(no subject)

[Blackhart Joe]

I was wondering...

If I'm not going to use the TK's internal battle, menu, equipment, or character systems, are there any advantages to using the TK, besides the graphics engine (and unless I can get someone to draw sprites from my concept art, I might not even use that) -- or would I be better off just doing the whole project in C++?

I don't really *know* C++, but I've been reading documentation and it doesn't seem scary at all

[Colin]

There's really a lot more to a game engine than you might suspect. As of TK3, the default systems aren't even part of the engine (they're independent libraries).

C is a simple language in which conjuring up any sort of graphics can be very tricky. A lot of people have this image of DX (and similar libraries) as being an almighty, easy tool for drawing to the screen. Unfortunately, it too basically just provides access to graphics hardware. If you're well versed in C, understand the concepts of rendering, and 2d graphics (actually a very tricky topic), then sure--go for it. Otherwise, you might find it harder than you had imagined.

[Blackhart Joe]

I've got 2 projects in the works right now... One is on the back burner due to complexity & detail of gameplay (I've been designing the systems for over 5 years), but I'm really looking at doing it entirely in C++, in a rogue-like style

The other project is really the one I'm not sure about; it's much more of a traditional RPG, and much, much more simple, and could probably benefit from the usual RPG visual representation, sprites and boards, overhead view, whatnot.  But I don't have the skills to produce the quality of sprites that I want.


Anyway, you brought something up there -- you said that the default systems are independent libraries, separate from trans3.  I'm curious what exactly this entails.  I mean, what does trans3 consist of now?  Interpretation of rpgcode, obviously; what else?

[Colin]

• trans3.exe
  • Animation File Format</li>
  • Background File Format</li>
  • Board File Format</li>
  • Canvas Interface</li>
  • Dialogues</li>
  • Enemy File Format</li>
  • (Currently Unused) Font File Format</li>
  • Image File Formats (*.bmp, *.jpg, *.png, etc.)</li>
  • Item File Format</li>
  • Localization</li>
  • Main File Format</li>
  • Media Engine (*.mid, *.mp3, *.mod, etc.)</li>
  • Player File Format</li>
  • Special Move File Format</li>
  • Status Effect File Format</li>
  • Tile Animation File Format</li>
  • Tile Bitmap File Format</li>
  • Tile Documents</li>
  • Tilesets</li>
  • Board, Tile Drawing</li>
  • MD5 Checksums</li>
  • Plugin Interface</li>
  • ZIP File Format</li>
  • Windows Fonts (*.ttf)</li>
  • RPGCode</li>
  • Animation Playing</li>
  • Battle System Interface (any battle system is managed through here)</li>
  • Keyboard Input</li>
  • Joystick Input</li>
  • Board Coordinate Management</li>
  • Central Logic</li>
  • Menu Interface</li>
  • Movement Calculations</li>
  • Plugin Callbacks</li>
  • Rendering Engine</li>
  • Save State File Format</li>
  • Threading</li>
  • Time</li>
  • COM Plugins</li>
  • Shop</li>
  </li>
• actkrt3.dll (C++ code)
  • Underlying Board, Tile Drawing</li>
  • Underlying Image Loading</li>
  • Underlying ZIP Support</li>
  • Canvases (Surfaces)</li>
  • MD5 Implementation</li>
  • Audiere Implementation</li>
  • Main Event Loop</li>
  • DirectX Interface</li>
  </li>

It's easy to not notice what's being done for you.

[Dude Man]

Yeah! Go TK!

I say, go with TK, Joe, it would make your games be done alot quicker, and TKZ and MS would host your game.

[Blackhart Joe]

Thanks, that's exactly the sort of information I wanted

TK would seem to be the way to go for the second project I mentioned.  Now I just need a new computer...

[AlienDude]

Cant help ya there  Very Happy

What's your progress on that black and white game you were working on?