Steph's next great project announcement

Steph · Jul 18, 2003, 05:43 AM

I've been carressing this idea for a long time... And I MIGHT decide to take the step. Depending on some personal testing I would like to make first to check if I can really do it, and also on the support I can get.

I'd like to start writing my own game. It will be a turn based strategy game that will probably look like CivIII, but with a different system behind (diplomacy, battles, economy, research will all be different).

Of course, it is a much more complex project that what I did before, so I'm not sure yet I can really do it, and I would need some help.

At first, it will be a strictly hotseat multiplayer game, I want to check that the mechanism work before moving to implementing an AI.

If you are interesting by this great adventure, you can discuss it here, or send me an email at stephane.f.david@free.fr

More to come later...

kryszcztov · Jul 18, 2003, 06:42 AM

All that I can say is : BONNE CHANCE !!!

I know nothing in coding, but if you need someone to help you design this or that feature, you can ask me, I'll answer you ! Any information about how it will look like ?

thestonesfan · Jul 18, 2003, 06:46 AM

I know coding...but this sounds like its way out of my league!

LBPB · Jul 18, 2003, 07:02 AM

I'm really very interested in this.

For the coding, it out of my league too but if you need some help in design (interface/decors/building/units, wathever), just call me !!!

Steph · Jul 18, 2003, 07:11 AM

Well, first I know coding, but not graphics coding (when I started SBB I knew nothing about graphics). And don't know how to play sound either. But I know windows based interface quite well.
So I'm sure I can code something that is "functional", I don't know if I can make it nice.
So after I've done some testing, I'll now if I can make a nice looking map, and if I can animated properly some sprites on it.

Implemanting game mechanism is not really a pb.

I would need people to help me on several topics:
- I need graphics, I suck at graphics, I can only borrow others job.
- Designing.

I will keep the civilopedia equivalent quite simple to start with, I want to focus on the game mechanism.

First thing I do is write the specification, and then I'd like some people to read it and give me feedback about the game mechanism I intend to implement. It will probably be quite different thant civ, even it should be a similar background, it will be turn based, and the map will be tiles (much more easier to do than regions!).

Then I will need help also for some parts of the code : it could be coding itself, or it could also be trying to design some algorithms (like rules to generate nice maps).

Mithadan · Jul 18, 2003, 02:50 PM

This sounds very cool, although I am going to be absolutely useless as far as helping out goes.

Unless you want people to make suggestions like "can we have civ specific tech trees" or "can we have a flag that enhances defence against mounted units" etc.

Steph · Jul 18, 2003, 03:27 PM

Mithadan, even this kind of remarks will be welcome!

I've done some testing tonight, and I'm rather happy.

Here is what I've achieved. It's not perfect, but it's a start...
I can draw an animated little guy above a bitmap (the ugly map here, I add nothing else!).
I can also make drag and drop with it.
Now, I need to adapt my first testing to be able to add several animations "at will", and delete them when they are not needed anymore!

When I'll be OK with the animation, I'll try to draw the map behind correctly. I cannot promise the performanceswill be extraordinary, but I'll try to do what I can...
At least, I'll be able to change the rules at will and add the 'flag that enhances defense against flying purples hypopotamus if I want to

"

Knight_Bond007 · Jul 18, 2003, 09:08 PM

well, steph. good luck.

by the way, that background is a map, right? it looks familiar to me.

and i guess we'll see your work on it, but...what exactilly you have on mind? some sort of Civilization a la Steph?

snsfro · Jul 18, 2003, 11:34 PM

Is there any way that you can just "fix" the existing civ? Civ-3 would be perfect with a couple more flags and such. It would be much eisier. It would truely be a fully customizable game.

Steph · Jul 18, 2003, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Knight_Bond007
well, steph. good luck.

by the way, that background is a map, right? it looks familiar to me.

and i guess we'll see your work on it, but...what exactilly you have on mind? some sort of Civilization a la Steph?

The background is just an image I'm using for the Map Making tech. It was here just to test the animation above an image.

It will be more than a "Civilization a la Steph". The game play should be very different... I'll try to throw my main ideas on paper for everyone to comment. Basically, I plan to keep similar graphics, because I cand get plenty of materials here. The animation is simply the storyboard of the Cossacks unit converted to PNG, and where the transparency is set to magenta.

I think I can handle coding the game engine. It probably won't be as performant or as nice as what you have in CivIII, but I hope it will be playable

But I cannot do animation at the same tiume, so I need to borrow it...

Steph · Jul 18, 2003, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by snsfro
Is there any way that you can just "fix" the existing civ? Civ-3 would be perfect with a couple more flags and such. It would be much eisier. It would truely be a fully customizable game.

No problem. Get me the source code. Oh? You don't have it?

