Sentience: VB Game (comments please)

Gaming,

You don't need the stuff for loading the graphics as you'll be doing that yourself for your map editor. The map array is of the maptemp type, mapX and mapY are whatever type you make them depending on how big you want the map to be - they simply contain the dimensions of the map. xMap and yMap are largely redundant here - they perform mostly the same function as mapX and mapY. PrevVal is part of a progress routine, so you don't need it. MapGraphics merely contains the dc's of graphics, again you won't need that.

At the end of the run it should have give each map square an IEB value somewhere along the lines of...

"1" always the starting digit
"xxx" - 3 numbers, each between 0 and 7 representing the IEB value of each square.

e.g. 1777 (a land square), 1000 (a sea square).

The offset will be graphic offset to use (i.e. which image in the file to use)

The type will be whether it's grass, forest etc;

'Map Pieces
'0 Mountain
'1 Forest
'2 Dirt
'3 Marsh
'4 Grass
'5 Sea

For example after running through the code it would give you....

.ieb = "1777"
.type = 2
.offset = 7

From this you know it's from the 1777 bmp, it's the dirt squares and it's the 7th image offset.

Easy. :)

Arbiter : I'll check it out and see if i can add anything to the existing list later today...

Note to myself : the email sender from vbforums SUCKS... i got an email 2 days after the post... :(

What about the custom type named StdResTemp, in the maptemp type one of the elements is stdres As StdResTemp.

Also, how big are the map squares?

Icheb,

Cheers!

Gaming,

40x40. I'll mail the stdrestemp to the same address.

OK.

Hi every body there
"Background for the images needs to be white" no problem will be done in about 15 mins

well now to the transparent pixel problem:
you can use path white and black backgrounds and ask if both pixels are the same if yes the mask is white if one pixel is black and the other is white the mask is black else the mask pixel is 50% gray that should be a temporary way till I find a better one
till now I have written this formula:
color3=Color1+(color2-Color1)/Alpha
Color1=the original color
Color2=Background color
Color3=final pixel color
Alpha=Alpha :eek:

we need to get out color1 and alpha
we know what Color3 is and we know that clolor 2 is either black or white(0 or 255) depending on the pic we work with.the problem is that there are two variables and I don't know how to get the rid of one of them can somebody help plz?

When do you plan to send out the type?

Arbitor,

I've gotten the editor to the point where formatting is used, and it seems to mutilate the terrain a little. Grass and mountain coastlines are turned to black, forests coastlines turn to the ones with brown, marsh to grasslands, and the one with the brown turns to marsh. If you would like, I can send you the code I currently have completed.

Nevermind, the problem was caused beacuse I wasn't compusating for the fact that there isn't any coastline mountains, although I am still noticing another odd thing. Have you noticed that 1020 is in a differnt order then the rest of the images? For now, I am compasating for the differnce, let me now if you have a better idea.

Two more things:
1) I would like a copy of the icon for the editor.
2) If you go to create a game, then exit back to the main menu (after getting to the map settings screen), then go back to creating a new game, it will still display the fraction but it doesn't think that there is a fraction accociated with the player.

I've decided to begin posting the map-editor information in the com forum rather then this one, and I have also posted in that thread, so you may wish to also read that post before posting (I would move my other posts over there, but can't).

Gaming,

Thanks for finding that bug with the faction display. I've added it to my list.

You should have the type in your inbox now. I'll address your other points in the comms forum.

Afief,

I'll address the technical question in the comms forum as well.

Plend,

Have you had chance to do a super furry bug list? :)

I just discovered a bug: trying to play on a 15x15 map locks up the game.

