Star Citizen Megathread v. procedurally-generated deadlines - Games

AtV details how they can run multiple build streams at once on their beefy buildfarm with terabytes of RAM spread over six physical servers (plus they just expanded, watch AtV) running tons of compiler VMs handling segmented jobs. [t]http://i.imgur.com/GphvFXv.png[/t] Before the expansion [t]http://i.imgur.com/RO8tdxy.png[/t] After [t]http://i.imgur.com/gIovYkn.png[/t] Legend [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/EgMDpO4.png[/IMG]

I'm confused, in SC right now for some reason i have the merlin available to spawn in, but i have neither bought one, nor is it the subscriber ship of the month.

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;52188996]They are planning on transitioning to Vulkan instead of DX12; Vulkan does what they wanted to go to DX12 for (they also discussed Mantle support in the past, and Vulkan is essentially the evolution of Mantle) without the closed-source Win10-only limitations of DX12. They were going to have to completely upend the rendering core by going from DX11 to DX12, all that's different is that they're going to (eventually) go from DX11 to Vulkan instead. When? I don't know, but I think it's unlikely Erin's going to let it hold back, at minimum, SQ42. As for the time it takes to do one single total rebuild, if executed as a single batch job, I don't know, but a few years ago it was something like 16 hours. That is clearly unsuitable, and so CIG IT/devops has built an impressive build farm (the latest evolution is detailed in this week's AtV spotlight) that runs a huge number of build tasks in parallel in order to yield a reasonable time and allow different builds (server rc, release client rc, profiling client rc, internal tools rc-whatever, etc.) to be done in parallel. I'd guess it probably still takes 3 hours under normal business conditions, at least.[/QUOTE] Man, I really need to start paying attention to more of the material they release. Not only is it interesting as fuck, but I'd like to get a job doing engine design and systems programming for games. Doubly so for a company working on a space game. I asked about Vulkan because I've been spending the past month and change picking it up, but things [URL="https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1554813&p=52188789&viewfull=1#post52188789"]aren't going[/URL] [URL="https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1554813&p=52188852&viewfull=1#post52188852"]so well[/URL] (also, 4.1k lines of code to do a basic rendering test lol). I'm trying to work on my portfolio for job applications - I was trying to make [URL="https://smcameron.github.io/space-nerds-in-space/gaseous-giganticus-slides/slideshow.html#1"]real-time gas giant cloud band rendering[/URL] work w/ CUDA+OpenGL interop but that got shaky as fuck, because trying to run two GPU-related APIs in parallel and doing the really intensive stuff I was doing was not fun. Vulkan requires that any Vulkan driver allow access to graphics and compute stuff, so I decided to fall down this rabbit hole. Which is still mostly resulting in me crashing the display/graphics driver with no survivors, but that's what I do best :v: I'm going to watch the AtV spotlight, then, because that's a huge improvement in buildtime. I'm not sure how building in parallel works either, I know it can be iffy with debug builds in some compilers (mainly due to the linking stage iirc) but that's twice now I've heard of build farms working for all kinds of builds (first was friend at MS, ofc) and I still can't figure out how they do it. I'm bummed I keep missing all of this content that CIG releases, seems like a great way to gain technical insight into large-scale gamedev stuff and learn more about the various realities of gamedev (like build times and such)

I don't know the technical specifics on how they've parallelized compilation of a single build's components. I'm interested to hear how they did it and how Cryengine tolerates being built in parallel multithreading. I'm hoping that eventually we get a detailed section-by-section project debrief on what CIG has done, because there's some real technical genius hiding in every end of the company. Just the IT infrastructure needed to support the staff and their work is considerable for a game dev. As covered in AtV, IT/devops is running almost entirely homegrown custom software for build management and monitoring and everything else because no off-the-shelf option fit their unique needs. Maybe they'll dedicate some screen time to covering the technical wizardry behind the scenes in the making-of documentary, which they are recording footage for on an ongoing basis in order to have material for the eventual production. And on that topic, the documentary was the $14 million stretch goal, back when CIG had no idea how far the money train was going to carry them. It was pitched as, [QUOTE]Professional-quality feature-length “Behind the Scenes of Star Citizen” documentary film.[/QUOTE] We're now at $148.5mil with no sign of stopping, and there are 1.2 million packages. It might need more than one feature-length film to cover the whole project. :v: [QUOTE=ulvemann43;52189222]I'm confused, in SC right now for some reason i have the merlin available to spawn in, but i have neither bought one, nor is it the subscriber ship of the month.[/QUOTE] If you own a Dragonfly, it's probably a loaner for it. If that's not it, I dunno. Your account might've been blessed with a glitch.

