Fate of Io: Where's this train headin'?

Where's this train headin'?

2005/05/09 20:32:18 PDT by BioKupo [0/0]

Been having a chat this evening with a foi lurker and it definitly got me thinking.

Whats going on here?
What are we hoping to achieve?
Which direction are we heading?

If we want to attract more people to this project we need to show that we've moved forwards. Best things to show that is one of two things.

1. ART - something people can immediately look at and go - wow, thats cool, I want to be involved with that.
From what I've seen at a VERY brief glimpse, theres been no new artwork, and what there is isn't being show off to its full potential

2. CODE - all you need is something very basic, even if its just a tiny animation, or a model of a weapon rotating or something, that will draw people in. What people see when they walk in, is a lot of text. They need something to wow at, they need something which shows them that this project is still very much alive.

I can't honestly see what direction this project is taking, but I'm willing to put in some backwork to push this train back up to speed. I just need to know what direction you want me to push ;)

And always remember - There ain't no getting offa this train we're on.

2005/05/09 20:39:32 PDT by Temporal [manager]

Well, first of all, realize that very little new has been contributed in over a year. The project has been dormant for a long time. That is now changing, however, and I hope to see a lot more art and other contributions such coming soon.

As for code, it's not as easy as you think. The funny thing about code is, when it's done correctly, there's simply nothing to see until the whole system is just about done anyway. A good game engine needs to be designed and implemented from the ground up, not the top down. If I simply throw together some random code to produce something visible and interactive, I will just end up having to throw away that code and start over.

You might be interested in this cartoon shading demo, however:

http://gauge3d.org/downloads/0

2005/05/09 21:12:20 PDT by BioKupo [0/0]

I know that nothing new has been submitted recently, and thats the problem.

If I could draw I would, this project needs new artwork, and first and foremost in my eyes are the character designs.

My current area is 3d modelling but I can't really do much without having things to work from in the first place, and I'm far from being able to do character models.

And more to the point, theres no point in modelling at all unless there's some scale to work at and to know what the rendering is going to be like. Rendering in 3dmax for instance. To get lighting looking right at all requires the right scale.

And even more to the point, do we want to model yet? I don't know.

2005/05/09 21:18:19 PDT by Temporal [manager]

No, we don't want to model yet. We aren't even completely sure if we're going to go 3D yet.

2005/05/09 21:37:26 PDT by BioKupo [0/0]

oh dear [higher being].

I thought we'd finished the 2/3d argument a long time ago, I seem to remember you and dev being very definite on the 3dness, and tbh, 3d is good!

I for one would prefer it.

2005/05/09 22:42:38 PDT by mystik3eb [0/43]

As would I.

2005/05/10 23:50:58 PDT by Dev [manager]

Ironically, Biokupo, the only definite choice we ever made was in favor of 2D. I think it's obvious that we've since rescinded that decision and the floor is again open for debate. As Temp would be quick to remind everyone, the GAUGE^3D engine won't be even touched for a while, but unless anyone wants to pursue an alternative development plan, that's the tentative one.

2005/05/10 23:58:17 PDT by Temporal [manager]

Yes, once again, to be perfectly clear: The 2D/3D decision is up to the programming team that decides to implement Fate of Io. At present, there is no such team. If there is still no such team when I start working on GAUGE^3D again -- which could be quite a long time from now -- then GAUGE^3D will become the official engine of Fate of Io and I will become lead programmer. On the other hand, if a team steps up in the meantime, then they should choose 2D or 3D based on their own abilities and interest.

2005/05/18 18:36:56 PDT by BioKupo [0/0]

My Opinion, for what its worth ;), is that we should wait for Temp.

Gauge^3D is worth waiting for.

There is a whole world of stuff to work on in the meantime. And if we're waiting for Gauge^3d then thats even more stuff we can do ^^

2005/05/18 19:05:09 PDT by Morpheus [0/5]

I too would like to wait for Temp and Gauge^3D. I think this small project could be inspiration or momentum for him, and I would not want to take that away.