New tool in the works!

[Karl G.]

I'm working on a new tool right now that will be our final, complete solution for editing everything about PV. It's so flexible, it will be able not only to edit maps, but also add new media, define races/classes, create action scripts (if we want), designate experience levels, and much more! Not only that, it can currently generate specialized, compressed "game packs" using those resources to distribute to the client and server. The days of writing script in the UDT language (see media.dat and maped.dat) to add new content will come to an end; not only that, the download will be much smaller and game content far easier to update.

Pics coming soon.

[Vitriol]

I cant wait to get my hands on this.
The only problem I can forsee is people creating conflicting game rules.

[speed3b]

Damn, you're doing such an amazing job. You're already making the game easier to update and we haven't even seen a release. It took EJ like 4 years to get as far as you are, and your content is better, so far. Great job.

[Karl G.]

Here's my theory: if I make decent tools, this community can make an amazing game!

[Blue Tiger]

Karl, i think you get more work done in a week then ej does in a year.

[Karl G.]

that's what WOW does to your productivity

[thadiusofx3]

oh snap!

[Karl G.]

So here's a video of the editor:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 3358408491

But the quality REALLY sucks...

[Vitriol]

god thats an awful quality video, i couldnt tell what you were doing.

[9sam1]

yea cant see to good in that video. What are you using to record?

[Karl G.]

I'm using CamStudio. I think I need to take a FRAPS video and upload that. CamStudio produces AVIs that are already compressed...which kills the image quality when Google decides to re-compress it I think. Garr.

Once I can get my hands on something better I'll post another vid; for now, I'm moving on to adding more resource types!

[thadiusofx3]

camtasia studio works really well for me
if you want I can send you a copy

[Vitriol]

why use google? just use youtube.

[9sam1]

youtube does the same poo.

[thadiusofx3]

use the divx codec and put it on stage6

[Karl G.]

use the divx codec and put it on stage6

could you explain that?

[Karl G.]

Update: this project is coming along SO WELL!!! I'm very excited about it; will release as soon as I'm done. It's amazing how well this is working. Hopefully everything continues smoothly. I'll post screenshots when something more *visually* interesting is finished. Right now I've got the underlying groundwork-code functioning (I wrote about 6000 lines in 18 files during the last two days!) and am adding the code-layer that uses that groundwork.

[ziggman]

Sounds Great! keep it up.

[thadiusofx3]

http://stage6.divx.com/

you can upload .divx or divx encoded .avi's on that site and there are some very good quality videos on there

2GB video size limit too

[Ashlar]

this looks like its starting to really come togeather, i might have to send in another donation shortly.

[Karl G.]

it would be much appreciated Ashlar

Also, I don't know what the encoding is on this video but I'll try uploading it anyway. I'm going to make a better one once I get the next section worked out....which is why I am making this post! I've designed the new map editor for this resource management list and ... damn it's awesome. Here's what my current system (not coded yet, but designed) supports:

• Custom-designed particle effects
• Stacking map layers: this warrants some explanation. This means that you'll be able to have as many ground-type layers as you want! Want to stack a brick wall on top of a different kind of wall? Go for it! Want to put an object on top of a wall? Sure! Have multiple objects on one spot? Yup. Also, you'll be able to map out monster spawn points, special effects (like that fog that I showed), and much more
• Unified compiled format, so you can *literally* copy-and-paste the file that the editor saves into the client's directory, start it up, and it will start using that map.

This will probably have to wait until the weekend to get more work done on it, but I wanted to show you guys where we're headed. This project is SO CLOSE to being releasable! I want to get the new map editor finished and get animated meshes working. Then, I'm going to purchase a bunch of content, a host, and get this game online!

[Ender]

amazing work Karl.

I need to get back to doing PV stuff again. Work and summer classes have been eating all my time

[Vitriol]

if we can put in monster spawn points im really gonna start mapping some cool dungeons, caves, etc.

[ziggman]

im creating a second town. with a big sword/armor smith place (capeable of selling lightning gear?) i always thought it was pointelss to even have a weapon/armor smith, whats the point of buying iron helms/silver swords? we should make our weapon/armor smiths sell gear that is actually worth buying. this would help alot of people out getting started or if they drop some kind of gear, they can always buy something to replace it from a merchant, it may not be what they lost, but its better than nothing.

not to mention if game merchants sell gear worth buying it will help regulate prices.

sorry i know this post is not subject.

[Vitriol]

im creating a second town. with a big sword/armor smith place (capeable of selling lightning gear?) i always thought it was pointelss to even have a weapon/armor smith, whats the point of buying iron helms/silver swords? we should make our weapon/armor smiths sell gear that is actually worth buying. this would help alot of people out getting started or if they drop some kind of gear, they can always buy something to replace it from a merchant, it may not be what they lost, but its better than nothing.

not to mention if game merchants sell gear worth buying it will help regulate prices.

sorry i know this post is not subject.

That will kill the scarcity of mid/high level weapons.
Weapon/armor merchants are there to provide low level players with basic equipment. They can also help a fallen higher level get back on their feet. A silver sword is better than your fist if you just lost your lightning sword.