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Retro Commander News

Update 2.13.101 - Spy Balloon, Sandworms & Fishes

  • Campaign: all attacks will cease once a mission is over (otherwise, characters could still be eliminated after a successful mission).
  • Spy Balloon: new unit added to ELC Tech including a new research item "Balloons".
  • Fishes: spawn areas for fishes added (only if ALL effects are turned on).
  • Sandworms: eye candy animation added for sandworms.
  • Balancing: Tactical Submarine with nukes takes more research points to research.
  • Balancing: tanks are now +70% stronger against bullets.
  • Balancing: dogs without about -20% health/HP (were too strong).
  • Graphics: old phone booth added (relics).
  • Graphics: Buoy added (deco for water).
  • Graphics: Old fountain added (relics).
  • Graphics: new statue added (game developer).
  • Graphics: some animations/graphics updated.
  • Graphics: research icons updated.
  • Graphics: leaf trees updated (previous version shading).
  • Sound FX Updated: e.g. new effect for sniper.
  • Sync. Issues: fixed a problem where the temp. squad speed could be wrong due to the changing nature of it's members.
  • Hot-Wired Robos: don't exit the Assault Robot randomly anymore to conduct personal melee attacks.
  • Annihilation (Objective): will now end earlier if enough enemy troops are eliminated!
  • Screenshot Button: long-touch (or long-press) also activates the camera button that takes screenshots even if a popup is above the button.
  • Language: latest translations added - Thanks :-D
  • Maintenance: improved logging of WARN or ERROR (reduced normal errors to INFO).
  • Maintenance: main wall for posting now has the spam filter enabled!
  • Maintenance: setting server max. memory now automatically based on device memory available.
  • Maintenance: disabled the option on the server to stop showing full stacktraces for null pointers if duplicates.
  • Maintenance: auto-restart of server services in case they get killed (e.g. low memory).
  • Development: editor button on menu "Home" screen (during development for easy access).
  • Bugfix: auto-posting news didn't work on server (SoftwareAsset class doesn't exist there).
  • Bugfix: auto-uploading of translations also includes related defaults (e.g. EN_AU, EN_GB etc.).
  • Bugfix: improved logging when saving an already deleted game (doing a check beforehand now).
  • Bugfix: preventing airships (+some other flying troops) to leave map boundaries.
  • Bugfix Crashes: rendering reload bar (was 'null' in older maps).
  • Bugfix Crashes: when joining a game and it wasn't ready yet ('null' pointer exception).
  • Bugfix Crashes: sorting the active games list could crash due to violating general contract for sort.
  • bugfix Crashes: when static object is added to a squad.

Update 2.12.100 - Cruiser Added, Graphics & misc.

  • New Unit: "Cruiser", a medium-weight attack ship specialized in anti-air.
  • Annihilation+: shows total number of enemies so one knows how many are left!
  • Graphics: new ancient head added (Lenin).
  • Graphics: Skyscraper relics updated!
  • Graphics: misc. relic rocks updated!
  • Graphics: blank if graphics are missing (rather than 'red' text with ID).
  • Team Games: more clan players allowed if a game is password protected.
  • CH01 & CH07: slides updated (minor).
  • Language: latest translations added - Thanks :-D
  • Maintenance: auto-submitting latest release notes to Reddit.
  • Maintenance: auto-uploading latest translation text after update.
  • Bugfix: Clipboard was broken and didn't work anymore (missing jmod for datatransfer added).
  • Bugfix: missing jmod modules added.
  • Bugfix Crashes: fallback for reload bar if running an older map (with the links missing).

Bugfix Crashes

Bugfix Crashes: while rendering timer bar on older maps.

