Game Performance Boost

This game performance boost, it will be for a major speed up to Major Command Risk! Our Database is way too large. It takes far too long for the game engine to search for all the relevant information each time a player takes their turn. This slowness in data retrieval is what causes such problems like the “zero-troop” bug, missing troops, maps not loading, and a lot of the other issues that has plagued MC for the last year.

Our plan is to archive all the data that is not needed for immediate access by the game engine. The old game data is still available for the game engine to access whenever needed, but it won’t be part of the main database, thereby reducing the time for the game engine to find the really important information, like information relating to current active games. This archival could reduce the database size by over 50%, and hopefully eliminate the conditions that cause all these errors to occur. So lots of work is approaching to complete the upcoming game performance boost.

Will the Game Performance Boost fix the “zero troop bug”?

Let me be clear. The “zero troop bug” is not actually a bug. It is not a simple line of code that needs to be fixed. It is a result of other issues like the database size. Reducing the database size won’t “fix” the “zero-troop bug”, but it will create a condition where that particular bug is far less likely to occur. Hopefully never again. It will also minimize or eliminate other poor performance issues as well.

This is not the end. It is a major fix moving forward, but it is still only a patch up job. The goal is to create a structure where these issues will simply not exist. We are currently working on two projects. First is to repair the current game site, and second is to create a new, better, updated, and more functional one.

As with every update, there is a chance of fixing one thing, and breaking another. Hopefully, the fallout will be minimal this time. This database contains EVERYTHING ever done by anyone on MC. And we don’t want to mess it up. So be patient, and WISH US LUCK !! 🙂

Sheriff

First Monthly Website Update

The first monthly website update for major Command Risk. We would like to give you a bit of insight as to what has been done so far behind the scenes, and what is being planned for the next month. Most of you can see the front-end things like Tournaments and stuff, but this is an update on what you don’t see. Our first month, July, was filled with a lot of administrative tasks pertaining to the website, as well as a long overdue housekeeping of it’s files.

Marcos our developer has a full-time job and has only been able to work for us on weekends. However, starting in mid-September, Marcos will be done with his contractual obligations giving him the ability to focus on Major Command full time. We look forward to that day!

This is by no means a complete list, but rather a general update of behind-the-scenes activity.

July website update

– administrative tasks relating to the transfer of site and domain ownership
– administrative tasks regarding site and server security
– backing up of database and server files
– creating a wiki file of site functionality
– identifying and documenting the mostly undocumented source code
– setting up a virtual environment to implement fixes and features.
– commissioning a new map
– increased vigilance with multi-accounts and fake users

Now that most the boring, yet necessary tasks are done, in August we hope to start seeing some changes, albeit slowly since Marcos still has other commitments until September. Nonetheless, this is a brief outlook at next month’s plan. Subject to change of course! 😉

August – another website update

– additional database maintenance and archival
– resolve 0-troop bug
– resolve ‘processing’ error
– resolve medals not being awarded issue
– continued vigilance with multi-accounts and fake users
– release a new map
– and….?

More to follow as things develop! Now go and start playing your favorite Risk games.
Sheriff.