I’ve added a few new features to the prototype. I’ve updated the way the game is rendered to allow for more detail per tile. I’ve also added blood effects and different types of cover (rocks and long grass). Next steps should be a few different weapon types (grenades & RPGs) and some kind of UI maybe…
I used the level generator in my previous post in this game prototype.
Its not optimised so apologies if it breaks you computer 
Using the perlinNoise() method of the BitmapData class is nothing new but it always gives satisfying results!
Check it out. Warning its pretty slow because I’m using MovieClips to draw the landscape.
Use the right arrow key to regenerate the perlin noise, the three input boxes allow control of the random seed, number of octaves and the amount the noise is blurred by (in that order).
The most obvious use for this technique is the generation of landscapes for games (as in the example) but Perlin Noise can be used for all kinds of visual effects because of the way it mimics natural patterns.
This techniques was used to generate the landscapes for the subject of my previous post.
I started creating an iso metric tile game that was going to be a mixture of Heroes of Might and Magic and the Total War Series. Overly ambitious? Probably. The initial build is here. I built a level editor that uses PerlinNoise to generate terrain maps and export them to .xml. There is a strange pause up front which appeared when this was uploaded, apologies for that!
http://tomdanvers.com/labs/tbs/
Select a quest and then use the arrow keys to scroll around the map. Use the mouse to move the player character.
Work on the site will have to wait a while. I’m off to go horse riding in Mongolia for three weeks. Woo hoo!
See you on the flipside…
I’ve been dabbling in PhotoShop to come up with the design above (click to enlarge). My design skills are pretty whack so I’m trying to keep it really simple! A set of thumbnail boxes on the right which the user drags to the viewing pane on the left to enlarge. When the user drags the box it’ll turn into a particle stream (like this) until the user releases the mouse. I may have to also allow the user to double click the image to read it but I’m hoping the particle effect will be satisfying enough to discourage this.
The coloured borders correspond to the content type (e.g. red for lastfm, green for twitter etc) and you’ll be able to filter content types by clicking on the coloured text top right.
Criticism would be appreciated (design and typography are the arcane arts to me)!
My friend Matt bought a copy of Computer Arts Projects to while away a journey. Reading it he came across this article about some Agency Republic projects that I was interviewed for. I’d totally forgotten about it but was duly excited to see my name in print! My mum is very proud
The projects discussed are Truth About SMART and the Killzone 2 Webgame.
Like all developers I’ve accumulated a lot of half finished bits and bobs over the years! Here are a few that may be of interest:
Spirograph. Creates patterns by drawing a point at the end of an articulated set of lines. Here are some example outputs.
Neon Trail. A bright snake-like trail that follows the mouse.
Rotating Trails. Like Neon Trails but rotating!
Last Stand. A fort based game i started building. The player needs to buy troops and weapons to hold a fort until the airlift arrives.
Tank Game. A half finished tank game from years ago
I want the new site to have a playful ’stickiness’ to it. I’ve been thinking about ways of selecting content and transitioning between nav items. Here are some tests I’ve been doing using BitmapData copyPixels. Basically the particles try and turn towards the mouse whilst moving forwards. N.B, These effects are pretty taxing for the processor so old machines may suffer!
Drawing particles (the particles are not destroyed with every update and the main BMD is blurred using BMD.applyFilter()).
Dissintergrate Walters (just because)!
Fine Particles (the particles are 1px across as a result this is the most processor intensive prototype).