Times of War Development Team

Can't you just use the normal POP opcode, just also passing in what kind of code it is (string, int, double precision, etc.)

It's better. spush (i put the s on the front) Will push the pointer to the string onto the stack. Itll allow a trick, so you can actually push a regular array (created with alloc) onto the stack with spush, whcih allows interrupts to modify data directly.

Z.

Updates, updates. What can I say? I'm making some good progress right now on the music part. I post this generally so that Psy can listen to it :)

Wow Zaei... that's amazing!
Igor, I'm having a listen as we speak.

Igor, all I can say is once again, amazing work!

Attention: Post all issues you want to discuss in open forum on the Times of War Story thread. After the issues are compiled, we can set up a confrence.

Will do!

Another update... we may be able to get http://www.crystal-rain.com/

Yey!:D

my mic on my computer is not working so its going to take me a bit longer but i should have it done by the end of next week for shur.

That's excellent!

Crystal-Rain.com. I like it =). Then we can all get real Crystal-Rain email. The MIDI sounds great Igor!

I will try to get the string stuff up and running tomorrow, then I need to create an "extern" opcode, for calling functions in other modules. This means I have to create a function table with function names and addresses. Then, either another script, or the actual engine can call functions by name.

Also, I will try to get the packager finished, maybe tonight, or tomorrow.

Z.

Okay Zaei, how are we going to handle the particle systems? Will they be DScript or hard-coded into the EXE? I think we'll have to hard-code them, and then just use DLLs and stuff to animate the positions, etc. (such as things like dust trails, all kinds of magic, weather effects, lightning, etc.)

Effects.DLL, encapsulated in effects.package. The actual system will be in PSystem.DLL, dependent on System.dll. Simple, no?

Z.

Agreed!

I have started in on the DScript documentation. More updates to come.

Z.

Sas, about the music...

Should I make a few long pieces, or many small ones?
And
I figured..we should probably have melodies the characteristics og the individual civs. For instance, one is dark, fearsome and a little mystic and another is sort of superior and 'I am the king'-sort of music.

now... ???:confused: :confused:

Sounds great to me, Igor. I think we should have a balance of small and long pieces, but definately try to model to each civ's characterisitics.

I would like it if everyone would send me an email at [email protected] with your email address. There is something that must be distributed privately. Thanks, guys.

Z.

Igor: I want you to do anything and everything in your power. Make it more like you wouldn't mind it being looped a bit, but still have a lot of nice tunes in it. Also, if you wouldn't mind trying something Celtic for your next piece, I would think that's a good place to start, for something like Fortress.

Everyone: Soon, I will be putting up the website. It will be (http://www.crystal-rain.com/). We'll have a database, Active Server Pages, and a whole lot of other junk which basically means you need to know squat to administrate the webpage. Also, I'm thinking of putting up fora (forums if you don't like the plural ;)) at the website. Private forums (ToW Discussion, Admin Discussion), that only we can post in, and General discussion (ToW Wishlist, Feedback, etc.) that all registered users can put in. Also, we'll have polls, etc. and soon we'll be moving out of these forums to those forums. So far I've got a beta forum thing going, but soon I'll add encoded passwords in the database and I have smiley codes and links and pictures. Also it's extremely easy to add art and files to the website, both private and public.

Thats something to think about, anyways.

Using the filter (DHTML) effects that didn't seem to work in IE5, I was able to come up with a few nice translucency effects. It works very well on a P-I 233. I'd like to know what you guys think of it.

Grreat, Sas. Finally :)
Do you think ou can make a tiny application which notifies you whenever a new message is up in the forum? That way, we'll be quicker updated from each other, and we'll get answers to our probles faster.

You think you could make a list of all the civs and their characteristics? So that I can take each an everyone of them and try to make out something?

Design Patterns is MINE! Just got home from Barnes and Noble (best book store in the world). Nice effects, Sas. I like it! Keep up the good work!

Z.

Da fing sas did looks good :D

Yes. That's it. I'm thinking of ending that song soon. It now lasts for 3:22. It's sort of...like...the longest track I've ever made. HOWEVER. Sas, you should'nt upload that file you've got because the one I have now is quite different I must say.

