Working towards a release

[Edward_Lii]

Hello all,

I think it's time we start thinking about releasing a new version of meandmyshadow (0.2).

TODO List:
Code:

[~] Finish the new level editor. (Here)
[√] When loading levels make no difference between main or addon levels, just like levelpacks and themes. (Here) (Started r139) (r140)
[~] Change the help menu, perhaps make multiple screens explaining certain blocks. (r138) (r149)
[√] Not all code has been cleaned up yet.

[√] Filemanager.h/.cpp (r133)
[√] Function.h/.cpp (r129)
[√] Game.h/.cpp (r131)
[√] Globals.h/.cpp (r125)
[√] GUI*.h/.cpp (r125)
[~] GUIScrollBar.h/.cpp (r137)
[√] Player.h/.cpp (r134)
[√] ThemeManager.h/.cpp (r137)
[√] ImageManager.h/.cpp (r129)
[√] Fix bug causing "Segmentation fault" when exiting the LevelSelect menu when using the closing button. (r126)
[√] Fix identifier names conflicts. (Here) (r130)
[X] Change version string to "0.2"

GUI:

[√] Center message text in center of messagebox. (r127)
[√] Add some sort of focus support for text fields. (r130)
[√] Create a text area for typing messages for notification blocks. (r133)
[√] Add an exit/back button in the help menu. (r144)

Website:

[~] Extend the test site and make it the default one. (Here)
[~] Fill the wiki with pages about topics like compiling, level making, etc... (started)

Content:

[√] Make a default levelpack that will feature all blocks and isn't too hard. (Started)

[√] Create some more levels with buttons/switches.
[√] Make levels for blocks not yet introduced.
[√] Make last level
[√] Convert the background music from midi to ogg. (r126)
[X] Make some changes to the default theme??? (Skiped)
[X] Add a death animation. (Here) (Skipped)

Misc:

[X] Bug testing.

If anything is missing feel free to comment.

[KroArtem]

I think this list is already full and extended enough for 0.2 release As for me, I'd be glad to see some tutorials (or maybe just an improved version of the tutorial ingame)

[Edward_Lii]

Hello KroArtem,

I think this list is already full and extended enough for 0.2 release As for me, I'd be glad to see some tutorials (or maybe just an improved version of the tutorial ingame)

Thanks for the reply.

I'll do my best on getting things finished, including some sort of tutorial. (Probably in levelpack form)

[andrewj]

Did somebody vandalize the Wiki?
There is nothing on the main page.

[Edward_Lii]

Hello andrewj,

Did somebody vandalize the Wiki?
There is nothing on the main page.

Your right and there's also some spam.
I think it's best to reinstall mediawiki and set it up properly.

Thanks for pointing it out.

[Edward_Lii]

Hello all,

I've changed the help menu, it now exists out of multiple screens instead of one static images.
Here's a screenshot showing the second screen:

...
I think it's best to reinstall mediawiki and set it up properly.
...

The new wiki is up, to prevent spam anonymous editing is disabled.
You can only create/edit pages when you have an account, which can only be created by users.

[KroArtem]

I have already tested this help menu and like the overall idea but the problem can be with addons as they have another images of blocks so a user can have some theme installed and one can be confused as blocks from help menu doesn't fit with blocks from the theme. I don't think this is major though

[Edward_Lii]

Hello KroArtem,

I have already tested this help menu and like the overall idea but the problem can be with addons as they have another images of blocks so a user can have some theme installed and one can be confused as blocks from help menu doesn't fit with blocks from the theme. I don't think this is major though

The help menu is probably for new users and I don't think they'll start out with the non-default theme.

I think I'll soon start working on a tutorial levelpack.

[KroArtem]

Ah, that sounds reasonable.

Tutorial can have some signs with text like it's done in WorldOfGoo (they have signs with some unneeded text though)

[Edward_Lii]

Hello KroArtem,

Tutorial can have some signs with text like it's done in WorldOfGoo (they have signs with some unneeded text though)

I've started working on a tutorial pack.
The names of the levels are quite inspiration less and some levels could use a bit more challenge, but it's a start.

To test it you'll need the latest svn(r143) and it's available in the addons menu.
Hope you'll like it, keep in mind that this will be the tutorial pack not the default levelpack.

Feedback is welcome!

[KroArtem]

Well, as for me, tutorial levelpack is awesome But if I were in your shoes, I'd add some more examples of switches and buttons. Also at the end of the tutorial a player should see 'you've finished tutorial', not 'you've finished the level!'

re help screens: they don't have quit button so you can exit help menu only by pressing esc.

[Edward_Lii]

Hello KroArtem,

Well, as for me, tutorial levelpack is awesome But if I were in your shoes, I'd add some more examples of switches and buttons. Also at the end of the tutorial a player should see 'you've finished tutorial', not 'you've finished the level!'

Thanks, I think your right about the buttons and switches.
The biggest problem is that they can have different types of activation (toggle, on, off), but I'll see what I can do.
About the text it's a default text for every level(pack), but perhaps I can make it configurable by the levelpack?

re help screens: they don't have quit button so you can exit help menu only by pressing esc.

This could indeed be confusing for new users, I'll add an exit button.

Thanks again for your feedback!

