SoundRTS public server will be unavailable

From June 1, 2012, the following servers will be unavailable:
- SoundRTS 1.1 "public server"
- SoundMUD 0.11 server
- SoundMUD 0.13 server

The web server and the servers list of SoundRTS will still work.

I don't know yet what will happen next. The next hosting, if it ever happens, might be off-line more often, with a bigger latency, and a smaller bandwidth.

[SoundMUD] SoundMUD development log

I used to post news about SoundMUD in SoundRTS development log, but from now on, I will post news about SoundMUD in a new blog: SoundMUD development log.

[SoundMUD] SoundMUD 0.13 released

(July 19: warning: this is not the "very different" 0.13 version previously mentioned in the website. The "very different" 0.13 version, a CircleMud / SoundMud combination, was just an unreleased experiment and isn't planned any more. So this 0.13 version is the trunk that will continue to evolve, I hope.)

(June 25: updated this post with a list of changes from 0.12)

SoundMUD 0.13 is available at:
http://jlpo.free.fr/soundmud/soundmud_redux.htm

Download link:
http://jlpo.free.fr/soundmud/soundmud-0.13-windows.zip

A manual is available at:
http://jlpo.free.fr/soundmud/manual.html

List of changes from 0.12:
- the "client_data" folder has been renamed to "data"
- the "sounds" folder has been moved into the "data" folder
- fixed the hostile sound signal
- fixed the sound emitted when the creature is hit by a weapon
- now the creature's description mentions the equipped weapon
- now the weapons break after some use
- restored the player's id in the character's description
- now any creature emits an "attack" sound when attacking
- added a manual
- fixed the "e" key (to select equipment)
- added "unequip" action
- now the monsters take any object on the ground (can be noticed after the player character's death)
- the player character drops the equipped weapon on dying
- the "water drops" sounds in the corridors have been restored
- if an already connected user tries to connect again, the server will close the other connection and accept the new user connection (instead of rejecting the new connection)
- slightly edited some underground rooms so they are more connected (with cycles, not like tree branches)
- added a bigger underground crypt with monsters and a boss (probably too many monsters)

[SoundMUD] bug fixed in SoundMUD 0.12

At last, the bug which has been preventing the server of SoundMUD 0.12 from working has been removed.

http://jlpo.free.fr/soundmud/soundmud_redux.htm

SoundMUD 0.12 is a minor and buggy evolution of 0.11, provided for comparison with 0.11 (both servers are running). It might be a dead-end, I don't know yet. the main changes are:

* a MMORPG-like gameplay: no need to hold Enter to move or attack any more, just press backspace once; special attacks or spells or actions are missing though, so the result might be unconvincing yet;
* after death, you can rest and observe the room until you press R to rez
* no more compass indications when the character rotates
* the monsters' AI is different: they go back home after a fight
* press I to select the next object in the inventory
* press Backspace to equip a weapon (selected it in the inventory)
* press E to select the next object in the equipment slots (only a held weapon slot at the moment)
* press D to drop the selected object
* change: press Insert (instead of backspace) to switch weapons

[SoundMUD] SoundMUD 0.11 experimental release

A. Introduction

A simplified version of SoundMUD 0.9 is available. It contains the action-roleplay game only, and automatically connects to a server. The server won't probably last more than a month. I will probably rewrite the next prototype from scratch, but I wished to have some feedback about this version.

Here are some new features:
- the monsters re-spawn after 1 minute;
- the character's stats and weapons are remembered as long as the server is not restarted.

Warning: the characters will probably be forgotten after some time. It's just an experiment.

B. Installation

For Windows:
1. download the following file:
http://jlpo.free.fr/soundmud/soundmud-0.11-windows.zip
2. Unzip it, for example to the desktop.
3. Double-click on soundmud.exe to start the game.

For another platform:
1. download the following file:
http://jlpo.free.fr/soundmud/soundmud-0.11-multiplatform.zip
2. Unzip it to any folder.
3. install Python 2.4 (or Python 2.5; a "py25" folder with the corresponding compiled files is included; replace the 2.4 compiled default files if you use Python 2.5)
4. install pygame 1.7.1 (or 1.8.1)
5. if you use a Mac, you may have to install PyObjC too
6. run soundmud.pyc to start the game (in Windows, double-click on this file)

C. Short manual

- press F1 for help
- press Tab to select an object
- press and hold Enter to reach and use or attack the selected object
- press the arrow keys to move or turn
- press Control to examine the selected object
- press F5 to repeat
- press Space for a summary (location, hit points, level)
- press Escape to quit
- press Del to drop your weapon
- press backspace to use another weapon
- press Control + F11 to change the point of view (in the "from above" mode, you are always facing north and Tab selects every object, in front of you or not, and the arrow keys make you move in the 4 directions instead of turning).

Note: The player is authenticated using a file called id.txt, automatically created in the game folder at the first connection. Delete or rename this file if you want to play another character.