DartMan v2.2.1.5 released!

DartMan has been updated to version 2.2.1.5 with the following changes:

Updates:

• Added ability to edit the display name in the Game Screen
• This is possible only for non computer players, in offline games only.
• Double-click the Player Name to edit it. Press enter when done.
• Improved Computer Player logic when approaching or executing finishes. The Computer player attempts smarter choices now, dependent on how many darts they've thrown so far in the current turn. For example:
• If the computer has 188 remaining and one dart left, he will aim for Treble 18
• Single 18 leaves 170, which is still a finish.
• With 50 remaining, and more than one dart, the Computer won't shoot for the bull, however if it's last dart he will shoot for bull.

The following updates have also been applied in the interim versions between this and version 2.2.1.0:

Updates:

• Added a Frames Per Second option to control how many video frames are sent to the opposition player's computer in online web cam games. This should help allow players adjust video to a satisfactory level.
• Added notification for a failed connection to the server. In these instances, logs will be uploaded to the server for my analysis.
• Player states change if a local game is started now, no longer just Online games

Bug Fixes:

• All game requests and rejected/cancelled, and existing games are quit if a player shuts down DartMan
• Fixed a bug in the UDP hole punching code which meant that hole punches were not sent for as long a duration as the other client would be listening for them.
• Fixed a bug that meant connection to server was lost when the player starts a local game.

DartMan 2.2.1.0 released!

A major update to the online code for DartMan should result in almost all logged-in players going online automatically, without any configuration! The same technique used for connecting players to the server is applied to the video-streaming between players, meaning that this should also have a much higher success rate. The online page layout has also been updated so that it is more fluid, and allows all the areas to be resized to suit your preference. The full list of changes in this release are as follows:

• Updated the entire Networking codebase to use UDP instead of TCP for server and player to player connections. This should eliminate the need for manual router configuration for most users, and allow most users to go online automatically.
• Reorganised the Online screen with sizable areas to better display all information.
• When you go online, you are notified of how many players are online, and how many of those are friends.
• New Video Streaming options:
• Added Video Compression option to control level of compression.
• Added Frames Per Second to Send option to control how many video frames are sent to the opposition player's computer. This should help adjust video to a satisfactory level.
• These options should allow players to adjust the video streaming to a level that works well for their system.

Please set the video resolution to the lowest resolution on your WebCam initially, and then test with higher ones to see which gives the best balance between quality of image, and frame rate.

Please provide any feedback or suggestions in the comments box below.

DartMan v2.2.0.12 released!

DartMan has been updated, with the following changes:

Updates

• Added a Send Current Log to Support... menu item in the Help menu
• This will allow you to directly send a log file to us if you experience an issue, so that it can be investigated quickly.
• DartMan will now attempt to open ports on the router, even if it experiences an error retrieving existing port mappings from the router.
• This may help more users get online automatically, without having to manually forward ports on their router

Bug Fixes

• Fixed another scenario where video would only work for 1 online game. After one online game, video might not work again until DartMan was restarted.

DartMan will automatically update the next time it is restarted.

DartMan 2.2.0.10 released!

DartMan has been updated with the following changes:

Updates

• Clicking the highlighted player's name in the Online Lobby will open their stats page on the website.
• Records are now shown to the user again when a player beats their best leg and/or high checkout. This was broken in the last few releases. Also, an optional sound is played when this occurs to further alert the player.
• The Test Camera button is now disabled while there is an online game in progress. This is because clicking this button during a game could result in issues with the live video feed to the other player.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed scenario where the video stream was too large to send to the remote player. Now, if too high a resolution is chosen for the webcam, DartMan will automatically reduce the resolution until a suitable one is found for streaming video.
• Fixed a bug which caused users to go offline and online any time any setting was changed and saved.

DartMan will automatically update when restarted. Please provide feedback and suggestions in the comments, or via the Contact page on the website.

DartMan v2.0.0.9 Released!

DartMan has been updated! The main changes are around the online video elements, with the match scores now shown with the remote player's video feed, and better resolution video now available. Full details of the changes are detailed below:

Updates

• Added current game scores on top of the remote player's webcam screen
• Added ability to select video resolution for web cam online games. Previously this was always set to the web cam's default setting.
• In the online lobby, the selected player's country name is now shown above their flag.
• Changing of online comms ports settings no longer requires a restart, unless you are in the middle of an online game.
• Added a feedback form, accessible from the Help menu. It will also be shown the first time an online game is completed.
• In the online lobby, the selected player's country name is now shown above their flag.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug in 'Best Of' games which was calculating the games required to win the game incorrectly. For example, in a best of 3 previously you would not win the match having won 2 legs. This is fixed now.
• Fixed a bug which meant that a webcam game would only work once. In any subsequent games video would not be received from the remote player, until DartMan was restarted.
• Fixed a bug causing the code that stops an online game to be executed twice
• Fixed a bug which caused all online players to receive two notification messages when a player went offline
• Fixed the link launched when clicking the balloon for help with connecting to online

DartMan will automatically update the next time it is launched. Please provide any feedback or suggestions in the comments below, or via the Contact page on our site.

Update - Sets and Draws added!

DartMan has been updated, with the major change being the ability to play sets of x number of legs, as well as the ability to play 'Best Of' x number of legs, rather than just 'First To'. This will allow draw results to be possible, which opens the way for adding tournaments/leagues, which is on the horizon.

The changes in this release are:

Updates

• Introduced/enabled the ability to play Set Games
• Introduced the ability to draw games, by using the 'Best Of' option, instead of 'First To'.
• This is only applicable to 'Best of' leg games (not sets).
• Also, this currently does not apply to online games (but will shortly)
• Improved further the automatic configuration of network ports for online play via UPnP

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug which meant that when a user clicked the Logout button on the Connect tab, the online client remained running.
• Fixed a bug where when an online web cam game completed, DartMan was still trying to receive remote web cam video from the other player.
• The link for downloading the PDC Darts Demo installation (which contains the caller out sounds) in the Sounds Options tab is now working.

Website Updates

The DartMan website has also been updated, to handle the display of set games, and draws:

• The Recent Results list shows the score with 'Legs' or 'Sets' to indicate the match type
• The Games List page now shows:
• 'Legs' or 'Sets' to indicate the match type
• If a result is a draw, it displays this

DartMan will automatically update to the latest version the next time it is launched. Please provide feedback in the comments below, or via the Contact page on the website.

Website Updated

The DartMan website has been updated with the following changes:

• It is now possible to search for users in the My Friends page by username as well as email
• The My Friends page now shows the username of each friend, instead of the player name