THE POPULOUS BIBLE
I.26 Archived News (2013)
Hosting for All!
28 February by IncaWarrior
Matchmaker 1.7.2.0+ allows almost all to host
Matchmaker 1.7.2.0 introduces a new way for networking Populous. Instead of relying on the aging network code of Populous designed for 90’s style Internet connections, Populous now relays all traffic through the matchmaker. This allows the matchmaker to control essentially every aspect of networking meaning easier host setup with fewer firewall rules and a lot less unexplained connection problems.
Issues are still being worked out, so if you try to host a game and it gives an error or doesn’t work, contact IncaWarrior for instructions on sending some logs so it can be worked out. Apart from the hosting/network improvements, this solution also opens the doors for a number of other interesting features, so stay tuned!
Algorithmically Placing Towers
19 August by IncaWarrior
Map Additions Feature
One fun feature in the Populous Matchmaker is the option to automatically add features to a map. While training huts and normal huts are semi-randomly placed, towers have a more complicated algorithm so they are placed in useful locations. Since towers give FireWarriors a larger range the higher they are, the ideal locations are on the highest ground. Many levels include small hills or cliffs designed for towers, so those are the target locations.