[Guys, maybe I was a little early in stating the info as regards updating your local steam copy of TM - I had to, but neither Tal nor Shepp did...... YMMV]

Good news everyone!

Xaseco is now running on our lowstress server, which means our humble box is now tied to and using the Dedimania track records system.

Race timings are recorded on the server, with records kept for best time and best personal time.

Timings can be seen within trackmania, or online (after a few hours to update) at:

http://dedimania.com/tmstats/?do=stat&RecOrder3=RANK-ASC&Uid=_59T5RE8tyRaiKLw1D3NaRpMLC0&Show=RECORDS

There's also a track voting system, but I've not used or sussed that out yet.

It's not been customised at all yet, but it's all just XML so Dave & I can look at that in the coming days.

Now, one 'bad' thing which most of you will likely need to address. IMPORTANT:

The version of Trackmania delivered by Steam WILL NOT WORK with our server anymore! READ ON
Dedimania doesn't allow us to use older versions of the client, probably due to fixed exploits. It seems Valve/Steam/Nadeo have not delivered the newest 2 patches via steam yet, or if they ever will so it needs to be updated manually.

If you don't have TM via Steam, just run the config tool and hit the update button to see if you can update - this method should work. Ideally we're looking for version 2010-03-15 to be installed.

If you DO have TM via Steam, then the update is available for manual download here:
http://files2.trackmaniaforever.com/TmNationsForever_Update_2010-03-15_Setup.exe
It's a little under 5Mb and is cumulative, so it should be the only patch needed.

However, and here's the stinky bit
I, and many others on the TM forums it seems, couldn't get the patch to work, and hence have had to re-install the game from scratch, avoiding the steam version.
Your mileage may vary and the patch above may work for you. I'd certainly recommend trying it first.
I was getting errors when patching saying stuff like it couldn't find TMNationsForever as being installed, even when I pointed it to the steam\common\ etc folder it didn't work. An earlier version'd patch was the same, and one time I saw errors about incorrect distro also.

Now, silver lining, as a lot of TM is held in your "my docs/documents library" you mightn't lose too much by re-installing. All I've lost that I've seen were my Cameroon car (easily sorted) and local track medals (meh). If you're concerned about that then google how to keep 'em.

Steps I took:
1. Downloaded TM install (516Mb) from http://www.trackmania.com/index.php?rub=downloads (the top one)
2. In Steam, right click on Trackmania Nations and 'delete local content'
3. Install downloaded version, which includes the update above, although it will check again on first boot.
4. Re-logged in my TM account (you've got a note, right? )
5. Setup local prefs again (volumes, res, etc). It keeps a note of fave tracks, friends, etc elsewhere so that should all be OK.


Stumps I believe you have TM United, so your auto-update patch will likely work, or manual download here:
http://files2.trackmaniaforever.com/TmUnitedForever_Update_2010-03-15_Setup.exe

All this info has been gleaned from this forum post, which is pretty dandy:
http://tm-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=19288

Phew. Hope this is all OK. If anyone wishes to moan or complain, you may kindly bite my arse.

Peace out.

Awesome work, very nice write-up too!

Top work Gav.

Thanks lads, appreciate the kind words. Chez why don't you and some of your chaps come play sometime? You'd all be very welcome and it's definitely the case of "the more the merrier" with Trackmania.
As a free game it really is something special.
Likewise if anyone has any new tracks, let us have 'em. The system should just automatically recognise the new tracksand run (ie no config needed in aseco).

Aye, been on a few times when no one else was around, not really any other racers among the 'rades though sadly.

Can confirm - Steam version will not patch up.

However - the Steam version will and does work on the server, so no immediate need to upgrade.

There's a very annoying and loud musical thing which plays. I am going to work out how to turn that off.

Haven't had a chance to look yet, but are we still running the points system or are we on the best time in x minutes type system most servers use ?

We're still set to cup/points system. Some of the tracks are really too long to do the best time system.

Talarin said:

Can confirm - Steam version will not patch up. However - the Steam version will and does work on the server, so no immediate need to upgrade. There's a very annoying and loud musical thing which plays. I am going to work out how to turn that off.

Hey Dave, that's the opposite of me then, I tried to connect and it instantly kicked me as I was "out of date" (in so many ways.....).
It printed that to me in client, then I saw it in the server console also.

Very good to hear you DIDN'T have to upgrade, maybe the rest of the stresser's (?) won't also.

The annoying music thing might be controlled by the volume sliders that appear in the top right during menu time?

Cannonfodder said:

Hey Dave, that's the opposite of me then, I tried to connect and it instantly kicked me as I was "out of date" (in so many ways.....). It printed that to me in client, then I saw it in the server console also.

It may be map dependant. Lets not take it as gospel until we've all given it a stab, but I was playing on map w1 earlier this evening on the Steam version.

Quote:

The annoying music thing might be controlled by the volume sliders that appear in the top right during menu time?

No idea - I know I've turned music off on TM though, so evidently the game thinks its a sound effect.

Coppers to the Gavster ! Well done.

Now all we need is a little pimping ! ;-)

(I too didn't have to redownload or anything, it just worked straightaway)

Bisilicum said:

Now all we need is a little pimping ! ;-)

I've just been reviewing the way that Aseco stores information and I reckon that I could rustle up a live stats page on the website.

I'm sure you can come up with an Elo-system of some sort, Tal !

Am I winning?

Ps, Well done Gav! Looking forward to check that out once I get home some day!

On a downside - it has created a situation where people can not help themselves from exploiting the tracks; which is a bit shit if you're occasional player and don't know the tracks inside and out.

Can we please either issue corrections to the exploitable tracks (like putting checkpoints in to stop it) or bin them altogether?