Hello.
If anybody was wondering then the autorunner is kind of finished, GreySplatter contacted me on msn and we worked on it together this evening.
Features:
1.) Verify installed files and making sure everything is in order before the user has a chance to screw anything up, that includes correct procedural installation checks (bf2 first, then 1.41, then core then levels), and taking appropriate measures on what to install if something has already been installed.
2.) The second feature is being awesome.
3.) After installation the game can be run from the autorun splash.
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This is mainly meant for if you bundle the patch, core and levels into a cd, you can install everything in procedular order with one click and have a nice graphic to look at while doing so, it might help new people with the installation as clicking one button has proven to be easier than clicking many, also, its statistically harder to screw anything up if everything is bundled, thats science.
Although its only a autorunner and is only meant to be run from a cd (you know, when you pop it in, you get the autorunner), you can also make an image of the bundle, and mounting said image will present the user with the splash.
However if wanted, its easy to convert the autorunner to a setup program, since you just keep the bundle the same and rename it to "setup.exe"
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Screenshot:
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1741/splashl.jpg
Although of no typical usage value (since hey, you dont get PR on a CD
), having that to complete your collection of BF2 in CD form, incase you decide to burn PR on a cd, this comes in handy to make it look like something of the BF2 product line, which is good for hardcore fans, and its also nice to look at, and that is always a plus, GreySplatter did a good job with this.
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Drawbacks:
1.) This was written in C#, so it IS dependant on a framework, but lets face it, the future is comming and the future is built on frameworks, lets not live in the past, in order to use this installer you need the .NET framework which is pretty awesome anyways so download it if you havnt already.
2.) Im an internet programmer, and I usually dont work with other languages than php and other languages related to internet programming, so this program might be riddled with more bugs than the face of an African child.. as sad as that is, Im not demeaning those children, forgive me.
But we've tested every aspect of it alot and so far it doesnt crash my neighours computer, and that is good, it just installs everything and gives you an eyecandy splash.
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Todo:
Well, we've yet to decide if the 1.41 patch should become a part of the bundle so when you press "install" it installs that patch too, but until then the EASY INFO button will be replaced with a 1.41 PATCH with a link to the patch, and the installer gently prompting the user to get his *** online and download/install it before proceeding with the installation.
And the "Readme" button will be replaced with the Manual for PR.
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I'm guessing it will become available to those who want it tomorrow or something, also, we might even make one huge *** image file ready to be burnt on a cd/mounted, which includes the core, levels and 1.41 patch, and then upload it to a torrent site, but ofcourse, the autorunner will be made available without any bundle, just so users can.. i dont know.. do something with it.
Thanks for reading this, I am really bored so I enjoyed writing this.
Thank you!
