Planet: Invasion

The Team:
(In no specific order)

• k1ll3rdr4g0n(Everything (Coding, Level Design...))
• kai
• markdunphy(Models/Meshes)
• Pie(Anything)
• Tsukasa(Level Design)
• Deejdd(MIA)
• RadBrad
• Jacob Roman(Engine)
• Devion
• InTeG(GFX, Programming)

To Do List:

• Teaser (Done)
• Storyline (Done)
• Game Engine (Working on it...)
  
  • Create maps
  • Put in collision
  • Make intro movie scene
  • Make weapns
  • Add weapon fire
  • Figure how to make it so you can 'shoot' enimes
  • Make HUD
  • Make menus
  • Make other scene movies
• Game Concept (such as UI and how the HUD will look)
• Graphics

Story:

You use on of the lifeboats to get off the Von Braun, to shuttle down to Earth. You arrive at Area 51, gretted by all of your friends. Alot has changed since your depature. You find out the implant technology you currently have are ages old. You go ahead and find your family, and tell them how much you missed them. You then head over to the hopisital to get your implants upgraded. You then awaken to find out something bad has happened. You ask yourself "Where are the nurses and doctors?". You soon find out the answer to that question...

Teaser:

Right after you destory Shodan, you walk to the window of the bridge and stare out the window you see the green and blue globe called Earth. You have finally made it home. Not known to you, fate has more plans for you...

Background:

This game is going to be a unoffical continuation of System Shock 2. System Shock 2 is a great FPS/RPG where in the begining you start at a train station and as you start you have to pick a military branch. Each branch influnces what abilites you will have later. After you pick you have to 'train' for 3 years. Then you awaken on the von braun, where something VERY bad has happened. You have no memory of what happened, but you have a feeling it wasn't anything good. You go throughout the game collecting clues on what happened.
In this game you interact with your environment, you can hack a keypad, a security station, or a vending machine. You collect logs and listen to them. You can wear armor, upgrade your weapons, wear implants to enchance yourself.

System Shock 2 Screenshots: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/syste...reenindex.html

I want to help!

Make a post here, or PM me.

What programming langauge is this going to be in?

Visual Basic 6 using Direct X.

Where are we now?

Starting to write it.

Tools

3D Canvas
Macromedia Studio
Visual Basic 6

Other information

Great DirectX resource (http://directx4vb.vbgamer.com/)
Note: Because we are using VB 6, the Direct X 8 tutorials are only useful to us.

I love the idea of debugging in one language and then porting to another. You don't see any massive flaws in this approach?

:D

Well, there may be some bugs in the port because I don't think we will be able to port exactly. But, this is what Ken Silverman (He wrote Ken's Labryinth, and the engine for Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior, Blood and amoung others) did, he wrote some of his programs in QBASIC first, then ported them over to C. And he still did a great job :D.
Heres his site: http://advsys.net/ken/ .

Granted since QBASIC is to old to use, I chose VB 6 because VB 6 is more common today than QBASIC, not only that but I don't think you can use Direct X to easily in QBAISC ;).
Also we might not use 100% VB 6, I think as soon as we get the harder stuff done we are just probably going to use C++. Don't know, It'll be up to everyone else.

Alright, cool. We got the story and teaser done. Now what? :afrog:

Ok, now Pie told me that we could use a SDK to make it. But, I would rather not make it with a SDK, I would rather make it from scratch. It would make it as a better learning experience. Thoughts?

Well, using an SDK would be much easier, and would also make this game seem more like a sequel to System Shock 2. However, if we're looking to make it a learning experience, then yes, building it from scratch would probably be best.

Hi ppl ima new Crew member and err...
lemme introduce meself

Q. What is your name?
A. My name is Niek van der Maaden

Q. Where r u from?
A. The netherlands :P

a whatever q and a sucks any way

erm i am here to help these ppl finish there game :P

and erm a leave it Tht my Job lol cya guys


I like to work from a SDK

I really want to make this using Direct X, because it in it self will make this process a snap because Direct X is just like your video card on steriods XD. With Direct X you have easy access to anything you would need to make a game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by k1ll3rdr4g0n

I really want to make this using Direct X, because it in it self will make this process a snap because Direct X is just like your video card on steriods XD. With Direct X you have easy access to anything you would need to make a game.

---

I agree with that. :p

I have a bit of advice...

If you have any clue how to write C++ then you should be using that as your first language here. You will learn about the language while you are coding. If you used VB6 as your first language then you will not learn anything about C++ and you WILL fail when it comes to porting to C++. I can only imagine you want to use VB6 because you have little experience of C++.

VB6 is too far away from C++ to be portable AND get any benefit from the port. VB6 is NOT object orientated in ANY way, C++ is fully OO. Any port to use OO will involve a major re-write anyway so you should start with C++ and forget VB6.

Your current strategy will fail, and that would be a shame because you can do it all in C++ if you put your mind to it and you'd learn a lot in the process, the end result would definitely be better too.

Forget VB6, or forget C++, using them both will get you nowhere.

