We’re in the final soak testing of a major update to Lori Language. This does involve a HUD update, but we’re hoping you’ll agree that in the end, it’s worth it.
So, what’s in 2.00? A lot of changes under the hood as well as a handful of new features.
New Script Framework
The most significant change is that we’ve completely overhauled the scripting framework in-world. This has come at some slight cost: We’ve added two scripts to the product bringing the total up to four. Previously we had just two scripts, one for update checking via HippoUpdate, one for making Lori Language, well, be Lori Language. Now we have split Lori Language’s main script in two: One for managing communications with the web back end, the other for doing the actual work of being Lori Language. We’ve also added a coordinator script for in place updating.
You heard that right, in place updating. In other words, if we ever have to update the HUD again (and we really do hope not to), there will be no need to remove Lori Language or unlock it or do anything other than rez the updater, sit back and wait a few moments. With this capability, pets who use Lori Language need never worry about having to find someone to release them from it in order to update. Soon after we put Lori Language in the vendors, there will be an update server placed at the main DC Designs shop so that even pets who are locked out of inventory can gain the benefit of new releases of the HUD.
Having this update mechanism live will give us the flexibility to add new capabilities to the HUD when needed without worrying as much about the inconvenience of requiring everyone to switch to the new HUD. We hope you’ll all agree that this is will make life easier for everyone.
New Features and changes to existing features
On to the new! With 2.00 we have several new capabilities. First, in response to several customer requests, we are reporting the version of Lori Language during startup. When Lori Language is ready for business you will see a message like:
Welcome to Lori Language 2.00.8(2.00.2)
What this is telling you is that the HUD version is 2.00.8, and that the web backend version is 2.00.2. As we add new backend features, the backend version will go up, and every HUD update will change the HUD version. The ‘help’ command will always give the manual corresponding to the latest backend version, so if you see one day that the backend version has changed, a quick ‘help’ command will give you all the news. We’re also planning a major revamp to the help command so you can request the manual, get quick help on commands, etc. etc. etc.
Her/His Mistress/Master’s Voice has been completely redone. Now, instead of simply being able to understand what your owner/trainer is saying when they say something beginning with your name, there are options for always being able to understand them, only understand them when you’re alone with them, or only understand them until they leave chat range/someone else arrives. This added flexibility should, we think, allow trainer/owners the option to tune how they are understood by their pets to their satisfaction.
Instant Message blocking is now available in 2.00. Immersive pet play is predicated on the idea that the only way for pets and people to interact is as a pet. Lori Language’s whole reason for being is to create an environment for the pet where, like a real pet, the only things they can understand is things they have learned. IM is an end-run around this level of immersion so Lori Language provides tools to allow trainers/owners to control how their pets are able to use IM. There is the obvious “no IMs at all”, but there are also more subtle ways. Lori Langauge can block IM with anyone in chat range, or can block IM with anyone outside chat range. Notecard access can be configured to prevent the notecard cheat by blocking access to notecards whenever there is an active IM block in place.
All of these features are live for 2.00 HUDs right now. Future features that depend on a particular version of the HUD will respond with a notice that an update is required.
We hope you enjoy these new features and look forward to hearing from you to get your feedback/ideas/critique!!