And even with a couple more flags, I don't think it will be perfect. I have lots of other ideas in mind.

grasu · Jul 19, 2003, 07:11 PM

Is this gonna be availabe for free or are you going to charge money for it?

Steph · Jul 20, 2003, 12:37 AM

It will be available for free, but any donation to support the war effort will NOT be rejected.

I'm not sure I can make something "professional" enough to charge anything... Perhaps I'll change my mind later if I achieve somethig better that I hope.

Steph · Jul 25, 2003, 12:01 PM

Initial testing and contacts are positive.

I should start coding the graphical engine (maps and units) before September.

I'm also discussing the possibility to include scripting with a friend.

Mithadan · Jul 26, 2003, 02:11 AM

This is very exciting. Thank-you for keeping us updated on the progress.

andrew510 · Jul 27, 2003, 10:30 PM

Is this in C++?

Becuse i knw some C++ and i could help.

Steph · Jul 27, 2003, 11:55 PM

It will be C#. I take the opportunity to learn the language that way. However, C# is compatible with C++ so it's possible to :
- Write module in C++ and use them in C#
- Write module in C++ and port them in C#

C# is a lot faster and easier to user than C++, so I think it's a good choice, especially for GUI.

slothman · Jul 28, 2003, 01:33 AM

It sounds interesting. I might be able to help as I know C++. Also since the CTP2 source might be coming out maybe you could use that.

Steph · Jul 28, 2003, 05:58 AM

CTP2 source is released? Where?

slothman · Jul 28, 2003, 03:59 PM

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showth...threadid=58709 and http://forums.civfanatics.com/showth...threadid=59896
It talks about it. I don't know if it will be released just that it is likely.

Jul 18, 2003, 05:43 AM	#1
Steph Multi Many Tasks man Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pont de l'Arn, FRANCE Posts: 17,757	Steph's next great project announcement I've been carressing this idea for a long time... And I MIGHT decide to take the step. Depending on some personal testing I would like to make first to check if I can really do it, and also on the support I can get. I'd like to start writing my own game. It will be a turn based strategy game that will probably look like CivIII, but with a different system behind (diplomacy, battles, economy, research will all be different). Of course, it is a much more complex project that what I did before, so I'm not sure yet I can really do it, and I would need some help. At first, it will be a strictly hotseat multiplayer game, I want to check that the mechanism work before moving to implementing an AI. If you are interesting by this great adventure, you can discuss it here, or send me an email at stephane.f.david@free.fr More to come later... Last edited by Steph; Sep 28, 2007 at 04:56 AM.

Jul 18, 2003, 06:46 AM	#3
thestonesfan A Client of Ron Kuby Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 7,549	I know coding...but this sounds like its way out of my league! __________________ What a drag it is gettin' old.

Jul 18, 2003, 02:50 PM	#6
Mithadan Wandering Woodsman Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Alberta über alles ;) Posts: 4,019	This sounds very cool, although I am going to be absolutely useless as far as helping out goes. Unless you want people to make suggestions like "can we have civ specific tech trees" or "can we have a flag that enhances defence against mounted units" etc. __________________ "Seeking self, I find nothing but myself, but in this I drink the cup of gall I really am." -- William Desmond ----- "I'm not a fan of censoring history." -- gorn

Jul 18, 2003, 09:08 PM	#8
Knight_Bond007 Warlord Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dominican Republic Posts: 146	well, steph. good luck. by the way, that background is a map, right? it looks familiar to me. and i guess we'll see your work on it, but...what exactilly you have on mind? some sort of Civilization a la Steph? Last edited by Knight_Bond007; Jul 18, 2003 at 09:13 PM.

Jul 26, 2003, 02:11 AM	#15
Mithadan Wandering Woodsman Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Alberta über alles ;) Posts: 4,019	This is very exciting. Thank-you for keeping us updated on the progress. __________________ "Seeking self, I find nothing but myself, but in this I drink the cup of gall I really am." -- William Desmond ----- "I'm not a fan of censoring history." -- gorn

Jul 18, 2003, 06:42 AM	#2
kryszcztov Deity Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,423	All that I can say is : BONNE CHANCE !!! I know nothing in coding, but if you need someone to help you design this or that feature, you can ask me, I'll answer you ! Any information about how it will look like ?

Jul 18, 2003, 07:02 AM	#4
LBPB King Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 643	I'm really very interested in this. For the coding, it out of my league too but if you need some help in design (interface/decors/building/units, wathever), just call me !!!

