21-07-2003 07:48									#1
	Empire: Demo v0.3 Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Hi guys. No it hasn't been totally quiet on the Empire front. But I have been severly slowed down due to various issues. However, progress still moves forward, albeit slowely.

Demo v0.3 progresses nicely now. I have completely redesigned the code from the ground up. While this set me back heaps by rendering v0.2 completely redundant, it has garnered benefits in other areas. IE: Where it took almost 10 minutes (on my PC anyways) to create a random map on the largest size, I now have a map generator which is a lot better in quality of maps, how things are linked, and even does a hellova lot more like goods, roads, proper rivers, strategic city placement, in the simple timeslot of about 1 minute. Many other speed issues have also been rectified.

Currently, I have the new code model at this state:
- Application basics (initialisation, object creation): COMPLETE
- Sound FX engine: COMPLETE
- Music engine: COMPLETE
- Game engine (the main loop): COMPLETE
- Game setup: PARTIAL (I have a couple more things to implement after the unit engine is complete)
- Map generator: COMPLETE
- Economy engine: COMPLETE
- City engine: COMPLETE
- Unit engine: COMPLETE
- Combat engine: TEMPORARY (true tactical combat to be done later)
- Message engine: STARTED
- Empire management: PARTIAL (Economy finished)

These are the things I'd like finalised before releasing the next demo. Some things to look forward to in this demo:

- Roads: COMPLETE
- Fully operating economy (except for maybe trade): COMPLETE
- Maps with logical rolling hills, mountain ranges, rivers flowing in logical paths, better forest spread, and more: COMPLETE
- Fortifications: walls, guardtowers, castles: PARTIAL
- Empire-wide reporting (may not have every report): PARTIAL
- AI: BASIC (builds cities, units and attacks enemy units/cities)

At this point the timeframe till release is unknown, but I'll update this thread every so often.

EDIT: (29-July) Updated the status of components.
EDIT: (19-Aug) Updated the status of components.
EDIT: (1-Sept) Updated the status of components.

Last edited by Dale on 01-09-2003 at 10:58

	25-07-2003 19:47									#2
	Support Apolyton

Looking good
but what happens when we get the CTP2 source code

I'm particulary interested in the map creation and how much detail it can handle(in terms of clever terrain placement/resources/goods etc).
Anyway nice to see this still going on

	27-07-2003 03:37									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

quote: I have completely redesigned the code from the ground up.

Often a good idea when you can afford it.
Will you provide some basic ai for that next demo (even a simple 'send all the units towards my neighbour capital')?

	27-07-2003 05:00									#4
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: Originally posted by LDiCesare Often a good idea when you can afford it. Will you provide some basic ai for that next demo (even a simple 'send all the units towards my neighbour capital')?

Yes. Can't say how much yet, but there should be economy, building and unit attack at the least in the next demo.

	29-07-2003 09:49									#5
	Eye candy: Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

Screen 1:
Creating the map..........

Attachment: mapsetup.jpg
This has been downloaded 213 time(s).

	29-07-2003 09:50									#6
	Eye candy: Full PM-box? Change here!

Screen 2:
The main view..........

Attachment: main1.jpg
This has been downloaded 208 time(s).

	29-07-2003 09:51									#7
	Eye candy: Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Screen 3:
The economy report..........

Attachment: econ.jpg
This has been downloaded 205 time(s).

	29-07-2003 09:52									#8
	Eye candy: Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Screen 4:
A town (what you have at the start)..........

Attachment: town.jpg
This has been downloaded 207 time(s).

	29-07-2003 09:52									#9
	Eye candy: Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Screen 5:
A productive town.........

Attachment: prosper.jpg
This has been downloaded 198 time(s).

	29-07-2003 23:07									#10
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

mmmm......nice

graphics looking very nice, remind me abit of Anno1492 which is a good thing.
Keep it coming

	30-07-2003 21:03									#11
	Suffering from ads?

Looks very good but how about a little manual?.. Not actually User Manual but at least Game Rulez?..

	31-07-2003 06:44									#12
	Suffering from ads?

CoT:

I loved Anno! Great game.

Hommer:

Manual for the game will come later. Game rules? Hmmm...... I suppose to check out the basics you could point that browser at http://members.dodo.net.au/~thesdale and see demo 2 (the old version).

	31-07-2003 07:47									#13
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

I'm sorry but I don't understand is this game the alone project (run .exe and enjoy), client-server application or web-application?.. How do you see the future of the game?

I think update of Feature section will help greatly with game basics understanding.

	31-07-2003 08:00									#14
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

You HAVE manual:
http://members.dodo.net.au/~thesdale/Manual.zip

	31-07-2003 09:59									#15
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Yeah, that is a manual but very basic and only for Demo 2. I'm working on demo 3 at the moment.

As for type of game, it's a standalone application (run .exe and enjoy as you said), and the MP abilities at this point are hotseat only. I might add in LAN, but dunno about the rest.

	31-07-2003 12:43									#16
	Inflate your Upload Space

I see there are some very good concepts in your game.

How about to add PBEM support?

	19-08-2003 04:28									#17
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Okay, we're starting to get very close to a demo v0.3 release.

Finally!!!!!!

Anyways, just wanted to update the top thread and let everyone know I've got a rudimentary AI working. So in demo 3 you'll be competing against someone.

	19-08-2003 18:30									#18
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

quote: I've got a rudimentary AI working

Great!
That will give us a better idea of what the gameplay will look like.

	01-09-2003 11:02									#19
	Put an end to popups!

Should have public alpha 0.3 out this week (hopefully)

Three last things I want in before I upload it:

- Button-tips
- Tutorial
- Refine AI a bit to split defensive/attacking units

	04-09-2003 09:38									#20
	Increase the size of your Attachments

Could you add a way to move thru the map via the minimap? I find I get lost quite easy.

Nice progress you are making.

Oh, will this game be mod-able?

	04-11-2003 06:05									#21
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

Looks good!

	20-12-2003 09:09									#22
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

I tried to start the game but i got an error message:

______
Error Starting Program

The EMPIRE.EXE file is linked to missing export DDRAW.DLLirectDrawCreateEx.
_______

I don't know if you or anyone else has encountered this error. I have DDRAW.DLL installed in the Windows/System directory and I copied it to the game directory as well.

	26-12-2003 06:03									#23
	Tired of ads?

Have you got the latest DirectX installed? If you got the one that comes with Xp (7) then it might not work.

I think Dale used the latest directX to make his game.

Dump the error message into google for answers if this does not help.

	09-02-2004 19:00									#24
	Increase Your PM Length

DirectDraw completed its development cycle at 7, however. There was, and will be no more development to it. Its a finished "product".