What did I just do?
Feb 4th
Well, I’m not entirely sure why, but for some reason I seem to have thought that it would be an okay idea to buy a Mac. What is wrong with me, I honestly don’t know, but I can say that it’s a pretty solid system. And I like the fact that the iMac only has a single cable – the power cable – while everything else (system, monitor, etc) is either built-in or (in the case of the keyboard & mouse) running through Bluetooth.
At least now I can start working on the native builds of my Mac-based projects (Waxy’s Sushi Party among them).
C++/D3D Pong Tutorial 01: Setting up the Project
Jan 24th
Alright, the time has come for me to start up my tutorials again. Suppose I’ll start off with creating a Pong clone using C++ and Direct3D 9 (the game will be in two dimensions, though, for this product. Perhaps a 3D Pong tutorial can come later.)
Welcome to the D3D Pong Tutorial Series
Throughout this tutorial series, we will be developing a two-dimensional Pong clone using C++ and Direct3D 9. The tutorial assumes basic knowledge of the C++ language, as well as basic familiarity with namespaces, pointers, and the Microsoft Visual Studio IDE.
System Requirements
This tutorial series assumes that the following are true:
1) You have the DirectX SDK installed and configured on your system.
2) You know how to configure your IDE to use the header files and libraries included within the DirectX SDK
3) You know how to set up a new Win32 project (vice the use of a console project) in your IDE
4) You know how to add static libraries to a project within your IDE
Tutorial Description
This tutorial covers the first part of the D3D Pong project. We will create a Windows Application project, add the appropriate libraries, and will create the game/application window. In the next tutorial, we will cover setting up Direct3D, and will lay out the framework for the game engine.
An Update
Jan 23rd
So, I know nobody reads my blog, but whatever. Yeah, I’m posting in defiance. Take that, everybody who doesn’t read this! That will show you. Yeah.
Anyway, a lot of drama going on with the management of Simple Machines Forums, which is a shame because it’s such a great piece of software. You can read about it here. I won’t be surprised when things just go to hell and the people who want to stick with SMF’s original values end up creating a new branch of SMF that does follow their visions. But I guess this is a good enough reason to start looking at other bulletin board systems. Seems to be a lot of this type of drama going on in the internet world these days – once-strong communities that lose favor of their long-standing members and being taken over by a single entity that was once thought to be a valuable member of the community. Here’s looking at you, ZFGC – you know who I’m talking about.
Still have a lot to do recently, between picking up the work on SevenIRC (which hasn’t progressed at all since the last post, to be honest), upping the work on PkGame (I’ve been doing a lot of design work here), and now the port for Waxy’s Sushi Party. Anybody who wants to see the game can go here and check it out. I’m currently building the Mac OS X port for the game, and doing some prototyping and working with HiVE to come up with design considerations for the XBOX 360 port (planned to be published through XBOX Live! Indie Games, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re interested). Unfortunately, I only have a Windows computer, so anybody with a Mac computer that is willing to do some beta testing at a later date, don’t hesitate to get hold of me. The engine I’m using (Torque Game Builder) for the Mac prot is cross-platform, so there may (pending discussions with HiVE) possibly be a new Windows build, as well.
Still doing some planning for several game development tutorials, hopefully I’ll get around to starting them soon. Played the demo for Brutal Legend, and I’m sold. I’m buying it next weekend, after I get paid, along with Mass Effect 2 PC.
SevenIRC
Dec 31st
I’m bored. With everything. So, to occupy my time that isn’t already spent watching Big Bang Theory, working on the Zombie Apocalypse prototype, or playing Dragon Age, I’ve decided to revisit my desire to build an IRC client. And thus is born (again) SevenIRC, which is currently going through initial concept phases.
SevenIRC is going to be a free IRC client, built using .NET Framework 4 (currently beta) and Windows Presentation Foundation. It will have the same feature set expected of any IRC client, such as scripting, contact lists, “favorite” channel lists, secured connections through SSL, SOCKS proxy support, moderation helpers, and will tie in closely to the Windows 7 API, providing access to JumpLists allowing for quick-connecting to your favorite IRC servers.
Toward the beginning, my focus is going to be on getting the UI running and to a point where it feels comfortable to use and chat with. During this time, I am going to be using an open-source IRC library, but when I have the UI at a point where I’m comfortable that it will stand the wrath of IRC trolls and veterans alike, I intend to build a custom library, both for the sake of making sure I have something to do and so that I can ensure that the client runs at its best.
Well, I haven’t had more than three hours of sleep, so I’m going to cut it short right there because I have absolutely no idea what else to say. But I will leave you with this concept of the Main Window/Start Page GUI:
Oh, and the SevenIRC name is only temporary. It’ll probably be changing down the line – I’m not creative enough to be assed to make something else right now.
All Set
Dec 29th
Alright, so, got WordPress set up (again), got my GeSHi and OpenID plugins installed, got things set up to try to block spammy comments, and, most importantly, I found a pretty interesting theme for the blog. Now I just need to work on the TorqueScript language file for the GeSHi plugin (CodeColorer, specifically) and make sure my Gravatar is working properly, and everything should be green for me to start writing up some development tutorials.
