Coding Competition Feb 24 - March 12 (WINNER - ASHEN)

[Rocco]

Ok, here is the theme for the 5th round Coding Competition:

Turn-based games

This is also a wide range field.
The Goal for competitors is, to release a code snippet
which supports a turn based situation in ags games,
regardless of which way you want.

Below are very good examples of turn based games:

fighting turn based:
jagged alliance
x-com
heroes of might and magic
Hovendall Tactics (independent game) - download (englisch 2,4 mb) -> http://gamemaker.nl/games_exe/hdtactics.zip

time turn based
where in the world is carmen sandiego
they stole a million (planning part)
the clou (planning part) - download (german 3mb) -> http://www.gohai.net/clou32.exe
24 hours (AGS 1 room Game) - download -> http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=679

economic simulation games (time turn based)
vermeer - download (german 130 mb) -> http://rapidshare.de/files/13755111/VEM.rar.html http://rapidshare.de/files/13755554/VEM.r00.html
oil imperium

general
Civilization

Here are the rules:
1. Must be open-source. We can hardly inspect your coding if we cant see it.
2. Must contain instructions for how to add to an existing game, this will obviously be easier if the scripting is done as a module
3. Only use of the 3D, TCP/IP and maths plugins are allowed
4. Must provide sample game using the turn engine (obviously!)
5. Team efforts are allowed, and you're probably expected to get help for sprites, etc from elsewhere.
6. As far as possible, entries will be judged on their scripting and gameplay rather than GFX, SFX, music, etc.
7. Winner will be decided by 1 week of voting at the end.

Please, post here if you're thinking of entering.
Im looking forward to see many entries, beside Ashens. ;-)

Let the turn begin.

[Ashen]

So what exactly do you want us to do? A couple of your examples, I wouldn't exactly say where turn-based, as I understand it. (And a couple of them I've never played/heard of, so they're no help.)

[Rocco]

The straightforward way would be to build a module which supports turn based fighting,
in the way of jagged alliance, or this example -> http://gamemaker.nl/games_exe/hdtactics.zip
The other approach could be a module which supports time turn based games, where every action needs time, like this http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=679
but all is allowed, if it provide that the game stops then the player could do his actions (turn).
i hope this isnt to complicated, and passaply clear.

EDIT: Sorry for the false game link, I mean Hovendall Tactics - http://gamemaker.nl/games_exe/hdtactics.zip
and not Magical Drop which is no turn based game.

[Akumayo]

I'll hopefully have time to scrap together an entry, so much to do right now...Ã, 
I look forward to seeing the entries in the meantime.

I'm not quite sure I really understand the topic.  We're supposed to build a module/template that contains an engine for turn based battle systems?  Or are we supposed to build a game that uses a turn based battle system?  What are we aiming at?  An engine?  A game?  A system?  I'm confused...

[Rocco]

no limitation in this case, it must fit to the rules this is important.
so it can be a turn based fighting module, or a open source game with a turn based battle system.
annotation: I hope most to see a turn based battle system in action,
but dont think only on battle systems, theres a lot of possibilities for a turn based game,
the most board games are turn based as well. 

[Akumayo]

I don't really feel like putting a game together.  Maybe I'll write a tutorial on how to build a turn based game, and have code snippets and a battle engine of sorts within it.  That would count as an entry, right?  It's open source, it definately contains instructions on how to add a game, and I suppose I could make a sample game using it.

[Rocco]

That would be great, but dont focus only on the battle system.
I have realized, that most of your games have a turn based approach.
So Labyrinth is a turn based game, and a sort of module for this style of RPG would be very interesting.
Also Chess is a turn based game.
So I guess, it isnt a big deal for you, to make an entry this turnÃ, 

[Akumayo]

Hrm... Labyrinth IS turn based isn't it?  Sadly, it uses old style coding, and isn't object-based, so it wouldn't be pretty or efficient as an entry.  :'(
I could remake it I suppose, as object based, but I really don't want to, it might mess up.  Chess though, it was made with object-based.  It is turn based, so I guess it could be an entry, except that it wouldn't exactly be easy to add a new game to it, you can pretty much only change it by changing the sprites.