Update 2.11.98 - Battle Map 05 by the Artist & misc. Balancing incl. Fixes

  • Chapter 05: updated the map with additional 3 slides indicating how the Mayans knew about the prophecy (final 3 slides).
  • Battle Map 05: Tony, our artist, has created a battle map for also!
  • Balancing: napalm about -37% weaker than before (was too powerful).
  • Balancing: Assault Robot has no build capabilities.
  • Graphics: trees, rocks and misc. other improvements to map art.
  • Graphics: desert pine tree added.
  • Security Robo: rotates top body to target when shooting (not whole body). Ditto for '66'.
  • Guide: Clans playing team games should join the same team. Joining opposing teams on purpose will be appropriately handled by the moderators.
  • Language: latest translations added - Thanks :-D
  • UI: "Search Utility" popup now auto-focus the text cursor in the input field when the popup is opened.
  • UI: larger file selector.
  • Audio Output: it's now possible to select the desired audio output channel in the game's settings, i.e. which speakers etc. (desktop only)!
  • Home Indicator: home indicator hidden be default on iOS.
  • Immersive Mode: immersive mode by default on Android.
  • Performance Update: cleanup up random map when starting the game was slow (causing ANRs).
  • Grace Period: there is a ~7 second grace period for when someone joins a rated game when no rating points are assessed if the player is eliminated within that period.
  • Clan Games: clan members are placed into the same team if they play a game with random join option.
  • Clan Games: clan members need to join the same team as their clan mates when going into a team game.
  • Clan Games: max. number of clan members for teams games needs to be equal or smaller to the average team size (fairplay).
  • Clan Member (or not): now also shown in friend's list.
  • Clan Member (or not): also showing for teams (e.g. moderators).
  • Clan Member (or not): also showing in search.
  • Teaming Flag: will be ignored & hidden if a player joins a clan. The regular clan rules will apply and the teaming flag will have no effect.
  • Pending Translations (Moderators): original and translated messages can now be copied (via popup menu).
  • Moderation: password resets by moderators are now displayed in the moderator notifications (password is obviously not displayed).
  • Moderation: remark added to disabled accounts, i.e. the cannot login, but the login attempt will still show up in the logs.
  • Maintenance: compiling to Java 8 (on Desktop) using Java 17 (updated obfuscation).
  • Maintenance: i18n-parser updated to 3.0.0 (from 2.1-SNAPSHOT).
  • Maintenance: update for development and test mode functionality (code clarity & customization).
  • Maintenance: getdown deployment speed up by uplading a zipped file (instead of many single files).
  • Maintenance: GeoIP database updated (latest version).
  • Maintenance: improved logging when there is a library linkage problem (e.g. JARs missing or wrong).
  • Maintenance: libGDX backend updated to version 1.12.0 (from 1.11.0).
  • Maintenance: updated LWJGL library from 3.3.2 (from 3.3.1).
  • Maintenance: minimum iOS version now 11.0 (no support for older versions due to missing support by Apple).
  • Maintenance: iOS binaries now all 64bit (32bit support dropped by Apple).
  • Bugfix: hosted troops in yet another host cannot exit (would prevent host from moving).
  • Bugfix: fixing vulnerability for Google Play login. See https://www.cybersecurity-help.cz/vdb/SB2022061720
  • Bugfix: players already in a clan cannot create a new clan (they will need to leave their current clan first).
  • Bugfix: iOS Apps were not running on Mac OS X Silicon (M1, M2 etc.). Search path for libraries updated.
  • Bugfix: also keeping track if failed login attempts via provider, i.e. when no username/password but platform-based login was used (fail after 3 attempts).
  • Bugfix: earlier check making sure banned accounts don't enter matchmaker games (failed too late).
  • Bugfix: improved audio on desktop (should not stop anymore).
  • Bugfix: stereo audio on desktop can now be played on mono output devices.
  • Bugfix: Cron scheduler wasn't working properly during winter-summer time switches.
  • Bugfix: rendering was wrong for hosted units not in the host, i.e. they were rendered mostly black rather than grayscale!
  • Bugfix: making sure "drivers" don't exit a vehicle unless they could theoretically move back inside (blocked location)!
  • Bugfix Crashes: when exiting the application and disposing observers which haven't been registered yet.
  • Bugfix Crashes: when playing old maps which haven't been updated and are missing components ('null').
  • Bugfix Crashes: when looking at unloading info in squad pose of non-movable object.
  • Bugfix Crashes: when no logged-in account could be detected.
  • Bugfix Crashes: when allocating direct ByteBuffer and receiving an out of memory error (now replaced with error image and logging).

