diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'pipermail/nel/2000-November/000018.html')
| -rw-r--r-- | pipermail/nel/2000-November/000018.html | 153 |
1 files changed, 153 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/pipermail/nel/2000-November/000018.html b/pipermail/nel/2000-November/000018.html new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5291c9ed --- /dev/null +++ b/pipermail/nel/2000-November/000018.html @@ -0,0 +1,153 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"> +<HTML> + <HEAD> + <TITLE> [Nel] Greetings! And some questions / comments</TITLE> + <LINK REL="Index" HREF="index.html" > + <LINK REL="made" HREF="mailto:sferro%40wojo.com"> + <LINK REL="Previous" HREF="000017.html"> + <LINK REL="Next" HREF="000021.html"> + </HEAD> + <BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> + <H1>[Nel] Greetings! And some questions / comments</H1> + <B>Sal</B> + <A HREF="mailto:sferro%40wojo.com" + TITLE="[Nel] Greetings! And some questions / comments">sferro@wojo.com</A><BR> + <I>Sat, 11 Nov 2000 16:18:21 -0500</I> + <P><UL> + <LI> Previous message: <A HREF="000017.html">[Nel] WorldForge</A></li> + <LI> Next message: <A HREF="000021.html">[Nel] Greetings! And some questions / comments</A></li> + <LI> <B>Messages sorted by:</B> + <a href="date.html#18">[ date ]</a> + <a href="thread.html#18">[ thread ]</a> + <a href="subject.html#18">[ subject ]</a> + <a href="author.html#18">[ author ]</a> + </LI> + </UL> + <HR> +<!--beginarticle--> +<PRE>Hi, + +First a little rant to explain my being here: :-) + + I am also a Worldforge developer, like Bryce. Though not nearly as +famous ;-) I stumbled upon Nevrax the other day and am very interested in +its development. My goal a few years back was to help create a free, +massively multiplayer online RPG system, one that I could enjoy myself and +that others could build from to make their own persistant online worlds. +And a commercial effort such as Nevrax could be a powerful force in helping +to achieve such a goal. + + Most opensource projects that start up have caught my eye, the first +being the Ultima online emulator scene which I was a part of for a long +time, coding admin tools, NPC ai, network code, etc. Whatever seemed the +most challenging task. I got soon fed up with having to deal with the idea +that all the hard work might not even turn out to be legal, and all the +problems that OSI provided for the emu scene I didnt care for. So I then +came across Worldforge, and that is where I am. Finally a totally free +opensource project that met, if not exceeded my own standards for an online +gaming system. + + So I took on the responsibility of developer XClient, a 3d client. The +root of its homepage is here, if anyone's interested: +<A HREF="http://www.worldforge.org/website/clients/xclient/">http://www.worldforge.org/website/clients/xclient/</A> + + Some shots of its recent developments (a terrain engine) are here: +<A HREF="http://www.worldforge.org/images/screenshots/terrain1.jpg">http://www.worldforge.org/images/screenshots/terrain1.jpg</A> +<A HREF="http://www.worldforge.org/images/screenshots/terrain2.jpg">http://www.worldforge.org/images/screenshots/terrain2.jpg</A> + (Its very early in development) + + Some old out of date client shots: +<A HREF="http://www.worldforge.org/website/clients/xclient/screenshots/">http://www.worldforge.org/website/clients/xclient/screenshots/</A> + + And lastly, a goals paper that I've recently written to illustrate what +the goals are in XClient development. This one I recommend reading above +the others. +<A HREF="http://www.worldforge.org/website/clients/xclient/developer/goals">http://www.worldforge.org/website/clients/xclient/developer/goals</A> + + I've also created a Map editor (XEdit) a UDP networking library based +off of the GPLd quake code (XUDP) and a simple test server (XServer). All +of this and XClient are in Worldforge cvs for those interested. If there +are questions about any of these things, please ask! + + Anyhow, yes there is a point to all this. It seems that a lot of +Worldforge's goals and development are in tandem with Nevrax's. So, I +thought it would be worth it to see 1) how compatible our projects are and +2) if we might be able to help each other out in any form, whether it be +artwork, code, or knowledge. 3) how much interest, if any, there is in +sharing efforts. + + So if I could ask a few questions. I tried finding out some information +through the website, but some questions remain: + +1) I understand that Nel will be a library to create games, but is this +project also developing a specific game that uses the library? If so what +details of it are known? As far as ruleset... gameplay... + +2) What is the development strategy? For example Worldforge will be +developing several smaller diverse games in succession (Acorn, Mason... etc. +etc.) until we reach the final goal, entitled 'BelchFire'. Will you guys be +doing a similar thing? + +3) What features/goals are there for the 3d engine? What's being targeted +(high end/low end hardware)? What rendering APIs? Software mode? + +4) I get this question a lot :-) Why develop a 3d engine from scratch? Why +not use/build from an existing engine, such as Crystal Space? + +5) What are the capabilities of the current codebase? + +6) Is development open to outside influence? Or are you following an +internal-only plan, and just opensourcing the results? + +7) Was there knowledge of Worldforge when this project was started? And if +so, why was it deemed necessary to start another, independant effort with +the same goals? + +8) Would it be possible to get a brief description of what Nevrax will use +in the following areas: + - Protocol (UDP? TCP/IP?) + - Mapfile format (Custom? XML? Binary? Database-Driven?) + - Mapfile editors (What existing tools will be used, if +any?) + - Model format(s) + - Texture format(s) + +9) How the heck do you guys manage to pay a full development team off of +free software? :-) + + + Thats about all I have for now. I'm sure more will come up in the +future. You might want to put a few of those in the FAQ, I've noticed its +in need of some fulfilling... and other people may have similair questions. + + Anyhow, thanks in advance, and Congratulations and Good Luck in your +efforts. Its a challenging and rewarding goal that we are working towards. +I look forward to exchanging thoughts and ideas in the near future! + +- Sal +<A HREF="mailto:sferro@wojo.com">sferro@wojo.com</A> + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<!--endarticle--> + <HR> + <P><UL> + <!--threads--> + <LI> Previous message: <A HREF="000017.html">[Nel] WorldForge</A></li> + <LI> Next message: <A HREF="000021.html">[Nel] Greetings! And some questions / comments</A></li> + <LI> <B>Messages sorted by:</B> + <a href="date.html#18">[ date ]</a> + <a href="thread.html#18">[ thread ]</a> + <a href="subject.html#18">[ subject ]</a> + <a href="author.html#18">[ author ]</a> + </LI> + </UL> +</body></html> |