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Saturday, February 3 2011

The new version V1.35 is ready for download.

Underworld, revised in-game menu, recipes, poison. These are some of the new features in Ya3dag V1.35.
This release can be downloaded only at Ya3dags incarnation by Mod DB. Press the mouse over the image to visit Ya3dag at Mod DB.


As a little incentive we show some pictures of the new version.:

Maps

• Map 'Sandy adventures'.
  • This map was added an underground dungeon. There are two entrances from the upper world. Will you find them?
  • The dinosaurs can be lured and killed with poisonous meat. You just need the right recipe to manufacture poisonous meat.

Gameplay

• new in game dialog called iBag
  • A main-dialogue with these sub-dialogues
    • inventory dialog
    • jobs dialog
    • skill dialog
    • recipes dialog
  • hud shows at the lower rigth of the screen items assigned to the keys 0 .. 9.
  • Inventory dialog, the items are grouped by
    • Weapon/Ammo
    • Armor
    • Keys
    • Powerups
    • Health
    • Others
  • Inventory dialog can assign items to the keys 0 .. 9.
  • Recipes dialog is new The player can collect recipes. In the recipe dialogs new items are created using other items as incredients.


• Recipes
  Recipes are Yad3dags method to manufacture new items. Recipes will be collected as well as other items.
  First, all ingredients of the recipe must be in possession of the player. After that, the new item can be manufactured.
  The availability of ingredients is displayed each time.

Editor

• Underworld
  The underworld exists beneath the terrain. It is intended for dungeons and interiors of buildings. In order to optimize the frame rate, the drawing process for the underworld and the upper world with terrain are separated from each other.


• target setting, added 'movewith'
  Pressing the 't' key, a connection ist made between the marked entity 'target' and the selected 'targetname'. Pressing one of the numeric keys as modifier, the following alternate fields are used:

  key	field	color
  1	target	red
  2	target2	orange
  3	killtarget	dark red
  4	pathtarget	green
  5	combattarget	bluish
  6	deathtarget	gray
  7	movewith	yellow



• Arrows from 'target' to 'targetname'
  The arrows pointing from an enitity to it's target label their soure field by showing it's name in the arrow beam. For example the arrow of a 'killtarget' displays the text 'kill'.


• In the minimmap of the editor the point of view and the direction of view is indicated by a white arrow.


• Added Control X to copy and delete an object in the scene.


• target_monitor
  Made the target_monitor usable by adding it to the quake2RR.ent file. The target_monitor is a Lazarus point entity which switches the player's view to that of the target_monitor itself. In appearance, this is similar to the function of an info_player_intermission, except that the target_monitor may be triggered at any time, and its view is used by only the player that triggered it.
  This entity can be used any time you want to show the player something. For example, if the player presses a button that opens a door elsewhere in the map, rather than displaying a cliched "A door has opened somewhere" message, you can let the player see and hear the door actually opening. Another possible use is as a sort of cut-scene camera. The target_monitor viewpoint can be made to move about if it is set to movewith a moving parent entity, and the viewpoint can be set to watch another entity by targeting it. Alternatively, the target_monitor can act as a chase cam which follows the target entity by a set distance (CHASE_CAM spawnflag) or take on the POV of the targeted entity (EYEBALL spawnflag).


• func_monitor
  Made the func_monitor usable by adding it to the quake2RR.ent file. The Lazarus func_monitor is a new brush model entity which allows you to place security camera viewing stations, robot control stations, and/or turret controls in your map. Although func_monitor will work when targeting any entity, it is designed primarily to work with either turret_breach or misc_actor, and the results may be a bit strange if you target any other solid entity: most likely the viewpoint will be embedded in the model for that entity.
  The monitor will not work automatically in the same way as a target_monitor does. It requires that the player consciously access it with an active +use command. In order for this to work the player must be standing within 100 units of the func_monitor and be looking at it. This action will cause the player's viewpoint to shift to the target of the func_monitor, and if that target is a turret_breach or misc_actor, he will also take control of its movement. Turning a turret_breach is accomplished with the normal freelook controls. Robot actors may be made to walk or run forward or backward, turn, jump, crouch, and shoot (but not strafe). Exiting "monitor mode" is accomplished by another +use input.

