Year in review + prospects for 2011

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Since this month marks BVE's 10th Anniversary.  We'll have an article up next week with some admins' first hand experiences with BVE, as part of our BVEStation 2010 Year in review.  Ever since our honorary moderator Greatxu started the BVEStation Year in Review, we will continue it.  The following is the bulk of it, its a long read so lets get started!

BVEStation 2010 Year in Review
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Its actually been a fairly calm year, not much happened in 2010.  We had a handful of trains being released, and several releases related to OpenBVE.  Here's what happened in the world of BVE this year.

BVEStation and surrounding network

Animated Objects - While this wasn't exactly new, it wasn't until recently did the use of animated objects come to rise, and become embraced in OpenBVE.  Trains are still in development to utilize this new feature, as well as some routes.

BVE Terminus reopens (again) - After the original trainsimcentral.co.uk forums went down, the forums have been passed along though several owners, BVE Exchange, and finally BVE Terminus.  Although the initial motives of the moves have been kept a secret, people are lead to believe it was due to member misconduct.  Today BVE Terminus is a clean, and stable forum for the development of BVE content.

Object Bender - A new way to curve objects, originally developed by odakyufan author of the Chashinai Railways, OpenBVE developer michelle makes it an official development tool of OpenBVE.  Using a smaller section of an object, Object Bender, concatenates that small section to another small section until a specific length and radius is met.

BVEStation Year in Review 2010

R160 Alstom for OpenBVE - Released by error46146.  The R160 Alstom works around the original Siemens, to create an Alstom set for users.

R33-ML and R3 - One of the most hyped trains of 2010, the R33 and R38 by DJ Hammers is released.

Codename Newtown - The most advanced OpenBVE Multiplayer Client is released.  After the initial Multiplayer Extension was released, Codename Newtown is a complete rewrite of the multiplayer system, allowing unparalleled stability and features.  Including one of the most requested feature of seeing the player.  Unfortunately due to the low popularity of the program and time constraints of the developer, development stopped just a few months after its release.

R62A Cobra - With multiple authors working on the R62A, this makes the Cobra one of the newest and most advanced NYCT Train made to take advantage of all of OpenBVE's features.

What to expect for 2011

Completion of the first phases of routes - A handful of routes have completed their first phases.  The Queens Bound R, and Manhattan Bound E routes have completed the first phases of development, and are likely to be released sometime this year, (hopefully, so cross your fingers).  There may even be several surprise routes that will pop-up, like the Queens Bound F, Manhattan Bound 7 or the Queens Bound W.  Of course these are only guesses, we can never guarantee anything, but we will always keep you guys updated.  ;)

BVEStation v5 - Scheduled for release (very soon) BVEStation v5, is a near complete overhaul of BVEStation.  We will feature our brand new downloads section, help section, forums, and more.  The BVEStation Administration have been working hard for the last 6 months on v5 to make sure it is polished and ready for release.  

The star of the whole show, however, is our downloads section.  Members will soon be able to upload their own screenshots of the routes they play to be featured on the downloads section, view video previews of the routes, and rate routes on a 1-5 star system.  A new search feature will also be available, and a new quick link download system to get your downloads faster.

Most of the non-fictional routes have also been repackaged into easy one-click installations for the convenience of our users.  Instead of several self extracting exe's, usually split between routes, objects, and sounds, they have all been packaged into one exe with a new installation system.  The routes also have consistent installation locations, so it is easy to find routes and readme files within the files.  For our users who do not use Windows, we will also package new 7zip formats as well.  So installation is now a breeze for all.

Finally for users who like the current downloads section, aka the bullets for quick access to each route, that will also be available in addition to a new mini-progress system, showing the progress of each route.  We think BVEStation v5 will change the face of BVEStation for the greater good, while still retaining all its old goodies of today, we hope you guys like it (when you guys see it :D)

Any questions, comments, or anything I may have missed, please feel free.  Questions about release dates, I have already answered, and I can never guarantee anything with those, sorry!

So with that all said, on behalf of the BVEStation Staff, we wish you all best wishes, have a Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas.

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