TBCB News

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by Mr Foo

Well I doubt anything will happen with this, or if it does, it will continue to be at snail pace progression.

But seriously guys, another guy is building a boxing game too, and his is coming along a lot quicker than TBCB.

Boxing Man

It seems to me that I saw those same screenshots (at least the globe and office ones) several years ago. Is this a second start to a game that was discussed a while back?

It just looks so familiar but I can't place it.

[professordp]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

It seems to me that I saw those same screenshots (at least the globe and office ones) several years ago. Is this a second start to a game that was discussed a while back?

It just looks so familiar but I can't place it.

Chris, I'm with you...I remember seeing it as well, but I just can't place it.

[magiccitydawg]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

It seems to me that I saw those same screenshots (at least the globe and office ones) several years ago. Is this a second start to a game that was discussed a while back?

It just looks so familiar but I can't place it.

I am always looking for a sim, and I even recall seeing something simular to this. I am tempted to try it, but I am a loyal TBCB player and will stay until the last player leaves the room. Even then, I will have to be pulled out kicking and screaming.

[professordp]

Just off the top of my head (pretty sparse these days), but I always had the sense that there's some generational divide with respect to "management" and "replay" sports sims.

I'm oriented towards the latter given the fact that I started with sports sims fifty years ago. Back then it was strictly working off data generated ratings of something that happened last season or years ago.

My first exposure to management sims was with my son's sports video games roughly twenty years ago. In fact it was some sort of boxing game, if my memory serves me well.

I remember that he created some boxer (he did that with his football & baseball games as well) and then worked him through a career. To this day, I still recall thinking, "Why is he doing this?"

At the time, I sort of thought he was engaging in a form of gaming sacrilege. After all, sports sims were for replay of real-life athletes and their respective teams.

I suppose that's why I'm generally content with TBCB in its current configuration. I'd like to see a "nip & tuck" here and there.

Nevertheless, I can relate to the desires those who are seeking a "management" dimension to the game.

Personally, from my observations, I don't think it's going to happen with TBCB.

I just completed a very frustrating year attempting to resurrect and relaunch a soccer sports sim. Believe it or not, soccer is actually a "niche" sport in the gaming world. In this case, the flag ship is a script-based American football game. The pc soccer game gets table scraps...and there are few of those left.

For me, I see the same pattern with TBCB. In this case the "big guy" is OOTP's baseball game.

Despite the fact that you could label me a "moldy fig" from the prehistoric days, I feel that some of the comments about the younger generation and the games they play might be overly harsh.

So many of the younger folk didn't play board games...good for them!! I haven't rolled a die in nearly twenty years. Once I bought a computer and sports games were converted to a pc format, the board games I didn't toss out have been gathering dust for two decades in the deepest recesses of my attic and basement. I also don't use my typewriter.

I stared playing the Trunzo game when it first came out thrity-five years ago. It's great to wax nostalgic about the old Title Bout board game. But the reality is (at least to me) TBCB is far more enjoyable in the pc format than it ever was when it was a dice/board. Very little or no setup, and there's a much greater sense of a boxing match's flow than you ever got with the game when it was in dice/board format.

And don't be too quick to label these kids who play EA type of games as a bunch of "joy-stickers" who are taken in by pure "eye-candy". I don't play them myself (I'm happy with a script-based pc sports sim, a shawl, and a warm glass of milk), but I've observed my son and his friends for a number of years.

They don't just randomly pound away at a gamepad. From what I've seen, they employ as much strategy as we old-timers did with our old board games.

Last time I looked at the calendar on the wall it was 2011.

[swampdragon]

Given the choice between replaying actual fighters and managing fictional fighters, I think I'll take TBCB, although I'm sure I'll try the other game.

[Cap]

Originally Posted by pisdpaul

2) How much code will I be changing?
I am coding the game framework but NOT the fight engine. Andreas does a brilliant job with the fight engine and will continue to develop it. This will insure the that the heart of the game continues to be realistic and fun to play. The new code for 3.0 has yet to be fully defined so I am unable to comment at the mo.

