Hello;

I decided to re-open community boards. Set up SMF board, and made several categories.
Idea is to create small community where we can all discuss about browser games ideas, development, marketing, and just about any aspect as players and webmasters. I’ve created Browser Games Directory a while ago, also now made boards where you can post about development, make suggestions or ask for help. Also, there is section about marketing. If you’re game owner, you can try and find mates for link trading / exchange, or similar.

URL is HERE, so join if you like.

Since I’ve been working pretty much like a madman on my new idea (I kinda like those which occupy you immediately), just now, by testing my new creation, in only 24h development time, I decided to write you a bit about engine progress so far…

I wrote few thoughts yesterday about possible features engine may have, and I must say, part of them proved to be heavy to make.
Still, I write this with smile on my face, since I think I just made something new in browser based games. OK; not sure entirely, but I never saw this before, must say.

Anyway, to skip self promotion and stuff, let me in few words try to describe what I’ve done so far:

First, a screenshot:

Click on it to make it bigger (load in separate tab).

Anyway, see this one? And if you saw original one, with empty map I made and opensourced, you can notice difference. Small one, but it’s here. This one has objects. OK; trees for now, but it’s still a prototype.
So, no big deal, you say?

Well, this is actually infinite dungeon engine or endless engine, however you’d like to call it, at it’s start.
All those trees are made completely random. But, it’s not like engine creates random objects each time player moves, but it’s a bit more sophisticated than that.

Key features:

• Random object generation
• Increasable map size. (Initial size: 480×480 tiles, increases by 1 on each player signup)
  * This still needs to be developed, but coordinate function makes sure every object preserves location after world has increased
• Persistent old objects. (Once created, they stay where they are, much like, if you would explore something, by going further, you’d find things, and going back, you’d go back to previously discovered objects)
• Engine makes sure that no more than 29% of visible tiles is randomly populated with objects.
  - If you take in consideration that 480×480 map is actually 230.400 tiles, that would mean you have 66.816 various objects to discover. Maybe even too much for start, I guess.

What engine should do next: (and is about to soon)

• Use part of 29% generation rule for interactive objects, such as shrines, gold, monsters
  - I guess, around 6% of tiles would be enough.  That’s cca. 4 objects on a regular visible area (9×9), and in above example, around 14.000 interactive objects on a default map.
• It should have excellent probability methods. Rare items – pop up rarely, stronger monsters, pop up rarely.

I won’t yet write about hero screens, and stuff, since we can get there soon.

Now, besides good things, I see potential balance issues with game engine.
Still, for starters, I’d like to hear your thoughts about this so far…

Cheers

P.S.
Yeah, I managed to get myself trapped inside trees
Bugs, gotta love them…

Yeah, well. You will most probably think I’m going insane. I myself think now I’m going insane thinking about new mini project.
You see, I don’t have much time for my biggest love, programming nowdays. Nor do I actually work as a Web programmer, nor does life gives me much time for work on projects I’d love to do.

It’s hard to maintain something you simply know will go down because of lack of time. That’s why I love small, dynamic projects, and I cannot resist from this new idea I have. I opensourced my 2D tile engine last week.
In meanwhile I got questions like, will there be map editor, or will I improve this engine… It all may happen, and most likely will.
Still, besides giving snippets and participating in long and complex project such as Heroes Of Zholtan (you’ll read about that in future, I promise ), I’d like to have a minigame. But not MINI as = few featues, but mini as – fast developed, and long lasting.

So I thought about creating another engine. Based on 2D tile engine I gave away.

