Battle Grounds 1.1

[Ded10c]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to announce...


Introduction
Yep, version 1.1 of the Battle Grounds level pack is here (at last!). I've had this project on a backburner for years. I released an early version in 2012 and between then and now I've stripped the program down and built it back up for compatibility with 1.5, modern operating systems and all the bells and whistles that the original Level Cataloger program should have had.

Major Changes:
- No more incompatible assets
- All maps compatible with 1.5
- All maps come pre-installed (with disc space less limited than it used to be there's not much reason to install them on-the-fly)
- Compatible with all 32- and 64-bit editions of Windows from XP onwards.

New Features:
- Launcher support for all of Battlezone and The Red Odyssey's singleplayer missions
- Preview shellmaps
- Added maps that were missing from part-included series
- Mapadder function (automated for included maps, manual support also included)
- Desktop shortcuts for any map you please
- View and change the registered locations for both Battlezone and The Red Odyssey
- Enhanced UI (and it can be disabled if you prefer the old one!)
- Installer version optionally includes the five multiplayer maps from Red Odyssey (at special request from Dr. Psyringe).
- Help manual

Maps
Instant Action


Deathmatch


Strategy


Download Links
Installer - 16.5MB (Self-contained executable setup file containing everything you need, including help manual and optional Red Odyssey maps)
Archive - 20.0MB (Archive primed for burning to disc, including splash screen - also useful if you don't want an executable)

Keep Case - 3.07MB (CD and case images, in case you want to burn to disc)

Installation Instructions
Installer: Run BZGrounds.exe and point it at your Battlezone installation directory.
Archive: Run setup.exe, or copy the four folders to your addon directory and LevelCataloger.exe and BZGrounds.chm to your Battlezone installation directory. You'll need to unblock the help file from the Properties window if you want to use it.

[Dx.]

So this works with Bz1.4 and doesn't cause conflicts with duplicate maps that was used from it?
Did you fix all the maps that crashed?

[Dx.]

Ok I checked all the maps in 1.4 and have a list of things that you should fix.
1 crevasse.bzn (CRASH bzn version is 1044 resave in 1.4)
2 Drive-In (Missing shellmap)
3 fortrsio.bzn (NSDF recycler starts out half in the terrain needs repositioned)
4 highroad.bzn (Missing shellmap)
5 The Relic Yard ( CRASH and Missing shellmap)
6 The Stargate (bad sky texture needs fixed)
7 IA missions (Many have a blank objective at mission start, create the mission objective from the map makers txt file)
8 (Missing "vxt" files on all maps)

The cataloger worked perfectly.

[Ded10c]

1. This is due to an update to prevent overwriting of stock assets. See note on 1.4 compatibility below.
2. Will be fixed in next version.
3. Could not reproduce. Does appear on highroad.bzn, though.
4. Will be fixed in next version.
5. Could not reproduce either.
6. Deliberate design choice. As above.
7. As above. This project exists to fix the maps, not improve them.
8. Not sure what you mean. VXTs are included for all maps that reference them apart from two which refer to non-existent files and default to netveh.

If the test team and I couldn't reproduce them then it probably means they're because you're using 1.4. I'll try to reproduce them again when I have access to my copy. If that is the case then I'll fix them if there's enough demand; otherwise I don't see much point in maintaining compatibility with an obsolete version.

[FirBirGir]

Hi AHadley, I just installed Battlegrounds.

There's a typo in the EULA, S is missing from SUBJECT in the first line. Is Heracles Brigade your own moniker?

Eddy

[Dx.]

1. This is due to an update to prevent overwriting of stock assets. See note on 1.4 compatibility below.
3. Could not reproduce. Does appear on highroad.bzn, though.
5. Could not reproduce either.
6. Deliberate design choice. As above.

1. Actually all it needed was editing two letters in the bzn file from "avmuf" to "xvmuf", it wasn't necessary to make the map incompatible with 1.4.

