Lunar Lander Evolved

User Forum: RE: Question about your BSP to DAT conversion

Johnnylightbulb — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 20:08:20 GMT

Hey, sorry I missed this message. Yes, because I was short on time I created that material list by hand. If I had more time (not that the contest is over I do) I would have made the BSP-to-DAT part of the content pipeline and made a step in there to read the VMF files HL2 uses. I am working on that right now, actually, and will try to find a home for it if it works out. Thanks!

User Forum: Latest source code for StrangeThings?

KevinF — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:50:46 GMT

I saw on your Homebrew 360 blog where you asked if anyone wanted your latest source code (the version with the new serialization framework). Is there any chance you can email it to me at ujokinme@gmail.com or AIM me at screenname: ujokinme ? Much appreciated =)

User Forum: Question about your BSP to DAT conversion

KevinF — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 04:54:47 GMT

Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this, but this is the only place I can find to contact you. I was very interested in your method of using BSPs to create your levels. One question I have: Did you write your Episode1.MeterialList file by hand? Or is there a way to export it from Hammer? Myself and a group of friends are making an FPS using XNA for our senior programming project, so we're very interested in what you've accomplished so far! Thanks

CREATED RELEASE: Shooter v1.0 Special Build

Sat, 09 Dec 2006 08:00:00 GMT

This is the final release of binaries and source for my entry into the xbox360homebrew.com XNA/C# game programming contest.

UPDATED RELEASE: StrangeThings Production

Sat, 09 Dec 2006 08:00:00 GMT

This is the final release of binaries and source for my entry into the xbox360homebrew.com XNA/C# game programming contest.

Developer Forum: RE: Licensing issues...

dgweller — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 16:28:40 GMT

That's perfect! P.S. -- really like the "Shooter" sample you've done too.

Developer Forum: RE: Licensing issues...

Johnnylightbulb — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 02:39:06 GMT

Dave, Thanks for the heads up - my Lunar Lander Evolved and the 'Shooter' releases I've posted on this site are intended to be free from any restrictions of use. Who'd want to sell my software anyways? I've changed my license to an MIT license which I believe is as free as software licensing goes - thanks!

Developer Forum: Licensing issues...

dgweller — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 01:14:48 GMT

FYI, GPL licensing is an EXTREMELY onerous licensing restriction on a game due to the "viral effects" associated with that license. While I'm not _telling_ you guys to change your licensing (you may have some very good reasons for doing it), I am letting you know that nobody at Microsoft can look at/showcase your code. We were looking around for some games to showcase for an video that highlights XNA community gajmes, but we can't download source that's GPL-licensed (big legal reasons). We'd like to recommend a friendlier licensing scheme, like BSD, which will allow us (Microsoft) to download and run your code. If you want to continue using GPL, that's fine, but please bear in mind that nobody at Microsoft can even "peek" at your code to offer friendly advice on how to improve it (or to show it off at public demonstrations).

CREATED RELEASE: Shooter 02 Special Build

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 07:00:00 GMT

Features: -Uses vis data (fast frame rate) -First-personesque camera control -Still requires a 360 controller! -Does NOT include textures (I'll make some of my own first..) -Thanks! Johnnylightbulb

CREATED RELEASE: 003 Beta

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 07:00:00 GMT

CREATED RELEASE: Shooter 01 Special Build

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 07:00:00 GMT

Features: -Loads and Renders BSP-style '.dat' files -Converts Valve v19 BSP files to '.dat' files (BspToShooter project) -Uses XINPUT (only right now) -Contains one built in map -Currently a TECH DEMO only, framerate is absolute crap -Thanks! Johnny 'vote-for-me' lightbulb

RELEASED: Shooter 01 Special Build

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 07:00:00 GMT

UPDATED WIKI: Project Plan

Johnnylightbulb — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:50:21 GMT

Release 001 Alpha
September 14th, 2006: [release:504]

Terrain renderer
Basic camera

Release 002 Alpha
October 1st, 2006

Menu
Retro mode
Skybox

Here after 'planned'

Release 003 Alpha
Date TBD

Model Loading
Paricle system, aura effects, and thruster flames
Physics landing/crashing

Here after 'preliminary'

Release 004 Beta
Date TBD

Advanced shaders, dust, landing zones, and thruster marks (See Design Document)
Final camera
High-score system
Final art and level design

Release 005 Gold
Date TBD

Feature complete

UPDATED WIKI: Home

Johnnylightbulb — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:49:28 GMT

Lunar Lander Evolved
A simple Lunar Lander game clone which provides two modes: A traditional sprite-based 2D 'Retro' version and an 'Evolved' shader-based 3D version.

What kind of game is this?
Both play modes will be different and interesting. Click below for more information on each:

On Hold?
Yes, until after the new year when I can integrate the Content Pipeline from XNA. See the Blog. Thanks!

Links

(More on the Screenshots page)
[image:LunarLander-002.png]

Thanks for the space, CodePlex!

