Development: Difference between revisions
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{{:Development/Timeline}} | {{:Development/Timeline}} | ||
Allegiance was originally developed by Microsoft in 1999-2000. They eventually released seven patches to both update the game code and to balance the gameplay. These changelogs are maintained in the [[archive]] section of this wiki and, if you wish, you can access them by following the links within the timeline to the right. | |||
When Microsoft stopped developing the game players couldn't fix the game code, but they could attempt to balance the gameplay by using [[Individuals#KGJV|KGJV's]] [[ICE]] program to edit the | When Microsoft stopped developing the game players couldn't fix the game code, but they could attempt to balance the gameplay by using [[Individuals#KGJV|KGJV's]] [[ICE]] program to edit the core gameplay data files. | ||
When the [[History#Disappointment_of_the_Highest_Hopes.3B_Fulfillment_of_the_Greatest_Ones|source code was released by Microsoft]] in 2004 the community founded the [[FAZ|FAZ project]] - Free Allegiance Zone. The goal of the project was to fix the many bugs that had been discovered | When the [[History#Disappointment_of_the_Highest_Hopes.3B_Fulfillment_of_the_Greatest_Ones|source code was released by Microsoft]] in 2004 the community founded the [[FAZ|FAZ project]] - Free Allegiance Zone. The goal of the project was to fix the many bugs that had been discovered, to update the network code to ensure ease of installation, and to begin upgrading the game with new features. This is still an ongoing process. | ||
==Development process== | |||
{{Out of date}} | |||
The core of Allegiance, including the game client, server and lobby code are being developed by the [[Development team|FAZ Development team]] in an open source project led by the Development [[Zone Leader]]. Note that you don't have to be an official member of the FAZ team to help develop - anybody is free to download, examine and offer patches. For your patch to be included in an official build it needs to be submitted to the Development team for approval. The authentication front-end [[ASGS]] system is closed source for security reasons. | |||
For each release a set of goals are created and members of the development team can commit to the SVN repository for review and inclusion in beta builds until a feature freeze is made (usually when the development team feels enough improvements have been made). Patches that have a clear affect on gameplay are taken to the community for voting. | |||
[[FAZ Beta|Beta builds]] are run on a special development lobby to weed out bugs. Towards the end of each development cycle public weekly beta games are held to stress test the new releases and find the final bugs. | |||
It is important to note that only pre-approved builds are accepted by [[ASGS]] when logging on for play and the production lobby is restricted. Therefore you can not build your own client and play on the normal servers, nor you can build your own server and put it on the production lobby. | |||
==Language, Platform and APIs== | |||
Allegiance was originally created with Visual C++ 6.0. It was built as a 'real word' showcase of Microsoft DirectX (version 7) technologies: | |||
*DirectPlay for networking | |||
*Direct3D for 3D graphics | |||
*DirectDraw for 2D graphics | |||
*DirectInput for mouse/keyboard/joystick inputs | |||
*DirectSound for 3D spacialized sound effects | |||
The game also intensively uses another key Microsoft technology : COM/OLE (local and remote). | |||
When the source code was released in 2004, the Free Allegiance community ported it to Visual C++ 2003 and following versions. | |||
Along the way, the community upgraded the networking code to DirectPlay 8, the graphics to Direct3D 9 removing DirectDraw in the process and the inputs to DirectInput 8. | |||
As of today, the code requires Visual C++ 2008 or 2010 (2003 and 2005 versions are not supported anymore) and latest DirectX SDK. | |||
==Current Development== | ==Current Development== | ||
Additional wiki articles concerning development: | Additional wiki articles concerning development: | ||
*[[:Category:Development]] | *[[:Category:Development|Category: Development]] | ||
*[[FAZ Beta]] | *[[FAZ Beta]] | ||
*[[Creating | *[[Creating models for Allegiance]] | ||
*[[Downloading and | *[[Downloading and building the source]] | ||
*[[Code documentation]] | *[[Code documentation]] | ||
*[[Making | *[[Making custom maps]] | ||
===Mods=== | ===Mods=== | ||
There have been many patches that aren't part of the official build for various reasons. | There have been many patches that aren't part of the official build for various reasons. | ||
