Biocross Closed ALPHA

HazardFN

Current ALPHA Team:

FriendlyFire
MystacX
Cheese

Spaces Available:

There are currently 2 places available for the closed Alpha, I need people who have a few FL Files for testing and who are patient, at this stage there are MANY bugs as much of my other team have found out - for example we went from version 0.0.0.0 to 0.0.0.9 in a few hours alone (this represents 9 rebuilds).

I have an autoupdate system in place so there is no constant sending of files over MSN or whatever (unless something needs doing that the autoupdate cannot accomplish but this is only in serious cases or with database errors)

Please feel free to apply in this forum with your name, FL experience and also how you will test Biocross by providing info like how many *.fl files you have and if your brave, do you intend to test some features on your own commercial server (I recommend against that at this stage but the feedback and value could be invaluable)

Features currently not present you may expect to be:

Maintenance features: delete players who played less than 2 minutes etc.
Check FLServer is running every so often
Advanced/timed bans
FLStat and web Functionality
Player enforcement (check for unknown equipment etc.)

The reason for this closed ALPHA is mainly to check simple functionality of the player editor, the instant server management (such as kick player, fine player, send to base and ban player) PLEASE NOTE: due to the ban station being currently unavailable it is impossible for Biocross to determine which players have been banned if you DO try banning players you have to unban them using FLServer itself… apologies for this, but be assured Ban Station is what I am now working on so soon autoupdate will be coming your way and you can be assured that will be in it

So, yeah apply at your peril and expect to get frustrated fast

Known Problems (Which are out of my control)

After each autoupdate you MAY be required to go through the setup wizard again due to there being new settings/features - however you can skip through ALL of the pages EXCEPT for the last one which you MUST re-enter your Multiplayer Directory into… Please recheck all the pages quickly however for new settings that may have been added in an update…
You MUST install a version of SQL Server 2005/2008 (Express or otherwise) this can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/Sqlserver/2005/en/us/express.aspx - please download the x64 version if your OS Supports it…
After installation of SQL Server 2005/2008 you must ensure the SQL Browser service is running details on how to do so are below!
Due to bugs in the autoupdater (now fixed) since the setup was made you MUST (after the first update) COMPLETELY CLOSE BIOCROSS AND START AGAIN despite what it says

Starting the SQL Browser service:

XP/Server 2003:
Start -> Run -> services.msc -> look for SQL Server Browser -> if play button at the top is grayed out right click it and click properties -> change Disabled to Automatic -> click start -> Run Biocross

Vista/Windows 7/Server 2008:
(Do all as an Administrator)

Start -> Search services -> Click the item labelled services -> look for SQL Server Browser -> if play button at the top is grayed out right click it and click properties -> change Disabled to Automatic -> click start -> Run Biocross

**Multicore Servers and x64

Due to the interaction Biocross needs with FLServer it must remain an x86 executable but runs admirably on the WOW Layer and causes no trouble on x64 systems…

Multicore servers are supported and with Biocross using threading the more cores the better, also it is recommended (if you have a Quad Core) you set Biocross to operate on 2 cores and have FLServer run on the other two, if you have a Dual core processor it may be best for performance if you let FLServer and Biocross run on all your cores…

Some configurations I tried that also worked well:

Server 2003

Server 2008

Windows XP (NOTE: x64 has not been attempted, XP’s x64 WOW Layer is known for being not as forgiving as that of Vista and Windows 7)

Windows 2000

Windows Vista (x86/x64)

Windows 7 (x64) 32 bit was NOT tested

Processor Affinity Configurations

2 Cores -> FLServerÂ 2 Cores -> Biocross (this worked extremely well and happened to be the fastest for both programs)

1 CoreÂ -> FLServerÂ 3 Cores -> Biocross (this was excellent for Biocross but FLServer could’ve been better however this configuration was not tried in a server environment but on a home PC, other processes may have slowed FLServer down on that 1 core)

3 Cores -> FLServer 1 Core -> Biocross (Biocross ran acceptably but it’s not as good as it could be and FLServer seen little if any performance boost from the extra cores)**

HazardFN

UPDATED TO 0.0.0.1006

(Please note the setup file is an earlier version and after install it will update upon running of Biocross…)

NOTE: WITH THIS UPDATED SETUP FILE IT IS NO LONGER A REQUIREMENT TO CLOSE AND REOPEN BIOCROSS AFTER AN UPDATE

Changes:

Biocross now guesses FL Directory (Friendly Fire)
CPU Usage guage removed from Wizard (MystacX)
‘fake cache’ no longer generated (Friendly Fire)
Better detection of FLServer startup (MystacX)
Kick to Base now functions when player is in space (MystacX)
Fixed some Language Errors in the database (MystacX)
FLAdmin and FLCodec are now properly registered in setup (MystacX and FriendlyFire)
Other small bug fixes

UPDATED TO 0.0.0.1008

Changes:

Incorrect detection of SQL(HazardFN)

UPDATED TO 0.0.0.1009

Changes:

Banning Station Implemented (HazardFN)
Update SQL Button added to make it possible for me to provide updates and fixes for your database (HazardFN)
Reference card added to EasyMP Setup to make adding equipment easier…(HazardFN)

Mindhunter

We’re currently running our NewUniverse1.8 internal beta01 server on IFSO.
If u need a fully modded server with 20 slots and in good times 5-6 peoples online i would like to offer my betaserver for testing.
The problem is we can not give u remote acces or something.
NU might also be interessting as Schmacki is testing new hookfeatures incl. autoupdater and extendet clienthooking.

