Notes from 2001-01-11 (2)

Notes from 2001-01-11 (2)

Note for Voodoo 2/3 Users, January 11, 2001 (Voodoo 2/3 users' attention, 2001/01/11)

If you are experiencing difficulty running Ultima Online: Third Dawn with a Voodoo 2/3 card, please download the latest drivers from www.3dfx.com or http://www.3dfxgamers.com/view.asp?IOID=2486. In Addition, BE SURE to set the color depth of your desktop to 16 - BIT.

If you are using a Voodoo 2/3 card and encounter problems while starting Ultima Online: Third Dawn, please visit www.3dfx.com or http://www.3dfxgamers.com/view.asp?IOID=2486 and update the latest drivers Please get it. In addition, please make sure the desktop setting is 16 bit color.

List of Fixes and Features for Alpha Version 35 (modification and addition related to Alpha 35 version)

• Login screen now starts at 640 x 480 resolution.
  The login screen now starts at 640 x 480 resolution
• Numerous crash bug and stability fixes.
  Many crash bugs and stability have been fixed
• Log file enhancements.
  Modify the log file
• Terrain system improvements to remove the dark lines between tiles.
  The black lines between the tiles have been removed and the terrain system has been improved
• The game desktop defaults to 900x700 and is now resizable via the mouse.
  The game screen defaults to 900 x 700, and you can change the size by mouse operation
• Various particle system fixes and improvements.
  Many particle (magic effect) system was modified / added
• Several dozen additional and / or improved art files.
  Many art files have been changed / added
• Avatars have been reduced in size. (Comments on this are welcome)
  The character display size has been reduced (We are waiting for comments on this)
• Filter settings screen has been enabled.
  The filter option screen is ready for operation
• Containers should now close when walking away.
  Containers now close as they leave
• New sound effects have been enabled.
  Sound effect is activated
• Selected text now inverts instead of disappearing.
  Text selection now flips instead of disappearing
• Improved the management of interfaces when window is resized.
  Improved interface handling when resizing windows
• Can not drag interface gumps completely off the screen anymore.
  Movement of interface · gump (option window?) No longer goes beyond the screen
• Menu bar added.
  Menu bar added
• Desktop saving bug (when quitting from account login) has been fixed.
  Save desktop settings (quit on login screen) Bug fixed
• Fix for the crash experienced when placing guildstones.
  Crash problems that occurred when installing the guild stone have been fixed

*** PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU REPORT ANY BUGS *** (Before submitting a bug report)

• • • Updated on January 8, 2001, posted with Alpha Version 34 ***
      *** Updated on January 8, 2001, added to Alpha Version 34 ***

This version of Ultima Online: Third Dawn is currently an "Alpha." Please review the following list of known issues before report any any:

Ultima Online: Third dawn is currently "Alpha" version. Please read the following recognized issues again before reporting the problem.

1. HARDWARE: (Hardware)
   MINIMUM HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS: (minimum hardware spec)
   The minimum specifications for Ultima Online: Third Dawn are as follows:
   Ultima Online: Third Down minimum specifications are as follows
   266 MHz Pentium II with 64 MB of RAM
   Windows 95/98
   DirectX version 7.0a
   Direct3D-compliant 3D accelerator with at least 16MB of VRAM
   600 MB of hard drive space
   
   1. 3DFX VOODOO 2/3 ACCELERATORS:
      Work is continuing, but we've found that downloading the latest drivers directly from 3Dfx does not fix some of the z-sorting errors some people are viewing on the Terrain.
      There are some things to consider about compatibility of Direct3D for Voodoo 2 and Voodoo 3 based graphics cards. Although it is still under coping, I found that the latest drivers downloaded from 3Dfx have some fixes on z-sorting errors experienced by some players.
   2. ATI RAGE PRO AND RAGE 128 ACCELERATORS:
      There are some issues with the Direct 3 D compatibility of the ATI RAGE PRO and RAGE 128 graphics cards.
      There are problems with compatibility of ATI RAGE PRO and RAGE 128 graphics cards to Direct 3 D. I am investigating this issue directly with ATI.
   3. PERFORMANCE: (Performance)
      The optimization process for the code is not improving over the next few weeks. The minimum specifications listed above and feel the game is not playable due to performance issues , Please report this along with your machine specifications.
      Code modifications related to optimization have just begun, so performance will improve over the next few weeks. However, if your machine has specifications beyond the minimum recommended values ​​listed above, but you think that playing is hurt due to its performance, you have to specify your machine spec. Please give me a report above.
2. ART: (artwork)
   *** Please do not report any art-related bugs at this time. ***
   *** Please do not report bugs related to art (graphics) at this point ***
   
   1. 3D ART:
      Integration and improvement of the 3D objects is ONGOING. New art, fixes and improvements will be provided regularly during the test cycle.
      Integration and improvement concerning 3D objects is "in progress". New art (introduction), application, improvement will be prepared and fully introduced during the test cycle period.
   2. SPELL EFFECTS: (Magical effect)
      Integration of the new particle system effects is ONGOING. New and improved effects will be provided regularly during the test cycle.
      Completion of the part of the new system effect is "in progress". New introduction and improvement of effects will be prepared and fully introduced during the test cycle.
   3. HUEING: (color tone)
      Though a great deal of work on the hueing / dyeing system has taken place over the past 3 weeks, there are still some problems popping up. Fixes will be coming over the next few weeks.
      Problems with object color and color have been addressed over the past three weeks, but some problems still occur. It will be fixed in the coming weeks.
      
