RPGDX > Forums > General Discussion > Serious contemplation concerning Unmei Densetsu

Tenshi

- Sitting in Java class today (not paying attention, 'cause I know most of it already), I got to thinking about problems with my current QB executables, and with people being able to play the game. With the two separate executables there is a reasonable chance that even if the program works, when switching back and forth between the two executables merits the possibility of data corruption or especially DS4QB++.EXE which fatally crashes the program.

- So I'm seriously thinking of porting what I have over to C++ or Java. The reason I resisted previous suggestions to port Unmei Densetsu over to one of these languages was because of a hubris I have realized should not override the purpose of creating a game -- for entertainment. I felt that I had to create a game in QB because so few completed RPGs exist in QB. I felt I had something to prove, and if I were to continue thinking that then by the time it is complete, so few people will be able to play it as it was written that it will be a pointless venture and the 7 years I have spent working on it will be rather much all for naught. I am quite proficient in coding in either of these languages, but I do not have any knowledge yet of graphical programming in either of these languages. I estimate that once I am sure of keyboard (or mouse) interfaces, that I can generate the necessary code for the project within a couple weeks, while also expanding and compacting on codes by use of objects.

- Porting of graphics would be no issue.. simply a screen grab of anything I need to keep... not that I have much graphics at all to work with.

- I still have some doubts about whether I should or not, but with the program somewhat prone to crashing because of executable switches, and using only one small executable impossible because it needs to run within conventional memory (now, if someone can tell me how to make a DOS executable run in the high memory area so that I can keep the conventional memory area only for the memory that QB needs, then I can return the program to one EXE, then yeah, I'm all ears), I fear that the game won't be as enjoyable for a majority of players.

- There're advantages to the conversion... I can use a true-color mode and use indexed sprites, while also allowing me to play with Transparency... that'd be pretty neat. I will keep the size of the game small, either 320x240 or 640x480, the latter of which would mean that I would need to redo the ... 1 and a half map sprites I have... and the use of memory would mean I wouldn't have to fiddle with XMS explicitly.

- Please, your suggestions and support are very well needed and appreciated.

( this topic has been posted across a couple of boards, including my own, at http://angel-boards.tanime.net/cID=main&boardID=udfc )

- Thank you.
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- Jaeda

mandrake*rpgdx · Guest

I say use C++. Java can be a pain, and people will have to dload the latest java runtime lib (since most windows users use the depricated version that comes with Iexpplorer...), wich is a hefty dload.

Also- using C/C++ libs (like ClanLib, Allegro or DirectX), using graphics is insanely simple. I would say go with Allegro and for music, use either AllegMP3, JGMOD, or DUMB, since MOD music rocks.

Tenshi · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 1:50 am Post subject:

- In preparation for future projects, I am going to use OpenGL. What I'm having a problem with right now is keeping things simple. Playing around with objects means I can do a lot more with my map engine, and it is going to definitely cut down on what my scripting engine needed. Also, using inheritance will save me the 70 or more lines of code that I had to use for such things as HP reduction and item use.

- I'm still teetering on indecisiveness right now...
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- Jaeda

akOOma · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 12:18 pm Post subject:

I understand you...I'm coding a RPG in QB, too, and sometimes it's a pain in the ass...but it's your thing.... DON'T USE JAVA...C/C++ or nothing else...
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Tenshi · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 6:59 pm Post subject:

- I will use Java for any applications I need, since whipping up an effective application is hella-easy. Since I'm going to need new editors because the original data is not going to suffice. =(
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- Jaeda

ThousandKnives · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 7:45 pm Post subject:

Mandrake · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 7:48 pm Post subject:

ThousandKnives · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 8:01 pm Post subject:

DrunkenCoder · Demon Hunter Joined: 29 May 2002 Posts: 559

mandrake*rpgdx · Guest

one way fo doing it would be to create a datafile that would store all teh info you need to pass to the other executable, or to pass it via a commandline. You wuld then shell out the other executable, and viola. There is a way in DOS where you can store varaibles in the actual OS, and you can do that as well, or you can actually grab the varaibble data from another exe using some sneaky DOS ASM stuff.

Tenshi · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2003 12:54 am Post subject:

- I used a large swap file between the two programs to pass global data betwixt the two. THe reason I couldn't run it as a single executable is because I was only able to function within conventional memory, which as you may or may not know, is 640 KB ("640KB ought to be enough for anybody" - Bill Gates 19(84/94)?). The executable is about 450KB or larger. I at least need an offscreen buffer, an additional 64KB. Then comes the drove of custom datatypes (as I may or may not have mentioned, in size 8 Courier font, my primary include file was 14 pages long, no comments, no extrenuous line breaks). Some may say "Well, store them in temp files". What that means is extra code written to extract and store these variables to file every time they are needed. In the end, it's about even --- I lose. Perhaps there was a fundamental flaw in how I wrote the program, either way, something has to be done, or I will have wasted the past 8 years of my life.
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- Jaeda

Jihgfed Pumpkinhead · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2003 4:30 am Post subject: Switch Languages

Adam · Mage Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 416 Location: Australia

A switch up to Visual Basic may be easier than to switch to C/C++ beacuse the code would almost be able to be ported straight... Almost.

But then you've got to have the bling-bling to buy visual studio.
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Tenshi · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2003 2:16 pm Post subject:

- Actually, we have Visual Studio. =T But I like C++. The problem with trying to port to Visual Basic is that a lot of the added code was because of memory limitations.. so I have to have a lot of calls to the XMS handlers to get and put stuff, which I wouldn't need in VB, and several other things. In the end, I'm more comfortable using C++, though VB can't be too bad, I taught my dad QB and he went and learned VB in a short time. Oh well.. since I have future projects I wish to begin (ANgel Matrix PLus and Federation Crystal Online), might as well get my feet wet with OpenGL.

- And I guess that was wrong to say "Wasted". I have learned many fundamental things, such as how to work minimalistically and direct solutions to problems. It also made my grasp of future languages that much easier.
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- Jaeda

Ninkazu · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2003 2:41 pm Post subject:

My dad wanted me to teach him C++ when I first showed interest in learning it. When I finally learned it and offered to teach him, he didn't want to learn.

My dad doesn't really like to do much with me other than something that involves the rest of the family (which ends up not interacting with me)

But apart from my childhood trauma, I say C++ is teh gud.