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Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 15 Apr 2011, 22:38
by knorke
https://github.com/spring-archive/springtutorialgame

For new modders it is hard to find a starting place for their new game.
The idea is to create a spring game with just the very basic stuff.

Popular "base mods" seem to be zeroK and various *a games but those are usually too big, complicated and still have some leftover mistakes. It is also hard to filter what files are mandatory and what files are game specific.

also read http://springrts.com/phpbb/viewtopic.ph ... 60#p481760

----
How should the game look like?

The game from
http://springrts.com/wiki/The_Complete_ ... pring_Game
would be a good start.
But there are some things that could be better.

Units
There needs to be units of various complexity.
Sorted from "simple" to "complex" that might be:

-a building that does nothing but stand around. consists of one piece. does not need a script. for example an energy storage.

-mobile unit without weapon (the aiming/fire script is very confusing for newbs) could demonstrate a simple script like spinning wheels.

-mobile unit with weapon. to show use of weapons and the aiming/fire script.

-a factory.

-a mobile builder.

Bonus:
several more advanced units like that use CEG effects, transporters, mech with walking script etc.

Graphics, Models
Like the models from the "complete guide" game.
Generally as simple as possible so newbs can quickly reproduce everything with Wings3D and MS Paint or similiar noob software. No need to make a graphic or tech demo, other games do that better.

Gameplay
Does not really matter.

What widgets/gadgets?
If any, then only really simple ones.
For example no chili, resource harvesting, jumpsets, morphing,...
There could be something really simple like a kill counter in chat.
For gadget maybe population limit. (a gadget to controll pop limit and a widget to show it on screen)

Technical design
-everything as short&clean as possible
-lots of comments
-no .3do, only .s3o
-no .cob, .tdf,etc, only .lua
-files as
-weapons in seperate file, not in unitdef

HOW?
There needs to be an SVN. google code or something. Who is familiar with that and can set it up?

WHY?
The more new modders, the more advances.

WHO?
uhm like, you?
and me?
Image
oooh yeah.

Fixed repo link (Silentwings).

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 15 Apr 2011, 22:44
by zwzsg
No, U and U only. :|

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 15 Apr 2011, 22:48
by knorke
fu :regret:

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 15 Apr 2011, 22:54
by Wombat
now thats some [CRAZY IDEA] !

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 15 Apr 2011, 22:58
by zwzsg
I'm not saying making this Tutorial Game is a bad idea, I'm saying nothing ever happesn out of let's make community project! The only way to achieve things is to go Grah, Grah, this would be so good, and so easy, urgh, can't understand why has nobody made it yet. Grah, grah, bunch of lazy asses, got to make everything oneself again.

The Great Licho once said that rage and anger at broken things is the main motivation behind all his Spring coding.

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 15 Apr 2011, 23:19
by knorke
if there was an SVN for this tutorialgame, dont you think that people would commit?
even if its only small things, like they look at a unitdef and see it has an outdated tag. Then it would be removed.
And the newbs copy one less junk tag.

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 15 Apr 2011, 23:46
by knorke
a svn appears.
http://code.google.com/p/springtutorialgame/
it is empty.

if you are interessted, tell me your google name and ill paste it into this field that looks like it will give you commit rights.
Test if it worked by writing something at http://code.google.com/p/springtutorial ... ki/Sandbox
(i have no idea how to admin this)

inb4 google sucks.

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 15 Apr 2011, 23:52
by MidKnight
Wooo!
I have faith in this project!

One suggestion: The game should use the latest formats that are mature, so that we don't have newbies writing games with FBI files and BOS code. :-)

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 15 Apr 2011, 23:56
by FLOZi
MidKnight wrote:Wooo!
I have faith in this project!

One suggestion: The game should use the latest formats that are mature, so that we don't have newbies writing games with FBI files and BOS code. :-)
That much was already decided on :wink:

s3o vs. obj might be an interesting one, mind.

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 15 Apr 2011, 23:58
by SanadaUjiosan
I support this endeavor. As someone who, about a year ago, started from zero and clawed my way up to what CT is now (with the help of many many people), I like this idea. Flozi's Absolute Minimum idea was great but it still lacked a lot.

Something snoop and I are very adamant about is examples. People form bases on examples, and expand those bases through discussion.

I will star the google code page and see how it goes for a little while. If there's anything we can contribute from CT, I'd be happy to help.

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 16 Apr 2011, 01:19
by bobthedinosaur
what kind of help do you need?

also: i suggest it uses all formats, not just the latest. and include folders of things that are not necessary but might help like half textured uv maps or 3d models in non upspring /obj format

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 16 Apr 2011, 01:34
by knorke
well, basically the idea is to take the example mods from
http://springrts.com/wiki/The_Complete_ ... pring_Game
and clean them up.
I pm'ed PTSnoop if he is ok with his stuff getting used for that. It would be nice to use the models because there is already his guide on creating them with screenshots etc.

I'll upload some basic game files in a moment.

For now you can write at:
http://code.google.com/p/springtutorialgame/wiki/Units
what units we want (follow the example i did with the hovercar)

Some guidelines need to be decided at
http://code.google.com/p/springtutorial ... Guidelines
ie for scripts, what fileformats etc

Also needs some page about using SVN and wiki (don't write, just find some good links on it and add those links)

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 16 Apr 2011, 02:38
by Wombat
i can help with spiritual support !

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 16 Apr 2011, 04:45
by knorke
i can help with swooshing around in my hovercraft!
Image

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 16 Apr 2011, 09:16
by Guessmyname
I'll help. I kinda need to brush up on my Spring-fu anyway.

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 16 Apr 2011, 09:41
by knorke
cool.
There is no start page yet, for now just read all the pages on wiki:
http://code.google.com/p/springtutorialgame/w/list
and kind of follow the structure/examples to add more to the site or game.

game is here: http://code.google.com/p/springtutorial ... alGame.sdd
If there is something wrong/"not proper" correct or tell.

Atm there are 2 units and one weapon file.

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 16 Apr 2011, 14:40
by PTSnoop
I'll help, in about a month's time once my exams are out of the way.

By all means, go ahead and use my example stuff.

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 27 Apr 2011, 05:55
by knorke
Image
there are now 7 units with "increasing difficulty"
The idea is that each unit only shows one "new thing" (either in unitdef or script) to keep things simple.
So far there is:
-hovercraft that can do nothing but drive around
-hovercraft with a weapon (fired from body)
-hovercraft with CEG effects
-vehicle with spinning wheels and weapon that points in the direction its shooting
-vehicle with weapon that shots from 2 barrels
-mech with walk and "smooth aiming" animation (as example for threads)
-a factory (builds all the above)

I used PTSnoop's mod as base, just cleaned up some stuff and made new models. New models really just because they allow for more variation. That hopefully allows newbs to easily experiment with scripts, unitdefs etc even if they have not yet managed to import their models...

Just noticed there is some error:
[f=0000000] Inconsistent movedata 1 for simplehover (moveclass hover2x2): neither canhover nor floater, but not a ground movetype
(everything works but it gives this message in infolog)
there might be more things like that, that are not 100% spot on...

edit:
download link moved to top of startpost.
easier to avoid outdated links this way.

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 27 Apr 2011, 06:10
by MidKnight
*clapclapclap*
Excellent work. :-)

Re: Let's make a Tutorial Game for new modders

Posted: 27 Apr 2011, 07:01
by knorke
thanks.
but if you write that wait a bit longer so it looks like you actually downloaded and looked at it ;)