Jump to content

Archive:CisLunarFreighter: Difference between revisions

From IdeaWazaWiki
wikademia>Remi
wikademia>Remi
mNo edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
This page is to collect and organize information regarding the Wikiveristy learning project <b>CisLunarFreighter</b>.
CisLunarFreighter is a game being produced by participants at Wikiversity to get direct hands on experience with developing computer games. It used open source tools to the extent possible but is not restricted to them. Participants using licensed materials, tools and proprietary file formats bring a great deal to the experience as this guarantees all the normal headaches encountered in commercial productions with translation and licensing problems.


==Background==
This page is to collect and organize information regarding the Wikiversity learning project '''CisLunarFreighter'''.


CisLunarFreighter is a game being produced by participants at Wikiversity to get direct hands on experience with developing computer games.  It used open source tools to the extent possible but is not restricted to them.  Participants using licensed materials, tools and proprietary file formats bring a great deal to the experience as this guarantees all the normal headaches encountered in commercial productions with translation and licencing problems.
Project pages are easily tagged by placing a category link, [[Category:cisLunarFreighter]], at the bottom of the page. This makes a list of project pages easily accessible at the bottom of each tagged page. Please help by tagging new pages with the cisLunarFreighter category as explained at http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Help:Category and http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Intermediate_Wikiversity.
 
Project pages are easily tagged by placing a category link, [[Category:cisLunarFreighter]], at the bottom of the page. This makes a list of project pages easily accessible at the bottom of each tagged page. Please help by tagging new pages with the cisLunarFreighter category as explained at http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Help:Category and http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Intermediate_Wikiversity.


[[Image:CisLunarFreighter_opening_menu_draft1.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Expanding thumbnail screenshot]]
[[Image:CisLunarFreighter_opening_menu_draft1.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Expanding thumbnail screenshot]]
Line 14: Line 12:


==Goals==
==Goals==
The primary goal is for the participants to have fun performing production tasks and learn.   If the schedule and uniformity of the project suffers a bit this also is educational for the participants.
The primary goal is for the participants to have fun performing production tasks and learn. If the schedule and uniformity of the project suffers a bit this also is educational for the participants.
* Java based MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) or multiple player interactivity
* Java based MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) or multiple player interactivity
* Java based client/server applets for cisLunarFreight as well as a standalone application.
* Java based client/server applets for cisLunarFreight as well as a standalone application.
* An interface to other games with compatible communication format, setup and/or MUD co residency.
* An interface to other games with compatible communication format, setup and/or MUD co residency.
Line 26: Line 24:
In work in small pieces around Wikiversity learning trails.  Perhaps a couple of entrepreneurs or other project leader types will tackle a draft schedule or work breakdown structure soon.
In work in small pieces around Wikiversity learning trails.  Perhaps a couple of entrepreneurs or other project leader types will tackle a draft schedule or work breakdown structure soon.


===Software Development Plan===
===Software development plan===
We plan to use free open source tools to the greatest extent possible to produce data and software that is free redistributable and fully modifiable by anyone who wishes to do so.  A former game producer has quite a bit of existing proprietary graphics models which we have now confirmed may be at least partially translated into open source blender files.  It remains to be seen the accuracy and usefulness of the translation process.  At this time we intend to develop in java with a deployment plan built around an adequate performance MUD server (even if must use different language) and java clients and game servers.  Obviously this plan needs a great deal of research, thinking and augmentation before it can be considered a useable draft.
We plan to use free open source tools to the greatest extent possible to produce data and software that is free redistributable and fully modifiable by anyone who wishes to do so.  A former game producer has quite a bit of existing proprietary graphics models which we have now confirmed may be at least partially translated into open source blender files.  It remains to be seen the accuracy and usefulness of the translation process.  At this time we intend to develop in java with a deployment plan built around an adequate performance MUD server (even if must use different language) and java clients and game servers.  Obviously this plan needs a great deal of research, thinking and augmentation before it can be considered a useable draft.


