Archived News from May/April/March/Feb 2003

May 29, 2003

-CannisRabidus

Due to circumstances beyond my control it has taken me longer than I originally planned to update this site with more development news. Current work brings me to internal version 1.58, which includes the addition of a new theoretical high tech unit, this time representing Britain. You may recognize it as a modified version of MooMan65's excellent Abrams Tank voxel. I added a missile launcher on the back, so that this tank fires rockets as well as tank shells. Like the other theoretical high-tech units, the Crocodile Missile Tank will be offered as a possible bonus from crates and from capturing a Secret Lab. I have also added support for many more IFV turrets, in large part using Blade's IFV turret pack. I still want to add one or two more turrets to the mix, so I'll hold off on posting an image of all the new IFV configurations until that happens. But I will post a few new cameo icons instead. Here you see the cameo for the above Croc Tank, one for the Stalin's Fist (see previous news post), and a new cameo for the Allied BEV (based on the Generals POW truck icon).    Several other changes have been made also. All details are listed on the Under Development page.

April 22, 2003

-CannisRabidus

I've updated the Under Development page with changes current with internal version 1.57. This version includes the addition of the theoretical high tech Yuri unit, the Mole Machine Armored Personnel Carrier, a subterranean APC which has a nasty bite. The voxel for the Mole Machine APC is another masterpiece by spider_man, and you can see it in the pic below. Also this is a good time to describe the Russian high tech unit introduced in v1.56. It is called Stalin's Fist, a tank which fires tesla shells, and can carry 2 infantry using the same open-topped logic employed by the Battle Fortress. The voxel used for this unit is a rescaled and slightly modified version of the Masstodont by Napalm, which I obtained from our affiliate, RESCEN. Both of these units will serve as possible Secret Lab and crategoodie boons.   One thing that became apparent when testing Stalin's Fist is how thin the Soviet choices are for infantry to put in an open-topped unit. So I've given Crazy Ivan a ranged weapon which he uses only when in an open-topped vehicle (you'll never see it any other time) - what he does is toss dynamite at enemies while maniacally cackling. You can get an idea of what this looks like in action by checking out this forum thread. I am aware that the wait for the next public release must seem interminable. Hopefully the wait won't be much longer. In any case, full details on v1.57 are posted on the Under Development as usual.

March 26, 2003

-CannisRabidus

Sorry for the long interval between updates - I blame Generals. Internal mod development has now advanced to v1.56. For the most part the mod changes include several new art assets - many of them very subtle but designed to incrementally improve the overall feel of the game. Many of these assets are contributions from the excellent modders, MooMan65 and Blade. The most notable coding addition of this development version is the first cut at the theoretical high tech Russian unit which serves as a possible Secret Lab unit. Artwork for this unit is not yet completed; when it is then I'll post a pic or two. Check out the Under Development page for the full summary.

February 11, 2003	-CannisRabidus
Internal mod development has advanced to v1.55. Mostly minor things this time. Among them, you'll see I've added support for Mooman's Capture Pack Flak Tracks, and updated the Yuri Expansion Vehicle voxel with this new one from spider-man.    As always, find the complete rundown on development news on the Under Development page.