Beyond3D game

Ok. Here goes.

So, there is enough enthousiasm, from enough people who can carry the project as well. And, as expected, someone (me, in this case) will have to take the lead, reach a consensus of what we're going to do, and give all the people who want to participate a job.

So, let's start with that consensus. What are we going to do? Let's use KISS, and break it down into simple and desirable milestones.

First, we really want it to be 3D. That's a given. And so we need a 3D engine. As probably half the fun of this project is going to be to have our own one, we're not going to look for available alternatives. Ingenu is offering us his basic 3D engine as a starting point, and we'll gladly take it.

First on our list is: asking Ingenu to supply us with his source code, and (for the programmers among us) taking a good look at it. See how it works, what it can do, what we like/dislike about it. And what we want to do with it. That requires a different thread. So, Ingenu, I would like to ask you to make one, where we can have a go at it. And don't worry: we don't care that it's only a basic thing without any documentation and all. We want it!


The second thing is a sequence of steps that allow us to eventually get to that working (and fun!) game. And, as we don't yet know what it should be, I think we should do that like this:

1. As soon as we have a basic engine up and running, we should make a digital playground. That requires a server. Who offers one and knows what to do with it?

2. When we have a server, we want to put a persistent 3D world on it. For our purpose, that requires that all objects are either complete (ie. 3DMax, x, or another (our own?) format that allows that), or build from scripting. Like the whole environment.

3. That requires a scripting engine as the basic building block. As in: whatever you want or do, you need a script to make it happen.

4. Which requires our own scripting language. A good one!

5. We want a client as well: downloadeable at first, but ultimately it should be a browser plugin as well. That shouldn't be that hard by itself if we have the above, although we should take care to use as generic a networking protocol as we can make it. And it doesn't matter at first if it's slow, so we can run all logic on the server.

6. If we have all that, we need a good user interface, that allows all users to make changes to that 3D world as they see fit.

7. And then we can make a full 3D interface for our Beyond3D forum. And add interesting extra's.


Everything else should come later. Because, if we have all of the above, we just made it pretty simple for all visitors to build their own mini-game as they like it, with a little help from us. And if we focus those efforts on the 3D and scripting engines, everyone can pick and choose whatever they want to build next.



As for the artwork: I would suggest we use a format that is useable by a good, freeware 3D modeller. That means Blender. (Yes, I know.) And start by using all the freely available 3D models around the internet. There is plenty of choice. And that also makes it easier (initially) on the art department.


So, in short, what do we need now:

- The basic engine, to expand.
- A server to run it on.
- A GOOD scripting language, freshly designed or copied.
- A file format for the art that Blender likes, new or existing.
- Lots of models and textures, copied initially.
- A client that displays it, to build.
- An intuitive, interactive user interface.


What do you think? Any feedback is appreciated. And I would like the people who want to do any of those things to tell us.

Let's make something new and great.

 

Time for an update. First, look in the 3D Architecture and Coding forum for the new developments.

Broadly speaking, the project has been broken down into different sub-projects:


1. Creating our own 3D engine.

Graham has posted the source code for his basic engine, which seems like a nice starting point. If we can get some other knowledgeable coders interested, they can all start hacking at it.


2. Building a (Firefox) browser plugin.

I'm initially using another 3D engine for that, to be able to to that concurrently. But I think I have to install VS 2003 (I'm using VS 2005 atm.) to get it to work. Although it might be better to use MinGW or VS 2005 Express Edition, to allow people without access to the full Visual Studio to join the fun. I'll check it out.


3. Making a great 3D forum interface.

This would initially be an abstract representation of the forum, as suggested by Arwin. We don't need many (if any) 3D models for that, which makes it simpler.

And we can expand that into a full, first-person representation, where you can walk from room (thread) to room, interact and mingle. (I think tools to build your own 3D avatar would be very popular.) Which also allows everyone to build their own mini-game as they like, which can be played by any visitor.

And we can also use that as a generic 3D web interface, where you can walk the whole web in person.


4. A new board on the forum for development, a code repository, bug tracker and a low-level interface to the forum database.

Rys has promised us he is going to do all that.


5. An xml file format, a scripting language and all the tools.

If we want to make things open and to allow people to make their own 3D website or game, we need to make a simple file format into a standard, that is easy to use. And supply the tools people need to create them.

You could make nice models in Blender, import them into our format, write scripts for the action (with wizards, if possible) and have an instant 3D website or game. Simple to use is the key here.


6. Building games.

Yes, when all that is done, we have made it very easy for everyone on this board to make games. From very simple ones, to full-fledged MMORPGs. And we will!

 

I just wrote a very nice piece (I think) about the first five items above. Like a presentation about the next generation of computing.

But I'll have to run that through my company to see if I can publish it here. I'll know tomorrow.