Other

• Shader script language.
  The stage specific keywords 'gl_combine'. If a argument CONSTANT is specified, any color from a rgbGen or alphaGen is transfered to the 'color' of the current texture unit in use.
  ==> Now the 'CONSTANT' argument is usable.

Sunday, December 4 2011

Time passes and the next update of Ya3dag comes closer. I am making good progress on the next version and hope for a release late January 2012. Below is a preview of some new features.

iBag & inventory

Recipes

Poison

Underworld

Thursday, August 25 2011

The new version V1.34 is ready for download.

'Sandy Adventure' is Ya3dag's newest level. Desert sand, ancient cities, treasures and a bottle of rum.
This release can be downloaded only at Ya3dags incarnation by Mod DB. Press the mouse over the image to visit Ya3dag at Mod DB.


As a little incentive we show some pictures of the new version.:

Maps

* New map 'Sandy adventures'.
  Desert sand, ancient cities, treasures and a bottle of rum.

* 'Physics laboratory' Level.
  Reworked.

Bulled physics

* Updated from Version 2.75 to 2.77
* Adjusted paramter for 'continuous collision detection'.
* Fixed the ugly getEulerZYX() problem for physics objects.
  The function getEulerZYX() convert axis rotation information
  to angle rotation information. In some cases there are multible
  solutions (and one of them is used). Because this is used for
  drawing, we saw objects flipping around.

Mapmodels

New surface bit SURF_EDIT_DRAW with value 0x20000000.
If set this surface is drawn only in the editor view or
for prefab view.
Used to draw surfaces for helping to position .bsp models.

Editor

* Visualization of the light radius.

* Checkboxes right to the mini map to switch on/off
  * Show objects in mini map
  * Visualize light radius
  * Grid with distance 256/1024
  * Visualize 'cliffs' and 'field textures'

* Cliff textures
  For terrain with steep slopes, the texture is drawn differently.
  A cliff has a slope of about 45 degrees or more.
  * The level flag 'Cliff drawing' must be checked for this.
  * Check 'Visualize 'cliffs' and 'field textures'' near the minimap.
    Cliffs get a yellow frame.

* Terrain field textures
  Normally a field texture is composed from the textures of
  the 4 surrounding vertexes.
  A 'field textures' will overwrite this.
  * Check 'Visualize 'cliffs' and 'field textures'' near the minimap.
    'field textures' are marked with a circle inside.

Model configuration file _modelconfig.txt

This configuration file is used for player models
only (until now).
It is located in the same directory as the associated
.md2 or .md3 model.

New optional entry

  FliesProbability  0.50
                  
Probability of dead monster generating flies.
Default is 0.15. The given value can be
between 0.0 and 1.0 (for 100 percent).

Other

* link image files

  * Create a file with the extension '.lim' (Create
    a new notepad file with the help of the explorer).
  * With notepat write in the the name of an existing
    texture.
  * If the filename of the texture is replaced with an
    asterik, the filename of the .lim file is used
    as image name.
 
    Example 2:
    * In directory 'textures\Q2T\tex\Wall' create the
      file 'misc_13_q1_ground1_7.lim'.
    * Write in the text
      textures/Quake/ground1_7.jpg

    Example 1:
    * In directory 'textures\Q2T\tex\Misc' create the
      file 'Wall_22c.lim'.
    * Write in the text
      textures/Wall/*
      to use the file textures/Wall/Wall_22c.jpg
   
    ==> In the Ya3dag terrain editor, the texture
        misc_13_q1_ground1_7 is listed, but used is
        the texture ground1_7.jpg from the quake
        directory. Note that also the material files
        _norm, _depth and _gloss are loaded.
  Benefits:
    * Terrain textures in the Q2T subdirectory can be linked
      to an other existing textures.
      Every texture can be used as terrain texture
      without wasting space on the hard disk.
    * Also material textures like _norm, _depth or _gloss
      can link to other files.
      Use this textures multiple times.
    * Link saves memory/texture space because textures
      can be multipled used but are loaded only once.
     
