21 replies to this topic

[chrknudsen]

Hello everybody!

For the past 4 or 5 months I've been working in my spare time on an ascii game based on the classic Privateer (my absolute most favorite game!). I've got most parts of the actual flight engine worked out and am currently working on the bases and interaction with the characters in the game. Anyway, I'd like to post a few screenshots and get some feedback. As the entire game will be made up of ascii characters in 16 different colors (such as Adom), this game will mostly be for the retro-gamers out there.

Here are the screenshots:









The ship (the green #) is a Tarsus, by the way.

Regards,
Chris Knudsen

[Japofran]

Awesome. My most emphatic encouragement.

**Suddenly interested in finding out what actually was Privateer**

[Juni Ori]

Looks pretty interesting!

[chrknudsen]

Japofran, on Jan 11 2007, 11:43 PM, said:

Awesome. My most emphatic encouragement.

**Suddenly interested in finding out what actually was Privateer**

Privateer is a game that takes place in the Wing Commander universe. You should really check it out. It can be downloaded for free at Home of the Underdogs.

[Potatoe]

I loved worm wars(didn't play the amount it deserved though D:). I just bought a new game, I'll try this when it's out.

[chrknudsen]

Potatoe, on Jan 12 2007, 03:30 PM, said:

I loved worm wars(didn't play the amount it deserved though D:). I just bought a new game, I'll try this when it's out.

Well, it won't be out for a while. I still need to program a LOT of stuff, such as the bases (you'll be able to walk around the bases, talking to everybody -- some people will have missions for you, others won't), navigation maps, AI, missions, all the systems/galaxies, the plot, and so on...

I think it will take at least a year before I have a demo finished. The demo will feature 5 systems with about 10 different bases. You'll be able to fly around in your ship, complete missions, and upgrade your ship, but the demo won't have a plot.

[JimmyJ]

Sweet, i love ascii games, can't get enough of 'em

[chrknudsen]

I finally managed to get three video clips of the game -- took me a couple of hours. I filmed the screen with a digital camera, then transfered the files to my stationary computer, then converted the three 15 mb AVIs to much smaller WMVs. The quality isn't very good, but they should give you an idea of the game:


http://www.asciisect.../07-01-15/1.wmv
Here I encounter another ship (a Talon, but that's pretty hard to see) and shoot at it until it explodes. As I haven't programmed the AI yet, the Talon doesn't move or anything.

http://www.asciisect.../07-01-15/2.wmv
Here I pass by a planet. I can't land on it yet, as I haven't finished programming the bases (planets, asteroids and space stations).

http://www.asciisect.../07-01-15/3.wmv
Here I jump to another system. The jump point at the other system is surrounded by asteroids, so I shoot at them a bit. Then finally fly into one too many and explode.


I haven't done all the sounds and music yet, so there's only one tune playing in these clips and not all sound effects are working.

[chrknudsen]

The activity on these boards seems to have died down a bit, so I've continued to post updates on a different board:

Wing Commander CIC Messageboard

There's been quite a bit of progress on the game during the last month. You can follow the progress at those boards.

[Juni Ori]

Looks very impressive! Keep up the good work, I want to see this finished!

[taikara]

You know, I don't really play this kind of game, but I have to give you props for your ASCII screens, they're sweet.

I might actually try it when you finish up

[chrknudsen]

Juni Ori: Don't worry. I'll definitely finish this game. I'm highly motivated and I've come this far, so bar any unforseen events, it will be finished.

taikara: If I can convert just one player to textmode games, then my job is done!

[BeefontheBone]

I think you'll find she meant she doesn't play space sim-type games - most of us at AR are pretty au fait with ASCII

Incidentally, if you've ot already seen it, Dwarf Fortress is an amazing example of the power of text graphics you might want to look at, plus it's a great game in its own right. The screens you've posted achieve the feat of not looking like ANSCII at first glance - very impressive

[chrknudsen]

BeefontheBone, on Feb 7 2007, 08:42 PM, said:

I think you'll find she meant she doesn't play space sim-type games - most of us at AR are pretty au fait with ASCII

Ahhh, okay then. Well, if I can convert a player to space sim games, then even better!

BeefontheBone, on Feb 7 2007, 08:42 PM, said:

Incidentally, if you've ot already seen it, Dwarf Fortress is an amazing example of the power of text graphics you might want to look at, plus it's a great game in its own right. The screens you've posted achieve the feat of not looking like ANSCII at first glance - very impressive

I've heard about Dwarf Fortress before, but never really checked it out, as I got the impression that it was way more strategic than I normally go for. I'll be sure to give it a try, though.

EDIT: I've posted some more screenshots at the other message board I linked to, if you haven't seen them already...

[JimmyJ]

Although dwarf fortress actually uses open gl Ever notice the beards on the dwarves??