[Announce] PCC2 beta 4
Stefan Reuther
For the last few months, I spent my tube time mostly improving PCC2,
with the intent to make it actually playable. I'm now using it in a
game. It's still very incomplete compared to PCC 1.x, but at least it
does no longer generate red turns :-)
As usual, you can get it from <http://phost.de/~stefan/pcc2.html>.
Release notes are appended below.
Stefan
-----8<----------8<----------8<----------8<-----
Planets Command Center II Beta 4
=================================
This release adds features under the hood. Mainly, support for
"chartX.cc" was improved. PCC2 now fully implements the file format in
the same way as PCC 1.x, allowing you to alternate between the two
without losing data.
It also fixes a number of bugs. I'm quite certain that it now actually
is playable on a level somewhere between PCC 1.x, DOS Planets, and
Winplan. This was already promised for the previous versions, but this
one has actually proven its virtues in a real game (which did uncover
some real bugs and shortcomings. "real" as in "makes red-status turns").
The starchart was vastly improved. It learned several new functions,
and a new fancy movement animation.
This release also adds a few command line programs. I've decided for
the prefix "c2" for PCC2 components, thus you now have an Unpack tool
"c2unpack" and a Sweep tool "c2sweep". Those are replacements
(although not 100% identical) for the "ccunpack" and "ccsweep" shipped
with PCC 1.x. I will later port more command line utilities, and have
plans for new ones.
Target Audience
----------------
If you're using PCC 1.x or VPA, you'll rightfully think PCC2 sucks.
It's still missing many advanced features.
If you're using planets.exe or Winplan, or your operating system does
not run your favourite client, PCC2 might be a playable alternative
for you.
Probably everyone will have a use for PlayVCR, PCC2's combat viewer
and simulator. Its graphics are a little nicer than those of the others,
and its simulator runs faster than all other simulators known to me.
Hosts might find Un-TRN useful, especially its ability to "sanitize"
turns.
What is still missing?
-----------------------
The starchart is still underdeveloped (but is heavily improving).
The scripting engine is not yet there. Adding that will bring back
useful features such as search, comments, labels, and auto tasks.
The history is developed much less than in 1.x. In particular, message
parsing is missing completely (but UTILx.DAT is processed).
Finally, we of course want new features as well. Planned features are:
+ a "play-from-map" mode, similar to VPA. Rudiments of this already
exist in PCC 1.x, where the object keymap is active when an object
is selected in the map (thus, you can rename ships from the map). In
addition to that, we'd also need to display some neat map overlays
to make it useful.
+ display of past and future turns on the map.
Stability
----------
Beta 4 should be more stable than the versions before it. I am now
using this in a game, under Linux and Windows.
To give that mode a wider audience, I might add that I generally use it
in no-unpack mode. Unlike traditional clients, PCC2 allows you to play
even if you give it just a RST file (and ship list and configuration
of course), you don't have to unpack. You don't have to configure
anything in PCC2 to make this work, just let it loose on a directory
containing a RST (and, optionally, a turn)..
Interoperation with Other Clients
----------------------------------
PCC2 aims to be a successor to PCC 1.x, supporting most file formats
and features PCC 1.x has. Switching between the two should now be
possible:
+ The starchart database, "chartX.cc", is essentially handled
identically by PCC2 and PCC 1.x. Currently, PCC2 processes all
information written by PCC 1.x, and vice versa.
+ The PCC 1.x score database, "stat.cc", is converted into PCC2's
file format and named "score.cc" upon PCC2's first start. From
then on, both clients will use their own file. PCC 1.x cannot (yet)
display "score.cc", and I'm unsure whether it ever will.
Mixing PCC2 with a different client should also be fine. PCC2
maintains all checksum files required by Winplan or DOS Planets.
Remember to not run two clients in parallel, though.
To generate registered turns, PCC2 needs a "fizz.bin" file created by
a registered client in the game directory, just like PCC 1.x.
-end-