[PhyrFox]

Several people here may be familiar with OHRRPGCE (Offical Hamster Republic Role-Playing Game Construction Engine) that is offically developed by "Bob The Hamster." Several of you might have even tried developing a game in OHRRPGCE, and maybe you made a fairly good game of it, too.

I've been interested in OHRRPGCE for quite a while. After all, it's simple enough for beginners, but has just enough features to make a workable RPG. I know I've mentioned it in several other places before. At any rate, a few months ago I asked Bob if I could re-make the OHRRPGCE for a Windows environment.


He agreed.

So, due to various reasons (although no truly valid excuses), I've been unable to complete the project. Finally, it's moving along at a reasonable pace. Shortly, I'll have a demo version of what I believe will be the next viable generation of OHRRPGCE. Coincidently, I am going to need some alpha testers, as well as ideas for improving over the original engine without breaking compatibility with the original engine.

If I could have some people check out OHRRPGCE [ http://www.hamsterrepublic.com/ohrrgpce/ ] and play around with it, then give me ideas of how I might improve on it, I'm open to suggestions. I already have included a graphical filtering system that allows for 9 graphics mode (including an original 320x200 mode), plus I will be implementing ideas I have on improving the original UI for the game.

Other ideas, posted here or sent to me directly, would be welcome. Shortly, in the next couple of weeks, I will post my engine (when it is in a playable format, or at least a demo format) to show off as a demonstration.

~= PhyrFox =~

[Mandrake]

improvements:
True Midi sound, MOD music and sound effects.
Varaible Opacity for graphics.
More map layers

The interface is decent though. Keep that.
_________________
"Well, last time I flicked on a lighter, I'm pretty sure I didn't create a black hole."-
Xmark

http://pauljessup.com

[PhyrFox]

I have considered adding features to OHRRPGCE such as MOD files and things, but currently that would involve updating his file format as well, which is currently designed for extensibility. Certainly, I can add such capabilities to his format, although that would mean that those who want to create backwards compatible games (able to play in either engine) would need to have two separate file formats for the music: a MIDI version and a MOD version.

Currently, the ideas I'm toying with include a "MIDI to pseudo-MOD" convertor, which would basically include packaged hi-fidelity samples to convert his internal format to a
"FM-synthitized" format for higher quality, or allowing MOD files to be directly added to the file, and whose presence would override the "default" MIDI format.

As for adding sound effects, that would probably require updating the scripting engine, or one or more other sub-engines to generate the events required for sound effects. Of course, this means that the sounds would only be included in the Windows engine, and wouldn't play in the original engine at all.

Currently, the only true extensions I'm considering adding that wouldn't effect the file severely would include an options package that would allow a "default" graphics upgrade for Windows players (versus having to go into the menu and selecting the upgrade options), which also means the main GUI is going to have updates as well, anyway.

And, of course, I'm still dealing with turning OHR into a multi-threaded Windows application in addition to all the rest.

Graphical improvements over the original are inevitable, such as upgrades to the main loading screen, and various menu systems. Most likely this will include options to have true alpha-blending on menus, as well as options for how to handle the additional "tile" worth of space left over on the top and bottom of the screen (320x200 verus 320x240). Such options currently appear to include "wide-screen" format (leaving them black), moving text dialogs to the bottom or top (probably bottom), and/or including help dialogs that would appear along the bottom of the screen.

But I will definately take your ideas into consideration, although for anything substantial, I need to request permission from James Paige (Bob) to make such changes.

~= PhyrFox =~

[Terry]

The easiest way to approach this would probably be to try and compile the OHRRPGCE qbasic source in Freebasic. It'll be a while before Freebasic is ready, and you'll probably have to rewrite some of the graphical routines, but it'll be a lot less work that way, and completely compatible too. Probably. But if you've already got another .rpg reading engine created, then I guess it doesn't matter.

I used to love OHRRPGCE. Because of that, I wouldn't recommend adding new features at all. James Paige has already said that at some point, he's going to start from scratch (on something he calls "HamsterWheel"). Your goal should probably be just to provide a more compatible RPG engine that runs old .rpg games, otherwise, you're just stepping on his toes. Alternatively, why not make your own RPG engine to do *something* that none of the others do?

[edits] some atrocious spelling errors that I just had to fix...
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http://www.distractionware.com

[PhyrFox]

[Charbile]

A few days after talking about the worst flaw of the ohrrpgce (compatibility, use to consider sound fx or lack thereof the worst) and the desire for an ohr windows player to reach a larger audience since most won't bother with dos-box, someone pointed me to this thread. I was pleasantly surprised and have been checking back every day since. I am on the verge of completing my first 'indie-rpg' using the ohrrpgce, the product of a few years off and on, and so have a vested interest in seeing you succeed. Which I would very much like to see you succeed. I would be happy to test and am looking forward to your demonstration.

By 'improved graphics', do you mean things like scanlines/rendering? If so, I must suggest 2xSAI Kreed. It is the best one I have seen in improving the quality of low resolution 2d graphics.

You wouldn't happen to have used any other online aliases would you? Your writing style seems familiar.

[PhyrFox]

[PhyrFox]

As a side note: My projects page Not up yet (not with anything useful), but check back often. I'll start posting info here on a regular basis regarding the project.

Edit: Alright, CSS is not very user friendly. I need to re-design the main page; it won't work in FireFox. Anyway, you may also go here: Engine Status Page. I'll post information here as it becomes available.

[tcaudilllg]

I tried the OHRRPGE years ago, and was dissuaded by its weak scripting engine. I played around with it a bit, but after some study I decided yeah best to let it go.

Now I have a professional level engine and... I'd like to work with somebody to make something with it.

[PhyrFox]

[Friend]

Well, I thought I'll voice my support too. I have two games done with OHRRPGCE currently, and am quite concerned that most of my friends bailed out playtesting just because they''re DOS-based. I think it should be obvious that most game authors would want, above all things, that their game be played. The DOS-based nature of OHR has kept most players from trying, I would imagine. As far as suggestions go, I'm really not sure what to add... since you know, like you said, the fact that it's on windows is already one major leap forward.

Also, OHR's user base is quite big. While I can't talk for everyone, I'm sure that there are alot of people who would benefit from this engine. Your engine might as well be one of the things that draw people in when it's completed.

[janus]

[bay]

[tcaudilllg]

I don't see why not. I mean, it has objects, and even if it doesn't do things "by the book", what does it matter when a significant portion of the population avoids doing something because they have to do it by a "book" that they don't understand. It's never going to become outdated, in the least, because it has a system that cannot ever be improved upon--due to the limits of the human mind--and even if its no better than any other system, then at least the conclusion is decisively drawn that there can be no authentic "better" relative to all parties. I didn't make it for professionals; rather, I made it to help amateurs do professional level work.

[Mandrake]

Hm, I'd have to agree with Janus.
_________________
"Well, last time I flicked on a lighter, I'm pretty sure I didn't create a black hole."-
Xmark

http://pauljessup.com