Vidiot_X

Hi, I have updated the Phoenix USC message board design and I have made a logo for Phoenix USC. You can check it out here. I'm also about to start testing the new server design which is based on an authoritative server. If this goes well I may start to maintain a server for open beta testing starting first from my office here at my location on Windows but soon to a dedicated Linux based server which will handle hundreds of clients. I'll keep you posted on my progress. - Rich -

Yup I code every day on Phoenix and it is a huge project for one guy. Part of the reason it's taken this long in development is writing code that is portable to almost any platform. Basically I can not use any OS specific code which means writing everything from the game engine to the GUI and net code from scratch. Behind the scene we are getting close - Rich -

Hi, I am a firm believer that projects like Ouya ( http://www.ouya.tv/ or Kickstarter ) are a big part of the future for console gaming. With the blowup over XBox One, projects like Ouya are so welcome from a developer standpoint. I have already started to port Phoenix USC to Monkey ( Coding Language http://www.monkeycoder.co.nz/ ) which supports the Android OS and will have an option to work on Ouya which is Android based. Supporting Android was always in mind when writing Phoenix USC and I can't wait to see it running on that OS. On a side note, indie developer support for XBOX ONE is gone. MS says they may at sometime have a independent developer program but I would not count on it. The only pressure on MS to change has been Sony which still supports indie development and has said indie developers will be welcome on the PS4. I will be also be porting Phoenix USC to PS4 and Vita down the road a bit. - Rich -

@Dax^ I'll set you up as I see you are already registered on the board. Be sure to activate your account by clicking on the link in the email that was sent. As soon as you do I'll setup your account. - Rich -

Hi, Sure. You will need to register on the Phoenix USC message board ( www.phoenixusc.com/board/ ) and PM me. I'll fill you in on the details there. Once you are setup you can get access to the supper secret beta team lair. - Rich -

It does handle serialization. It also handles checksum and other stuff but that is about it. I handle all of the stuff like compression, encryption and more. I prefer it this way for speed as a thinner net library tends to be faster as far as latency in processing packets. At any rate it works great. I do send position and other data. Cheating is controlled by the server as it's in charge and maintains a copy of the game state and 'does' make the call on kills, player speed, positioning, how much energy a ship has at a given moment and much more. So this should help go a long way to control cheating. It is nothing like Subspace's simple packet/data forwarding method (as I understand it). I will be working on this here next week and making changes to balance security and speed/latency. - Rich -

Hi, Phoenix USC made the front page on IndieDB. YAY! http://www.indiedb.com/ - Rich -

Hi, I did play/write the music. I'm using a library call Bnetex which is thinner (code wise) and runs well on Linux, Windows and Mac. Here are some full screen images. It's a little hard to capture the game's layout/quality on video at 854 x 480 and low throughput. - Rich - http://www.phoenixusc.com/Personal_Post_Data/newmap5.jpg http://www.phoenixusc.com/Personal_Post_Data/newmap_3.jpg

Hi, This video shows the new features of the game engine such as lighting, shadows and two levels of map play. I am just about finished with the Phoenix game engine and I will be server testing with the beta team. The next video will show actual space combat. Yay. - Rich - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC51HYvM_eQ&feature=youtu.be

Good Luck! I hope it does well. - Rich -

Hi, Here are some images of the new map I'm working on. The lights and shadows are working out great. The second map level is really pretty cool. - Rich - http://www.phoenixusc.com/Personal_Post_Data/newmap_1.jpg http://www.phoenixusc.com/Personal_Post_Data/newmap5.jpg http://www.phoenixusc.com/Personal_Post_Data/newmap_2.jpg http://www.phoenixusc.com/Personal_Post_Data/newmap_3.jpg

