Changelog/2.1.0

UFO: Alien Invasion 2.1.0 (Released: 2007-04-01)

Note: The release was just called 2.1 instead of 2.1.0 in some places.

Features

• New features:
  • Transfer stuff and aliens from one base to another.
  • Close geoscape popups by (left-)clicking somewhere else.
  • Limits for amount of hired employees, determined by Living Quarters facility.
  • Aircraft buying and selling.
  • Damage radius for grenades.
  • Live-display of TUs when dragging things in the inventory in battlescape and display of the various TU costs for each 'place'.
  • MacOSX dedicated server and some alignment fixes for PPC.
  • Updated targeting and tracing code.
  • Scrolling for text nodes (e.g. via mouse scroll wheel) - especially useful for the UFOpedia and the campaign descriptions:
    • #1531334 Scrollable text for research descriptions & similar text (+GUI).
    • Scrolling in the Production menu (see [1] for the old way)
    • Scrolling for the Hire menu.
    • Cursor Up and Cursor Down will scroll one line up/down (hold key to repeat).
    • PgUp and PgDown will scroll multiple lines up/down. (hold key to repeat).
  • Basic implementation of a flashbang (should basically counter reaction fire).
  • A new menu to show the keybindings.
  • Optional "Double-Click" move system.
  • Production queuing.
  • Scriptable skill and ability values for character (campaign.ufo).
  • Geoscape clouds (they move wrong right now).
  • Background music fading.
  • Improved zooming.
  • Implemented basics for Hospital facility.
  • PNG support.
  • Screenshots can now be saved in TGA, PNG or JPG format.
  • Added code in order to use ammo in several weapons (e.g the flechette shells usable in the micro-shotgun as well as the riot-shotgun).
  • Pre-research descriptions are now supported.
  • We can enable topics for research when one or more similar items have been researched. (i.e. a require_OR next to a require_AND list).
  • Debug design change: #ifdef DEBUG checks used for developer tools (some might call them cheats) should be changed to COM_CheckParm("-developer"), or an equivalent global variable that is set on startup, this enables modders to use the development tools but hides them from users (suggested by LordHavoc).
  • Extended weapon and ammo combinations (todo page link):
    • This brought us multiple weapons that can use the same ammo with different stats (this brought with it a redesign for multiple firemodes per ammo for each weapon it can be used in).
    • In order to effectively use the newly added multiple firemode (i.e. more than 2) we now have a nice dropdown list for each weapon similar to the way it worked in original UFO.
  • Alien Containment facility:
    • Collecting aliens and alien bodies after the mission.
    • Alien Containment menu (right click on Alien Containment facility in base).
  • New way to collect items and aliens after a mission - now they are being loaded to aircraft and unloaded when dropship lands in base (coders: see CL_DropshipReturned()).
  • Autosell option in Buy/Sell menu to decide whether autosell item after collecting or not.
  • Option to change skin for all soldiers loaded to aircraft.
  • #1557828 Improving skills by gaining experience.

• Multiplayer
  • IRC client integrated for multiplayer.
  • Multiplayer team selection after you've connected (to be able to select a team that is not already in use) (see cvar teamnum).
  • Master server implementation in Template:Path.
  • Maxteams support (worldspawn property) - make this a server cvar too.
  • Logfile output on server console to be able to generate a log (and create a ladder someday).
  • Version check and checksums to prevent cheating (checksums for ufo-script files are still not implemented - only for maps).
  • Support for script definable gametypes (dedicated server and listen server).

• Bugfixes
  • Fixes for isometric mode (culling fixes).
  • Lots of map bugfixes like stepon and clipping flags as well as player starting positions.
  • Merged bugfixes from 2.0-RC5 to 2.1-devX.
  • #1621538 Research from only 1 base.
  • Fixed order of entries in production menu (it was messed up because of non-produceable items were taken into account).
  • Fixed Collecting alien artifacts problem.
  • Fixed UFOpedia behaviour in various ways, including presence of pre-research technology descriptions.

• Other
  • Code cleanup for easier ports (e.g. Template:Path).
  • The problem why exported models from Blender didn't show up correctly in-game was an (MD2) exporter problem. See here.

Artwork

• Added scroll icons for scrollable textboxes.
• Lots of textures added for mapping purpose.
• "heli2" military-texture objects/aircraft/heli2
• "van2" texture by Yoshiboy.
• Various "boat" textures by Yoshiboy (see objects/boat).

Models

• Models for maps
  • "pitchfork" model
  • "van2" car model (Template:Path)
• Saracen-class Interceptor model. See aircraft/interceptor2.
• Flashbang model.
• Grenade launcher ammo (duplicated default model)
  • 25mm IC Grenades (texture: red launcher grenades)
  • 25mm Flechette Grenades (texture: green launcher grenades)
  • 25mm PB Grenades (texture: blue launcher grenades)
• Plasma Grenade model and texture.
• Flechette Shells (texture: green shotgun shells) for shotgun2 and micro shotgun
• Added barrel to Bolter Rifle magazine model as stated in the description + updated Inventory size (3x1).
• Heavy Laser model done see (here).
  • Texture by Protoarmor
• Micro Shotgun aka "pistol-shotgun" is done (see here). Model by Winter, texture by Hoehrer.
• Machine Pistol model & texture done (see here). Model by Winter and texture by Yoshiboy.
• 4.2mm MP Magazine (model, texture)
• Plasma Blade model&texture changed to reflect the description. (See weapons/plasblade for the model) --Hoehrer
• Female scientist models (body, no heads yet) have been added.
• Microwave (see microwave) (finished in 2.1)
• Coffeemachine (coffeemaker) (finished in 2.1)
• Fire extinguisher (see fireext and fireext2) (finished in 2.1)
• Emergency exit (sign) (see emergencyexit ) (finished in 2.1)
• dishware: cup, plate, fork, knife (See objects/furniture/dishes) (finished in 2.1)
• fireplace (see objects/furniture/fireplace) (finished in 2.1)
• Removed all the "GDF" string in the soldier skins

Maps

(See also the list of maps)

• New map "estate01".
• New map "bridge01".
• New map "industrial06".
• New map "oriental05".
• New building map "Alien containment" (initial building). Read more about it here: Alien Containment Facility.
• New random map tiles for tropic.
• New random map theme country.

Sounds

• new mission tracks from Alex Parker
• many new weapons sounds thanks to Alex Parker (including Bolter Rifle & Machine Pistol)