Current show stoppers

[thelusiv]

We have a couple nasty bugs that have been around since the last version (most were a side effect of the new track system. I'd like to see at least some of these fixed before the next release. Here they are:

• Lap timer doesn't trip when crossing start/finish line
  
• In some places on tracks there is something strange which causes some of the cars to be suddenly bumped up into the air, ultimately killing any hope of keeping the car stable
  
• The car shadow stuff needs to be completely removed, or fixed
  
• Slippery surfaces like grass, sand etc. are still just as sticky as the pavement
• Flipping over, hitting a wall really fast, or anything else like that causes the screen to turn black and the game becomes unresponsive
  
• Network play doesn't seem to work quite right
  
• The -datadir options still don't work quite right
  
• External fixed cameras don't work (no camera positions)
  
• - No way to play or record replays in new GUI - fixed
  
• No text overlay for controlgrab icons
  
• Menus are not aware of joystick calibrations

edit: list combined and updated, added gui stuff

[matthew_i]

I'll add the -datadir stuff to this list from me.

[joevenzon]

Also, external (fixed emplacement) cameras need to be added.

External cameras, slippery grass, and lap timing are dependent on the track editor being improved. It would take very little time to fix VDrift to use them, but the hard part is defining them for the new tracks.

[thelusiv]

Added those to the list...

Which of these will be the easiest to fix? Which of these should we concentrate on having fixed in the next release?

Talking about this on IRC yesterday, looks like the lap timer, the slippery surfaces, and the fixed cameras issues require improvements to the track editor to be fixed, so it needs some work...however I'm thinking maybe we should save that for next release. What do you think?

[abs1nth]

[...]however I'm thinking maybe we should save that for next release. What do you think?

i'd say do an release soon, since these issues were already present in the last release and current svn is already much improved. maybe we should label it "track preview release #2" to make clear some previous features are still missing.

what i would really like to see fixed is the texture management problems that were introduced recently (i described them on the other thread, they make the whole screen go white), and occur here frequently when changing screen-related settings in the new gui....i'll take a look at it...

[joevenzon]

I vote for a release very soon. We've made many improvements to load times, cars, performance, the gui, etc etc. I've now got a new shadow system working in SVN also. Here's all I think we should do before we release:

* make sure all car shadows are correct
* audit the car settings to make sure everything is looking good
* add a replay record/play option to the menu
* fix the problems with (what I think is Chris') revised texture code and resolution changes
* do some internal testing to make sure the game works even when installed in odd paths, and test the ports on more than one computer if possible. I can help test Linux and Windows.

Once we release we can continue to try to knock down the other bugs Chris has mentioned as a high priority. Before I forget, I'd also like to add another bug into our high-priority post-release bug list: if you start several new games without quitting, the framerate starts getting worse and worse. This may be a memory leak problem or an STL-containers-not-getting-cleared problem.

[FFuser]

* do some internal testing to make sure the game works even when installed in odd paths, and test the ports on more than one computer if possible. I can help test Linux and Windows.

I have created a test-instaler for windows. (20 may svn-trunk)
It is 43 Mb

I have also created an autopackage (linux) but since my host is full I can't upload it
Does anyone know a free host, that can host big files?

[joevenzon]

* make sure all car shadows are correct
* audit the car settings to make sure everything is looking good

I did these today. I think the cars are all a bit more realistic/drive-able, now. I also added a speed sensitive steering mode that will really help out people who are grip-racing. The car shadows are all rotated properly, although they could still use some work (especially the T73 shadow).

[joevenzon]

FFuser, I tried the installer. It works very well. Some problems I noticed with the windows port: the shadow.png texture for the TC wasn't found on medium texture size. Maybe it didn't get installed...?

[FFuser]

FFuser, I tried the installer. It works very well. Some problems I noticed with the windows port: the shadow.png texture for the TC wasn't found on medium texture size. Maybe it didn't get installed...?

You are right that the shadow of the TC isn't working on small textures, but it is installed.

Another thing I noticed is that there is a strange thing on the screen (circled red). I noticed this before, I don't know if it is on Linux too.

And the shadows looks strange (on Linux it is the same)
Another thing I need to fix is the window icon (the png needs to change)

[joevenzon]

That shadow isn't rotated properly. I thought I went through and rotated all of the shadow textures so they look correct. Try updating from SVN.

That line is from the "Lap time" texture (the thing in the upper left). The small (and maybe medium) textures for the lap time box need to be adjusted so that they don't go up to the top pixel. The large texture should be fine already.

[thelusiv]

Hey folks, looks like good progress is being made...I'll be back on IRC soon, I think the power supply in my computer is toast, and I didn't make it to CompUSA today on account of constantly being at my parents' house working on my Integra. The new engine is nearly ready to go into the car, I just need to replace the front main oil seal and get a new clutch, put all of it together and get it back into the car. Anyway, I'm on a spare comp now, but I have to get some sleep...

Coincidentally, all this working outside has been really nice, I usually have problems with wrist and eye strain and I haven't had any lately...of course, now I have all these little cuts on my hands. But don't worry, I'll be back in full swing working on VDrift this summer once I get my computer fixed and finish up the car project...My goal is to finish the car before May 26 so I can race at the CSCC autocross on the 27th. I still have a good bit of work though...so wish me luck....

[joevenzon]

good luck!

[thelusiv]

Now replays are functional from the menus again. Tonight Joe made some improvements in the errors with "NaN detected in elevation"...but they're not all gone yet. It still occurs for me when I flip the car over.

[matthew_i]

Are we using isnan() to detect nan's yet? Last time I checked we were not.