Aurora 4x

VB6 Aurora => Installation => Topic started by: Steve Walmsley on October 24, 2013, 02:47:07 PM

Title: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Steve Walmsley on October 24, 2013, 02:47:07 PM
It's been a while since I released a patch. Unfortunately I have far less free time than I used to and due to a combination of work and family I have hardly touched Aurora the last few months. Therefore I've decided to release v6.30 as a beta. This will probably be less stable than normal (mainly because its been so long since I did the development I've forgotten what I need to test) so don't start any major campaigns for a week or two until any obvious problems are found and fixed.

Important! This is a database patch so if you upgrade you will lose your saved game. Don't upgrade if you want to keep playing the same campaign.

This patch can only be applied to version 4.2 or later. To apply the patch, unzip the patch file and copy the files as follow:

1) Stevefire.mdb and Aurora.exe into the installation directory, overwriting the existing files with the same names
2) a11.jpg, b20.jpg and M24.jpg into the Planetjpeg sub-directory (if you don't already have them)
3) flag0390.jpg and flag0391.jpg into the Flags sub-directory (if you don't already have them)

http://www.pentarch.org/steve/Aurora630.zip (http://www.pentarch.org/steve/Aurora630.zip) (15Mb)

This database in this patch contains a single-player Aurora campaign as an example game.

Steve
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Marski on October 24, 2013, 03:50:13 PM
Hell yeah! Thanks Steve!
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: TallTroll on October 24, 2013, 04:54:27 PM
13th Nov 2042 : Promoted to Fiend

... New officers in 6.3 seem to be predestined for Hell. Clearly, I am going to make them do bad, bad things. Oh, except Scientists who are sometimes promoted to Civilian Administrator, clearly a high-tier Denizen of Evil. All promotions are for 13th Nov 2042 though
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Varee on October 24, 2013, 06:59:04 PM
New patch! Awesome job steve :D
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Nibelung44 on October 25, 2013, 01:14:05 AM
Sorry I fail to see where is the changelog?
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Steve Walmsley on October 25, 2013, 04:58:20 AM
Sorry I fail to see where is the changelog?

http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php/topic,5728.0.html

Steve
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Nibelung44 on October 25, 2013, 05:54:55 AM
Thanks, a lot of nice goodies! I wish you could put more time in Aurora, but I understand it can only be a pet project now, and IRL is what most matters!
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Dutchling on October 25, 2013, 11:23:06 AM
http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php/topic,5728.0.html

Steve

Some pretty sweet changes :D. Will definitely have fun with this once it's a little more stable.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Elouda on October 25, 2013, 01:05:06 PM
Thank you very much for releasing this, even if you are worried about it being less polished.

Ill take your advice to heart about holding off on bigger games for the first few weeks, but I look forward to finally starting a new campaign I've been putting off for the last 6 months or so.

 8)
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Nibelung44 on October 25, 2013, 03:36:03 PM
There are some bugs (gameplay and interface) but if there was only one to fix for me, it would be that the PDC refit don't work. Dunno if it is a lot of work to check what is going on for this. Anyway, thanks Steve for this one-of-a-kind game/simulation!
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: dlcooper on October 26, 2013, 10:42:28 AM
Just wanted to say thanks for a great game and the patch.   Just started playing this game recently and it's the first game I've ever seen that matches or surpasses Dwarf Fortress in complexity.   It's fantastic.   One problem though, once you play this, all other 4x space games look very simple.   I was playing Distant Worlds with all the expansions and thought it was a very deep game until I played this.   What. . .  you mean I can't adjust the resolution of my sensors, I can't change the fuel efficiency of my engines!  Thanks again for a great game.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Hawkeye on October 26, 2013, 11:38:17 AM
I hear you :)

I think I have bought 2 games (aside from a couple Kickstarter backings) over the last three years, whereas before Aurora, I used to buy a game every month, sometimes more.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: AcidWeb on October 26, 2013, 03:30:51 PM
Great job Steve.

Only if Aurora would be open-source... Few months on GitHub and we would make AAA tile from it :-)
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Narmio on October 28, 2013, 07:50:09 AM
I just wanted to confirm that I got this running on OS X 10.9 using wine (via http://winebottler.kronenberg.org/) and the instructions at http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=27303 .  It required a little twiddling, but no more than is usual for wine.

Anyone who is using Aurora on OS X should be able to update without hassle.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: telegraph on November 12, 2013, 09:51:55 AM
How can I delete order template?
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 12, 2013, 10:18:46 AM
How can I delete order template?

