Alpha Code Release 2 Today

[Chuck]

Our testers are getting the latest alpha code build that fixes the one bug they found (I still can't believe they only found one.)  It also has a brand new jukebox engine that allows access to network music drives and can catalog thousands of songs.  We also turned off a few items we used for initial testing that made it just a tad faster.  We'll probably continue alpha testing through the holidays and look to start beta sometime in January.  I intend to be very lazy and spend as much time as I can with my wife and son ;-)

The only thing I have left to do is add a special easter egg ;-)

[Creech]

Congrats Chuck. Sounds like things are going very well. So what was the 1 bug they found? Any clues to what the Easter Egg might be?

[Chuck]

The bug was only in RFM.  The game software doesn't tell us when it's in attract mode or playing a game.  Actually there is probably a place we could check if we knew where it was ;-)  (source code would be wonderful.)  So I had to code a few tricks to decide which mode the game was in.  I did this while we were troubleshooting episode one so I didn't do a lot of testing on RFM.  So there was one point in the game code (rfm) that would send signals to my code that made it think the game was over when it wasn't.  This would allow you to start the jukebox in the middle of a game.  Also if you start a game with the jukebox running it remembers it was on and starts up after a time delay at the end of game.  Or in the middle of the game if the code isn't exactly right =)  The fix was simple really.  It took me about 20 minutes to fix it and I think we're good now.  Bug fixes are *generally* pretty easy.  It's just finding the bugs that can be tricky.  Of course I say that when our last major bug took us 3 months to fix :p

The easter egg...

I havent decided (or even talked to Don about it yet) what exactly I should put in it.  I know one thing for sure  .  I might also throw our credits in there if we don't put them in our config menu.  TBD

[Pinball Fixers]

Wow, only one bug found?? Sounds like you've done an awesome job coding for both SWEP1 and RFM! 

Glad to hear it's all going well Chuck, and the hear that the Beta testing will starting soon... but you do have to have an easter egg in there somewhere!

[pinball god]

sounds good, and your getting ever closer to completion...Tell me Chuck, what's NUCORE's intention, if you can, with this product. Is it to produce the software side & interface and leave future playfield development to others like Mr pinball?

I will soon have a keen interest in your hard work as the ability to maybe buying various games via only a playfield and software is exciting to think about. Space wouldn't be an issue then with the wife! A big plus.

[pinnies4me]

This is indeed exciting news Chuck, congrats on the progress.

[Strangeways]

Always great to hear positive news on this venture. Congrats Chuck and Crew..

 

[Chuck]

Comments from one of our alpha testers (about the new code he installed):

"Jukebox enhancements: 
All I can say is WOW.   The Nucore Jukebox just gave my RFM 1,000pts of pure blue mana. And, Austin Powers could only wish his mojo was as good as the game sounds now, with over 500 classic rock songs."

"So, bottom line for todays 12-15-08 test report, I am sorry to report that I have failed to find any problems today. Testing will continue tomorrow, I know there is a bug in there, and I just got to find it."

This kinda stuff makes me grin ;-)

[Chuck]

Wow, only one bug found?? Sounds like you've done an awesome job coding for both SWEP1 and RFM! 

There has to be more bugs...  There is no way we found all but one ;-)

[Strangeways]

Wow, only one bug found?? Sounds like you've done an awesome job coding for both SWEP1 and RFM! 

There has to be more bugs...  There is no way we found all but one ;-)

Send a P2000 down to me, Chuck, I'll test it for you !!


 

[pinnies4me]

Send a P2000 down to me, Chuck, I'll test it for you !!

Form an orderly queue behind me thanks Nino!

[Strangeways]

Send a P2000 down to me, Chuck, I'll test it for you !!

Form an orderly queue behind me thanks Nino!

C'mon - I have a reputation to upkeep - If my garage is not bursting with pinballs than no one can give me sh*t !!

[pinball god]

Now let me push in and request a test unit. I had to find bugs in software coding eons ago. If there was a bug I'd find it. Even the Japs with their CNC machines used to ask me to stuff their machines. I was known to have LOVE FINGERS everything I touched I'd (you can guess the rest).

Hope all continues to go well Chuck, remember no bugs is a positive sign not a curse.

[Pinball Fixers]

Now let me push in and request a test unit. I had to find bugs in software coding eons ago. If there was a bug I'd find it. Even the Japs with their CNC machines used to ask me to stuff their machines. I was known to have LOVE FINGERS everything I touched I'd (you can guess the rest).

Hope all continues to go well Chuck, remember no bugs is a positive sign not a curse.

Hahaha!

"Love Fingers"... I call it "Sexy Hands"!

[pinball god]

Now let me push in and request a test unit. I had to find bugs in software coding eons ago. If there was a bug I'd find it. Even the Japs with their CNC machines used to ask me to stuff their machines. I was known to have LOVE FINGERS everything I touched I'd (you can guess the rest).

Hope all continues to go well Chuck, remember no bugs is a positive sign not a curse.

Hahaha!

"Love Fingers"... I call it "Sexy Hands"!

You would