Paul, what exactly do you mean by the game framework? Are we talking about the interface? I like the way the guts of the game works, though there are a few bugs that really need to be eliminated. The presentation of the game, the way it attempts to simulate the sport, needs a rebuild and polishing. If you want ideas, there are dozens in the suggestion box on this forum.

Just as a for instance: It's been suggested that the game portray different eras in the sport. There'd be the Golden Age from Corbett and Jackson to the dirty Thirties. Then there's the Radio and TV Age From Joe Louis to Muhammad Ali. Then you'd have the Modern Age of Holmes, Tyson, Lewis and the Klitschkos. You'd have different-looking screens and theme music for each. And at some point, you'd introduce a sort of Time Machine to allow fighters from different eras to cross-over.

But then it's all been said before....

Cap

[Andreas Raht]

Wohooo good news from our meeting
I'm currently playing around with TBCB 2.6
The game basically looks like TBCB 2.5, but the PISD code library that it uses now brings a lot of nice features with it. Now we're waiting for the new graphics. TBCB 2.6 will be released for Mac and Linux as well. Guys, I'm really happy to see the progress!

Before you start asking: there will be no screenshots now for the simple reason that the game looks mostly as the TBCB 2.5 at the moment. But it's faster and better and has an up-to-date technology base so we're finally moving forward now!

[professordp]

Nice to learn that we have some progress. Although it being "TBCB 2.6" as opposed to "TBCB 3.0" makes me wonder how much of a makeover we'll be actually seeing.

The following are some screen shots Roo Game's Headed Goal V3 which Richard Hanna released last year. The revised game was really little more than a cosmetic enhancement of the previous version.

If that's what we're getting in the end, HG V3 might be a template.

It doesn't take much imagination to transpose TBCB to these images. Substitute the team boxes on the left and right for the boxers.

Notice in the background is the team stadium. Put the arena in its place or have it's image as the dialog box for TBCB.

In the final image you'll see the image of a player. HG uses "pop-ups" when players score or are carded. Have the referee pop-up when he issues a warning, deducts a point, or counts for a knockdown. Between rounds, have the respective cornermen pop-up between rounds when you have the opportunity to select strategy.

This is pretty simple stuff!

Over the years, members have have posted countless ref, cornermen, and arena images. We should make greater use of them. Right now you only see these at the prefight stage.

Certainly, I'd love to see a lot more in terms of an upgrade...but if it's going to be "2.6" as opposed to "3.0", this would be a minimal expectation and a pretty cheap enhancement.

[Mugsy]

Originally Posted by Andreas Raht

Wohooo good news from our meeting
I'm currently playing around with TBCB 2.6
The game basically looks like TBCB 2.5, but the PISD code library that it uses now brings a lot of nice features with it. Now we're waiting for the new graphics. TBCB 2.6 will be released for Mac and Linux as well. Guys, I'm really happy to see the progress!

Before you start asking: there will be no screenshots now for the simple reason that the game looks mostly as the TBCB 2.5 at the moment. But it's faster and better and has an up-to-date technology base so we're finally moving forward now!

So is this a new version of the game or just an update? Is it something current owners of 2.5 will have to purchase?

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by Mugsy

So is this a new version of the game or just an update? Is it something current owners of 2.5 will have to purchase?

Good question

[javier_83]

Originally Posted by Andreas Raht

Wohooo good news from our meeting
I'm currently playing around with TBCB 2.6
The game basically looks like TBCB 2.5, but the PISD code library that it uses now brings a lot of nice features with it. Now we're waiting for the new graphics. TBCB 2.6 will be released for Mac and Linux as well. Guys, I'm really happy to see the progress!

