xrMPE: 0.7.3 Update Release news

X-Ray Multiplayer Extension: 0.7.3 Update Release

Greetings! For this update, we've ported over a known weapons pack called Gunslinger Mod with some custom tweaks, updated and added a bunch of character animations, improved UI, and sounds. More than that, this update contains new maps for the Defence mode: Outpost, Rookie Village, Spatial Anomaly and reworked Barrier, as well as multiple fixes and additions, such as a new network library called SteamNetworkingSockets and new gameplay mechanics in Defence mode. More about that in the video above.

Help in making the update showcase video:

• Voiceover (Russian): Rustam Osmanov
• Voiceover (English): Wavey Gaming Adventure
• Translation (English): Sergey Krashennikov
• Translation (Polish): Anton Gorodecki

We thank the Stalker Nexus team for help in creating the launcher, Hamzat "STRIFER" Isupov from Gunslinger Mod for assistance, Dmitry "Jaba" Kupetskov for 3D models, Sergey Krashennikov for translations, Ivan Isaenko and Rustam Osmanov for voicing, and everyone who contributed one way or another (credits).

Also we'd like to add that xrMPE Team is currently in need of:

• Level designer (X-Ray SDK and 3D editors);
• Experienced 3D animator (Help with FP animations);
• C++ programmer (primarily networking).
  
  

0.7.3 UPDATE CHANGELOG:

Bug fixes:

• Fixed a crash in Defence mode when a mutant died not from a player (in an anomaly, by a physics object);
• Fixed a crash related to font outline;
• Fixed a crash when rejoining the server while NPCs are shooting;
• Fixed mutants getting stuck in all modes;
• Fixed a crash when launching the game from a directory with a long path;
• Fixed a rare error which led to server crashing if a player crashed;
• A heavily wounded player is now unable to interact with objects (searching corpses, picking up items, etc);
• Fixed a crash when multiple players searched the same body or the same crate;
• Fixed a crash when a player disconnects while being healed after being knocked;
• Fixed NPC rotations;
• Fixed an error that led to rain sound being enormously loud in spectator mode;
• Fixed several glitches regarding NPC AI;
• Fixed an error that led to NPC step sounds not being played;
• Fixed incorrect IK (inverse kinematics) on NPCs;
• Fixed an error that led to bullet tracers sounds not being played;
• Fixed an error that led to mutant sounds being played incorrectly;
• Fixed an error that led to physical objects launched into players by burrer or poltergeist not damaging the player;
• Fixed an error that led to burrer being unable to drop player's active weapon;
• NPCs react to enemies' footsteps in a fight;
• Fixed an issue that led to NPCs not playing most of the sounds;
• Fixed an error that led to Alt and Tab buttons being registered as held after hiding the game;
• Fixed an error that led to players not being able to rejoin the game after disconnecting;
• Fixed corpses display on the minimap;
• Fixed an error that led to FP animations starting all over again after switching to TP mode and then back to FP;
• Fixed a rare error that led to players constantly switching between wounded and active states at certain HP levels;
• Fixed an error that led to scoping not being synchronized between players;
• Fixed an error that led to weapons not changing their state when dropping them;
• Fixed an error that led to players being able to use voice chat while having text chat opened;
• Fixed an error that led to players being unable to use voice chat while the scoreboard is visible;
• Fixed an error that led to players being able to pick up a grenade without a pin;
• Fixed an error that led to players being able to use secondary knife attack in safe mode;
• Fixed an issue with weapon sounds breaking off;
• Fixed an issue with kill feed displaying incorrect information;
• Fixed several console commands:
  sv_remove_monster_corpse - mutant corpses removal from the map (possibly values: -1 - never remove, 0 - remove after some time, specified in the config file, 1 - remove right after death); sv_max_players - specify the max number of players on the server;
• Fixed a rare issue when switching ammo type didn't actually switch ammo type;
• Fixed an error that led to players' radio commands not being played or being played from an incorrect distance;
• Fixed an error that led to players being unable to lean right after they stopped leaning on the other side;
• Removed several obsolete options in the main menu on 4:3 resolutions;
• Fixed a jiggling health indicator in inventory;
• Fixed screen tearing horizontally in windowed mode if the game resolution was equal to or more than monitor resolution;
• Fixed an issue that led to UI blurring on DX10/DX11;
• The game chat log now receives all the messages;
• Players in wounded mode will fall off ladders instead of getting stuck on them;
• Players are unable to climb up the ladders with items in their hands;
• Fixed incorrect player animations switching while on the ladders;
• Fixed an issue that led to players jumping significantly sideways while standing still;
• Fixed incorrect camera switching after being heavily wounded;
• Removed vanilla DM mode achievements from Defence mode;
• Status bar now doesn't disappear in spectator mode;
• A bunch of fixes regarding character animations switching;
• A bunch of fixes regarding weapons;
• Fixed bloodsucker's invisibility state synchronization;
• Fixed an error that led to player camera not rotating towards bloodsucker when it was using the Vampire Kiss ability;
• The surge will not start in the lobby or on the first wave after restarting the server or changing the map;
• Fixed issues regarding game freezing;
• Fixed issues regarding drag'n'dropping items from corpses or crates into equipment slots;
• Fixed issues regarding drag'n'dropping items into player corpses;
• After rejoining the game weapons in players hands will be synchronized;
• Fixed multiple instances of knives spawning at the beginning of a Defence match in the event of a performance drop or network ping;
• Fixed a rare crash if players tried to kick other player from the squad by a vote.

