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[Lightman]

quote:Originally posted by Fieari:
<STRONG>Probably not.  DF, unlike almost all modern games, does not run slow because of processing graphics, but from processing the world itself.  Thus, nothing with regards to the graphics should cause either speed ups or slow downs.  It's just a couple of bitblts either way, which are pretty darn cheap, processor wise.</STRONG>

That's something I've been curious about. What is DF programmed in? Modern processors can easily handle millions of computations in a second, so how demanding is the game, really? I naturally assume that the complicated world data takes a bit of processing time, but DF uses 60% of my CPU power when it's on the title menu! The game (with an active, medium-sized fortress) increases that another 20%. Paused goes back to 60%.

So I wonder, why is the idle usage so high?

[ June 20, 2007: Message edited by: Dazco ]

[4bh0r53n]

i know that DF is programmed in C++ but i dont know why it is such a drain on the resources.

[TerminatorII]

Well right now Toady is adding z and rewriting al other aspects to clean to code of DF up to make it run faster. If you watch his clips you can see his Dwarfs flying along at 100 FPS. much better than now.

one little thing to keep in mind when looking at how much CPU usage it uses is remember that each tile has to be stored in Data, and at probably millions of tiles to a Fortress, that gets expensive fast. Then all hte jobs and where they are are also stored, each character gets stored, and then it has to find optimal paths for everything. (which could mean doing millions of calculations for pathing alone.)

[Mechanoid]

quote:Originally posted by TerminatorII:
If you watch his clips you can see his Dwarfs flying along at 100 FPS. much better than now.

No... His dwarves fly along because he altered the natural speed of dwarves to 1, which is as fast as the game will allow.

If anything, DF will suck up more CPU time, depending on how your fortress is laid out, and what size the map is set at. If you set it at one full [overworld map square], and dig out every single possible square on that [area], then it will be horrendously laggy. However, you can make your fortress smaller then the current version, so in those cases, Fortress mode will run better then it does now... But only in those cases.

[ June 20, 2007: Message edited by: Mechanoid ]

[ June 20, 2007: Message edited by: Mechanoid ]

[Toady One]

Dazco, my CPU is at 0% on the title screen.  Other instances of high title screen CPU usage have been caused by video drivers not being up to date for OpenGL, I think.  It's doing a bit of superfluous redrawing, but nothing that should impact your system if you don't have a strange or very old setup.

Some of the delays that were caused by having hundreds of thousands of items in the fortress have been fixed, but there are also some new lags, mostly associated to flows.  It's a continuing process.

[TerminatorII]

I stand corrected... though It will be cool to have custom sized maps  

[Markavian]

I made my own 6x6 tileset, not as pretty as herbdogs, but its mine...

Full map preview: Inkflew - 1061 - 6x6 Tileset

Interface screenshots:

Variety is the spice of life! I might need to make a few more tweaks after playing it a while, I'm not 100% happy with the dwarves yet, they look a bit chubby, but it looks weird when they flash with a full tile behind them.

[Markavian]

Edit: Bleh, why did I pick 6x6 tiles, its so difficult to work with.

Anyhow, for reference/comparison, here's the fort using herbdogs' 7x7 set applied to the same fort:

Full map preview: Inkflew - 1061 - 7x7

I've decided I like your font more herbdog, its dead cool... but I prefer my wall designs, I'm a neat freak like that.

[slMagnvox]

I've sworn by the curses 800x600 since I started playing.  I love extended ASCII.  There is something very appealing about these tilesets though.  I have an irrational dislike of the pointy hats in herrb's tiles.  I like how your smoothed walls look alot better also, Markavian.

What is up with the smooth colored walls?  That is ore?  Is there an engrave_ore utility?

EDIT:  What resolution is that?  Looks like a lot more viewable tiles than I get with 800x600 curses.  Might just be an illusion?

[ June 21, 2007: Message edited by: slMagnvox ]

[Markavian]

quote:Originally posted by slMagnvox:
<STRONG>What is up with the smooth colored walls?  That is ore?  Is there an engrave_ore utility?

EDIT:  What resolution is that?  Looks like a lot more viewable tiles than I get with 800x600 curses.  Might just be an illusion?

[ June 21, 2007: Message edited by: slMagnvox ]</STRONG>

The smoothed colours walls are gems that have been replaced using the granite.exe utility and then smoothed over. (I didn't bother digging them out).

My 6x6 tilset uses the resolution 480x150px, tiny! I only tested it out quickly, I've not had chance to play it for an extended period yet; it might end up annoying me!

[Slartibartfast]

quote:Originally posted by slMagnvox:
<STRONG>What resolution is that?  Looks like a lot more viewable tiles than I get with 800x600 curses.  Might just be an illusion</STRONG>

The number of tiles on the screen is currently unadjustable, "stuck" on 80*25.

[slMagnvox]

Yeah, I had a feeling it just looked like more.

EDIT:  If anyone wants to check out my sweet fortress and behold the glory that is curses 800x600 ..

onulreg @ DF Map Archive

Markavian, you are behind the Archive?  Damn impressive

[ June 21, 2007: Message edited by: slMagnvox ]

[Lightman]

quote:Originally posted by Toady One:
<STRONG>Dazco, my CPU is at 0% on the title screen.  Other instances of high title screen CPU usage have been caused by video drivers not being up to date for OpenGL, I think.  It's doing a bit of superfluous redrawing, but nothing that should impact your system if you don't have a strange or very old setup.

Some of the delays that were caused by having hundreds of thousands of items in the fortress have been fixed, but there are also some new lags, mostly associated to flows.  It's a continuing process.</STRONG>

Right. I'll check out the video drivers and see if I can fix that. I wouldn't be surprised if that's what's causing the trouble...

[Zaratustra]

Tiny fonts have a category now!