Hi Guys
I recently was asked if I could update an old project I wrote around 20 odd years
ago (and they were very odd!) anyway in them there days I was into this new dev
platform more commonly known as Darkbasic Professional.
A we are all aware (or should be) 20 odd years is plenty time for the code monsters
to devour my source files, heck they've even licked up the crumbs! so I've dug
out my copy of DBP and reinstalled it whith the mind set of re-programming my old
project from scratch (hopefully, using better coding practices than I dis then)
So far I have a recreated basic engine and unfortunatley I've run into a few weird
issues that hopefully some of you may have come across and know a fix or workaround.
During development I have a boolean that toggles between fullscreen and window
however there appears to be an issue when in window mode, there is nothing displayed
the window is blank, everything else is exactly the same!
Now while I was trying to figure this out, I decided to have another go at programming
a game I'v had knocking around my head for so long it's almost spherical!
This is where most of my questions are based, both projects will technically use
much of the same code for the best part anyway.
I've supplied a screenshot for reference that higlights where I need some help.
as can be seen this is a dark corridor, with windows down one side.
1) The two pillars on either side of the screen, actualy continue on down the
length of the corridor, I'd like these to light up (aka. Neon Lights) not
entirely visible in the picture is a light strip running along either side of
the floor and down lights dotted along the ceiling, What would be the best
method of making these toggle On/Off to give the impression they are real light's
2) The Windows, currently these are just empty space (No Pollygons) however I'd
Like these to have a more Glass like apearence, Refraction/Reflection etc. I
have tried using transparent polygons, well their material was, but it wasn't
in DBP.
3) In the Top/Left corner of the window you can see a bright Star, I have a light
source tied to this point and pointing at player cam, I can't figure how to get
it to cast any shadows within the structure. any hints?
4) This screenshot consists purely of 1 object, cloned several times. The whole test
map only uses 5 objects in total. The final version will contain loads more
(Currenly, I'm working mostly on the exterior objects!) The plan is to use a
collection of interlocking square tube sections to build a vast arry of coridors
and hangars that the player can freely move arround. So far this works with one
minor problem
Collision detection doesn't seem to like being inside an object
and either locks up, slows everything down or just doesn't work at all, again; any
ideas or suggestions
5) This is the last requrst for now. I have an idea to use a procedural function
to apply some sort patena over the individual surrfaces for each of the objects,
not per object individualy, but over the whole map, to give the impression that
as in the supplied image each of the cloned objects would have a different patena
patern applied and therfore would look unique from it's neighbours, the procedural
stuff, is'nt the issue it's applying their output to the surfaces is where I'm stuck!
I know it's a big ask, and unfortunaley it likley won't be the last, the scale of
this project definatley out weighs everything I've done before, heck! I don't even
know if DBP is up to the task (I hope it is!) currently this screen is displaying
around 300000 polygons at 900+ FPS and this map is around 40mx60m in size made of
4m cube sections (this map is currently using a manual definition, but eventualy
procedural equations will do the honours, so massive maps across multiple levels!)
Thanks in advance
Alan
pps. Here is another one, is the Line command broken? I tried to draw a simple box around a menu using 4 lines and my whole screen gets corrupted, I remove the lines and everything is back to normal?
(told you there'd be more!)