[Edward_Lii]

I've added some more levels to the tutorial pack, only one more to go.
To test you'll have to update to the latest svn and then update it via the addon manager.
The reason for this is that there was a bug in the addon manager with updating.

I've also added the back button to the help menu along with a page counter in the bottom.
Still need to make some more help screens.
Anyway here's a screenshot of the new help menu:

Feedback is welcome.

[KroArtem]

Hello Edward_Lii,
what about addins some sort of statistics? It can be placed somewhere in main menu and show the number of finished levels, number of deaths, etc. In fact I think this is a useless feature but it can be funny

Re tutorial levelpack: I admire completing those levels, thanks for creating them I had one bug though:

[Edward_Lii]

Hello KroArtem,

what about addins some sort of statistics? It can be placed somewhere in main menu and show the number of finished levels, number of deaths, etc. In fact I think this is a useless feature but it can be funny

That's a good idea, but I think we'll leave that for the next release, not 0.2.

Re tutorial levelpack: I admire completing those levels, thanks for creating them I had one bug though:

It should be fixed in the latest svn, it's now impossible to swap when the player is in front of a shadow block.
Not 100% sure about the sound, but at least it works.

After making the last level, I'll start working on the default levelpack, this should be a bit harder.

BTW: I've added some more help screens.

And thanks again for your feedback!

[Edward_Lii]

After making the last level, I'll start working on the default levelpack, this should be a bit harder.

I've made the last level of the tutorial pack.
I think it isn't too hard, you can try it by updating the tutorial levelpack using the addon manager.

[acme_pjz]

Hi,

I have just fixed some minor bug and uploaded to latest SVN.

As for tutorial level 23 I found another bug (please click the picture because the thumbnail is broken):

[KroArtem]

Hello Edward_Lii,
I've tried the last level of the tutorial pack, it is not very easy but not complicated too. However, it helps to understand what things can be done with level editor.
I think Me & My Shadow is much closer to a release and it has good documentation\tutorial now

[Edward_Lii]

Hello acme_pjz,

I have just fixed some minor bug and uploaded to latest SVN.

I'm sorry about the constant errors in the Windows code.

As for tutorial level 23 I found another bug (please click the picture because the thumbnail is broken):

It's fixed, just update the tutorial levelpack using the addon manager.

Hello Edward_Lii,
I've tried the last level of the tutorial pack, it is not very easy but not complicated too. However, it helps to understand what things can be done with level editor.
I think Me & My Shadow is much closer to a release and it has good documentation\tutorial now

Perhaps it's best if we enter some sort of test phase before the official release, kinda like a release candidate?
In that time we can work on more content, extending the wiki, bug fixing, preparing packages, etc..

Short todo list before release candidate:

* Add the tutorial levelpack to the svn and remove from the addons.
* Create default levelpack (and add to the svn).
* Rename the current default levelpack to classic.
* Perhaps some more help screens? --No more help screens needed

I think it's best to forget about the death animation, at least for now.

Feedback is welcome!

[KroArtem]

From my poing of view, more help screens aren't needed. A user will become annoyed while scrolling 20-30 screens with help tips. I think tutorial levelpack + existing help screens give good opportunity to understand how to play this game.

I agree with preparing release candidate before the release Not sure I'll be able to help a lot though.

[Edward_Lii]

Hello KroArtem,

From my poing of view, more help screens aren't needed. A user will become annoyed while scrolling 20-30 screens with help tips. I think tutorial levelpack + existing help screens give good opportunity to understand how to play this game.

I think your right, somehow I want everything in the help menu, but then again it's better if it's quick, short and clear.

I agree with preparing release candidate before the release Not sure I'll be able to help a lot though.

We'll see how it turns out, and about helping: every little helps.

[Edward_Lii]

Hello all,

I'm trying to get the wiki filled.
I've made a start, please have a look: http://meandmyshadow.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

[KroArtem]

Hello Edward_Lii,
I've just had a segfault in level editor, I have rev.154.

I've created a moving block with spikes, pressed left/right mouse button and received a segfault.
Backtrace:

{l Code}: {l Select All Code}

Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
0x00000000004a5eb8 in LevelEditor::showConfigure (this=0x78f610)
    at /home/artem/SVN/meandmyshadow/src/LevelEditor.cpp:2780
2780               if(movingBlocks[movingBlock].back().speed>=10){
(gdb) bt
#0  0x00000000004a5eb8 in LevelEditor::showConfigure (this=0x78f610)
    at /home/artem/SVN/meandmyshadow/src/LevelEditor.cpp:2780
#1  0x00000000004a4ef4 in LevelEditor::render (this=0x78f610)
    at /home/artem/SVN/meandmyshadow/src/LevelEditor.cpp:2546
#2  0x0000000000481f7f in main (argc=1, argv=0x7fffffffe1e8)
    at /home/artem/SVN/meandmyshadow/src/Main.cpp:114
(gdb)


[Edward_Lii]

Hello KroArtem,

I've just had a segfault in level editor, I have rev.154.

I've created a moving block with spikes, pressed left/right mouse button and received a segfault.

Oops, that's my fault, it should be fixed in rev.155.
Thanks for reporting.

[KroArtem]

Yeah, now it seems to be working, thanks