PUBLIC TEST BRANCH

[dsmart]

Please follow the instructions below to use the Public Test Branch builds.

Remember, the DLC and it's branch, both need the base game. So if the base game files aren't correct, then there will be issues regardless of which build you're running.

INSTALLATION

1. Backup your saved games (.19 games are compatible with .20)
   
2. Uninstall the base game. This will also uninstall the DLC
   
3. Delete the game folder where Steam installed it
   
4. Install the base game
   
5. Install the DLC
   
6. Run UCCE30_steam_shortcuts.exe* (installs shortcuts to docs)
   
7. Switch to the PUBLIC TEST BRANCH if you want
   
8. Run cleanup.bat*
   
9. Restore your saved games (located in .\SAVE folder)

* Located in Steam game install folder

See the changelog[3000ad.com] for more

STEAM WARNING

The Steam client will sometimes fail to run spawned processes. This means that it most likely won't delete files that it's supposed to delete.

For this major 3.00.20 build, after the above steps, if you see a file named LANGUAGE.LNG in the .\DATA folder, that means Steam didn't run the CLEANUP.BAT file. You should manually run that file so that obsolete files are deleted. This is the same issue where it fails to run the installer for the docs shortcut for the base game (UCCE20_steam_shortcuts.exe) and the DLC (UCCE30_steam_shortcuts.exe), and you have to do them manually after a fresh install.

Later will also get Steam warnings about some files not being validated. This is a known Steam problem related to it not knowing about deleted files in builds.

UNIVERSAL COMBAT CE BUILDS

1. Universal Combat CE 2.00.0x (base)
   
2. UCCE - The Lyrius Conflict DLC 3.00.19
   
3. UCCE - The Lyrius Conflict DLC 3.00.20.xx (PTB via Steam Beta tab)

[dsmart]

Don't forget that you can use the IA test scenarios (scroll to the last page of the scenarios list) to check out the WIP planetary scenes.

[dsmart]

For now, I am going to keep .19 and .20 as separate branches. Once .20 gets to a point where it's stable enough, it will become the new main DLC branch, and .21 will take its place as the bleeding edge public test branch.

[rtoolooze]

Copy that.
Gonna go check out the WIP planetary scenes.

[dsmart]

I am working on completing the remaining planetary scenes which will be released in the upcoming test branch which I will later (maybe after a month from release) merge to be the main build.

I don't have a timeline for release because it's still a LOT of work to implement these and test each one. I am shooting for releasing it by the Christmas holiday break.

Most of the work is in testing ALL the mission scripts which use these scenes since some of them rely on specific units in the scene which, if they aren't there, will cause the mission to fail.

FYI to figure out which mission scripts are used in planetary scenes, I had to write a program that spits out the names of all the scenes referenced in the script. Then I printed that out, and manually checked off each script after testing the new scene. The common issue found is that player and unit start locations are different, thus putting those locations inside buildings, too far from objectives etc.

[almostpilot]

thanks for the info.

[The Scout Panda]

Tasty!
-Increased number of fighters that carriers can launch when engaging stations
-Planetary launch pads will now launch capital ships at detected hostile capital ships. Will also now launch intercept fighters against hostile transports

[dsmart]

The increase on CPU/GPU power, as well as some optimizations which I have made, are what prompted those changes.

[Aestrom]

Well, i've read this thread and still can't use public test branch, there is no UCCE30_steam_shortcuts.exe file, only UCCE20_steam_shortcuts.exe. And it's do nothing.

Edited.

So now i saw a thread about UC versions and i suppose i need to buy DLC for using test branch, but didn't noticed it in steam store nor in UC dlc's.

Edited again.

Lol, it goes as separated product in steam store, as Lyrius conflict, not UC: Lyrius conflict. Strange...

[Gillbo]

What is the status please??
I have had regular checks and I am wondering how progress goes....

[ShoHashi]

The last I heard, things were moving along fine....just be patient, he'll post something when he gets the chance! :)

[The Scout Panda]

Originally posted by jasgill74:

What is the status please??
I have had regular checks and I am wondering how progress goes....

Originally posted by ShoHashi:

The last I heard, things were moving along fine....just be patient, he'll post something when he gets the chance! :)

agreed, it's a good sign when our beloved supreme commander is a little quiet, means he's being a busy body ;)

also remember he comes back to UC specially for us hardcore fans as a treat, he has much newer games he has responsibilities for which understandably needs to take up most of his time :)

[Gillbo]

Originally posted by McTosh:

Originally posted by jasgill74:

What is the status please??
I have had regular checks and I am wondering how progress goes....

Originally posted by ShoHashi:

The last I heard, things were moving along fine....just be patient, he'll post something when he gets the chance! :)

agreed, it's a good sign when our beloved supreme commander is a little quiet, means he's being a busy body ;)

also remember he comes back to UC specially for us hardcore fans as a treat, he has much newer games he has responsibilities for which understandably needs to take up most of his time :)

Any update on progress?

It's been 2 months with no news???

It doesn't take much, to keep in touch!!

[ShoHashi]

Patience! I'm sure that when there's something to report on, he'll post! :)

[ShoHashi]

Really? When is it crashing for you? Maybe I can try to duplicate it.

[ShoHashi]

I haven't played it in several weeks, but from what I remember, I didn't have any crashes. That's why I was curious about your CTD.