Printable View
Sure thing =). DInput only supports a max of 8 anyway =).Quote:
Originally posted by Sastraxi
Yes, a correction, it is actually only 8 buttons. The cruise up/cruise down buttons are the same as wheelup/down. Since I don't think any mice at this time have more than that many, I think this would be a safe amount to shoot for, okay?
Z.
Ok, the compiler works, and reading from the resulting composite file works. Right now Im just trying to work out a format for the configuration file =).
Z.
The file format I am using right now looks like this:
the output tag can go any where in the file, while file_title MUST follow input.Code:input: <filename>
file_title: <title>
intput: <filename>
file_title: <title>
....
output: <final file name>
input: <filename>
file_title: <title>
Also thinking about this:
more like a makefile, which is a format that I like =).Code:input:
<filename>
file_title:
<title>
input:
<filename>
...
output:
<filename>
simpler.Code:input:
<filename>
<filename>
<filename>
file_title:
<title>
<title>
<title>
output:
<file>
This last one is really different, but mcuh more like a makefile....
Would allow one config file to build multiple composite files... dunno, you guys pick =).Code:<output name>:
output = <filename>
<title> = <filename>
<title> = <filename>
<title> = <filename>
<output name>:
output = <filename>
<title> = <filename>
....
Z.
I like the one from the 2nd last. However, have you thought of XML configs?
Alright, ill use that one...
I hadnt thought of XML, maybe ill look into it later...
Z.
heh, i been readin all this but i been busy.
i think a better way would be to tag it like
Code:
<title:whatever>
<input:input_file>
<output:output_file>
<title:whatever>
<input:input_file>
<output:output_file>
<title:whatever>
<input:input_file>
<output:output_file>
XML would be more like:Code:<CONFIG>
<INPUT>
<FILE SRC="<filename>" TITLE="whatever">
<FILE SRC="<filename>" TITLE="whatever">
<FILE SRC="<filename>" TITLE="whatever">
</INPUT>
<OUTPUT>
<FILE SRC="<filename>" TITLE="whatever">
</OUTPUT>
</CONFIG>
Im not a huge fan of markup languages like that.... and I shudder to write the parser in pure C =).
Z.
It wasn't a suggestion ;). Plus, I wouldn't have even brought it up had I known you were using pure C!
Yup, Im using original C style file IO for this, so we have calls like c_open, and fc_open, etc. I just decided that I might as well write it in C =).
Got the format you guys want working:
the file_title section must come after the input section, simple because the input section actually counts the files, and allocates memory for them.Code:output:
<output file>
input:
<input file>
<input file>
<input file>
file_title:
<title>
<title>
<title>
Z.
Jorj and I (mostly Jorj though on the idea side) have created a method for textures in ToW. Instead of making textures, tiling them, etc. (ex. the normal stuff), we store data for texture generation (enough data to make real time generation fast). With this texture data ANY texture can be created, allowing extremely easy texture changes.
Plus, with this randomisation (and I've just thought of this now), we can change the "properties" of the terrain at that point. This means during texture info generation (where we generate the data used to make these real-time textures), we can make properties that make it erode differently, make it rich in x minerals, etc. This will help us on all fronts. As a texture artist, I can create templates (ex. ice, snow, grass, dirt, etc) and these will simply be how to transform the data into texture data.
It won't require much memory, because no large textures have to be moved around (only the data). Furthermore, it will allow for users to easily create their own terrain, though the use of templates. It will take less disk space as to make ToW more redistributable.
On the point of distribution, I have a few more ideas and would like to see how well-recieved they would be.
1. Have an internet-based installation, where an installer is downloaded and data is taken from the 'net. This installer can create static installs, which download the requested parts of ToW and package them into a data file. This data file can be given with the installer to allow for machines without internet access to install ToW.
or
2. Create a fully-featured ToW package management program, ala. many Linux distributions. It would download the base packages, keep the ToW directory and registry keys under management, and allow you to download modifications as packages which can be easily installed (and more importantly, easily uninstalled). You could also package up your own modifications easily for distribution. Also, packages could be pre-downloaded and installed from local pkg files (ala. Debian GNU/Linux).
The choice is up to you. In my opinion, the 1st is easier to code but the 2nd is more flexible.
Sounds good to me, Sas, on the texture thing. I like it.
We can use the composite file thing to do the distribution... I would prefer option #1.
Im uploading the compiler... its a console program, so run it in a console window =).
Z.
So this compiles Lua code?
No, this creates the package file type thing. I would then compile a bunch of lua scripts so they are one file, and then I can load them in the engine.Quote:
Originally posted by Sastraxi
So this compiles Lua code?
Z.
