Current Large Fame Offerings

Waldoff

Waldoff

Administrator
Staff member
These are things that we are currently offering large sums of fame for. This is independent of the constant offering of fame for SoD advertisements.

Please post if you are trying to attempt these as it will help people from overlapping each other. The first one submitted will get the fame but improvements or updates to the original will also be met with fame rewards.

CURRENT OFFERINGS:


  • Any information related to the packet loss bug that results in its fixing. These might include packet logs from 1999-2000 era Everquest that include the encryption refresh. 3000 Fame with allowed gifting.
  • A linux installer for Shards of Dalaya for a major distribution. Must fully install and configure SoD using wine (not cedega). 400 fame.
  • Any advertisement that brings in more than ~150 page views or the SoD site or forums. This will be verified by an administer before points will be given. 50-200 fame per advertisement.
  • A comprehensive world map of the SoD universe. Must be professional looking and similar in style to the old Everquest cloth maps from the late 90's. 300-600 fame depending on quality.
  • A fix for the loading splash page issue where some computers display the loading screen askew or cut off. 300 fame.
  • A SoD specific spell parser. Details below. 50-500 fame.

This list will be updated often so be sure to check back.
 
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attempting to fix the loading splash. here's what I have so far:

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l32/neisayer/bmpwad8.jpg

my cover of bmpwad8.s3d is uploaded to:
http://www.mediafire.com/?z2m4jjyn4ye

I have narrowed it down. It is NOT:
* texture being scaled to a power of 2 dimension. The bmp is being stretched by a factor of 8/5.
* color depth issue. the original was 24bits RGB and so were the preceding ones.

I believe it's an improper UV coordinate in the polygon the texture is being applied to. The fix: pad the texture so it fits in the same space but only takes up 5/8 the width.

2:32pm EST, 29 jun:
Waiting to hear back from people testing it. So far it fixes 2 people's loading screens. I'd like to hear if it messes anyone's screen up.

12:19am EST 30 jun:
so far everyone that has tested this fix has reported back with success. I got one complaint that the graphics look a little blocky, but I believe that can be fixed by scaling the image and maintaining the aspect ratio and padding ratio. I will work on this and have a final version submitted for distribution tomorrow.
 
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Adding an open source, SoD specific spell parser to the list. It's something I've meant to do for awhile and would be handy for the community. Requirements are as follows.


  1. Able to take the spell_us and decode it into something readable
  2. Takes into account the SoD specific meanings where needed
  3. No language reqs, as long as other can run it
  4. Source code MUST be open and useful to everyone, keep it readable and commented
Other than that, you have the freedom to implement it as you see fit. Staff support will be given for part 2, via PM's from me if you decide this is something you want.

I have a VERY basic java based version of what we want on the public wiki, http://wiki.shardsofdalaya.com/index.php/Spells/Parsing. I built this off of information found here, http://www.eqemulator.net/wiki/wikka.php?wakka=SpellsUsTxt.

Recreating the above in another langauge will net you little to no fame (I did most of the work for you!). Adding functionality will net you more. Something special, searchable, filterable, etc will net you the big points. Exact values will be determined by the work you put in, but expect 50-500 depending on quality.
 
cropped final loading screen

i addressed this issue a long time ago with this thread http://forum.shardsofdalaya.com/showthread.php?t=18895

my solution at that time was that i simply added padding. unfortunetly that offset the screen on computers that didnt have the cropping issue.

i may have a new solution. i dont know if there is an actual fix for this. the problem seems to be with the client. it may be video card related.

I tested this on three computers with exact copys of the shards install folder. i tried multiple resolutions with all computers but results where the same. seems as if issue only exists with newer vid cards but i need to test on more computers to verify. (will try on brothers computers)

comp 1
desktop pc
has loading screen issue
nvidia 6600gt

comp 2
dell d410 notebook
no loading screen issue
mobile intel 915m/gms/910ml express chipset

comp 3
desktop pc
no loading screen issue
ati 9550

the solution i came up with was to create a template for a loading screen that looked normal on both the normal and cropped loading screen. the cropped screen would still only see a cropped section but you wouldn't be able to tell the difference unless you've seen the entire screen before.

im going to post the template and my sample for a new loading screen. i'll also upload bmpwad8.s3d. Please excuse the fact that i mutilated the loading screen you guys created. i know the artwork is bad but thats not the point. i simply mean to show you a potential solution and if this is acceptable i can redo the artwork properly. the padding for the image also needs rework and i will do that on my next day off.

