[WIP] tank move (working title)

update:

finally got the pathfinding the way I like it . I studied some sample codes but most of them had a bloated syntax style I didn´t like so it was kind of hard for me converting it to my style.Anyway:
http://www.renderhjs.net/bbs/flashki...eenshot_02.jpg
just click on the map to move tank1 (no animation yet :p)
- red border cells = z-height +1 (no movement)
- blue border cells = -1 = water (no movement)

http://www.renderhjs.net/bbs/flashki...eenshot_03.jpg
if you hit the "d"- key (1st set focus on flash if you use IE or Opera) it will switch to the debug mode. Holding within the debug mode the mouse will draw on the tiles. Hold down the "space" key to show the tile palette- clicking on 1 of them will let you draw further on with that tile. Release space to continue drawing.

demo:
http://www.renderhjs.net/bbs/flashkit/tank_move/demo5/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ImprisonedPride

When you scroll down below the 3 mark on the y axis, tile 7,5 disappears.

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I couldn´t reproduce that error- if it happens again mind you sending me a screenshot?, thx anyway. I got some depth issues however sometimes- now I think they are gone.

@Xploder: thx :D

great work man! I really like how your game is turning out, and your models are very nice. I guess now you have to create an animation for when the tank drives to the destination you click. Good work!
Let me show you the game I'm working on.
http://board.flashkit.com/board/show...ghlight=looing

Any ways, awesome work, and I look forward to the completion of your game, if you want a copy of mine so far, just reply on my thread or ask for a copy, I would be more then happy to give it to you.

smal update
http://www.renderhjs.net/bbs/flashkit/tank_move/demo5/
now the path is shown with a red arrow marker (the tanks are translucent so you can see the arrow tip for now), also I limited the path finding on certain block amounts as well as max. 600 ms search time - just to make sure some very old computers dont have to suffer. But still the performance is great - and the path finding does it´s work just as I wanted it.

about the gameplay,
are you going to have more then 1 type of tank. you mentioned advanced wars, didnt that have more? for strategic maneuvers! :O

looking awesome so far :thumbsup:

the number of players are for now unlimited - but I will render only 4 different colors of them for now (so propably max. 4 players). 4players seems also a good number for maps that are still not to big appearing. In fact the demo already controls a little bit player 1 the whole time - I just need to switch some variables - and init more tanks at the beginning.

next up for today are the tank animations :p that will be propably fun

update
http://www.renderhjs.net/bbs/flashki...eenshot_04.jpg
- some GUI additions
- pathfinding preview (if not limited)
- little performance tweaks on pathfinding

demo
http://www.renderhjs.net/bbs/flashkit/tank_move/demo6/

Are you aware that in the new demo the tank can be placed anywhere?

Btw your graphical skills are still amazing the tanks look like they could be a xb360 model :p
I'm jealous as always render ;)

Man those tanks have some of the best texture mapping I've ever seen done. I guess when you get out of Uni you'll be able to name your price as an artist in the industry. You have some serious talent my friend.

I'm not a fan of how the camera works, I'd go with the old keeping
mouse close to edges will scroll in that (orthogonal)direction-approach.
I just don't like how the movement varies with map size meaning you won't get
a "feel" for it. I guess that's a matter of taste though.
Also, there's one row of tiles missing at the bottom making "high" tiles
(buildings etc) disappear too early. Just nitpicking, other then that it
looks great!

@tidenburg: yes I am aware,- it´s just easier right now finding leaks- or optimizing the pathfinding- will be fixed next time.
Also I am working atm. on attacking moves- (only horizontal or vertical) - so it will autoamticly recognize if you want or will shoot a building/plant/wall or tank.

@EvilKris: arigatou gozaimasu :D

@Kianis: I wrote already before that I dont want the current camera system- it´s rather temporary as it works very quick for map editing- I dont like it too ;) -it will be propably like you suggested a scrolling one with easing at the end of the border (no sudden stop). Wich should make it better controllable with very huge maps. Perhaps a submap will be included as well.