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;52193140]I don't know the technical specifics on how they've parallelized compilation of a single build's components. I'm interested to hear how they did it and how Cryengine tolerates being built in parallel multithreading. I'm hoping that eventually we get a detailed section-by-section project debrief on what CIG has done, because there's some real technical genius hiding in every end of the company. Just the IT infrastructure needed to support the staff and their work is considerable for a game dev. As covered in AtV, IT/devops is running almost entirely homegrown custom software for build management and monitoring and everything else because no off-the-shelf option fit their unique needs. Maybe they'll dedicate some screen time to covering the technical wizardry behind the scenes in the making-of documentary, which they are recording footage for on an ongoing basis in order to have material for the eventual production. And on that topic, the documentary was the $14 million stretch goal, back when CIG had no idea how far the money train was going to carry them. It was pitched as, We're now at $148.5mil with no sign of stopping, and there are 1.2 million packages. It might need more than one feature-length film to cover the whole project. :v: If you own a Dragonfly, it's probably a loaner for it. If that's not it, I dunno. Your account might've been blessed with a glitch.[/QUOTE] I did actually buy a dragonfly as part of the last sale, guess that is it. So if you buy unreleased ships you get another ship in the meantime while you wait for the one you bought to be done?

[QUOTE=ulvemann43;52193728]I did actually buy a dragonfly as part of the last sale, guess that is it. So if you buy unreleased ships you get another ship in the meantime while you wait for the one you bought to be done?[/QUOTE] Yeah basically, I think they're updating the list of 'borrowed' ships on their website soon, there was some drama about it a little while back.

[QUOTE=Lord Hayden;52195461]Yeah basically, I think they're updating the list of 'borrowed' ships on their website soon, there was some drama about it a little while back.[/QUOTE] How did it cause drama?

[QUOTE=ulvemann43;52195530]How did it cause drama?[/QUOTE] I didn't look into it too much, but there were some complaints about people not feeling as though the ship they were given was a fair replacement of whatever ship they purchased or something. Nothing big, just the usual "can't please everyone" kind of deal.

[t]http://i.imgur.com/gRlUXyi.jpg[/t] was hidden in the new bugsmashers [video]https://youtu.be/zVNyMMiZaj4[/video]

[video=youtube;ADB-wpvTD0k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADB-wpvTD0k[/video]

Am I the only one that just imagines Chris Roberts losing sleep whenever someone on ATV doesn't do the "See you [i]Around the Verse[/i]" wave? Also, looks like a similar interaction system Doom had? That was awesome, I hope they can get it nice and smooth, looks like it might be a little fidgety to get used to.

[QUOTE=Forumaster;52217069][video=youtube;ADB-wpvTD0k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADB-wpvTD0k[/video][/QUOTE] [QUOTE] - 1980's computer case beige everywhere - Creepy industrial bowels lifted from Event Horizon and Alien - Giant space claw - [sp]BUILDING-SIZED SHREDDING MACHINE[/sp] [/QUOTE] Is the Reclaimer objectively the best SC spaceship? [sp]Yes.[/sp]

it looks great but I can't see that claw actually working, 5bux says by the time the ship becomes functional the claw is replaced with a series of tractor beams [editline]12th May 2017[/editline] memes [img]http://i.imgur.com/MwYUU2s.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=krail9;52217396]it looks great but I can't see that claw actually working, 5bux says by the time the ship becomes functional the claw is replaced with a series of tractor beams [editline]12th May 2017[/editline] memes [img]http://i.imgur.com/MwYUU2s.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] Just in case anyone doesn't get the reference: [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/RAuI3Gp.jpg[/IMG]

It seems even hundreds of years into the future cameras suddenly end up becoming blurry, unfocused and are unable to zoom in much when being used to try to record anything that's mysterious: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeXtMPMMVfY[/media] Not sure what ship it's supposed to be but it looks interesting from that vague bit shown.

aegis eclipse, a formerly classified now canceled and remaining stocks sold to the public stealth bomber jpeg

CIG doesn't want to reveal the name of the ship, but has confirmed the concept sale price is $275. At least they're not making us spam retweets in order to unlock the reveal, this time. The community's convinced it's the Aegis Eclipse, which was revealed on the whiteboard peek last summer, the one that listed the Origin 600, Banu Minuteman (renamed the Defender), and so on. Also, here's a reupload. [video=youtube;E72hgUPE9l8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E72hgUPE9l8[/video] I also have a local copy if this one gets taken down.