Bug detected :

1. When makeing a new game and selecting 2 human players (haven't tried human and comp in this version) and setting all map settings to v small (except those on the right side of the screen) and changing land into 25% Sentience locks up when it should enter the game...
- combined with 2 screenshot available

2. The game resolution is still 800x600 instead of what i select in the launcher (debug mode is on)

3. Sentience makes a subscript out of range when first playing a level with 2 players (human) and then before end of turn one of player one resigning and clicking 'new game'...
(screenshot in next post)

4. I'm sorry, but i have too much homework to test it further at the moment...

* i used paint for the crappy screenshots, so don't look at the colors...

The secondairy screen to the left on the first screenshot is 800x600...

And here the promised second screenshot...

Also in Paint :D

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Gaming_World
I just discovered a bug: trying to play on a 15x15 map locks up the game.

---

I mentioned this to you in the comms forums when we were discussing map sizes. I've not yet trapped the error. ;)

Thanks for the shots Icheb, I shall ponder these later.

Good work matey!

Icheb,

Still hunting down the bugs you found. :)

Afief,

How are you doing with the problem we were having with the masks? Do you have some form of a solution?

Ben's To Do List:

Notes:
Computer mech building only assigns AI to last mech - what if more than one are built per turn?
How are monsters going to behave? Need to thrash out some AI models.

Future Additions:
Main menu buttons have no mouse over
Compile definitive list of infiltration effects (see Behemoth's recent eMail)
Create infiltration code blocks
Create project code blocks
Script bonus resources for killing monster houses
Code research benefits for house death
Add in code for generating monsters *Partially done - needs details adding
Add in monster AI
Tidy up research screen
Compile definitive list of weather effects
Create weather code blocks
Add in win/lose screens
Add in summary / end game / points screen
Create some form of unit overview screen
Expand on tutorial screens
Add code behind the load/save buttons on template screen
Add in delete template command
Flesh out options screen
Add in ranged combat
Add in pod code blocks
Add in bonus resources
Expand on documentation
Add in DNA screen
Add in Monster research
Add in monster contact checks
Add in faction contact checks
Add in AI's
Road Laying
Mine Laying (similar to above)
Add in link to faction dets from comms screen
Add in creation of sea units
Add in framework support for sea buildings (maybe new graphic set?)
Disable +/- buttons when making new mech
'Add design to template' button needs tidying
'Diplomacy' button needs tidying
Move frame and minimap to right on main screen at 1600x1200

Current Errors:
Mobile buildings appearing in top left square
RMV slurp settings still ****ed
2 buildings in queue, only one appeared
Monster houses can't be killed
Monsters can't be killed
Mech template listview being back to front - bonkers!
Walls not drawing properly
frmMechDesign not displaying torsos correctly (RMV's showing as gun platforms)
Options menu prompts for save when not required
The mountains look dark on the world map (in fact all the graphics look odd.)
Unit started on a monsterhouse, and was unable to go back after it had stepped off.
Fault with mech naming
Autopilot should not activate if no route set
Sea animates too fast
Highest/Lowest energy levels not updating
Remove selection box from screen at 0,0
Unit details doesn't update after unit moves/attacks
When creating a new game with v.small map settings, game hangs.

Recent Fixes:

Increased width of visible map by one at 1600x1200
Now reports explored % to 2dp instead of loads
Forest growth rate is now customisable in the options.ini
Health and shielding is now correctly displayed for monsters
No longer able to type in add component screen
Removed 'text1' from the mech design screen

Wow, large list ;)

Good luck :D

Isn't it just? There's still so much that needs to be done...

Sentience is now becoming more of an engine than a game. Almost everything is script configurable; graphics, sounds; units; buildings; projects; monsters etc etc

I'm also going to add in mulit-lingual support shortly, so if anyone wishes to provide some translations to their native language then that would be a quick and easy way into the credits... ;)

how much text is there to be translated?
If it's not to much I might help out with german.
(even though I always use everything in english if possible)

I am really happy to see you guys are still around (after not having been around for quite some time myself)

wish you best luck with everything here... still believe in the power of VB :)

I still offer my services as a c++ and assembly programmer.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Arbiter
Isn't it just? There's still so much that needs to be done...

