Dark Reign 3 Status Updates

Captain_Kill · Post by **Captain_Kill** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 3:30 am

This thread is especially for updates relating to Dark Reign 3. I am hoping to make good progress with DR3 and also I'll probably release code snippets and other stuff. So instead of making lots of seperate threads, I'll put all DR3 updates and stuff here.

First Update:
Looking over my current structure I can see that although it has some good points, other things need to be totally redone. I knew I'd have to do this sooner or later because the code is more of a quick RTS hack than a framework good enough for a finished game.

Therefore I'm starting again. Thanks to some awesome code I've found all over the place, my job will be easier. At the moment, I'm using MD3 player models and weapons with no physics. Eventually I'll be using FMOD, Cal3D, RakNet and Newton. (Yes that's right, newton on hundreds of objects @ once

Wait and see...)

I have one development that I think will interest some people, Realtime Lighting in Q3 maps

Ever wished you could place Irrlicht's realtime lights into a Q3 level using an ordinary map editor? Thanks to the great BSP entity reading code plus some stuff of my own, you can now add "rtlight" entities which can be modified in realtime. They can also cast multiple shadows on apropriate models. (Unfortunately it doesn't cast shadows on the level geometry

)

http://www.eve-corp.com/darkreign3/RTLightDemo.zip

* Ready to go Binary
* Contains modified Irrlicht DLL + VC6 Lib + GtKRadiant entity file
* Contains RTLight versions of the example iD maps (Q3DM1, Q3DM17, Q3DM7)
* Requires Q3 pak0.pk3

(Please mention if you use this code. If people like what I post, I'll be more likely to post more code)

Captain_Kill · Post by **Captain_Kill** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 9:07 am

w00t

Site has been updated! You'll now find an FAQ, About and other stuff

Now all I need is some better screenshots and a forum...

PS. 20 something views of my post but no replies?

Come on people!

I need feedback!

bal · Post by **bal** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 9:09 am

I don't have pak0.pk3, neither Q3 installed

Captain_Kill · Post by **Captain_Kill** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 9:16 am

So the problem is not many people have Q3?? I have a solution

Download the Q3 demo and change the map in code from Q3DM1 (I think...) to the Q3DM17 RTLight map OR make a map yourself in GtK

Edit:
New version - Comes with a Q3 Demo compatible EXE:
http://www.eve-corp.com/darkreign3/RTLi ... pdated.zip

erSitzt · Post by **erSitzt** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:01 pm

I dont think anyone wants to download the Quake3-Demo just for viewing your stuff.. all other posted examples are standalone apps so why isnt yours ?

afecelis · Post by **afecelis** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:53 pm

Interesting, a bit heavy on fps side. Did you try it with OpenGL?

any source available?

cheers!

Captain_Kill · Post by **Captain_Kill** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:28 pm

erSitzt:
This is a demo meant for people with Q3. I never said it was standalone. Apart from that, I thought most people would have Q3. It is a VERY common game. Apart from that, it's no big deal to d/l the Q3 demo. Worse things could happen...

Edit: Another reason why it isn't standalone is that I don't have the time to make it standalone. I have other things I'd rather do

afecelis:
Thanks

If you want the source, then d/l the first version. (No src with updated version, not enough changes) With a bit of modification you could also probably bypass all of my engine side stuff... Although I will release the source for the engine eventually. I didn't try OpenGL... I thought DirectX would work better. What are the best settings for shadows?

warui · Post by **warui** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:55 pm

Just one thing that makes me wonder, why do you need Q3 if you use irrlicht ?

Captain_Kill · Post by **Captain_Kill** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 2:07 pm

Maybe because Irrlicht loads Q3 format maps. Also, do you have any idea how long it takes to make a decent Q3 map when you're not a good mapper?

If you don't have Q3 then just wait until my stuff is standalone.

If people really want I can put up screenshots instead...

Robomaniac · Post by **Robomaniac** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 3:05 pm

1) Download a test map, it doesn't have to be perfect for your game
2) Remove the Q3 dependency

That's holding me back from playing the demo

Captain_Kill · Post by **Captain_Kill** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 3:13 pm

It's not as simple as that. I have to be able to edit the original map in Radiant + i would also have to find textures. I'd rather spend my time on coding. There's nothing stopping people d/ling the first version, getting the code and using the Radiant file to make their own maps...

I'm annoyed too that I can't make it standalone. I want to but my time is severely limited.

Robomaniac · Post by **Robomaniac** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 4:16 pm

why would you have to edit the map? Just use either a standalone map if u can find it, or find one that doesn't lose a ton of textures

Captain_Kill · Post by **Captain_Kill** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 4:38 pm

*wishes he had have explained better

*

The system i have made uses a whole new map entity. You can't just load any map and expect it to work! You have to add in the RTLight map entities. That's why I had to modify the engine and other stuff. It's a flexible system but of course the disadvantage is that you can't use any map. It does force mappers to be careful in how the use the lights though... Normal Q3 maps don't work well because of the way I added in the RTLights (I did a find-replace in the original Q3 map file. It worked but it's not efficient by far... (100+ lights on Q3DM17 ain't normal...) Plus you lose the lightmaps

)

I have an idea. I'll try reverse compiling the Irrlicht example map. If it works I'll add in some RTLights and then you'll have a good indication of what it can do... (I also may integrate a third person cam so you can see how the shadows interact with moving objects)

PS. I'd post screenies now, but I'm not on the right PC

Captain_Kill · Post by **Captain_Kill** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 2:26 am

For those people who can't use the demo, you'll find 2 screenshots of it at the Dark Reign 3 site. Just have a look in the media section.

warui · Post by **warui** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 10:52 am

http://www.eve-corp.com/darkreign3/imag ... creen1.jpg
http://www.eve-corp.com/darkreign3/imag ... creen2.jpg

"HTTP 404 Not Found" !!!