Higher tiles popping is something I am aware of- I just increase the render window in the next release- you wont see it then anymore.

update:
http://www.renderhjs.net/bbs/flashki...eenshot_05.jpg
I added 4 players on 1 map (the default map) - they switch once you either move or after a click of the destroy icon (red + yellow star).
As mentioned there now appears a destroy icon if you dont move the cursor diagonal and it collides with collision object - same happens if another tank is either in the way or you hover over him.
Other than that if you move to an accessable area it shows the basic star showing the action points (values are not final yet).
http://www.renderhjs.net/bbs/flashkit/tank_move/demo7/

Stars symbolize power or action in my game- so they are essential game elements. I have some things like upgrades/ powerups in mind that will increase or change action costs for attacks or moves. Other than that I´m thinking of lettingt a player build custom walls that can hold certain damage.

tank movement is till not working- though the turrent´s atm. turn to the cursor.

cool, i'd be interested to know how the path finding works on larger maps

might be an idea to limit the scrolling so that the maximum distance the mouse can be from the selected tank is no more than the size of its remaining moves (in tiles)

Yeah, the attack symbol also appears when you place the cursor over the active player.

update
- added movement for now (I guess I need to tweak that + addd skit marks)
- explosions & destroyable terrain (map 3 works to some extend with that new feature) - hit space to drop a bomb on the map - only tiles that have specific settings will change (though I need to create tiles for that as well)
- hand icon (were you a inspiration tideburg? - ) means stop no action here

I am happy with the explosion visuals, I painted some explosion particles that fly around see:
http://www.renderhjs.net/bbs/flashki...osion_part.jpg and they work pretty good imo.
http://www.renderhjs.net/bbs/flashki...eenshot_06.jpgI did alot experiments with blend modes and color transformations- note how the destroyed tile turns white at the beginning (with alpha channel). Perhaps I still need some smoke sprites for a little ending animation.

demo:
http://www.renderhjs.net/bbs/flashkit/tank_move/demo8/

@mr_malee: I´ll limit the distance naturally because of the game mechanics as you only have limited action points for movements & shooting.
Pathfinding is ok,- what rahter seems to be fast is the scrolling

@ tidenburg: not only,- the attack icon also appear if you try to hit a wall behind a player but the player tank is in front of it either horizontal or vertical (not diagonal) - so it gets shot before.

nice, the effect is very fast though. I mean it does work, but i'm feeling like i have to press spacebar too many times to visually see the particles and destruction. I like the shockwave though.

Whenever i think of an explosion, i see a big quick burst of light, followed by fragments floating in the sky. So in saying that, i would like to see those particles fly up in the sky, as if they are apart of the world and interacting with it.

this is a really really crap example of what i mean, but it kinda shows the effect http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTBMo3jNQng

Nice work on the movement animations... though sometimes they seem a bit too fast if there's a lot of turning involved.
Unlike mr_malee I'm not a big fan of that shockwave it looks out of place. I think that a flash, some smoke, fire and debris would be enough. Also a slight inconsistency... which I'm sure you just didn't get around to is that water wouldn't xplode like it does.
After all I'm master of xplosions, I know ;)
Otherwise, again its graphically appealing and runs really fast... almost too fast, animation wise.

[Edit]For explosion sprites try this progam: http://www.geocities.com/starlinesinc/index.html[/Edit]

if you make a wall around and area, and there no way for the tank to move there,then you put your mouse over that area, it will slow done alot.

More on what Xploder said, you could have different tiles hold a majoral color value from the tile itself, and then use that color to seed the color of the explosion; water would seed some (random?) shade(s) of blue, ground would seed brown, ships my side gray, etc. Oh and do you plan on having projectiles fire from the cannons of the tanks?

EDIT: Good call on that renderer, Xploder, but I think he's aware of that one... http://board.flashkit.com/board/showthread.php?t=709276

the space button is for testing purposes only otherwise you can´t attack on water areas- it´s just to let you guys play with the animation.

I myself like the shockwave effect though - looks very japanese game stylish. Perhaps I need to slowdown the chunks - I guess I have to experiment a little more with it.
I already prepared a grow function that will add more cells to the active one- so I already planned for the ability to make even bigger explosions or chain reactions - so that the whole screen gets flashy.
Perhaps some upgrades to the tank will give the option to destroy 5 cells at or even bigger (1 middle 4+around).

@Xploder: will experiment with what the link offers- w´ll see if it improves. But I´ll like rather paint most of it as I dont want to let the game´s look be that of a typical one.

edit:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by icezizim

if you make a wall around and area, and there no way for the tank to move there,then you put your mouse over that area, it will slow done alot.

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to be exactly: 600 miliseconds,- that´s because the pathfiding can´t find a way out and try´s everything - I limited that search however at the moment by setting a maximum time limit. If the perfomance stays good I´ll drop or reduce that limit to an amount that you wont notice it that hard.
On the other hand I try to design the maps later on in a way so that such situation dont happen.

Make the tanks move slower. The speed they move at make the rotation around corners look much to fast.