Line 58: Line 56:
===Gameplay requirements===
===Gameplay requirements===
An overview of major requirements:   
An overview of major requirements:   
# Entertaining - the game should be fun.
# Entertaining - the game should be fun.
# Social - Interaction with other people via  
# Social - Interaction with other people via  
Line 70: Line 67:
## Use of open source tools for modification and extensibility
## Use of open source tools for modification and extensibility
## Software design and coding techniques
## Software design and coding techniques
: See also: [[CisLunarFreighter Detailed Requirements Analysis]]
: See also: [[CisLunarFreighter Detailed Requirements Analysis]]


===Scripts for Splashscreen and Phase Transitions===
===Scripts for splashscreen and phase transitions===
In progress, please join in somewhere along the learning trails.  Add links to your stories and scripts below to solicit review from dropins or regulars.  Stories and scripts may be in industry standard format or informal.  Either place them in wikimedia files or pdfs published through the wikimedia server:
In progress, please join in somewhere along the learning trails.  Add links to your stories and scripts below to solicit review from dropins or regulars.  Stories and scripts may be in industry standard format or informal.  Either place them in wikimedia files or pdfs published through the Wikimedia server:
* ...
* ...


===Storyboards for Case Studies or Play Scenarios===
===Storyboards for case studies or play scenarios===
Please provide on Wikiversity or in PDFs or open source Word processor format.
Please provide on Wikiversity or in PDFs or open source Word processor format.
* [[/Implementation stories for extreme programming]]
* [[/Implementation stories for extreme programming/]]
* Draft [[CisLunarFreighter UML Case Diagrams]]
* Draft [[CisLunarFreighter UML Case Diagrams]]
* ...
* ...
Line 108: Line 106:


==Specifications==
==Specifications==
===Game Application Requirements===
===Game Application Requirements===
What should the user experience be like?
What should the user experience be like?


An overview of the game's major requirements:   
An overview of the game's major requirements:   
*Entertainment -- should be fun.<br>
* Entertainment -- should be fun.<br>
*Social -- Interaction with other people via  
* Social -- Interaction with other people via  
** Chat -- most mud environments allow this
** Chat -- most mud environments allow this
** Email --  useful or not?
** Email --  useful or not?
** Game consequences -- makes the game more interesting
** Game consequences -- makes the game more interesting
*Educational - Exposure to some science, engineering, and operations concepts  
* Educational - Exposure to some science, engineering, and operations concepts  
**  Math practice
**  Math practice
**  Reading around the web
**  Reading around the web
**  Use of open source tools for modding
**  Use of open source tools for modding
**  Software design and coding techniques
**  Software design and coding techniques
: See also: [[CisLunarFreighter Detailed Requirements Analysis]]
: See also: [[CisLunarFreighter Detailed Requirements Analysis]]


===Hardware requirements===
===Hardware requirements===
The game client and server should run on any adequate performance desktop. It is not intended as a primary focus to meet the needs of the emerging handheld computing and communications markets.


===Free Materials Distribution===  
The game client and server should run on any adequate performance desktop. It is not intended as a primary focus to meet the needs of the emerging hand-held computing and communications markets.
 
===Free materials distribution===  
Has begun on an adhoc basis. Longterm we intend to setup a SourceForge project to backup and distribute at least the stable releases of the open source materials on demand 24/7.
Has begun on an adhoc basis. Longterm we intend to setup a SourceForge project to backup and distribute at least the stable releases of the open source materials on demand 24/7.


Line 138: Line 140:
We might get some help from other Wikiversity participants at [Topic:Software_testing/laboratory_course#other_collaborations|other Wikiversity course participant's pages].
We might get some help from other Wikiversity participants at [Topic:Software_testing/laboratory_course#other_collaborations|other Wikiversity course participant's pages].


