Beta Testing Diary [April 29]

[doublethink]

Beta Testing Diary [April]

Hello forum faithful! In an attempt to give you more information about CSP 1.04 every few weeks, we are going to do one of these beta testing diaries to give you guys a behind the scenes look at some of the work being done on CSP 1.04. Here first, instead of elsewhere.

My name is Mike, and recently I have been entrusted with helping the beta testing team here at CSP. I was honored to be given this opportunity because I honestly believe this game will be very important in the coming years.

One of the major issues with CSP's game mechanics was the way in which the source engine handles fall damage. In CS:S you can fall extremely far and take very little damage. As with many things in Source, this would be unacceptable in the long run.

For CSP we wanted better replication of the fall damage to more closely match the values you find in cs 1.x. This is important because if you jump off heaven down to that first train car, or if you jump down from rafters on nuke, you should be given the same damage amounts as cs 1.x.

However, the issue is easier to say, then to do. You can't just change global gravity, because then projectiles and player jump height are screwed. So our coder amogan wrote a custom function to apply additional falling velocity to the player based on how high they fall from.

Now, the issue is, how exactly do you calculate the fall distances from one game engine to another? We tried jumping or falling from known locations in various maps, but it just didn't feel quite right no matter what we did.

Luckily, one of our testers from Australia, j0lt created two developer test maps. One for 1.6, the other for CSP. Using textures that were pixel identical, he was able to create Unit Identical maps between the two games.

We are using these to test many different features now, and they are extremely handy. Heres a little screen of what they look like:

http://www.barnabyj.com/doublethink/j0lt/maps_preview_tiny.jpg

So, using these another tester from the UK, Brainkiller spent hours testing, and making unit specific data for the development team. Here are his findings:

http://barnabyj.com/doublethink/dev_diary/fall_dmg.jpg


Height Chart (In Exact Pixel Units)
1) 64
2) 128
3) 192
4) 256
5) 320
6) 384
7) 448
8) 512
9) 576
10) 640
11) 704

CSP Fall damage standing
1) 0
2) 0
3) 0
4) 11
5) 28
6) 43
7) 58
8) 70
9) 84
10) 96
11) 100+

CSP Fall damage landing in a crouched position
1) 0
2) 0
3) 0
4) 16
5) 34
6) 49
7) 63
8) 75
9) 89
10) 99
11) 100+

1.6 Fall damage standing
1) 0
2) 0
3) 8
4) 28
5) 43
6) 58
7) 71
8) 83
9) 95
10) 100+
11) 100+

1.6 Fall damage landing in crouched position
1) 0
2) 0
3) 15
4) 31
5) 48
6) 60
7) 75
8) 87
9) 98
10) 100+
11) 100+

I have permission to share with you guys that as of this internal beta, those numbers match each other within less then 1hp.

In closing, it was a ton of work for multiple people, spanning across 3 countries 1/2 a world apart, but it really paid off. Falling from rafters or heaven is a big deal again, and really adds to the polish and 1.x "feel" of the game.

Thanks for reading, and spread the word. See you soon.

-Mike

[PraDaG]

Good to hear

[1nfern0]

Aha nice idea guys. I think the community will be better able to understand how tough some problems can be to fix. Nice update system, good job. Thanks.

[unizo]

Huzzah, it's nice to see some community released info finally. :D

[paradox]

nice one - it's amazing how a little info can inspire confidence in a mod :)

[downbad]

thanks for the information. and thank you to all the dev team and beta testers for putting in so much time for this great mod!

[rXp]

Yes keep it going you are doing a great job ;)

[haGisson]

nice one!

this thread makes me happy ^^

[rvT]

FCK awesome ;D I'm so exited finally. Good Job guys! Mike great work, keep it up!

[yuri]

GJ.
PS: This thread sould be here months ago ;)

[j0lt]

GJ.
PS: This thread sould be here months ago ;)

From what I gather beta testing only really picked up a month or so ago, then again I've only been testing for 1 month :lol:

But things are going really well guys, this will not be the only fix you will be seeing in the next release ;)

[haGisson]

will there be some more beta-tester slots?

[smartin]

Good job there mike. You sure know how to work yourself upwards :)

[to0om17]

Awesome!
This is just the kinda thing i wanted =D

Gj everyone! Great team work to solve a problem ;D

[ZeroKiller]

This is probably the greatest news of CSP I've heard in over a year, but it's a good thing! I'm glad to see something posted! My interest has been rejuvenated.

