Topics

31

Add-Ons / Jetpack Tool

« on: July 15, 2014, 04:12:48 AM »

A more realistic option for flying around.

by Demian, Daenth, Moppy and McTwist



A jetpack item that mounts to your back replacing your feet jets. These are obviously useless without a minigame/evented game that uses a no-jet playertype.

--------
NOTICE: The default No-Jet player recharges the fuel allowing players to cheat by simply remounting the jetpack. This add-on comes with No-Jet Recharge Player which is exactly like the default No-Jet player but it doesn't recharge the fuel. You basically have to use this playertype if you want to use the jetpacks in minigame or similar.
--------

Comes with a Lego styled jetpack and a modern looking jetpack both of which are otherwise identical apart from the model. The jetpacks use fuel (player energy in scripts) and when it runs out you cannot jet anymore.

The Jetpack Gas item is used by walking over the item. It will fully recharge your fuel automatically, it will not go into your inventory.

Two RTB prefs are added to your control panel: Jetpack Fuel and Use Fuel. If you uncheck Use Fuel the jetpacks will no longer use fuel and you can fly with them infinitely. By default the Jetpack Fuel amount is set to 100, it will last for about 32 seconds of constant jetting.

This tool is a joint effort of several people. The original idea was posted by Lord Tony, Demian was the project manager, did the datablocks and tweaked everything, Moppy made the original scripts for mounting/unmounting models to the player, Daenth was the lead scripter and did the scripts for the jets and emitters, McTwist and Port made the original script for recharging player health when walking over items. For a more detailed breakdown of what everyone did see the script files. Parts of them are well commented.

Currently there are two bugs with this add-on. Both are simply visual and do not affect gameplay. I have no clue why these happen or how to fix them.

• Sometimes the jetpack emitter goes towards the player body instead of downwards.
• You can spam click the jet button when you have ran out of fuel and the right jet will produce a flame but no thrust is applied.

http://mirror.dataorb.net/files/blockland/addons/Tool_Jetpack.zip

32

Environment Files / Ground_BuildGrid

« on: May 10, 2014, 07:41:27 AM »

The original Build Grid from this thread: http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?topic=199182.0
The grid gets more offset the further from the world center you go. I cannot do anything about that.

http://mirror.dataorb.net/files/blockland/addons/Ground_BuildGrid.zip

33

Off Topic / Demian @ Finnish Army (Mandatory Military Service)

« on: January 18, 2014, 12:07:48 AM »

My mandatory military service in the Finnish army (called Defence Forces because "army" sounds more hostile I guess) began on the 6th of January 2014. By default it will last for 347 days until otherwise ordered. Other possible service times are 255 and 165 days. The service time will be decided around early March I think.

Finland has mandatory military service for all men aged 18-29. During that time frame all men must complete their service unless they have serious medical reasons not to start/finish/continue the service. Women are allowed to do their military service too if they apply separately but this seems to be fairly rare. During your time in the army you are paid 6.77 USD, 11.30 USD, or 15.83 USD daily depending on how long you serve.

Military service starts twice a year (January and July) during which thousands of Finnish men and a handful of women step into service.

After completing your military service you are moved the to the reserve until you are 60. While you are in the reserve you may be called in for military exercises for up to ~100 days at a time depending on things. These exercises are held twice a year but some people are never called in for exercises.

Mandatory military service means you will go to jail for 173 days if you decline from starting your military service. An alternative to the military service is civil service which is essentially regular work for 347 days except you are not paid any money during this time. The government will decide where you will work but you can express your wishes for the place to work to the government which may or may not be taken into account when your work place will be decided.


As me anything about the Finnish Defence Forces and I'll do my best to answer your questions.

We live in barracks with up to ~12 (varies even in my garrison, I can't guess anything about other garrisons) men sleeping in one room. Every day is filled to the brim with various lessons about warfare and there is usually very little time in between lessons to change your clothes/prepare for the next lessons. The lessons may be school-like lessons where some higher ranking person talks to the class or more practical ones like digging mines into the ground.

I've been in service for 10 days. (Ie. I've barely started)

The entire first day went into getting ~30 kg of gear, dragging that around the garrison, checking and sorting it, and somehow fitting it all into a small locker.

On the second day we were taught general firearm safety among other theory lessons.

On the third day we were all given our personal assault rifles. The Defence Forces use an AK-47 painted black and imaginatively renamed to Rk 62 or Rynnäkkökivääri 62. (Which means Assault Rifle 62. Manufacturing of the gun began in 1962.) Check the link for more technical info if you're interested.

