[Universe II] Updates Go Here

[Hemdian]

I don't have access to a Windows 7 PC I can install on at the moment (but I hope that might change in the next few months) so I can't confirm this at present.

However, did you try running Traveller Universe while IBconsole was still open? (I need to do that to get it to run on Windows Vista.)

Failing that have you tried Virtual XP? (I have had one report of someone doing this successfully on Windows 7 64-bit.)

 

[forthekill]

I did leave IBConsole open, and followed all the suggestions on your support site and what I've read here in the forums.

And yes, I have a VMWare Workstation image of Win XP running on my Win 7 x64 laptop, and Universe works fine, but it can be slow at times. Even a Win 7 x32 VMWare image runs faster than an XP image.

 

[Kilgs]

*Cough*

 

[Hemdian]

Ironically, I’ve been working on Universe2 all day today. Just taking a short break to check messages and what do I see?

*Cough*

Sorry, but no new milestones to report (other than I am now in my new apartment and have been sorting through boxes rediscovering all my old Traveller material). In Universe2 the xboat links are now defined not by entering start and end coordinates as before but by drawing them on a hex map, plus a few other bits and pieces (mostly under-the-hood improvements). And I am pricing up a new PC that’ll be Windows 7 based ... so Universe2 will be tested for Windows7 and Vista compatibility.

Current codebase is 55394 lines in 320 files.

 

[forthekill]

In Universe2 the xboat links are now defined not by entering start and end coordinates as before but by drawing them on a hex map

This is one of the best things I've heard so far. I've really been using Universe as a sector builder rather than just a way to display pre-created information, so the more features you have along those lines the more valuable Universe2 will be (at least to me).

I'd love to see easy system placement via mouse and be able to drag systems between hexes, add bases and other stats via contextual menu on a system, and mark territories via click or even "painting" to mark a large area.

so Universe2 will be tested for Windows7 and Vista compatibility.

Sweet!

 

[Kilgs]

Just swinging by for a beer... Hemdian, what'll you have?

 

[Hemdian]

Just swinging by for a beer... Hemdian, what'll you have?

At the moment I'm rather partial to Race Rocks Ale (preferable bottled rather than canned). A nice little microbrew that goes down well in this hot weather. However I have to ration myself or I can't think straight when working on Universe2.

 

[Kilgs]

See... this is why I don't buy drinks for folks anymore. They're all teases

 

[Kilgs]

No pressure but... I get a new work computer in five weeks and then it's no more Universe for me. Won't run on my home PC and I doubt it will run on my soon-to-come brand new work laptop.

No pressure...

 

[AlHazred]

Not to add to the pressure either, but I'm gearing up for a Traveller Hero campaign, and would love to have a Universe product to use for system and character tracking.

No pressure...

 

[Kilgs]

Been screwing around with Alternity RPG and thought of a feature for UniverseII. Not very Traveller.

In Alternity, they use hex maps as well but add a z-axis by use of numbers next to the planet. So Earth (+5) means that Earth is five hexes above the map's galactic ecliptic. Seems like an easy mod to represent 3-D mapping. JUst a thought.

 

[DangerousThing]

Any new word on Universe 2?

I only have Windows 7 and can't find a copy of Universe I anyway.

Otherwise I'm going to have to create something of my own, and I've seen this done way too often with poor results. I'd rather game than program.

 

[Hemdian]

I've run into some problems with Universe2 database structures that I am trying to unravel. In the meantime there is an electronic download version of Traveller Universe (1.7) available from here.

The platform requirements described are not quite right. For Windows 7 I have not tested it on all versions but it will run on 64bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate (using the free VM). However, the installer usually doesn't complete all tasks and so they have to be finished manually (instructions here). I make NO guarentee that it will work for you.

 

[DangerousThing]

Thank you very much!

I've been looking for a link to buy this for days. Nobody, including your support site, had the proper link to SWREG. Just thought you might want to know.

If you need help with databases, I used to be an SQL guru - mainly using PostgreSQL. Though, to be honest, it's been almost a decade since I quit.

I will try Universe I and see if I like the interface. If I need something more and Universe II isn't out by then, I'll write a software proposal for myself and see if I can handle it.

 

[Kilgs]

Hmmm... Hemdian needs more beer, methinks. Any news?

 

[Hemdian]

To be honest, I got sidetracked with other projects (like my Traveller novel). But I have just spent over $1K on upgrading development tools specifically for this, so I'll be getting back to it shortly. On the other and, the delay has allowed me to work out a solution to a major design issue in the database structure.

 

[Baron]

It sounds to me like I'd really find Universe 2 a great addition to a Classic Traveller campaign. I'd be looking to purchase when you're finished. I'll be checking in periodically to see how it's going. I hope it all goes smoothly. Best of luck in the process!

 

[Kilgs]

You da man, Hemdian.

 

[Mordant]

Just bought Universe 1 to help fund development of Universe 2. Is there any way to become a beta tester?

 

[AlHazred]

It's a good idea. I did it to. Plus, I never could get Heaven & Earth to work.