Useful Programs That YOU Can't Have
 

After a conversation with EvilMike on #jdc, I decided to post this topic. It's mostly a compaign to get more active programmers since JJ2 could use a few more utilities.

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Unreleased/Unfinished Programs

Console: Probably Overlord's most useful program he's ever made, and yet there isn't a sign of it being released any time soon. It has a wide variety of features that can be used by a server and a few things I'm particularly interested in, including idle kicking and random levels.

Chatlog for XP: Link might have been released this program already had he found a better method for recording chat in JJ2. If you have any ideas, it would be highly appreciated.

Episode Maker: So Zapper and others can stop complaining once and for all. (I'm indifferent otherwise, so just let Violet do his work.)

JJ2 Bot: Personally I'm not expecting much from any such project, but JJ2 would truly benefit if someone succeeded. The bots will probably have to be given some extra advantages because of AI issues.

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Programs Never Made

A Fake Health Solution: JJ2 is long overdue for a program that tries to offer a solution for fake health. I have some idea of how it could work, like a client will get updated health according to what the server sees. Clients wouldn't need to run this program, but it would be in their best interest. In #jj2, it was mentioned that a server would have to run a program as well, although I don't see as too much of a program. There was another suggestion for a fix in #jj2, but I wouldn't know exactly how it works. (Sorry for not giving credits to those who gave suggestions.)

A Stats Program: Assuming Console doesn't do this already, it would be nice if at least one program has this capability. It has the same problems as Chatlog though, because recording information through memory is buggy. A program like this would be especially useful for JDC, and I personally would like the ability to record roasts in a team game.

Respawn for loose weapons Built into jazz2.exe See third post. A one-time fix basically means no one can forget to run the needed program whenever hosting.

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Lower Priority Programs

Trigger Stopwatch: Basically it records time for the server according to whenever a global trigger is activated. The stopwatch is activated once a specific crate is triggered. It would have to be customizable with a seperate text file that lists usable levels (particularly for Assault) and what each trigger does in each level. Therefore, each level would have to designate a start trigger as well as every other trigger (possibly for each team).

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On a side note, Pyromanus is supposed to release some things to public, but there's no telling when.

More programs will be added to this list as more reasonable suggestions are made.

iCeD's old server used to have a fairly detailed stats system using chatlogs. It wasn't 100% accurate, but it was still fun.

I too would like to see the release of overlord's "Console" program. It seemed to work great for the AB server, with more features than any server hosting tool I've ever seen. A shame it seems to have vanished.

I've attempted to make a stats program before but I ran into trouble with accurately capturing text. It would have to be run by the server as well to get an accurate reading as kills and other information is sent over UDP, not TCP meaning that you don't have to receive information like your own death (something that can happen in a lagged server).

Respawn for loose weapons Built into jazz2.exe

I've attempted unsuccessfully to patch the jazz2.exe file to make it so loose weapons regenerated for clients. However, my knowledge of ASM is very lmiited so I was not able to finish this. If someone wanted to help or knows any ASM I'd be pleased to talk to them about this.

I might at least update the original ChatLog to work in Windows XP. The recording method wouldn't be any better though. Eventually I'll try to come up with something different, but someone else might beat me to it.

Are people interested in ChatLog more for logging chat text, or for game events like roasts and captures?

Both, link, although I'd prefer it to log chat more than I'd want it to log scores and stuff.

Logging game scores, who roasted who, who captured the flag, and so on are more important to me personally, but that's mostly because of JDC. I'd like to see a detailed stats generator just for fun.

On an unrelated note, someone needs to bug overlord to release console.

Jazz 2 Episode Maker- Free for all edition. The epsiodes only work with your PC and version of Jazz 2. So no problems! (Yes I am overly obsessed.)

Area ID Randomizer- randomly puts down Area IDs while fighting the rocket turtle boss.

God of Multiplayer- allows server to get the lazer sheild once to hunt down rabbits. Then normal battle ensues.

An Area ID Randomizer would be particular useful if it had more use than just for Rocket Turtle battles. I suppose this program could work based off different ID numbers for the Area ID event, but there's still the problem of getting the Rocket Turtle to function like a normal boss.

As for the God of Multiplayer idea, I couldn't possibly endorse it. Besides the usual problems with lasers in Battle/CTF games, it wouldn't be practical. I don't see why the server has to get a laser shield, and I for one wouldn't enjoy being killed off-screen by a shot that leaves no room for reaction. It would be much easier to just use another type of shield.

On a side note, I updated the first post.

The Announcer, of course. It is very similar to Console, but since I have neither, I can't really compare them.

the version/program of the episode maker i got, is hard too use. als i found some intresting trigger trick for race's and other team/hotel games

I always wondered why compatibility is such a issue between Win 98 and XP. First of all I can play this Jazz2 game in XP without problems, so why do some of these programs have conflicts. Well anyway XP never showed t he version compatibility test error.

Differences in how the Windows API works. The differences don't apply to most programs, but when you're fiddling with program memory or doing raw packet capture then there are important differences.

Plus under WinNT/2k/XP you can use the Unicode version of the APIs, which makes API calls involving text slightly faster.

From what I'm aware of, the announcer is kinda unsimilar to Console, as the Announcer merely states/records when a player crosses over a certain point.

I love how the unnamed program in development by Overlord has the name Console.

