Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Shades]

The true curse of a programmer: every piece of software you come across, you always think "I could've done that better..."
(yes, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it's bound to happen to some of us sometimes)

I do this all the time it's probably bad form...

[Tellemurius]

i don't get the feeling of programing DF because im scared of even looking at the source code.

[SolarShado]

The true curse of a programmer: every piece of software you come across, you always think "I could've done that better..."
(yes, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it's bound to happen to some of us sometimes)

I do this all the time it's probably bad form...

Ever done this: Seen a bug/poorly-implemented feature in commercial software and thought "What the F**K? That's a one-line fix!"
(And optionally realized later that it's probably not that simple.)

[Shades]

The true curse of a programmer: every piece of software you come across, you always think "I could've done that better..."
(yes, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it's bound to happen to some of us sometimes)

I do this all the time it's probably bad form...

Ever done this: Seen a bug/poorly-implemented feature in commercial software and thought "What the F**K? That's a one-line fix!"
(And optionally realized later that it's probably not that simple.)

Yup. Even fixed it a few times the company I work for has poor ancient code bases....

[freeformschooler]

i don't get the feeling of programing DF because im scared of even looking at the source code.

This. I don't think anyone around here except Toady could come up with DF BUT BETTER in a matter of months like so many seem to want to do. Heck, it's just easier to start small. Remember REALLY early DF? That was small. Toady worked his way up. And now the source code would probably take lives in an attempt to decipher. This is how it is.

I don't want to make another DF because I rather like DF. For me, I want to make a game with procedural generation. It doesn't matter what. My only programming projects I've ever finished had some sort of procedural generation, not counting Flash. I have big dreams, and probably will achieve them, but not at the point I'm currently in. However, what's inspiration about DF is not that we HAVE a game that builds a moderately believable world from scratch and then lets you do whatever you want in it, but the way it was done. Toady's dedication to his pet project has taken up a significant part of his life, and it's the reason we have DF in its current state. But it took a lot to get there, even in the initial stages without much external stimuli (e.g. forum members that now populate B12), and the fact that he's gonna as far as he has and is still working is an inspiration to the collective hobbyist programming workforce that includes us all.

Did I mention I like procedural generation?

[DwarvesH]

I think that no real programmer who gets to use some piece of software enough to form any kind of attachment or opinion about that software does not stop to think about the internals and how he or she would implement it. Especially if that person loves programming and does it with a passion.

If I were implementing my own DF inspired game, which I am not (wink wink nudge nudge ) I would focus on the following:

• User interface and accessibility

One of the biggest hurdles one has to overcome in order to enjoy DF is the steep learning curve that is not helped in any way by the way the interface is designed. I would make this my primary focus.

• Isometric graphics

Graphics don't mean that much without gameplay, but they sure help. Having graphics that mean something even for the uninitiated is a huge benefit.

• Start small

Take a few elements that you want to have in common, and implement them. Then test responsibly. Then balance them. Then think about it. See how much effort it was, if you want to continue and if you are heading in the right direction. I would not go wild and add dozens of barely functional semi features so I can say that my game is as complex as the competition.

• Modding tools

As good as you might be there is always the chance that someone more creative is out there. Give them the means to create content for your game if they wish. Make it as easy as possible. Do not make them learn some semi programming language that only you use. Do not make them edit some weird text files.

This is only a short list of items and some of you might consider most of these unimportant. But keep in mind: there is already someone out there who is striving to make the most impressive and strangely entertaining piece of simulation (I am talking about DF). So other people can focus on other parts if they wish so. Arguments like "Toady does not care about graphics because he is busy creating a deep simulation" do not work here. Maybe you do care about such things.  I need to check out Goblin Camp more and see how it differentiates itself from DF.