*[[Chat | *[[Chat packs]] | ||
*[[User Interface | *[[User Interface mods]] | ||
*[[Targeting | *[[Targeting reticles]] | ||
*[[Hi-res textures]] | *[[Hi-res textures]] | ||
*[http://reddragoninn-rdi.com/Quia/Alleg/colorblinddoors.rar Colored Doors for the color blind], hosted by Quia (place files into the Artwork\Textures sub-directory) | |||
*[http://www.mesialonline.com/Allegiance/alleg.html Mesial's fansite] is the most complete archive of mods. | *[http://www.mesialonline.com/Allegiance/alleg.html Mesial's fansite] is the most complete archive of mods. | ||
==Historical Development== | ==Historical Development== | ||
*Original Developer Journal - Written in early 2000 | *Original Developer Journal - Written in early 2000 | ||
**[http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/075/075281p1.html Chapter One] - Game Development Virgins | **[http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/075/075281p1.html Chapter One] - Game Development Virgins | ||
Line 53: | Line 66: | ||
===Code changelogs=== | ===Code changelogs=== | ||
Note that these are different from Game Balance changelogs, you would need to look up the appropriate [[Cores|core]] to view those. | Note that these are different from Game Balance changelogs, you would need to look up the appropriate [[Cores|core]] to view those. | ||
*[[MS]] - | *[[MS|Microsoft Allegiance 1.25]] - {{Date|2001|6|16}} | ||
*[[FAZ R1]] - | *[[FAZ R1]] - {{Date|2006|3|1}} | ||
*[[FAZ R2]] - | *[[FAZ R2]] - {{Date|2006|8|1}} | ||
*[[FAZ R3]] - | *[[FAZ R3]] - {{Date|2006|12|14}} | ||
*[[FAZ R4]] - | *[[FAZ R4]] - {{Date|2007|11|1}} | ||
*[[FAZ R5]] - {{Date|2009|11|16}} | |||
*[[FAZ R6]] - {{Date|2012|5|14}} | |||
*[[ACSS|ACSS (FAZ R7)]] - {{Date|2012|10|15}} | |||
{{FAZdev}} | {{FAZdev}} |
Latest revision as of 16:41, 6 January 2013
1999 | |
---|---|
Dec | The closed beta of Allegiance was released. |
2000 | |
Jan | The open beta of Allegiance was released. Open beta changelog |
Mar 29th | Public release of Allegiance. |
May 19th | Version 1.1 released. 1.1 Code changes 1.1 Balance changes |
May 25th | Version 1.11 released. 1.11 Balance changes |
Jun 19th | Version 1.2 released. 1.2 Code changes 1.2 Balance changes |
Jun 26th | Version 1.22 released. 1.22 Balance changes |
Jul 3rd | Version 1.23 released. 1.23 Balance changes |
Sep 26th | Version 1.24 released. 1.24 Code changes |
2001 | |
??? | Spunkmeyer released Special operations core. |
Feb 18th | SOV_Vencain released SOVRoute |
May 15th | Microsoft announced that it had decided to stop supporting Allegiance |
Apr 27th | SOV_Vencain released SOVShowCG |
Jun 9th | SOV_Vencain released SOVGuard |
Jun 16th | The final patch, Version 1.25 was released 1.25 Balance changes |
Sep 1st | SOV_Vencain released SOVLog |
2002 | |
??? | Pook released Zoom core. |
Jan-Jun | Allegiance Wars 3 (AW3) |
May 2nd | Spunkmeyer released Allegiance + core. |
Jun 21st | SOV_Vencain released SOVLogin |
2003 | |
Jul 17th | Open beta of ASGS released by Pook. |
2004 | |
Feb | Noir released Dark Nebulae core. |
Feb | Vlymoxyd released Race core. |
Feb 5th | SOLAP persuaded Microsoft to release the source code for Allegiance. |
Apr | DrStrnglv released Rock Paper Scissors core. |
Apr 27th | FAZ Beta officially started. |
Aug | Hawkwood released Edge of Reality core. |
Sep | Paradigm released Good old Days core. |
2005 | |
Sep | Pook released Pook core. |
2006 | |
Apr | Weedman released Star Wars core. |
Mar 1st | FAZ R1 released by Dev team. |
Aug 1st | FAZ R2 released by Dev team. |
Aug 17th | Grimmwolf released Good old Days II core. |
Dec 14th | FAZ R3 released by Dev team. |
2007 | |
Mar | Apochboi released Warp core. |
Sep | Gappy released Valley of Saturns core. |
Nov 1st | FAZ R4 released by Dev team. |
Nov 1st | Andon released Battlestar Galactica core |
2008 | |
May 17th | Community Core released. |
2009 | |
Jul | Development and design of CSS started |
Nov 16th | FAZ R5 released by Dev team. |
2010 | |
Nov | CSS goes into closed beta phase |
2011 | |
Jan | NightRychene released eXtreme Core |
Feb | New Installer makes installation easier |
2012 | |
Feb | ACSS enters the public beta phase |
May 14th | FAZ R6 released by Dev team. |
Oct 15th | ACSS replaces ASGS |
Allegiance was originally developed by Microsoft in 1999-2000. They eventually released seven patches to both update the game code and to balance the gameplay. These changelogs are maintained in the archive section of this wiki and, if you wish, you can access them by following the links within the timeline to the right.