This tutorial I proposed would have a system similar to Labyrinth, but much more like Black Flames:  Path of Methias. ( http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=23809.0 )

I'm still not sure what I'll do...

[Rocco]

oh man, black flames is amazing.
funny thing that your are the master of turn based RPG Games.
if i had known that before, my sleep would be much better the last days.
cause i was in doubt, that in the worst case nobody will enter to this topic.
but now im sure you will enter with an great entry and also ashen will.Ã, 

[Akumayo]

I wouldn't call myself "master" of turn-based RPG's, rather, I'm an "obsessor" over them.Ã,  Other games (excluding arcade) are boring.Ã,  My favorite games have always been, and most likely always will be:

Shooters
Arcade
RPG

I am working on my entry right nowÃ, 

EDIT:
    My entry is well on its way.  I have the sample game finished, so now I have to extract a template from it, and I'll be ready!  I like this topic.

[Rocco]

*push*
its halftime now, and the attendance seems very low.
deadline is sunday next week.
So please coders come on, it could be real fun to assembly a little turn engine,
think about your favorite boardgames or things like that.

Akumayo and Ashen - is it going smoothly?
praying and looking forward, to at least 2 entrys.
the job as topicstarter is much more challenging, as to participate with an entry. 

[Endrews]

I have a game step by step strategy with elements of RPG on system: fighting turn based!
it suits for this competition?

links:
http://www.endrewzgamez.h16.ru/dlrt2.rar
http://www.endrewsgames.h15.ru/dlrt2.rar

page:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=693

topic:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=25355.0

for download try FlashGet!or any other

If it suits I shall lay out the open code, it enough big on size!

[Rocco]

I have a game step by step strategy with elements of RPG on system: fighting turn based!
it suits for this competition?

If it suits I shall lay out the open code, it enough big on size!

hello endrews,

this suits perfect :-), it has similar mechanic to heroes of might and magic i guess.Ã,  :o
i loaded it from here -> http://www.endrewsgames.h15.ru/Page2_8.htm
cause the first two downloadlinks dont work for me.
i'm looking forward in happy anticipation to your entryÃ, 

[Endrews]

I have a game step by step strategy with elements of RPG on system: fighting turn based!
it suits for this competition?

If it suits I shall lay out the open code, it enough big on size!

hello endrews,

this suits perfect :-), it has similar mechanic to heroes of might and magic i guess.Ã,  :o
i loaded it from here -> http://www.endrewsgames.h15.ru/Page2_8.htm
cause the first two downloadlinks dont work for me.
i'm looking forward in happy anticipation to your entryÃ, 

The open source(It is a folder of game for AGS)(size:8mb)

http://www.endrewzgamez.h16.ru/code.rar

Try download through FlashGet! Or any another
Or press on the opened page on the second line allocated red a word, it is a link(Stupid free-of-charge hosting)
It should look approximately so->çäåñü.

if you don't have FlashGet!
http://www.endrewzgamez.h16.ru/Page2_8.htm
and click in a bottom of page under a screenshot
[code of game] - game code
[download full version of game Dangerous Lands] - download game

I shall remove this file after March, 12th

[Rocco]

great, thx endrews
the first entry :-)))

two things:

see the initial posting for -
competition rules point 2:
its great that you post your complete game, but not necessary.
for this competition it would be interesting to have some codeexamples, which are useful and easy to implement for other developers.
so i admit (only if you have enough time and you are willing to) that you make either a module or a template or one room, which contains only the fighting part of your game, with a little explanation what is going on in the code.
cause the whole game is very difficult to overlook and understand. (in the meaning of this competition)

and rules point 7:
the voting starts on 12th march, and will end one week later.
so i suggest that you let the code accessible, until 19th march or so.

thanks for your entry, i like this one very muchÃ, 

[Endrews]

ОK I have understood all, how about this:
http://www.endrewzgamez.h16.ru/code.rar

How to make game in style "fighting turn based" on this available engine of game Dangerous Lands Tournament+?
http://www.endrewzgamez.h16.ru/Page3_6.htm
Newer to the address:
http://www.endrewzgamez.h16.ru/FAQ.txt

[Akumayo]

Now for my entry.  Due to my utter lack of all artistic ability, I ripped sprites from FMA (Full Metal Alchemist) after I had the system built, therefore the weapons are a bit wierd considering the people who are weilding them.

