I keep thinking GameMonkey might be the way to go, despite the lack of object oriented-ness. Now that I''ve finally got MSVC7 installed and working, I''m gonna check it out.

CINT sounds a bit over the top.. while I''m interested in C-like syntax, actually using C/C++ for scripting seems like overkill. Its an interesting option though, I appreciate you pointing it out.

quote:Original post by vajuras
The whole point of script is that it allows designers to rapidly prototype concepts. The only time you should need to compile to bytecode/binary is when the final product is ready to released. Don''t make your designers compile to byte code- that''s just bad business.

Therefore, I contend that there is no need for a script language that has C syntax. Scripts are for non-programmers and Level Designers, period. The only time you need C like syntax is for big games that want to expose the power of their engine to modders (like Unreal, Half Life, etc).

Take a look at games like Warcraft 3, Far Cry, etc. They are using script for the right things.

I think you''re completely overlooking online games in that statement. OGs are a whole different ballgame. They are extended by the development team regularly after release, and they are seldom extended by non-staff.

Besides being streamlined, it seems to me the primary syntactical requirement of a scripting language is that the language must be natural and comfortable to the scripters -- who in my case, as I stated previously, are people that are more used to C-like languages. When it actually takes effort to remember NOT to include a semicolon or curly brace, its time to consider that just maybe C-like syntax is the way to go.

What I''m actually trying to do is develop a very simple (but expandable) online game framework. For now I''m only implementing a scripting engine and a winsock wrapper, such that the scripting language has more or less direct access to the networking component. I need a scripting language which is easy for me to work with first and foremost, and which will be easy to adapt to as I include the other individuals I mentioned.

quote:Original post by Thrump
I''ve never tried it, but you might want to look into "C Scripting Language (CSL)".

http://download.com.com/3000-2069-8584171.html

For more pages of similar ilk, google for ''c scripting language''.

About:
C Scripting Language (CSL) is an embeddable scripting language with C syntax. A comprehensive set of libraries is included in the base package, and writing your own libraries is possible with an easy API for C programs, as well as a class interface for C++ programs. If you are looking for a compact and powerful scripting engine for your application, CSL might be the choice.

Checking it out. Thanks for the suggestion.

irbrian, I have a suggestion (again).
I think it would be better to keep the networking details hidden from the script writer. I think UnrealScript had a good design plan when they kept all the networking details under the covers and in the C++ code. Any scripers who write game logic, and scripted events need not even worry with the complexities of server and clients, and messages. But, it might be a good idea to include your wrapper for the networking to be callable by the script, but keep that seperate from the game logic code: invisable to scripter. This will give you the easy in developement: beinging able to write networking specific events in the script.

Hope these suggestions and ideas from a lowely programmer will help you with your game engine and scripting language.