Free Allegiance Zone: Difference between revisions

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==Current development==
==Current development==
The fifth release, [[FAZ R5]], is in open beta. Most of the [[development team]]'s goals have been to do with upgrading the graphics, but there will be numerous other features added too. See the [[R5|R5 changelog]] for further details.
[[FAZ R8]] is in open beta.


:''Last updated: 19 Feb, 2009''
:''Last updated: 3 OCT, 2014''


==Suggesting new features==
==Suggesting new features==
Line 23: Line 23:


==Beta testing==
==Beta testing==
:''Main article: [[Testing FAZ Beta]]
Beta testing is an important part of releasing new builds. Towards the end of each development cycle public beta games are held weekly on a Wednesday evening (EST) to stress test the new releases and find the final bugs.
Beta testing is an important part of releasing new builds. Towards the end of each development cycle public beta games are held weekly on a Wednesday evening (EST) to stress test the new releases and find the final bugs.


When the Beta build is ready for public testing the Development [[Zone Leader]] will make an announcement on the [http://www.freeallegiance.org/forums/index.php?act=home FAO's homepage] and/or broadcast a message to people logging in using [[ASGS]].
When the Beta build is ready for public testing the Development [[Zone Leader]] will make an announcement on the [http://www.freeallegiance.org/forums/index.php?act=home FAO's homepage] and/or broadcast a message to people logging in using [[ASGS]].
=====Participating in beta tests=====
When the public testing starts it is important that you participate because it affects you in a few ways:
# It is used to check that the new release is compatible with your computer. If there is an undetected bug that doesn't get caught, you might be locked out of Allegiance!
# You will find that on testing nights there will be no one to play with on the main server, as most players will be on seperate beta server.
# If you log on to the beta server not only will you be helping the development team stress test the engine, you'll get to play with all the new features months in advance.
To join you must ensure you have the latest Beta client from the [http://www.freeallegiance.org/forums/index.php?showforum=32 Beta Development forum] and then log in to [[ASGS]] after toggling the 'Beta' option under the 'Allegiance' options. Consult the dev forum if you have problems - often there will be a pinned topic with explicit instructions.


==How else you can help==
==How else you can help==
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:*'''Reporting bugs'''
:*'''Reporting bugs'''
:**Any time you encounter something that doesn't work right, mention it in the [http://www.freeallegiance.org/forums/index.php?showforum=87 Code Bugs forum].
:**Any time you encounter something that doesn't work right, mention it in the [http://www.freeallegiance.org/forums/index.php?showforum=87 Code Bugs forum].
:**The developers use [http://allegzilla.alleg.net:8080/ AllegZilla] to keep track of bugs that still need to be fixed.
:**The developers use [http://trac.alleg.net/ Trac] to keep track of bugs that still need to be fixed.
:*'''Fixing bugs'''
:*'''Fixing bugs'''
:**If you see a bug in [http://allegzilla.alleg.net:8080/ AllegZilla] that you can fix, do it! Check out the page on [[Downloading and building the source|downloading and building Allegiance's source]].
:**If you see a bug in [http://trac.alleg.net/ Trac] that you can fix, do it! Check out the page on [[Downloading and building the source|downloading and building Allegiance's source]].
:*'''Improving the game'''
:*'''Improving the game'''
:**Designing models.
:**Designing models.

Latest revision as of 11:42, 3 October 2014

Free Allegiance code suppliers

Last updated: Aug 2010  · Update

aarmstrong

AEM

Andon

Avalanche

bahdohday

Cortex

Dogbones

doofus

Factoid

FullMark

Imago

Jonan

KGJV

mdvalley

Pook

Radar

Rock

Sgt Baker

Stain_Rat

Terralthra

Thalgor

TheBored

Tigereye

Tkela

Your_Persona

Zapper

 

Allegiance was released in early 2000 and Microsoft supported it until mid 2001. From that point onwards no improvements, no new features, no bug fixes were made until Solap persuaded Microsoft to release the code under a shared-source license in 2004.

The surviving Allegiance players quickly organised a volunteer development team to begin work and named themselves the Free Allegiance Zone - an amalagation of two terms originally used to segregate the community (the restricted-features Free Zone and the pay-per-month Allegiance Zone)). FAZ is used to describe the new version of Allegiance which strives to incorporate all the features that AZ had while still remaining completely free.

FAZ history

The code which the FAZ team had their hands on in 2004 was written using a 1999 compiler and was almost completely incompatible with modern development environments - in other words, nearly useless for what they wanted to do. The first step was therefore to change Microsoft's sourcecode to compile with modern compilers used in today's development environments.

The FAZ team completed that in 2006, producing their own stable build of Allegiance. They were finally at "Square One" and from there have been able to march proudly forwards, slowly but surely adding features that have been requested since Allegiance was first released and correcting bugs/errors.

For a full synopsis of the improvements that have been made browse the releases section below.

Development team

Lead by Dogbones, the Development Zone Leader, these guys have made tremendous strides in our code. They have rewritten the underlying code to work with the latest software and hardware. Not enough can be said about their work and efforts. If you would like to help develop the code then PM Dogbones.

Current development

FAZ R8 is in open beta.

Last updated: 3 OCT, 2014

Suggesting new features

If you have an idea for a new feature then please make a new thread in the Code bugs & Suggestions forum. Note that many suggestions have been made in the past and that yours may not get first priority - especially if it is difficult to implement!

Beta testing

Main article: Testing FAZ Beta

Beta testing is an important part of releasing new builds. Towards the end of each development cycle public beta games are held weekly on a Wednesday evening (EST) to stress test the new releases and find the final bugs.

When the Beta build is ready for public testing the Development Zone Leader will make an announcement on the FAO's homepage and/or broadcast a message to people logging in using ASGS.

How else you can help

Since the Allegiance development is community based, it's up to all of us to make it better. The philosophy is simple: If you don't build it, it won't be used.

You can help by:

  • Helping new players learn how to play the game
  • Writing Documentation
    • Add or edit articles on the wiki. If you need edit privileges here, PM TheBored.
    • Create new documentation that hasn't already been written and post it on the forums. If it fits, it will be added.
  • Reporting bugs
    • Any time you encounter something that doesn't work right, mention it in the Code Bugs forum.
    • The developers use Trac to keep track of bugs that still need to be fixed.
  • Fixing bugs
  • Improving the game
    • Designing models.
      • There are many ships and bases in existing factions that are repeats of other faction bases.
    • Design some new high res models.
    • Check out this information about modeling for Allegiance.
  • Playing the game!
FAZ Development
About Free Allegiance Zone
Releases: R1 · R2 · R3 · R4 · R5 · R6  · (current)R7
Allegiance R8: What's new? · Build it!
Testing Beta: Overview · Testing procedure
Retrieved from "https://www.freeallegiance.org//FAW/index.php?title=Free_Allegiance_Zone&oldid=15176"