==Active Participants==
==Active participants==
Participants willing to coordinate, consult and/or kibitz reqarding questions:
Participants willing to coordinate, consult and/or kibitz reqarding questions:
* [[User:Mirwin|Mirwin]] 05:07, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
* [[User:Mirwin|Mirwin]] 05:07, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
Line 147: Line 149:
* [http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/ ORBITER]
* [http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/ ORBITER]
* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/planets3d/ Planets 3D] - OpenGL Solar system sim
* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/planets3d/ Planets 3D] - OpenGL Solar system sim
===Creative materials===
===Creative materials===
In this project we wish to use materials free as in beer as well as licensing so we have simple distribution to anyone who wishes to download from Sourceforge or receive source or executable from other sources.
In this project we wish to use materials free as in beer as well as licensing so we have simple distribution to anyone who wishes to download from Sourceforge or receive source or executable from other sources.
Line 153: Line 156:
* [http://brendonmurphy1.googlepages.com/ Free sets of textures and materials for Blender 3D.]
* [http://brendonmurphy1.googlepages.com/ Free sets of textures and materials for Blender 3D.]


=== Applicable Tutorials ===
=== Applicable tutorials ===
The following online tutorials demonstrate useful game programming techniques.
The following online tutorials demonstrate useful game programming techniques.
* [http://www.planetalia.com/cursos/ Writing a Space Invaders game in Java]
* [http://www.planetalia.com/cursos/ Writing a Space Invaders game in Java]


[[Category:Game design]]
[[Category:Learning projects]]
[[Category:Game Design]]
[[Category:Game Design]]
[[Category:Learning projects]]

Revision as of 22:51, 12 October 2007

CisLunarFreighter is a game being produced by participants at Wikiversity to get direct hands on experience with developing computer games. It used open source tools to the extent possible but is not restricted to them. Participants using licensed materials, tools and proprietary file formats bring a great deal to the experience as this guarantees all the normal headaches encountered in commercial productions with translation and licensing problems.

This page is to collect and organize information regarding the Wikiversity learning project CisLunarFreighter.

Project pages are easily tagged by placing a category link, , at the bottom of the page. This makes a list of project pages easily accessible at the bottom of each tagged page. Please help by tagging new pages with the cisLunarFreighter category as explained at http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Help:Category and http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Intermediate_Wikiversity.

File:CisLunarFreighter opening menu draft1.jpg
Expanding thumbnail screenshot

More imagery available for cut and paste storyboarding or code prototyping.

UFO Image

Goals

The primary goal is for the participants to have fun performing production tasks and learn. If the schedule and uniformity of the project suffers a bit this also is educational for the participants.

  • Java based MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) or multiple player interactivity
  • Java based client/server applets for cisLunarFreight as well as a standalone application.
  • An interface to other games with compatible communication format, setup and/or MUD co residency.

Learning trails producing materials and/or participants:

Project plan

In work in small pieces around Wikiversity learning trails. Perhaps a couple of entrepreneurs or other project leader types will tackle a draft schedule or work breakdown structure soon.

Software development plan

We plan to use free open source tools to the greatest extent possible to produce data and software that is free redistributable and fully modifiable by anyone who wishes to do so. A former game producer has quite a bit of existing proprietary graphics models which we have now confirmed may be at least partially translated into open source blender files. It remains to be seen the accuracy and usefulness of the translation process. At this time we intend to develop in java with a deployment plan built around an adequate performance MUD server (even if must use different language) and java clients and game servers. Obviously this plan needs a great deal of research, thinking and augmentation before it can be considered a useable draft.