GAME

General:

• New networking library:
  All games in the series were using an outdated networking library called DirectPlay from Microsoft, which is disabled in newer versions of Windows by default. As a replacement for it, we implemented an open-source library by Valve - SteamNetworkingSockets;
• Made network part of the game more optimized;
• Partially ported a Gunslinger Mod weapons pack (WiP);
• Added a server list filter for game version;
• Bullets are now firing from the center of the screen in FP (for shooting accuracy);
• Significantly reworked player movement speed;
• Reworked player interaction with artifacts in slots;
• Several improvements regarding weapons and HUD;
• Bolt is now spawning in inventory by default;
• Added panic radio commands for all factions;
• Players are now unable to interact with active slots while on a ladder;
• TP mode with free mouse movement (cam 3) is now available only to server admins and removed from game settings;
• Reworked crouch mode (no split in generic crouch and low crouch);
• Slightly increased player stamina while sprinting;
• Reduced strength of explosive barrels;
• Synchronized levers and generators after rejoining the server;
• Implemented hybrid scope gameplay mechanics (Options -> Gameplay), which means that you will scope from FP even in TP;
• Nickname is now saved after quitting the game;
• Added a flashbang grenade. It will blind nearby players and scare away some of the mutants in Defence mode (model & textures from Gunslinger Mod);
• Added connect console command to connect to a server (format - connect xx.xx.xx.xx);
• Replaced vodka texture with the canonical "Cossacks" one;
• Added a texture for FP arms models of Freedom's SEVA bodysuit;
• Added new graffitis;
• Added new models of mutants (based upon SoC and CS models) and tweaked some of their textures;
• Tweaked some player models.

Defence mode:

• Added new maps: Outpost, Rookie Village, Spatial Anomaly. Reworked Barrier;
• Added light projectors on night maps which you can turn on using a lever;
• Added a playable zone restriction mechanic without the use of high fencings (being outside of that playable zone will be punished with death);
• Added a final boss which has a unique ability to summon hamsters and regenerate health;
• Removed random_time parameter from defence_settingsl.ltx, added a start_time parameter instead which specifies map start time;
• Ray of Hope artifact is now hovering above the ground instead of rolling on it, which allows for better tracking of the artifact's position and effect duration time;
• Added a new useable artifact Heart of the Oasis, which heals players standing next to it;
• The last player standing won't be able to drop into heavily wounded state;
• After the wave ends, players' health regenerates to the point of being able to sprint, bleeding stops and the player exits the heavily wounded state;
• Health regenerates when reaching a new rank in the current game;
• Added a new OST in the lobby and as ambient;
• Added a new OST for dynamic fight music;
• The minimap now displays discovered crates;
• If a player discovers all the item crates, they'll get a notification about that;
• Sitting in the lobby will not advance time.

Animations:

• Added gestures animations that allow players to interact with each other (by default, the gestures wheel is enabled with T key);
• Replaced heavily wounded state animations, it is now a completely new player state with the ability to move around;
• Reworked old Ray of Hope artifact FP animations as well as added new ones;
• Tweaked TP camera mode (removed sway, reworked angles);
• Added leaning animations for safe mode while standing, walking, and running;
• Reworked animations set for characters;
• Still working on crouch animations set (including safe mode);
• Reworked animations for MP5, pistols, bolt, grenades;
• Introduced full and partial reload animations for FP and TP;
• Added new weapon animations in TP.

Interface:

• Significantly reworked UI system (the interface isn't stretching on the entire screen anymore, textures are more high-res and fonts are adapted for 2k monitors);
• Significantly reworked UX/UI, balanced visual style, and implemented players' requests (WiP);
• Editable text (chat, nickname input, etc): now you can select text by using Shift+Left Arrow/Right Arrow or CTRL+A;
• Profile icons in Defence mode now depend on faction and selected player model;
• Network stats button is now configurable in controls settings;
• Added clear notifications about different states and situations;
• Reworked minimap, it now shows an azimuth (coordinate axis). Also, danger zone icons aren't taking extra HUD space anymore as they are now moved on the minimap;
• Refined text chat: the channel switch button is now shown more clearly, added player icons that illustrate whether the player is sharing your squad, your faction or if it's a leader;
• Added health bars for bosses with respective labels;
• Reworked squad panel: player stats are more clear, showing more clear information about the presence of different items (items which are important for specific game modes);
• Refined kill feed with more clear player death reasons thanks to intuitive icons;
• Added assists in kill feed;
• Reworked player world markers;
• Improved icons readability because of their complete rework;
• Simplified game modes status panel, it is now divided in 3 areas, each of them is responsible for its own information depending on the game mode (for example, in Defence mode you've got lives counter on the left, enemies counter on the right and waves number in the center. Because of this, the described panel is made more flexible with an option to set it up independently for each map. Also, main indicators are highlighted with different colors so that the players can more easily understand their meaning).

Sound:

• Replaces some excessively annoying ambient sounds (wind, rain, etc);
• Complete rework of all weapon sounds as well as their count, you can now identify weapon condition by their sounds (for example, when a generic jam is fixed you've got one sound, but when the last bullet jam is fixed you've got another sound, and etc) (WiP);
• Replaced step sounds, as well as increased their materials count (WiP);
• Added a new, experimental sound system for automatic weapons: instead of playing individual shooting sounds, a single sample with consecutive sounds is played which allowed to improve sounds for automatic weapons as well as slightly optimize them (WiP);
• Ray of Hope and Heart of the Oasis artifacts are playing specific sounds after activation;
• Replaced and added a bunch of UI and equipment sounds (such as tasks stages sounds, items usage sounds, etc);
• Replaced several contextual sounds as well as added more of them;
• Added individual sounds for installing each type of upgrade, and other players are able to hear those sounds too;
• Replaced character and most of the materials sounds;
• Added individual sounds for pseudogiant boss;
• Added light projector sounds, lever sounds, and generator sounds.