   4. "INVISIBLE OBJECTS": (Invisible Object)
      This has manifested itself through "invisible" monsters, as well. Some objects may not have the proper 3D art file at this time,
      Currently there are no 3D art files available for some objects, so when you equip them or use them they are invisible. This is understood from the appearance of "invisible" monster.
3. INTERFACE: (interface)
   Here are some new interface changes, which you may want to be aware of:
   Continually polish the new interface and update it during this test cycle. Taking the newly changed interface that you would like to know:
   1. You can cycle through your history of commands by pressing Alt-Up and Alt-Down.
      The command history can be cycled with ALT + UP and ALT + DOWN keys.
   2. You can resize your inventory, journal, and skill displays by left dragging the lower right corner of these interfaces.
      You can resize the items (backpack), journal, skill window by dragging the left (button) in the lower right corner to the left.
   3. Holding Shift while picking up a stack of objects will pick up the entire stack.
      You can lift the whole stack by lifting the stack object while pressing SHIFT.
   4. Holding Alt and Shift while picking up a stack of objects will result picking up one object from that stack.
      You can pick up just one of the stack objects by lifting ALT and SHIFT while holding down.
   5. Pressing and holding the control key down will bring bring up "object handles" for any items in your immediate vicinity with which you can interact.
      Hold down CTRL and an "object handle" will appear for items in the range you can work with.
      • - Yo may interact with object handles in all the same ways as interacting with those objects directly in the world - IE you can drag an object handle to pick the corresponding item up.
        With this object handle you can act directly on any actionable item in the world.
      • - For example, you can pick up the corresponding item by dragging the object handle.
      • - If many of these handles come up at once hiding the handle of another object, you can close the obscuring handles by right clicking on them.
        If these handles hide the handles of other objects, you can close them by right clicking on the handle.
   6. The blue gems to the left on the paper doll offer easy means of removing or equipping small items.
      The blue gem displayed on the left of the paper doll is prepared to prepare for the attachment and detachment of small items.
   7. Changing some Options may result in highly undesirable behavior. Adjust options at your own peril.
      Changing some of the options will cause very undesirable behavior. Please change your options at your own risk.
4. SERVER: (server)
   Expect the "Alpha 3 rd Dawn" server to be operating intermittently as we continue to refine the code of to support the new areas and features of Ultima Online: Third Dawn. (Though you can play the Third Dawn alpha on the other servers, you may Experience some crashes due to those servers not being fully configured to run this version of the client.
   I prepared to continuously operate the "Alpha 3rd Dawn" server in order to refine the program code necessary to support Ultima Online: Third Dawn's New World, New Features. (TD Alpha version can play on other servers, but it may cause a crash because the server is not configured for clients in this version)
5. MAP: (map)
   Please map any map such as spawning and vendors that are going to be intermittent during the test cycle. Please report any map - related bugs you find.
   The map of the new world, Ilshenar, is nearly complete. However, Spawn and Vendor placement is problematic and will be adjusted during the test period. Please report if you find a bug.
   1. TERRAIN TILES: (Terrain Tile)
      This is being addressed. If you notice some sorting issues and are using a 3Dfx Voodoo 2/3 card, please download it's a z-sorting issue that occasionally displays the coastline tiles. The latest drivers from 3Dfx
      Coastal tiles are occasionally displayed as inappropriate due to the problem of z - sorting (height direction?), And earth tiles are visible through the floor and buildings. A fix for this problem is underway. If you are confronted with this problem and you are using a 3Dfx Voodoo 2/3 card, please get the latest driver from the 3Dfx site.
   2. TRYING TO ENTER THE NEW LAND MASS WITH THE 2D / RENAISSANCE CLIENT:
      Access to the new world using the 2D renaissance client
      DO NOT try to use the 2D / Renaissance client in the new land mass. Your character will be stuck in place.
      "Never" Do not try to enter the new world with the 2D Renaissance client. The character will stack at that place.

HOW TO REPORT BUGS (How to submit a bug report)

Please do not contact Electronic Arts or EA.com technical support if you experience difficulty of any kind while running this software.
Origin Systems is in charge of alpha testing and support on this product. Never contact the Electronic Arts or EA.com technical support for any problems that occurred while launching this software.

If you encounter a bug, please post it in the Ultima Online: Third Dawn bug reporting message board on the web at:
*** (url) ***
If you find a bug, post it to Ultima Online: Third Dawn Bug Report BBS.
*** (url) ***

While posting, please observe the following:
When posting please observe the following items:

1. Try to repeat the bug (to reproduce the bug)
2. Try to repeat the bug with the 2D / Renaissance client (to be reproduced in the 2D renaissance client)
3. Be as concise as possible when reporting a bug (Bug report is described as concisely as possible)
4. Include a screen shot if appropriate (add screenshot if available)
5. Outline the -exact-steps you used to repeat the bug (to describe the bugs reproducibly in order)
6. Pass along your machine's hardware configuration and operating system (write about the hardware environment and OS)

Our testing staff will will read every bug report, but we will not be able to repair to each one. Please be patient and rest assured your comments are being heard.
Everyone involved in development looks over the bug report, but it is impossible to directly reply individually. Please be patient with patience until we receive your comment (without worrying that it has not arrived).

FINALLY (Finally)

Please remember this software is in Alpha Testing, and will be undergoing constant revision and polishing over the next several weeks. We thank you for taking the time to assist us during this process.

 Do not forget that this software is an alpha test version.  It will be refined and refined sequentially over the next few weeks.  I appreciate your taking the time to assist you in this process. 

UO-Patch Notes