Prerelease 1.999B (Crash bug fix, nebula efficiency up, totals screen updates)

[x4000]

The latest prerelease is available at http://www.arcengames.com/share/AIWar1999B.zip

That version is an upgrade from version 1.301, so you have to already have 1.201 (or greater) installed. Just unzip it into your game folder (usually C:\Program Files\Arcen Games\AI War\ unless you specified something else). Please make sure that your unzip process keeps the folder structure from the zip file, rather than just unpacking all of the files into the base target directory.

What's new since 1999A:
(Cumulative release notes since 1.301 are attached at the bottom)

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-The algorithm for nebula generation has been updated so that it now has a more even distribution (which is nicer to integrated/older graphics cards).

-Sniper and Ion Cannon shots are now twice as fast as before.

-There was previously a rare crash bug that could occur when assigning ships to a control group.  Fixed.

-The totals screen in the galaxy map now shows the available ship types (from the dropdown), as well as the selected map style.  Maps created with an older version of the game will show "Unknown" for the map style.

NEW ART - Philippe Chabot
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All remaining shot effects.
ExplosionSmall (shot hit)

[dumpsterKEEPER]

A very minor point, but just so it doesn't accidentally confuse anyone, the second paragraph should say "you have to already have 1.301 (or greater) installed."

[Wacky Willy]

Huge performance improvement.  None of the planets in tutorial 1 hurt the framerate at maximum nebula levels now.  Thanks!

[Varek Raith]

Huge performance improvement.  None of the planets in tutorial 1 hurt the framerate at maximum nebula levels now.  Thanks!

Second that, considering I'm running an UBERAWESOME^TM Intel GMA 950 in my laptop!

This is pretty trivial but, most of the prereleases have Thumbs.db files located in them.  Might I recommend removing them?  Should cut down on the download size.  The most recent prerelease has 270KB of Thumbs.db files.

[x4000]

Glad the performance improvements are a help!  That's pretty awesome.  For the Thumbs.db files, those are automatically generated and I'm not sure I can go find them all in an easy fashion since they get put back in with each prerelease.  But I'll look at it.

[quickstix]

I like the increases in sniper effectiveness, especially combined with the previous introduction of spider turrets and their use against starships. Very much encourages their use both defensively and offensively. I know I had a big problem with starships on early planets, especially as they tended to turn up on the ones I wanted. So it's a good choice between dedicating a lot of ships to take out a starship, or investing resources in a good method to deal with them. Snipers were already pretty fast, so I think a speed increase fits well with the concept of a sniper, as opposed to say, slow firing artillery. Plus ion cannons get a buff too, which to me encourages consideration of capturing them, as well as really watching out for them.

Performance increases are awesome as well (especially nebula ones ) I'm still getting used to a game that gets faster with updates, caters well to people who don't have the mightiest PCs around and uses modern power to fuel next-gen gameplay, not just next-gen graphics. Looking forward to 2.0, just don't burn yourself out!

[x4000]

My pleasure, quickstix!

[x4000]

New version:  http://arcengames.com/forums/index.php/topic,1493.msg9430.html#msg9430