We’re now in the process of deploying our developer-version of the game to the live servers. It’s been quite a while since we deployed a new build, so there is quite a lot of new content and features:
The spawn-system has been reworked, the vehicles have been reworked, an updated vehicle-physics system has been implemented, explosions and particles are beefed up, there are tons of new animations and poses, the new character models are being integrated and finally: the Campaign is almost ready for being tested by Alpha-players!
Well, I guess there is even more than this, but all in all we’re really looking forward to show you all the new stuff and hear what you think of it!
The process for deploying a new build is not that trivial. First we take everything we have on our main developer-branch, and put it on our test-server. Then we test it over and over to see if things break – and in the beginning of a deployment process quite a few things normally breaks. So we fix some bugs, test again, fix bugs, test, etc… When we feel that the version is stable, we put it on our stable-server, which is a smaller, but similar setup of our live-server. And here we test the build again and again, and finally we deploy the build on the live-server, when the build is ready for it.
Normally the deployment process only takes a couple of days, but as it’s been several weeks since we made the last major deployment to the live servers it will take a bit longer this time, due to all the new content and features. We feel that the game has taken quite a leap from the current live-build to the one we’re deploying now, and we hope that you’ll enjoy all the new things and improvements in the next build!
In other news – we’ve just hired a Support Manager; Peter T. Rasmussen (Reto.Bacon). He’ll be in charge of building our support system and handling all support. So a warm welcome to him – I’m sure that you’ll get to know him quite well in our forum.
Developer Blogs This Week
Upcoming Play Sessions
“We’ll continue to open the Live Servers to players with an Alpha-key in three weekly 4-hour play sessions.” Read More
Campaign map – the setup
By Reto.Robotron3000
“As avid readers of our blog will know we are working hard on the campaign part of Heroes & Generals, and today I’ll try to explain a bit about how the setup of this magnificent map is done.” Read More
Making The Factory Map Pretty
By Reto.Dave
“I’m currently working with Reto.FleCK on the new factory map. Reto.FleCK handles the overall level design, where it’s my job to make props and buildings and to make it all pretty. So I just thought I would share a couple of screenshots of what I’m working on right now.” Read More
Team Debriefing
Design
Reto.RedBjarne, Game Director
“aaaaaaahh…more gui work on flash site
-bugfix campaingmap
-T02 shader work
-meetings
-meetings
-planning
-meetings
-another iteration on the light setup”
Reto.Fleck, Level Designer
“Worked on getting the new ‘Air Field Map’ updated and functionally, and fixed a lot of bugs due to the new build.”
Reto.Robotron3000, Community Manager & Game Designer
“More setup of warmap – as you might have read on the blog Helping design keyboard control remap and design related to crosshairs, weapon sway and bunny hopping.”
Artists
Reto.Hr.Wille, 3D Artist
“This week I have been working on Vehicle shaders and upgrading the planes.”
Reto.Mato, Lead Character Artist
“This week i’m fixing character uniform parts and shaders.”
Reto.Owleater, Character Designer
“All Soldier types are in the game, and the tweaking/fixing process is on.”'
Reto.Colding, Lead Animator
“This week I have worked on rigging and setting up both Maschinengewehr 42 and M1919 Browning with ammo belts. Its quite a complex setup but it allows me to animate ammo rolling into the MG and also being detached for holding in hand and animating. Also finished a couple of enter/exit tank animations (sherman and hellcat).”
Reto.Dave, Environment/Props/Concept Artist
“Been working on the factory, and a new blog post which is out now! :)”
Coders & QA
Reto.Goonstah, Programmer and Technical Lead
“MIA“
Reto.Chrestangen, Flash Programmer
“MIA“
Reto.Placebo, Code connoisseur
“* Integrating from head -> strategy and back again
* continued work on getting armyresources from strategy into action game
* work on updating armyresources from action -> strategy
* work on getting a default character related to any player, which is a container for stats
* work on warmap editor in order for others to actually work on the warmap, lots of fixes”
Reto.Hal9k, Render Programmer
“Better error handling on deploy errors
Setup of a new buildbot
Fixup deploy cleanup
Continued work on alternative shadow system”
Reto.Ogssan, Gameplay Programmer
“- Finished off first iteration of key remapping
- Converted the stat collection to be character based as opposed to player based
- Worked on the new spawn menu
- Reto.placebo and I did some more hookups between the warserver and the action game
- General action game tweeks og bug fixes
- And finally started on implementing combat badges in the action game”
Reto.Leto, Gameplay Programmer
“MIA“
Reto.Murphy, Senior Programmer
“Too lazy to write anything… as usual…”
Reto.Injection, Senior Programmer
“Bug fixing, stats and more bug fixing.”
Reto.Splixxen, Lead Tester
“- Crashlogs crashlogs crashlogs.
- Test the Strategy game.
- Hunt bugs on Factory and Mountain map.
- Handle Tester feedback.
- Reproduce/Verify issues.”
Reto.Indusninja, IT Architect
“- Slot information for how many type of characters per assault team can join a mission
– Plane transport and attack logic
– Reset war (bug fix)
– Create a new war through “campaign creator” link on the Flash website
– Event logic for when a player decides to join a particular war (i.e. transfer his assault teams, etc.)
– Mapping correct codes for combat badges for action game”
Reto.Vashu, Flash Programmer
“- Finished discussions with game management concerning characters and how they should work
– Ended work on Chat and Friend’s List for this build
– Started work on player stats
– Prepared debugging tool for War creation”
Reto.masterdisaster17, Server Programmer
“I’ve been busy implementing a load testing tool for the warserver. Also digesting at metric ton of new code.”
Sound
Reto.Draebesmoelf, Lead Sound Designer
“New sounds for the vehicle-mounted machine guns have been created and setup along with a flame- and fire sound for burning vehicles. I have also been preparing the work for our beta-release trailer but more about that next week.”
Reto.Lord, Audio Programmer
“code for sound setup for particle effects.
still on flash site stuff.”
Management, IT & support
Reto.Topo, CEO
“MIA“
Reto.Hansg, IT Admin
“1. Installing new workstations for our new colleagues
2. Internal network stuff
3. Various monitoring changes in Nagios
4. Attended a network security course
5. Various other tasks”
Reto.KenSolo, PR & Marketing Coordinator
“I’m preparing the next VideoLog, which I hope will be ready when we deploy the new build on the Live server. Besides that, I’ve just ordered tickets for GDC for Reto.Topo and me, where we’ll do some PR work, and also talk with some potential business-partners. And as my daughter turned 5 years old, I took a day off Tuesday, where we had the house full of crazy kids from her kindergarten. :-)”
Reto.Salu, Project Coordinator
“MIA”
Reto.Bacon, Support Manager
“* Had a nice welcome to Reto.Moto and getting introductions to many of my new colleagues.
* I took my first baby steps, in supporting our awesome community doing the last play sessions, and on the forum.
* I have made the initial steps in developing a strategy, to provide our community with a high level of support in the coming time. Investigating what systems we will be using to provide the support ect.
* Tried Heroes and Generals action-game myself for the first time, just to get killed again and again by better players than me! But just wait, revenge will be mine!”
NOTICE
The Intelligence Bulletin is designed primarily for the use of the members of the Heroes & Generals community. It is a vehicle for the dissemination to them of the latest information received from Reto-Moto Intelligence sources about the development of Heroes & Generals. Readers are invited to comment on the use that they are making of the Intelligence Bulletin and to forward suggestions for future issues.
Reto-Moto Intelligence Division,
Developer Department
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