Hey guys been a while, I finally restored my system to a fully operational Tocs Data Center aka my PC.
I wrote most of the Auto-Updater for the game check out the pic.
Notice the Vista?
Obviously those Change Notes are total BS and just a test. But it downloads a zip file containing the changes to the game files and applys them appropriately. Or thats the goal anywho. Needs just a couple more touch ups.
The editor is chugging along, You can now assign collision to objects so it gets automatically assigned when you place the object. The tile editor has been started, not working completely, this basically just creates animation sequences and assigns auto-tiles. Which are next on the list. Boy the editor sure is alot of work.
Sorry I havent been lurking the IRC channel lately. I've had one crap thing to do after another. I should be on more frequently now.
So lets take a step back and look at the project and what needs to be completed in order for open beta. And what I need help on.
1) Tileset - This is quite important I want a custom one thats new and refreshing to look at. Levelizer has agreed to help with this, but I havent made much contact with him. Hopefully the IRC channel lurking will remedy this.
2) NPCS - Ok this is big. NPCs basically involve several things. Pathing, as in where they bumble about, I imagine this will be much like an RTS from the editor standpoint. You could create a Wander Zone where they wander aimlessly. Or Patrol Points with both Loop and Bounce Back path styles. Or just standing still and looking like an idiot(Rotating and Non Rotating). NPCS also involve converstion trees. Which are a branch of conversational elements, basically Text to read, and Menu choices for answering a question. As well as custom ones such as Heal Pokemon, Open Box, and such. (Computers would activate a TalkTree to select open box and such)
3)Boxes - You gotta have a place to shove those usless pokemon you get! Boxes require the next thing
4) The database all data is "saved" to the database so the next time you log in your not back at square one with just a starter and a handfull of pokeballs. This also allows accounts and various other things. Theik has said he will help with this.
5)Scripted Attacks - I implamented scripted items, I need to do the same for attacks, so the code for them can be extracted and wrote seperatly through the editor.
6)Sound - I was told about .it files by... Wauby was it? Anywho I'm using those for music, I found a library to power the sound of the game called IrrKlang which used to be opensource >.> now has some sort of license if your commercial, which I don't really care about anyway... The editor also needs a loop editor which will define the looping points in a song so the song will start with an intro and then loop.
7) Battle transitions- You know when the screen flashes and it does some sort of cheesy cartoon whipe of the screen kinda like powerpoint? Yah I need those because right now its pretty darn boring....
8) The PaperDoll System - This avatar system thought up by Theik will allow you to pick your hair style, skin color, and clothing all seperately. To further customize your character. Not only does this involve me writing this. We need lots of clothing options. I want At least 10 different hair styles (Not counting color changes) Including a Fro, and a Top Hat... (Hats count as hair styles, so shush) Any Hair folical color should be a perfect gray meaning its RGB code has like <15,15,15> I will write a shader to change the hair color with software. So you can pick a hair color for any hair cut. If you want to make hair styles just make any pixel thats acutally hair a perfect gray and anything thats not (Such as a Hat, or a Bow) not a perfect gray, if you need a gray color use like <128,127,128> only the computer will know the difference... Theres 16776960 other colors to choose from so get over it. I plan to eventually open this up to the public allowing people to create their own and submit them. This will include allowing the name of whoever made it to keep their name embedded with the file. It will show up in character selection. (Big Plans here)
9) The website, I'm like on my third template now and they all look like crap so if you know some webdesign that would like super super.
Regardless thats what were shooting for by the end of May, looks like I better get crackin!
Edit: My pictures have stopped showing up... Stupid host, hold while I fix