4.0 Facts

Things that have already been decided regarding W:A 4.0.

• It will not require the CD to play.
• It will require the CD only once when installing.
• It will not install in the same folder as the previous versions.
• It will not use most of the same file formats.
• It will convert both game and user files to the new formats during installation.
• It will not support .BIT files on non-Windows OSes (because it's a proprietary format that requires a Windows DLL). However, an online tool will be available to convert BIT maps to 1-bit PNGs.
• It will use Unicode and be fully localizable.
• It will not support Windows 98 or Windows Millennium.
• It will use 32-bit colour (24-bit colour space).
• It will be able to run in a window.
• It will have a non-modal interface, meaning one can play a game, spectate another and chat on WormNET at the same time. Interface design remains an open question.
• It will have a redesigned network protocol.
• It will not be network-compatible with previous versions.
• It will have a new, redesigned WormNET system.
• It will not be able to connect to the old WormNETs.
• It will have WMDB integration (or a similar system).
• It will be able to play replays from older W:A versions.
• It will run on Linux natively.
• It will have automatic updates, mandatory for online play. Maybe not.
• It will have a scripting language. Maybe 4.x, probably not in 4.0.
• It will not be ready this decade.