Preview Testing Release (With Screenshots)

Hello,

i built a preview release of the current engine, to show off the current rendering capabilities.

*This version is outdated, please look at the other thread*

Instructions:
Unzip to any location, run converter.exe, run eviltemple.exe

(In the main menu, only new game works, and will give you a load map screen).

You can scroll around the maps by dragging them around like in google maps.
Other interactions:
- The blue Stairs/Doors icons work
- Clicking on any dynamic object will open up an information dialog
- Clicking on doors will open/close them

If you're into the internals, you can look at the files in data/scripts with a text editor (they're javascript and you're free to edit them). data/interface contains the definitions for the dialogs. The zip files contain the converted data from ToEE.

I tested this on Windows 7 64-bit on both a mobile NVidia GPU and an ATI Radeon 5850.

Any feedback would be highly appreciated!

I uploaded a screenshot album of this version in action:
http://imgur.com/a/B133J/eviltemple_20100608_screenshots

Bye,
Storm

 

wow nice work. this looks really promising keep up the good work:love:

 

Thanks for the feedback. While the "interface" is really just for debugging at the moment. I've really been wondering how the final one should look like.

I could rebuilding the original interface, since the graphics are all there (it would probably be really easy), but to be honest the original interface is awful in some places.

Even if you ignore the bugs, the stat section of the character sheet just hides too much detail (i.e. having to click again to see where the armor class comes from). I've been wondering whether I should revise that. Suggestions welcome! I also need to keep in mind that the interface should allow for more of the 3.5 goodness missing from ToEE (i.e. prestige classes, reserve feats, etc.).

And yeah, I also thought the original font (Arial, 10pt) wasn't very good. Especially on todays screens with todays resolutions, a 10 pt font is too small.

 

Well I have to design some form of interface either way, so the work involved doesn't really change. In principle the interface design is a lot like designing a webpage with the technique I am using.

As for your suggestions: I also think the radial menu is suboptimal. Especially since a) the method of putting a shortcut to heavily used entries is cumbersome and b) there is zero context sensitivity.

I.e. I would prefer an option like "Break Free" to be easily accessible, but only if the current character is really grappled or entangled. This applies to several options. Maybe a quick-bar with icons would be appropriate. But I don't know that yet.

As for the inventory: Have you played dragon age? I think a solution in that direction would be good (they use a list like mine too). But the inventory I used is *really* just temporary. I also want to include an appraised item value in the inventory (maybe based on the party's highest appraise skill), the long description (or at least an excerpt of it), and maybe an item-type (I.e. for the Item "Frostbrand" it would still show Sword in grey or sth. like that).

 

Eyecandy Update:

Fixed several more animations:


Small clipping error on the ground, but nice shadows:


New dialog background and close button:


My favourite thing, scripted particle systems in animations:


Same thing as above, fire/air elementals are only visible with particles:


Same as above, particles add a lot of flair:

 

Wow, just wow. Let me ask you something. Can you take this engine and recreate a new game with it? You are making this from scratch correct? Theoretically, when the engine is complete, could someone license it from you to build a new RPG or would it infringe on Trokia/Atari?

I am always thinking about business and this is just so cool.

 

The engine is open source, so there is no need to license it from me. And yes, I am making this from scratch, and in addition to that, I am defining my own data files (and conveniently provide a tool to convert from toee data files to my data files ). So if you'd like, you could definetly build your own assets and use them with that engine. You'd have to be careful with the scripts though, since in the end they will implement D&D and there could be some trademark issues if the scripts go beyond what's available in the D20 SRD. (If you don't plan to use anything beyond D20, there should be no problem)
The goal is to make the engine MIT licensed, which allows anyone to make source code modifications and release a new version without having to release the source code.

ps: But in truth, if you plan to make something *really* new, you should probably go with Ogre. It takes so much effort to implement this engine mainly due to the required compatibility with ToEE.

 

That is exactly the long term goal of this project.

 

I for one, eagerly await each of your progress updates and dream of the day you have accomplished your long term goal.

 

Fantastisch! Can't believe I missed it a week ago.

A few questions:

1. The graphics programming seems be very far along (dare I say, almost done?). Is that so?
2. In light of that, how far away are you from implementing the game mechanics - Combat system, AI, interface, dialogue, NPCs, factions, etc?
3. Bearing that in mind, when would it be suitable to start discussing and offering suggestions to the above? (if at all?)

 

And sorry it took me so long to answer.

A very good portion is done. I still have some tweaking to do. (I still seem to interpret some particle system properties incorrectly, and I seem to ramp up the lights too much)

In principle I want to finish the "services" the engine must provide to the script engine first. Pathfinding is one of those services, line of sight (partially done and required for pathfinding anyway), and other services. It's not *very* far away though. The plan is to implement the entire game logic in javascript to remain flexible.

In principle it can already be discussed (although in a new thread I suppose). And yes, suggestions are always welcome.

Regards,
Storm