Update 2.10.85 - Campaign Chapter 07 & Battle Map 04

  • Campaign Chapter 07: for now the final chapter of Agent Johnson's story!
  • Battle Map 04: added as downloadable map featuring a "Battle Royale" scenario.
  • Battle Map 02: Random Continental Scenario 2 vs. the AI.
  • Added Security Robo: security robo added that can shoot bullets.
  • Added In-Game '66': 66 now with in-game graphic as part "Security Robo" (with his builder head).
  • Added to Tech Tree: "Weaponized Robots" technology added which allows building of security robos.
  • Missile Defense: now listed under "Defense" (not "Infrastructure").
  • Missile Defense: increased firing detection (so they don't miss incoming nukes).
  • Attack: attack against hosted units removed (for performance).
  • Commando Robot (+Assault Robot): now rotating to attack target.
  • Commando Robot: reduced strength of Photon weapons by 50% (balancing).
  • Barge & Troop Transport Balancing: slightly stronger against torpedoes, so they cannot be destroyed that quickly.
  • Agent Johnson: has a gun and can shoot now.
  • Robo Dog: updated graphics and "energy" animation during melee attacks.
  • Old Table /w Computer: graphics updated.
  • Mayan Cave: floor graphics for Mayan cave added (in addition to regular cave).
  • Photon Weapons: animation is more subtle now.
  • Danger Zone Indicator: there is now an indicator on the map showing when an imminent nuke or orbital attack is expected!
  • Satellite Attacks: delayed by 4 seconds showing a danger zone indicator on the map.
  • Research Center: building a research center is now disabled when research is not available in a scenario/mission.
  • AI: updated to allow "Battle Royale" planning (needs fine-tuning).
  • AI: Research Center now being built with lower priority.
  • AI: limiting structures to be built even if they were researched (more focused).
  • AI: updated to also do larger-scale attacks with more troops (limited to higher level AI).
  • AI: sniper-type attack added.
  • Tutorial: the advanced mission tutorial now also explains how to conduct research.
  • Reload Bar: each unit that shoots nukes now shows a reload bar until we can shoot again.
  • UI: if we open loot crates and obtain income, it is now written in larger text, to make it clear as to what actually happened.
  • UI: mini map now showing objects that are being deconstructed.
  • Sound FX: addition sound FX for Agent Johnson!
  • Sync. Bugfix: joining a multiplayer game that would then autostart because it became full, would result in the AI being out of sync (the AI did not properly move).
  • Sound FX: effect added for non-dual turret bullet guns.
  • Modding: animator for animated images/etc. now directly available in modding editor via "Tool"-menu.
  • Modding: option to set a trigger condition for a certain research to have been reached.
  • Modding: editor now allows removing hosted units when editing/viewing a unit (via [Remove] button).
  • Modding: updated the modding manual in-game to describe the various component parameters that are used when defining a map object.
  • Formatting: support for monospaced texts integrated (ASCII only). Code tags "{MONO}" which is new, and "{CODE}" which is now working.
  • Formatting: support for color multiplication inside a text when using {TINT:...|M}.
  • Disabling AI: rated games require the AI to be enabled in multiplayer games for balancing reasons. If the AI option is disabled, a game needs to be set to non-rated.
  • Release History: now shown within the game via settings screen under "History".
  • Release/Latest: the latest release information is now shown if you are running a new version and there is versioning information available.
  • Announcement Board: moved the announcement link data to a different table, so announcement will appear blank/different until everyone has the latest version.
  • Announcement for New Releases: the announcements for the latest update are now auto-generated for both the player and moderator walls.
  • Clan Owners: owners cannot expel or change privileges of other owners.
  • Clan Owners: owners can now leave the clans if there's another owner on the clan.
  • Clan Owners: owners cannot leave the clan if there are other players and there is no other owner. They need to designate another owner before leaving.
  • Clan Owners: owners leaving the clan and being the last members means the clan will get deleted after a confirmation.
  • Tutorial: popup added to the intro mission, which offers to go directly to the advanced tutorial mission.
  • Fullscreen Mode: auto-fullscreen mode at startup when run via Steam (unless it's not the first time you run the game).