* trigger_pushable

  Triggers if assoicated func_pushable (pointed by 'target2') is moved inside
  the minmax box.

  * target2
    Target to func_pushable. This must be moved inside minmax box to trigger.

  * target
    Trigger this if func_pushable is inside minmax box.

  * sounds
    Sound on trigger
      0)  None
      1)    secret
      2)    beep beep
      3)    large switch

  * message
    Output message on trigger.

  * team
    Used for grouping trigger_pushable.
    To set up a group of trigger_pushable, give them all the same arguments.
    Only the target2 points to different func_pushable.
    All func_pushable must be inside the assicated trigger_pushable
    to fire the trigger.

Thursday, April 21 2011

News from Ya3dag.
Over the period since the last update some changes have already accumulated.

• Revision of the Bullet physic integration.
  • Update to newest Bullet 2.77
  • correct display of object orientation
  • scratch and impact sounds
• Mew surface bit SURF_EDIT_DRAW with value 0x20000000. If set this surface is drawn only in the editor view or for prefab view. Used do draw surfaces for helping to position .bsp models.
• Visualization of the light radius in Ya3dag's level editor.
• Link image files.
  A text file that points to an image file. Used to use images under a different name. For example, reuse of normal or depth images, ...
• Reflection of light sources on surfaces.
  Textures with a '_gloss' image (eg metals) reflect light sources nearby. Looks really great.

Sunday, January 16 2011

The new version V1.33 is ready for download.

The main innovation of this version is 'drive a train'. In addition, there are many components of rails for use in the level editor.
This release can be downloaded only at Ya3dags incarnation by Mod DB. Press the mouse over the image to visit Ya3dag at Mod DB.


As a little incentive we show some pictures of the new version.:

Maps

* New map 'Rail travel'.
  A demo level.
  Enjoy the ride on a train. You
  take control of the train.
  This level features a train and many spiders.

* XMas Level.
  After collectiong all 10 signums, the signums are removed
  from the inventory.
 
Mapmodels

Mapmodels (.bsp) can have inline models. This inline models are
associated with func_button, func_door or other entities.

To allow multiple use of the same mapmodel a processing of the
key/value pairs is done.
If the key begins or ends with the string 'target' (targetname,
target, killtarget, pathtarget, ...), strings as follows will
be replaced:
                    
  %n  Must be first characters in value string.
      If there is a targetname of 'mapmodel' .bsp model
      use this targetname, else continue and skip this
      characters '%n'.
                      
  %t  Must be first characters in value string.
      If there is a target of 'mapmodel' .bsp model
      use this target, else continue and skip this
      characters '%t'.
                      
  %c  Counter, an unic number.
      This is the entity number.

Hud

* Added a clock to the hud display.
* Show a map of the level if the player owns the
  'Map' item.
 
Items

* New item 'Sleeping pills'.
  Use it to sleep for 4 hours.
* New item 'Soporific'.
  Use it to sleep for 12 hours.
* New melee weapon models, three swords and one knife.
* New item 'Map'.
  If the player has this item in the inventory, a
  map of the level is shown on the hud.
  This item can be found somewhere in the level
  or maybe bought from someone.
  NOTE: This item will be removed when the level is exited.

Editor

* New entity flag 'No terrain Z' for objects.
  If set, the entity is not bound to the terraing height.
  Use it for things that should not be bound to terrain
  deformations (tunnels, ...).
   
* New entity flag 'No minium light' for objects.
  If set, no get's minimum light for this model.
  Useable only for mapmodels (.bsp).