On the fourth day we took the gun apart.

On the fifth day we practiced a shooting position while laying down.

And on the sixth day we were given real bullets and fired 20 shots.

So far I've had 4 shooting classes, fired around 100 shots, taken the gun apart some 10 times, and cleaned it 5 times.

I believe we're supposed to shoot with blanks next week and practice with laser tag the week after that. Yeah I have no idea either why the shooting practice is so reversed.

34

Environment Files / Skybox: Tycho Starmap Milky Way

« on: January 04, 2014, 12:21:32 AM »

Source: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003500/a003572/
Request: http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?topic=248568.0

It's Milky Way with a fitting near pitch-black environment. There are lots and lots of stars.


http://blockland.dataorb.net/files/add-ons/Sky_DemianSpace.zip
This is also included in the ZIP: http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?topic=207856.0

35

Off Topic / Phone number required for making a Gmail/Google account

« on: January 03, 2014, 02:39:53 AM »

So I discovered this a few days ago. You must submit a valid phone number in order to use all features (including Gmail) of a Google account. What is this bullstuff. Yes there is a way around this by using online voicemail services but it's still a lot of unnecessary hassle. How long has it been like this?

36

Gallery / Summer Blocktown [9 SAVES] (Build from Blockheads Ruin Xmas)

« on: January 01, 2014, 01:49:31 PM »

Winter has gone and the Christmas decorations have long since been put away. Summer has come to Blocktown.

The saves only use default content EXCEPT in Summer Blocktown - Custom Night and Summer Blocktown Extra - Night. Read below for more info and downloads.

34,000 to 35,000 bricks depending on the version.

Download: http://blockland.dataorb.net/files/saves/Summer Blocktown Pack.zip

Current Version: 1.0 (2014-1-1)


I really liked the neighborhood (Which I have dubbed Blocktown) Sumz and Hamburger built for the new default game "Blockheads Ruin Xmas" so I decided to make a summer version of it. I started working on the 20th of December and finished the build today. It's possible I've missed something somewhere or there's some kind of a mistake in some area of the build. Managing 9 saves is pretty tough. Please let me know if you think something is off.

Feel free to use the saves and modify them however you see fit but please don't remove the credits from the save file itself. (By all means remove the description part if it bothers you.) Depending on how much you modify it you could and should add your own name to the credits. I consider these saves to be in the "public domain" with a little "made by" in a corner.


Note: Any saves based on the default winter version of the save will not be compatible with this summer version. I've lowered all the buildings by 1 plate so the grass fits the road better. I'm not changing that.

The fire in the pit uses a custom emitter in the gamemode which is made for the gamemode itself. There is no fire in the pit. Wait for someone to port the emitter and then manually event the cubes in the pit to add the fire.


Bonus! The default save extracted from the gamemode ZIP file. In order to make the watery streets frozen click the very bottom brick of the streetlight in the corner of the T intersection behind the location where the save preview screenshot was taken. It's easy to find, there aren't that many cars.

http://blockland.dataorb.net/files/saves/Blocktown.zip

Extract the ZIP files to your saves folder to use the saves in-game.

VARIATIONS

Why is the grass puke green? The default colorset is limited and also so you can easily change it to any color you want with 0 effort. Pick your favorite color and use the Fillcan tool to change the grass color.

Summer Blocktown Extra


This is the save I'm expecting everyone to use. I included the other variations so it's easier for you to customize the build. Combines the following saves: Summer Blocktown - Plus and Summer Blocktown - Terrain Adjusted Borders.


Summer Blocktown Extra - Night


This is the save I'm expecting everyone to use. I included the other variations so it's easier for you to customize the build. Combines the following saves: Summer Blocktown - Custom Night, Summer Blocktown - Plus, and Summer Blocktown - Terrain Adjusted Borders.

REQUIRED ADD-ON: Light_Blocktown.zip: http://blockland.dataorb.net/files/add-ons/Light_Blocktown.zip


Summer Blocktown


Blocktown without the snow, Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, and snowmen. I've changed the prints inside the school and the Christmas day counter board to what I perceive the aftermath would be after ruining Christmas. Player and present spawns are unchanged. This is as close to the default save as possible.


Summer Blocktown - Terrain


Because the terrain just suddenly ending looked like crap. Only terrain is added outside/inside the borders and the borders have been changed to terrain cubes to allow for the terrain. No other changes. Expanded from Summer Blocktown.

