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Work in Progress / Terrain Creation Program (Title is a WIP)

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Jrock
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 01:47 Edited at: 13th Sep 2006 05:18
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[UPDATE September 12/06]: I improved the frame rates- average is now about 50 fps, which is pretty good.

[UPDATE August 27/06]: I have made the new heightmaps... I'll post screen shots later. I also have begun fire fighting my code (Removing bugs) and my next main project is the scripting system.

[UPDATE August 26/06]: I am working on some new heightmaps, 10 in fact.
This will make a total of 20 premade heightmaps. I am also working on some new texture(s), which will include a new grass texture and a new rock texture. I have also finshed the camera movement commands! The hotkey system is almost in place as well.

My First W.I.P Post.

I have decided that my project is ready for a W.I.P post. Below is some information and a List of what is completed, soon to come, and what I am thinking about adding.

Title: Terrain Creator (Working Title)
Objective: To simplify the terrain making process by making a noob friendly GUI that allows users to set the textures, lighting effects, detail maps, and heightmaps.

The Key:
= Complete
= Work in Progress
= Thinking about


The List:


Fully Usable Interface
Save a Configuration
Basic Terrain Building based off User Interaction
Camera Movement

Height Map Previewer = 75% Complete, still some bugs with it.
Load a Configuration = 85% Complete, still fine tuning it.
Save a Configuration
Change background = 70% Complete, small bug.
Shaders Effects = 50% Complete, still looking for shaders.
Save/Load Terrain
Hotkeys (Press E and the game exits, press S and the terrain is saved)

Scripting System
Save/Load System for scripts
Different Versions (Lite, Standard, Advanced)

I'll be updating this post every 1 or 2 days, and I will need beta testers eventually.






Added: 8/25/06


Yes yes I know the texture is really crappy and the poly and fps are terrible, but I am working on it. I'll have a new texture ready in half an hour.

Added: 8/25/06


Same Texture, but I fixed the FPS problem.



New Texture, no skyboxes yet, but I'll have those up soon.
I am working on the polygon issue, and you will be able to adjust the terrain size to your liking by version 1.0

And another Screen Shot! I spoil you people


A non-textured terrain... this happens if you don't select a texture! Although it could be useful for a desert or something...


This could be useful for a river... or a valley... or whatever.


A nice example of a hilly/mountain region


Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Sixty Squares
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 02:42
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WOW. Looks AMAZING!

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Jrock
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 02:47
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If that isn't sarcasm (Just Kidding ) then thanks!

Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Ginga
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 02:54
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i have no idea what a height map is (i seem to be behind with the news n stuff) but, it looks promising.
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Jrock
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 02:56
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@Ginga- This program uses Advanced Terrain, and heightmap shows where the terrain should be sunken and where it should be hilly.

Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Steve J
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 03:26
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Any screen shots of the actual produced terrains?

http://www.milkpaton.com/
http://phoenixophelia.com
SteveJ, less, and less Controversial!
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Jrock
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 03:39
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I'll be putting those up tomorrow

Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Duffer
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 09:53
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@Jrock - looking like it could be quite practically useful - will watch this thread.... shaders on terrains in a user friendly design program would be damn fine...

a long time dabbler with DBC and DBPro with no actual talent but lots of enthusiasm...
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Jrock
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 21:28 Edited at: 25th Aug 2006 21:29
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Thanks for your comments everyone! I will be posting the screen shots of the actual terrain in about 20 to 30 minutes.

Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Jrock
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 22:52 Edited at: 25th Aug 2006 23:09
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New Pics of terrain posted at the top of the thread!

Hopefully that should whet your appetite(s) for the day. I may be on later, however, to post some more screenies.

Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Mr Kohlenstoff
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 23:10
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Wow, looks great.
The standard-sentecnes:
-Keep up the good work
-I'll keep an eye on this
... right?
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Jrock
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 23:17
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Haha, yup those "-Keep up the good work
-I'll keep an eye on this"
are standard, but thanks for the first comment!

Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Aaron Miller
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Posted: 25th Aug 2006 23:29
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This is amazing!!! I'll be using this for terrain creation, definately! Keep up the good work.

http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=86045&b=8
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Jrock
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 01:10
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Thank you DB user 2006+! I guess this could help you with your program Game Developer!