Before you start asking: there will be no screenshots now for the simple reason that the game looks mostly as the TBCB 2.5 at the moment. But it's faster and better and has an up-to-date technology base so we're finally moving forward now!

ahh cmon Andreas at least a picture of your pc with the tb game

[Andreas Raht]

The first release will be TBCB 2.6 and it will basically be the same game as TBCB 2.5. No TBCB user will HAVE TO purchase it, but we will offer a big discount for all TBCB owners so it will probably be a good idea to update if you're still on TBCB 1 or 2.0. And it will even be a good idea to update if you're on TBCB 2.5:
TBCB 2.6 will use the PISD platform layers which is the same technology as OOTP uses. That will bring us several advantages. For example all the edit text boxes will follow common standards. The tables will have all the features like filters and sorting and everything. So basically 2.6 will be an up-to-date version of TBCB 2.5 in regards to the user interface. And most important for us: it will run on PC and also on the Mac and on Linux. We will even consider offering an iPad version.
This intermediate step via 2.6 is needed anyway before we can continue to TBCB 3.0, because we need to implement the PISD layers before we can start improving TBCB.
We'll try to keep all the data format and everything unchanged for 2.6. We will not force anybody to update. But if you want to support the development of the game it will obviously be great if you would update to 2.6. We will really appreciate it 

[javier_83]

ok

the game will work on my ipad??

[BigFiasco]

cool beans. so v3 probably a few years off at least then yea?

[professordp]

Above Andreas said, "We'll try to keep all the data format and everything unchanged for 2.6."

What exactly does that mean? I'll assume that the thousands upon thousands of ratings that have been posted here over the past four years will transfer to 2.6 without a hitch.

Ditto, all the images of boxers, etc.

He went on to say, "We will not force anybody to update. But if you want to support the development of the game it will obviously be great if you would update to 2.6. We will really appreciate it."

Now we all know what that means...you'll be asked to pay to move up to 2.6. "to support the development of the game..."

Hmmm...

Currently, my version is 2.5.21. I suspect that most of you have the same version or perhaps higher.

Okay, so we'll be charged to upgrade our games by a measure of .079.

There are two methods of handling game upgrades: the Richard Hanna approach and the Dave Koch approach.

With the Hanna approach (Roo Games/SAT Football), owners of the latest version of the game get the upgrade free. Those who have earlier versions pay for the update.

In contrast, the Koch (PC Action) method is to charge everyone for every upgrade.

The implicit update charge is, according to Andreas, to demonstrate our support for TBCB.

The intensity of that support is reflected in the efforts of the members over the past four years to enhance and keep the game current.

If it were not for the labors on the part of forum members, TBCB would have been at best dormant/comatose...perhaps dead.

I personally can't cite a greater degree of support than the fact that we've all stayed with a game that hasn't been updated in four years.

One final thought. Think of owning TBCB without the benefit of all that has been posted in this forum in terms of ratings and various mods.

It wouldn't be the same experience, would it?

[David Ball]

In all probability I will pay for the upgrade, unless the price seems simply excessive. If I feel I've received nothing whatsoever for my money, that may effect my willingness to go on to version 3, but I hope that won't happen.

I had thought that, once there began to be real signs of progress, people who were understandably disgruntled or discouraged might get back on board. Frankly, when I look at some of the comments the last two or three days, I do begin to wonder whether we've passed the point of no return. But I'd like to see the game go on to bigger and better things and the community of contributors survive, and I'm willing to hazard a little bit of cash to find out if that can happen.

[professordp]

Originally Posted by David Ball

In all probability I will pay for the upgrade, unless the price seems simply excessive. If I feel I've received nothing whatsoever for my money, that may effect my willingness to go on to version 3, but I hope that won't happen.

I had thought that, once there began to be real signs of progress, people who were understandably disgruntled or discouraged might get back on board. Frankly, when I look at some of the comments the last two or three days, I do begin to wonder whether we've passed the point of no return. But I'd like to see the game go on to bigger and better things and the community of contributors survive, and I'm willing to hazard a little bit of cash to find out if that can happen.

Me and my shadow...

[Bonedwarf]

I wonder what the odds of it working on my netbook are? (Given it's 1024x600).

Not been here for ages. Nice to see things still ticking along.

[Andreas Raht]

Sorry, 1024x768 will still be the minimum resolution.
Guys, I know that the development of TBCB's next version needs much too long... we'll do our best, okay? That's all we can do.

[Jackyle]

Originally Posted by Andreas Raht

Sorry, 1024x768 will still be the minimum resolution.
Guys, I know that the development of TBCB's next version needs much too long... we'll do our best, okay? That's all we can do.

Looking forward to it