REQUIRED ADD-ON: Brick_ModTer_BasicPack.zip (Default)


Summer Blocktown - Terrain Adjusted Borders


Identical to Summer Blocktown - Terrain except I fiddled with the border spacing to allow for walking behind the red roofed house in the picture. This makes the area behind the garage a valid area for deathmatches and such. Otherwise people would only camp there. Only borders changed.

REQUIRED ADD-ON: Brick_ModTer_BasicPack.zip (Default)


Summer Blocktown - Plus


Notable changes to the center block of Summer Blocktown save! Expanded from Summer Blocktown.

• Added a playground behind to school to cover the gaping pit. Changes to the "default terrain"! Will not load correctly on top of the Summer Blocktown save!
• Added some generic summer furniture the outside deck patio behind the tan walled green roofed building.

• Added a fence to block sight of the hut between the two richer houses. The rich folk don't need to see the poor people stuffting outside.
• Added some stone tiles to stairs in front of the green walled red roofed house.
• Moved the player spawn between the green house and the poor house 1 stud to make space for the fence.

There may be some other small changes but I've forgotten those.


Summer Blocktown - Night


Player's Lights, Player's Lights everywhere. Except inside houses because that would make you blind. Some areas outside are still quite blown out because the Player's Light is fairly strong. Otherwise the streets are actually really well lit and it works great in night environments! All streetlights and individual houses' exterior lights are named so you can change the lights easily with events. Expanded from Summer Blocktown.


Summer Blocktown - Custom Night


REQUIRED ADD-ON: Light_Blocktown.zip: http://blockland.dataorb.net/files/add-ons/Light_Blocktown.zip

The solution to the brighter-than-sun Player's Light. 5 custom lights. Interior lighting included! Everything is named! Expanded from Summer Blocktown.


And as another bonus I've modified the files so they all appear neatly in order in your load save dialog.

Gamemode Idea

While doing some of the more monotonous work on this build I came up with an idea for a "sequel" gamemode to Blockheads Ruin Xmas. (Santa's Revenge? Summer Santa Suprise? Battleground Blocktown? Blockheads Kill Christmas?) I started thinking what would happen after Santa leaves and Christmas has been ruined and came up with a little story of some sort. This is just some outlines for the gamemode, I haven't planned anything really specific.

A gang of mean Blockheads in the neighborhood of Blocktown have officially ruined Christmas and Santa is not happy. After winter when the Blockheads least expect it Santa returns with a vengeance. With exploding presents and an army of little elves Santa lays his wrath upon Blocktown. Since it's summer Santa has ditched his thick tunic to reveal his ripped abs and hairy chest. The elf slaves however are not allowed to take off their (armored?) clothes so perhaps they could randomly use the hate emote to display their unhappiness due to the heat?

Elf weaponry: Candy cane shivs, some kind of clubs (lollipops?), and Self Delete bombing with the exploding presents. The roles have been switched. The elves are expendable.

Santa weaponry: Carpet bombing exploding presents from his flying sleigh, throwing fiery coal, fire coal bombs that explode into lots of small fiery coals? Hulk smash? Impersonating (existing?) players in the server (Because you know, Santa always knows what you're doing and this is how he does it) and then hulk smashing/backstab with a candy cane shiv? He's the boss so he has quite a bit of health. Rudolph nose-laser would be pretty badass.

Blockhead weaponry: Beats me. Since we're in good ol' 'Murica I suppose firearms found in an average American neighborhood ie. any modern weapon?

The gamemode progression could be as following: Pre-battle arming period for Blockheads, carpet bombing Santa, elves poof into existence everywhere, Santa flying with Rudolph like an starfish out of reach throwing fiery coal?, after enough elves have died Santa comes down and rides around with Rudolph lasering people, after Rudolph dies Santa goes full Hulk mode by smashing people and using exploding coal?

The fire pit in the middle could come into play somehow. I can visualize a giant Santa bursting out of there (Or through the playground with the Summer Blocktown Plus save) and going all Hulk on our asses. Perhaps this could be the final stage after Rudolphs death?

I would work on this gamemode myself but I'm leaving for the army in five days for up to a year in the worst case so there's that...

37

Modification Help / Playing an animation frame-by-frame (Speed meter)

« on: December 30, 2013, 10:02:19 AM »

Is there some way to play an animation frame-by-frame for things like 3D speed meters for cars? I want to make 3D distance meter for this project.

