Release 1.2
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Intro
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What is JPortal:
- a game environment to play Portal against a computer AI (in the future maybe more)
- it has a grafical user interface which - once learned - is very easy to play with
- extensive help
- expandable AI via scripting
- expandable Card-Engine via scripting (although base card types only of Portal-packages available)
- all Portal and Portal the second Age cards implemented
(all instants, sorceries and creatures, that means even "weird" once like:
"Alluring Scent", "Omen", "Piracy", "Exhaustion", "Last Chance", "Sylvan Yeti",...)
- "interesting" computer AI´s with "personality" - which also can be configured
- a quest system (although this can still be expanded - I have some ideas left)
can buy boosters in a shop, edit your decks and browse your Card-collection
in a "booklet"-like display... (and a Quest-Designer)
- AI- Battles against each other...
- all that in open source (java)
Installing
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I provided two Installer versions both created with: IzPack and its GUI -> PackJacket
For all version:
Don´t change the last "directories" Name (JPortal). Otherwise there might be installer errors.
If ou ever want to get rid of JPortal, you migth want to execute the uninstaller and tick the "forced" checkbox.
or just delete the JPortal directory, apart from a JRE, JPortal has no need of any other directories,
dlls or the like.
Windows
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There is one executable file, which installs JPortal called "JPortalLinuxInstall_XXX.exe".
There is a check in the installer for a high enough Java JRE, anything above 1.6 should be allright.
All other needed jars etc are provided.
This should be straight forward and I don´t expect problems.
If the installer can´t write to the install dir, that might be your user settings under windows.
You can than either run the installer as admin, or chose a directory (usually any other than the windows system dirs)
that is writeable, remember to call the install dir "JPortal" (see below))
If Windows can´t install downloaded pictures it is because you need admin rights to add subdirectories to "Programm"- Path.
Either run the JPortal with admin - or install in a different (from "Program Files") directory.
Linux
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There is a "jar"- installer for the linux version ("JPortalLinuxInstall_1.0b.jar"), created with the same installer.
It "should" work alright, but for me it worked well only a number of times, and I
couldn´t quite figure out when it worked fine and when it didn´t.
(The installing allways works, but the created desktop items only now and than)
The installer actually should create desktop icons to run JPortal. Sometimes this works, sometimes not.
If these shortcuts do not work, just go to the install directory and type
java -jar JPortal.jar
If you have a working jre on your system than the game should start.
Actually the only difference of the two versions are the icons for the desktop icons.
Linux wants "*.png", windows would like "*.ico".
Windows users (if you don´t trust executable), can also use the installer it should work alright, only the
icons on the desktop will be the usual java-icons, not the JPortal icon.
Debian / Ubuntu
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I tried installing on standard Debian "Lenny" - that DOES NOT work.
a) Installer does not work - some weird errors with xml parsing...
b) JPortal itself does not work, sind some classes can not be found
This is because Debian it comes with JRE 1.5 and that not from Sun and therefore hasnt got e.g. javax.sing.GroupLayout. (and (see issue a) some other).
After downloading and installing sun Java 1.6 everything ran fine.
-> So if under some Linux Versions JPortal does not work - please use Sun Java.
I developed JPortal using Netbeans - so it seems to be slightly Sun-affiliated.
Sorry I didn´t expect that - but I´m slo not going to change it soon.
Mac
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Fullscreen mode does not work at the moment under Mac
(Mac has an unique menu system (on the top of the screen and not
one menu for each window as windows and linux), and java use it.
So, starting in fullscreen make this menu disapears and so,
it's impossible to use the software. I believe that if it starts in a window,
the problem is solved and the program will be complete compatible! )
If Fullscreen was switched on, you can help:
Quick resolution:
under JPortal directory, edit the file:
./xml/ConfigurationData.xml
change the line:
<STARTINFULLSCREEN>true</STARTINFULLSCREE>
to
<STARTINFULLSCREEN>false</STARTINFULLSCREEN>
Than JPortal will start in window mode. And will be playable again.
Card Sets
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When you first start there is a little help for downloading portal grafics from gatherer.
Once you get further into the game you might also like to download Portal the second Age card images
(since they are supported, and some quest opponents use them).
You have to do that yourself manually, just the same way you are shown from the start (or look at the help).
Internet adresses:
Homepage: http://jportalgame.de
Sourceforge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/jportaltgc/
Bugtracking: http://sourceforge.net/apps/mantisbt/jportaltgc/main_page.php
Forum: http:/ /www.slightlymagic.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=80
eMail: admin@jportalgame.de
Changes from 1.0-1.2
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Changes from Version 1.0final to 1.2
- New:
- implemented all Set cards of set "Starter 1999"
- implemented all Set cards of set "Portal three kingdoms"
- some of them include new abilities which were not present befor like:
- legendary creatures
- tapping in "Blocker" round (Kongming's Contraptions)
- tapping of "Attackers" with opponent chosing cards on reaction to that
- effect "buf others as long as xxx is in play" (e.g. Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon")
- some special abilites (like horesmanship)
- toyed around a bit with quest mode,
new quests can be build with types:
- must win in # turns
- destroy # number of creatures
- don´t let more as # of your creatures be killed
additionally you can play a quest with a Preset.