Greetz
Mind

Note: I will start the beta02 in 3-4 weeks from my betabox at home but that will also work with 15-20 slots.
Edit: We’re running the betaserver with our full playerdb and therefor via hamachi to prevent errors in the serverlist (Mainserver and betaserver with same name).

Schmackbolzen

Sounds nice! Why don’t you use sqlite as a small database, or if it has to be something bigger postgresql / mysql?

HazardFN

@Schmackbolzen:

In Visual Studio the support for Microsoft SQL Server is greater and I can manipulate more options from within my program to increase flexibility without it looking like my program is actually doing anything - to be honest it’s kind of too late to just change the format now anyways without MAJOR recoding :S

@MindHunter:

FLhook functionality in Biocross is being saved for the last moments pretty much right before release - simply this is the bare bones at the moment, it shouldn’t interfere with FLHook in anyway at the moment so it can be used in conjunction, plus there are things missing as mentioned in my above post - I wouldn’t say it’s been tested enough to be used on a critical server…

HazardFN

UPDATED TO 0.0.0.1012

Changes:

Banning station fixes (HazardFN)
Checking for banned players that need unbanning now occurs on a thread (HazardFN)
Fixed lots of tiny bugs in MPEditor and some other areas

HazardFN

SQL Update:

In Biocross click the ‘Execute Biocross SQL Update button’ copy and paste this:

USE [Biocross]
GO

/****** Object: StoredProcedure [dbo].[InsertBannedPlayer] Script Date: 07/19/2009 03:32:00 ******/
SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO

SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO

CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[InsertBannedPlayer]
@PlayerName [text],
@IsTimeBan [smallint],
@UnbanDate [DateTime],
@Reason [text]
WITH EXECUTE AS CALLER
AS
INSERT INTO [Biocross].[dbo].[BannedPlayers]
([Player Name]
,[TimedBan?]
,[UnbanDate]
,[Ban Reason])
VALUES
(@PlayerName,
@IsTimeBan,
@UnbanDate,
@Reason)

GO

then click run update!

HazardFN

UPDATED TO 0.0.0.1013

Player editor fixes(HazardFN)
Added Biocross options form, which now enables auto restart of FLServer and auto close of Dr.Watson (FriendlyFire)
FL new multiplayer character creation now runs a lot smoother(HazardFN)
SKINS!!! Yes you can now change how Biocross looks(HazardFN)

LancerSolurus

**Good to see you making progress on this, I would like to test it out as well.

Got a request for the scripts though, would it be possible to collapse all of the different ammo down into one file, Ammo.xml?

Anyways, the xml script builder is 80% complete, mainly just need to add a few filters to it before it’s released…**

HazardFN

@Lancer:

**Good to see you making progress on this, I would like to test it out as well.

Got a request for the scripts though, would it be possible to collapse all of the different ammo down into one file, Ammo.xml?

Anyways, the xml script builder is 80% complete, mainly just need to add a few filters to it before it’s released…**

All the ammo IS in ammo.xml :S

Projectiles.xml contains the launchers and stuff and ammo.xml contains the ammo for them, or is there something I’m missing?

LancerSolurus

Thanks for clearing that up, I’ll add a filter to split the ‘missile’ guns off from the normal guns. It had me a little confused since most of the stuff in those files you sent me were custom items. Anyways, chat me up on MSN later so we can go over the xml files this thing is making, time to go and see what method it will take to combine the shield and shield generator types, friggin duplicate names

LancerSolurus

For the Biocross testers

Download Biocross Data Generator 0.002

HazardFN

Is it because I’m using Windows 7 or because my FL is a brand new install and BINI’s aren’t supported but it doesn’t appear to be generating anything for me.

Tried admin rights and Windows XP compatability…

LancerSolurus

**It should work in Windows 7, it doesn’t have the BINI decoder active. The one I wrote needs rebuilding, a bit too slow…

Try it on a mod with text INI files.**

HazardFN

New Patch for ALPHA TESTERS using the new setup…

Good luck, this adds cheaters log checking functionality, Player maintenance and a few fixes in the wizard for x86 compatability…

installing will reset your settings due to a major difference in the settings file, apologies…

Also Skins are now saved into settings you get the same skin on reboot…

http://eredivine.net/biosoft/biocross/1015/1015.exe

Please Apply the SQL Update:

USE [Biocross]
GO

/****** Object: StoredProcedure [dbo].[InsertBannedPlayer] Script Date: 07/19/2009 03:32:00 ******/
SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO

SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO

CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[InsertBannedPlayer]
@PlayerName [text],
@IsTimeBan [smallint],
@UnbanDate [DateTime],
@Reason [text]
WITH EXECUTE AS CALLER
AS
INSERT INTO [Biocross].[dbo].[BannedPlayers]
([Player Name]
,[TimedBan?]
,[UnbanDate]
,[Ban Reason])
VALUES
(@PlayerName,
@IsTimeBan,
@UnbanDate,
@Reason)

GO

from within the Biocross main screen too…