Quark Robot dev blog

Week #32 update

Quark Robot -

Like last weeks post, it appears not a great deal was done. Quite a lot of time was spent fixing the monk AI reported by Steve, Howie, Ali and others. A lot of time was also spent playing LAN games and making a list of things to fix.

The other main item done was streamlining the editor. The code isn't bad but after 3 years, some of it is very decrepit.

Thanks to Leo too for sending me some nice bug videos to work on which I hope to get fixed this coming week.

If you're a keen puzzle maker then don't forget you can now make puzzles with four runners.


Jake, Wes, Jane and Digmo

A name in parenthesis and in bold is the finder of the bug/quirk. Thanks to all, I really do appreciate your time and support. Cheers!

Editor

  • paint helper now shows when using the eraser (Gareth)
  • erase updated;
  • when holding down erase (or right+click) you can now go back over a previously erased area
  • this allows you to pass over a buried item and come back with having to release erase 1st
  • behaviour matches MS Paint.
  • paint updated; matches erase behaviour above
  • massive amounts of streamlining done to the editor to improve performance and code maintainability

Game

The most important thing fixed this week was monks. Many have reported monks not working correctly - bunching together wrong, merging together, climbing out of holes wrong and a whole whack of other issues. Nearly all of these have now been fixed.

Monks still need quite a fair bit of work to get them to match the Original.

  • numerous fixes to monk AI
  • vast improvements to monks determining which runner to chase

LAN

  • resume game on the menu no longer works for the host only
  • limited lives and start life options now take effect for LAN games

General

  • fixed bug that did not clear the last controlled tabbed when closing a dialog
  • fixed bug with keyboard shortcuts
  • you can now save a print+screen by pressing F12;
  • shot will be saved to your Lode Runner directory
  • you can now use keyboard shortcuts when the mouse is not inside the game window (Leandro)

Bugs being worked on

  • monks merging together on ladders (Leandro)
  • monks bunching together too closely on ladders (Howie, Gareth, Me)
  • runners not entering exit doors (Howie)
  • monks and runners not getting squished in blasted blocks (Howie)

What I'll probably do next week

  • bug fixes
  • continue editor streamlining