Mount Boob

So I've got the graphics engine up and running. There are a few issues I need to iron out before it's completely ready, but for the moment it does what I need it to do. I've uploaded a simple view of a small mountain that I setup for your amusement - it's been affectionately named "Mount Boob". So, without further Ado, I present Mount Boob and Mount Boob at Night.

Graphics Engine Testing...

So I spent today testing all the primary shader algorithms for the game. The results weren't what I'd hoped for performance wise - I am going to have cut the number of individual lights allowed in the game, but I have a backup plan which might be just as cool - we shall see.

With the number of lights cut down to a reasonable level, everything behaves smoothly on the test cases, including my terrain system. Over the next few days I'll be testing the Water system, then I'll toss some screenshots of the tests (mostly cubes - sorry guys I'm not the artist, just the programmer) and get to work on that physics engine!

Still Working...

So the working name for this iteration is still "The Probe". This may change, but for the moment I still like the name so I think we will keep it. As for the game itself, I don't have any screen shots yet - unfortunately the graphics engine for the previous prototype was insufficient for the ideas in this one so I had to scrap. That's what I have been working on now. It's nearly ready for testing, (with the exception of the particles - but those will work the same way as they did in the previous game) I only have a few more features to finish up before I can test it. If all goes well, then the game will support a much larger playing field before which loads section on the fly, some very pretty water reflections, and nifty tricks of light, and the ability to switch from full view of day into literally pitch blackness where you won't see anything not illuminated by your flash light.

Once the graphics engine is completed and tested, I'll be working on the Physics engine - nothing fancy will be here, just a simple 3D rigid body physics simulation. More on that when the time comes :). Anyway, back to work for me!

Cake.

Ok, in the last couple of days I've pretty much used my copious amounts of free time (thank you day job for paying me ridiculous amounts of money to watch flashy lights all day :) ) to come up with a new game concept and a new design document. Thanks to the beauty that is Object Oriented programming I've even got a reasonable amount of code (all canabalized from the original games source code).

I'm not ready to say exactly what the game is just yet, but I do have another coder and an artist on board - so I'm hoping with more assistance I can put together a better overall product. We shall see.

Rejected...Iteration #1 Complete.

Ok, so it looks like what I thought would be a really cool interface for a game really didn't work out quite the way I had hoped. I really don't think their is any improving it, but hey what can you do. So I am left with two choices, toss all my work into the trash bin and pout in my beer, or take everything I've learned, try again, and drink beer anyway.

It's win win really, I get to drink beer either way :) Luckily I am not creativity impaired, regardless of my lack of artistic abilities - and having learned a lot more about what the criteria are and what Microsoft is looking for, my solution is stand up, brush myself off, and reuse what can be reused, scap the rest and start again. Oh - and yes, yes I do have more ideas. Lots :)

This one has to be better than the last of course - more on it when it's ripe. Stay tunned, I may have lost the battle, but I'd haven't lost the war yet :)

Brief Update...

Ok, so due to a delay on my part, the BDM won't be looking at the game until Monday. After some initial reviews I decided to upgrade the ingame tutorial before showing it off. Anyway, I should know more next week, and don't worry - concept art really is on the way!

Artists, and Coders, and Bears - OH MY!

Well, do to some difficulties I've had to replace the games artist - don't worry the new one is good and should be able to provide some usuable concept art soon. I've also got my hands on a 3D artist - so for the art department I have what I need - one person for the 2D stuff (mostly concept art and menu screens) and one person to render it all in 3D. Now all I need is one other coder - I've a couple of people in mind, but we shall see.

In other news, I am still waiting on feedback regarding the current prototype from Microsoft. I imagine there is still a long way before the game is actually approved, but anything that isn't rejection at this point is promising. As always wish me luck :).

Prototype Officially Submitted.

Alright, so I know I haven't posted up much game news lately, but to be honest there hasn't been all that much to report. However I can say that last night I sent officially sent in the current prototype to Microsoft (along with all the documentation that goes with it). Based on what I have been told, I should have some feed back on what they think of the prototype some time next week. So until then, I guess it's just a waiting game....