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Devious Devices 5 - Release date and beta program
🕑 Added 2020-09-23 16:40:00 +0000 UTCI got some good news today. The new device code I put in DD5 (see my last posting for details) has passed my testing suite. Device equipping and unequipping seems to work as before (just faster!). I also put the new framework code to the test by playing several DCL missions involving heavy use of DD items for about 5 hours, and did not experience a single problem. The testing involved many device types worn by both player and NPCs, so I have some confidence that the code is on the right path here.
The next step will be broader public testing. For this, I will make a beta version of DD5 available in the DD Framework development thread on LL. This will happen in early October, if everything goes according to plan (I got some final touches to apply to DD5 first!). If everything checks out, the final version should be available end of October, but that of course depends on how many quirks testers are going to unearth, and how difficult they are to fix. Particularly since beta testers are going to have different DD mods installed than me (I use only a very small subset of what's available on LL), and I have no way to know how they will react to DD5 until testers tell me.
I guess it's no big surprise that DD5 - combining all existing DD mods in one download - will be quite a whopper to download. The archive weighs about 2GB now. Yikes! For that reason, I plan to offer delta patches for the point releases from now on, and make people download the full release only when it's really warranted by the amount and significance of changes. I obviously cannot offer DD5 on LL, for it's way, waaaay over LL's file size limit, so it's probably going to be hosted on MEGA (like DDX has already been for a while).
At this point, I do plan to release DCL 9.0 alongside DD5. DCL 9 is more or less ready to go out of the door, but it of course needs DD5 to run. Both DD5 and DCL9 will mandate a new savegame, so I will try to release both updates simultaneously, to keep users from having to start new games all the time.
I am not currently decided on whether or not to conduct an official beta testing phase for DCL9. The changes and new features would sure warrant it, but to participate, people would also have to be in the DD5 test, and I am not sure how to coordinate that across different threads without creating a lot of confusion. I will think about it!
Comments
1200 mods! oO Haha! That's crazy! I have never had more than about 160 in the same load order. And no, there won't be a fixed number of people who can participate. Everybody who wants to download the beta and have a look at it will be able to do so! :)
Mbaker356
I know I won't be the first to ask, nor the last, but if you're looking for a major stress test my Skyrim may be of help. I have over 1200 active mods, some Loverslab, some nexus, some others. About fifty sexlab/devious/bondage mods, or more, I forget at times. If your beta tester list is already filled, i shall patiently await along with everyone else.
I would be surprised if DCL doesn't already check the version of DD to make sure it's a compatible one.
Bastiaan
Perhaps create a check that if the DCL9 beta is loaded without the DD5 (beta) it wil not start or give a messagebox ingame? This can later also be used after the beta is over as I presume DCL 9 requires DD5 as Read-me files and big red warning labels seem to be difficult for some users :P
BlitzAceRush
Looking forward to it, as for how to test DCL9 and ensure those are using DD5 I suppose you could make a private chat group on LL and invite those willing to test, that way you could ensure it's clear they need to be using DD5 to help you test DCL9. To add, if you are looking for tested I'd be more than happy to.