Sentience is now becoming more of an engine than a game. Almost everything is script configurable; graphics, sounds; units; buildings; projects; monsters etc etc

I'm also going to add in mulit-lingual support shortly, so if anyone wishes to provide some translations to their native language then that would be a quick and easy way into the credits... ;)

---

It depends on how muchs needs to be translated (into Dutch), but i might be able to do it in the next vacation (23 december to 3 january).
But i am also needed on a few lanparty's as 'the server guy' so i'd like to start working on it next friday or something... (if that is humanly possible offcouse)

Well, now the engine of Sentience is nearing completion, you might be able to finish the game afterwards :D ;) :p

Quote:

---

Originally posted by /\/\isanThr0p
how much text is there to be translated?
If it's not to much I might help out with german.
(even though I always use everything in english if possible)

I am really happy to see you guys are still around (after not having been around for quite some time myself)

wish you best luck with everything here... still believe in the power of VB :)

---

There's not really a great deal to be translated I don't think. I need to make some minor framework changes to make it multi-lingual but the stuff to be translated is basically;

The menu items (single words mostly)
Anything in the Arbiters script (tutorials, messages etc)
The graphical buttons

It's going to take me a bit to enable the support for this so I'll keep you all posted. Thanks for the offers of help. :)

PS - Yep, we're still around. Had a long break but now I'm back working on it. VB is king!!!

Well, more of a jester really.... ;)

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Cmdr0Sunburn
I still offer my services as a c++ and assembly programmer.

---

Thanks Sunburn, but all the coding is being done in pure VB and I'm the only one doing the coding on the game.

If you want to help out with the testing then that would be greatly appreciated. Also any comments on what you'd like to see in the game would be nice as well.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Icheb
It depends on how muchs needs to be translated (into Dutch), but i might be able to do it in the next vacation (23 december to 3 january).
But i am also needed on a few lanparty's as 'the server guy' so i'd like to start working on it next friday or something... (if that is humanly possible offcouse)

Well, now the engine of Sentience is nearing completion, you might be able to finish the game afterwards :D ;) :p

---

See post above for how much is to be translated. It wouldn't all be in one chunk as the game's not finished. It would probably be something simple like me eMailing you a paragraph or two every week or so and you mailing the translated version. It wouldn't take up much of your time.

The Sentience engine is actually further along than it looks. Things like combat is in and working, but as we have no units with guns and no bad guys you can't actually see it in action really. All the industry's in and going but as we've not many buildings to make that's largely unnoticed as well.

At the moment, the game's playable as a combat strategy game but most people don't know that. I need to sort of sharpen it up a bit. I might flesh out a few of the scripts and get and eMail game going - that might help... :)

aight I'll give it a shot (at least over my vacations) if I can't find enough time I will have at least made a start for someone else (there's quite a bunch of germans around here)

Excellent! Cheers matey! :)

Send me an eMail via the forum will you so then I have a way to correspond with you.

Ta! :)

Anyone else have any further comments on the game?

Have you read my last post in the comms forum? I need the save/load code and some other stuff.

Gaming,

I've replied.

Gonna have a new release shortly.

Lots of bug fixes and improvements, a couple of new buildings, cool as a bean. :)

Hi Arbeiter,
this is the first good thing today: a new release.
have you got my PM if so why haven't u replied? if not than tell me: are you still using the same e-mail? I haven't got any replies from u. what was the last building you have recived?

Quote:

---

Originally posted by KingArthur
Hi Arbeiter,
this is the first good thing today: a new release.
have you got my PM if so why haven't u replied? if not than tell me: are you still using the same e-mail? I haven't got any replies from u. what was the last building you have recived?

---

I've not got any PM from you at all.

I am using the same eMail address but I've had no reply since my last eMail.

The last things I had from you was the collection of buildings with white backgrounds.

