Mods and Customization

[COMMANDER COOK]

Hi,
I want to create a new .msi based installer for everyone to use to install tribes with, but I need some help.

First off, I've managed to make a version which includes the tribes next patch and works.(most of the time)

Second, I want to update the card profiles so that it automatically recognizes modern video cards and cranks the settings up accordingly. I need help with this.

Third, some of the machines I use my current installer on, will only get past the intro and then an error message saying the arial font must always be available pops up. I have no idea why it does that.

Also, I've added bot support to a bunch of the CTF missions and upped the max # bots to 60 with no problems.
My installer is currently 511MB and in my opinion, is more stable and reliable than the original that is being distributed. I'd just like to make it better with some more perks and reliability.

[Red Shifter]

Thyth is pretty adamant on giving out the Tribes 2 installer only in its original format as it appeared on FilePlanet.  You will not be distributing your own version of the installer through this site.

[Thyth]

To avoid any legal liability, we distribute the original freeware installer, and a user applied patch. Consequently, we will not permit linking to an installer that is pre-patched on this site, and cannot permit you to claim that it is a TribesNext installer of any sort.

And, for security reasons, I can't recommend anyone download the TribesNext patch from anywhere other than this site, since the average user has no way of knowing if the version you want to distribute has backdoors or extras to capture account passwords, or such.

[COMMANDER COOK]

I was worried that would be the case. I planned on releasing it with all the original credits and eula n stuff.

Ok if I leave out the tribes next patch and distribute it somewhere else without linking to it? I'd still like to make it.

[Thyth]

If you leave out the TribesNext patch, and adhere to the restrictions I outlined above, go wild.

[COMMANDER COOK]

Ok, cool.

So could someone help me workout the problems?

1. I want it to include modern card profiles.
2. I need to eliminate those errors. (about the arial font.)

Basically it's the same as the original, except it includes some basic perks that everyone would like. I you have a suggestion of your own I'd like to hear it.

[yt2005]

Uh, you know you don't need to package it in an MSI, right?

Tribes 2 doesn't have to be "installed", just exist somewhere on your hard disk.

In other words, a self-extracting ZIP would work just fine.

Still, the trust issues are pretty huge. If I need to match hashes on all the files, I might as well just install using the existing installer.

As for automatically setting video card settings, really now? This is the big improvement that you're going for?

[COMMANDER COOK]

Things done so far
1. Increased max bots to 60 (Thinking about making that higher.)
2. Increased max player to 128 (Thinking about making that higher.)
3. Increased number of maps that support bots.
4. Changed the way maps are stored.*
5. Decreased installer size to 511MB

The reason I even mentioned card profiles is because I thought that might be causing a few errors on some computers. After all, I've had tribes give errors on a bunch of computers. How it was installed didn't seem to matter. I want to change that with a newer, better installer that includes fixes. As for trust, only through time I can prove my trustworthiness. Once I finally come up with an installer, I encourage anyone skeptical of what I have done to scrutinize the hell out of it.

* I repackaged the maps so that all the files are in a single .vl2 file. (subject to change)

[Thyth]

Moved to Mods and Customization, since this is not a support issue.

[COMMANDER COOK]

I've been browsing the forums and have decided it would probably be a good idea to add tribal ide and the torquescript reference into my installation to be accessible from the start menu.

Any other suggestions or objections?

[COMMANDER COOK]

Ok, I think I'm ready to distribute my installer, but first I've got some questions for Thyth.

Thyth, is it ok that I removed the dead internet shortcuts from the start menu and replaced them with a link to the downloads section here?
Also, on the add remove programs list, I kept Dynamix listed as the publisher, but I replaced the update and support links to their corresponding pages on tribesnext.com. Ok?

Bear in mind that I HAVE REMOVED the TribesNext patch and kept the original READMEs and EULA even for Tribal IDE. I'm still having trouble with that Arial font error, though it seems to only happen on some computers.

What do you think?

[Thyth]

For legal liability reasons, that is not acceptable.

[COMMANDER COOK]

I'll remove all reference to TribesNext then. Now how does it sound?

[Thyth]

That sounds fine.

[COMMANDER COOK]

Well, then. How do you recommend I distribute it?