paint.net 5.0.3 is now available!
March 30, 2023 - 11:15
Hello everyone! The staff from paint.net has recently released paint.net 5.0.3. For your information, paint.net is a free and open-source image and photo editing software for Windows with a quite rich set of features. Here is what we know about paint.net 5.0.3:

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This update adds the ability to draw shapes from the center, the ability to resize shapes and selections uniformly (from the center), as well as the usual handful of bug fixes.

In this update, I’ve also rewritten the Direct2D initialization code to modernize it (switching away from ID2D1HwndRenderTarget, in other words). For now, you should see no difference, in terms of rendering or performance, compared to previous versions. Future updates should see reduced memory usage and improved canvas interaction capabilities as I investigate and integrate the use of newer Windows libraries like DirectComposition and DirectManipulation.

For all the details on what’s new in 5.0 (there’s a lot!), check out its release post.

Changes since 5.0.2:

  • New: You can now draw from the center when using the Shapes or Line/Curve tools by holding down Ctrl. You can also resize uniformly by holding Ctrl.
  • New: You can now resize uniformly (“centered”) by holding down Ctrl when using the Move Selection or Move Selected Pixels tools
  • Fixed: Edit -> Copy and Copy Merged are no longer greyed out (disabled) when a selection is not active; they will copy the entire layer or image. You could always use the keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+C or Ctrl+Shift+C) to invoke these commands, but the menu items were not clickable.
  • Fixed: Right-clicking on the color wheel in the Colors window will now set the secondary color
  • Fixed some issues with the Text tool recentering the view when it shouldn’t when keys like Ctrl are pressed
  • Fixed some JPEG images failing to load because of malformed IPTC metadata
  • Fixed a rare crash in the Magic Wand and Paint Bucket tools
  • Fixed an uncommon rendering glitch with the Text tool when antialiasing is disabled
  • Fixed an issue with some older plugins that were using the legacy Gaussian Blur effect with radius=0
  • Added an /ignoreCorruptPDNChunks command-line parameter to assist with certain data recovery scenarios for .PDN files
  • Updated the Direct2D initialization code in order to modernize it and enable future work that will optimize performance, memory use, and interactivity (e.g., with DirectComposition and DirectManipulation)
  • Updated the bundled DDSFileTypePlus plugin to version 1.11.4.0, which adds error diffusion dithering support for the BC1-3 formats (thanks @null54!)

Get the Update
There are two releases of Paint.NET:

  • Microsoft Store release (recommended)
  • Classic Desktop release

    • Download the installer from the website. This is the recommended download if you don’t have Paint.NET installed. It can also be used to update the app.
    • If you already have it installed, you should be offered the update automatically within the next week or so, but you can also get it immediately by going to Settings -> Updates -> Check Now.
    • Offline Installers and Portable ZIPs are available over on GitHub.


For further information about paint.net, visit its Official Website. Download paint.net 5.0.3 Here. And that's all regarding paint.net for now. Stay tuned at PPM for more news about paint.net!

Blender 3.5 is now available!
March 30, 2023 - 02:52
One vision, one purpose! A new version of Blender was released moments ago by their staff. For those who are not acquainted with it, Blender is the most complete free 3D modeling tool, a must-have for anyone who is into game development or modding. Here is a video spotlighting the new features of Blender 3.5:





If you are curious about Blender, visit the Official Website to obtain further information about it. Blender is available for download Here. You can read the full changelog from Blender 3.5 Here. That's all, folks! Stay tuned at PPM for more news coverage on Blender!

Hi everyone! Reinforcements have arrived from Starkku. He has recently created a new tool called PalTool. It is a command line tool that performs certain operations on JASC and Westwood Command & Conquer palette files used in Tiberian Dawn, Red Alert 1, Tiberian Sun, and Red Alert 2. Here is what you need to know to use PalTool in your projects:

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PalTool

Command line program for performing certain operations on JASC and WW C&C palette files. Does not supplant basic palette editor functionality, at least not as of current.