Good question :) At the moment you can't. I've added a Delete button to v6.40

Steve
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: telegraph on November 12, 2013, 10:29:12 AM
Great. hope 6.4 will be database-compatible and will come soon:)
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 12, 2013, 11:13:31 AM
Great. hope 6.4 will be database-compatible and will come soon:)

It won't be database compatible as some of the bug fixes required database changes. It may come soon though :)

Steve
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Speacy on November 12, 2013, 12:42:48 PM
 :D
Thank you for your great work, aurora is the best 4x
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: V1D0 on November 26, 2013, 05:38:33 PM
Hello Steve,

Is the 6. 30 release stable?

Cause i keep getting the Overflow error at my current game and hate to get it to waste if 6. 30 isn't stable.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: telegraph on November 27, 2013, 12:06:42 PM
Aurora? Stable? Nice joke.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: V1D0 on November 27, 2013, 05:03:41 PM
 ;D You know what i mean.  ;)
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: telegraph on November 27, 2013, 05:29:47 PM
I am 38 years into the game. no gamebreaking bugs so far, but only a few inconsistencies here and there.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 28, 2013, 06:25:14 AM
Hello Steve,

Is the 6. 30 release stable?

Cause i keep getting the Overflow error at my current game and hate to get it to waste if 6. 30 isn't stable.

There are still some errors and these will be fixed in the v6.40 release. You can glance through the v6.30 bugs thread to see the known problems.

Steve
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Varee on December 09, 2013, 04:09:28 AM
Will there be a bugfix upadate or like stable 6.3 release anyime soon, i want tos tart a new campaign but am not sure if i should start it now or wait
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: M_J_M on December 16, 2013, 02:39:44 PM
Why can't the patches be compatible with older verions, i have such a beautiful campaign.  .  .   :(
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Steve Walmsley on December 16, 2013, 02:52:06 PM
Why can't the patches be compatible with older verions, i have such a beautiful campaign.  .  .   :(

It's due to the database changes. Your new executable expects to see certain database fields and if it can't find them it tends to get upset :)

Steve
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: waresky on December 19, 2013, 05:05:09 AM
It's due to the database changes. Your new executable expects to see certain database fields and if it can't find them it tends to get upset :)

Steve

Steve!! Merry Christmas!..:D enjoy into Space. have a good Christmas Time here, up the Earth,hoping to see u around soon.

(6.4 or not)..:D
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: thogrinn on December 20, 2013, 03:28:41 PM
Yep, this game is just AWESOME :) Merry Christmas, and thx for your hard work !
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: YaroslavUSSR on January 23, 2014, 12:35:55 PM
Is it possible to create build that doesn't require admin rights to launch? I would like to play Aurora during my dinner break in office but I can't because the game needs some libraries installed in  \System32 (if I'm not mistaken).  I tried to copy required libraries to another folder and register them via console but I also don't have permission to do it.   :'(
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Bandus on February 06, 2014, 12:53:22 PM
I'm having some issues and hoping someone can help. I installed Aurora and patched to the 6.30 BETA patch ensuring to follow instructions carefully. I tried several times actually just to make sure I had not missed a step. When I create a game, I get ERROR 3265 was generated by DAO.Fields Item not found in this collection. It seems to only occur when I choose a "Conventional" start. If I acknowledge the error, it continues with game generation but a few days into a game it has massive errors. I appreciate any assistance you can provide. Thanks!
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Erik L on February 06, 2014, 12:59:38 PM
I'm having some issues and hoping someone can help. I installed Aurora and patched to the 6.30 BETA patch ensuring to follow instructions carefully. I tried several times actually just to make sure I had not missed a step. When I create a game, I get ERROR 3265 was generated by DAO.Fields Item not found in this collection. It seems to only occur when I choose a "Conventional" start. If I acknowledge the error, it continues with game generation but a few days into a game it has massive errors. I appreciate any assistance you can provide. Thanks!

Uncheck the option to generate missile bases.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Bandus on February 06, 2014, 01:18:58 PM
Uncheck the option to generate missile bases.

You sure do know your stuff Erik. I assumed you meant check the box for "No Missile Bases for Conventional Start." Checked the box, created the game, no errors on creation. Something tells me you may have encountered this before? :p Thanks!
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Steve Walmsley on February 06, 2014, 01:56:43 PM
You sure do know your stuff Erik. I assumed you meant check the box for "No Missile Bases for Conventional Start." Checked the box, created the game, no errors on creation. Something tells me you may have encountered this before? :p Thanks!

Yes, its a known bug. It's fixed in v6.4

Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: OJsDad on February 28, 2014, 05:08:39 PM
Hello.

I just installed 6. 30 and tried to create a new Trans-Newtonian game.   I'm getting the 3265 error.   I did try both checking and unchecking the No Missile Base option.   Any other suggestions.

Thanks

OJsDad
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: ollobrains on March 01, 2014, 04:27:01 AM
WAIT FOR oops sorry caps 6.4 its around
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: OJsDad on March 01, 2014, 10:17:08 AM
Soooo, 6. 3 is unplayable?
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Cheet4h on March 01, 2014, 03:36:15 PM
Quote from: OJsDad link=topic=6500. msg70273#msg70273 date=1393690628
Soooo, 6.  3 is unplayable?