To all who want use this program: Would you rather I have a heightmap generator or have it so that you can select from a list of pre-made heightmaps and then get a preview of the heightmap you selected?

Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Steve J
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 01:25
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I would like the latter. I have an excellent height map program. Up to which resolution does this program support for the height map?

http://www.milkpaton.com/
http://phoenixophelia.com
SteveJ, less, and less Controversial!
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Sixty Squares
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 01:27
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How about... both

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Jrock
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 01:29 Edited at: 26th Aug 2006 01:41
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The Max Res for the heightmaps in Lite is 512 X 512

The textures in lite are 512 by 512 as well, but you can load your own textures and heightmaps up to any res you want. (Eventually )

Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Jrock
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 02:22 Edited at: 26th Aug 2006 02:23
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Sorry if this is double posting but...

I am curious to see what features you all want, but here are some I have thought about adding... please give your opinions on them if you think one should be added and one should be not.

1.) A fog system so that you can specify how much fog there is. (With use of a track bar)
2.) Water system with water shaders
3.) The ability to load your own skyboxes (Similar to the Anim8or way of doing it.)
4.) 3D Clouds
5.) Multiple Cameras, the ability to choose a Isometric View or the standard First Person View

Anyway thats the list for now... Time to eat dinner...

Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Steve J
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 03:47
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its Jah-Rock, not Jay-Rock...

http://www.milkpaton.com/
http://phoenixophelia.com
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Uncle Sam
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 05:45 Edited at: 26th Aug 2006 05:46
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It looks like a good start. I was just wondering if, unless this is just for practice, what things will this program have that will make it easier to use and better than Strata Works, a program already written for advanced generation for DB Pro. Like:

1. Will it have more options, such as terrain forming commands like a cliff tool.
2. Texture painting by hand, which allows more unique and higher quality terrains.
3. Random map generations based on preset values, which will provide quick variants to existing maps or new ones.

Your program doesn't necessarily have to be better that Strata Works, I'm just trying to help you get ideas for features that will make people want to choose this program over Strata Works.

(note that Strata Works is free)

Uncle Sam
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Xenocythe
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 06:31
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Good job hijacking his thread and permanantly decreasing traffic!





Nah j/k, but really, its up to him if he wants it better than Strata or not...


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Aaron Miller
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 10:49
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In lite version, does it pull a "Geoscape" and export text printed across the texture, and form the object to the text as well?

http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=86045&b=8
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Diggsey
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 12:24
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This is probably impossible, but it would make me get it straight away! If it could generate a mesh from a heightmap, and any polygons of the same height would be merged into a single polygon to minimize the amount of polygons being drawn.

There are three types of people, those that can count and those that can't.
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Death Swarm
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 14:55
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Looking good, I hope a demo will be out soon

I know what your thinking
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Jrock
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 18:04 Edited at: 27th Aug 2006 18:32
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@DB User 2006+- No! Lite is not cut down in ANY way, except it does not have a Windows XP like interface, and there is no external heightmap drawing program or script editor.

@UncleSam- I knew someone would ask this!

1.) Strata Works was built with Visual Basic, I think.
2.) Strata Works seems to have a few bugs, the .NET kind.

This program is still in development, so there is still a long way to go before it is finished. To answer one of your questions, however, there will most likely be the ability to edit the seperate sections of the terrain. (Hills, Cliffs, Ect.) But that will not be for a while, if ever.

Now, the textures. You can load your own, so if you have a 4000x4000 texture or whatever, you can load it into the program. I might include the ability to edit the seperate sections of the terrain (as said above) but that would not be included with Lite.

A heightmap generator will be included, along with 10 premade heightmaps.

Oh and I think this program is fool-proof, Uncle Sam.

@Death Swarm- I should have a demo ready for Beta 0.5 in about a week and a half, possibly sooner.

@Diggesy- I do not think that would be possible because the heightmaps are so detailed that every polygon is different from the other. I will try to come up with a solution, however, to cut down the polygons.

Hope that answers you questions everyone!

Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Mr Kohlenstoff
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 18:46
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Quote: "@Diggesy- I do not think that would be possible because the heightmaps are so detailed that every polygon is different from the other. I will try to come up with a solution, however, to cut down the polygons."


You just could do it like this: Poligons having (nearly... would be a small quality reduce, but also less polygons) the same gradient become one. Could be hard, but possible.

Also it would be great if you make an own file format, saving the terrain, the texture and the other values (Fog etc.) and then make DBP-Functions for loading (and maybe saving) the terrain-files, by reading all values and create a mesh or a terrain... I think this would make the whole Terrain-management for DBP-users easier.
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Jrock
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Posted: 26th Aug 2006 18:49 Edited at: 26th Aug 2006 18:57
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Yes, that is what I was thinking about doing. I would have it so that if when you went to save the DBT File(Dark Basic Terrain), it would save a text file as well with information about the shaders, fog, and other effects. I might create my own extension, but that would be later, much later.

Update: I have added some more screenshots on the first post.

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Aaron Miller
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Posted: 27th Aug 2006 10:30
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Cool. I like that about demo versions

http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=86045&b=8
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Jrock
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Posted: 27th Aug 2006 22:36 Edited at: 27th Aug 2006 22:36
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Ok, I am working on the GUI right now, its kind of bugged. Also, anyone using a geforce 6200 videocard (Or Equivilant Ati) or below should expect frame rates ranging from 15 to 25. I am working on that particular issue right now.

Check the first post for updates.

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Aaron Miller
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Posted: 28th Aug 2006 11:09
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If your not using BlueGUI, i can let you use my GUI (royalty free). If you are, then i didnt see where you said that at.

I'll just email you the source code, with customized graphics to fit your needs. (If you want, its just an offer)

http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=86045&b=8
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Jrock
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Posted: 29th Aug 2006 00:11 Edited at: 1st Sep 2006 02:39
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Thank you for the offer DB user 2006+, but I am using BlueGUI- it is not the GUI itself but the actions and events.

Jrock is pronouned Jay-Rock
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Aaron Miller
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Posted: 31st Aug 2006 00:57
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Ah, well it looks good. I just asked because some people make GUIs that purposly look like a windows gui.

I hope to see the completion of this project.

http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=86045&b=8
http://z6.invisionfree.com/gamedev/index.php?act=idx
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Jrock
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Posted: 13th Sep 2006 03:37 Edited at: 13th Sep 2006 04:03
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Sorry about not updating this for a while! Anyway, I have fixed the FPS problem so that the average framerate is about 45-50, which is excellent (This was on a Geforce 6800xtreme). I have also been working on the lighting options and I have been collecting and creating shaders for the terrains. Also, I have been considering a isometeric viewpoint, which would help for quick viewing of the terrain.

EDIT: Would you be interested in a wireframe mode?

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Uncle Sam
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Posted: 13th Sep 2006 04:15
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Yes.

Alright, looking forward to it! Nice idea about segments. What would really make this better than Strata would be real-time terrain shaping and painting!

Uncle Sam
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Jrock
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Posted: 13th Sep 2006 04:20 Edited at: 13th Sep 2006 05:22
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Real Time terrain shaping is an idea for a later version (hint hint ) [OffTopic]By the way I added an image to my sig![OffTopic/]

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Jrock
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Posted: 17th Sep 2006 00:00
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Update: I might begin work on a DLL for this program. It would make the process of loading the terrains easier, I think. Also, I've made a few changes to the GUI, plus the ability to load some music up when previewing the terrains so that you don't fall asleep or anything like that. I don't have any screenshots because I'm on a seperate compy right now, so hang tight for about 3-4 hours till I can get on mine.

Cheers

Ok the mods got rid of my sig...
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Aaron Miller
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Posted: 17th Sep 2006 03:33
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cool. keep up the good work

http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=86045&b=8
http://z6.invisionfree.com/gamedev/index.php?act=idx
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Jrock
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2006 00:10
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Update: I am working on the file formats for the terrain. Included file formats will be...

.X (Mesh)
.tst (Terrain Studio Terrain - only loadable terrain)
.dbt (Dark Basic Terrain - Specifically for DBpro)

I might make more... we'll see.

Ok the mods got rid of my sig...
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