23rd May 2002

In the last update I spoke about a new texture library class that I'm working on but my plans have changed a little since then.

Originally the idea was to create a texture library and then a resource library. The resource library would store all of the resources for the program using the engine. I realized that these two classes would effectively be duplicating each other so I decided to merge them.
The resource system at the moment only handles textures but I've made it fairly easy to extend using resource type IDs.

  • Matt

    •   3rd May 2002

    Since the last update I've nearly completed the particle system. It's now possible to load and save particle system settings.
    I'm now working on a new texture library class because I hated the old one. The new one will store all of the textures in one big file (called a book).

    On a totally different subject...
    Check out this site (http://www.artofgregmartin.com) if you want some very cool space pictures. They work great as desktop backgrounds.

  • Matt

    •   3rd April 2002

    More work has been done on the particle system these past few weeks. It's now almost complete with a few remaining bugs and features to add.
    I've also created a new Particle System editor built using the Orion Engine and there is a chance that I'll release it when I'm done.

    More info when I've finished it.

  • Matt

    •   13th March 2002

    I've done quite a bit of work on the engine since the beginning of January and it has gone through quite a few changes.
    Helping me with the engine is another VB DirectX programmer, Laurens Leemans. His webpage can be found here. (OverSoft Software Homepage (http://www.oversoft.tk))

    There are more details on the diary page but here are a few screen shots. (Click them for a larger view)


    This is a picture of the mesh editor for the engine.
    The mesh editor is used to convert mesh files to our own OSM format and edit the textures.


    In this picture I've hacked the mesh editor to show a very early screen shot of my second generation particle system.
    It's very similar to my old particle system but this one is may more times quicker and supports multiple frames. (The old system only had a start and end frame).

  • Matt

    •   4th January 2002

    Hmm... so I'll have a playable demo of DX PacMan out by the week end will I?
    Did I say that? I did? Umm... Oppss Sorry.

    Anyway... a lot has been happening since my last update.
    The pacman tile editor that I told you about below has changed beyond all recgnition. Now it's part of a 3d object editor that used Microsoft DirectX .X files as the basis of creating 3d animated objects. It's still not quite finished but I'm still working on it.

    I've also created a Particle System based upon the source to a C++ program called Particle Chamber written by Richard Benson. Thanks to him for supplying the source.
    Some pictures of the partical system appeard on Flipcode's IOTD. That IOTD can be found here.
    There's no source to the Particle System yet because I'm busy integrating it into my new project, but as soon as I've done that, I'll releace the source and EXE.

    Speaking of my new project... I'm working on something very special code-named "The Orion Engine". It's going to be a totaly modular game engine developed in VB using DirectX as the rendering core.
    Because it's totaly modular it means I can keep things simple to start with and build up the complexity over time. Once I've got the basics in, it should allow me to create small demo programs fairly quickly as well.
    Being modular it also means that anyone with working knoledge of VB and DirectX can create plug-ins and mods for the engine.

    I've added a diary page to the website where I'll post the current progess of the Engine as well as small snipets of things that I've learnt writing it.

  • Matt

    •   19th March 2001

    Finaly, another update.
    Since this is a new site, I though it only right to start it off with a new game.
    This time it's a 3D version of that classic PacMan.

    Works going well at the moment, I've just about finished the Tile Editor (pic below) and I've started work on the map editor. With any luck I should have a playable version out by the weekend.

    Fred - You still want to help?

  • Matt
    •   21st January 2001

    Welcome to the totally new "Matt Labbs". So new in fact that we're no longer called "Matt Labbs". As you probably guessed from the title pic' up there, we are now called "Orinoco Software".

    I've also been joined by my friend who goes by the name of Fred. (or Bored@work if you meet him on ICQ.) Anyway, more updates later. See Ya.

  • Matt