Im not sure which of your install options this comes under but remember i made an installer way back that would take a script and then install the files fromt he web. the installer remained so that it was a central hub for donwloading the actual game, mods, mod management, uninstalling and also starting the gamebased upon a tow://game: command.
The texture idea sounds cool. a kind of procedural texture. :)
Ive downloaded the compiler :) havent looked at it yet, not sure what im gonna do with it lol :)
Let me upload the lib and the .h for you, and you can play with the actual file stuff. If youve done C style file IO, itll look familiar.
Z.Code:extern "C" {
#include "compf"
}
int main()
{
C_FILE* cf;
FC_FILE* fcf;
cf = c_open("c:\\some_composite.comp");
fcf = fc_open(cf, "file_in_composite");
char buff[100];
fc_read(buff, 1, 100, fcf);
if(fc_eof(fcf))
{
fc_seek(fcf, 0, SEEK_SET);
}
fc_close(fcf);
c_close(cf);
return 0;
}
And here is the library...
Z.
What's more, it would make caustic textures trivial to create ;).
And about the install, yes, I remembered the multi-purpose launcher. With a bit of modification, it could easily fit in exactly with spec. 1.
And we are scripting =).
Z.
okay, ill revive up the installer some time soon now that my exams are over. i think ill do it in .NET either vb or C#.
i was just thinking that when i create the installer again ill make it so that it checks if they have direct x, if not ill give it an option to download it.
also if its in .net they'll need the runtimes which could be a *****. im thinking of some kind of loader splash coded in C++ that should do some pre install checks.
I'm just thinking, if we do this, it will require both VB6 and .Net dependancies (which equal about 30mb together, I think). We should probably just stick with VB6 and C++ this time around, like Unreal did.
Once i have more space on my computer, or once i have got my new harddrive ill get Visual Basic 6 back on it and then get going again on everything.
Exams are all over now :):)
That's good to hear! I'll be "out of the race" for a while on my own business as well, but I'll check in once a day at least (probably won't post).
Alrighty...now that we are scripting, I want to know how much you guys want to script, what to script, and where to script. For now I am just using it for media loading, but we could do whatever you guys would like. Give me a good list =).
Basically, I am going to use whatever you guys give me, and do a quick restructuring of the game based around that. Once that is done, we are in good shape =).
Z.
We'll need scripts for the units that come out of the houses, for training units in stuff like an Archery Range, Jousting Field, etc. Remember that units are 'born' at a (more or less) constant rate from each house (as long as it's inhabited). Then, they are trained to be whatever you want.
Ok, but where do you want me to execute scripts. For instance, right now I am thinking that when maps are loaded, ended, triggers, and game start. Im planning to use them to load templates for units, load media (textures, meshes, sounds at some point), set up the user interface, etc. However, all of this relies on getting access to various parts of the code, so Im going to try and restructure so that it is more script friendly. I just want to know the other things you guys might want to script so that I can get everything ready to go.
Z.
In my opinion, I think what you've got going on should be fine. The maps will just have to look up what they inherit from, and what their mod inherits from, etc. If we put in true inheritance, we can simply override the subroutines and functions with the ones in the mod, so that a function that returns the objective can change (ex. 1 mod can be team games, another can be deathmatch), what colours are available, what it's called, etc.
I think that as much as possible should be scripted so that it can be easily changed by us to create new mods and/or change parts of the game, as well as for other people to create mods.
Sounds Good!Quote:
I am thinking that when maps are loaded, ended, triggers, and game start. Im planning to use them to load templates for units, load media (textures, meshes, sounds at some point), set up the user interface
Well, basically all of the C++ code is done, minus the networking, if you haven't submitted that to Zaei (I forget if you have :o). Basically:
Game Engine <-> Mod Scripts <- User Interaction
oooo jeez, dunno where that is actually. i think its on one of my old cds. ill dig it out!
Sound also hasnt been touched yet. Havent done animated meshes yet, either. However, most everything else is scripting.
Z.
What do you think of using FMOD for the sound? I asked, and the developers say that it's free if the product it's used in is free. It doesn't even matter if it's distributed for free on a disc (that you'd have to pay for S&H for). So, I thought it would be a good idea to use this one ;).
I've had personal experience with it and it's great; you can have WinMM out, DirectSound out, and a variety of other methods (I think). Also supports linux, StrongARM/ARM compatible, etc (not that we'd ever need these, but anyway...)
Go there to see what it's like if you want to... Anyway, this is my suggestion, as it can play OGG, a free lossy music implementation.
And we're going to need all the 'free' we can get.
I was pretty much planning on it =).
Z.
Yea, i wasnt sure if it was in the last version of the networking module but i used the free HawkNL library as the lowest layer with the module on top.
Okies. Looks like this rewrite is going to be a bit more intensive then I thought (testing code is nasty... something to remember for future projects ;) ). However, we should have a lot more power at the end of it =).