Let’s call it : Infinite dungeon engine. I made this up now. Even like it.
Even more – seems to me, long night is ahead, since I have something special on my mind… Thought, just, to share this with you.
Imagine:

2D map, where you can explore it. Those of you that know I opensourced engine with 24×24 map default. Now I tested it with 7200×7200 size, and still, it works fine. What if I add:

• Adventurer screen (Where you can see stats of your hero)
• Objects (such as trees, rivers, enemies)
• Multiplayer capablilities into map (easily done)
• RANDOM world generator, similar to one you’re used in Diablo games, but somewhat persistent (trees and objects should not appear random, sure)

That’s it.
Well, along with above, I can easy create engine where world expands according to player numbers. Let’s say, we start with 4000×4000 tiles map. That would be, err, 160.000 tiles to explore. I’d say, enough for 10.000 players to interact. So, maybe, start with 500×500. OK. That would be okay even for < 500 players. With each new player, world could expand for additional 1 tiles in width and height. So, let’s say, we have 1000 players, that would play in 1000×1000 world (after 500 signups, new 500 in diameter).

Well, this is just idea now. Gotta run programming now

Tell me, though, is this something fabulous or I’m going insane?

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Here’s something perfect for your browser games

Time has come for me to give something back to you. It’s only fair – I learned all I know from Open Source communities, and after years, I think it OK for me to give something back.
I always thought that browser games need maps, especially if fantasy themed. Nowdays, you can find maps in most of games out there, but part of them are still static, and barely any game of RPG style has one.
I developed this for years, (actually, it sounds like years, since many times, project was forgotten, lying around on my PC ), and wrote several versions of it, until I got something I can use with ease.

Here it is:

“]

2D Tile map [PHP/AJAX

I won’t give any special instructions at this time to use this script. Once you download it, you can immediately run it on your local machine.
PHP 4+ is needed only to run it.
It currently does not use any DB. Though, it can be fairly easy expanded to use DB.

Few words from author (me):
This software is linkware. Only reason I’m asking link back for is that I will appreciate any links. I also run a website, you know
If you downloaded this source from any other website than www.bbgdev.com, leave a comment here on this topic.
Permission:
You can use and modify this script in commercial and non commercial projects under only 1 term: backlink.
You CANNOT sell this script as your own.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
I used Heroes of might and magic II graphics. Only because I like pixel art and old style graphics.
If you should use this map, I advise you to change graphics with your own, due to possible copyright issues.

P.S.

If you’d like to buy off complete rights for script, mail me @ romano.zagorscak [at] gmail.com

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Hi folks,

I thought a bit these days,

perhaps I can create something I didn’t do ever before. What if this might be very interesting… I mean, I am sure deep within, that for a nice game graphics isn’t neccessary most important feature (or, that’s what I’m saying to myself, considering I can’t do nice design ), but what if we could add a little different perspective into same map, and same game…

Well, I guess DEMO [opens in new window/tab] is in order. (keep in mind, please, this is showcase of work in progress)

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Hi all;

as I was working a bit on my new project here, wanted to show you progress so far…Thought you might like it.

I always wanted to create game on web based on HOMM series logic. Not on same graphics, but logic and fantasy oriented story. (this note is specially here for all UbiSoft bloodlusty agents – not trying to make copyright issue here)

So, basically, with modifications to original game idea, actually, I like to call them enhancements, and copyright free graphics, it might be fun enough for mass amounts of people.

Anyway, I won’t go far deep into nor story nor technical stuff, you can always ask questions if you like, I’ll just present you, briefly with 2 demos: (click for more)

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Is it possible?
Yes, sure it is

Now, many of you can say – Ubisoft is creating that game over here. Sure, they do. And I expect one darn good game from those guys. Especially with all those flash and nice graphics. Go, Go, Ubisoft, I already preregistered, and still waiting for game to come out.

But, what about rest of us here that want to create MMORPG?

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As most of you know, this is home of Dominant Creature Project.
You can download latest files from SourceForge.

Still, it remains untouched by original creator, even despite several mails which were offers for paid development. I am sorry, but cannot pursuit further this engine, simply because when taking my job, my RL, other projects and girlfriend in consideration, I hardly get to sleep last months

What I am about to do, though, is following; (consider this as legal binding statement)

My engine, in his original state, or modded is now completely freeware. As it is. Usable or not, you may use it anyway you like it. Upgrade and resell, no prob. Mod heavily and use, not a problem. Complete rewrite? Not a problem.

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