* target setting.
  Pressing the 't' key, a connection ist made between the
  marked enttity 'target' and the selected 'targetname'.
  Pressing one of the numeric keys as modifyiers, the
  following alternate fields are used:
   
  key  field             color of connection arrow
    1  target            red
    2  target2           orange
    3  killtarget        dark red
    4  pathtarget      green
    5  combattarget  bluish
    6  deathtarget    gray

* Added new editflags for use in the entriy description file quake2RR.ent
  * EF_FLAG1                red particles
  * EF_FLAG2                blue particles
  * EF_FLAG1 and EF_FLAG2   green particles
  * RF2_LIGHT_128           Light around object, if EF_FLAG1/EF_FLAG1 set use this color else white
  Used to have the same particle effects
  in the editor as in in the game.

Model configuration file _modelconfig.txt

This configuration file is used for player models
only (until now).
It is located in the same directory as the associated
.md2 or .md3 model.
* minmax
  Used to specify a bounding box different than specified in
  the quake2RR.ent file.
    Example:  minmax  -24 -24 -24   24  24  48  ; bounding box of model
  This was needed for actors to show
    * the live bar at the correct heigt
    * show symbols above the actor at the correct height
    * correct size of the editors selection box
    * correct model size used for trace/clipping
* AttackJump
  The NPC will jump somtimes towards it's enemy.
    Example:    AttackJump     ; can attack by jumpung towards it's enemy

Other

* Reworked symbols shown over actors.
  * Double resolution of images.
  * Added coins symbol.
 
* Postprocesing effect for 'look far' embellished.

Tuesday, November 16 2010

Work for the next release.

More swords and one more knife for the next release of Ya3dag. Range and damage can be edited in the items.txt configuration file.

The next release will include NPC's merchants. These NPC's are recognizable by the coins over her head. Using the editor up to 10 items can be assigned to this NPC's. The player can buy items and sell items from its inventory. A kind of clock is shown in the lower left corner. Time-based tasks are better done with the help of the Clock. Even sleeping pills and soporific are useful for time-based tasks. You do not have to waste your time with waiting, sleep a few hours.

Robert

Tuesday, September 28 2010

The new version V1.32 is ready for download.

The main innovation of this release is relief mapping.
This release can be downloaded only at Ya3dags incarnation by Mod DB. Press the mouse over the image to visit Ya3dag at Mod DB.


As a little incentive we show some pictures of the new version.:

• Relief mapping and material support.
  • Terrain texture and .bsp models support relief mapping. This code was taken from qfusion. It is sufficient if the depth component is added to a texture.
  • Normal map textures
    Name suffix: _norm _normal
    The normal map can hold an dept map in the alpha channel.
  • Depth map textures
    Name suffix: _bump _depth
    This texture is needed for relief mapping.
  • Gloss map textures
    Name suffix: _gloss
    If present, there are glossy effects on the texture.
  • Decal or additive overlay texture
    Name suffix: _decal _glow _luma _add _blend
    Without alpha, the texture is added. Otherwise, the alpha is used as a mask for texture replacement.


• The contents of the texture subdirectory quake was replaced by the Rygel texture pack. This package was created for use with the DarkPlaces quake modification. This package features depth, gloss, normal, .... textures. Credits to Rygel and other texture creators.


• Generating a depth texture from a diffuse texture. There is already a file _TextureData.cfg in each texture subdirectory. In this file there may be an entry for each texture, how the depth is to generate. There are commands for low pass filtering the image, inverting the image and stretching the gray values (histogram processing). In this way, about half of all terrain textures was prepared for relief mapping.


• Bug-fix drawing map models in fogged terrain. The layered fog was not drawn correctly.


• Editor.
  • Draw classname in the scene for selected/marked objects above the selection frame.
  • Always draw classname in the scene for sizable framed objects (like trigger_multiple).
  • Bug-fix. After adding a new entity, the lightmaps of .bsp map-models was disarranged.