Thats the name I picked for player 1 in my server as it talked to users and interacted with them, (bit like the Console in Quake/UT)

Anyways, it will be released in good time andwork is still going on with it

To clear something up, it isnt called Console. That isnt even close.
But its not my job to leak its name until public beta's start (if theres public betas that is).
Work is still going on with it, and it will eventually be released.

I would be greatly interested in working on such programs -- even a scripting language -- but I just don't have the time or support to work on it. My time has to go towards a job now.

(But I might listen to options if anybody wants to contract me) ;P

Didn't Spazzyman make this?

BORED
 

The chat strings are stored in a series of addies based on their location from the bottom of the screen I would give them up but..... you are in the J2HG and what have you ever done for me? (NOTHING) The addies store them as hex values.(If you don't understand what I am talking about it is not directed at you;))
Regarding Overlord's project which has been dubbed console... I have seen it since someone not gonna name any names has a vulnerability in the apache installed on their compy.... Mine will be better ;) Also another old proggie that I didn't see on the list is Overlord's VCR which I just obtained the source code for ;) so expect it soon.
I also think we should reprogram the list server to record stats using programs such as the dedicated server program which I will be releasing in a few(once it is past alpha testing).

[dumb idea]Trigger Stopwatch[/dumb idea]

I still need the source to the beta Sprite Viewer.
Oh and JJ2 bots, it'd be useful to train with.
EDIT- One was made, but the ai for it was incredibly lacking and therefore the project ended.

Thats possible, the List Server that most people use (jazz.nimrod-online.com) has support for Plugins.

Nebula is the best person to talk to about creating plugins for the List, as he created it.

Ouch. Well, considering the current situation the community is in and the limited use of such a program (hence its low priority), I wouldn't expect it to be made. But I don't see how it could be a dumb idea, unless you know of a better way for keeping time in an Assault game for whenever a crate is hit.

As far as I can tell, he didn't. The closest thing I can find that Spazzyman made is his Death Controller program, which the server can use to control how much health everyone has. The downside of this program is that clients won't always know exactly how much health they have--similar to the situation with fake health.

There are several problems with collecting text using that method, which is why I have stalled releasing a new version of ChatLog. But I haven't worked on it for ages, so it's also partially due to laziness. Another possible method would be using packet monitoring, which I can do easily, but that would record only chat text. People have been asking for this for a long time, so I'll at least make the original version XP-compatible, and if I have time and if I feel like it I'll work on improving it. Also, J2HG no longer exists.

I was asked to create something like this, but if it has already been created or is in progress, I won't have to. Do you know anymore about it? I haven't heard of it.

Personally I could live with a program that just records chat through packet monitoring, assuming that a stats program is eventually completed. It would also be great if this version could allow for selecting and copying text easily and chatting through the program. This reminds me of a project Spazzyman was making some while ago: a chat program that worked without JJ2. It sounded like a good program although it seemed like a step backwards in the progress of JJ2.

Yes, I revived this topic. Big deal.

Anyway, the Announcer already exists. Overlord and I worked together on it, with the idea of using it in Fooville. It is also used in Lifewater Lodge. Basically, it records a message that you customize whenever a user hits a certain position in the map. Very useful for races, survivor, etc. And obviously very useful for Fooville. It's how we make our automated shop. The program might be released someday in the far away future, but I don't want thousands of bad hotels and other levels to use it.

Chatlog and the Announcer don't really do the same things. The former records chat while the latter displays specified text when a player meets a certain point. At least that analysis if from what I know.

And about the Announcer: it could use something so that the needed values automatically change according to what level is loaded, in which the parameters can be set within a text file. Just a thought.

But HOW to get the Episode Maker!

you revived this topic...

you could beg like ZAPPER and get realy lucky
you could make your own
you could ask people who have it

(i'd suggest not even trying)

[img]http://forumpics/searchplz2.gif[/img]

*hypno* Stijn hacked MB's account! :(

8D

Looks like none of the programs requested earlier in the thread have been released in the meantime, including the programs Fiend announced.

If anyone's interested I got a solution for fakehealth... I just dunno how to make the actual code, though. It only needs to scan a memory-adress for changes and then edit another memory-adress value for health to 1 as soon as you get hit. I have all the adresses and stuff, just not the programmingskills.

What if you are playing battle? You could be hit while having 5 hearts and you'd have to go to 3 hearts. It's not as easy as just player is hit = health 1.

You'd have these requirements for checking how much health to reduce I think:

1. Was the player hit?
2. Did his health decrease?
If not:
3. By which weapon was the player hit?
4. Was that weapon powered up?

Actually, it works with resetting to 1 clientside, since the next time you get hit server will "give back" some hearts to you (since it tells you how many hearts you have). So it's no real problem, it only makes things look a bit weird for a client. Another solution could be to make the server packet all clients' health to them, like once each second or so...

Edit: Apparently there are tons of unreleased fixes for this. What a shame.

Programming issues and reluctance to ask for help. :|

Great thinking, man!
 

Yeh! A more sofisticated way of closing your server is to crash it!! I do this too, in some way, actually... I use to switch to a level I made which has no warptarget, then I jump into the warp. It's great O+

Program has been made, and is currently being bug tested.
Expect a suprise on JJ2WC3.

;)

Supreeze endheed

:O! Yay!

I'm looking forward an IRC score bot too.

I bet you are but I'm a lazy, lazy, man.

Out of curiousity, as a programmer myself, how does one make a program that shares information with JJ2? I assume one would need a good understand of how JJ2 works, etc. Are there any resources that explain any of this?