New Graphics Engine

[mazex]

Originally Posted by Blackdog_kt

My understanding is that the work on the sequel is primarily about 3d modeling and laying the groundwork at this point in time.

It's entirely possible to make "static" models in the meantime, but eventually each engine will handle these models differently to give them motion. One engine might do effects one way while the other engine does effects with a different algorithm, the same for calculating lights and shadows, etc, (and this is what results in the differences in performance and quality) but in the end they all take a 3d object and make calculations on top of it: the initial object that is being "read" into the engine can be the same, even if the calculations to be performed on it are different.

Fully agree!

Originally Posted by Blackdog_kt

I've taken up a computing degree course this year and one of the things they try to really press in all the classes i attend is modularity, especially for the so called object oriented languages.

To give you another example, as a form of practice for my computer classes i've taken up a project with a mate and we want to build an interface that will allow us to play pen-and-paper tabletop RPGs over the internet with other friends.

Not to spoil your project, but Have you looked at Vassal? (for wargames)

http://www.vassalengine.org/

And Battlegrounds (for classic RPG:s)

http://www.battlegroundsgames.com/index.html

Originally Posted by Blackdog_kt

I don't know anything about how to handle databases, save data to disk or push packets through a network yet. However, i can still design and implement the interface of the application, as well as define categories of all the objects the game includes (with their proper attributes and ways to interact with them). So, what i'll do is exactly that, then i'll give the code over to my buddy and he'll do the rest.

But, just an advice as an old programmer, be wary about how to save the state of the game engine already from start so you for instance can save it easily at any point, as that is a classic "trap" for the first game... And like you say - you have to get the object model completely finished with all parts taken into account before you write the first line of code. Like in you case - is there a "turn" object? Should it be? After that, do "a virtual spike" that for one central game object instance does it all the way to test that you have not done any "thought lapses" in the model. Then do one spike for real before putting down more work!

Good luck!

Looking at this thread from Oleg back in 2007/2008 the graphics really don't look any different to now , in some shots better i'd say.

http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=2040

[Wolf_Rider]

Originally Posted by tarks

Looking at this thread from Oleg back in 2007/2008 the graphics really don't look any different to now , in some shots better i'd say.

http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=2040

We have been advised by the developers: the sim won't look any different but it will run better, in comparison to the release engine.

Wolf Rider said:

>>We have been advised by the developers: the sim won't look any different but it will run better, in comparison to the release engine. <<

Yes, this is correct, and needs drawing attention to. Many might have forgotten this over time, so it's as well to remind the forum from time to time. It cannot be stated often enough, especially to those who wish to do nothing but complain.

The forum needs more of this style of factual post, far too much moaning has taken place recently.

A breath of fresh air, Wolf Rider. Thank you.

[skarden]

would you rather have the development team here explaining stuff that has been explained many many times over ( and yet again, very well too by blackdog ) or have them working on the beta? ya can't really have both, they don't have a big team and I for one would rather they be working on ironing out the bugs in the beta then answering the same whining questions over and over to people who don't bother to read previous posts.

[Verhängnis]

Yes, I would rather have the development team here explaining what is going on, although I am assuming they will at least answer some questions after the patch is released. And as far as I know Blackdog isn't part of the development team, I too could make speculations and general statements about software development, but that doesn't tell us anything specific.
As he said, he only has an "understanding" - like the rest of us. In reality it means nothing about the actual development of the game.

[Ploughman]

Originally Posted by tarks

Looking at this thread from Oleg back in 2007/2008 the graphics really don't look any different to now , in some shots better i'd say.

http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=2040

Hmmmm. Looking through those links I noticed with some delight the tail hook on one of the shots of the Sky Raider.