Maniaplanet Update #3 information

[Hylis]

Tx for your support to the one that understand our move and tx to thatoneguy for describing well the situation about complexity of the tools.

For the LAN after, I think it's cool to have the new update, if it is seen in the spirit of an opportunity to see new things (maps, moves etc.) it could be an accelerator for people at the LAN to experience and share about the new stuff. For the GA, with so many teams, it's more a meeting to know "wouzdabesteamatm" and I don't think it's the place for experiments.

And if we do the closed beta, it would be better for stability for sure for these lans

About the communication, it's hard to find the right balance. It's easier when there are sure things, and they really are unsure up until soon before release. So, I can not say we will succeed and I can not say that you will be happy with the result etc. I can give three examples that are being done at the moment by three different devs: one is a MT track that is constant for the track, one is reducing the loading time at Maniaplanet start and one is delta updates for Titles. It's hard to make it look cool for many people. I know it can divide that we are working on such things, it would require to explain why and how long we are dedicated time to do it. And players can be disappointed of the result or we can even not be capable to do it in the end. So, it's the complexity of the communication that goes with the complexity of things we are doing. It's easier to do and to communication if we would add a weapon, but instead, we are still working on the action maker, and still have work to do to have just a version ready for beta.

And there is also the question of the closed beta. For some players, they would rather ignore what is happening in a closed beta for players that are outside to avoid some frustrations. It's also difficult to give screenshots of system updates.

It's complicated, but we will see what we can do.

[fng_thatoneguy]

Thanks for the update. May I ask if the concept is being worked on to host a dedicated server that will cover multiple title packs, like Canyon, Valley and Stadium on one server; like the old United server? Or is that being saved for a future update?

[Chris92]

If there'll be a beta, you know where to find me, Florent
Anyways, yes I'm kinda sad that the update got delayed yet again and I sorta understand that you want to play on a current, stable version at GA, but please, by all means, make that beta happen.
There are many content-creators out there hungry for the new tools to play with and also all the coders that will ultimately have to adjust their tools for MP3 to still be compatible (or to extend them with new possible features?), give them time up front to do exactly this.
There are a lot of people that know how to use ManiaPlanet to an extend where mere mortals (normal users) would shake their head in disbelief. And those people should be the ones to go bughunting and testing so everyone else gets a nice stable product at launch. Cause lets be honest, you guys aren't EA and you wouldn't want a launch of a major version to end up like a certain city building game *cough cough*

Also, as a long-time TrackMania fella, I'd love to know when our "legacy" game modes will be updated to the newest standards, aka released as Script. This is something that should've probably happened ages ago, as I don't really see any custom game modes out there unfortunately (apart from Endurance). Plus, then we might not feel so abandoned as that would show us that NADEO hasn't forgotten us. I mean, look at how poor Valley is doing - some fresh air might bring in new players and content creators which is highly needed for it to not end up as a total miscarriage.

I'm hoping you have some nice things planned cause right now it's looking dire...

Thanks for the update. May I ask if the concept is being worked on to host a dedicated server that will cover multiple title packs, like Canyon, Valley and Stadium on one server; like the old United server? Or is that being saved for a future update?

Hylis announced that there'll be a new titlepack with a new mode created that'll be able to create multi-env servers.
No plans to run the current modes on that apparently.

As for the the release content, here are the most important things, that I already announced in various places:
- a simple new mode for TM2, made for the only multi-environment title that will support Maniaplanet 3 atm.

[novationx]

Somebody asked me if this means that we will get all 3 planned updates as 1 big update after GA?
Seems like a good question to me^^

[...]Anyways, It would be awesome if I could be in the closed-beta I mean it. I would love to help.[...]

+1 for novationx be a beta tester!

Thx :p

[Chris92]

Somebody asked me if this means that we will get all 3 planned updates as 1 big update after GA?
Seems like a good question to me^^

So, the idea would be to release everything in one time, just after the Gamers Assembly (19th to 21st of april) but to still open the universal demo after, once it's stabilized.

guess that should answer your question, novationx

[fng_thatoneguy]

Thanks for the update. May I ask if the concept is being worked on to host a dedicated server that will cover multiple title packs, like Canyon, Valley and Stadium on one server; like the old United server? Or is that being saved for a future update?

Hylis announced that there'll be a new titlepack with a new mode created that'll be able to create multi-env servers.
No plans to run the current modes on that apparently.

As for the the release content, here are the most important things, that I already announced in various places:
- a simple new mode for TM2, made for the only multi-environment title that will support Maniaplanet 3 atm.

Thanks for the clarification, Chris92! My apologies for missing that elsewhere. I'll be interested to see how this will be implemented. I was assuming Nadeo was going to make the dedicated server switch which title pack it was running under (and thus signaling the client to do the same); which would theoretically allow one to host a server with TM2 and SM maps. It sounds like that is not the case.

I'm excited to see it, regardless.

[Enxergy]

If You search Testers, I´m here

[TGYoshi]

Why aren't you releasing 'small' updates over time anyway?

I feel like that whenever too much is getting released at the same time, polishing it is completely neglected. Releasing one thing at a time will permit improving only one thing at the time too, thus making that single change actually good and polished.

Waiting is getting really boring, but the waiting won't ever pay out if you neglect the huge update you're planning to do after pushing it out in the wild. And I think it'll be neglected. Prove me wrong.

[bervt]

Yes waiting for the update is borring .
As a streamer , watching buging game because of a update :s not great ,since i come to the Gamer assembly i can wait for the gameplay update .
But I think you can make a small update before , like adding the new block for the editor and even the blockmixing because I think it will not interfere with gameplay issue ( For the GA the mappool is already chose so )

Bêta testing interresting idea only if we can switch version( the bêta and the normal version )

[TheBigMiike]

Yes waiting for the update is borring .
But I think you can make a small update before

If you can't release the update this month, Can you publish somes pictures of somes features or make something that motivate players to wait ?