:thumb:

Thanks wossname, I think we will just stick with C++.

RadBrad found this awsome 3D engine.
http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net

I think we will acctually use this. This will speed up the devlopment by 10 fold.

Also RadBrad showed me a map editor we can use http://www.zalsoft.com/ .
Thanks RadBrad.

If you want DirectX, Jacob Roman's your man. He's our local DX guy.. does everything in it..

@timeshifter

Ill give him a ring if I ever have a Direct X question :).

@team

Download and install this:
http://www.delgine.com/
its a level maker were going to use, unless someone has something better :).

Don't forget to download the engine, http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net .

You can download a demo of the engine using a warhouse map that that came with the map editor.
http://www.serversoft.us.to/ss3/test.rar

I just did this to test to see which editor would work with the engine. Now you can see it in action. :).

Source:

Code:

---

#include <irrlicht.h>
#include <iostream>

using namespace irr;

#pragma comment(lib, "Irrlicht.lib")

int main()
{
        video::E_DRIVER_TYPE driverType;

        printf("Please select the driver you want for this example:\n"\
                " (a) Direct3D 9.0c\n (b) Direct3D 8.1\n (c) OpenGL 1.2\n"\
                " (d) Software Renderer\n (e) NullDevice\n (otherKey) exit\n\n");

        char i;
        std::cin >> i;

        switch(i)
        {
                case 'a': driverType = video::EDT_DIRECTX9;        break;
                case 'b': driverType = video::EDT_DIRECTX8;        break;
                case 'c': driverType = video::EDT_OPENGL;  break;
                case 'd': driverType = video::EDT_SOFTWARE; break;
                case 'e': driverType = video::EDT_NULL;    break;
                default: return 1;
        }


        IrrlichtDevice *device =
                createDevice(driverType, core::dimension2d<s32>(640, 480));

        if (device == 0)
                return 1; // could not create selected driver.

        video::IVideoDriver* driver = device->getVideoDriver();
        scene::ISceneManager* smgr = device->getSceneManager();

        scene::IAnimatedMesh* mesh = smgr->getMesh("Warehouse.dmf");
        scene::ISceneNode* node = 0;
       
        if (mesh)
                node = smgr->addOctTreeSceneNode(mesh->getMesh(0));
                node->setMaterialFlag(video::EMF_LIGHTING, false);

        if (node)
                node->setPosition(core::vector3df(-438,-18,-284));

        smgr->addCameraSceneNodeFPS();


        device->getCursorControl()->setVisible(false);

        int lastFPS = -1;

        while(device->run())
        if (device->isWindowActive())
        {
                driver->beginScene(true, true, video::SColor(0,200,200,200));
                smgr->drawAll();
                driver->endScene();

                int fps = driver->getFPS();

                if (lastFPS != fps)
                {
                        core::stringw str = L"Demo 1";
                        str += driver->getName();
                        str += "] FPS:";
                        str += fps;

                        device->setWindowCaption(str.c_str());
                        lastFPS = fps;
                }
        }

        device->drop();
       
        return 0;
}

---

So you got some maps to work eh, killerdragon? I think I finally sorted my BSP problem with gtkRadient. The header file was the links to the folder systems Quake3, Return to Castle Wolfenstein or Enemy Territory. See, the version I downloaded expects you to have at least one of those games installed, thus owning ALL .pk3 files in the game that holds all the textures. The header in the BSP tries to draw the texture/other files from RTCW or which ever program you picked on the BSP editor startup. Which means, if other people want to use the maps we make, we have to effectively give them the pako.pk3 and the RTCW directory on their computer, stupid eh? So, I'm thinking maybe just sticking with creating the maps as a .x becuase Irrlicht still supports the use of .x and collision detection with it, since it mainly supports DirectX. What do you think?

Oh n ps. I figured gtkRadient is only a BSP editor so that you can test out the maps with the game you OWN, so you can have better online senarious for clans... oops :(

Oh and by the way, what editor DID you use to make the map?

The light edition of http://www.delgine.com/
( http://www.delgine.com/downloads/del...dlitesetup.exe ).

.x files sound good, I have just recently been looking at this one,
http://captorsoft.port5.com/ ,it uses xml files. But X files would be good.

Also deled lite can export .x files. Do you know of a better program than this one?

Blender3D is very good for this (blender.org). But it messes up since I installed new drivers for my graphics card. But I'm getting a new graphics card soon, so download it and seriously consider it, it's very very good.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timeshifter

If you want DirectX, Jacob Roman's your man. He's our local DX guy.. does everything in it..

---

Like I said in the CC section, count me in. I'm good at this DirectX stuff. :bigyello: :thumb:

And forget about .X files. They don't animate. Let's use the .MD3 format. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jacob Roman

Like I said in the CC section, count me in. I'm good at this DirectX stuff. :bigyello: :thumb:

And forget about .X files. They don't animate. Let's use the .MD3 format. ;)

---

Thanks Jacob!
Do you know any level makers that export to MD3 format?
(I think blender can, but I havn't gotten around to learning it yet :p )

Welcome aboard :).
Oh, and I'm going to check that thread right now. :p

No the 3D models will be in .md3 format and the levels will be in .bsp format ;)

I can probably easily make a level maker, but for beta purposes, lets use the levels already made.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jacob Roman

No the 3D models will be in .md3 format and the levels will be in .bsp format ;)

I can probably easily make a level maker, but for beta purposes, lets use the levels already made.

