Release Oolite

[Neelix]

It is possible to adjust the Gamma settings for the Pandora LCD. The setting is a global one though, so will affect everything, not just Oolite.

If you open the Pandora menu and choose Settings -> Video-Settings -> Manage Gamma (advanced) you'll be able to choose between three preset gamma profiles, "Default Gamma", "TV Gamma" and "Very bright".

I'd recommend trying out the Very bright profile.

- Neelix

 

[milinks]

@Neelix - WoW! that, for me REALLY makes a difference!! It makes things so much more identifiable, Ive got Griffs Stations OXP, which brings new space station textures to oolite, and it just looks really cool now, seeing all the lights etc, thanks! ahem... now I'm like Oliver, who always wants more is there a way to incorporate this in PNDconfig, so it can be directed to oolite alone. I've see PNDconfig has a customise script actions option so that you can utlisie pre and post script actions, but I haven't a clue as to what script action, what to put into it, to switch the gamma option on and off afterwards. Not that its a big deal, as a few seconds arranging the gamma before continuing my quest for my iron ass! is a small price

edit: CANCEL my last!!! its already an option in PNDconfig ( told you I was thick!!) its a really useful hint you've given Neelix, thankyou

 

[Diziet Sma]

Since milinks is probably far too excited right now to wander by the Oolite BB, I'll pass this along for him.

@ptitSeb:  One of the Oolite devs asked that this message be given to you:

I would recommend that whoever is involved with the port to the Open Pandora take a look at the development version (currently 1.79) as well. The reason is that we are close to a new release of Oolite, which is leaps and bounds ahead from 1.77.1 and uses new libraries like OpenAL for sound etc. It would be good to have a port of the new version ready to go once we officially launch.The latest development code is available from github from this link: https://github.com/OoliteProject.

 

[milinks]

Since milinks is probably far too excited right now to wander by the Oolite BB, I'll pass this along for him.

@ptitSeb:  One of the Oolite devs asked that this message be given to you:

I would recommend that whoever is involved with the port to the Open Pandora take a look at the development version (currently 1.79) as well. The reason is that we are close to a new release of Oolite, which is leaps and bounds ahead from 1.77.1 and uses new libraries like OpenAL for sound etc. It would be good to have a port of the new version ready to go once we officially launch.The latest development code is available from github from this link: https://github.com/OoliteProject.

lmao!! thanks for bringing that to the pandora boards, i was busy, and trust me you don' t wanna know (although if you read the msg i sent you earlier it may give you an idea).  My concern is that, yes I'm at the front of the queue to promote oolite on the pandora, but theres a fine line with asking PtitSeb to do his best, and asking for too much and his interest in the port waning. Ptitseb has so many irons in the fire, its fantastic that he's chosen oolite as a project, but i'm aware that asking of him to focus on things in oolite such as updating it to 1.79, and shader or other issues, could have a negative impact, in that there are the capabilities of the pandora to work within, and i wouldnt want him to discard oolite as a project because the wants of the community to make it better, are not in conjunction with the ability of the pandora, and the project gets put on the backburner. Hope that makes sense, i think that all those that regard oolite as a worthy project should vote for it (as they should with all apps etc that they use) if its all we van do to show our interet and thanks in a project, its worth its weight in gold.

 

[milinks]

@Diziet Sma - I've noticed with the Advanced navigational Array (ANA) that is has a number of blue lines to the left of the map called LANE1, is this to do with trips I've previously taken, or it there as default? Could you direct me to where I may find out more about this please?

 

[levi]

FWIW, I've just added Griff's no-shader shipset to my addons on top of vanilla BGS, CCL, Snoopers, MO and CompactHUD and the system does seem to be struggling a bit with no swap enabled.  First time I ran it it locked my system, but running it again after a hard reboot and it loaded (though it took a little while to start).  In game there are little pauses every now and then during jumping and even combat, and the pause after the hyperspace countdown is over five seconds now.

I might have to see now about cutting down BGS, since the hyperspace and docking animation isn't working anyway, and maybe set up a swap file.

Regarding the lanes, I've noticed them talked about on the wiki, but they don't show up on my ANA, so perhaps you need to travel them first before they do show.