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;52233245]CIG doesn't want to reveal the name of the ship.[/QUOTE] [url]https://youtu.be/288jXEkM3Mo?t=6m33s[/url] They did say it would [i]Eclipse[/i] previous issues in Citizens of the Stars.

and [url=http://i.imgur.com/3HqrHmC.jpg]yknow[/url]

So, we got another application. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/twQ4bkg.png[/IMG] FPCORP can't hope to contain that much edge, so we were unable to accept him, even though we so dearly need boarding redshirts. I volunteered to write the rejection letter: [QUOTE]We are unable to respond to a message that does not exist so please imagine that our response would be as follows, were we to receive a message: FPCORP prides ourselves in top-notch espionage, and we always welcome the opportunity to bring another slimy fickle bottom-feeder into our ranks. We must, however, decline your application at this time, as we are currently dealing with an aggressive outbreak of Lynch fever raging through the corporation's habitation module. This catastrophe erupted after we recruited our last spy for her absolutely amazing soft skills and she turned out to be a living biological terrorist attack against our noble corporation. Not only has this been a medical disaster that has killed four talented logistics engineers and the CEO's personal ship's cat (after a terrible mixup where enough anesthesia to permanently paralyze a Vanduul was spilled into Nacho's water bowl), it has led us to be very wary of promises of intrigue and secrecy, as our curiosity has now killed the cat (and four essential crew...sorry, five, medical just interrupted me again). I'm sure that you will understand our concerns and our rampant paranoia now and for the near future. We would also not want to expose you to Lynch fever as it is highly contagious and we cannot afford to have our secret base become the subject of a UEE quarantine. Medical just interrupted me again. The final stage of Lynch fever also makes you forcefully prolapse your esophagus, and frankly none of us want to see that for a seventh time this week. Best regards and good luck on avoiding the esophagus thing, FPCORP HR[/QUOTE]

Man, I wish we got more applications for joining and alliances. We get like one a year now. I enjoy writing those letters. RIP Nacho though, what a tragedy.

Didn't know this was a thing, made an application to join. Hope I make the cut.

[QUOTE=joshthesmith;52235816]Didn't know this was a thing, made an application to join. Hope I make the cut.[/QUOTE] I hope you followed the instructions in the OP.

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;52235914]I hope you followed the instructions in the OP.[/QUOTE] Nope, [i]real[/i] men don't need instructions. I didn't know there were any, I sort of went with the flow. [b]Edit[/b] PM JonoPorter, got it.

So 3.0 is coming out in the next month or two?

[QUOTE=Ott;52237480]So 3.0 is coming out in the next month or two?[/QUOTE] End of June, beginning of July.

[URL="https://robertsspaceindustries.com/schedule-report"]The due date was bumped out of June into mid-July[/URL] because CIG decided to make sure the Levski landing zone, which was previously a "if we can do it" stretch goal for the patch deadline, was in. However, it should be going to Evocati PTU in 3-4 weeks, as of the current schedule's window.

Aren't stretch goals designed to be for when you are ahead of schedule and can push further for additions to the final deliverable? I thought stretch goals were the one thing you'd specifically [i]not[/i] push back a release date for? EDIT: Just to clarify, I'm happy they did it, I think it'll add a lot more to the 3.0 release, I just don't particularly understand why they used the term 'stretch goal' for some particular things.

Today i switched a few ships around in my fleet in order to prepare for the expiration of the $0 CCUs. I don't want to drop the game for a while and then be surprised when i get back into the game.. I'm thinking about upgrading my merchantman to an endeavor now that it's the same price.. I would have to pay $5, wait for it to come on sale and then wait for it to become flight ready, but once it's out, I'm thinking it would be a good HQ for operations. Should i do it ASAP or wait a bit and perhaps play around with the merchantman first?

[QUOTE=Lord Hayden;52239882]Aren't stretch goals designed to be for when you are ahead of schedule and can push further for additions to the final deliverable? I thought stretch goals were the one thing you'd specifically [i]not[/i] push back a release date for? EDIT: Just to clarify, I'm happy they did it, I think it'll add a lot more to the 3.0 release, I just don't particularly understand why they used the term 'stretch goal' for some particular things.[/QUOTE] I started to read the schedule again, it seems some things got delayed so this has time to be done by then.