When Microsoft stopped developing the game players couldn't fix the game code, but they could attempt to balance the gameplay by using KGJV's ICE program to edit the core gameplay data files.
When the source code was released by Microsoft in 2004 the community founded the FAZ project - Free Allegiance Zone. The goal of the project was to fix the many bugs that had been discovered, to update the network code to ensure ease of installation, and to begin upgrading the game with new features. This is still an ongoing process.
Development process
Outdated content This page does not reflect the current state of things. Some information within this article is either obsolete, hasn't been updated in a long time, incomplete, or otherwise invalid.
The core of Allegiance, including the game client, server and lobby code are being developed by the FAZ Development team in an open source project led by the Development Zone Leader. Note that you don't have to be an official member of the FAZ team to help develop - anybody is free to download, examine and offer patches. For your patch to be included in an official build it needs to be submitted to the Development team for approval. The authentication front-end ASGS system is closed source for security reasons.
For each release a set of goals are created and members of the development team can commit to the SVN repository for review and inclusion in beta builds until a feature freeze is made (usually when the development team feels enough improvements have been made). Patches that have a clear affect on gameplay are taken to the community for voting.
Beta builds are run on a special development lobby to weed out bugs. Towards the end of each development cycle public weekly beta games are held to stress test the new releases and find the final bugs.
It is important to note that only pre-approved builds are accepted by ASGS when logging on for play and the production lobby is restricted. Therefore you can not build your own client and play on the normal servers, nor you can build your own server and put it on the production lobby.
Language, Platform and APIs
Allegiance was originally created with Visual C++ 6.0. It was built as a 'real word' showcase of Microsoft DirectX (version 7) technologies:
- DirectPlay for networking
- Direct3D for 3D graphics
- DirectDraw for 2D graphics
- DirectInput for mouse/keyboard/joystick inputs
- DirectSound for 3D spacialized sound effects
The game also intensively uses another key Microsoft technology : COM/OLE (local and remote).
When the source code was released in 2004, the Free Allegiance community ported it to Visual C++ 2003 and following versions. Along the way, the community upgraded the networking code to DirectPlay 8, the graphics to Direct3D 9 removing DirectDraw in the process and the inputs to DirectInput 8.
As of today, the code requires Visual C++ 2008 or 2010 (2003 and 2005 versions are not supported anymore) and latest DirectX SDK.
Current Development
Additional wiki articles concerning development:
- Category: Development
- FAZ Beta
- Creating models for Allegiance
- Downloading and building the source
- Code documentation
- Making custom maps
Mods
There have been many patches that aren't part of the official build for various reasons.
- Chat packs
- User Interface mods
- Targeting reticles
- Hi-res textures
- Colored Doors for the color blind, hosted by Quia (place files into the Artwork\Textures sub-directory)
- Mesial's fansite is the most complete archive of mods.
Historical Development
- Original Developer Journal - Written in early 2000
- Chapter One - Game Development Virgins
- Chapter Two - Environment + Rules + Toys = Gameplay
- Chapter Three - Game Balance as an Art Form
- Chapter Four - Game Development 101
- Chapter Five - So you want to create a game?
- Chapter Six - In the Beginning
- Chapter Seven - A Day in the Life
- Chapter Eight - Hints and strategies
Code changelogs
Note that these are different from Game Balance changelogs, you would need to look up the appropriate core to view those.
- Microsoft Allegiance 1.25 - June 16th, 2001
- FAZ R1 - March 1st, 2006
- FAZ R2 - August 1st, 2006
- FAZ R3 - December 14th, 2006
- FAZ R4 - November 1st, 2007
- FAZ R5 - November 16th, 2009
- FAZ R6 - May 14th, 2012
- ACSS (FAZ R7) - October 15th, 2012
FAZ Development |
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