[free]

It was a really great idea to create a beta testing diary. It sure will reduce the ammount of flame in those forums (at least for a few weeks).

Remember that if you stop posting new diary entries it will start even more flames than you were getting before so try not to forgot about it :).

I always wondered what exactley do you betatesters do and now i see how important role you guys play for the entire future of counter-strike.

I'm curious if it was just a daily thing or was it a major test for you and who's idea was it.

[Spritz]

Ty for the info! Keep it up pl0x.

[MaveN]

a diary :lol: that's nice
2topic: good work!!

[KaNaR]

I was wondering : is the changelog finished, or can we expect to see other changes ?

Anyway good to see some official news, hope you will keep the regular updates :) (next time : video about weapon bobbing ? :D )

[Redstar]

(next time : video about weapon bobbing ? :D )

Actually I made a comparison video of the weapon bobbing, I just don't know if it's possible to post it here. Btw did you say that just by pure chance or.. ?

[Mith]

This is a great idea, reminds me of BMS's devblog :D. I hope the developers make some posts with technical tips about mapping/coding/modeling for those who are interested like in their blogs; I used to read all of them and it was great getting a few tips on how to improve by the real experts.

Also reminds me that, after a while, BMS's blog got completely abandoned by their staff, I hope you guys don't do the same and keep updating this blogs, it's really awesome to know what you guys are doing "behind the mod". ^^

Oh, and I just noticed you guys added a polls section, that's a really nice sign too.

[KaNaR]

Actually i've been asking this from the time they announced there would be weapon bobbing, so in the previous website ;)

[smartin]

Red, he wants to see how similar it is to the 1.6 weapon bob, since the official changelog states that we've added 1.6 style weapon bobbing.

[smartin]

Mith, the polls section has been there all the time. It's not used yet.
edit: sry doublepost.

[Redstar]

yeah I understood that, it just surprised me that he asked a video for weapon bobbing since I made one a few weeks ago.

[messey]

this thread is really all the community was looking for

thank you

[KaNaR]

this thread is really all the community was looking for

thank youNow they have 2 weeks with no bitching :p

[zyThuM]

This is my first post here, but I follow this forum for more than a year, until now I felt no necessary to sign in this forum. But today after reading this thread I couldn't avoid to post here my thoughts.

It’s very nice to ear some news from your beta testing phase. I don't know if realize what you did with this thread but if you watch careful the reactions after the first post you’ll notice the positive vibes in here ;)

I think that this is the correct way, giving feedback to the community. We were waiting a thread like this for almost a year. And I hope that you continue to give us reports like this, even small news is better that nothing at all. :)

Keep up the good work.

[doublethink]

Remember that if you stop posting new diary entries it will start even more flames than you were getting before so try not to forgot about it :).


I'm not going anywhere.

Also, cashed is going to do some pieces on mapping work, like his old blog.

Thank you for the support, and I'll report back to you guys soon.

REDSTAR!!! Way to let the cat out of the bag lol

I guess that means now we'll have to include it in the next dev diary. :mrgreen:

[Virus]

I've been following this mod and the forums since the beginning of the pro mod but this is the first time creating an account and I just want to simply say great job on this update. I'm sure myself and a lot of others will be very pleased after the information from this thread. It's brought me back a lot of faith and confidence in this mod. Once again, thanks Mike!

[element13]

:\ I wish I was a beta tester...

Anyways, great job! Good to actually hear some progress.

[MaveN]

this thread is really all the community was looking for

thank youNow they have 2 weeks with no bitching :p

x'D
// sry4spam

[sevoii]

Atleast we got something.

[burt]

very nice, thanks for adding some news...

[CH4MP]

I think i just nuts myself.

[Masternoob]

yeah I understood that, it just surprised me that he asked a video for weapon bobbing since I made one a few weeks ago.

please upload it on youtube...

[smartin]

don't be such a masternoob. respect the nda ;>

[haGisson]

i'd like to be a beta tester, are there any free slots?

[Redstar]

@masternoob, let me quote this for you:


REDSTAR!!! Way to let the cat out of the bag lol

I guess that means now we'll have to include it in the next dev diary. :mrgreen:

[sevoii]

i'd like to be a beta tester, are there any free slots?

Hey. Um... I've tried asking this a couple of times. I've idled in #CSPromod for 7 days straight. I've asked. I've begged, but I just get flat out ignored.

