Ecp released!

[Junker 0]

SES server will ask all peeps using ECP to turn it off because it does make some players or the server crash out.

[RED 0]

Interesting idea about the plugin system Dwarden, though I am not sure how you are thinking this could work?

@Lt_Damage: I totaly understand why you don't want to run the ECP on your server, but what concerns me is where the lag is coming from. I have never played with 20 - 30 people using the ECP before so have no idea how it will perform. Do you get lag when shooting? Or just all the time? It would be nice to find out what is causing the lag for you as we haven't had any other lag reports.

RED

[RED 0]

SES server will ask all peeps using ECP to turn it off because it does make some players or the server crash out.

When do the crashes occur? And what version of the ECP are they using? If they are using the most recent version of the ECP there should be no crash - this has been tested.

RED

[MachoMan 0]

So at the end of the day when you are done calling us whingers.. do other future MP players who will use it a favour, test it in a proper dedicated server environment. More than 5 players, test it with 20-30, and you will find the problem. I do not care as we have all agreed to stop using ECP from now on, it won't matter to us, but as admin I know the 5 days of hell i had to go through with players asking me why they crashed to desktop every time they played (1.051), so for other admin's sanity take the MP testing seriously.

Ok now that explains a whooooooooooooole lot, why didn't u say u are using 1.051 before, the current version, 1.057, has a lot of improvements, also concerning MP!

And all the eventhandlers were completely rewritten too resolve most of the CTD issues!

see the   readme

disregard this post read below

[RED 0]

I think you got the wrong end of the stick mathijs, Lt_Damage was saying that when he was using 1.051 he had loads of problems. This was fixed by snYpir making a small change to the config.

RED

[MachoMan 0]

@RED: oops sorry, should read better

@lt. Dammage: oops sorry, should read better

[[aps]gnat 28]

hmmm .... Damage will correct me if I'm wrong, but I though 1.055 was pretty dam stable on a dedicated server, for both ppl joining WITH and WITHOUT ECP installed.

(obviously no idea what would happen if a 1.057 client joins a 1.055 Server)

But ..... 1.055 is no longer available as a download from what I can see.

yeh .... anyway ....

Cheers!

[benu 1]

In another step towards eventual professionalism we now have an ECP installer. I went into overdrive to get this done because 75% of all ECP problems were install-related.

I hope it will still be possible to download zip/rar/ace files or unpack the installer manually for us DIY guys.

We aren't whinging, we are trying to report an important issue, an entire server of players did not just up and decide we didn't want to play with ECP anymore, we enjoyed the enhanced gameplay. We turned it off because we HAD to, we could not play with it.

So at the end of the day when you are done calling us whingers.. do other future MP players who will use it a favour, test it in a proper dedicated server environment. More than 5 players, test it with 20-30, and you will find the problem. I do not care as we have all agreed to stop using ECP from now on, it won't matter to us, but as admin I know the 5 days of hell i had to go through with players asking me why they crashed to desktop every time they played (1.051), so for other admin's sanity take the MP testing seriously.

Two things:

1) The ECP guys put a lot of work into it and i really think that ECP is one of the best things that happened to ofp. But they don't have time and ressources (from what i have heard some of them don't even play online much, and they do/did not have a lan to test MP) to test MP extensively. That's why it is called a BETA. That was never a secret. Be grateful for what they do or do it better.

2) ECP is BETA. If you don't like taking risks then wait for the final version and stop pissing people off. I wrote here too about mp issues, especially with 1051, but i don't go off into a "it is YOUR responsibility that MY server is running stable" bullshit. Take it or leave it. I am an server admin too, and i take those risks. I test it with my players and report problems back to make ECP even better. I had my problems too. But that was MY decision, because i willingly and knowingly installed a "work in progress" mod on my server. Don't try to blame someone else for your shortcomings. Especially not those people that do all the work for you. Code a better ECP if you want, but don't put those peoples work down.

[[aps]gnat 28]

If the plan is to support MP (which I understand it is, and why not, works very well in some of the past betas) we all know you can't simply support MP in the LAST version of a series of SP ECP betas! Wont work will it, if it does, it'll be $hit.

MP has to be beta'ed each version along with SP all the way to the end.

Obviously if the team hits serious roadblocks in code flexability ... they'll have to decide what to do next.

I think its just as simple as giving the MP users an indication in the README's/Webpage of what to expect for each beta. Some suggestions on what console setting will and wont effect network performance/framerate, what compatability issues could exist for clients with different ECP or no ECP ... and so on.

Or if for some reason you couldnt test it before release, say so, "MP users --- cross fingers and report in!" or whatever

[benu 1]

Gnat @ Jan. 11 2004,16:56)]I think its just as simple as giving the MP users an indication in the README's/Webpage of what to expect for each beta. Some suggestions on what console setting will and wont effect network performance/framerate, what compatability issues could exist for clients with different ECP or no ECP ... and so on.

They pretty much said right from the start that they don't have ressources to test this in advance and can't say this into much detail. That has never been a secret. If you can't live with this incertainty or don't want to test the version for the ecp team then simply do not use it. I don't know why you think you have the right to demand that they do all the testing first. That's what public betas are for. Nobody forces you to use this product at all, and especially not in the beta phase. Just look at how long BIS tested the new netcode in version 1.5x and 1.6x of OFP, and they even get paid to do it fulltime.