- I define a Preset as a "Game Situation", which means,
a quest can give a player and/or opponent a given hand/graveyard/library/land/creature lists with which the quest must be fullfilled.
- a quest like: Rescue lady XX - makes more sense if you have predefined settings
- might imlpement even a tutorial this way :-)
- you can chose a starting player for quests now
- a new menu item "import supported sets", which lets you (... well) import all supported sets at once
- Match Stat window now shows Quest progress and some more player related stuff
- added a couple of quests to open up the two new sets
- added booster draft as game mode
- updated help, still not really complete
- technically: "abilities" (invoked by tapping) now go on stack and
are not evaluated at once. There might be some more "accept stack" clicking needed
but for some new (and maybe many future) cards that was neccessary
- Bugfixes (numerous, can´t tell them all):
- some gui stuff for Linux, where texts were cut off etc.
- now I know you MUST have Sun JAVA 1.6 at least in order for JPortal to work
less won´t do, and Gnu Java won´t work either, I developed JPortal using
Netbeans and for that it seems to take liking in Sun Java
- default start in Window mode now, for better Mac "compatabilty"
- tried fixing AI that it won´t endless loop anymore
a) implemented a "Watch" mechanism for endless loops, which will break
it internally (and give an error message to debug log)
b) If a card for a situation is selected by AI and not accepted by the
game, AI won´t chose the same card again, it now never
choses (in one round) the same card for the same situation
I hope that will fix the rare occasions of endless loops
FAQ
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I play a game and suddenly a "PAUSE" is displayed. what does it mean?
The game does not respond anymore, what happend?
I would like to play in Fullscreen, but the menuitem is grayed out?
I have a Mac and switched to fullscreen. But I can't access the menus anymore - HELP!
The game wants me to search the library/graveyard, how can I do that?
I like linux and have downloaded the game. But the installer quits with an error message, why?
In Player mode, I can only access Set XY. But I downloaded all supported sets, why?
What are the "adresses?
Pause
I play a game and suddenly a "PAUSE" is displayed. what does it mean?
This is a "little bit bad". It means there was some error in AI or card scripting. The game automatically pauses if in exception is thrown. You can look at the debug output to find out where exactly the exception was thrown. If you are advanturous you can try to fix the corresponding script (remember to clear the script caches afterwards - otherwise the game will not re-read the scripts). In some cases the debug window might not display all information for an exception. In that case a look in the newest log file might help. The log is allways "more" up to date than the display.
You can unpause the game by "ALT/RIGHT"-clicking any card-image. (BTW. you can also pause the game by "ALT/RIGHT"-clicking) Or using the pause menu-checkbox und "game". (At the moment a low priority bug exists, the gui-pause button is not updated when an exception occurs, to unpause you have to toggle the menu item twice!)
After "unpausing" the game continues. If the cause of the exception was not fixed - the game might pause again, if it reaches the same script again...
The game does not respond anymore, what happend?
This is more serious. Most probably again something in AI code went astray and for some reason or another AI hangs in an endless loop. As of Version 1.2 I implemented technical mechanisms to have AI watched what it does and this SHOULD not happen. All you can do is quit the game and remember exactly what kind of game situation you were in and have Malban fix it. (Screenshot, Log-Files...)
Fullscreen
I would like to play in Fullscreen, but the menuitem is grayed out?
Sorry, seems like your operating system does not support fullscreen, at least that is what the device information of java says.
I have a Mac and switched to fullscreen. But I can't access the menus anymore - HELP!
As it is, JPortal doesn't work on mac n fullscreen, but the solution is simple. Mac has an unique menu system (on the top of the screen and not one menu for each window as windows and linux), and java use it. So, starting in fullscreen make this menu disapears and so, it's impossible to use the software. I believe that if it starts in a window, the problem is solved and the program will be complete compatible! To fix JPortal once you can't access the menu do the following:
under JPortal directory, edit the file:
./xml/ConfigurationData.xml
change the line:
<STARTINFULLSCREEN>true</STARTINFULLSCREEN>
to
<STARTINFULLSCREEN>false</STARTINFULLSCREEN%>
Than JPortal will start in window mode.
Gameplay
The game wants me to search the library, how can I do that?
You SHIFT/RIGHT click the library/graveyard, it opens up. Now look at the cards and click the one you want to chose. SHIFT/RIGHT click again, to "close" the library. This method also works for the graveyard.
In Player mode, I can only access set XY. But I downloaded all supported sets, why?
You have to do some quests! E.g. to be able to access the second beginners set you have to complete the ladder quests series. As a final reward you will get the first booster of the second set. In the shop you are only allowed to buy boosters from sets you already have in your deck - so you must get a card of a new set from "somewhere" - which in JPortal means a quest!
Installation
I like linux and have downloaded the game. But the installer quits with an error message.
You most probably have a Debian or an Ubuntu Linux installation. Both of them come usually with Gnu Java. JPortal requires Sun Java at least 1.6 to run. I am sorry - please install sun Java - that should work allright.
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