I'm 1 of about 3 total supporters of CSP in my country. 1 of which did get to be a beta tester, apparently.
I honestly think they should let me beta test so me and the other guy can test with normal latency, instead of him testing with the rest with 500 latency. I've been trying quite hard to spread the word of CSP and that there is still much hope of it being successful in South Africa, but yeah... My beta testing requests have been ignored...

If they give you the oppurtunity I'm gonna poo on your face.

[haGisson]

i think i'm the only supporter of csp in my country (austria). for the first version i bought cs:source, which i didn't own.
i always kept believing in the mod and the dev team and followed the content on the old and new forums, but at first i didn't register at the new forums.

also i have some expierence with software developing and game developing (tried openGL once, but it failed... didn't put much effort in that).

[rvT]

^^ yeah I was ignored too like savoii ;p Just let them work.

[free]

i'd like to be a beta tester, are there any free slots?

Hey. Um... I've tried asking this a couple of times. I've idled in #CSPromod for 7 days straight. I've asked. I've begged, but I just get flat out ignored.

I'm 1 of about 3 total supporters of CSP in my country. 1 of which did get to be a beta tester, apparently.
I honestly think they should let me beta test so me and the other guy can test with normal latency, instead of him testing with the rest with 500 latency. I've been trying quite hard to spread the word of CSP and that there is still much hope of it being successful in South Africa, but yeah... My beta testing requests have been ignored...

If they give you the oppurtunity I'm gonna poo on your face.

Well, I was always hoping for this mod to grow ever since i read about it back a few years ago and I've wanted to be a beta tester too. I've been a part of the counter-strike community since early 2003 but played ocasionally cs even before that. My clan had the top7 position in 2 top polish sites somewhere between 2006-2007. I've supported the mod on our website by translating into polish intereviews with James Hamilton (03.10.2007), the CAL and GGL Administrator and the main Promod criticist back in 2007. Also translated Jared "Treehouse" Konczal's comments on the mod (01.10.2007). He was the first beta tester as far as I remember.
As you can see, youre not the only one and I took my part too. I don't actually remember anyone else releasing translations of those into polish on any counter-strike or e-sport site.

Also i had some first approaches with opengl, yet unsuccessful, and was one of the first (if not the first according to fpsbanana which has no such thing to this day) to release the cs:s hud feachuring background under the default hud (Electronic Sports League admins requested it to check if it was possible to do so without running any 3rd party programs). Also I've replicated the CSP hud for CSS (without team indicators near the timer) with background under the hud elements changing colour etc.

The point is that there are people who might also deserve the beta even more than you could believe but stay low profile.

[Masternoob]

i think i'm the only supporter of csp in my country (austria). for the first version i bought cs:source, which i didn't own.
i always kept believing in the mod and the dev team and followed the content on the old and new forums, but at first i didn't register at the new forums.

also i have some expierence with software developing and game developing (tried openGL once, but it failed... didn't put much effort in that).

nope we are 2 8-)

[haGisson]

8-) nice one masternoob!

thought no one believes in promod in austria

[N0vA]

Never pretend - If you give something, it has to be because you gave it with your heart and love. When you share your love, believe me, somebody is going to reward you.

forget what you give, remember what you receive. (There is already a similar quote)

...and now back to topic:
Thank you for the diary and very nicely described! Looking forward to it.

[Inflikt]

This is a very nice addition to the forums as it gives more information and updates regarding the gameplay of the game and how everything works.

Good job on finding out how the fall damage would work in accordance to CSP and 1.6.

[HZA]

i think i'm the only supporter of csp in my country (austria). for the first version i bought cs:source, which i didn't own.
i always kept believing in the mod and the dev team and followed the content on the old and new forums, but at first i didn't register at the new forums.

also i have some expierence with software developing and game developing (tried openGL once, but it failed... didn't put much effort in that).

nope we are 2 8-)


Nope, we are almost 3 *lol*

[haGisson]

damn :D

[adz]

Awesome

[arsirc]

i think i'm the only supporter of csp in my country (austria). for the first version i bought cs:source, which i didn't own.
i always kept believing in the mod and the dev team and followed the content on the old and new forums, but at first i didn't register at the new forums.

also i have some expierence with software developing and game developing (tried openGL once, but it failed... didn't put much effort in that).

nope we are 2 8-)


Nope, we are almost 3 *lol*


no, we are 4 ;)

[Masternoob]

sorry for the offtopic but is someone from austria at the DOT-LAN? :ugeek: