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[SolarShado]

(Again: Java programmer here.)

I'd probably have a class that handles world gen by creating "world" objects.

Two (extreme) options for the world gen class:

• a single public (static) method, that uses hardcoded parameters
• world gen objects are one-use (more or less) and gen. parameters are set by the constructor

Of course, there are several combinations of features that fall in between those extremes. Finding the balance is up to you.

BTW, the practice of hiding the inner workings of a class from code that uses that class is called, IIRC, encapsulation. And it really makes updating/changing code easier.

[timmeh]

Actually, SolarShado's second idea would work very well with the "settings" system you mentioned on MSN Orange...

Anyways, looking forward to seeing how your rewrite progresses!  Especially since ToA is likely to need one soon...

[Outcast Orange]

I'm having a hard time understanding the relationship and uses of classes. I can see a class working for my tiles, but a system of adding data to those classes, and stuff like that seems so confusing. I'll figure it out. Alfie is helping.

[Outcast Orange]

Muahahaha! Today is a glorious day for The Orange!
I officially will be caught up with my work completely, so no more stresses.
I'm going to dive headlong into some sample code given to me by a couple of key contributors,
and I should have some class related progress to show for it soon.

Sorry for the huge hold up lately. Expect more from me now!

[timmeh]

Awesome!  Looking forward to it!

[Jack_Bread]

Yay!
Glad to hear tat!

[LegoLord]

After getting from where you started to the thing you have now in roughly a month, no need to worry about taking so short a break.   

[jplur]

I'm having a hard time understanding the relationship and uses of classes. I can see a class working for my tiles, but a system of adding data to those classes, and stuff like that seems so confusing. I'll figure it out. Alfie is helping.

I never use classes or anything OOP, but I am wondering if you would want to use a class for a tile entry.  IMHO the tile should hold the smallest amount of data possible, so if you could get away with just using a few bytes to hold booleans and integers then do so.

But I don't use C++ so I'm just rambling, maybe there is an advantage of using classes or structs for tile entries.

And glad to hear your getting some free time, I'm jealous but excited to see what's next with this

[Alexhans]

Dude... Why do you think that a class will take up more space than a struct?

Code: [Select]

struct tile
{
int something;
bool active;
};
//When you declare an instance of the class, the compiler will allocate the memory as it deems fit (in this case, probably 4 (int) + 1(bool) + 3 to make the 8 byte pack (this may differ from operative systems, I think).
class tile
{
private:
int something;
bool active;
public:
int GetSomething();
int GetActive();
void SetSomething(int some);
void SetActive(bool act);
void CalculateWhatever(int factor);
};
//When you run an instance of this... The data allocation will be EXACTLY the same.  Try it with the sizeof operator.  The methods aren't a problem.


[Outcast Orange]

Each tile will hold multiple ints and bools.

Int type
bool visible
bool stuck(cohesion)
bool gravity
int water

I'm sure I'm forgetting a couple.
But you can see why it is so difficult to manage tiles.
To copy a single tile is to write around ten lines or so of code.
If it is a class, there can be functions for doing that, and multiple variables can be held in one array.

I'm making progress, believe it or not. I've made a game that creates a virtual 3D space,
then tests those spaces for contents.
It's using classes and class functions for everything so far.
This exercise is really helping me see the capabilities and connectivity of classes.
It might even fully evolve into the final game... that happened to this game before.
That's why the files are called "test1" by default.
Cloudscream was originally a variable juggling version of its old self, which is probably deleted.

Damn. It's going to take a while, and a few releases before I feel comfortable with the new name.

[deadlycairn]

I can't help but think of a transformer when you call it that. Maybe massive robots could be a super-secret HFS?

[Duke 2.0]

 Cloudscream is Starscreams programming younger brother.

 "Cloudscream! You have nothing to make the Scream family proud! All you do all day is sit inside and make games! And not for Energon!"

[Outcast Orange]

Progress continues under the hood. I now have extremely flexible classes for everything, and I'm re-adding the old features, one by one. Up on the menu today is to add openGL back into the mix, and have it start drawing in 3D again.
Then I will need to add the geometries back in, and finally the physics.

Each part of the program needs a drastic rewrite, so moving over into classes could possibly take all weekend.
I'll be diving into pointers as soon as I've finished this though, which will really speed up all of the systems present in my game. (Not just water, but gravity, visibility, cohesion, and other stuff.
I'm also going to consider adding a more complex draw mode,
that only draws 3 (!!!) polygons per tile instead of all 6.

So basically, I'm trying to at least quadruple the run speed of this thing, leaving room for new physics ahead.
I can also consider combining my physics functions into a single function that only runs through once, further improving performance.
Basically, I have a ton of possible ways to optimize this thing as I add in new stuff.
Frame rate shouldn't be a problem anymore.

By mid next week I will probably be adding NEW features. Look forward to it.

[qwertyuiopas]

One possible slowdown is also data transfer, but I think that openGL has a smart enough system to gather data to send it all at once.

[Outcast Orange]

Do you mean drawing the screen? It can draw a the entire universe near instantly.
The reason it slows down is because it has to read the visibility status of each square before deciding whether to draw it or not.

Today I get a tile class built in and fully functional, so instead of reworking the whole thing in order to get it to properly register the change, I only have to add the variable to the tile class.

My next mission is to get openGL linked on my laptop, so I can add the graphics back in.
Here is the crazy thing:
My laptop is better than my desktop in almost every regard.
I bet you were all thinking:
"It's a Wednesday, I'll expect nothing out of Orange today."
But no!
I have a functional laptop with me now! So programming can happen on my busy days!
Tomorrow things will fly.