• Reworked networking with code from qfusion. Huffman coding for network packets.


• Thought bubble got a new image, so we don't see the ugly pixel corners of a sized up image.


• Book backgrounds are transparent now so we can see some of the scene through the book.


• 'Travel overland' offers
  • Show the author of a level.
  • If a level can't be visited because the skills are to poor, the 'Travel overland' dialog shows the bad skills.


• Reworked live-bar. The live-bar is shown above an enemy.


• Menu 'section' selection reworked. This was used in the menus 'Option' and 'Display'. Now there is a tabulator type selection.

Tuesday, July 27 2010

Relief mapping for terrain and models will be a key feature of the next Ya3dag update. With relief mapping a texture appear three-dimensional. The relief effect depends on the viewing direction. You can look into cracks.

Below you see a piece of terrain drawn without and with relief mapping.:

Monday, May 17 2010

The new version V1.31 is ready for download.

This release of Ya3dag features reflective/refractive water/surfaces and portals (as known from Quake3).
This release can be downloaded only at Ya3dags incarnation by Mod DB. Press the mouse over the image to visit Ya3dag at Mod DB.


As a little incentive we show some pictures of the new version.:

• World water has reflection and refraction.


• Static map models (.bsp models) can have mirrors or portal surfaces.


• Added entities misc_portal_camera misc_portal_surface. This are the Quake3 entities to setup portals.


• WGGameBegin level (Golmbach city). The transmitter in Travel Overland office shows the levelimage of the next travel to go.


• Shader language additions done for Ya3dag.
  • alphagen distance
  • rgbgen distance
  • alphagen lightstyle
  • rgbgen lightstyle

Sunday, March 14 2010

As time passes by, the next update of Ya3dag comes closer (this will be in 4 to 8 weeks). Currently I am working on the implementation of mirrors, portals, and reflective water surfaces. Mirrors and portals are already fully operational. At the time I create reflective water surfaces for Ya3dag.

See some 'work in progress' images.:

Friday, Januar 15 2010

The new update V1.30 is ready.

After months of hard work, I am pleased to announce a new release of Ya3dag.
This release can be downloaded only at Ya3dags incarnation by Mod DB. Press the mouse over the image to visit Ya3dag at Mod DB.


As a little incentive here, the loading images of the new levels.:

• New levels
  • Exhibition of items Inventory items. All you can carry. Everything that you can use.
  • Exhibition of particle effects Exhibition for level/map designers and developers.
  • Physics laboratory Explore the possibilities of physics simulation. Only suitable for large children.


• Switched to compiler 'Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition' This compiler is availible for free from Microsoft. Only the Qoole bsp editor is compiled with VC 6.0 because this application needs the MFC library which is not included in the 'Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition'.


• Made egyptsoc.shader working. This shaders are for the 'Egyptian textures' package from Sock. Lightsources, jumppads, glowing trim's.


• New shader keywords supported from Ya3dag.
  • q3map_lightimage Use this texture to get the lightcolor if the texture emits light.
  • q3map_surfacelight value The amout of light this surface emit's.


• reworked map particle emitters.
  • Added more settings to modify appearance.
    • Color of particles
    • Color deviations
    • Size of particles
    • Creation rate
    • Emission speed of particles
    • Lifetime factor
    • Shape of paricles
  • all particles are now in the 'BASEQ2\particles' subdirectory.


• WGGameBegin level (Golmbach city). The startup point in the level has a second exit now. The examination can be bypassed.


• Bulled physics engine The physics simulation of Ya3dag is changed from 'Newton Game Dynamics' to the open source 'Bullet Physics Library'.

Sunday, Januar 3 2010

The next release of Ya3dag is planned in mid-January. It will include the 'Bullet physics engine' and the already announced Levels 'Exhibition of items' and 'Exhibition of particles'.

The Ya3dag homepage has been revised. There is now a contact and links page.