Well I can give you the suggested music styles that Jorj has given me.... and thanks, I liked that transparent-menu thing idea too if it's not being too cocky... =)

Anyways, here is the list: (the quotes are by Jorj)

Bounty - Merchants - "Middle-Eastern Style Instruments, something you'd hear when camel traders are going across a desert."

Sledgehammer - Defenders - "Heavy, slow music, the kind you'd hear in an austrian taver, but very militaristic."

Dagger - Attackers - "Low and haunting, but fast-paced.. not scales up and down, but nice, varying music"

Industrious - Productive, neutral civ. - "Progressive music.. for an example, try something close to 'The Trial at Guardia' from Chrono Trigger, you can get it at http://www.vgmusic.com/"

Death Rain - Attackers - "Give an effect that lasers are passing by your head -- not the actual music, but the style of it.'

Swarm - Overwhelming - "something along the lines of what you've been doing so far, but with a kind of panic feel to it" (this one's from me)

Fortress - Regal and Royal - "something definately with a royal feel to it.. but change it along the lines of the action, so we don't have a regal procession music going when enemies have sieged your castle. Possible listens are the Guardia Castle theme from Chrono Trigger, and the Royal theme from Seiken Densetsu 3. Kind of slow, too." (mine too! :p)

Arcanum - Mystics - "mystical, yet mysterious and at the same time slow. That's all i can say"

I wanna hear it, igor =).

Z.

Those aren't actual quotes per se, but Sastraxi is right about the styles.

Sorry, but the network is kind of *****ed up, so I'll probably post it tomorrow. However, it's the same theme, only a bit changed and a bit longer. Oooh, it's cold this time of year. And it's getting colder. Next week is vacation, so I guess I'll be doing some work then :rolleyes:...Pherhaps...

Hey. Sorry I did'nt post my tune. However, I'm working on a new piece now that sounds kinda cool. They are both pretty...baroque. I hope that's not a problem :D.

I have to get some sleep now or I'll fall asleep at work tomorrow. But just wait, then you'll get your tunes.

Sounds good =).

Z.

I'm starting the new forums tomorrow - tiring stuff but it pays off. I'm hitting the sack because I want some good nights sleep =)

Sounds great Sas.

Sorry I havent gotten much work done this week, guys. I Will be kicking myself into gear this week.

Z.

Snore. I came to check up on you guys. I don't know what's going on, because I don't have the time to read through all your scrambled posts, but I hope everything is well.

Kamikaze, when will you be able to join us again after your move?

Okay guys.
The website may not be up for another week, because I have just installed Win2K pro on my computer. That may not make much sense to you, so here goes:

ASP has become a living nightmare. The database connection no longer works in ASP 3.0 (I was using 2.0 previously) so I've got to fix that today. If I can get this fixed it will simply be a matter of finishing the forums.

sas the web page has/is getting better. im still working on the music and some effects. i listened to warcraftII tides of darknes and i relly dont like the music that much.

There's no posts! Driving me insane!

Anyways, I've gotten a bit farther in my ASP as it actually works now, but I haven't gotten writing to work yet :( One step at a time, I guess.

I need ANYONE WHO IS STILL PARTICIPATING to check-in. This is the last stretch for this forum, and I need to be able to know who's here and who's not for administrative purposes.

This is it, please send me your PREFERED USER NAME, and I can set it aside for you.

To clarify, Sastraxi meant that we will probably be moving to his fora when they are put up.

Anyway, you probably knew that, but...

Jorj Borjs here!

I'm here, like always. I'd prefer only

iGoR

At the moment I am going through a personal crisis. I dont think that I will be posting, or working for the next few days. Sorry, guys. Ill be back in a while. Dont worry that I am quitting, but I need some time to myself.

Use this name for my user, please.

Z.

Wazup guys - would you prefer to be that or something else?
Same goes for you Norman_Nomein, if you're still going to do some concept art.

I still want to help! :D

Perhaps by writing a usable graphics engine, instead of the admittedly-snazzy-but-as-of-yet-useless 3d engine? No offense to the guy writing it, it's impressive - but 3d engines are far too much work. I think you'd be better off creating a 2d renderer first and writing a 3d one after the game works.

Zaei's already worked far too hard on his engine... However I see no problem if you want to help him =)

Update : A forum!

