I don't know where to start...please, HELP ME!!!

[darksun88]

Hi...After all, I have to say I'm an Italian boy...so forgive me for my bad English!!!

Now...

I wanna make a 3D Role-Playing-Game.

But I don't know where to start.

I want make a RPG with these key features:

Turn-type fights (like "Final Fantasy")
Magics and abilities with many battle animations and sound effects (like FF)
Possibility to save game only by Save Points (like FF )
Customizable menu's theme (like FF6 and FF7)
Videos (not in CG)
A good soundtrack.

Now...for 3D graphic I'm using Blender (www.blender.org).
Of course I've choosen Irrlicht as 3D Engine.

I read many tutorials, forums, ecc...and now I'm so confused!!!

These are my questions...

1. It's possible to make a game without downloading and installing DirectX SDK or OpenGL?
2. What about them?
3. Physic engine, Input engine, Sound engine, Artificial Intelligence...can you give me a light about all them?
3. Battle animation and various effects (rain, snow, fog, fire torches, ecc...). Can i do them in Irrlicht? Or have I to download other tools/programs?
4. Do you think that is better Dev-C++ with MinGW; or Code::Blocks with MS Visual C++ Toolkit 2003?
5. Can I use Blender to make all the 3D graphic of the game? (characters, monsters, buildings, terrains, ecc...)? Or will I need other 3D tools?
6. What about sound effects and musics? How can I make them and insert them? PS: I don't wanna make simple MIDIs...
7. For example, I could make Final Fantasy VIII in Irrlicht? Or there is something that Irrlicht is not able to do?
X. In a few words...can you say me all the necessary tools/programs/other to do a good RPG like Final Fantasy, Legend of Dragoon, Shadow Hearts...ecc? I'm downloading many programs/tools...but I don't know if I really need them to make this RPG.

Please, answer me! You are my last hope! I want my confusion to disappear!

Thanks to all!

Matteo

[MikeR]

I wanna make a 3D Role-Playing-Game.

Great idea

But I don't know where to start. Not good


These are my questions...

1. It's possible to make a game without downloading and installing DirectX SDK or OpenGL? yes, use a mingw compiler
2. What about them?
3. Physic engine, Input engine, Sound engine, Artificial Intelligence...can you give me a light about all them? Look in the tools, etc.. forum
3. Battle animation and various effects (rain, snow, fog, fire torches, ecc...). Can i do them in Irrlicht? Or have I to download other tools/programs? sprites are included in Irrlicht
4. Do you think that is better Dev-C++ with MinGW; or Code::Blocks with MS Visual C++ Toolkit 2003? I use both. If you want directX, use codeblocks
5. Can I use Blender to make all the 3D graphic of the game? (characters, monsters, buildings, terrains, ecc...)? Or will I need other 3D tools? I don't have an answer to this
6. What about sound effects and musics? How can I make them and insert them? PS: I don't wanna make simple MIDIs... Again, check out the tools forum
7. For example, I could make Final Fantasy VIII in Irrlicht? Or there is something that Irrlicht is not able to do?
X. In a few words...can you say me all the necessary tools/programs/other to do a good RPG like Final Fantasy, Legend of Dragoon, Shadow Hearts...ecc? I'm downloading many programs/tools...but I don't know if I really need them to make this RPG.

Please, answer me! You are my last hope! I want my confusion to disappear!

Thanks to all!

Matteo

Are you good at C++??
If so, you'll need to look at what you think you need for your game, then decide from there what other libs you'll need.

[afecelis]

start here:
http://www.danielpatton.com/afecelis/dll_tutorial.pdf

[SARIN]

about the blender thing, i think that it might be all that you need to make ur RPG. if i may suggest Anim8or, its a really easy to use tool, great for beginners and i love it. it even has an add on for terrains, so its almost the complete packadge. the only downside is that it wont create animations, despite its name, it doesnt save them into a game format.

my understanding of blender is that u would require a bunch of add ons to convert blenders format to irrlicht. my suggestion is that if u can, make the models in anim8or, and animate them in something like blender, check for the format converting tho there should be some addons on the blender site.
otherwise, use milkshape3d for animations, its $25 so its not freeware, but its an easy little animation tool originally designed for halflife or some other game.

[afecelis]

Fragmotion is designed specifically for character animation and it's $20.00

http://www.fragmosoft.com/

and exports to several game formats, including md2 and .X

[darksun88]

Just thanks to all of u! Afecelis, i've downloaded your tutorial! It's great! Thank you Miker, too. And also thank you, SARIN. In this exact moment, I'm searching Google for Anim8or! Thanks again.