Carrier Command site undergoing change

[BFCrusader]

It seems like the Carrier Command: Gaea Mission site is now closed and undergoing some changes before becoming available again sometime later. I would take this as a sign that things are progressing, wouldn't you guys say?

[someBoy]

Yeah! finally some updates are coming!!!

[sav112g]

Falls off chair!

News whats that!.
Mind you I started following BF3 over the last month.

[The Masta]

Ahhh
Long awaited updates.:yay:

[Praelium]

Website for those who don't know: http://www.carriercommand.com/

[Wh1sper]

What a strange behavior.
First removing old content and then placing a "under construction" page instead...
How a about making the new design fist and then changing the content?

Shame on you thats the early '90
:j:

[someBoy]

I don't really care as long as they make a great game :)

[gadgetmind]

I assume people have seen this youtube video showing work in progress about eight months ago?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez8vzA019DQ

Ian
P.S. I recently managed to get the original ST/Amiga/Mac Carrier Command source code off some backup disks. If I can get the agreement of all involved, I'll release it under some suitable licence.

[BFCrusader]

I assume people have seen this youtube video showing work in progress about eight months ago?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez8vzA019DQ

Ian
P.S. I recently managed to get the original ST/Amiga/Mac Carrier Command source code off some backup disks. If I can get the agreement of all involved, I'll release it under some suitable licence.

That would be so awesome, Ian. You're awesome, period!

Do you think that the sounds in the game will be of good quality in that case? And will the timewarp feature be implemented as well to make a complete package?

[gadgetmind]

There are some missing bits for ST/Amiga, namely the equates for the hardware and the disk routines. I may still find these.

It would be possible to integrate the time warp feature, and improved carrier tactics, from the Mac version back into the ST and Amiga ones, but I don't have the time, the inclination, or the required hardware.

I'm not sure that you mean about sound. The ST and Amiga sound was OK, or at least I thought so! The PC sound was nasty as that version predated even things like the Rowland card, however, the PC source is still AWOL.

I was intending the release the source more for the benefit of the curious rather than so it could be rebuilt. With that in mind, I'm working on a bit of background to how we came to write Carrier and what the process involved (mainly lots of anguish!)

I'm also doing a "walk through" of the code as the comments are, err, somewhat lacking.

Ian

[BFCrusader]

There are some missing bits for ST/Amiga, namely the equates for the hardware and the disk routines. I may still find these.

It would be possible to integrate the time warp feature, and improved carrier tactics, from the Mac version back into the ST and Amiga ones, but I don't have the time, the inclination, or the required hardware.

I'm not sure that you mean about sound. The ST and Amiga sound was OK, or at least I thought so! The PC sound was nasty as that version predated even things like the Rowland card, however, the PC source is still AWOL.

I was intending the release the source more for the benefit of the curious rather than so it could be rebuilt. With that in mind, I'm working on a bit of background to how we came to write Carrier and what the process involved (mainly lots of anguish!)

I'm also doing a "walk through" of the code as the comments are, err, somewhat lacking.

Ian

I see, that should be very good. And about the sound bit, I meant would it be possible to have the ST/Amiga quality (instead of the awful PC buzzing) along with the timewarp.

I'm guessing that if people get a hand on the source and stuff maybe people will actually mod it enough to perhaps make a PC version with good sounds (perhaps authentic plane and amphibious sounds even?) and add their own timewarp feature if you're not going to.

Although, being a total know-nothing about programming, this is only an uneducated guess on my part. Perhaps anyone knowledgeable could fill in the blanks?

[gadgetmind]

Making an updated ST version shouldn't be hard, particularly as there is an ST emulator available. All the disk stuff could be ripped out, and recreating the hardware equates should be easy enough.

The PC version would also be easy to update but this is rather dependent on me actually finding this source; everything is on old 5 1/2" floppies, which have lots of bad sectors, and it was all backed up with an obsolete proprietary program called "Fastback". I think the odds are pretty good but it could take quite some time.

PC sound used to work pretty much like the Sinclair Spectrum in that you had a single bit to twiddle. When you twiddled it, you got a click. Driving it such that you got anything useful could easily cost 10% of your (very limited) CPU cycles. By the time we did Battle Command, there were Roland sound cards. These were hundreds of pounds, rather rare, and the basic version only had musical instrument effects. It's amazing how much a violin can be made to sound like a plane's wheels touching down if you really try!

