Posted: 19 September 2004 at 18:07 | IP Logged

As some of you might know I've been working an a javascript version of eggerland. Since javas-script is not a fast language and I ran into some timming problems I want to give it a try and do it in C++ with SDL.

Now I have a few question:

• how should I make the tiles, shall I make these sprites or just objects with an image.
• what is the easiest way of collision detection? Is it to check all the 'tiles'/'bushes' or are there simpler ways?
• Lolo is probably going to be a sprite....

Posted: 20 September 2004 at 09:55 | IP Logged

Hi!

I suggest you to make an 21x21 array to check the kind of tile (walkable, one way, water...). That makes the 11x11 grid plus the "half tile" positions.

When loading each screen, you fill in that array with the proper values. The things that move/can be moved (green blocks, enemys, etc...) become sprites, and the things that don't move (bricks, water, bridges, etc...) become part of the scenery.

To check collision detection (when moving), you simply check against the first array (the 21x21). Of course, you'll have a double maintenance. By example, each time Lolo moves a green block, the array changes; each time Lolo builds a bridge, the array changes, etc... But that shouldn't slow things too much.

To check sprite collision (fire & player, enemy & player, enemy & shot, and so on...) you'll probably have to check every sprite with every other sprite (that shouldn't be too slow, there are just a few sprites involved).

I used this method in a "sort-of" remake of Rick Dangerous: I had a linked list with all the interactive objects of the game. One pointer goes across the list; for each node, another pointer goes across the list until the end. If there is an overlap, check which kind of sprites (items, enemies, player, etc...) are colliding and resolve the situation. That way, no collision is checked twice.

I can send you source code if you are interested (it's very well documented, as it was "kind-of" homework; but all documentation is in Spanish).

Apologies about my english! I hope that helps! :)

Posted: 21 September 2004 at 17:11 | IP Logged

Yes, of course! You can download it from this page (http://www.remakeszone.com/juegos/juego.php?id=31&lng=spanish&seccion=remakes%20jugables). :)

I don't know if they support links from outside, so if the above link doesn't work, go to http://www.remakeszone.com, then click on "Juegos" on the left and finally search "Rick Dangerous" on the list. And don't think I'm an impostor... "Néstor Sancho" is my real name (please note I'm not KonamiMan; he is Néstor Soriano). ;)

Anyway, they have included no source files nor PDF documentation, so if anyone is interested in hosting it, I can send you the "full pack" (game + sources + documentation + the original disk label = 500KB).

Don't forget it was my first Windows program (it does some things... the "second best" way), and don't forget all documentation is in spanish (I can translate the source documentation to english if you want it).

Popolon: I'm a registered user now. But the buttons "Image / File Upload" aren't available for me in this board, while they are in the "F-1 Spirit" board.

Posted: 22 September 2004 at 16:13 | IP Logged

Popolon wrote: I cannot test it now (since I'm inside a conference room with lots of people surrounding me, and it wouldn't look nice if I start a game! ).

Oh, don't worry about that. I shared the game during the "Operating System (practices)" course at the university, so most of my partners were playing the game instead doing the practices (that was unintended, I just wanted two o three friends testing the game). Maybe if you play it at the conference all those people will try to beat your record! ;)

Btw, have a good time in Pisa.

Posted: 23 September 2004 at 13:49 | IP Logged

It runs smooth even in a Pentium 100 (except when scrolling)! WM_TIMER rules!!! (and uses less CPU power) :)

I have no plans to continue development, because there are many, many, many clones of rick dangerous out there; xRick, by example (and it's even ported to my GP32 hand-held console!). And there is also a 3D version with a girl instead of Rick... it's called Tomb Raider or something similar. ;)

Also, that project was finished long time ago (look at the dates), and it was my second Windows program (the first one was "Hello world"!). I once tried to adapt it to make a King's Valley remake, but it needed too much changes and I had too little spare time. And for now, I'm currently occuped with my work (barman) and with my final project (a function library to manage 3D scenes; more or less a generic engine to make games). The "final example" (if one day I reach that milestone in the development) will be a remake (with 3D graphics) of Eggerland Mystery (it's my favourite game, after all)... but now I'm planning to not include it in the project and then make it AFTER the project, so I can freely distribute it and (maybe) show it in the remakes competitions. If I'd include it IN the project, then it would be (legally speaking) a creation of the University (Popolon: correct me if I am wrong).

See you!

[Edited: Vampirer, I have miserably kidnapped your thread. I'm really sorry. :( ]