[ANSWERED] Questions to mwl4. (2022)

[MarkON]

1. In the last 3-4 years, has there been any very, very difficult moment related to support a given update, feature, to such an extent that you had to ask for advice SCS Software?

 

2. Usually, while waiting for support for a new update, players can see you on ETS 2 servers, less often and rather closer to the release of support for a given version on the ATS server.

If it is just your choice, work plan or are there any technical factors affect it?

 

3. A few months ago on Simulation 2 I could see how you are working on some system related to placing objects on the server. For example, crates in Poznan and vehicle at the gas station near Rotterdam. It was interesting that you can put some object or sometimes many of the same objects (for example a few crates) on an online server and it is all in sync.
But at the time it seemed to me that it didn't work perfectly as it was difficult to move many objects at once.

 

-Can you mention if you found a way to move multiple items?

-What are your expectations with this system? Is it heading towards big feature, or rather are you improvement something that already exists? For example: the system for individual activities of selected staff, things appearing at official events: cones, road signs etc.?

 

4. In September 2020, it was mentioned:

 

There are 3 stages to the porting process:

1. Functions porting (takes the longest. Weeks, months even)
2. classes porting, 
3. hooks porting (take only a few days)

There are a few more days of bug fixing and testing required. 

 

-Is this plan more or less up to date?

-If yes, are you able in the future during work on the update, write personally or through Management short information on what stage of work you are at? 

 

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5.* After so many years of working on TruckersMP, especially supporting individual updates, do you feel any stress, pressure related to it? Being aware that a lot of players use TMP and they can waiting for your action. If so, which is helpful, good music, different games, running, other?

 

*I'm aware: Keep in mind that you can ask us anything, but, we can choose not to answer some personal questions

 

Yours sincerely

MarkON

[mwl4]

1. We are quite experienced team in finding out changes in the game binary. I remember maybe few such situations, but it was only to speed up whole process (then TruckersMP could be released for new game version sooner).

 

2. Usually after port process is done I am trying to test if everything works fine - so I run the game. Usually I am working on low level things in TruckersMP engine which does not require that much running the game. Our current goal is to get core engine done and move to gameplay features - then I will be visible in the game more frequently. Now is it not possible.

 

3. At that time I was working on Dynamic Objects System - which makes it possible to spawn objects on the server and keep them in sync between clients.

 - Yes - I found a way to move multiple items at once - it is already implemented into the game. 

 - How the system is used is rather dependent on Game Producer / Game management. Currently we use this system for events, but in the future privileges to use this system might be expanded on bigger player base.

 

4.

- More or less it is up to date. Our tools during last years have been improved to speed up whole process, but still if something was changed in game code then we have to find these changes on our own. Also our tests environment has been improved - so even if we have mismatch between our code and game code, then chances are high that it will be detected before deploy.

- I don't think it will be valuable for the community at what stage we are with porting process. Given stages might differ in time from game version to game version, so it is even hard to predict when new game version will be supported finally.

 

5. It is stressful in at least few different ways:

- We have some long run plans in TruckersMP: core engine changes, new systems, new features, refactor, etc. During development when new game version pops out I have to pause my works on mentioned stuff and move to porting process. It also means that I need to change context (thoughts on given topic, specific plan for implementation - code, etc). After porting process getting back to context that is 2 weeks old is hard.

- Additionally if my changes were about game API things, then they have to be ported too, but they are on different branch. That is a bit of mess.

- Of course that we have a bit of pressure because many people are waiting for new game version supported. We can do nothing about it - at least that gives us motivation to move on this topic as fast as we can.

- Changes in the game code might be very various. After porting process game may crash after connecting to the server and finding out what is causing the crash is difficult. Other situation that we are really afraid of is that we release version which works good for us, but it crashes for most of the players in random moments.

- Changes in the game code might break our stuff and we have to fix it - it requires some time. For example we had many issues after SCS Software has implemented FMOD to the game. Missing truck sounds, disappearing sounds, completely new API for sounds - real nightmare.

 

When new game version pops out then it means crunch time for me. I rather don't play any different games at that time, no running, no gym, maybe walk sometimes. I want to finish it as fast as we can. To focus on things I hear to music a lot - Hard rock / Rock.

 

Cheers