Usage: PalTool.exe palette_file [output_palette_file] [-a, -m, -r, -c, -t, -s, -p]
-m | Modify colors based on alpha.
-a [number] | Calculate alpha using the average of color values. The number is what the cumulative color value is divided by to get the average, which defaults to 3.
-t [hue|saturation|light|red|green|blue|alpha|brightness|rgb|gradients] threshold-value [new-alpha-value] | Modify alpha based on a threshold. The value listed after determines the threshold type. Defaults to 'saturation' if an invalid value is specified. Colors that pass the threshold value have their alpha set to the new value. The rest are left untouched. No threshold is not valid. The new alpha value defaults to 1. Both threshold & new alpha values should be numbers from 0 to 255.
-s [hue|saturation|light|red|green|blue|alpha|brightness|rgb|gradients] | Sort colors. The value listed after determines the sort method. Defaults to 'rgb' if an invalid value is specified.
-g [startindex] [count] [saturation_threshold] | Sort parameters. The start color index, number of gradients, and saturation split threshold for gradients sort (0-1.0) default to 1, 8, and 0.33, respectively.
-b | Output 6-bit RGB color components instead of 8-bit (only if JASC palette).
-d | Print debug info about palette to console.
-r | Do not save alpha values in the output palette (only if JASC palette).
-c | Save output as WW palette, not JASC palette.
-p | Save a 256x1px PNG image containing one pixel of each palette color.


You can find more information about PalTool by visiting the Official Website. Download PalTool. That's all, folks! Stay tuned at PPM for more news coverage on PalTool!

General! We have news for you. NewStar Studio, the leader of Generals: The Power Of The West, has recently posted some of the progress done with Generals: The Power Of The West. For those unaware, Generals: The Power Of The West is a modification for Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour that adds new units, rebalances the game, adds new sub-factions such as the US Tank General, and enhances the gameplay experience. Here is what you need to know about the progress on Generals: The Power Of The West:

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Welcome to another episode of TPOTW updates. In this episode, I would like to talk about what we're doing next.

Our plan now is to remake some of our old models, starting with Death angel and FA-XX.

For Death angel, we're replacing this:-






with this...







Death angel to Archangel.

Archangel is armed with six-barrel rotary machine gun with a high rate of fire and eight anti-tank missiles.

Archangel is more deadly and powerful which makes its production costs more money and time.

Archangel has another variant, the Anti-tank variant.







Anti-tank Archangel is armed with quad 60mm cannons, which makes it a great counter to light and medium tanks.



moving to our next remake

FA-XX from this...






To this...






FA-XX is a stealth long-range attack aircraft, and all of its abilities remain the same.

Well, that's about all, until the next update then!


You can learn more about Generals: The Power Of The West by visiting the ModDB Profile. And that's all regarding Generals: The Power Of The West for now. Stay tuned at PPM for more news about Generals: The Power Of The West!

C&C Reloaded 2.4.7 has been released!
March 29, 2023 - 16:44
Welcome back, commander! Reinforcements have arrived from C&C Reloaded. FS-21 has recently made C&C Reloaded 2.4.7 available for download. For those who are not acquainted with it, C&C Reloaded is a classic modification that brings together the Tiberian Sun and Red Alert 2 factions into Red Alert 2: Yuri's Revenge with Ares and Phobos. Here is what we know about C&C Reloaded 2.4.7:

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Version 2.4.7 (minor release) - Released, 2023/02/28
------------------------------


General game additions:

  • [Experimental] AI learning: New feature (disabled by default): if enabled, then AI can save the AI triggers status of the skirmish/offline campaigns and load these values at the scenario load so when AI picks new triggers AI will take in consideration what AI triggers were more/less useful in last game. This "AI memory" is only per map (so you have to play the same a lot to notice any difference). To clean this AI memory, delete the map file inside the "AI" folder. To enable it to open the file rulesmd.ini in the mod folder and change the value of [AI] -> "AILearning=no" to "AILearning=yes".
  • Updated Github Phobos snapshot used in the 2.4.x releases.


General game changes:

  • Fixed crash that appeared after a few map restarts.
  • Fixed crash in the ants' mission.
  • Fixed some crashes after winning the single-player map, especially TS missions.
  • GDI and Nod artillery logic changed, now, the units should be more accurate on different terrain levels.
  • Tech Outpost strength from 2000 to 1400.
  • Captured Tech Outposts can be used for the MCV prerequisite.
  • Improved support of the missing sidebar descriptions.
  • Updated translations (Simplified & Traditional Chinese) for the sidebar descriptions.
  • Updated Spanish translations for the sidebar descriptions.
  • AI teaks & improvements.


Yuri changes:

  • Now, when the Flying disc attacks a power plant, it will drain 500 energy points from the enemy energy grid.
  • Fixed Overlord tank tooltip name.
  • Disabled the Overlord tank in meat grinder game mode.