38

Help / Windows 8: Window keeps loosing and regaining focus

« on: December 28, 2013, 08:01:08 AM »

Posting for a Steam user since they can't register yet.

I've never come across this problem before so I'm assuming it's Win 8 specific. For any solutions and help I request that you post in the Steam discussion thread.

http://steamcommunity.com/app/250340/discussions/0/630800445070421106/

39

Environment Files / Environment_JPG

« on: December 26, 2013, 04:36:37 AM »

jpg is life


http://blockland.dataorb.net/files/add-ons/Sky_JPG.zip


http://blockland.dataorb.net/files/add-ons/Sky_JPEG.zip



http://blockland.dataorb.net/files/add-ons/Ground_JPG.zip



http://blockland.dataorb.net/files/add-ons/Water_JPG.zip

40

Modification Help / On container searches, loops, vector distance, and named bricks

« on: December 21, 2013, 04:26:38 AM »

The onFire function does work and bottomprint works if I take it out of the loop. I'm trying to make a tool that shows the distance between the player and a named brick.

Code: [Select]

function brickDetector_OFF_Image::onFire(%this, %obj, %slot)
{
%obj.schedule(0,"playThread",2,shiftRight);
%obj.schedule(200,"playThread",1,armReadyRight);
%obj.unMountImage(0);
%obj.mountimage(brickDetector_ON_Image, 0);

%client=%obj.client; //%client refers to the client of the object that triggered this state
%name="_asd";
%radius=32; //32 Torque Units = 64 Studs

initContainerRadiusSearch(%pos, %radius, $TypeMasks::FxBrickObjectType); //Initialize container search
    
while (isObject(%obj = containerSearchNext()))
{
if (%obj.getName() $= %name)
{
commandToClient(%client,'bottomPrint',"<color:ffffff>Detecting: " @ %name @ " | Distance: " @ (vectorDist(%pos, %obj.getPosition)*2) @ " Bricks");
break; //End loop after finding a brick (closest)
}
}
}
Are there any obvious errors? I'm just prodding scripts that Port pastes into Steam chat.

41

Gallery / Demian's Default Modern House (Save)

« on: December 20, 2013, 08:40:18 AM »

Sudden inspiration and then this. Use it for whatever you like just don't claim you built it. Default bricks + colorset. 531 bricks.









http://blockland.dataorb.net/files/saves/Demian%27s%20Default%20Modern%20House.bls
http://blockland.dataorb.net/files/saves/Demian%27s%20Default%20Modern%20House.jpg

42

General Discussion / Translations?

« on: December 16, 2013, 04:39:02 PM »

Now that we're on Steam translating the game to other languages couldn't hurt. I'm certain the community would be up for it if Badspot finds the time to implement it. We could do it the Minecraft way and use Crowdin. I've used it. It's as good as any software if you ask me.

43

Off Topic / BitVid - An upcoming competitor for YouTube

« on: December 16, 2013, 04:27:53 AM »

Don't get your hopes up yet; project begun only a few weeks ago. Apparently they will have a beta read early 2015. Right now reddit is best place to learn more about BitVid: http://www.reddit.com/r/BitVid

I'm excited.

44

General Discussion / Should the corner jumping bug be fixed?

« on: December 16, 2013, 01:02:43 AM »

I had no idea this was so controversial. Some heated discussion arose on the r1908 thread when Subpixel asked about it. (continues to page 20 and is still going)

Let's get the terminology clear: this is not a feature. This is a bug. But you need to remember that not all bugs are bad. Read this: http://www.sirlin.net/ptw-book/what-should-be-banned.html

For those that don't know what "corner jumping" is:

Basically by repeatedly jumping up against ledges of bricks at different positions and angles sometimes you'll jump up one of them. It's easist to do against a corner, obviously.

So I present to you a simple question. Should this bug be fixed? (Again read the article I linked above, not all bugs should be fixed. Make your own decision.)

45

Off Topic / Make chiptunes easily online with Beep Box

« on: November 02, 2013, 01:04:58 PM »

http://www.beepbox.co/

A surprisingly extensive chiptune tool that runs in your browser and even exports to .WAV. It's really easy to use and you can just spam it (in moderation) to get some tunes out that aren't necessarily ear-bleedingly bad. Some people have made incredible stuff with it. Musicians use it as a legit chiptuner: https://twitter.com/search?q=beepbox.co

I tried. First time for everything I suppose.

When you change anything in the tool the page URL changes so copy that if you want to share your song. Also use URL tags to shorten your URL, it can get really long.