Coding an MMORPG / MUD - Graphics - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

hrandani · 05-05-2005, 06:58 PM

I am starting to code an MMORPG with a few friends (surprise, we're in college.. shocking I know)

Now the design part was fun while it lasted, but a few weeks later now that we're starting to draw up databases and code the infrastructure we realized that though we have 1337 skills, none of us know how to do graphics from scratch.

So I ask you, my fellow TFP programmers, where is a place to download an open source graphical client type engine? How does one go about this?

We all knew going into this it was extremely complicated and we didn't stand much of a chance of completion, but we figured we'd give it our best shot as we are enthusiasts, so any help would be appreciated.

BTW I tried sourceforge but it seems to me they are extremely complicated to navigate and I didn't find anything off the bat.

Thanks in advance.

05-11-2005, 05:17 AM

Like what? What sort of graphics do you guys want? Top-down block style, or 1st person shooter or, Eve-style galactic vistas - what?

insidious_machinae · 05-15-2005, 10:09 AM

It's likely that most of you guys wanting to write this game know java. Believe it or not, Java is pretty damned powerful, and easily powerful enough to write an online game. I don't know about massively multiplayer: that requires giant servers costing thousands upon thousands of dollars.

But if you are interested in using java, you can either use the Graphics2D library or Java3D: http://java.sun.com/developer/earlyA...d-install.html

I'm actually writing an online tank-battle game that ties into my website. It's been a rough road so far but I'm to the point where a handful of players can connect and blow each other up. I'm not sure how long I'll keep focused on this before I'm on to something else, however.

Robaggio · 05-15-2005, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwlinkvxd

It's likely that most of you guys wanting to write this game know java. Believe it or not, Java is pretty damned powerful, and easily powerful enough to write an online game. I don't know about massively multiplayer: that requires giant servers costing thousands upon thousands of dollars.

But if you are interested in using java, you can either use the Graphics2D library or Java3D: http://java.sun.com/developer/earlyA...d-install.html

I'm actually writing an online tank-battle game that ties into my website. It's been a rough road so far but I'm to the point where a handful of players can connect and blow each other up. I'm not sure how long I'll keep focused on this before I'm on to something else, however.

Java 3D is on the verge of being depreciated. I would suggest using LWJGL (www.lwjgl.org), which is what the majority of the 3D(and 2D) Java community has shifted over to. It's faster and has better structure. Also, it is integrated with OpenAL, FMOD, and DevIL. LWJGL is also ready for commercial games, as there are numerous projects on sale right now that use LWJGL. Also, Java3D and LWJGL are APIs- you're probably looking for an engine. The only open source Java engine that I know of is the Java Monkey Engine (which uses LWJGL). All others are either too small or so horribly written you might as well just start from scratch yourself.

If you're going c++, I'd recommend the Irrichit Engine.

For more resources:

www.gamedev.net (The ultimate game developmet website)
nehe.gamedev.net(OpenGL tutorials)
http://www.javagaming.org/cgi-bin/JGNetForums/YaBB.cgi (Java Game Developers Forum)

hrandani · 05-27-2005, 01:09 AM

Thanks Robaggio, those links were really helpful.

It looks like we're going to go for the Zangband type top-down, with perhaps a shade more polish.

Graphics are really the last thing we plan on doing, but getting something rough into place was becoming more and more necessary.

05-05-2005, 06:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
hrandani Insane	Coding an MMORPG / MUD - Graphics I am starting to code an MMORPG with a few friends (surprise, we're in college.. shocking I know) Now the design part was fun while it lasted, but a few weeks later now that we're starting to draw up databases and code the infrastructure we realized that though we have 1337 skills, none of us know how to do graphics from scratch. So I ask you, my fellow TFP programmers, where is a place to download an open source graphical client type engine? How does one go about this? We all knew going into this it was extremely complicated and we didn't stand much of a chance of completion, but we figured we'd give it our best shot as we are enthusiasts, so any help would be appreciated. BTW I tried sourceforge but it seems to me they are extremely complicated to navigate and I didn't find anything off the bat. Thanks in advance.

05-11-2005, 05:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
zen_tom Guest	Like what? What sort of graphics do you guys want? Top-down block style, or 1st person shooter or, Eve-style galactic vistas - what?

05-15-2005, 10:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
insidious_machinae Psycho	It's likely that most of you guys wanting to write this game know java. Believe it or not, Java is pretty damned powerful, and easily powerful enough to write an online game. I don't know about massively multiplayer: that requires giant servers costing thousands upon thousands of dollars. But if you are interested in using java, you can either use the Graphics2D library or Java3D: http://java.sun.com/developer/earlyA...d-install.html I'm actually writing an online tank-battle game that ties into my website. It's been a rough road so far but I'm to the point where a handful of players can connect and blow each other up. I'm not sure how long I'll keep focused on this before I'm on to something else, however.

05-27-2005, 01:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
hrandani Insane	Thanks Robaggio, those links were really helpful. It looks like we're going to go for the Zangband type top-down, with perhaps a shade more polish. Graphics are really the last thing we plan on doing, but getting something rough into place was becoming more and more necessary.