Client R8 / Server R12 are in QA

[[RC]Hunter]

The next release of the game client is currently in QA.

We will perform another synchronized client/server update. It is expected to take place early next week.

The client update will be roughly 500MB in size.

Server - Some potential sources for lag/rubberbanding have been eliminated
Server - The old reserved slots has been replaced by a kick-on-demand system like in BF2
Server - Log file for server admins: all remote admin interface commands/events are logged
Server - Log file for server admins: major server events + all chat messages are logged
Server - Idle kick is controllable
Server - Profanity filter can be disabled
Server - Teamkill-kick system is controllable
Server - Ticket counts and bleed rate are controllable per-level
Server - Infantry only mode available per-level
Server - Initial spawn delay and respawn delay are adjustable
Server - Server description can be up to 400 characters, and use "|" for line breaks
Server - Banlist can contain up to 10.000 entries
Server - reduced latency in packet handling

Admin Interface - fixed the player.onKill spam that occasionally happened
Admin Interface - ensured that player.onJoin events always report the player name
Admin Interface - events triggered when people spawn
Admin Interface - much more info on kills
Admin Interface - detailed stats are reported at end-of-round

Gameplay - Various minor level bugfixes
Gameplay - Helicopter handling has been tweaked
Gameplay - Weapon tweaks have been implemented based on PC public feedback
Gameplay - Fixed technical hang when a crate was armed outside of the combat area
Gameplay - "Victory is near" message was shown for the wrong team on Valparaíso, this has been fixed
Gameplay - Countermeasures can be fired when driving a helicopter
Gameplay - The brightness of the pilot view in the Russian helicopter has been reduced
Gameplay - Advanced Spotting scope works better
Gameplay - Knifing people in the back works again (we backed out the change that we had done for Server R11)

Server Browser - Servers are sorted into 3 categories: Normal, Modified, Hardcore depending on their settings
Server Browser – Added support for retrieving update progress
Server Browser - Now refreshes information
Server Browser - Join queue system when attempting to join a full server
Server Browser - all settings are automatically saved between sessions
Server Browser - Pings are sent via an alternate mechanism, which should work for non-Administrator users as well

Client - Fixed DX9 issue, which likely caused graphics glitches and perhaps crashes
Client - Fixed some crashes
Client - Toggle/hold crouch is user controllable
Client - Toggle/hold zoom is user controllable
Client - Vsync bugfixed for DX10/DX11
Client - Rewritten how settings are written to disk; this should reduce/eliminate the spawn lag
Client - Fixed bug where a player could join a server before the stats has been downloaded causing faulty stats in "EOR- unlock progression"-screen
Client - New chat system allows chatting when dead (but not during end of round) and keeps a 100 lines log
Client - Improved Play Now functionality
Client - Removed K/D ratio and Skill Level filters in the leaderboards
Client - Any points you get while being dead will be added to your score
Client - Reduced negative mouse acceleration
Client - More informative disconnection/kick reasons

Source:
EA UK Forums

[[RC]Hunter]

From the new Server Docs:

Normal, modified, and hardcore game modes
If all settings on the game server are in their default state, the server runs in “Normal” mode. Some settings can be changed while the server remtains in “Normal” mode.
Changing some settings will convert the server to “Modified” mode. See info below.
Changing the Hardcore setting will convert the server to “Hardcore” mode.

Normal/Modified/Hardcore, and the server browser
Players can see whether a server is normal / modified / hardcore in the server browser. A grey skull icon indicates a “Modified” mode. A yellow skull indicates a “Hardcore” mode.
If the player chooses to filter for hardcore OFF, only Normal servers are retrieved.
If the player chooses not to filter for hardcore, all servers are retrieved.
If the player chooses to filter for hardcore ON, only Hardcore servers are retrieved.

Normal/Modified/Hardcore, and Play Now
Play Now is mainly used by casual players. As such, it will only send players to Normal servers. In addition, it will attempt to send players to servers which are not full, not empty, and in the same part of the world. Plus, it will attempt to pair up players with other players of equal skill.


Red Part/Rot Markiert -->

[[RC]Hunter]

The Balance tweaks are as follows:

Slightly increased the damage of the UZI at long range.
The AKs74u now has more felt recoil when aiming.
The G3, VSS, and all SemiAutomatic rifles now settle slightly faster between shots when aiming.
The PKM, Type 88LMG, G3, An94, and 40mm shotgun have returned to their former glory.
Increased the damage of the MG3 to bring it in line with the rest of the LMGs.
Fixed a bug where the Saiga12 with slugs would do too much damage at long range.
Fixed a bug where the SVU would do too little damage at long range.
Fixed a bug where M95 rounds would not kill armored targets with headshots.

[[RC]Hunter]

About 8 weeks later, posted today:

"By the end of tomorrow we will have something to tell you regarding the release date of the patch.
Kalms is going to do some work before we can discuss our solution but we may roll back one of the changes so we can get the current changelog out and work on that one remaining issue after.

That will allow you to get most of the fixes and features which you have been waiting for including access to Map Pack #3.



Source:
EA UK Forums

[[RC]BooZer]

Server - Idle kick is controllable
Hm, maybe we can stay on the server than without any own modications of the STRG key ...

Server - Teamkill-kick system is controllable
Well, that's really necessary! There's so much intendedly teamkilling ...

Server - Banlist can contain up to 10.000 entries
Wow ... [img]http://www.clusterwars.net/userpix/3_schock3_1.gif[/img]

Gameplay - Knifing people in the back works again
Tsss ... [img]http://www.clusterwars.net/userpix/3_finger2_1.gif[/img]

Server Browser - all settings are automatically saved between sessions
Quite a good feature! Long time missed ...

Client - New chat system allows chatting when dead (but not during end of round) and keeps a 100 lines log
Ready at last! I'm still ponding why this feature was held back such a long time ...

[[RC]BooZer]

About 8 weeks later, posted today:
"By the end of tomorrow we will have something to tell you regarding the release date of the patch.
Kalms is going to do some work before we can discuss our solution but we may roll back one of the changes so we can get the current changelog out and work on that one remaining issue after.

Hmmm ... and what changes will be rolled back? [img]http://www.clusterwars.net/userpix/3_gruebel_1.gif[/img]

[[RC]Hunter]

Posted yesterday:

"So early signs are we fixed the problem by rolling back a change involving SPECACT kits.

As long as this continues we are aiming to release on Wednesday (23rd) of next week. However this is dependant on how fast we can gain approval the patch is compliant with Steam. If that approval does not come quick enough the release will slip to the Monday (28th) of the week after (as it is a red day in Sweden on Friday next week and we don't release patches at the end of working weeks).

This does mean that SPECACT kits will not be available after patching as we had hoped but all other fixes remain as does the ability to play the new modes like Map Pack #3."

Source:
EA UK Forums



Who needs the SPECACT kits anyway ...

[[RC]BooZer]

Ah ... OK.

LOL ... a red day in Sweden ... maybe we'll get 'em after the patch has released ...

[[RC]Hunter]

"There will be no PC patch this week, Kalms is on the case.This pushes our release to Monday next week as long as all goes well with QA/Steam"

Source:
Twitter

[[RC]BooZer]

Cool ... time to take a deep breath ... so we just can play some days this week ...