13/10/2008 @08:46:33 ^09:48:38

All right I'd better write something before the page empties again

The question of when to release the next version of PrBoom came up again so I've spent much of the past week trying to fix things and backport code from PrBoom-plus. It's pretty fun sometimes when you can just get your revision control system to do half the work for you but frustrating when I find I have to force myself to write code I don't actually care about (like I would cheerfully drop PNG screenshots to avoid having to do more work with libpng, since you can do screenshots in one line with SDL_SaveBMP if you don't mind getting them in BMP format and converting them later)

Speaking of revision control systems I should do a post about how I've started using Git as a layer on top of Subversion, but half the internet has done that already. Suffice to say it's probably the best thing I've done all year. The only drawback I can see so far is that CIA isn't designed for receiving a large number of small commits at once, especially with my overly verbose commit messages, and its announcements bot takes ages to catch up.

A couple of maps I looked at briefly:

• Pagan's Run In which you must ignore the monsters and charge to the exit, avoiding obstacles and such. There are invariably packs of cyberdemons, archviles etc in cages behind you to keep you moving, and the obstacles include smaller monsters which you can shoot out of the way if necessary (but don't do this too much - keep running!) The route cleverly crosses over itself, which you only really notice when you have time to look at the map (very rare). The architecture is well-made but the texturing is rather abstract, and transitions quickly from one theme to a completely different one. A wad similar in concept to Run darn you RUN.
• Canal Run Pagan's Run also reminded me of this map, but they're not similar at all - in fact they're more like complete opposites. There, you were forced to run and unable to kill monsters - here, you are forced to kill a number of barons while being carried round a fast-moving river. A very unique wad, I recommend you try it. Runs on E1M8. I also quite liked the gloomy sky texture.