Aliens vs. Predator on PC gets a hefty patch

post from Destructoid on 22 March 2010 06:00:00 PM. © Destructoid

Aliens vs. Predator on PC gets a hefty patch screenshot

Not owning the PC version of Rebellion's Aliens vs. Predator makes it difficult for me to speak about the state of the game's multiplayer, but from the outside looking in, it sounds like everything is not quite where it needs to be yet.

Of course, this makes any and all news on the patch front extra important. In that respect, today was a good day for AVP players. As someone who had to mess with the formatting of the text-heavy patch notes in order to have them display properly past the fold, let me just say, this is a big one.

Some class balancing, a bunch of bug fixes, and a whole lot of dedicated server-related bullet points can be found in this latest patch, which should be available the next time you boot up Steam. For anyone who has tried multiplayer with these fixes, how's she looking?

[Thanks, Velt][Image]

New Features:

In multiplayer damage from the Predator's Smart Disc has been reduced, unless it's a headshot.
In multiplayer minor hits from the Predator's Plasma Caster bolts will no longer knock down enemies.
When joining a dedicated server on which a round is in-progress you now have a limited time to choose your species/team and skin before entering the game, if the game mode and server settings allow this.

Bug Fixes:

Fixed clients not always being correctly notified that the game had ended.
Improvements to the networking code used in dedicated server games to increase stability and reduce pings.
DX11 optimisation when using tessellation
Fixed DX11 gamma controls on NVIDIA boards
Return to the server browsing screen instead of top-level menu when you fail to join a server
Fixed the lobby timer not always displaying correctly on clients.
Improved 'SayTeam' console command
Improvements to ranked matchmaking
Fixed occasional problems with peer-to-peer games after playing on a dedicated server
Fixed rare multiplayer bug where all players would be disconnected during level load if just one of them had a network problem during the load.
Fixed a cause of clients sometimes getting disconnected when pressing ALT+TAB or ALT+ENTER on the end-game scoreboard.
Fixed predators being able to cancel other players& Plasma Caster Lock-on.

New Dedicated Server Features:

Dedicated server no longer needs the Steam client to be running.
Dedicated server can use DLC maps.
New console/config file commands for dedicated server for friendly fire, team balancing and species balancing options.
New console command to set a Message of the Day
When joining a dedicated server on which a round is in-progress you now have a limited time to choose your species/team and skin before entering the game, if the game mode and server settings allow this.
The dedicated server now installs to a standalone directory, and the install size is now ~2.2GB instead of 15GB
Improved feedback and output for various console commands
Improved server console output when players disconnect
Improved server console output when there are problems starting the server
Additional server console output about the Steam connection
The dedicated server will now also be available via the HLDSupdate tool. Please note that while we believe there should be no problems as both the Steam Client version and the HLDSupdate version are identical, we cannot test the HLDSupdate version without making it available to everybody. Server administrators are advised to install and use the HLDSupdate version using their discretion.

Dedicated Server Bug Fixes:

Prevent "Adding Master Server" console output looking corrupted.
Fixed team selection not working for the first map hosted on a dedicated server
Made the ban list file have the servers port number appended so multiple instances on the same hardware are independent
Improvements to the networking code used in dedicated server games to increase stability and reduce pings.
Fixed cause of clients thinking the host had disconnected at the end of a game which actually ended normally.
Fixed predators being able to cancel other players Plasma Caster Lock-on.
Fixed an issue where dedicated servers left idle for an extended period of time would result in the first match played having the clients "running around without their bodies attached".
Setting the Autostarttime to "0" now correctly turns this feature off, rather than attempting to instantly start the match upon players returning to the lobby and kicking all the clients.

Additional note:

Due to some improvements to the networking code, the new server and client are not compatible with the old versions. Clients who have not yet restarted and updated their game will not see updated servers in the in-game browser and conversely, any servers that have not been updated will no longer be visible in the in-game list for clients who have applied the update. Both new and old servers will be visible in the Steam Client server list but players will see an "Incompatible Version" error message if they attempt to connect to server which has not been updated.

