After a long, long wait, Magic Workstation users are getting an update. Well, sort of, a preview anyway. For those not familiar with MWS, MWS is one of the more popular alternatives to the old and outdated Apprentice program. Magic Workstation allows you to download pictures, new themes, maintain and work with a database, among other features.
Detonator, one of the developers on the MWS team, has been at it working on the graphic engine and MWSPlay scripts. There are many features coming in v0.95, which will basically be the final 1.00 and versions inbetween will be taking care of any bugs. The preview is a public beta test with limited play, but it's nice to see progress is being made. It's only available through their forum, and you may have to be registered there to access the v0.95 Test & Discussion forum, but from the looks of it a final version of v0.95 isn't too far off. You can get to the MWS forum via a link on their main page.
A small list of some of the features said to be available in the complete v0.95:
-New random generator for shuffling
-Spectator mode
-Ability to create your own CCG that also allows you to play others such as Pokemon, YuGiOh, and Dragonball GT
-Other new features
Remember to check the News here often or their website and forum to keep up with the latest events and news surrounding the awesomeness that is Magic Workstation
The main thing I wish they'd work on is the speed and effeciency of their code. Nothin' like sittin' there waiting for everything to load when you're trying to play 5-color. Of course its better than the alternatives that won't even let you attempt a 250 card deck, but I'm still picky.
People despised MWS for it's shuffling engine... hope it gets better.
Well the reason it was so bad was because the algorhythm of the randomizer only supported 12-13 cards in the shuffling effectively. The new one will support to around 60 cards effectively providing for much better shuffles. I agree though that the old shuffler was really bad at randomizing.
Yeah I hope the suffler is better, but speaking of new versions what ever happend to Aprrentice. Weren't they suspose to be releasing a new version also?
The new one will support to around 60 cards effectively providing for much better shuffles.
For the record, I believe they're now using a Merseinne Twister (rtfm) for generating the random numbers, along with a proper slot-swap algorithm for shuffling.. so it should be able to support "decks" much larger than 60 cards.. probably in the range of several thousand cards or more. (It's important cause, as someone mentioned, MWS is popular for playing 5-colour online)
I don't know for sure, not being one of the devs, but there was some discussion about it on the forums a few months back and Det said they were going forward with the MT-based shuffler.
Yeah I hope the suffler is better, but speaking of new versions what ever happend to Aprrentice. Weren't they suspose to be releasing a new version also?
It's been months and months since anyone's heard anything about that. The last time anything was heard about Apprentice 2 was when the released a screenshot for it to MTGnews and it was posted. I'm beginning to think it's a dead cause at this point. I never really was a fan of Apprentice even before I found MWS, so I'm not too saddened by it, plus I'm a pretty avid MWS supporter now anyway. Who knows, maybe something will pop up in the future, but if they end up doing alot of what they say they're doing with MWS, the guys working on Apprentice 2 (assuming it's still being worked on) might want to release it before MWS 1.0 comes around.
I was just going to ask why they didn't use something like Merseinne Twister. It's very quick, very random, and it shouldn't be hard to make a good shuffler off of that.
Download and install the program and then install the Database. The Beta of v0.95 you can't play with, its just a preview to show people the new graphics engine and everything. You can download card pics from MWS Data, as well as themes.
Asking people to remove quotes in their signatures is tyranny! If I can't say something just because someone's feelings are hurt then no one would ever be able to say anything! Political correctness is stupid.
Detonator, one of the developers on the MWS team, has been at it working on the graphic engine and MWSPlay scripts. There are many features coming in v0.95, which will basically be the final 1.00 and versions inbetween will be taking care of any bugs. The preview is a public beta test with limited play, but it's nice to see progress is being made. It's only available through their forum, and you may have to be registered there to access the v0.95 Test & Discussion forum, but from the looks of it a final version of v0.95 isn't too far off. You can get to the MWS forum via a link on their main page.
A small list of some of the features said to be available in the complete v0.95:
-New random generator for shuffling
-Spectator mode
-Ability to create your own CCG that also allows you to play others such as Pokemon, YuGiOh, and Dragonball GT
-Other new features
Remember to check the News here often or their website and forum to keep up with the latest events and news surrounding the awesomeness that is Magic Workstation
-Xen
(Also known as Xenphire)
The main thing I wish they'd work on is the speed and effeciency of their code. Nothin' like sittin' there waiting for everything to load when you're trying to play 5-color. Of course its better than the alternatives that won't even let you attempt a 250 card deck, but I'm still picky.
Either way, I look forward to the update.
No longer staff here.
Well the reason it was so bad was because the algorhythm of the randomizer only supported 12-13 cards in the shuffling effectively. The new one will support to around 60 cards effectively providing for much better shuffles. I agree though that the old shuffler was really bad at randomizing.
-Xen
(Also known as Xenphire)
For the record, I believe they're now using a Merseinne Twister (rtfm) for generating the random numbers, along with a proper slot-swap algorithm for shuffling.. so it should be able to support "decks" much larger than 60 cards.. probably in the range of several thousand cards or more. (It's important cause, as someone mentioned, MWS is popular for playing 5-colour online)
I don't know for sure, not being one of the devs, but there was some discussion about it on the forums a few months back and Det said they were going forward with the MT-based shuffler.
G
It's been months and months since anyone's heard anything about that. The last time anything was heard about Apprentice 2 was when the released a screenshot for it to MTGnews and it was posted. I'm beginning to think it's a dead cause at this point. I never really was a fan of Apprentice even before I found MWS, so I'm not too saddened by it, plus I'm a pretty avid MWS supporter now anyway. Who knows, maybe something will pop up in the future, but if they end up doing alot of what they say they're doing with MWS, the guys working on Apprentice 2 (assuming it's still being worked on) might want to release it before MWS 1.0 comes around.
-Xen
(Also known as Xenphire)
there was a link in the software section..
here's the link:
http://www.magic-source.com/apprentice2/
personally i'm not quite as big a fan of it as i probably thought i would've been.
its like MWS-lite.
I just uploaded the card base with real images and its looks so different and cool im really surprised. Man do we need that new shuffler.
Chimaera's 540 Card Depowered Cube
Wolfwood Sama on MTGO (Westane for PureMTGO community events)
UR - Burning Vengeance
BG - The Rock
RUG - RUG Control
BBB - Zombies
-MWS v0.94e
-MWS v0.94e (Alt. Download)
-MTG Database Download
-MTG Database Download (Alt. Download)
Download and install the program and then install the Database. The Beta of v0.95 you can't play with, its just a preview to show people the new graphics engine and everything. You can download card pics from MWS Data, as well as themes.
(Also known as Xenphire)
Thanks for the news.
Eventhough I'm late on it...
www.ohnoitsanotheruselessteenagerwebsitelol.com