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mindstorm8191
Created : 30 October 2008
 
System : Mac

Garbage Invader parts
I have recently come to realize just how much work is involved in creating new part types for Garbage Invaders. I started writing a list of all the things I would have to do to include a new part in the game, and the list got to be really long. Here's what I came up with; these items are in random order:

  • Decide purpose and components needed
  • Draw the shape of the part, and all needed components
  • Decide on the properties of the part, and add it to the script.
  • Decide on the property shifts per level, and add it to the script.
  • Add commands to the game-loading script reader to use any new keywords used for the part.
  • Write the hard-code to make the part operate in-game.
  • Add game-time graphics and the controls to animate those graphics (when necessary)
  • Add code to generate the model of the part.
  • Manage applying properties from all the components to the part.

In all, its a pretty long list. Its more than just media and script contents, there are alot of changes needed to be done to the source code. Things which can't be delegated to the script file.

I did some thinking about how to tackle this problem, and I decided that a great deal of this can be sorted out on paper, instead of sitting infront of the computer. I can iron out all the details to getting the new part in, including level properties, components and what they look like, the part model and its properties, etc etc. Then hopefully, adding the part to the game will be much faster and easier to do. I can later play around with the values to find something comfortable.

So far this idea has worked, because I have laid out all the info I can for span-shields. I've also decided to simplify the component leveling, to simply specify properties and how they shift up per level. There'll also be a degrading factor that will either make property shifts level off, or grow faster.

We'll see how it goes with the new build of the source.

 

Comments
Thursday, 30 October 2008, 15:19
Phoenix
 		So... any screenies of this garbage? What language are you using for this endeavor? And what is it exactly?
Friday, 31 October 2008, 19:03
mindstorm8191
 		Hmm, seems I've only talked about this in depth on mud-chat. I've got a page with at least some screenies here: www.dannysgames.com/project and click the Garbage Invaders picture.

Oh, and yes its in Blitz3D. Garbage Invaders is a ship-based role-playing game. You destroy enemy ships and with the wreckage you can find parts to upgrade your ship with. These parts, though, will consist of a series of components, each of which you have to find before the part works. You can attach a wild number of parts to your ship, since any parts can have parts attached to them (if you've ever played Warning Forever, you'll get the idea). It'll be a hugely long project, but since I'm doing it all for fun, that shouldn't matter.

If you wanna know more, just ask.
Saturday, 01 November 2008, 04:30
Phoenix
 		I always loved Warning Forever Good luck!
Saturday, 01 November 2008, 17:13
mindstorm8191
 		Thanks Say, would you wanna help me out? I don't need help with the coding aspect or anything. I mostly need help deiciding all these things I need for the ship parts, like what components they have, how their properties will change, what the components will look like, etc etc. Don't worry I wouldn't push too much work on ya. Send me a msg if you're interested.
Saturday, 01 November 2008, 17:20
Phoenix
 		Sorry, I'm busy with my painting program and I'd rather not be distracted with another project at the moment.
Sunday, 02 November 2008, 16:00
mindstorm8191
 		Alright no problem there. Hey if you need any help with your project, let me know. That's something I'd like to see finished, too.