  • Sound FX: max. simultaneous sound FX increased to 64 (from 32) to make sure all relevant ones can be played.
  • Cutscene Music: the music volume for cutscenes can now be adjusted manually.
  • Settings: option to enable or disabled handicaps by default in newly created games (rather than manually adjusting them every time).
  • Chat Bans: moderator accounts cannot be banned from the chat by regular players (e.g. that created a game).
  • Moderator Email: now available via the "Moderators" group profile!
  • Manual: In-Game FAQ updated to let everyone know that randomly banning players in the chat goes against the fair-play policy amongst other.
  • Language: font updated with additional glyphs for rendering.
  • Language: re-formatted instructions for translations, API access, modding and such.
  • Language: latest translations added - Thanks :-D
  • Performance: minor performance improvements.
  • Maintenance: news DB & I/O removed as it isn't used anymore.
  • Maintenance: improved compression for main font file (about 35% smaller).
  • Maintenance: WebGL's gdx-teavm updated to 1.0.0-b5 (teavm 0.9.0-dev-4).
  • Maintenance: WebSockets updated to Draft 6455.
  • Maintenance: Jetty updated to 9.4.51.
  • Maintenance: Steam SDK updated to 1.57.
  • Maintenance: steamworks4j library update to 1.10.0-SNAPSHOT (latest 2023-06-04).
  • Maintenance: using getAuthTicketForWebApi() for login on Steam.
  • Maintenance: Droid login functionality upgraded from 20.4.0 to 20.5.0.
  • Maintenance: Droid AppCompat version updated to 1.6.1 (from 1.2.0).
  • Maintenance: Google Play Billing library upgraded to 6.0.0 (from 5.0.0).
  • Maintenance: disabling registration on server during automated lab-tests (e.g. Firebase).
  • Maintenance: partly updated logging and development mode.
  • Bugfix: matter amount show if greater than '0' even if map building is disabled (fixed bug in Chapter 02/Mission 01).
  • Bugfix: the tutorial is now also marked as completed even if not all steps have been completed, as long as the final task was successful.
  • Bugfix: skipping ahead in advanced tutorial when the aircrafts are loaded into the carrier (to prevent a stuck tutorial mission).
  • Bugfix: improved handling when a music file is not found (we check for file beforehand).
  • Bugfix: Popup with who vs. who info at start of game would not always been shown in multiplayer matches (if we were synced too far ahead).
  • Bugfix: setting a rally point to e.g. a ship, that is/would move out of reach would result in the unit get suck in a factory.
  • Bugfix: selecting monospaced font keeps the text monospaced (e.g. admin terminal).
  • Bugfix: platforms without monospaced font would show monospaced text blank (instead of the default font).
  • Bugfix: Battle Royale objective didn't remove objects in doomed area.
  • Bugfix: Battle Royale objective declared the wrong player to be the winner.
  • Bugfix: cutting long country names in statistics (so they don't overflow to next line).
  • Bugfix: WebSocket connection didn't properly work (wrong wrapper chosen on LIVE-server).
  • Bugfix: Quick Join games weren't working (due to nested transaction error).
  • Bugfix: Permissions fix for latest Android SDK version 33 (should now be able to select images).
  • Bugfix Crashes: when viewing hittable object information and the object was changed.
  • Bugfix Crashes: trying to move a non-movable object via squad movement.
  • Bugfix Crashes: re-try starting the application with OpenGL ES 2.0 ANGLE ON or OFF (if the other method fails and the application crashes).
  • Bugfix Crashes: making sure the game doesn't crash if the game had an old icon-array but new code (array out of index exception).
  • Bugfix Crashes: game would crash on Droid when the achievements client couldn't be initialized at startup.
  • Bugfix Crashes: when loading a newer map with an oder version of the game.
  • Bugfix Crashes: when exiting a multiplayer match and the UI polls the networking the disposed networking interface yet again.
  • Bugfix Crashes: making sure we don't open the user popup if there is no logged-in user.
  • Bugfix Crashes: when tournament advancement status could not be determined, i.e. 'null'.
  • Bugfix Crashes: when the monospaced font could not be loaded (continuing without).
  • Bugfix Crashes: removed "installscript_osx.vdf" from the Steam binary because it has become obsolete and some stuff was causing problems on Mac OS M1/M2 (symlink)!
  • Bugfix Crashes: Universal Binaries for Mac OS should now work on both AMD64 and ARM64 (M1, M2) architectures.