Runs fine for me.  Can you give some specifics about the system you're using and how you installed Aurora?
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: TheDeadlyShoe on March 01, 2014, 07:22:06 PM
Try using the 6.3 wrapper.

http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php/topic,5663.0/topicseen.html
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: OJsDad on March 01, 2014, 08:29:30 PM
Thanks Shoe, that did the trick.   

I think the DB failed to copy, and I was going to recopy when I got home, except then I saw your post.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Saibot on March 21, 2014, 03:28:31 AM
Any idea when you'll be putting out 6.4? Wanting to start another game but leary of losing it to database changes.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: waresky on March 21, 2014, 01:29:56 PM
When Steve will..
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Saibot on March 21, 2014, 02:07:11 PM
I get that, I know it's not a commercial game and he works on it in his spare time. Just wondering if it was close enough to hold off on starting a new game.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: waresky on March 22, 2014, 03:45:14 AM
I get that, I know it's not a commercial game and he works on it in his spare time. Just wondering if it was close enough to hold off on starting a new game.

+1
Am wait'n for.

Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: TheDeadlyShoe on March 22, 2014, 10:40:39 AM
If you really want the new features, take a break until the new version.
If you really want to start a new game, start a new game.

If you can't decide which you want, decide! ;)
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: sloanjh on March 22, 2014, 11:28:36 AM
And just an observation on historical patterns: releases often linger for a very long time in the "should be ready to go out in a couple of weeks" state.  I've found that it's usually the case that he has to be in the "just one or two more bugs" stage before it's likely to be a couple of weeks.  Not a criticism; just the way things are.

The other datum is that Steve seems to have had a lot less time for Aurora for the last year or two, which will also stretch out the ETA.

So my advice would be not to wait for a new release unless Steve is saying he's moments away from shipping.  In addition, just because Steve puts out a new release doesn't mean you need to take it - you can continue to play your campaign with the version you started it with.

John
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Saibot on March 22, 2014, 10:15:46 PM
In addition, just because Steve puts out a new release doesn't mean you need to take it - you can continue to play your campaign with the version you started it with.

True but some of the newer features are huge, so I want to play the best possible version of the game.
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: alex_brunius on March 23, 2014, 04:13:13 AM
And just an observation on historical patterns: releases often linger for a very long time in the "should be ready to go out in a couple of weeks" state.  I've found that it's usually the case that he has to be in the "just one or two more bugs" stage before it's likely to be a couple of weeks.  Not a criticism; just the way things are.

The other datum is that Steve seems to have had a lot less time for Aurora for the last year or two, which will also stretch out the ETA.

So my advice would be not to wait for a new release unless Steve is saying he's moments away from shipping.  In addition, just because Steve puts out a new release doesn't mean you need to take it - you can continue to play your campaign with the version you started it with.


This would be OK normally, but in the case of 6.30 it's a "beta" and Steve stated that:

"Therefore I've decided to release v6.30 as a beta. This will probably be less stable than normal"

In practice it means that if you wait with major campaigns until 6.40 you also get the features of 6.30 a bit better tested. Combining the lists of changes from 6.30 and 6.40 you get a pretty impressive list.

Since 6.30 BETA has been out for quite some time now I hope that Steve can find a few spare days during Easter to focus on testing, bug fixing and release 6.40 in the current state it is in. Quite a big list of new stuff (especially so including the 6.30 list).
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: Steve Walmsley on March 23, 2014, 08:36:28 AM
I haven't had much time for Aurora lately. Busy at work and I've been away for a few days recently. That won't change in the near future as I am travelling next week with work and then away with my family the following weekend. Might get in a few hours today though :)
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: waresky on March 24, 2014, 04:08:00 PM
I haven't had much time for Aurora lately. Busy at work and I've been away for a few days recently. That won't change in the near future as I am travelling next week with work and then away with my family the following weekend. Might get in a few hours today though :)

Steve's...Mars is "Colonizing State of Readiness"...or something some..when u return u make some change in Mars features..:D..(...if my english r understandables,probable Aliens can realize it).
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: waresky on April 11, 2014, 11:27:20 AM
From October 2013...

Steve r missing in Action .:))

Cya our Master of Space...hoping u think a new fresh version...
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: boggo2300 on April 13, 2014, 04:56:15 PM
missing in action? he posted a story update on the 6th of April

Matt
Title: Re: v6.30 BETA patch
Post by: waresky on April 14, 2014, 12:44:09 PM
missing in action? he posted a story update on the 6th of April

Matt

Ah Story Update..ok, phantastic.:D ME are missing now..:)