GDI changes:

  • GDI Juggernaut Weapon rate of fire from 200 (~13.3 seconds) to 150 (10 seconds).


You can find more information about C&C Reloaded by visiting the Official Website, Forums at Revora, ModDB Profile, and Discord Channel. You can download C&C Reloaded 2.4.7 Here. And that's all for now! Have fun and enjoy C&C Reloaded!

Welcome back, commander! FunkyFr3sh, the leader of cnc-ddraw, has recently released cnc-ddraw 5.1.0.0. For those unaware, cnc-ddraw is a rendering alternative for old games that uses Direct Draw, making them compatible with newer systems and improving their graphics. You can use it on games like Command & Conquer Gold, Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, Carmageddon, Carmageddon 2, Warcraft 2, StarCraft, Diablo, Diablo 2, Age of Empires, Age of Empires II, Theme Hospital, Populous: The Beginning, Outlaws, Dungeon Keeper, Dark Reign: The Future of War, Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, Atomic Bomberman, Dune 2000, Oddworld: Abe\'s Oddysee, Commandos, Red Baron 3D, F-16 Multirole Fighter, F-22 Raptor, Nox, among others. Here are the updates from cnc-ddraw 5.1.0.0:

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Instructions

  • Download cnc-ddraw.zip and extract it into your game folder
  • Start the game

Game doesn't work? Please check the Readme file and the wiki.

Hotkeys

  • [Alt] + [Enter]                  = Switch between windowed and fullscreen mode
  • [Ctrl] + [Tab]                    = Unlock cursor
  • [Right Alt] + [Right Ctrl]  = Unlock cursor
  • [Alt] + [Page Down]        = Maximize window (Window borders must be disabled in config)

Changelog

  • Fixed a bug in Alien Nations (Random crash after intro)
  • Fixed a bug in Cossacks (Intro crash)
  • Does now use the catmull-rom shader as default setting (even if no Shaders folder exists)
  • Added a few new shaders ( by @ajtos - https://github.com/ajtos/cnc-ddraw-extra-shaders)
  • Added a preset for Starcraft
  • Added support for EV Nova ( by @andrews05 )
  • Added support for New Robinson
  • Added support for Virtua Fighter PC
  • Added support for Baldr Force Exe


For further information about cnc-ddraw, visit the Official Website. Download the latest version of cnc-ddraw Here. And that's all regarding cnc-ddraw for now. Stay tuned at PPM for more news about cnc-ddraw!

RA2YR Enhanced 8.5 has been released!
March 28, 2023 - 10:56
Hello ladies and gentlemen! Zorbung, the leader of RA2YR Enhanced and also develops the voxel editor Yvory, has published a new version of RA2YR Enhanced called RA2YR Enhanced 8.5. RA2YR Enhanced is a modification for Red Alert 2: Yuri's Revenge that enhances the game and its AI following the visions of the author, focusing on a great skirmish and multiplayer experience while keeping its "vanilla flavor". Here are the changes and the fun stuff from RA2YR Enhanced 8.5:

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Made from scratch with advanced tools protecting against mistakes, RA2YR Enhanced greatly improves the game, with most units and buildings being refined to their true value. The AI has been redone and continuously upgraded ever since the first release to provide primeval fun.




RA2YR Enhanced 8.5 Video - Mod DB






Gear up! RA2YR Enhanced has now evolved to suit all play styles. What works for 1vs1 may not go well with Free For All or Team Alliance, and vice versa. Newbie or pro, everyone can enjoy the mod now, simply adjust the difficulty settings or select a preset to match your own play style!

You can download RA2YR Enhanced from the link below:



Download RA2YR Enhanced v8.5 Installer - Mod DB






More news soon. Stay in touch!


For further information about RA2YR Enhanced, visit the ModDB Profile. Download RA2YR Enhanced 8.5 Here. That's all, folks! Stay tuned at PPM for more news coverage on RA2YR Enhanced!

Global Crisis - USA Construction Yard
March 28, 2023 - 10:44
Hello everyone! Updates of Global Crisis has been shared recently by HG_SCIPCION. Global Crisis is a modification for Yuri's Revenge (with Ares and Phobos) that is set after the Allied victory over the Soviet Union and years after the arrival of Tiberium on Earth. Here is the latest construction presented by HG_SCIPCION for Global Crisis:

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USA Construction yard


For further information about Global Crisis, visit its Forums, ModDB Profile, and Discord Channel at C&C Mod Haven. That's all, folks! Stay tuned at PPM for more news coverage on Global Crisis!