I'm sending you a mail from another account right now... ;)

Hey there everybody!!!

The latest version has been uploaded and it's cooler than ever!

Amendments
Disabled +/- buttons when making new mech
Added 8 new buildings (thanks KingArthur ;) )
Improved Buildings script reading
Removed a herd of redundant code
Tweaked graphics engine for a 3 fps speed increase (at 1600x1200)
You can no longer build monster houses in 'build buildings' screen
Fixed listbox problem in 'build buildings' screen
Corrected a minor text error in 'build buildings' screen
Monster houses can now be killed
Monsters can now be killed
RMV slurp settings now work properly, capping at 100%
Autopilot opton disabled if no route set
Unit details now update after unit moves/attacks
Units can no longer shoot themselves (to blow it up - choose self destruct)
Selected frame and minimap positions adjusted on main screen at 1600x1200
Pods now give resources when they're supposed to.
Sorted the scout AI so it no longer crashes - still needs work though...

There's a load of new buildings courtesy of KingArthur and a new biogenetics screen has been added (temporarily attached to the admin centre).

As always, your comments are very welcome!

Hope you enjoy the new version... ;)

Hi everybody,
The errors I've found:
1. the genetic screen graphic don't show up once every ten times
2. the screen resolution goes back to my windows setting when the game BEGINS(after buiding the terrain and every thing) and goes back to the game resolution when I resign.
3. there are some transparent places in some graphics wich should not be(yeh I'll do it tomorow)
4. the unit details do not update after I end the turn
5. once set the RMV slurp and ended the turn I can not change it
6. some buildings have no pics for the help(I'll send them today)

comments:
1. don't exit the fire wapon mode when the wapons are fired wait untill the user presses the right mouse button or all the energy is used
2. put some infos in the build buildings screen at least the name of the building(showing up when mouse is over the building)

thats all for now:)

KingArthur,

Thanks for the comments. :)

Points adressed in order:

Errors
1) Odd error, added to list.
2) Madness. I've never had any problems with the resolution on any of my test machines, but people still report them. I'm going to have to do something about this - but what???
3) Hokay dokey.
4) Unit details? How do you mean? Can you provide screen shots?
5) Can't change it when? Next turn?
6) Got them, thanks. I've replied to your eMail.

Comments
1) Good point, anyone else think it should be like this?
2) Yep, that's on the list now.

Thanks for those - anyone else have any comments?

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Arbiter
Comments
1) Good point, anyone else think it should be like this?

---

I think that this would be a good idea.

Ok, weapons firing will be kept on until the user right clicks or runs out of power/ammo.

Gaming,

Any other comments? You downloaded the latest version?

Ok kids, I've produced a test version that should hopefully solve the resolution business. I don't know, of course, as I never have the problem with it.

The file has been uploaded to www.gibbonbash.fsnet.co.uk as apps.exe

It's a self extracting archive. Please extract the sencore.exe and place it in your

\gamedev\apps\

folder, overwriting the old one.

It should fix the problems with resolutions - give it a whirl and let me know how you get on.

Also, this version has the new 'globe wrapping' enabled (meaning you can scroll off the left side and appear on the right - and vice versa). It has problems as it's still in development, but it's a step in the right direction... ;)

All comments gratefully received, esp. those to do with res problems. :)

PS - the whole game will run at the resolution selected in the launcher, so the menu screens might look a little screwy. I can fix those later as long as the resolution problems are solved. If you still have problems, I won't bother fixing those screens until the problems are sorted.... ;)

I've downloaded the latest version, but I woun't have much time to play with it for a few days (I'm busy working on a few D2: LOD mods).

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Gaming_World
I've downloaded the latest version, but I woun't have much time to play with it for a few days (I'm busy working on a few D2: LOD mods).

---

Hokay, no problem. :)

If anyone could get back to me as soon as possible though to let me know if the sencore.exe in the apps.exe fixes the resolution problems, it would help me an awful lot....

