Game Expansion

[Punboy]

I think i'm going to make the system expandable by making a plugin system. There can be plugins that can expand gameplay, add units, buildings, technologies... add options (like being able to play MP3's during the game), voice chat... etc...

What do you guys think?

[xfir]

Sounds like Total Annihilation.. just not so direct.

[Kramy]

What language will the plugins have to be made in? Or will they be dlls?(Then they could be made in any language, and just have an editable ini that the the game sifts through, and calls of the functions(items) in dlls(groups) listed in there?)

OT: Xfir's sig has my IP in it. Never seen such a big IP sig before.

[Punboy]

They can be in any language that can accessed from Python. In Windows, I believe I can access any module supported by .NET with the proper package, and in Linux/MacOS X its C/C++. As well as python, of course.

The python route, IMHO, would be easiest to develop with. Especially with a well laid-out template and tutorials people can learn with.

[Kramy]

You're probably right about that, for cross-platform compatability. Jamascript is the easiest language out there though....Sucks that it's 3D engine is so lacking.

Hey, I got an idea! Tell me to make a routine in Jamascript, and we can compare it to python!
 

[Punboy]

Hmm, ok, write a routine in Jamascript that does.... erm...


I dunno, write something I'll redo it in python.

And this is getting *ghasp* off topic! :-p *starts new Program Lange Debate topic*

[Kramy]

Ahh, I don't know what to code. Jamascript is best for more complex things.

myWindow = New Window(640,480);

While(1)
{
ShiftPressed = Keyboard.IsKeyDown(Keyboard.SHIFT);

If(ShiftPressed) myWindow.WriteLn("Shift is pressed");
Program.Wait(50);
}

[Punboy]

import pygame, sleep
while 1:
   e = pygame.pygame.event.get(KEYDOWN)
   if e is pygame.constant.K_RSHIFT or pygame.constant.K_LSHIFT:
      sleep(50)  
 
 

[Kramy]

Does that open a window?

While(1) If(Keyboard.IsKeyDown(Keyboard.SHIFT)) Program.Wait(50);

Or...

While(1) If(Keyboard.IsKeyDown(Keyboard.SHIFT)) Wait(50);

 

[Punboy]

To open a window in mine, do:
display.set_mode((xres,yres))

where xres and yres are the dimensions you want

[Kramy]

Ahh, how interesting. In Jamascript display refers to the display(monitor)

Display.SetDisplayInterface(Display.DIRECT3D);
Display.SetDisplayInterface(Display.OPENGL);
Display.SetDisplayInterface(Display.SOFTWARE);
Display.SetDisplayInterface(Display.SOFTWARE_DIRECTDRAW);

I think what makes jamascript easier to understand for newbies is the lack of any abbreviations that are so common in C++.

[Punboy]

lol

[PlayingOutpost0-24]

Kramy: (IP) xfir's IP is my IP too

I think that "New Unit Plugins" are good idea... (I think you should make this game as editable as GTA)