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Are The Old Republic's Sith In the Right

post from The Escapist : Latest News on 22 March 2010 05:57:53 PM. © The Escapist : Latest News

Are the Jedi genocidal? Does "Dark Side" always necessarily mean "evil"? Star Wars: The Old Republic might be trying to shake up the foundations of George Lucas' galaxy far, far away.

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-Right

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Google Refuses to Keep Censoring Chinese Content

post from The Escapist : Latest News on 22 March 2010 05:49:00 PM. © The Escapist : Latest News

Google has pulled the plug on its Chinese censorship, which will likely end in the termination of the company's relationship with the country.

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Chinese-Content

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Heartwild Solitaire: Book Two Review

post from Gamezebo: Casual Game Reviews, Previews, Cheats, Tips, Forums, Free Games, and More on 22 March 2010 05:48:34 PM. © Gamezebo: Casual Game Reviews, Previews, Cheats, Tips, Forums, Free Games, and More

Like its predecessor, Heartwild Solitaire, Orchid Games' Heartwild Solitaire 2 combines the card game of solitaire with a racy, passionate story of lust and revenge. While the gameplay is largely unchanged from the first outing, it's the story -- with its multiple branches and endings -- that will keep you persevering through the sequel's 250+ levels.

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2010 GAME British Academy Video Games Awards
results - here's the winners....

post from Gamezplay.org - Video game news daily on 22 March 2010 05:38:58 PM. © Gamezplay.org - Video game news daily

UK British Academy Video Games Awards 2010 - the winnersAction Assassin?s Creed IISebastien...

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me-british-academy-video-games.html

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WarioWare D.I.Y. Users Create Abhorrently Violent
Microgames

post from The Escapist : Latest News on 22 March 2010 05:34:00 PM. © The Escapist : Latest News

When given the power of a level editor, nothing seems to be off limits, even in a Nintendo game.

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rrently-Violent-Microgames

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Spiders! Why did it have to be Spiders, a top
down dual stick shooter is out now on Xbox 360 Community Games - with video

post from Gamezplay.org - Video game news daily on 22 March 2010 05:29:57 PM. © Gamezplay.org - Video game news daily

BBQ Games is delighted to announce that Spiders! Why did it have to be Spiders? is out now on the...

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-why-did-it-have-to-be-spiders.html

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3/22/2010 Flash Indie Game Interweb Mash-Up:
March 22, 2010

post from 8bitrocket.com Blog on 22 March 2010 05:11:29 PM. © 8bitrocket.com Blog

New Flash Game Development Blog Entry :

Flash Indie Game Interweb Mash-Up: March 22, 2010

Fizzy.com and the Fizzy Game Developer Network
The Fizzy.com GDN has new eCPM per play rates that have doubled in the recent weeks. The rate per play on a normal Flash game that you upload (with Mochi ads if you want them too) is $.80 CPM per play. The rate for enhanced free to play Flash games is $2.00 CPM (no Mochi allowed). They also support play to play and downloadable games. An enhanced game must use their score system, but they also offer game save and other optional features. I don't see any down side to using their system to monetize you games. In fact, I am about to put a couple into their system and see what happens. There is an API that you must integrate with (AS2 and AS3), but it doesn't look too troubling. Note I had trouble getting the API to compile with the Flex SDK. I received an email back that said they are looking into the Flex SDK problems. I will provide and update when it is resolved.

IntelliJ IDE for AS3 Flex SDK Development?
I have heard of this IDE before ...[more]

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http://www.8bitrocket.com/newsdisplay.aspx?newspage=38456

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World's first online basketball game FreeStyle
Street Basketball and shootem up RPG Valkryie Sky, will launch a channeling service

Online game portal GameKiss, servicing the world's first online basketball game FreeStyle Street...

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first-online-basketball-game.html

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Alien Monster Bowling League video game
intergalactic bowling fun for the whole family on Nintendo Wii

You might be the best bowler in the world, but are you the best bowler in the Galaxy? Find out this...

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