Thanks in advance. :)

I attempted to play it and it instantly came up with a file not found runtime error, and the file it was looking for was "...\buildings\.bmp"

Yes, the file was called ".bmp", that is not some mistake.


Oh, and by the way the resolution never changed (not too surpricing with the error's location). It did bring up the splash screen.

On a positive note, the resolution was correct when the game shut down (although it was still running as a process in the background; taking up 98% of the CPU time).




Now, back to moding D2...

The only thing I can think of is that you put it in the wrong place....

It works fine for me. Well, it runs certainly. The idea is to replace the old SenCore in the apps directory with this new one.

The game can then be run from the launcher as normal...

If you still get the error, could you please take a screenshot and also a screenshot of you apps directory with view | details selected (so I can see times and dates of files).

Thanks! :)

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Gaming_World
I attempted to play it and it instantly came up with a file not found runtime error, and the file it was looking for was "...\buildings\.bmp"

Yes, the file was called ".bmp", that is not some mistake.


Oh, and by the way the resolution never changed (not too surpricing with the error's location). It did bring up the splash screen.

On a positive note, the resolution was correct when the game shut down (although it was still running as a process in the background; taking up 98% of the CPU time).

---

Hi all,
as Gaming said the resolution never changes(well my PC tells me that you program wants to change the resolution but I don't notice any change). I don't get any file error and the game exits as it should(no processes remain in my list)

Arbiter : just got back from a lanparty...

All windows systems on my local network are infected with the new Yaha virus, i'm going to take my network offline for a few days until i have restored everything, after that i'd be happy to test Sentience again :D

Quote:

---

Originally posted by KingArthur
Hi all,
as Gaming said the resolution never changes(well my PC tells me that you program wants to change the resolution but I don't notice any change). I don't get any file error and the game exits as it should(no processes remain in my list)

---

How exactly does your PC tell you that Sentience wants to change res?

You shouldn't have anything else running in the background when Sentience is running.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Icheb
Arbiter : just got back from a lanparty...

All windows systems on my local network are infected with the new Yaha virus, i'm going to take my network offline for a few days until i have restored everything, after that i'd be happy to test Sentience again :D

---

Hullo again Icheb, thought you were dead!

Good to see you back, looking forward to your comments. :)

I tryed it twice so far today, once after downloading the file again.

Here is that screen shot you wanted:
http://www.vbforums.com/attachment.p...postid=1314057

Gaming,

That 'sencore' should overwrite the old one. The one that's in the GameDev folder...?

Did you do that?

I renamed the gamedev folder to Sentience. I find that Sentience is much more discriptive then gamedev. Therefore, yes.

Quote:

---

How exactly does your PC tell you that Sentience wants to change res?

---

It's my screen

Quote:

---

You shouldn't have anything else running in the background when Sentience is running.

---

Do you mean I musnt run my default programs like winamp and norton antivirus?

Hey on wich OS have you tried the game arbeiter? I and gaming both get the prblem and we both run win XP. that may be the problem!

Arthur,

What's your screen? I don't understand, sorry...

How do you know Sentience is trying to change the resolution?

Basically, the less things you have running the happier Sentience will be. Some things can cause the res to go bonkers.

My development machine is Windows XP. My test machines are Windows XP, 95 and 98. I believe Behemoth runs 2K. I've also tested it on NT but a long time ago.

Gaming,

I can only suggest you reinstall the game then. The sencore in apps.exe does work if it's put in the right place. Have you been altering any of the scripts at all? That may cause the problem you're having.....

No, I haven't modified any of the scripts, ever.

Once I get past the current problem, I now have a new chance for the game: duel monitors. About 5 or 6 hours before posting (this post) I installed a second monitor onto my computer.

I figured I should let you know that any information or new versions which you post I will not have acess to for about 10 days.

No new posts for over a month.