UPDATED WIKI: Blog

Johnnylightbulb — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:48:40 GMT

Status as of 10/5/2006
I really want to do this project correctly, so I'm going to change my approach a bit. I've gotten the bits needed to complete the 2nd release (Menus, retro, etc) although of course not all the final touches are there. There are a couple of things XNA is missing as of this writing:

3D Model loading (Content pipeline)
2D Line drawing (for my Retro-mode background hills)

I'm going to put this project on hold until I gather some experience on simpler projects and I can play directly in the content pipeline - Expect updates after the new year. Thanks!

Status as of 9/25/2006
I've juggled the schedule a little. My 3D-modelling skills are lacking, and it's taking me some time to get the Lander model into an appropriate format with the right LOD. See the Screenshots page for the progress so far. In the meantime, I've added the first bits for Retro mode. So far I'm amazed at how easy 2D graphics are using XNA.

Status as of 9/21/2006
I've got lots of code checked out with changes for Menus that will be in the next release, I really should get that in. Part of the trouble in making independent games is that you're your own project manager, and sometimes you have to tell yourself it's good enough (for now) even though you're not done yet. Here are the bullets on the other in-progress bits:

Converted my Lander model to Blender format - Need to reduce polys before it's usable in XNA
Looked into modifying the BitmapFont class - I dislike that the fonts are resolution dependent, I would rather specify a size as a percent of the viewport size. (I know, that's why it's a BitmapFont....)
Read through some of the model loading code out there and what the Content Pipeline has to offer in that space - I will continue getting model loading to work and use skills learned from that to convert to the Content Pipeline model - I figure it can't hurt...

Status as of 9/15/2006
Woo-hoo! I'm loving the Visual Studio Team System integration CodePlex offers, I've got work items and a solid plan. Updates this evening add basic menu support and begin the process of adding resource and settings classes to handle such values. If you're interested you can get the daily builds or just wait for the next release, two weeks away.

Status as of 9/14/2006
I have just added the project design and plan, among other documents. Word is out around the community, and I'm exicited to be getting started. Any help would be appreciated, just message me on the boards. I'll be contributing during some nights and weekends - now lets see if I can't stick to the plan!

Status as of 9/13/2006
I'm currently getting the source code straightened away so it can be stored on CodePlex's servers. Here is a teaser shot (it's a landscape renderer shot, and yes; you will have to use your imagination at this point).

UPDATED WIKI: Blog

Johnnylightbulb — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:48:33 GMT

Status as of 9/25/2006
I really want to do this project correctly, so I'm going to change my approach a bit. I've gotten the bits needed to complete the 2nd release (Menus, retro, etc) although of course not all the final touches are there. There are a couple of things XNA is missing as of this writing:

3D Model loading (Content pipeline)
2D Line drawing (for my Retro-mode background hills)

I'm going to put this project on hold until I gather some experience on simpler projects and I can play directly in the content pipeline - Expect updates after the new year. Thanks!

Converted my Lander model to Blender format - Need to reduce polys before it's usable in XNA
Looked into modifying the BitmapFont class - I dislike that the fonts are resolution dependent, I would rather specify a size as a percent of the viewport size. (I know, that's why it's a BitmapFont....)
Read through some of the model loading code out there and what the Content Pipeline has to offer in that space - I will continue getting model loading to work and use skills learned from that to convert to the Content Pipeline model - I figure it can't hurt...

CREATED RELEASE: 002 Alpha

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 07:00:00 GMT

More features

Developer Forum: RE: Trouble with latest releases

Johnnylightbulb — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 18:15:40 GMT

Yeah, I've moved code here and there, and these pieces got lost in the process. There are a couple points here: - Using VS Express sucks - I have to keep VS Pro open to get the Team Explorer source integration in :( Causes problems like these - GameComponents are neat, but they are not the way to make a game, and much of the existing work in this project is me making neato game components, which then have the Game class acting as a huge state machine ('Update THIS game component now, but not the Retro ones.....') - Patterns for XNA dev are not widely spread yet I suppose... - I'm missing a couple really, really basic pieces of functionality: 3D Model loading and 2D Line drawing. I'll check in what I have, but I'm beginning to think I'd better work on architecture before I just set out to fulfill this plan. Thanks :)

Project Management Forum: RE: accepting applications?

Nobodyman — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:48:13 GMT

Hey JohnnyLightBulb Well, I've checked out the sept 13 build a bit and I think it's very cool. On the other hand, I'm pretty weak on the graphics programming side and I'm more in need of a "for dummies" project (e.g. pong or minesweeper), and you guys are well ahead of that. With respect to the "evolved" game mode, I can see me playing alot of catchup before I'm productive. I mind doing it, but with my current work schedule I'd take time. On the other hand... I think working on the "classic" mode would be tons of fun, and something I can actually do. I wrote a bare-bones tile renderer which might be a good fit for this. I'm not sure if it's a need you have -- I see that your latest release has a "classic mode" piece, but I wasn't able to get it to build (i think some files are missing, i posted in the dev forum about it). What do you think?

Developer Forum: RE: Trouble with latest releases

Nobodyman — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:23:48 GMT

My bad... assumed I could use html tags. Those missing files are: services/GameMode.cs services/ILunarLanderGameService.cs services/ILunarLanderGameProvider.cs