A few years later, it all changed. If only we'd had even the original 3DFX card in 1988 ...

Ian

[scrapser]

I remember the sound of the main carrier quite well when I played it on my Amiga. It reminded me of the movie, "Earth versus the Flying Saucers". LOL

[sav112g]

it was a hummmmmmmmm.

[gadgetmind]

Sounds effects were always my job, which is a real puzzle as I have never shown any signs of musical ability. I don't recall where all the samples came from, but I do remember a fairly nifty system in there that finds the nearest (and 2nd nearest?) sound source to the current eye/ear location and then mixes and depth queues them. Hmmm, must rootle in the code.

BTW, I also drew nearly all of those icons, which is yet another puzzle as I was regularly turfed out of art lessons for being a waste of raw materials!

Ian

[sav112g]

You worked on the original?

Well played I hold in the same regard to that of “Elite”. At the time they were fantastic games.

[gadgetmind]

> You worked on the original?

Guilty as charged.

> Well played I hold in the same regard to that of “Elite”. At the time they were fantastic games.

As part of porting Elite to the PC, we got to see the original source code. I find it heartening that it was just as tangled a mess as the stuff we were producing at the time!

Ian

[sav112g]

Ok at the time we had Pestel, but not the net as we now know it, so games just worked I cant remember seeing bugs and back then you could not go online and read pages of reports of bugs in Forums. :D

Elite probably did have many bugs, loved it started out as just a few lads building a space game from there bedrooms.



Well what can I say, thank you for your Work back then.
:yay:

[gadgetmind]

Ah, you obviously missed the very first ST release of Carrier, where the enemy carrier would drive onto the island (well, into in, actually) and get stuck!
Ian

[sav112g]

Ah, you obviously missed the very first ST release of Carrier, where the enemy carrier would drive onto the island (well, into in, actually) and get stuck!
Ian

Amega it was for me! ;)

[gadgetmind]

You'll have to wait for the source release (with author's narrative!) to see the ST release notes and story of the "carrier in island" bug fix, but all the important ST releases were in April '88

The Amiga version lagged behind and here are its release notes.
; Version A1.0 08/07/88 Release version. Bad save game bug found.
; All following on 03/08/88
; Fixed save game bug and tank missile bug.
; Changed disk timing.
; Version A1.1 03/08/88 Rainbird Demo.
; also Release Version A1.1 sent at same time.

I don't recall the detail of either of the bugs mentioned there, or whether the Amiga version A1.0 was actually released. You can see the version by hitting Ctrl-V.

Ian

[sav112g]

Well it never bothered me I was too busy trying to blast my way to that other carrier that in truth had warp speed when I did find it. I cant for the life of me remember if I blew it up or just won the map in the game. :confused:

Looking forward to building in the new game.

here just think of the disc space you had to work with back then and the DVD discs now :D

[gadgetmind]

Disk space was always a huge issue, and it didn't go away with the arrival of consoles like the Megadrive as those cartridges were small and expensive.
Ian

[Dwarden]

it's being worked on and will come when it's ready :)

[scrapser]

I think I mentioned this before but one time while playing my Amiga version I managed to arrive at an enemy island and the enemy carrier was still there. I launched a Walrus and got across the island just in time to see it finish rotating away from the island and depart. When it left it was like watching the Star Trek enterprise jump to warp speed? Very impressive.

[Praelium]

The new site still isn't up... this doesn't look good. Anyone recall the game Dead Island from a few years ago? The site has been under construction for much of that time. http://www.deadislandgame.com/

[sav112g]

I was just thinking they would put in some effort and have somthing up for christmas:rolleyes:

Still time:D

Not got a pc to play it any way just now, six year old PC lost out over new cars! Never had a games console but the PS3 looks good just to get back into games.

[W0lle]

Maybe there's something with higher priority than updating the website?
Sometimes I really wonder how people can say a game under development gets abandoned because the website for it is not updated.

Really, I prefer they work on the game rather than the fancy website.

[sav112g]

It could be just me but I think it would have made more sense to leave the web site till they were ready to do it, how long since it changed, far too long in my book that suggests they pulled the plug out without having anything ready.

Again to me a strange way to go about it.

