Particle Engine [release 1.0]

Hi all. The particle engine I've been working on for a while now, is finaly finished. After testing it to make sure its stable, I've decided it's ready for public release. v1 is still considerable Beta, but I'm confident in its ability to satisfy all your particle needs.

The Engine works on a filter theory. You keep arrays of particles, and run each array through the desired particle filter which then produce the desired effect. I'll attach the engine (5 modules, one form) in a zip file to this post, and follow up with a (LENGTHY) post with the source and comments. Consider it your online-documentation :P.

If youd like to see a demo or two of the engine in effect, try these:
http://amithran.hybd.net/downloads/matrix2.zip
http://amithran.hybd.net/devjournal/pengine.zip


The engine.zip file includes 6 files.
form1.frm (example form with 4 effects)
PE_DrawParticles (draw subs)
PE_MiscFunctions (miscelanious subs that belong no where else)
PE_ParticleFilters (House the 4 particle effect filters )
PE_PublicDeclares (Pretty self explaining:P )
pe_udtDefinitions (My own custom var types)

First of all, let me thank you for showing interest in my particle engine.
The engine is pretty self documented and the form thats with it serves as a slightly
advanced example of how to use it. Tutorials, and documentation will be made available at a later time.


Here is the out right basic code you need for one particle effect being drawn to the form:

=====================================================

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Dim fireParticles() As udtParticle
Public NumParticles As Integer
Dim mouseX, mouseY As Integer
Dim screenWIDTH, screenHEIGHT As Integer
Dim complexity As Integer
 
 
 
Private Sub Form_Load()
    'Set form attributes
    Form1.WindowState = 0
    Form1.Width = 400 * Screen.TwipsPerPixelX
    Form1.Height = 320 * Screen.TwipsPerPixelY
    
    Timer1.Interval = 15
 
    mouseX = (Me.Width / Screen.TwipsPerPixelX) / 2
    mouseY = (Me.Height / Screen.TwipsPerPixelY) / 2
    screenWIDTH = Me.Width / Screen.TwipsPerPixelX
    screenHEIGHT = Me.Height / Screen.TwipsPerPixelY
 
 
    'particle count per particle effect, 550 is a bit high
    'I suggest 250 to start with.
    NumParticles = 550
    complexity = 1
    Me.AutoRedraw = True
 
 
    'Controllers are where the "center" of every particle
    'effect is created. If you want to move a particle effect
    'across the screen you simplye move the controller.x and .y
    'across the screen and the filters will do all the hard work
    'for you.
    ReDim Controllers(1) As tOrigin
    Controllers(0).m_oX = mouseX
    Controllers(0).m_oY = mouseY
 
 
    ReDim fireParticles(NumParticles)
    Call setParticles(fireParticles, 0, Controllers)
 
    
 
End Sub
 
Private Sub Timer1_Time()
            Me.Cls
 
            Call fireFilter(fireParticles, 0, Controllers)
            Call DrawParticles(fireParticles, complexity, Form1.hdc)
End Sub

=====================================================



A few notes about the engine:
1.) This is its' first release, and my first public project. Very likely things arn't being done very efficiently this version, but in future releases I hope to fix those things.
2.) Only 4 filters are available with this version, but it is very easy to create your own, give it a try.
3.) Feel free to make modifications to the code, if you use this engine (modified or not) please give me credit, All I ask is "Particle Engine by Jeremy Giberson: http://amithran.hybd.net." Thanks in advance.

4.) Contacting me: PLEASE PLEASE, if you have a problem try to fix it yourself, more then likely its a syntax error. If you have made additions to the code that are significant (fps performance, usability, particle filters) please do drop me a line and let me know.
My email is: [email protected]

5.) Last but not least, I am not responsible for any damage done to your computer due to the miss-use of this code. IN all likely hood, nothing in this engine is harmful, or will cash any problems, but as a famous lawyer once said: Cover your ass-sets.. The code is release as is.

Once again, thanks for trying my engine out.




[EDIT] I decided NOT to include the source here, its just too much.