Z.
That's good. Are you going to start needing the interface pics?
Not right yet, though if you wouldnt mind coming up with a list of UI widgets we might want to use in the game, that would be great.
Z.
Working on finalizing the terrain, so we can have as many terrain types as we want. Going ok so far, getting the foundations in place, and then I just need to modify the way the terrain geometry is generated, and finally the way it is drawn (internally). I think I have a good method planned, so we shall see =).
Implemented some more script stuff, so mappers can define what units are used on a particular map, and I can create units from script now. Lots more planned soon, so stay tuned =).
Z.
I've been busy and just stopped in (you may have seen me post a few things and been online a lot... only because this is my home page and I'm addicted to posting ;)). Anyway, I thought I'd direct you to these two projects:
cortona.sf.net - Image Library
audiere.sf.net - Sound Library
Audiere and corona are great little libraries. Both are quite small and very fast/stable. A few developers I know who are writing open source engines switched over to audiere from mikmod recently and got a big improvement in framerates.
Corona does a great job of loading images, and a pretty good job of saving PNGs too.
They both have extremely clean and simple syntax, too... With corona for example you can load and then resave an image in 2 lines of OO C++ code.
Glad to see ToW is still going well, keep up the good work! (feel free to drop me an email or post here if you need any coding help; I should have more time pretty soon)
im working away slowly.
been a busy week with varous things.
keep your eyes on www.psyvision.co.uk over the next week. will be turning into a site about all my programming things. including a times of war page, along with my long on going solo project Talisman (3D Engine)
Looking good there Psy ;). I have been busy but that's pretty much over... you know how it is, building computers, installing, upgrading, etc. for other people :).
Sounds like hell :DQuote:
Originally posted by Sastraxi
Looking good there Psy ;). I have been busy but that's pretty much over... you know how it is, building computers, installing, upgrading, etc. for other people :).
School just started up again this week, so im gonna be a bit busy for a while... however, ive got my terrain renderin method down on paper, ill eventually get it all figured out, and coded in.
Z.
Did Zaei just use a non-text smiley? :eek:
Yep... the =) isnt expressive enough at times... I mean, I could do this...Quote:
Originally posted by Sastraxi
Did Zaei just use a non-text smiley? :eek:
=) =) =)
or this
=)))...
But its just easier the other way =).
Z.
Alrighty then. Finally took the time to finish up the terrain rendering code today. Havent tested it fully yet (ie, only used one texture so far), but we will see how it goes.
Z.
Success =). I am rather pleased with myself =).
Z.
Terrain rendering finished... Zaei you seem to have outdone yourself (of course, we don't have any proof now do we... ;)).
Good job!
I can give you quite a nice shot of a single textured terrain =P.Quote:
Originally posted by Sastraxi
Terrain rendering finished... Zaei you seem to have outdone yourself (of course, we don't have any proof now do we... ;)).
Good job!
I had to write a vb program to spit out 78*78 0s into a file... then to test multiple textures, I edited the file in binary mode and added some ones ;).
The two textures/triangle rule still holds... but that shouldnt be a big deal =).
Z.
No, because we'll most likely only be using 1 texture/triangle (because of the texture gen I mentioned before, the transition from tile type -> tile type will be done when it's synthesized).
One more thing has come to my mind via. the new technologies I am getting :)
Today, I ordered (along with the rest of my new computer), an ATi Radeon 9500 Pro. It supports a variety of DX8/9 features, but the most prominent is the N-Patches, or Truform system of ATi cards.
My question is what kind of work does it require to get adaptive hardware n-patches going? In the ATi demo, you could get n-patches with a LOD, that it tesselates less as it gets farther away from the "camera". I would really like to see something like this if it's not too much work, Z :)
Ill be getting a new computer in a few months, so it wont be until then (since my card doesnt support n patches). Ill probably also wait for the next generation of graphics chips to get to laptop form before buying, so that might lengthen that amount of time a tad =).
Z.
Does not the reference rasteriser support n-patches (just to see if you coded them right)?
Ill promise nothing, but Ill see what I can do =).Quote:
Originally posted by Sastraxi
Does not the reference rasteriser support n-patches (just to see if you coded them right)?
Z.
:D
And now the terrain is shadowed again =). I disabled it to implement the new stuff, and now its back in action, and looking pretty slick. Moved ALL texture loading to the map init script, and you can now set the terrain textures from script.
Z.
Everything is sounding very good guys. Two thumbs up.
/me continues to move large chunks of code from native code to scripts =)
Z.
I'm happy to say that it is possibly tomorrow that I get my new computer :D
:thumb: Sounds great to me!Quote:
Originally posted by Sastraxi
I'm happy to say that it is possibly tomorrow that I get my new computer :D
Z.