Hello, I have been working on a 3d engine and the next step is creating a world editor of some sort. I would like to create one myself rather than use someone elses right now since I''m doing this for learning''s sake. I would like feedback on creating an opengl interface (making my own buttons, menu etc), or trying to use windows api with it''s buttons and such (I don''t know much about windows programming.. wouldn''t know where to start, I have VC++ 6.0 and created a hello world app but did not know how to create buttons or menu''s with VC++6.0''s gui). I''m also unsure how to store my data once I have made the editor and how it will be loaded as a person would be walking through the world. Prefferably I would like to take the diablo 2 approach and have no loading.. Thus the world would be like one big map, in which only the immediate area around you is loaded into memory. I have looked at bsp''s a bit, but do not understand how they are used beyond separating an area into planes/sections. Is there a better method than bsp? What exactly is an octree, i could not find a good page on octrees. I would like my stored world to have open terrain and closed buildings as well as multi level dungeons. Also what do you all think is the best method for detecting collision with terrain? Thanks for any information you can give me on this.. I''m very determined to make a good 3d engine that will be rpg oriented. Marc

What do you consider a 3d engine and how far is yours into devlopment ? I would have tought that if you had an engine which only needed an editor you would already have implemented some kind of bsp/octree/backface culling method. Then maybe you still need to work on your engine. For an editor I say stick with MFC, if you need help go on nehe.gamedev.net and download the MFC tutorials this will allow you to easily create a window app which can display OGL. Then the rest is easy. You have to store your things on a file of course. My methods is I have a temporary file and the real one. And when I save the temp is copied onto the real one.

A tip, don't go into all that DiabloII, multilevel dungeon, preferably ( arrogant term for someone who doesnt know what is an octree or how to program a window app ) no loading time sh*t yet. Take it step by step or your gonna get screwed, and that's some friendly advice, take it step by step. Beleive me, i've been on this road before, and I was like you and didn't beleive no one. Take it slow. Also Iv dabbled into this and making an editor can be helluva tough depending on what you wish to implement.

BTW, didnt mean to sound to tough but that's just me, if you need help reply with fursther question to this thread or email me, im also designing an engine. You could maybe help each other out ?

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Edited by - bleakcabal on January 19, 2001 3:51:04 PM

octress are explained a bit in windows game programming guru i believe. hope that helps a bit

Ahh I gave the wrong impression with my wording, should have left out the first sentence I suppose =). I still have a lot of work to do on my engine but at this point I would like to make an editor to create small worlds to work with. I''ve got complex objects(humans made of 20+ subobjects) loading in from 3d studio max (object oriented c++ behinds the scenes.. gotta love classes!). The engine has vertex lighting and textures.. no skeletal animation yet =). It''s true, I should start off simple.. I just like to think too far ahead, get too excited =)! I''m currently in college and working so I only have a couple hours a day to work on this right now( if i have enough mental energy left after it all). I''ve programmed off and on since high school, but only recently have I really gotten serious-I''ve had an interest in programming games since doom but playing games just sucked up all the time =) I can''t imagine not eventually ending up in the game industry. I will take your advice and look into learning MFC. Not sure if I could help you out at all at my current point of understanding and development, but I''d be glad to help if I could.

Thanks for your reply,

Karthax

I meant help on more a general basis, nothing much, forget it. I also get the tendency to look to far ahead. If you need additional help with MFC+OGL you could check this site out http://codeguru.earthweb.com/opengl/index.shtml it has exemple code. I looked over some of it when working on my world editor.

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My website ( Cornflake Zone ) was created for this purpose.

Check it out at http://www.cfxweb.net/hosted/cornflakezone
I''ve got some basic tutorials which detail some of the basic development principals.

I''m about 6 months behind in updating the site with my modelling work, meaning what''s available on the site is very basic compared to what I''ve built so far.

My modelling tool is at the point where I can create advanced animations, heirarchical models e.g humans, hand rotates around wrist which rotates around elbow etc, import from Wavefront.

I''m VERY close to a MAJOR release of my most advanced demo to date. It''ll be a 3D fighter of sorts. Check out the site and let me know what you think or if you have questions,

regards,
fs

oops I forgot to mention there''s a bunch of screenshots in the "Gallery" section which are up to date, should give you an idea of the engine and the tool. Let me know what you think,
fs

Thanks for the link.. I looked around and looked at your various projects and the editor. Looks like you really know what your doing! Sounds like you had someone to work with you on a lot of your projects, wish I could find someone at my university to work with.. would be more motivating to have someone to work with and help with when stuck. My friends are only interested in game creation to the point of design it seems. Unfortunatly I ended up at a University where you cannot get a pure CS degree(they have a Computer science and engineering degree, but i really wasn''t interested in the engineering), so I''m going for a CIS degree (business side of computers/programming).

I can''t download the editor or it''s source code, I get a http 404 not found error. I would love to look at the source code and the tool to see how you integrated it all.

Do you have collision yet between your fighters? If so how did you go about it?

I''m sure I''ll hit up your tutorials in the next couple days!

l8r

Karthax

Sorry, I recently moved into CFXweb so you stumbled across two broken links. I''ve fixed them both and tested them so you should be ok.

I was lucky enough to have someone to work with on some of my larger projects during college. That was a long time ago and my work since then has been 100% solo, including the modelling. The truth is I don''t know what I''m doing. Like you I started knowing very little. Through scanning the web, reading books and mainly experimentation over the past year I''ve built up my code-base. It''s not been easy but setting small goals and taking my time got me there. I would still say I know very little but my focus has always been on the modelling and animation aspect which I knew would be a significant sized project. I recommend working on a LARGE project, stay away from small, rotating cube type effects. Over time you''ll achieve something that will make people really take notice. I''m not saying I''m there yet but I do hope to some day get something significant out the door. Keep in touch,
fs

Hi there!

I agree with fshana. Work on a large project. I''m in a team and we''re working on a 3d game. I''m writing the Leveleditor and the other one (GA) is writing the engine. The project is coming along pretty well, also our Designers are doing a great job testing the leveleditor and making 3d models. The thing is, it make''s so much fun being in a start up team. I really started C programming about a year ago, and now I''m writing and full blown Opengl 3d Level editor, hehe.. It keeps me more motivated. We''re all having one big dream, finishing this game and selling it. There are always nice little fun wars between programmers and designers, but all in all we all know that everybody is trying they''re best, otherwise they''d be kicked out of the team, i guess. *G*

cya,
Phil

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