 

[milinks]

@levi - regarding the lanes, are you talking about the three lanes "in-system" such as from witchspace to planet etc, I'm not sure they'll show on the ANA, but I'm definitely not an expert... just a question, of someone who has used oolite Pandora a lot, what are your thought about the shift button? I've noticed that when I'm buying commodities that its a bit of a squid move to press the shift and right D-pad to fill your cargo bay (rather than press one at time until you're full, to achieve the same result), I know now we can change keymapping with the scripts in place, but would you have a favourite key for the shift button, or would you leave it as is?.. this is for anyone to dive in and have thoughts

 

[milinks]

Have to say that the advice Neelix gave with regards to increasing the gamma; and incorporating it with PNDconfig, so you don't have to think about it once its done, is amazing!! Its really brought the game so much more to life, if you've thought in any way that it was a bit dark, or whatever, just give it a try and see what you think. For me, it a BIG plus point just thought I'd mention it lol!

 

[levi]

Ah, I've just found on the BGS Doc:

The script ships functionality to display more infos on the LongRangeChart via overlay if the player has bought the Advanced Navigational Array. It adds the named regions and lanes from ClymAngus vector maps (see Oolite_planet_list).

I think that's what you're seeing (and I've no idea now why I'm not).

That page also tells me that BGS disables hyperspace and docking animations at bootup if it detects shaders aren't supported, so that doesn't explain the delay in hyperspacing.  I guess it's just the time it takes to load a new set of ships - maybe swap will help if parsing the data from disc takes time, but if not it's just trading one lot of disc activity with another.

Edit: Oh, and I forgot about ZRAM swap.  That's a different tradeoff altogether.

 

[ptitSeb]

Since milinks is probably far too excited right now to wander by the Oolite BB, I'll pass this along for him.

@ptitSeb:  One of the Oolite devs asked that this message be given to you:

I would recommend that whoever is involved with the port to the Open Pandora take a look at the development version (currently 1.79) as well. The reason is that we are close to a new release of Oolite, which is leaps and bounds ahead from 1.77.1 and uses new libraries like OpenAL for sound etc. It would be good to have a port of the new version ready to go once we officially launch.The latest development code is available from github from this link: https://github.com/OoliteProject.

Ok, I'll take a look. I have to make a diff of the little changes I have done (keymap mostly) and I'll see if the 1.79 version if Pandora friendly (OpenAL is fine, that's a start)

 

[milinks]

Thanks Levi, that makes sense now, and here's me saying its best to pay attention to ReadMe's etc!

With regards to any update to 1.79 from 1.77, I'm just amazed at how far oolite has got this far under PtitSebs golden touch, can't wait for ANY update he comes up with

remember: - If you like it! Vote for it!

 

[Diziet Sma]

@Diziet Sma - I've noticed with the Advanced navigational Array (ANA) that is has a number of blue lines to the left of the map called LANE1, is this to do with trips I've previously taken, or it there as default? Could you direct me to where I may find out more about this please?

Hmmm.. let's see if I can explain this simply.. :unsure:

If the Liners OXP is installed, giant luxury Cruise Liners, some of them more than 4km long, will ply the 8 charts.  They follow well-defined routes through each chart, avoiding the more dangerous systems, because pirate attacks rather tend to spoil the festive mood for the wealthy tourists aboard.  These routes are known as 'Lanes' or 'Spaceways', and if installed, BGS will show the location of these, when the player is near one.  They don't have much practical use, although they do provide a relatively safe route across the chart.  (There are also a few other specialised lanes to be found, such as refugee trails escaping war zones, and even smuggler's routes)

A few years ago, ClymAngus produced a set of vector-graphic PDF maps of the 8 charts, and we all had tremendous fun coming up with names for the various regions in each chart.  The region names now provide a coherent basis for use in fan fiction and general discussion, such that if someone says they were in The Devil's Triangle, or attempting to find a way to cross The Great Rift, everyone knows what they're referring to.  If you go to this page and scroll down, you will see links for both full-colour and printer-friendly versions of the maps.  Being based on vector graphics, they can be massively zoomed into without pixelation, and the symbol system conveys a great amount of information about each system.

The maps truly are gorgeous, but they do take a fair bit of processing power, especially when zooming in.  I would hope that a Pandora could cope, at least if Oolite was not open as well, but you may find it necessary to use a regular computer.  YMMV.

Anyway, getting back on topic, ClymAngus' maps were where the Spaceway Lanes first got their beginning, and the idea then inspired the creation of the Liners OXP.  This is one of the fun things about Oolite.  The game inspires art of various kinds, and the art then inspires new ships, equipment and missions in the game.  Another example of this effect would be Cody's novella, Coyote, which then inspired the mission OXP, Coyote's Run.  After a while, it kind of takes on a life of its' own.

 

[Diziet Sma]

Ah, I've just found on the BGS Doc:

The script ships functionality to display more infos on the LongRangeChart via overlay if the player has bought the Advanced Navigational Array. It adds the named regions and lanes from ClymAngus vector maps (see Oolite_planet_list).

