RobbyZ's Blog

On Potato server, I’m now testing basic localization support.  When connected to Potato, on the options screen, you will have an option to select which language to play in.  For the most part this doesn’t do a whole lot yet as the game isn’t yet translated, but in anticipation of going to Tokyo Game Show, I’m working with a friend to get the game translated into Japanese.

Also, you can now type foreign characters into the chat window!  I intended this for people chatting in their native language, but instead I fully expect to be inundated with extravagant emoticons shortly ಠ_ಠ  … (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

If you speak a foreign language, you can also translate the game!  In HTMudWeb.zip, open up localization.xls in excel, add a new column, and follow the instructions.  You could translate the game to your native language, or just make everything speak in Olde English for your 8BitMMO Middle Ages Feudal England Mod.  Either way, should be useful for the modders! 🙂

Moving all the strings out of the code and into excel may have resulted in some weird text in places, so if you catch any of those situations on Potato, please report them!

Boxtech is officially out on Primary Server, with not one, but SIX box types to choose from!  Containers have been one of the most popular suggestions over the past few years, so I’m very excited to finally have containers available.

• Public Box – anyone can put items in or take items out
• Owner Box – only you can put items in or take items out
• Town Box – only town citizens can put items in or take items out (if not placed inside a town, will function as an owner box)

Each box type comes in a small and large size.  Small can handle 500 objects, while large can handle 1,000 objects.

You can carry boxes with you in your inventory, or even put boxes inside other boxes (because physics :P).  The box will only count as a single item towards your inventory or region limit.

While near a box, press E to use it.  When done, simply press escape to clear all open windows from your screen.

Special thanks to everyone who suggested the idea, and also to those who helped test it — including Value, Hermit, Snakezxz, Pyoro, Zooty, ToxicPenguin_, El Dromedario, Captain Fearless, alex82, and pixelplayer2.  Sorry if I missed anyone 🙂

I fixed a bug that was causing the launcher to use way too much CPU.  If you use Steam, the update is applied automatically, or download the latest standalone launcher.

PS – Boxtech is up on Potato if you want to test it out! 🙂

UPDATE: These two bugs are now fixed:

• /sellallinv no longer sells containers
• Phantom objects are no longer created due to using containers while in object placement mode

El Dromedario had a pretty good idea in the suggestion box that got some good votes: the Checkpoint Pad.  In his words:

It’s a pretty simple idea but I think this is much needed in the game right now. Just as the title implies it is a pad that will act as a checkpoint. This will be really handy for those quests where you have to go through a maze or have to overcome obstacles such as the spike mazes. When a player reaches a checkpoint-pad he/she can activate it by pressing E. Once activated the player will be sent to the checkpoint whenever he/she dies. If you place multiple checkpoint-pads in a dungeon the player will be sent to the most recently activated checkpoint.

Checkpoint Pads only work in towns without PVP damage (we already have PVP respawn pads).  Additionally, the checkpoint respawn will only work while you are still in the same town the checkpoint is in.  Checkpoints don’t save between server reboots, and only the most recently used checkpoint is remembered.

If you’re in the same town as the checkpoint pad, you will respawn there automatically for most causes of death (except currently water).  You can also manually return to the checkpoint with /checkpoint (or /ch).

Thanks to setk, snakezxz, and xerp for Potato testing this new item.

Today’s update brings a number of new features:

The most exciting new feature is the Pocket Townstone.  It is a limited functionality townstone that can only be placed in your pocket universe.  It will not immediately increase the size of your pocket universe like a full townstone does.  However, it enables most townstone functionality such as the ability to let other players build in your pocket universe.  Just like normal townstones, please note you CANNOT move or delete this item after it has been placed!

You can upgrade a pocket townstone to a regular townstone for 10p (/townupgrade).  Doing so will cause your pocket universe to be expanded from 2×2 to 3×3.

Special thanks to setk and snakezxz for helping me test the new pocket townstone!

/rewardblocks command now shows which map the reward block is located on.

Hardmutes – a mod (or flood check) can use in situations where a user is heavily spamming / offensive to mute the player and prevent their text from being shown in IRC (reverts to a normal mute on next server reboot).

 

Three new updates today:

• You can now place the Oven!  You can turn it on!  Or turn it off!  Wow!
• Introducing Full Grass blocks.  Honestly I thought I had already made this one years ago.  Oops, my bad.  😉
• Have so many towns you can’t keep track of them all?  Or maybe you placed one and didn’t name it and now you can’t find it?  Just use /towns to get a list of all towns you are the Mayor of and their locations.

After many months of development, rendering, more development, even more rendering, the new map is finally online!  This is the first map update in more than half a year, and as this new map also includes =67, Potato Server, and many Pocket Universes, there’s a ton of cool stuff to see!

If you would prefer your pocket universe not show up on the map, you can type /togglemapprivacy while standing in your pocket universe.  The change will take effect next time the map is generated.

The map making process is now more automated, so it shouldn’t take another half year for the next map refresh 🙂

You can now earn Steam Trading Cards in-game!  As we are free to play, you should earn approximately one card drop for every $9 USD spent (the same as all free to play games on Steam that have trading cards).

If you don’t want your cards, send them to me 😛

NOTE:  Currently the Founders Packs do not grant trading cards.  I have requested Valve allow this, but not heard back on this request yet.