Really.... mmmmm. We can just shut this down for now. I have no Idea why that's happening. I'll check it out. Edit - Looks like I cant get in. I have not used that account for a while. Was it hacked? - Rich -

http://www.phoenixusc.com/Personal_Post_Data/maplayer2.jpg Here is an image of the above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5WthPCdSRk&feature=player_embedded Hi, I'm still hard at work developing Phoenix USC. I thought I would post this development video of Phoenix USC. Featured here is the new duel layer of play that lets you play on two levels on a map. This allows overhead ramps, balconies and more, even an entire second level layer on the same map. Options will allow the upper layer to be semitransparent, solid or invisible. The pink and purple bars at the ends of the ramps are switches and will be hidden in an actual game scenario. I have added a exhaust trail system that can have several trailing tails behind a ship. I have also added an overhead part system that allows for things like overhead struts or other types of map parts. The same system allows for lights and shadows that interact with the ships on a map for example shadows form an overhead part cast on top of a ship or the same with lights. Phoenix USC is humming along in beta development. - Rich -

Hi, Here is the latest look at the 'in game' GUI system. I will probably re-skin this later and possibly change the the layout but the in game GUI system is working excellently. This really opens a path to all sorts of in game options and features. Alternate image here: http://www.phoenixusc.com/board/showthread.php?tid=86&pid=244#pid244 - Rich - http://www.phoenixusc.com/Personal_Post_Data/screenshot_23_Mar_2013_16_08_29.jpg

Even better. http://www.phoenixusc.com/Personal_Post_Data/listbox_9.jpg

http://www.phoenixusc.com/Personal_Post_Data/listbox_8.jpg Hi, Here is an updated image of GUI progress. The GUI system will be sinkable to a point letting you change the GUI component images, text/component color and more. Slider controls now support mouse wheel. This makes it easy to scroll through a list in a list box. - Rich -

Hi, I have started to add the GUI components to the window system. It really opens the path to lots of in game settings and options. http://www.phoenixusc.com/Personal_Post_Data/listbox_3.jpg - Rich -

Hi, A lot has happened since my last update here. Phoenix has changed it's name from Phoenix SS to Phoenix Universe of Space Combat or just Phoenix USC. I have also established a website and message board for Phoenix USC which are working out quite well. You can also follow Phoenix USC on twitter, Facebook, Google+, Indie DB and by RSS feed and YouTube ( http://www.phoenixusc.com/board/showthread.php?tid=78&pid=133#pid133 ). Phoenix USC is on it's way to beta now. I have a beta team helping test Phoenix USC and we are on our way to getting the first version of the beta client, server and editor to you. If you are interested in beta testing please visit here. I'll keep you posted on Phoenix USC's progress and as always post any relevant information and apps here as well. - Rich -

Hi, I have my RSS feed linked to the announcements forum on my message board. You can easily keep track of what is going on with Phoenix USC by adding or viewing this link with your RSS reader. http://www.phoenixusc.com/board/syndication.php?fid=2&limit=15 The feed is automatically updated via my message board. - Rich -

Hi, I've got a good crew going now but could use a couple more. - Rich -

You are set up.

Hi, I have decided to start a beta testing group. This team will be testing and making recommendations for fixes, changes and new features. Candidates wishing to join should 'ideally' have a background in subspace and have participated in other beta testing programs. But, I am open to those who know subspace (or similar game) and have a good reputation in the subspace or other similar community. The beta testing team will have it's own private forum here and be trusted to maintain secrecy. This will help insure better security for Phoenix USC as we develop ways to prevent the game from being hacked. Additionally members of the beta testing team will be listed in the credits for Phoenix USC. For those reading this not participating you will still be able to test and run the Phoenix USC client as it is updated so all will get to have an input as to what fixes, features and changes should be made to Phoenix USC. I will post the upcoming alpha release of the client but after that future releases of the client will be released only after the beta team has tested it. So, if you would like to be come a member of the beta testing team you should first register on the Phoenix USC message board and private message me letting me know you are interested. If you have ever wanted to make a difference in a games development now is your chance. It will be a lot of fun and together we can make the future. - Rich - ps: This is a re-post from my message board. Please be assured I will continue to post and update applications here. You can let me know if you would like to beta test here if you like.

It's here: http://www.indiedb.com/games/phoenix-universe-of-space-combat

Hi, I added Poenix USC on IndieDB ( http://www.indiedb.com ). It will take a day or two for them to approve Phoenix but it will be interesting to see what reaction I get from there. I'll post a link as soon as they email me. I also took a quick look at Desura ( http://www.desura.com/ ) which looks to be at first glance a better option then Steam. At least for PC games. - Rich -