Quote[/b] ]Or if for some reason you couldnt test it before release, say so, "MP users --- cross fingers and report in!" or whatever

That is pretty much what the word beta stands for. No need to tell the same thing twice.

[KaRRiLLioN 0]

I'll probably be updating OFPWatch with 1.057 sometime soon. There's about 30 regulars on the server and most of us are running ECP. The only times I've noticed frame loss issues are when we have a massive battle and all of the wrecks are in the same general area. Truthfully, however, fps loss would happen with or without ECP. The extra smoke just adds to it a bit.

Most of the stuff done to create the effects is automatically propogated to all clients anyway, even if you don't have ECP, you'll see some things like the "bombs" created for an exploding vcl. So from what we've seen the MP side works very well already. I'm looking forward to getting our stuff up to 1.057.

[snYpir 0]

In another step towards eventual professionalism we now have an ECP installer. I went into overdrive to get this done because 75% of all ECP problems were install-related.

I hope it will still be possible to download zip/rar/ace files or unpack the installer manually for us DIY guys.

No. But that is do-able I suppose. I have 128k from next weekend so it shoudn't be a problem.

We aren't whinging, we are trying to report an important issue, an entire server of players did not just up and decide we didn't want to play with ECP anymore, we enjoyed the enhanced gameplay. We turned it off because we HAD to, we could not play with it.

So at the end of the day when you are done calling us whingers..

Quote from the compact australian dictionary:

whinge whingeing, whinged 1 to complain in a moaning manner. ~n 2 a complaint.

So by definition you are in fact a whinger. Whingeing about it won't help you

[kroky 1]

Sent ECP_1057_DR_INQ_config_1_2 to Acecombat.

Thanks Acecombat for uploading the file.

fixed: removed hissing sound from hand grenades and smoke shells. (It was ok for smoke shells, but since hand grenades use the same class, also the hand grenades were hissing which was strange...)

Currently I'm working on the ECP_1060_DR_INQ_config, but since ECP 1.060 is DEV version I will not release it until there is a release version of the new ECP. I added the EH line to my config and placed all the DEV versions adddons, dta in my @ECP folder, but the warning about altitude doesn't kick in when flying too low. So I wait until there'll be the new release version of ECP and will test it again.

@ECP team

You improved the lag problem (in SP) greatly in 1.060!!!

[Acecombat 0]

Hmm you sent another config file i'll check after dinner now

Wheres the 1060 ECP ?

Gimme?

[kroky 1]

@Acecombat

You can get the DEV version of ECP 1.060 on the OFPEC site.

Follow the install instructions CAREFULLY!

I could send the ECP_1060_DR_INQ_config file to you but there is no difference to ECP_1057_DR_INQ_config_1_2 besides the fact that I included the EH for altitude warnings, which for some reason doesn't work for me.

[MachoMan 0]

@ECP team

You improved the lag problem (in SP) greatly in 1.060!!!

Well accourding to snYpir he did something, wich i'm not sure i'm allowed to disclose, which can increase frame rate performance with about 12.5 %. So it probably should be noticeable

[RED 0]

From the 1.060 changes log:

Quote[/b] ]

1.06 - 11/01/04 (snYpir)

effects_addons.zip:

* 'ECP_server' game logic unit or trigger support

- A GL or trigger named 'ECP_server' will be used by the ECP to determine the correct server

- This is so mission designers can allow the ECP to correctly identify the ECP server

* Implemented ECP_override variable in ECP_Settings.sqs

- Performs the same funciton as override settings on ECP settings dialog

* Disabled all the ECP_ arrays in database.sqs

- No requirement for them

* Shortened a heap of global variable names

* Added in level of detail for effects

- Variables ECP_lod_dis and ECP_lod_enable

- Added slider to ECP Settings Dialog for LOD distance

- Big framerate fix

bin_normal.zip/bin_dr.zip/bin_INQ.zip:

* Implemented comments for 1.058 and 1.059 changes

* Put incomingmissile EH in DR and INQ configs

RED

[MachoMan 0]

ok, so it's all in the readme, nothing too disclose by macho

[Acecombat 0]

Ok folks here is the 1.2 DR_INQ config by Kroky.

1.2 config

Hmm damni gtg now will get ECP 1.60 a few hours later

[Lt_Damage 0]

Interesting idea about the plugin system Dwarden, though I am not sure how you are thinking this could work?

@Lt_Damage: I totaly understand why you don't want to run the ECP on your server, but what concerns me is where the lag is coming from. I have never played with 20 - 30 people using the ECP before so have no idea how it will perform. Do you get lag when shooting? Or just all the time? It would be nice to find out what is causing the lag for you as we haven't had any other lag reports.

RED

The MP mission starts ok for a few seconds then throughout the entire mission lag is present, the mouse moves very slowly as if there is no enough spare CPU cycles. What i am trying to explain is that this lag is present whether we are all just standing around doing nothing, or whether we are all shooting. It is not actually related to action happening at the time. It seems more to do with something running in the background, maybe the clients talking to each other.