I used a pixel ruler to measure that the regular uncropped screen is 640x480 and the cropped screen was 400x460. im not sure about the 400x460 because i forget but i can attain the information again as soon as i get time.

I would like to try and get more information about what processes within the game is accessing that image and why it is cropping it but i would have to try and use cheating utilities like cheat engine and i woudlnt be able to do that without admin permission and a get out of ban free card.

please give my potential fix a try and tell me what you think. thanks.

mirror 1 and 2

http://rapidshare.com/files/404451096/shards.rar.html
http://grewal.blogsite.org/bruno/shards/shards.rar
 
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oh wait, on second thought i dont know if it can be a video card issue cuz i use 3danalyzer. with and without 3danalyzer the computers that have issue, still have issue and the ones that dont, dont. i just tried some more widescreen and non widescreen resolutions along with windowed and non windowed mode but same results. but if its not a video card issue i dont know what else it could be. i will perhaps try downgrading video card drivers.

*** tried diff vid card drivers really old and new. tried different desktop resolutions in windows along with game res. results same, if it works it works if it crops it crops.
 
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Waldoff said:
  • A comprehensive world map of the SoD universe. Must be professional looking and similar in style to the old Everquest cloth maps from the late 90's. 300-600 fame depending on quality.
Click to expand...
With or without ikisith?
 
Brunog if you come up with something to fix the issues post it here and I will run a test through the patcher.

Nwaij: With.
 
question about the packet logs would they possibly be located inside the eq folder if it is the original EQ folder that was used back in 99-2000.

I'm using the same installation i used back pre kunark all i did was save it and move it over every time i changed computers etc.. so i wouldnt have to reinstall 20 discs =P i still have original screenshots when EQ was in a box


Neisayer's fix for the loading screen worked for me as well thanks bro.
 
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Waldoff said:
  • A comprehensive world map of the SoD universe. Must be professional looking and similar in style to the old Everquest cloth maps from the late 90's. 300-600 fame depending on quality.
Click to expand...
I think this one is covered by now.
 
Thanks to bump, I'm now curious as to whether or not my wiki-based spell parser would apply? I've made copies for the people (two) who have requested them, though a public version can also be set up. This is the parser that was used to recently update all player spells, AAs, and some effects on the wiki. Spells can be added from spells_us to the input page (it will only ever read the first spell, and the fewer added at once the faster may run) and be viewed on the output page. On the output page, the spell is displayed two ways - first, in wiki text appropriate for copy/pasting into a new or outdated page. Second, a preview meant to approximate the end-appearance of a page using the above code.

http://wiki.shardsofdalaya.com/index.php/User:Rari/Spell Parser - output page

http://wiki.shardsofdalaya.com/index.php/User:Rari/Spell Parser Manifest - Displays all pages used
 
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As one of the two, Rari's parser is amazing. This is a definite community asset if you choose to allow it to be public.
 
Something Awful Banner Ads Coalition:

Torleran: 101 fame
Jotto: 85 fame
Kiseble: 80 fame
Gerick: 20 fame
 
Waldoff said:
[*]A linux installer for Shards of Dalaya for a major distribution. Must fully install and configure SoD using wine (not cedega). 400 fame.
Click to expand...

Is this still accurate?

I'm running the regular SoD updater in WINE on Ubuntu 10.10 with no current issues. The process for installation is not particularly complicated.
 
Tom's Hardware has a feature on MMOGs today, I have posted recommending SOD and would urge others to do likewise. Have also e-mailed author to suggest doing a review of free to play and plugging us.
 
Here is my advertisement.
Code: 
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=1051397&t=2580825
Don't think it's bringing too many people here, but, who knows?!
 
Woot

Thank you Woldoff

Encouraged by this found a website called www.mmorpg.com which lists a shit otn of mainly commerical games but has mysteriously missed this game off its list.

Made a post be interesting to see if anybody links from it.
 
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