BlitzMax coders needed for possible recruitment

Hello everyone. I have an announcement.
While working on the AI routines and thinking about the future of the project, I've been toying with an idea I've mulled over for some time: Turning this project over to a group. This single project has been too long in the making for me in many ways, and I'd like to be able to devote some energy to other things, new things. I have over 700 hours personally invested in it now, including the original Dune 2: TSHA up through the current Universal Version.
So here's the situation. The structure of the gameplay itself is basically intact, and works as I would like it to for a single player. If any readers have provable BlitzMax experience and want to join a potential group to take this game all the way to the end stages of production (AI, multiplayer, better chatroom/wrappers, etc.), contact me. The project will still be under my control, so if I do this, don't expect to inject a lot of your own personal creativity beyond the code itself; however, you will have full credit, and you will be part of a group that may do something even better some day. I may not approve any deviation from gameplay, but I will be very open to rewrites and code enhancements. I know I'm not the world's greatest coder.
Please only contact me if you have good BlitzMax experience, or are very confident you can lend expertise in some other way (such as being a C++ guru, or a sound editor, etc).

Preview 2 up for download

Preview 2 is up for your pleasure. Once again, no multiplayer, config file or AI support yet. Also bear in mind you should legally have a purchased copy of the original Dune 2 game to download and use any of the Dune 2: TSHA files, since they use resources ripped from the original. I'll begin working on AI support shortly so you won't see another preview for many weeks.

Recent improvements:
* Removed network code causing crash
* Corrected formation toggle graphic for control groups
* Corrected retreat level graphics for control groups
* Enabled Units Lost and Enemy Destroyed counters
* Function keys now select only powered buildings
* Home key centers on ConYard
* Harvesters on Move orders are no longer homed by bullets
* Rocket launchers and Sonic weaponry will never home
* Homing bonuses to bullet range reduced
* Bullets receive enough range to target center of buildings
* Protect orders now work properly (attacking only enemy attackers within range)
* Guard orders now check for buildings within distance

Preview 1 is up

Some rules: First of all, this one's for Windows only. Host a game, choose a faction and monkey with other settings, then play what I've set out for you. Don't try anything else with the game or your computer might explode (or the game just won't work). There's no tutorial yet so you'll just have to get used to it.

Enjoy. :) And feel free to send in a donation to help with my costs, or at least click on a few ads.

Preview video up

Here's a nice (albeit low-res and soundless) video preview of Dune 2: TSHA vU:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C6D7FC66E905D4B3
I'll try and get higher-res stuff up soon. I'm not sure about releasing a beta yet because I don't need testing or suggestions at this time, but I wanted to give everybody some sign of progress.

I cannot see him yet but he's very close now...

Okay, so the first beta release is right around the corner. It's a gauntlet-style situation where you set up a base in the middle and weather constant attacks until you're ground into dust, but it should make for a good testing environment. ;)
Keep your eyes open for something to play with soon.

Ornithopters

Hi all,
I'm asking for your help. I've come to an impasse regarding Ornithopters. I have two major problems with them: One, how to implement them programatically... That one I'm not worried about. But the other issue is, how do I implement them in the game period? Here are the main issues.
1. They need to function more or less like in the original game. Basically my only real requirement is that they are not directly controllable or selectable.
2. I would not want them doing suicidal things like attacking any enemy unit on the map.
3. I also don't want a whole boatload of options and settings to be required for efficiently controlling just this one unit type.
4. Of the options I can think of, the first is that they stay out of the Hi-tech factories and patrol constantly looking for local targets (near units or buildings), sort of like being permanently on Guard orders for the whole base. This would be kind of a random pattern though (to save on resources) and raises issues about distance and building value (don't want a fleet of 'Thopters getting shot down trying to defend a Trading Post after all).
5. Another option is that the player selects an area and manually issues some kind of order for 'Thopter support, and otherwise they remain docked. Sounds like it would get ugly though, and require some micromanagement from the player. Maybe this could be timed or something.
6. A final option is to make them behave just like they did in my last version of Dune 2: TSHA (RC3), where they use the settings for supporting Harvesters, Units, and Buildings. However, these are now global settings, and I'm no longer crazy about the idea of having these settings be lumped together with Carryall behavior.

So, I'm asking you to visit the forums and drop a line in Suggestions regarding this issue. Either vote for an existing option or come up with something new and interesting. Please leave your comments as soon as possible.

0.94 Update

Hi All,
I've been stomping bugs for the past month, cleaning things up and tweaking things here and there. I've got a few minor gameplay changes in mind that I'll leave as surprises for you. Lately I've fixed up the starport, mercenary, carryall, and general combat routines. I have more issues to resolve, then I have to finish the Ornithopter code, the worms, and set up some kind of gauntlet-style situation where you (as the beta tester) will have to deal with constant merc attacks, or something of this nature. As I've said, progress may have slowed a bit, but it is ongoing. Keep them blue eyes peeled.