I think that's what you're seeing (and I've no idea now why I'm not).

I think you need to be near a Lane or Region for it to show on the map, or maybe they stay there once you've come across them.. (sorry, I'm a bit unclear on some details.. haven't had much time to actually play the game the last few months)

 

[milinks]

@Diziet Sma - it must seem that you are teaching me to suck eggs, I hope you don't get too bored with it. The oolite universe is such an ongoing ever populating, ever expanding phenomena, that it's truly amazing. When you think of the amount of people involved, and how it's progressed (even from when I was with oolite back in the day, I thought it was a big deal that I was able to give windows oolite an EXE rather than having to ".make" file each time you wanted to play) Now, there just seems no avenue end to what can be done. Not just a case of what its been programmed to do, but what people can FIND to do with the code in place. One thing I will say to those reading these posts, is that Diziet Sma, and so many alike, are involbved every day in creating the next big thing, not just with the code, but what they can do with it as it is. What I would suggest, is take a trip to the oolute bulletin boards

http://aegidian.org/bb/

there you will find how easy it is to create your OWN ship, bring something to the OOniverse, remember anything, everything can be changed, to have your own ship flying around has gotta be a buzz... the best bit is it really is so easy, have a look on the bulletin boards for oolite

 

[Diziet Sma]

@Diziet Sma - it must seem that you are teaching me to suck eggs, I hope you don't get too bored with it. The oolite universe is such an ongoing ever populating, ever expanding phenomena, that it's truly amazing.

Not a problem, my friend.. you were gone from the boards for around 6 years, which is a lot of water under the bridge.. an incredible lot has changed and happened in that time, and a fresh batch of very big changes are not far off now.  Watching your reactions is giving me the same kind of buzz one gets when watching a kid unwrap xmas presents..

(and just 'Dizzy' will do fine.. no need to stand on formality, I think.. )

 

[Diziet Sma]

there you will find how easy it is to create your OWN ship, bring something to the OOniverse, remember anything, everything can be changed, to have your own ship flying around has gotta be a buzz... the best bit is it really is so easy, have a look on the bulletin boards for oolite

Be warned.. once you do, it's a very slippery slope.  Before long, you'll find yourself tweaking your own and other peoples OXPs to make them work just the way you want, trying out a new idea, adding a feature, coming up with a new OXP, to the point where you'll find you spend far more time fiddling with the game, than just PLAYING the game.  It's addictive.  Which is why many of us refer to OXP-making as 'turning to the Dark Side'.. :lol:

 

[Diziet Sma]

just a question, of someone who has used oolite Pandora a lot, what are your thought about the shift button? I've noticed that when I'm buying commodities that its a bit of a squid move to press the shift and right D-pad to fill your cargo bay (rather than press one at time until you're full, to achieve the same result)

Sorry.. I missed this question before.  You can use the 'Enter' key to buy or sell the maximum amount of a commodity with one keypress.

 

[Neelix]

Also, from what ptitSeb said earlier, the left shoulder button should still work as shift in game.

- Neelix

 

[levi]

Yeah, I'm used to the left button being shift, so I don't find it too confusing.  I'd suggest it's best if we don't remap all of the buttons so e.g. shift-C to skip docking (with a computer).

Don't get me wrong, it has struck me as a little strange when I'm used to using the buttons with the L bumper, but as left and right have been the standard sell/buy buttons since the BBC micro game I'd suggest shift-left+right is the most logical development of that.

 

[levi]

Hmm, I keep getting crashes now with my installed OXPs (CCL, BGS, Snoopers, Griff's No-shaders set to replace, MarketObserver and CompactHUD).  I've enabled ZRAM now which introduces a few more short pauses during the countdown sequence, but speeds up hyperspacing overall pretty well, but I've got a situation now where I start out from Inleus, hyperspace to Gerete, fly to that sun and hyperspace to Edle without docking and it's crashed four times there now (twice after a long delay with ZRAM off, twice relatively quickly with ZRAM on).  I've nothing else open other than an Xterm and the log file's not very helpful.  It just has a dozen or so ALSA underruns followed by:

./runscript.sh: line 88:  8261 Killed                ./oolite.app/oolite -fullscreen $"

That looks suspiciously like the error I got when it crashed on me when I first installed the no-shader OXP, although that time I wasn't running ZRAM and it didn't have the buffer underruns before it.

Edit: Okay, my bad.  Probably some memory related crash, and a reboot would have almost certainly fixed it.  As it was, shifting some spare folders out of my AddOns folder was enough to get over that particular hurdle and continue on, probably nothing to do with anything, but enough to realign the matrix in such a way that it didn't crash.