Robert

Monday, November 2 2009

Today I have completed the revision of the Ya3dag homepage. The result you can enjoy now. Each Ya3dag web site now has its own navigation bar (no longer the frame-based layout).

Robert

Friday, October 23 2009

The next release of Ya3dag is already in work. There will be a new level called Exhibition of items and an other called Exhibtion of particles.

Pictures from the upcomming level Exhibition of items:

This level will be included in the next release. What you see is the entrace hall. There a 6 exhibitons room. Ya3dag has about 120 usable items. Most are on display here. Any you can play with them. Weapons, ammo, spells, a jetpack, flashlight, torch, mana, money ...

A picture from the upcomming level Exhibition of particles:

Sunday, September 13 2009

The new update V1.20 is ready.

After months of hard work, I am pleased to announce a new release of Ya3dag.

P.S. Use the mouse to enlarge the picture.

• High resolution texture support for Ya3dag and Qoole (the .bsp model editor).


• All textures for the .bsp models were revised. There are now about 2600 textures. Color depth is 24 bit. Many of them have double resolution.


• Phong shading for .bsp models. Models with curved surfaces now appear smooth. Phong shading is not yet working perfectly. However, the results are impressive.


• If the current weapon is a spell, then there is a visual effect on the player's hand (for Q3 player models only).


• Ya3dag Leveleditor
  • For misc_actor, the player models are grouped by model. Per playermodel there is now a subdirectory with the skins grouped together. This results in faster access of models/skins for misc_actor.
  • The brightness of lava can be adjusted in 3 steps.


• Bugfixes
  • Q3 schader script
    Function: rgbGen wave <func> <base> <amp> <phase> <freq>
    Multiply with <amp> and add of <base> was done twice.
    
  • func_train model into nirvana.
  • Crash after loading level with a func_train.
  • LoadJPG() function, the final FS_FreeFile() of the image raw data was missing.
  • After changing levels, Q3 Player models lost the current weapon model (the weapon holding in the hand).


• And many more small changes.

Sunday, September 13 2009

Ya3dag at Mod DB.

To visit Ya3dag at Mod DB press the mouse over the picture at the left side.
There you can watch videos of Ya3dag.

Friday, May 1 2009

Need more time for the new release.

The upcomming update is more work than I originally thought. Perhaps also because I could not stop with improvements. In the picture you can see some of these improvements. The approximately 120 icons have all been renewed with double resolution and 24 bit color. A new background for the dialogues. In the sales talks are now icons of the objects displayed.

P.S. Use the mouse to enlarge the picture.


Robert

Friday, August 13 2009

The work goes on.

Currently I am working on these updates for Ya3dag:

• High-resolution textures.
• Phong shading for bsp models.
• Review of lighting calculations.

Sunday, June 7 2009

Ya3dag has moved.


You probably know it by now, but IGN (the hoster of http://ya3dag.planetquake.gamespy.com/) is going to shut down free hosting at the end of August this year. Since the Ya3dag website is hosted by them, this affects us too. Do not worry, be happy. We already have a new website. These, on which you are looking at.

Please note that my e-Mail adress has changed from robert@ya3dag.planetquake.gamespy.com to robert@ya3dag.de.

At this point I would like to thank IGN for the past hosting service.

Robert

Sunday, May 31 2009

The new update V1.10 is ready.

After months of hard work, I am pleased to announce a new release of Ya3dag. It's been worth the wait!

• Q3 player models can be used as player figures and for NPC's (misc_actor).
  The advantage of this type of model is:
  • More details.
  • For skin texture-shaders can be used.
  • This kind of models allows for a greater diversity of the motions.
  • Each player model can use any player weapon.
  Unfortunately, there is one drawback. The q3 player has only one gesture animation. The missonback also has animations like getflag, guardbase, patrol, followme, affirmative and negative. But until now i didn't find any models with this animations. If you know models with this annimation please let me know.


• Q3 texture-shader language support.
  Texture-shaders can be used for md2 models, md3 models, bsp models and terrain splatters. Not supported are the keywords for portals, mirrors, cubemaps and fog. Existing texture-shaders can usually be reused.


