Before I leave Halomaps (after all the Helipad Studios stuff is uploaded to the website), I decided to try a different attempt to sync AI over Halo Custom Edition, using an external software I call RipCord.

(I am also releasing RipCord as the LAST Helipad Studios Development Release item, I am almost done programming it, and yes, it will be open source).

RipCord will allow two or more computers connect over the internet, but like chat software, when you send a file to someone. I am doing some testing with it, and wiring up a "mockup" server to test some of my theories on how it will work. (I.E. will it sync or not).

I have a map with a single AI Elite running around Bloodgulch continously, and I will conenect two of my computers to the server, one using standard ethernet, the other using a wireless connection. (LAN works differently, I know, but its just early testing).

So far, the AI sync fine... without lag. So my problem is not the map's setup, its the connection. (I am ruling out the BLAM! engine setup, I am fully aware of its inability to sync AI on its own currently).

Anybody, WITH programming skills, give me some ideas? I would like to hear some input, because I am about 2 weeks away from finishing the software. (have about 3/4 of it completed), being written in NP-Code 2 (or NotePad Code v2.09), (custom language).

I will put up some screenshots when I get the software finished and running.
Edited by KillerKip1 on Apr 22, 2010 at 08:45 AM

Sorry That was too easy:D

Meanwhile, good luck, it sounds like something that could work but as with all other AI tests, will believe when we see.

There is no code within the Halo Custom Edition game to receive or transmit the status, position or health of AI between client and server. There is no code within the Halo CE game to transmit or receive the status or position of device machines or animated scenery between client and server. Just be because you threw a pig into the air does not mean he is flying. Pigs don't fly and Halo Custom Edition will not sync AI across a network connection: Any network connection.

i think thats y he is using that third party software(which if i read correctly he is making). i think in simplest terms from what i got reading his post, is that the program grabs the info from the game and sends it itself to another instance of the software running on another pc and feeds it back to halo. like an injector of sorts. of course i may be completely and hideously wrong :P

Yup, if you read, I am finishing a program called RipCord that will allow that information to be sent back and forth, using the host of the game as a server. I am also using my old protection software coding, with many upgrades to it, to be sure no Unknown Information (such as viruses, or spyware) can be sent.

I am not telling everyone its absolutly gonna work, but I am pretty sure it can work.
Edited by KillerKip1 on Apr 22, 2010 at 02:03 PM

OMG! I am sick of seeing these stupid threads. I can NOT be done to a good playable state... like Dennis said, there are no functions to send the position data ect...

So even if you manage to fake it, it will still be crap and they will not be intelligent.

if you want AI then play campaign, or a different game that supports it. AI maps are usually crap anyway as they are usually just big blocky maps full of random encounters...

Not trying to be offence in any way here, just sick of seeing this attempted. It always fails.

ONLY way it can be done is an external app, which would be crap as if someone does not have the app running then the entire game would bodge up.

He's saying he is writting that code.

All you people saying AI won't sync don't fully understand. If the programmer is experienced enough, yes, it is possible to gather ai data and states, package 'em up and send them over a connection. You also have to take into account dropped packets (lock-step is almost required) and other things.

In the end: AI sync is hard, and probably won't happen (ever) but it is not impossible with a memory hack so please, stop saying it won't sync no matter what you're just beating it to death.

Well I guess I can see this working technically but it will lag to death for everyone else and will bog down the server won't it?

Got home from Tennis Practice, =P rough day, will be finishing up some dashboard functions for the popup display it gives you before you turn on Halo Custom Edition. I am gonna be adding "Save Settings", "Open Settings", "Default Settings", "Help", "Report Issue", and "Tutorial".

The tutorial is a video guide on how to use the software, it will hopefully be only 30 seconds long when done =P. Might include auido.

(Edit: Got the software working, needed to check the language again =P wrote it wrong there for a bit, luckily I caught myself early on).




Theoretically, it should work pretty good, as long as the connection is good with the host, or the server you use that has the software running with it is a good one.
Edited by KillerKip1 on Apr 22, 2010 at 07:24 PM

The server had better have > 112kbps upload.

thats not a bad number =P

inb4hesayshisnonexistantappdoesntworkandhesjustdoingthistobeabigattn:whore

That's with 2 people in it. I'm betting Halo holds anywhere from 60-120 KB of ai states at one time on a campaign map. If this app REALLY works, then expect it to take up over 10x the normal bandwidth Halo uses.

lol thank god for my 10Mbs upload bandwidth :P
and kip if u don't mind some screen-shots, cause no offense i sort of believe u but alot of ppl say they are making this or that or programming that, and nothing ever happens, they just want attention. just a few print-screens of the program, and a qwik video of ai on both server and client. :P

I object to Synch AI threads. But If you finish ripcord, I'd like it for my LAN.

I am using RipCord to send and recieve th information, it is running with 30 kb/s with 4 people, and thats not including the regular bandwidth used by HCE.
Edited by KillerKip1 on Apr 23, 2010 at 02:13 PM

Obviously, I wouldn't expect it to work better than Bungie's Halo 3 way which allows only for 4 users to play. In that essence, it's either performing Less checks, limiting the amount of AIs and limiting the amount of players.

With reference ques to show that the timing is the same or at least nearly the same on the vids. Such as you killing the client and it showing in both vids.

Could only realistically at best see this working for LAN parties. It wouldn't be able to handle cross pacific latency.

The software is working "OKAY", but still needs a lot of work, RipCord has some issues making it hard to use, my biggest issue is the unsent, or lost information packets, and at times, recieiving information.

Gonna have to make a status-check on the packets sent and recieved.

I support you in this even if it is all false hope. AI with you and 3 of your friends would make this game last a lot longer for me. And for a question. This RipCord thing, would you have to make a map specifically for it or would it work for all maps?

Its an external program you run with your HCE game, it runs on all versions so far, and any map works with it.

I am working on a new HUD display specialized for RipCord that shows you the other players' details (who is playing, score, map name, time left in match), so you wont have to press a button and risk dying. (This you CAN add to your maps, and will run with the external software, but still figuring out how to do this).

I did not want to make it for specific maps, or else it will be useless to a lot of players =P.
Edited by KillerKip1 on Apr 25, 2010 at 12:44 PM

k that's good

So your gonna take up space of the game view with some information that you can get by pressing F1 for 1 second?

He's saying that you won't have to press that button and risk dying. 1 second can make a difference sometimes.

Percisely

I am thinking about making a "tag injector", in other words, it can add and remove tags to a map while playing it, but I need to look into this, I am not sure this is possible, but it might be, after all, just about anything is possible =P.

If you make a "tag injector" which can be used for real-time modding, you will be awesome forever... Not to mention you will get unlimited cookies

i want cookies now

Haha, thanks, I like the look of those cookies, but I also want unlimited milk!

I don't know if real time modding will be possible, but if it is, I might try making it multiplayer too.

We (HS) are going to be working on a new User Interface that is not going to be exactly FOR RipCord, but will offer much more "eye-pleasing" imagery to look at whil adjusting your settings, and choosing servers. (this being finished sometime this summer, if lucky).
Edited by KillerKip1 on Apr 26, 2010 at 08:43 PM

You idiots are still trying to sync ai? Hah.

So if this were to work, who would be the idiot then? You.

>Implying there is a chance at all that it will work

Have faith.