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[Rudolf Kremers]

Finally an update!
 
Dyson is progressing nicely, but becoming leaner and meaner along the way.
It is starting to look like we have a handle on scope now (After some slimming excercises) and I have good hopes that what we will end up with will be worthwhile :-) We haven't said much yet about the gameplay so here is some more info.:
 
Desired Gameplay
The game features an asteroid belt with currently 64 individual asteroids.
The player starts with a seedling planted on a single asteroid (The Von Neuman device/space chicken/Dyson Tree we mentioned earlier)
First, the player initiates the seedling to grow roots to the asteroids "energy core" and from those roots a dyson tree sprouts on the surface. The charecteristics of the tree are affected by the composition of the asteroid, and all asteroids in the belt are unique in that respect.
 
Once the tree is grown, the player can trigger it to grow new seeds. The seeds characteristics and abilities are also affected by the composition of their parents. Seeds are used for various things. They can be used to grow more trees, or, they can be sent of towards other asteroids to start more colonies.
This is where things heat up.
 
The game has AI opponents that act the same way as the player and are contesting the asteroid belt for ownership.
Now, if the seedlings arrive at an asteroid that is already owned by another, the seedlings attack the surface sructures. If they manage to destroy them the surviving seedlings will bore down to the centre of the asteroid and take over the core. If succesful they will claim the other's asteroid and are able to exploit its resources.
 
What this results in is hopefully a strategically deep game of conquest that can be won either by destroying all contenders or by colonising all asteroids.
 
What we have now:
Quite a few things!

• 64 asteroids
• Tree roots
• Seedlings
• Pathfinding of seedlings to other asteroids (See image below) Selection
• Ability to grow new seedlings

 
I am quite psyched by this but we will have to see if the ambition matches up to reality. I will let Haowan do the talking on the tech front. :-)

[Alex May]

The tech will blow your mind.

But yeah, the program is really in a similar place as it was before, it's just putting in the gameplay now, then adding sound, music, etc later when we've got something we can play and tweak. Game should be finished by the end of the competition; we're on track with what we've currently designed.

With luck, there'll be time to add some graphical effects beyond these really simple trees. We've scheduled time for seedling appearance, but I'd really like to put in some nice particle effects and stuff. I'm a programmer, I live for that stuff.

[Bezzy]

Looking seriously sweet. I want those kind of little touches of glow etc, but I'm just really limiting myself so I can get hideously unproven gameplay done.

Can't wait to see how the gameplay feels in this.

[Rudolf Kremers]

It's not really gameplay but I am already enjoying sending the seedlings to other asteroids and watch em navigate the asteroid belt :-)

[two4teezee]

This looks neat!

[Alex May]

Found this looking at ColourLovers.com

pretty nice

Here are two AIs trying to take over nearby asteroids

[shinygerbil]

Lookin' good

[Melly]

Looking mighty fine so far. Can't wait to try it out.

[Alex May]

Some shots up of little seedling graphics:

(try to ignore the debug lines and text shown in there)

And an army on the move:


So, you can see the interface in the shots above. It's just a simple menu with some important information displayed - the asteroid make-up consisting of energy/strength/speed characteristics is shown under the randomly-generated asteroid name; the number of seedlings from different kinds is shown and the core health is shown too. You can send seedlings to other asteroids (although a quick-send option is available that bypasses the button), or plant new trees on the asteroid.

Not sure if I've explained the root systems shown - they're built up over time as more trees are grown on the surface. Seedlings burrow down along these roots to get to the core in order to take it over.

Still to go: all the sound (), lose condition, tutorial, work on tree graphics if there's time and a saved game if there is time. Slowly whittling down the tasks!

[Corpus]

It looks great

[increpare]

I have to say that I also think it looks great (I really like the glow, and the colour-scheme).  I know I was supposed to test it out, but I've had internet/windows problems recently, so :/

[Alex May]

Thanks fellas. I was a bit worried that I caused those problems by having you install .NET 2.0. I hope it wasn't too deleterious to your system!

[Ed]

Looking sweet! Love the little seedling graphics

(now that I can actually see them )

[Bezzy]

Well, time to give up!

Haowan and Boratso have won. (Again).

[increpare]

Thanks fellas. I was a bit worried that I caused those problems by having you install .NET 2.0. I hope it wasn't too deleterious to your system!

Nah; .net is the least of my problems!