Download Test
Yes, you're wondering what's so special about this. When you look at it, you just see some text along with an image floating around. But, when you look closer in the actual directory, you see a script file. This script file is compiled at application runtime and is what is moving that little image around when you press the arrow keys. The script (JScript or VBScript) has complete access to what's available in kEngine and therefore when kEngine grows, the script's power will, in turn, grow as well. I was going to implement C# as a scripting language for it, but that requires the installation of .NET Framework 2.0 which, in my opinion, only developers have, so I'll stay away from it until an official release is made.
With this simple kEngine script example, you have the power to make simple arcade games without an IDE or compiler. Just write in the script and away you go. If kScript has trouble compiling the code, it outputs the compiler errors to a log file (this might change later on).
Near Future Plans- Crazy Eddie's GUI
A renderer for SDL.NET is coming out very soon. It will be used for an in-game console interface and menu systems. - Tile Engine
There's a working tile engine in kEngine right now, but it's horrible to work with and lacks a map editor. Might even use CEGUI for it? - Arcade Game Examples
I'm going to write up scripts for small games like pong just for quick tests of the power of kEngine. They also serve as a huge motivater. - Audio
The audio works, but for some reason SDL_mixer pans the music to the left whenever the music starts. I have to look at that.
Once the tile engine is in there, development on 4E4 project content can begin. EDI and I had quite a large talk about the design of a tile engine. He suggests a serialized data format, but that would require me to make a whole map editor for it. Anyone have any recommendations?
Cibressus sadly decided to leave the project so the CVS system from SourceForge was closed. It's not that suprising considering the scale of this project, it's the largest project I have encountered so far. I started up a new server with subversion installed. SVN is incredibly more powerful (and user-friendly) then CVS. If anyone thinks they have the skill and are looking to join the project, there's always room! Just message me. Especially need someone who's willing to slave over a tile engine and map editor [smile].
Random Interest
Classic Mario Soundtrack