It really does not boost confidence to me that this game is under and this is my own personal view a very disorganised team.

Is this an actual game in development with a professional team and backing or is it a small semi professional team?

[BFCrusader]

Hey, at least things are still progressing, aren't they? I believe we wont have to wait nearly as long for news this time around. I for one can't wait to see the new contents, news bits etc.

[W0lle]

It could be just me but I think it would have made more sense to leave the web site till they were ready to do it, how long since it changed, far too long in my book that suggests they pulled the plug out without having anything ready.
Agreed. I wouldn't make it any different. :)


Again to me a strange way to go about it.

It really does not boost confidence to me that this game is under and this is my own personal view a very disorganised team.

Is this an actual game in development with a professional team and backing or is it a small semi professional team?
Judging by your join date I presume you're not that long around.
One thing you should remember: We're dealing here with a small (okay no more that small), independent game studio.
This is not EA, Sony, or some other game developer with a multi-million dollar PR department.

[sav112g]

I’m all for small dedicated teams, after all one of my favourite all times games was Elite on the BBC model B. and that started with two guys in there bed rooms.

I am a follower of the Mod “Project reality” for BF2 on the PC and for a small team they blow me away with there presentations, feedback, news. You have faith in them that they are building an impressive mod and you know what they are up to and in the loop.

You get updates of new units, what maps they are developing and what tweaks they are up to and these guys are doing it for free.

[EricM]

Any update on when the new site is going to be up or when we can have any other news regarding the project ?

[sav112g]

I keep poping back in to see and nothing as usual.

I thought there would be a christmas post or news but nothing.

[TankBusterBrooks]

It really is funny how venomous some people become because they can't wait for this game, lashing out the usual accusations of 'unprofessionalism' blah blah yawn. I can't wait for this game but as far as i'm concerned it can take as long as it wants, the longer it takes the greater the chance of it being a great game. If you want games by-the-numbers then go play EA or Ubisuck. I'm sure the devs are working hard and putting passion into this one, seeing as the team from the original are on-board. Give them a bloody break! They owe you nothing until you buy the game.:cool:

[sav112g]

Just going on your posts have you been following the game for some time?

Laughing at this post has made me feel better about the lack of anything on here. People have there view and I respect that as anyone on here supports this development.

Time to swallow that pill, this is a Forum about a game similar to the many I’ve been in while following a games release. Nothing has been posted News wise, there is no communication at all with the community.

Just interested in the game mate, but its hard to be interested in nothingness! They can take all the time they want, I’m saying personally in my view they work in a very strange way.

I played the original and that’s the only thing that keeps me on here, I owe them no disrespect at all but I certainly cant fathom why there is no communication. Respect to the original I still have boxed here and the original team anyone else needs to earn it.

[TankBusterBrooks]

I agree with you, the secrecy some developers employ is often baffling, you'd think they would want to entice as wide an audience as possible but its almost like the secrecy has become tradition. Its fine to tell the devs that the community feels that the lack of info is frustrating, but some people push it too far and it might be a bit disparaging to read. I loved the original and i have high hopes for this one, its enough for me just to know that it IS in development and has not been cancelled. I hate how pc gaming has been reduced to console ports - endless mediocre,tedious and unimaginitive 3rd person shooters which are totally linear and guide (or drag) you by the hand like a 5 year old through the entire game....and the law states that these games shalt not contain more than 5 hours of gameplay. grrr. I'm glad there are still some small dev teams around with some ideas of their own! :)

[sav112g]

I'm hoping this is a game to get lost in like my old Silent hunter games in the sub or like Elite or even the original. I play all the PS3 games with an eight year old and although they look fantastic they just dont apeal to me.

I want something Epic to get me back gaming, tactical and has me fighting to repair the ship and survive and at the same time attacking. I used to love playing red alert online when it was not a rush job. Building and probing for a weakness enjoying a good defence as much as a good planned attack.


I need a new PC for this thats for sure.

I do think there is one danger- Because of the lack of information we are all beginning to build a game in our minds and that’s going to result in disappointment.

Right now I’ve got ordering Cap patrols while repairing critical systems on the ship after an attack and I’ve got to choose to get her running and hide or stick it out and get deffesive systems back online….Dont have a clue if any of this is in the game as there is no guide to follow.