Thanks for listening,

[Lt_Damage 0]

In another step towards eventual professionalism we now have an ECP installer. I went into overdrive to get this done because 75% of all ECP problems were install-related.

I hope it will still be possible to download zip/rar/ace files or unpack the installer manually for us DIY guys.

We aren't whinging, we are trying to report an important issue, an entire server of players did not just up and decide we didn't want to play with ECP anymore, we enjoyed the enhanced gameplay. We turned it off because we HAD to, we could not play with it.

So at the end of the day when you are done calling us whingers.. do other future MP players who will use it a favour, test it in a proper dedicated server environment. More than 5 players, test it with 20-30, and you will find the problem. I do not care as we have all agreed to stop using ECP from now on, it won't matter to us, but as admin I know the 5 days of hell i had to go through with players asking me why they crashed to desktop every time they played (1.051), so for other admin's sanity take the MP testing seriously.

Two things:

1) The ECP guys put a lot of work into it and i really think that ECP is one of the best things that happened to ofp. But they don't have time and ressources (from what i have heard some of them don't even play online much, and they do/did not have a lan to test MP) to test MP extensively. That's why it is called a BETA. That was never a secret. Be grateful for what they do or do it better.

2) ECP is BETA. If you don't like taking risks then wait for the final version and stop pissing people off. I wrote here too about mp issues, especially with 1051, but i don't go off into a "it is YOUR responsibility that MY server is running stable" bullshit. Take it or leave it. I am an server admin too, and i take those risks. I test it with my players and report problems back to make ECP even better. I had my problems too. But that was MY decision, because i willingly and knowingly installed a "work in progress" mod on my server. Don't try to blame someone else for your shortcomings. Especially not those people that do all the work for you. Code a better ECP if you want, but don't put those peoples work down.

Get a god damn grip dude.. that is not what I was about at all.

My problem was that the MP testing was not getting done, why is not the issue, only that it gets done, because many players are effected. I am only trying to impress on them the importance of adequate MP testing. And I think RED at least has gotten my point.

I am in no way saying they are slack, this mod has progressed in leaps and bounds only by their efforts. What I am saying is that I feel MP needs more thorough testing as bugs are slipping through that dramatically effect our game.

Now your argument is it is BETA so they do not have to make any effort to test for bugs that could effect an entire server of players? No.. wrong.. they WANT people to enjoy their hard work, it is annoying making something and then people can't enjoy it i'm only trying to help that happen.

God damn..

[Lt_Damage 0]

@ECP team

You improved the lag problem (in SP) greatly in 1.060!!!

Well accourding to snYpir he did something, wich i'm not sure i'm allowed to disclose, which can increase frame rate performance with about 12.5 %. So it probably should be noticeable

I do not think 12.5% will solve the issues we experienced, heh it was 3fps, in every mission, throughout the entire mission, for every player on the server whether they had ECP or not. I need more like 150%

I look forward to the issues being resolved, i wish you guys best of luck with it. I cannot help BETA test more because there has been too many major issues and they guys are complaining they haven't had a stable game in ages. And it is my responsibility to ensure they have stable games so we'll do without ECP for now. I will try to pickup the testing a bit later on.

Cheers,

[Mowgli 0]

In 1060 does having Smoking_Debris and Water_Splash enabled still crash folks?

We are getting consistent crash to desktops on all our guys' machines when those are enabled. Been that way since 1055 thru 1057.

Doesn't matter who hosts. We've got Pentium4's, Athlons, Radeon9700 Pros, NVidia cards (the gamut). Everyone is experiencing this.

Its only Smoking Debris and Water Splash - turn those off and we're good.

Just wondering if this has been fixed - or if its even being looked into, I've got like 30 folks who wait for me to tell them when to upgrade, and right now I'm keeping everyone back on 1043.

Keep up the great work - great mod!

[Lt_Damage 0]

I will test 1.060 on OGN and we will report back what we can. I am reluctant to expose the players to more issues, most just want a game now rather than nice fx but ECP will not progress towards being MP friendly without a few sacrifices so I will try to help it become MP friendly with as much testing as possible. As a dedicated server admin with many players it is only right that i help as i am in a position to do so. <--- big think while driving home from work

[Dwarden 1125]

Holy crap that sounds awesome, that way say if you don't like a certain script, e.g if you like one dust script better than another you choose it, or if you think one sort of fire looks better etc.. very cool idea.

U can already do this, all u need is the dev version, or un-pbo any version, and replace the scripts or add new ones, this requires virtualy no tallents  

My idea is about system of sharing such files thru official site as "plugin addons" ...

this way, there are not just only hundreds of private modifications, but easy way to share that with others ...

and what i mean is, now You get unit BlaBla-256

which is not working with ECP effects until You add it's support into ECP configs or modify BlaBla-256 configs

my point is, when someone made it, he contribute that modification to "central db" and everyone can simple use that one...

remember not all of us know what to edit, not everytime we success even we know how to edit and not everytime we get that time to edit all self ...

this is for ease of use for everyone ...