3. The map is "Fortress Io MK I" not highroad, highroad recycler isn't a problem on Fortress the recycler is 2/3 of the way inside the terrain starting on a hill then slides down inside of the terrain. (It's a simple fix)

5. I looked into this with debug and it appears to be a shell crash in 1.4.

6. A BIG square of fog color in the sky on a black background is a design choice? (If the design was meant to annoy... it's a success)

Here are the crash/compatibility fixes for 1.4 (1 & 5):

BZGrounds_1.4 compatible.zip

(56.45 KiB) Downloaded 87 times

[Ded10c]

1. Actually all it needed was editing two letters in the bzn file from "avmuf" to "xvmuf", it wasn't necessary to make the map incompatible with 1.4.

3. The map is "Fortress Io MK I" not highroad, highroad recycler isn't a problem on Fortress the recycler is 2/3 of the way inside the terrain starting on a hill then slides down inside of the terrain. (It's a simple fix)

5. I looked into this with debug and it appears to be a shell crash in 1.4.

6. A BIG square of fog color in the sky on a black background is a design choice? (If the design was meant to annoy... it's a success)

Here are the crash/compatibility fixes for 1.4 (1 & 5):

BZGrounds_1.4 compatible.zip

1. It's unlikely that I would have bothered anyway since you are the only person out of 75 unique downloaders to have even tried to use Battle Grounds with 1.4. I made it clear in the manual and readme that I wasn't concerned with maintaining compatibility with obsolete versions. If I do another version I'll implement the provided BZN.
3. I can read. I tested and could not reproduce it. Now I'm at home with my network set up I can try to do so again. Since I got this issue on Highroad, its recycler positioning clearly is a problem.
5. As 1.
6. This is made explicitly clear.

[Dx.]

3. In 1.5 you will not see what I'm talking about because Tug added a ground check so it snaps to the terrain floor.

[Ded10c]

So the Recycler I am currently seeing clipping straight through a f**king wall is what, in my imagination?

[Dx.]

Look at it in 1.4 and see what I'm talking about or would you like me to make a video of it because you "Could not reproduce".

As far as your comment about "obsolete versions" goes... All versions are obsolete versions, the game is 16 YEARS old. (That's like saying a 16 year old car got new fenders and paint job and it's top of the line again)

If a job is worth doing it worth doing right, I never saw fixing BG as worth doing but IF I did... I would fix ALL bugs, I don't see fixing bugs in obsolete versions as a way to please others, I do things because I enjoy it, so if I had an attitude that I can't be bothered to fix something, maybe I shouldn't be doing it.

[Ded10c]

I've already said I'll check it again on 1.4 and fix it if it appears. We were discussing whether it appeared on another map in 1.5, which it clearly does. Do you want me to make a video?

Google the definition of obsolete. Protip: It does not mean "old". It means no longer produced or used, or superseded.

Maps were repaired to work with 1.5. The installer, readme and manual all note this. Out of 80 downloads you are the only person to complain. 1.25% is not enough demand for backwards compatibility. If you fix it yourself I will happily include the fixed BZNs, but you'll be hard pressed to find a developer who will shift the scope of a project on the demands of a single user.

Battle Grounds is an official expansion. That's more than reason enough to keep it up-to-date. You'll find there are developers doing exactly the same for The Red Odyssey and Rise of the Black Dogs. They won't be aiming for backwards compatibility with 1.4 either.

[Dx.]

Actually you didn't say you'd use 1.4, you should be more clear. I wasn't discussing another map, minor clipping is not a problem. I only offered to make a video because you said "Could not reproduce" and retesting in 1.5 doesn't show what I'm talking about, I explained why.

All versions of Bz are obsolete and to supersede the games you need the authority to do so. (same as with a patch) Activision and Atari gave no such authority. Infact 1.5 has broken strat due to the AI behavior and pathing bugs that was never fixed also 1.5 was hacked several times and nothing has been done about it other than server bans for anyone that gets a finger pointed their way. (FYI 1.4 is still used QUOTE: "IT'S THE REAL BATTLEZONE")

Everything done on the games comes either under the EULA for modding or piracy, all mod work is required under the Activision license to have the notice, "THIS IS NOT MADE OR SUPPORTED BY ACTIVISION".

I'm not complaining, I'm giving constructive criticism but when you start with the profanity, I'll start taking the gloves off.

Ken has done a lot to be backwards compatible and yes even for 1.4.

[Ded10c]

If you wish to discuss that I'd appreciate you kindly doing so outside my release thread.