Mikekan13

New Screenshot! And time for sleep! 

> It's gonna be a paid for game? No, I had thought about doing that. Right now the plan is free to play. I will probably start to take donations in late beta so I can fund a server or two. Probably set up some special perks for donations: Unique looking character, unique looking blocks they can build, ect. Then when the game is released I might add a shop where you could buy graphical enhancements to your character or items. (I do not like games where you can pay to gain an advantage so anything bought or gained through donations will be purely graphical) I have also thought about in game ad space for rent, but that would probably only be after the game has a following and is established. When I say in game ad space I mean there would be actual structures or billboards in the game that could have a logo or something on it. Maybe even an option to link out to their site. Anyways that is a long time away and only a thought I had a while back. If for some reason I do go back to the pay method then it would probably be either a couple bucks a month or a one time fee for life.

> If your good with graphical work, then you will be able to make a good looking font. xD I hate making fonts :P They are so boring. Anyways Got the text system almost done. Just need to add some word wrapping–After I watch Doctor Who! Then I can get back to more important things! 

I figured that was the answer. Thanks for the confirmation. :P

D3DFont is super slow at rendering text. What is the solution?

I guess I just need to be smart with text. lol. Luckily my game design is very text light. Hard for me to gauge though since my comp is total shit. I am averaging about 45 fps with the menus and text that I have currently. Kinda worried about the chat though. I did a test that rendered 10 different text renders and it took me down to 10 fps. Really wanted to do chat bubbles too but if 10 people got on screen and typed it would lag my comp down. Guess I should just ask robin. Confirmed by Robin: I have to make my own text rendering and text texture. Oh well I guess I have to spend some time making a custom font now. :sad:

So I noticed a huge frame rate drop when I use D3DFont for text rendering. I mean this thing is a piece of crap. Is there a faster way of doing this? Do I have to write my own text handling that draws vertices with a texture that has each letter of the alphabet on it? Seems like a pain in the arse. Is this how it is done in dx8?

> In the screenshot, is the glowing block you placing a block? Yes, I am selecting where the dirt block will go. > That's amazing. Lol. If you say so. > Why is the block-placeholder glowing? It should be translucent or white (like in RCT2). That is what I did originally but the block didn't stand out enough. Actually the translucent block is still there under the glow. This and pretty much everything will be different in the end though. > The graphics are amazing on this game. The sprites need a lot of work tho. The sprite is a placeholder and sort of a joke between me and a friend.

You have a great eye for human anatomy. Keep up the good work.

Thought I would shoot a screenshot on here. Working on some rough GUI for the pre-Alpha. I know it is lots of suck right now but I did it in like 15 minutes and it is just so it will feel more tactile. Basically you push that button that says blocks–looks like blooks. It will bring up the menu shown and let you cycle through the blocks, all two of them. Then you can click on a space adjacent to your character and it will place a block there. This is not how it will work after pre-alpha. I promise the Gui will be way better in the real deal. Just thought you guys would wan't to see what I am doing!  Ps: Also my Wacom pen is bugging out. I hope it makes it a little longer.

@Robin: >  Do you keep pictures of different people sorted by emotions?

It is the best show ever because It can go and do anything. It is every genre wrapped up in one. That, and the stories are driven by witty dialogue and deep plot weaving instead of mindless action or mysterious mysteries for the sake of mystery.(Lost I am looking at you)

Did you hear the rumors about David Tennant maybe being in an episode? I think it would be too soon for that. David was great but I think they need to give Matt some space to shine. I really like Matt–even though his face looks punched in. I don't think it would be fair for him since it is only his second season.

Who is as excited as me!? The great doctor is visiting us Americans! I love how we are portrayed: Cowboys and big guns! :P This season is going to be epic!!! I can't wait to find out who or what river song is.

Kinda lame an op can't delete their own poll. Can I get a moderator to kill that please?

Whew… well it took almost all day but I managed to take care of the big bad bug and in the process killed about 3 smaller ones. A little behind schedule but I can hopefully make it up. Might just mean less graphics to show off. I know you guys hate that! Reminds me! Does anyone know how to clear, delete, start over a poll on here? The only options I see for the poll is to reset the counts to 0 and change the names of the options and title. P.S: If you wan't to sign up for the pre-alpha then please send me a PM with the specifications I mention on the first page of this thread. You guys crack me up with the "Sign me up!" but it will be way easier for me to track you all down when I have a list of PMs. Add your e-mail or something you check frequently if you don't get on here often. Thanks Again.

Couldn't find that bug mentioned earlier but while trying to fix it I found two other bugs and fixed them. I guess that is a good thing. I will spend some time tomorrow trying to fix this thing but If I can't solve it I will put it on my list to do and move on. It can only happen if a player spams moving back and forth between 2 cells as fast as humanly possible. Since players won't know where cell borders are located and they would have to act like an idiot jittering back and forth right on the unknown boundary then I can't see this causing too many problems. Hopefully I can just figure it out quickly tomorrow; otherwise I will just have to move on to get this ready in time.

@Marsh: > You play magic the gathering? Hell ya!

10 people have signed up. :cheesy: 10 more slots to fill before the 30th Edit: RAGE :mad: I feel like I am fighting a hydra here! Every time I fix a bug another one appears! This one is rather obscure and I have no Idea what could be causing it. Hopefully I will get lucky tomorrow and I will find the source quick. This simply has to be the last big bug for now!!!

> I really find this game interesting. Sign me up :D If you could send me a pm with the specifications I posted on the first page. Will make it easier for me at the end of the month to contact everyone who wants to participate in the pre-alpha. Thanks for your interest.

Stomped that bug only to find another one. :mad: Shouldn't be too hard to fix this one though. I already see what it is I just don't want to do the math tonight to fix it. Gives you guys some more time to vote on the poll. Might work on some tiles before I go to bed. Edit: I also played with the shadows some and my computer is reaching its limit. If I set my layer view range to max (11) and turn shadows on in full screen 1024x768 then my fps goes down to about 12-15. Looks like I am going to have to find a way to get a new pc soon. Sucks to have to scale down the graphic settings of your own game :P

> Reason: Although I think you should be coding features, you already have a ton of great features for a pre-alpha stage. Therefore, I would like you to focus on graphics! >:] Not really. All you can do is walk around place blocks and remove blocks. Don't you want to do something more than that? :P

Changed the poll so you can vote which system i should code next. Tell me why you voted for what in a reply.

Hopefully by the end of the night I will work out this last bug with the world streaming. I was going to focus on some graphical things like shadows but I think maybe I should work on a feature that matters and isn't graphical. I will let you guys decide what set I should work on next. **List for Poll:** Character –------------------------------------------- _-Skills and stats -Teaching and learning system -Combat system -Wounds, sickness and health system -Fatigue and food system -Karma (God Hood and god powers)_ Items/Structures –------------------------------------------- _-Material system -Item system -Inventory -Item and structure crafting_ World and AI –------------------------------------------ _-World generation -Plant system -Animal system_

Well halfway through the month; 14 more days to get this thing ready. Kinda nervous. So much still to do. :mad: