My RTS Game

Hey!

I've finally got enough of my newest project, a real-time-strategy game, finished so that I can give you all a demo. Actually, I'm thinking real-time-strategy isn't quite the correct category...it'll probably end up being more turn-based, I've yet to see.

Anyway, it's got a little manual with it to help everyone out. It's fairly basic right now, and the game itself will stay basic (I don't think I could handle allowing 100 different types of units and such...). But you can create new armies, build towns, explore land hidden by Fog of War (I was really excited when I got that working :)), stuff like that.

It's in the console...still. I'm still really hesitant to move into Windows, because I really don't like it's interface. But once I finish the console version, if enough people find it decent enough to want a Windows version, I'll give it a shot.

But all comments, criticisms, what be it are welcome. I'd kinda like input before I get too far into it. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy it!

Brendan

awesome.

seriously, out of all the "games" that people put up on this board, that one is actually pretty good (especially since it is in console).

keep up the good work.

highly impressive. it could do well with a move to windows, since the input is a little awkward in console. but other than that it looks as if you have a good game on your hands.

if you want to move it to windows but are hesitant because you dont like programming in windows, id be more than happy to help. ive been wanting to work on an RTS for a while but i havent found anyone that will tackle it with me.

It's awesome! I don't think it would have as much flair in windows, though. People seem to expect more from windows apps, like graphics, but then again, if you can draw some up, go ahead. If anything don't forget to post this in the "Post your best games here thread", when this thread is old and done.

Suggestions:
1. I didn't look at the manual, so I didn't know how to get resources. There should be a button. Everything else (i think), I picked up, which is a sign of a good game.

2. I will look at the code and post more stuff, but since I haven't yet, my input is as good as <insert bad thing here>

Wow. Thanks both of you :). '...', thank you for your offer. I'm definitley thinking about it, and there are 2 reasons why I haven't quite decided: first, whether I do it in Windows or not, I'd like to complete my console version first. I've kind of made it my last big project in console-mode, at which point I plan on moving to Windows and the Windows API graphical functions. I know they're slow and all, but I've done some Windows stuff already using them, so I'm kind of familiar with them. After that, I suppose DirectX or OpenGL. Anyways, the second reason is, this game is kind of like a personal goal of mine. I don't plan on programming for a living, it's just a side hobby, but it is my goal to create one good, fun game in C++. This game so far has already been a learning experience for me, and I expect I'll gain a wealth of knowledge on it still (AI is sounding rather daunting at the moment, plus a good pathfinding algorithm. I'm thinking of A*). So for now, I think I'd like to continue on it by myself. However, if I do move it to Windows, I think I'll take up on your offer. Thanks :).

Wow, that was a whole lotta rambling lol. But glad you like it. I'm working on the battle system currently, and the ability to train armies. Fun stuff ;)

Brendan

Oh and Stan, I didn't include code with it. It is FAR too messy for me to do that right now. I'll post it with my final game though. These are supposed to be great learning tools so. But it uses the console graphics library I made and everything, and that's a whole lot of other code, so I didn't want to mess with that right now.

As to the resources: simply building a town gives you more resources. So I guess you could say there is a button for that: "Build", then "Town" :D.

Brendan

There is a way you can move it to Windows without having to deal with the Windows API crap. SDL

SDL is a wonderful API that will handle windows for you...all you have to do is make your normal main ( ) function and go on coding.

Of course there would be some conversion from console to SDL, but when you do go Windows, I suggest SDL.

So keep SDL in mind when you decide to take your game from DOS to Windows.

Very very nicely done console game!

Could you please post up your code for the Midieval Conquest thing? How did you get the mouse functions in Console?

Hey, that SDL thing sounds great! Thanks for mentioning that, DavidP! And to KneeGrow, as I've said, my code is far too messy and there are too many files for me to try and put all together right now. When I finish the game, it'll include the full source code.

I integrated the mouse through a wrapper graphics library I made for the console. It basically simplifies a lot of the Windows functions and allows lots of functionality. You can get a link to it in my sig, it's called the Console Graphics Library. The version you can download now though is NOTHING compared to what I've done to it recently. I need to re-upload the thing, because I made some major updates to it. But feel free to check it out.

Brendan

P.S. Thanks for all the positive feedback :)

Wow, that's really cool :)

Probably the first RTS written in console that I've seen...good job :D.

Oh, and I agree with the other posters...port it to Windows.

Nice.. Thats def. one of the best games ive seen here(not that i have tons of experience). Good Job

Thanks everyone! It's kida nice to know that people seem to like it and there isn't really anything to even do in it yet lol. I'm working on a battle system right now. Basically, you can do a "quick battle" in which the computer computes the outcome quickly and the losing unit dies. You can also do a real-time battle where you zoom down into the battlefield and watch the armies have at each other. It's a little difficult, but I think I'll get it soon. Then I plan on putting in enemy AI. The most daunting thing for me is actually pathfinding, because I find A* rather confusing, but I'll work on it some more and see what I can do. Thanks guys!

Brendan

Oh yeah, this is off topic a bit, but if you don't want to learn Win32 API, because you know how crappy it is and all, there are plenty of cross-platform libraries to do windowed applications. My favorite is QT. To find out more about it, go to www.trolltech.com

Oh yeah, and you know OpenGL games? You don't even need to know Win32 API to make games of that calibre, you could use GLUT, or maybe AllegroGL. Don't be discouraged of your ability because you don't know Win32 API, I haven't made anything more in Win32 API than a few simple apps, and all my DX crap when I was messing around with that.

edit: If you are going to be making stuff for windows, scratch QT. I didn't realize that the Windows version isn't free, like every other platform's version of it :rolleyes:. GTK+ is still pretty good.