*** Maximum Overdrive *** (a work in progress) by Michael Davies a1studmuffin@hotmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * WHAT'S NEW - v0.891 * * 04/02/99 * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Minor bug-fix: The graphics driver VESA2L was not compatible with all video cards. The problem has been remedied, with your graphics card capabilties being autodetected. Sorry for the inconvenience folks! :) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * WHAT'S NEW - v0.890 * * 01/02/99 * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * MAJOR speed increase! The graphics mode was changed from VESA1 to VESA2L, making it possible to obtain 30fps stable at any screen resolution (at least on my Celeron 400mhz w/128mb Ram :)...) * Improved car handling. Now turning is based on a "steering wheel" principle rather than just using a black/white turning left/right approach. Subtle, but more realistic :) * Power-ups! Including: - Weapon ammunition - Engine/chassis repair - Invincibility (30 sec) - Rapid fire (30 sec) - Tank mode (30 sec) - Nitro booster (30 sec) - Mega-grip (30 sec) * Checkpoints & laps! Now you can actually finish the race! Although it still doesn't DO anything when you do :-) * Eye-Candy! - Skid-marks are now one smooth line, and have smoke trails. - Explosions have "fireballs" shooting out from them. - Dead cars emit a realistic black smoke. - Collision sparks. - Shadows. * Selectable terrain/scenery for each level. Unfortunately this isn't really noticable since there's only one map. (To see it, run EDITOR4, press F12 to load the map, and press F1 to change the scenery. :-)...) * Projectiles do not travel "backwards" if you're reversing fast. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * WHAT'S NEW - v0.882 * * 30/11/99 * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Better AI: CPU cars now ATTACK you, and follow the road/dodge other cars better. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * WHAT'S NEW - v0.880 * * 29/11/99 * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Proper race tracks and starting positions! Unfortunately, laps aren't yet recorded, and you'll just keep driving around and around and around until all the cars blow up :) * (Incredibly poorly programmed) Artificial Intelligence! Now you can race up to four other computer opponents. Bear in mind that I've never undertaken ANY training or education in the field of AI, so its more like AS (Artificial Stupidity). * All new map design/graphics set. * Tile-based map now uses masking collision detection rather than square collision detection [this means things like roundabouts, obstacles and curved corners can exist!] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * WHAT'S NEW - v0.875 * * 5/6/99 * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Collision Detection: Enhanced collisions between cars and scenery. * New weapons: Automatic Rifle, Rockets, Smart Rockets, Oil Slicks. [ALL weapons now implemented.] * Car physics model slightly changed. Each car has a different top speed, and cars skid around corners if they're turning too fast. This doesn't disturb your driving at all, but just makes the game sound a little more extreme :-) * New cars: Now 10 models, 9 colours. * Windshield reflections. * Player Indicators: In multiplayer games, small coloured spheres indicate the direction of the other human opponents. * Options: Screen resolution [320x240*, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768] * Interface. The game is starting to look less and less like an alpha version. :-) * 320x240 resolution will not be included in the final version, but is currently implemented for development reasons. [don't ask :)] Don't expect to be able to see more than 3m ahead of your car :) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * WHAT'S NEW - v0.857 * * 4/6/99 * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Inter-car collision detection (Now I just have to work on collision "reaction" :) (Also, map collision detection coming soon!) * Split-screen support (Up to 4 players at one screen.) * Mines and grenades now detonate upon proximity. * Cars now obtain damage to their body and engine. The damage level is visible in the bottom left corner of each player's window, while scorch marks across the car's body give an "at a glance" feel. * Coloured cars. No more manditory letterbox red! * Weapon icons. * Frag count for each player. * Radar. (Dodgy, and always in the bottom right corner of the screen) * Transparent sprites. This means explosions look a lot sexier and the heads up display for each player doesn't hinder your view. * Command-line option "-debug" added (Enables development mode.) * Command-line option "-lores" removed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * WHAT'S NEW - v0.80 * * 25/5/99 * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Grenades. * Explosions. Now stuff actually BLOWS UP! :-) * Debris particles. [yet to be used to its full potential] At the moment, debris particles fly out from the explosions, but will also appear during car collisions etc. * Tile-based map. * Map editor. [Not intended to be user friendly!] * Frame-rate limiter. This means that even on Pentium III 500s, the frame rate will glide at a constant 23fps. Unfortunately slow computers won't notice any benefit of this feature :) * Command-line options: -lores, -nosound, -?. * Optimised code, things that you don't know or care about, etc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * WHAT'S NEW - v0.7 * * 2/2/99 * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Four player support. * Scorch marks. * Optimised code, things that you don't know or care about, etc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- END OF DOCUMENT