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[JamesPlotts]

Looks intresting, i'll be keeping an eye on this for sure.
But expect to put tonnes and tonnes of time into it if you wish to have a full clone.

How are you going to do world maps?

I've done some research into map generation algorithms and while I haven't implemented anything yet, I've got an idea about that.  The 3d veins of rock will be an interesting problem to solve.

[miauw62]

I wasn't talking about map generation, my intent was more "how are you going to display it to the player?".

[JamesPlotts]

I wasn't talking about map generation, my intent was more "how are you going to display it to the player?".

The world map or the playable area map?  For the playable area map, look at the screenshot.  The game will also have a 2D HUD in the upper-right which will display the current elevation centered on the focal point of the 3D view.  Also, you will be able to toggle on or off the upper-layers above the current elevation in the 3D view.

As for the world map, I haven't given any thought to that yet.

Hud elements will have map in upper-right viewport, currently selected dwarf viewport in lower-left, Fortress status and menus in upper left, and information display viewport in lower-right.  I plan to create a customizable toolbar across the bottom, a la MMO style.  Select something and click a tool command, rather than navigate through a bunch of menus if you prefer.  Menus will still be there, though, with standardized keyboard shortcuts.

[Anvilfolk]

You might want to add some more technical information to the OP if you're hoping to recruit I think you'll have a tough time with VB.net, not too sure how many people know/use it...

Good luck!

[ragnar119]

Man, good luck, please keep us updated on your progress.

[Xantalos]

I'll watch this with interest. Good luck.

[Mictlantecuhtli]

Welcome and Good luck, James!
What will make your game different from Gnomoria?

The same thing [even citing DF as main inspiration!], except it'll be free. ;] haha. The correct way to go about it in my opinion considering the source inspiration. *Cough*

This will take you quite the gargantuan effort though, friend. Posting to watch.

[Moogie]

I wouldn't do this with thoughts/ambitions of getting donations, especially if you're not going to contribute any original ideas into the design. A straight clone of DF is all well and good, but at the end of the day, Toady and ThreeToe are the only people who should get money for their ideas.

Apart from that, I hope the project succeeds as an opensource, no-money-involved endeavor.

[Skyrunner]

Too bad it's in VB. I'm sure there's a heck of a ton more, say, C-inspired language users^* than VB.



*C, C#, C++, Java ...

[Silent_Thunder]

Too bad it's in VB. I'm sure there's a heck of a ton more, say, C-inspired language users^* than VB.



*C, C#, C++, Java ...

Ugh hated VB in highschool. Dunno, C++ just seemed to flow right off the fingertips for me, while VB was like learning Spanish through translated Shakesperian texts.

[JamesPlotts]

Too bad it's in VB. I'm sure there's a heck of a ton more, say, C-inspired language users^* than VB.



*C, C#, C++, Java ...

Well, have written VB all my life and can speed-read it whereas C++/C# is like Japanese to me.

[Skyrunner]

I'm not saying that it's bad, but just that contributers will probably be far and few between. Most computer programming education seems to use Java as an introductory language nowadays. o_O

[miauw62]

Well, Aurora is made in VB too IIRC.

[JamesPlotts]

I wouldn't do this with thoughts/ambitions of getting donations, especially if you're not going to contribute any original ideas into the design. A straight clone of DF is all well and good, but at the end of the day, Toady and ThreeToe are the only people who should get money for their ideas.

So, should the people at Chrysler and GM not get paid for Henry Ford's ideas?  If Toady and ThreeToe had made a 3D dwarfy sand-box game, then yeah, I agree with you (and this conversation would never had taken place).  However, ideas are not protected.  Only their presentation.

[miauw62]

But hey, it's not for you neither for Moogie to decide who they'll donate to, is it?
(NOTE THE EMOTICON INDICATING A JOKE)