Jul 18, 2003, 07:11 AM	#5
Steph Multi Many Tasks man Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pont de l'Arn, FRANCE Posts: 17,757	Well, first I know coding, but not graphics coding (when I started SBB I knew nothing about graphics). And don't know how to play sound either. But I know windows based interface quite well. So I'm sure I can code something that is "functional", I don't know if I can make it nice. So after I've done some testing, I'll now if I can make a nice looking map, and if I can animated properly some sprites on it. Implemanting game mechanism is not really a pb. I would need people to help me on several topics: - I need graphics, I suck at graphics, I can only borrow others job. - Designing. I will keep the civilopedia equivalent quite simple to start with, I want to focus on the game mechanism. First thing I do is write the specification, and then I'd like some people to read it and give me feedback about the game mechanism I intend to implement. It will probably be quite different thant civ, even it should be a similar background, it will be turn based, and the map will be tiles (much more easier to do than regions!). Then I will need help also for some parts of the code : it could be coding itself, or it could also be trying to design some algorithms (like rules to generate nice maps).

Jul 18, 2003, 03:27 PM	#7
Steph Multi Many Tasks man Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pont de l'Arn, FRANCE Posts: 17,757	Mithadan, even this kind of remarks will be welcome! I've done some testing tonight, and I'm rather happy. Here is what I've achieved. It's not perfect, but it's a start... I can draw an animated little guy above a bitmap (the ugly map here, I add nothing else!). I can also make drag and drop with it. Now, I need to adapt my first testing to be able to add several animations "at will", and delete them when they are not needed anymore! When I'll be OK with the animation, I'll try to draw the map behind correctly. I cannot promise the performanceswill be extraordinary, but I'll try to do what I can... At least, I'll be able to change the rules at will and add the 'flag that enhances defense against flying purples hypopotamus if I want to "

Jul 18, 2003, 11:34 PM	#9
snsfro Warlord Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 272	Is there any way that you can just "fix" the existing civ? Civ-3 would be perfect with a couple more flags and such. It would be much eisier. It would truely be a fully customizable game.

Jul 19, 2003, 07:11 PM	#12
grasu Chieftain Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Romania Posts: 23	Is this gonna be availabe for free or are you going to charge money for it?

Jul 20, 2003, 12:37 AM	#13
Steph Multi Many Tasks man Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pont de l'Arn, FRANCE Posts: 17,757	It will be available for free, but any donation to support the war effort will NOT be rejected. I'm not sure I can make something "professional" enough to charge anything... Perhaps I'll change my mind later if I achieve somethig better that I hope.

Jul 25, 2003, 12:01 PM	#14
Steph Multi Many Tasks man Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pont de l'Arn, FRANCE Posts: 17,757	Initial testing and contacts are positive. I should start coding the graphical engine (maps and units) before September. I'm also discussing the possibility to include scripting with a friend.

Jul 27, 2003, 10:30 PM	#16
andrew510 B-25 Bomber Pilot Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: NE america Posts: 293	Is this in C++? Becuse i knw some C++ and i could help.

Jul 27, 2003, 11:55 PM	#17
Steph Multi Many Tasks man Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pont de l'Arn, FRANCE Posts: 17,757	It will be C#. I take the opportunity to learn the language that way. However, C# is compatible with C++ so it's possible to : - Write module in C++ and use them in C# - Write module in C++ and port them in C# C# is a lot faster and easier to user than C++, so I think it's a good choice, especially for GUI.

Jul 28, 2003, 01:33 AM	#18
slothman Emperor Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 1,223	It sounds interesting. I might be able to help as I know C++. Also since the CTP2 source might be coming out maybe you could use that. __________________ Visit my forum at: http://www.thegaminguniverse.com/ for some of your gaming needs.

Jul 28, 2003, 05:58 AM	#19
Steph Multi Many Tasks man Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pont de l'Arn, FRANCE Posts: 17,757	CTP2 source is released? Where?

Jul 28, 2003, 03:59 PM	#20
slothman Emperor Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 1,223	http://forums.civfanatics.com/showth...threadid=58709 and http://forums.civfanatics.com/showth...threadid=59896 It talks about it. I don't know if it will be released just that it is likely. __________________ Visit my forum at: http://www.thegaminguniverse.com/ for some of your gaming needs.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Project announcement: European Wars MOD	imperator1961	Civ3 - Creation & Customization	115	May 26, 2009 01:55 PM
New Project Announcement: Native American Mod II	Sword_Of_Geddon	Civ3 - Creation & Customization	331	Sep 27, 2008 06:32 AM
Project Announcement:Babylon 5 and/Star Trek Scenarios	sela1s1son	Civ3 - Creation & Customization	309	Aug 28, 2005 03:18 AM
Steph's back with yet another project	Steph	Civ3 - Creation & Customization	24	Jul 24, 2005 01:48 AM
Screenshots of Steph's latest project	Steph	Civ3 - Creation & Customization	24	Oct 19, 2003 03:13 PM

Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. This site is copyright © Civilization Fanatics' Center.
Support CFC: Amazon.com \| Amazon UK \| Amazon DE \| Amazon CA \| Amazon FR