Here is a preview of the forum browsing page:

I didn't say to abandon his engine, I said to develop the RTS in a 2D engine until the gameplay is working. That way you can get started without waiting for the 3d engine. (3d engines normally take a year, if not years, to develop. Unreal, Warcraft 3, etc.)

sas i would like assasin

umm webpage looks nice but it takes i while to load.
i will talk to normein when i see him tomarrow.

Yay! :D

I've gotten my database to *finally* allow me to write to it! It's great! So the website may be up sooner than I had anticipated. I'll have time to do lots of stuff with the forums right now, and then a bit later I'll start on the file upload system and MIDI/MP3 streaming (even from a ZIP file ;)). But this is all up on my local computer, don't try to go to the website until I tell ya to =)

Ok, guys, I am back, and everything is much better.

3D engines don't take a year. Companies writing 3D engines with the backing of a publisher takes a year. There is no reason (exept to waste some time) to write a 2d renderer. Anyway, I think that most all of the graphics functionality is already there (I dont know if textures work yet, never tried them). I need to plug in an existant particle system module, add 3 functions to the scripting language, and it's all pretty much in buisiness. Then, I start re-writing the loader (remember, the game is to be written as a mod =), which is partly done already, embelish the map code, design a skeletal animation system (fairly easy), plug that in, wrap up FMod for sound, and the engine is complete. Then comes gameplay, AI, and the like (the Game). Oh, and add UI at the top of the list up there (you guys deserve to see something new =P).

Anyway, Back to work. I am busy Saturday, and Sunday is my b-Day, and cleaning later today, but I will get some work done tonight, tomorrow night, and the next night (I hope =). Check you all later.

Nice lookin' forums, Sas!

Z.

Hehe thanks, but right now I'm changing the format a wee bit... just to make it a bit easier to find anything... more like a VBW style. Also, I have polls at our website (which isn't up yet...), a download system, and streaming music. I'm using SA-FileUp and SA-Archive, so you don't have to zip files when you upload them... they will be zipped automatically =)

This should prove at least a bit more user-friendly...
http://www.vbforums.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=570132

Hey wow =) Your birthday is on thanksgiving weekend, cool :D

My birthday is sunday =).

Forums looking nice, Sas. I cant wait to log on to them.

Z.

CANADIAN Thanksgiving =)
Right now I'm using SQL and it's about 500% faster than straight ADO... plus I can do the post & thread counts much easier... and I'm glad you like the style! I hope I'm not being a bit too ambitious with the site but ASP is really a dream come true... you won't have to ZIP the files first cause I have the SA-Archive, you can listen to music from inside the ZIP files, and lots more.... Within a week it will all be enjoyed =D

Wonderful. I think my plan for the weekend is integrate strings into DScript, and work on the UI.

Again, I am thinking of redoing the map. This time, I am thinking of a giant sphere (planet). Then, the player can walk a unit all the way around the world, we can have sky, etc. For the moment, I can keep the current implementation, and in my spare time, research this new thing.

I have been reading my new book, and that is part of the reason I have not done any work. The ideas are so good that I dont want to do any work until I have finished at least some of it.

Anyway, I am going to be gone all day tomorrow, so i will check in tomorrow night.

Z.

Sas man that site (the small piccy u posted) looks so ****ing nice, as i type this im trying to think if there was a side menu or not. But it is very nice design the colors are a good match too. Now all you need is a game better than the site and your all set (and the game looks to be going well).

Thanks Psy! There is no sidebar but there is a menu at the top... right now I'm adding a precache of all the menu graphics. Also, I can make you an Admin if you'd like so you can post in the ToW development thread.

Zaei, what book is it? What's it taught you? The globe idea is a good one, in my opinion. Just as long as it's big enough so it never actually LOOKS like a globe... =)

Anyways I'm back to working on the website!

The book is called "Design Patterns". I am learning how to implement good, re-usable, OO code. For an example that correlates directly to gaming, one ide ais to encapsulate states into objects with a standard interface. Then, to create a new state, sub-class an Abstract State object, and implement new OnEnter(), OnExit(), etc.

Z.

That's excellent!

Okay I'm back to me forums... Only problem is something's not working =)

It doesn't seem to be able to pick up a post/thread count!

I've finally made the first page of the forums work... that's only the first page too :eek:!

Anyways, I'm going on the the Sub-Forum view =)