Open Source Tools for Possible Use in cisLunarFreighter

Potential Java Pieces Needing Evaluation

Editor's note: Move this section to an introduction to initial evaluation and results they grow. Mirwin 20:00, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

We may be able to use these as components or examples to learn applicable technique in Java environment:

  • gazelle - Fundamentally an animation tool. Plays .avi and .mov animation files under JMF (Java Media Framework libary from SUN) Also, of possible interest to graphics artists or perhaps even programming with SVG. Will it work with older .avi and .mov file???? A lot of older graphics laying around if we can convince people to free them once they are finished with traditional commercial life cycle.
Download links are broke, could be vaporware.
  • xine - GPL'ed media player
  • mPlayer - This seems like overkill for a small project but if we could add borders consistent with a view screen and our GUI appearance (providing appropriate credits in our credits file obviously) could we use this to keep our coding requirements down? Trading bulk for development effort ... or is there a good player in a Sun Library somewhere we can just call? Can we find out from reading mplayers code?
  • jslibs - "General-purpose native libraries for SpiderMonkey, Mozilla's JavaScript engine."
  • Ajax3d - 3D engine for Javascript, using <canvas> tags for output.

Tasks

Let's brainstorm tasks:

  • Create and finalize preliminary specifications
  • Create concept art based on specifications (or use concept art to help guide specifications)
  • Decide what sort of subsystems are to be used...
  • Based on the subsystems (game engine, etc) start creating the art
  • Maybe start a connected project on Sourceforge or Freshmeat to have SVN support

Game Design

Preliminaries are In progress, please join in somewhere.

What do we and the users want from the game?

Gameplay requirements

An overview of major requirements:

  1. Entertaining - the game should be fun.
  2. Social - Interaction with other people via
    1. Chat - most mud environments allow this
    2. Email - useful or not?
    3. Game consequences - makes the game more interesting
  3. Educational - Players should learning something
    1. Expose users to some science, engineering, and operations concepts
    2. Math practice
    3. Reading around the web
    4. Use of open source tools for modification and extensibility
    5. Software design and coding techniques
See also: CisLunarFreighter Detailed Requirements Analysis

Scripts for splashscreen and phase transitions

In progress, please join in somewhere along the learning trails. Add links to your stories and scripts below to solicit review from dropins or regulars. Stories and scripts may be in industry standard format or informal. Either place them in wikimedia files or pdfs published through the Wikimedia server:

  • ...

Storyboards for case studies or play scenarios

Please provide on Wikiversity or in PDFs or open source Word processor format.

Brainstorming

In progress, please join in somewhere.

Pages connected with the project

Terran, Lunar, Asteroid, or Saturn Pirate Base
Mini Map Radar Overview, Cockpit Menu, Headsup Communicator

Specifications

Game Application Requirements

What should the user experience be like?

An overview of the game's major requirements:

  • Entertainment -- should be fun.
  • Social -- Interaction with other people via
    • Chat -- most mud environments allow this
    • Email -- useful or not?
    • Game consequences -- makes the game more interesting
  • Educational - Exposure to some science, engineering, and operations concepts
    • Math practice
    • Reading around the web
    • Use of open source tools for modding
    • Software design and coding techniques
See also: CisLunarFreighter Detailed Requirements Analysis

Hardware requirements

The game client and server should run on any adequate performance desktop. It is not intended as a primary focus to meet the needs of the emerging hand-held computing and communications markets.

Free materials distribution

Has begun on an adhoc basis. Longterm we intend to setup a SourceForge project to backup and distribute at least the stable releases of the open source materials on demand 24/7.

Configuration management

This needs some study and work defining useful methods. Many of our learners and participants have little or no experience with automated configuration management and tracking tools such as subversion, Ant or others.

Testing

This will have to be done by the developers until we get enough of a game up and running to attract alpha and beta player/testers.

We might get some help from other Wikiversity participants at [Topic:Software_testing/laboratory_course#other_collaborations|other Wikiversity course participant's pages].

Active participants

Participants willing to coordinate, consult and/or kibitz reqarding questions:

  • Mirwin 05:07, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
  • ...
  • ...

Creative materials

In this project we wish to use materials free as in beer as well as licensing so we have simple distribution to anyone who wishes to download from Sourceforge or receive source or executable from other sources.

Applicable tutorials

The following online tutorials demonstrate useful game programming techniques.