Introducción

Wildfire Games (WFG) es un grupo de desarrolladores de juegos af icionados en vías de producir un freeware juego de Estrategia en Tiempo Real (RTS). El nombre de este proyecto es 0 A.D. (Cero ey-di"). En resumen, es un juego basado en historia económico-bélica que permite a los jugadores revivir o rescribir la historia de las civilizaciones del occidente, focalizadas en los años entre el 500 a.C. y 500 d.C. El proyecto es demaciado ambicioso, e implica técnicas de gráficos 3D, detallados trabajos artísticos, sonido, y un flexible y poderoso y personalizado motor de juego.

Este motor de juego es llamado Pyrogenesis y es específicamente diseñado para la flexibilidad y fácil modificación. La lógica del juego, trabajo artístico, y datos pueden fácilmente ser cambiados modificando la base de datos. El motor en si mismo fue diseñado tanto para proveer la máxima flexibilidad como para permanecer eficiente. Pyrogenesis por lo tanto provee una sólida plataforma en la cual trabajar en las características individuales de un juego RTS, y puede ser usada para crear un juego completamente diferente al diseño de 0 A.D.

0 A.D. ha estado en desarrollo desde 2001. El equpo de miembros con en gran parte estudiantes y desarrolladores de juegos aficionados. El juego siempre ha intentado ser publicado como freeware y al alcance de todos. Ninguno de los participantes ha recibido o recibirá recompenza económica por las contribuciones que han hecho. El premio para quienes han contribuído varía tanto como: la siempre elusiva experiencia ganada por trabajar en un proyecto grupal a gran escala, o el simple placer de crear el juego RTS que siempre se quiere jugar.

Características de Pyrogenesis

El motor de Pyrogenesis fue construido desde cero por los programadores de WFG. Its open-ended architecture can accommodate Estrategia en Tiempo Real (RTS) y los tipos de juego de rol en tercera persona (RPG).

A brief feature list of the Pyrogenesis Engine follows:

INFORMACIÓN TÉCNICA

  • Language de motor: C++
  • Lenguage de Scripting: Javascript
  • Base de datos: XML (with transparent and automatic conversion to binary files)
  • Rendering: OpenGL with shaders
  • Librarías usadas: OpenAL, OpenGL, Boost, Crypto++, CxxTest, DevIL, SDL, SpiderMonkey, Vorbis, wxWidgets, Xerces
  • Sistemas operativos:
    • Windows 2000, XP, 2003, XP64, Vista
    • Linux
    • MacOSX
  • System Requirements: 1 GHz CPU, modern graphics card (GeForce 3 at minimum), 512 MB RAM
  • Tools used: Visual Studio, g++, CppDoc, COLLADA, Debuging and Profiling tools included

GRAPHICS

  • OpenGL-based rendering engine with shaders
  • Hierarchal skeletal animation and deformation system based on COLLADA
  • Fancy animated water with refraction, reflection
  • Realistic Shadows
  • Particle effects
  • Environmental lighting effects (time of day, sunset)
  • Flexible terrain renderer that uses alpha maps to seamlessly blend terrain
  • Script based Graphical User Interface

AI

  • A* pathfinding
  • Designed to support "RTS style" AI

MULTIPLAYER NETWORKING

  • Peer to peer, no central server
  • Lockstep simulation
  • (planned: reliable UDP for firewall punchthrough, detection of cheating/OOS)

LEVEL EDITOR

  • Includes a level editor (Atlas) integrated with the Pyrogenesis engine.
  • The editor uses the same rendering engine as the game itself.
  • Deform terrain in real-time and sculpt intricate landscapes quickly and intuitively.
  • Create a level and try it out in the editor immediately.
  • Includes an Actor Editor that has a GUI interface to assist in defining the entities visually in the game.
  • Includes a Random Map Generator and custom scripting languge
  • A sound tool allows defining sound properties.

MODS

  • Aspects of the game can be tweaked with tools or by modifying XML and Javascript files to totally change the game.
  • Easily modify content (units, buildings, the tech tree, ..) without touching any C++ code.
  • Console command panel
  • The game code is separate from the core engine.
  • Uses open, standard file formats: COLLADA 3D assets, Zip archives

SUPPORT

  • Access to extensive documenation
  • Well-commented code
  • WFG developers just an email away

Why?

Why should you as a developer, hobbiest, student or a professor be interested in using Pyrogenesis?

  • The game itself is visually attractive as delivered. Instead of the all too frequent "programmer's art", you have quality artwork at your fingertips that allows showing your project in its best light.
  • WFG has taken great pains to emphasize history through out development stressing authenticity and accuracy; always remembering the educational opportunity we have in games.
  • The software is portable (running on Linux, Windows, and MacOSX).
  • The code and design are well documented (comments, CppDoc documentation, Wiki, some full technical reports, reams of forum posts with rationale and discussion).
  • The project is made up of gamers / people looking to get into the industry; a good deal of experience in this area has been gained and can be passed on.
  • One of our goals is that this project will gain some traction with the public as development progresses. You as a contributor would be able to point to a well recognized development project that has a tangable release of software.
  • Templates to assist in creation of art assets (textures, meshes) will be provided.
  • Various tutorials and guides will be available for ease of initiation.

Licensing

For the source code, we suggest a common open-source license such as the GPL.

The GPL is oft misunderstood, so a brief summary follows.

You are allowed to access and use source code placed under GPL after you accept the GPL license. No restrictions or obligations are placed on you, with one exception: As soon as you make a binary release of a program containing GPL-ed code, you must thereafter license all of the code constituting it under the GPL.

As a concrete example, three use-cases are discussed.

1) You use GPL-ed source code to generate screenshots of an interesting graphical effect. As long as you do not publically release a compiled version of the program, you are under no obligation to place the source code under GPL. This means that the modifications you have made to the code can remain your property and secret, though we would appreciate seeing your changes so that 0 A.D. may be improved to the benefit of all.

2) You compile an unmodified version of the game source code and release it to the public (e.g. to act as a mirror). The GPL then requires you to also release the source code, or to provide a written offer promising to make the code available to anyone who asks.

3) You make changes to the initial GPL-ed code and wish to also distribute a compiled demo to the public. Note that the GPL is not concerned with any modifications you may make to code; this act is not restricted in any way. The only obligation you are under is to also place the entire source code that generated the demo under GPL, i.e. make it available to the public. This means that the next person who downloads your demo can further tweak it, and ensures he has the same chance you had to modify the source code.

FAQ

When can this get started? ​Now!

Last modified 12 years ago Last modified on Oct 8, 2012, 8:28:20 PM
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