding the age old axiom that if you don't have anything nice to say, then is is best to say nothing. All that everyone needs to do is follow basic standards of civility - it's rather a pity that I even have to mention it...
- Sorry if I haven't gotten back to you recently. I have quite a bit going on, including this rather exciting project to provide myself with a serviceable workstation so that I can continue to spend my time on the things I love, like Mars Explorer :)
In closing, the present is exciting and the future is bright!
All the Best,
-Aubrey
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
MOD- The file converter (supercheese)
4 days - 11,050v
Posted 2010/02/10 - 8:17 GMT
Sweeeet!
Super Cheese
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Aubrey, the terrain toolkit link is broken! :(
Do you have a copy you could send to me?
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
It isn't quite released yet - I haven't used it either. The API page sure looks amazing though!
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
From Google Chrome.
It works with all plexpedia sites now Aubrey :-), Thank you!
As for Syn3h I have many questions,
Will all the worlds we see now in Marsxplr be included in Syn3h? (Freestyle, Lava Racer, Foxholes in particular)
By many more players? Do you mean a more popular Marsxplr, or larger games (15 players per game?)
If thats the case, then that may not work so well as computers can barely handle 10 player servers.
May I suggest looking at Paradise Paintball, which has a pre-server option on how many players you want per game (They go 12, 8, 6, 4).
As for Multi-Account holders, Thank you!
To be in a community, one has to be mature and just let some things go.
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
In regards to players, I mean both. I haven't done enough testing yet to state with certainty, but at least 16 players shouldn't be a problem. Everything in Syn3h is geared towards efficiency and scalability :)
Yes - Syn3h will be built around Whirld 3, and backwards compatibility for Whirld is a priority for me.
There is the possibility for some really cool new features though, such as autogenerated terrains that build in seconds and use practically no bandwidth to load.
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
YES
WOOHOO
YEAH
AHHHHHHHHHH
THANK YOU AUBREY
NOW I CAN USE CHROME!!!!!
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Darn I was really excited to get my world in...
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Looks as if we're getting a BIG makeover.
Looks great!
About the ads... thanks for clearing that up, Aubrey. I (and other people) don't want to have to reload the page every time an obcene advertisement comes up.
YAY! CHROME! Redownloading in process....
Looks like Syn3h is coming along nicely! I look forward to the release....
Thank you, Aubrey!
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Oh yeah! THis sounds awesome. Now people will actually be looking forward for Syn3H!! (So Aurbey have you checked the voting for names thing?) If so are you just going to overrule it or maybe change it to something more original. But I don't really care that it's called Syn3H. (Though it sounds like Sin 4 H (Whatever that means))
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Thanks for posting this Aubrey :) As for google chrome to bad it doesn't work on my computer:(
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
iPad/iPhone multiplayer! Hooray!
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Sounds cool, but one question. Is Syn3h going to be just a huge update of Mars Explorer with a different name, or is it going to be a completely different game?
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Kirby: The reason Aubrey is doing this is because he thinks the name marsexplorer isn't appropriate anymore. For example mars doesn't have islands with palm trees. It will have many updates like new games for example CTF, soccer, etc;
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Yes, I knew that, but is he going to make a completely different website for the game, or just change this current website? And is there going to be any major, drastic changes to the basic concept of the game?
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
One other thing. Will the No Connection problem be fixed soon? Because those are REALLY getting on my nerves. I can't play with anyone anymore; I can only talk to people...
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
IPhone/iPad multiplayer??? SWEEEEEEEET!!!!!
And I'm also getting annoyed at the NR bug.
And I'm also getting annoyed at the NR bug.
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Thanks for the updates, Aubrey! Mars's future is looking great!
By the way, can you give us a rough estimate of when you're expecting to releas Syn3h? I'm prepared to mark my calendars.
By the way, can you give us a rough estimate of when you're expecting to releas Syn3h? I'm prepared to mark my calendars.
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Same here!
EDIT: Btw, will Syn3h have it's own iPhone app, or will you just update the original? 'Cause I don't want to pay ANOTHER $2.99.
EDIT: Btw, will Syn3h have it's own iPhone app, or will you just update the original? 'Cause I don't want to pay ANOTHER $2.99.
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
I checked out that "Very Exciting Project" Aubrey...
Looks great! Is the driver in the back? Cause that would be cool.
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
BAM!!!!!!
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Aubrey, thanks for your janitorial work on the forum last night!
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Yes! Thanks!
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
I don't know if ant of you have noticed (I haven't looked at all the posts) but the terrain toolkit is NOW AVAILABLE!!! :D
EDIT: not sure how to use it, though - help appreciated :P
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Thanks again Aubrey for your hard work and dedication to Marsxplr, the Marsxplr Forums, and to the Marsxplr players! Thank you!
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
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» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
X_X *dead*
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
fire fox gives me the best fps
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
is the new syn3h therefore going to be much more interesting to play, (soccer, capture the flag, etc) but also paid? That would certainly rule out n00bs, for anyone to pay would probably not misuse accounts, but also remember that most of the people playing are teenagers? I'm 15, I've met many who are 13-17, so who's going to pay that when there are so many other sites to connect to people on? just a few thoughts, I very well understand the amount of upkeep this site must have :O Also, another idea, how about if you NEED a mars explorer account to play? if would be a hoop to jump through, slightly limiting n00bishness (maybe) and also slightly limiting bandwidth. just another idea to consider ;)
~Alex
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
I don't believe it would be a paid game... At least not right off the bat. There is an iPhone app for Mars Explorer which is paid, so i suspect this will stay the same on the iPhone but the computer version will remain free.
As for the idea of a required account to play the game, i don't like this idea. Although it may cut back on some 'Noobs', it will also cut back on good players who are not able to make an account for whatever reasons, of which i've met quite a few. Also, i believe that if people are forced to make an account, it would more than likely just force more 'noobs' onto the forum, where they are most unwanted. ;)
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Good point. More noobs on the forum.....that's a scary thought.....
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Actually it would do quite the opposite. It will diminish the spammers because they would have to do it by email, and thus, only able to make one account, making them easier to boot. As for the newbies, we could do like CM forum does, have a chat box to where they could ask Aubrey for an account and he'd tell them the password and username, preferably theirs. They would quickly log in and change the password and presto, they're in. (that's how I did it in CM and they have NO spammers whatsoever!)
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
That sounds awesome!! I am REALLY looking forward to the iTouch multiplayer feature! Maybe, just maybe there could be a separate section for the Mars Explorer worlds (freestyle, fox holes, lavaracer) and a different section for the new Syn3h worlds when going to host a server or something.
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Yup! I can't wait!
Although, I don't want to have to pay ANOTHER $2.99 for the Syn3h app. Is the multiplayer feature going to be on the old app, or a whole new one?
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
You'll be able to upgrade for free Spock, if Aubrey will follow through on his promise that all updates to the Marsxplr App, would be free of charge to those who have previously purchased it. Sy3nth would be an update to the Marsxplr App, so therefore, it would be free to those who previously purchased the Marsxplr App.
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Technically, Aubrey has stated that Syn3h is actually a "Runner up" of Mars Explorer - which by default voids all agreements to the mars explorer app, from the syn3h app.
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
Oooooooo! A technicality! I LIKE IT!.......sort of.
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
What if you could visit separate planets (like mars) to make it clear what the specific world would be like. For example, all the earth textured worlds seem to be mountainous. There could b clear guidelines and people could tell Aubrey which of the categories/planets their world would be.
» Reply to CommentRe: State of the Empire
yay! thanks admin!