• The actor scripts and other scripting things have moved from the subdirectory 'scripts' to the subdirectory 'gamedata'. This has freed the subdirectory 'scripts' for texture shaders (as known from the q3 world).


• All icons were recreated.
  About 130 icons have been recreated. With 24-bit color depth and resolution doubled.


• Idle action for the player character.


• Many models have been revised or replaced.
  
  • The players figure for the single-player mode has been replaced. Credits to Eric Spitler for his model Scurvy.
  • The spells have been revised.
  • The tresuers has been replaced.
  • More alcoholic beverages. Now you can get rum and whiskey in the pub drinking.
  • Mana and money items have been recreated.


• The sales dialogs have been redesigned.


• Changes for the level editor.
  
  • The color of the object selection box shows multiple object states (selected, marked, ...).
  • Flames of torches and other light sources are visible in the editor.


• More screen resolutions.


• And many more small changes.

Friday, May 1 2009

Need more time for the new release.

The upcomming update is more work than I originally thought. Perhaps also because I could not stop with improvements. In the picture you can see some of these improvements. The approximately 120 icons have all been renewed with double resolution and 24 bit color. A new background for the dialogues. In the sales talks are now icons of the objects displayed.

The next update of Ya3dag is scheduled for late May.
P.S. Use the mouse to enlarge the picture.


Robert

Monday, March 9 2009

The end is near, my friend.

The wait for the update is almost over. The integration of Q3 player models is done. A side effect of this work is a Q3 compatible shader language for textures. Now MD3 models and associated shader scripts can be used in Ya3dag. In the picture you see a NPC holding a sword. The items are enhanced from shaders. The player uses the ego view, and holds a sword.
The next update of Ya3dag is scheduled for late April.
P.S. Use the mouse to enlarge the picture.


Robert

Wednesday, December 24 2008

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the Quake community from Ya3dag.

Yes, the work goes forward. In the time between the NPC's use q3 player models. In the picture are some NPC's with q3 player models to see (to enlarge click on the picture). Currently I am working on the integration of q3 shader script language. This script language is needed so that the q3 player models look good. It also has the advantage that the graphics in Ya3dag will look better. You will see more eye-catching gimmicks in the future.
Please note that Santa Claus is a q2 player model. Do you see the difference?


Robert

Thursday, October 30 2008

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
State of the Q3 player model support for Ya3dag.

In the meantime i have have most of the client side q3 player code done. On the left you see the q3 player model Sarge in the multiplayer configuration dialog. Already working is the animation loading/decoding, skin loading and put together legs, torso and head models. I guess that half of the work is done.

Robert

Wednesday, October 1 2008

Since a few days I'm back from my vacation. The next major work item on my list is the useage of Quake 3 player models for players and NPC's.

Robert

Monday, September 15 2008

Hi there!

I'm starting today a 2 weeks vacation. If you have an e-mail sent to me, please have patience 14 days until you get an answer.

Robert

Sunday, September 14 2008.

It is finished. The version V1.02 is ready. Below the innovations of the update.

• Added espeak-data to distribution.
  This was missing until now, is needed for electronic speak.


• All German-language remnants have been translated to English.


• Simplified directory structure for sources and tools. The program sources are located in the sub-directory Ya3dag_src (below the Ya3dag directory). The tools are located in the sub-directory Ya3dag_GameTools (below the Ya3dag directory).
  
  The sources and tools are:
  
  • Quake2Terrain. This will compile Quake2Terrain.exe (the main program and graphic engine) and Quake2Terrain_gl.dll (the interface to OpenGL).
  • Q2Tgamex86DLL. This is the source code for Q2Tgamex86DLL.dll (the so called 'game .dll'). This program is responsible for the game logic.
  • Qoole99.exe, a bsp model editor (adapated for Ya3dag).
  • Ya3dag_qbsp3.exe, a program to convert map files to bsp files.
  • Ya3dag_minizip.exe, a program to create the pkz files (minizip console application).
  • Ya3dag_LanguageExtract.exe, a program to collect the language strings from sources and script files.
  
  Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 was used to compile the above things. The workspaces use only relative path information (hopefully).


• Revision of the post-processing program code. Light bloom and 'in water' post-processing has much better performance than before.


• New lightning texture.


• Some Quake1 textures replaced by textures from Quake1 ReTexture.


• The video menu was revised. The menu items are now on several pages.

Wednesday, September 3 2008

I am still in the process of preparing the next update. In the meantime, I have the rest of German texts translated. These were mainly entries in the editor 'Add object' menu.

The planned date for the next update is the 14th September.

Robert

Sunday, August 24 2008

The next manual is ready. Ya3dag, Other tips. What you always wanted to know about Ya3dag.
This document describes some of Ya3dag things for which any other documentation is not the right place.

• About books
• About rolls
• Time length of the day
• Notice of a level in the travel agency TravelOverland
• Displaying a level-image while loading
• .....

Saturday, August 16 2008

Today I completed the next manual. Ya3dag, Scripting language. The source of intelligence.
At startup of a level, scripts are given to misc_actor (or other objects) as an argument. They determine the reaction of such an object to events. Scripts make an object smart.
Writing scripts is something for advanced people. You need knowledge of programming languages. In addition, you need experience in dealing with Quake2 objects.
Do you know how a targetname is used? OK, read on in this documentation. If not, look at the Lazarus documentation or learn more about this at an other place.

The page Roadmap is newly created. Take a look at the future of Ya3dag.

Robert

Sunday, August 3 2008

A new documentation is ready. Ya3dag, the manual.
This manual describes almost everything you need to play Ya3dag. Take a glance at the manual before you start playing. See it on the documentation site.

Robert

Monday, July 28 2008

Alpha is the joy of creation. Omega is the documentation.
The first of the documentation updates is ready. Ya3dag_Editor.pdf is an introduction to the level editor of Ya3dag. Take a look at the newly created documentation site.

Thursday, July 24 2008

Ya3dag site launched by Planet Quake. Thanks to Jube and Chuck for support to host the site.

After many years of development, I am proud to present Ya3dag to the community of quake fanatics. Ya3dag is a shortcut for 'Yet another 3D action game'. It is a single player game. You have a few hours of adventure and fun until you've played through the game.

Ya3dag is also a yaq2m (yet another quake 2 modification). It's based on the quake 2 modification Quake2maX and the lazarus game dll. Below are some of the things added:

• Terrain is the main enhancement. The terrain is created/modified in an integrated editor. Also models and entities are managed in this editor.
• Smart NPC's. As models, any quake2 player model can be used for them. Scripting fits the behaviour. The NPC's have a memory and the player can talk with them. There is a waypoint system managed by the editor. So the NPC's know where they are and where to go.
• Integrated level editor:
  • Terrain creation/modification.
  • Texture the terrain.
  • Color the terrain.
  • Add splats to the terrain.
  • Wather, lava, haze.
  • Models of type .md2 .md3 and quake 2 .bsp are managed here.
  • Lights. Shadows are seen immediately.
  • Waypoints are managet here.
  • Settings for sun, weather, clouds, ...
• Environment simulation. Day and night change. A day in game life corresponds to 24 Minutes. There is a sun and a moon walking over the sky. Rain, snow, lightning and clouds.
• Physic simulation based on 'Newton Game Dynamics' software.
• New levels appear in the offer of the travel agency.

Friday, July 18 2008

Online, ya3dag got hosted on planet quake.
In the meantime the Version V1.01 is ready. A Windows installer and multi-language support (englisch/german) was added.

Monday, June 2 2008

A version V1.0 is ready is ready for some friends to test.
I'm looking for someone to host web pages about ya3dag.
Building my first web pages at home.