Next version will STILL still be 0.213

Got the script changes for 6.66 from IceFrog, working double-time on the map to get this done ASAP. Don't expect the bots to use a lot of the new abilities just yet, I'll do more work on this after I release, just want to get a version out where people can start playing with the new heroes/abilities/items.

Still aiming to release by the end of the month. Sit tight!

Next version will still be 0.213

I had some experimental AI scripts for Admiral and Clockwerk in the pipeline, but I haven't been able to focus too much on this recently and in the interest of releasing 6.65 AI as soon as possible, I'll probably hold off on this stuff for now.

IceFrog has sent me the script changes and I've been slowly integrating them. I'm aiming to release by the end of this month.

Thanks for your patience.

Back to normal, only slower

Thanks all for the words of encouragement. The bulk of the crisis is over for now, but I most likely will not be working full speed on this for a while.

I'll do my best to update to 6.65 quickly when it comes out, but expect progress in general to be slower than before (at least for a while).

Thanks again for your patience and support.

Temporarily halting development

Urgent family issues. Please understand.

Obfuscation and the like

Obfuscation: what is it? Simply put, it's a method used to make code difficult to read and work with. The basic idea is simple; the script parser doesn't care if a variable has a meaningful name (integer iHeroID) or a nonsensical one (integer ZYF), since semantically the code will execute the same regardless of nomenclature. It does, however, make it significantly more difficult for someone else to make changes to it (especially without accidentally breaking something!)

This is, unfortunately, the reason why AI development has been slow. I've been spending quite a bit of time slowly deobfuscating the script, but there are still many things that I still cannot quite account for. My current project is working out some of the "magic numbers" that appear in the script; numbers which just appear in the script but have no apparent rhyme or reason.

Fortunately, I only have to work out the obfuscated portions in the AI script; IceFrog has been provided me with script changes from version to version (i.e. what was added/changed/deleted in 6.64 from 6.63b) in unobfuscated form, so I can keep the map updated with those features rather easily and effectively. Unfortunately, I don't have access to a full deobfuscated map script (which would make starting a brand-new AI much easier) or a deobfuscated AI script (which would make things easier for the obvious reasons). Ah well. C'est la vie, as a good friend of mine would often say. =P

I'm thinking of posting some of these random numbers for you guys to possibly decipher. I know a lot of them refer to unit geographical locations (x,y coordinates of buildings and such) that have been changed since 6.48b and no longer cause things to work, but trying to figure out what used to be what is a bit tedious. =/

In short, obfuscation = the bane of my existence. At least, in terms of map development. =P

"-formless"

Try it. Works for 0.213 whenever "-random" is valid. Should go without saying that you type that in without the quotation marks, but I'll mention it anyway just in case.

And I know that everytime I do something fun like this a lot of people will say "HOW DARE YOU WORK ON SOMETHING YOU FIND FUN AND ENJOYABLE INSTEAD OF SPENDING YOUR LIMITED FREE TIME DOING SOMETHING I SELFISHLY DEMAND YOU TO DO", but eh, I work at my own pace and on my own schedule, so deal with it. =P

DotA Allstars 6.64 AI 0.213

http://www.mediafire.com/?1wmmwmmyyj2
http://rapidshare.com/files/297656613/DotA_Allstars_v6.64_AI_0.213.w3x
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V9VX2TOY

Changelog:
-First update to 6.64
-Changed the default AI behaviour of creeps and towers to be the same as in the official map
-Fixed the fade on Circles of Protection belonging to other players
-Fixed some numerical errors on Bristleback's abilities
-Added some additional AI ability functionality (Black Hole, Fissure, Epicenter)