---

Ahh, yeah that makes sense.

Didn't even think about using the allready made levels :p . Great idea :D.

Hmmmm, not much action in this thread like the LightFusion and DoomSharp threads. I got a good 3D engine going so far for ya, but it's far from complete.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jacob Roman

Hmmmm, not much action in this thread like the LightFusion and DoomSharp threads. I got a good 3D engine going so far for ya, but it's far from complete.

---

You should post it so we can all see how it looks so far.

As for inactivity, not so many people on the team are programmers, and most of the people said that they couldn't help out much because of work/school/other. But I don't understand why my friend Tsukasa hasn't done anything. I'm going to have to bug him until he does. Kai really wants in, but he is rarley on his computer (he knows C++ to so...). Maybe I should get a new more active team? :\ Or find others :sick: ?

Try PMing people who hang out in the Games and Graphics area ;)

I'll do that :).

Be sure they use VB6. wossy and NoteMe tend to use C#.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jacob Roman

Be sure they use VB6. wossy and NoteMe tend to use C#.

---

Why should I make sure they use VB6?
I decided it would take to much work to write it in VB6 then convert to C++. So, I picked an engine in C++, and we were going to use that (look at top). Unless you have a better idea? :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jacob Roman

Hmmmm, not much action in this thread like the LightFusion and DoomSharp threads. I got a good 3D engine going so far for ya, but it's far from complete.

---

Prolly in VB6. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by k1ll3rdr4g0n

Why should I make sure they use VB6?
I decided it would take to much work to write it in VB6 then convert to C++. So, I picked an engine in C++, and we were going to use that (look at top). Unless you have a better idea? :)

---

Cause I'm gonna push VB6 to its absolute limits to see how far we can go with this in that language. If we need more of a boost in speed, we'll convert it to C++. Gotta crawl before you can walk, right? Why make it harder for us?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jacob Roman

Cause I'm gonna push VB6 to its absolute limits to see how far we can go with this in that language. If we need more of a boost in speed, we'll convert it to C++. Gotta crawl before you can walk, right? Why make it harder for us?

---

True. You are thinking the way I was. :). Could you attach the code you have so far (or PM it to me) so I can take a look at it, because this Direct X programming is pretty new to me. But, it shouldn't be to hard for me to learn.

Let me get a simple Teapot example going. That object alone from my .RAW file (which is not the same as the mesh already built and ready in DirectX) has about 3784 polygons. I'm gonna see how many teapots I can display on the screen at once to see if VB can handle a 100,000 - 1,000,000 polygons.

So far it's doing fine with 27 objects, 102,168 polygons, and 306,504 vertices. It's maintaining 30 frames per second. Each object consists of 3784 polygons. You do the math. I think your game should do fine in VB.

Ok, then VB6 it is then. :)

Nice work!

I improved it even more, and uploaded the source code in my site. It'll be where it says "Download my 3D Engine HERE"

http://www.angelfire.com/fl5/memorydll/index.html

And here's the screenshot.

http://www.vbforums.com/attachment.p...id=42801&stc=1

Nice, I'll take a look at it later today. Because my comp that was connected to wireless broadband got infected with spyware (my dad was using it eariler) want to make sure its off.

Oh and btw, Jacob do you need hosting, or is that just like a temporary site? :p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by k1ll3rdr4g0n

Nice, I'll take a look at it later today. Because my comp that was connected to wireless broadband got infected with spyware (my dad was using it eariler) want to make sure its off.

Oh and btw, Jacob do you need hosting, or is that just like a temporary site? :p

---

It's a crappy site I store crap in. I ain't worried about web hosting just yet.

Ok, just had a chance to look at it today.

Well, thats a lot of code o.o.
Going to go more depth into it tommrrow. Looks like I'll be pseding a long time with this Direct X. :p.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by k1ll3rdr4g0n

Ok, just had a chance to look at it today.

Well, thats a lot of code o.o.
Going to go more depth into it tommrrow. Looks like I'll be pseding a long time with this Direct X. :p.

---

Not necessarely. Compare my code to Quake 3's SDK, or Doom 3's SDK. For a game that you wanna make, you are looking at a million lines of code to get a decent engine going. Hell, I haven't even put in a physics engine just yet. Or BSPs, portals, octrees, 3D model loaded, 3D terrain, collision, an interactive menu, etc. etc. etc. for that matter either. :eek:

Just thought I'd add, for "shooting" enemies:

I hope you guys are pretty good at math. You may even want NoteMe's help with it. I've seen a few routines for "Traceing" through the 3D world from 1 point to another. Most are really slow, even in C++.

Good Luck with it though :p

chem