Anyhow, this is a turn based, GUI interface.  It uses mouse cursors to detect weapon type, structs to detect weapon being used and character stats, and has a wide range of possibility for usage.  Included in the download is both the demo game and the template.  Enjoy I hope!!!

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Akumayo_Turn_Based_Battle.zip

-Regards, Glacies Akumayo

[Rocco]

we have 2 entrys now, i smell a slightly feeling of a competition :-)

thx, endrews is a lot more handy now.
thx also to akumayo for your entry, cool to see different approaches so far.

one thing:
all two entries dont contain much commented code.
endrews entry has a few lines and at least a faq, which is a good thing.
whereas in akums entry isn't one comment, which makes the thing not much easier to understand.
it would be a good practice for programmers in general, to comment some codesections.
its not only for other developers as in this competition, but also for yourself - imagine yourself a year later, starring at your code and asking yourself - oh my god whats going on here.

so thanks for the entrys so far,
5 days left for entrys (ashen:)) .

[Ashen]

Sorry to say, I won't be finished in time. It's alright for you lot that're already working on turn-based games, but I had to start from scratch and haven't had much of a chance this last week to work on it.

I'll see if I can turn what I've got into something vaguely enterable, but I doubt I'll be able to - it's much to full of holes right now.

EDIT:
Excellent....
I didn't want to ask for an extention as it didn't seem fair this late on, but since you're offering - I'll take it. The 14th should give me enough time to get what I've got working, as well as polishing up and explaining my code some more.

[Rocco]

hi ashen,
i think its better for all to have more entrys, and therefore expand the deadline a little bit.
so if nobody complains, we set the new deadline to 14th march.
so you have a few more hours to improve your entry, and release it in the condition it will be on 14th.

[Akumayo]

Code: ags

if (CodeComp.Deadline == 14) {
  Ashen.EnterCodeComp = 1;
}
if (Ashen.EnterCodeComp == 1 && Akumayo.EnterCodeComp == 1) {
  Ashen.WinCodeComp = 1;
  Akumayo.WinCodeComp = 0;
  Ashen.Mood = eMoodHappy;
  Akumayo.Mood = eMoodSad;
}

[Afflict]

LOL 

[Ashen]

Your confidence is appreciated, Akumayo, but I don't think I deserve it. This time, anyway. :

Presenting ATBFET: Ashen's Turn-Based Fight Engine Thing.
Zip contains:
   atbfet.agt, an AGS template,
   Fighters, a folder containing source code and Complied version of a one-room demo game,
   ATBFET.txt, a readme file.

By concentrating on getting what I had working, rather than adding anything, I've actually managed to finish more-or-less on time. The downside is, while what's there is pretty good if I do say so myself, it's really too incomplete to stand much of a chance (unless the thorough commenting of the code counts for 90% of the vote...). Getting it to what I originally wanted would take more than a two day extension, so I might as well enter now.


EDIT:
Forgot to mention: Due to string usage, it's really meant for V2.7, but it can be updated easily enough.

[Rocco]

yuhuu, we have three entrys :-))))
thank you very much ashen, for setting up your entry.
Ok so we dont need a time extension and the voting can start now.

my subjective summary:

best documented
ashen - 1st
endrews - 2nd
akumayo - 3rd

easiest to use and extend:
ashen - 1st
akumayo - 2nd
endrews - 3rd

looks most 'finished':
akumayo - 1st
endrews - 2nd
ashen - 3rd

start from scratch:
ashen - 1st
akumayo, endrews - 2nd

most fun (for me):
endrews - 1st
akumayo - 2nd
ashen - 3rd

overall impression
all 3 entrys equal.
normally, in the meaning of this contest, i should vote for ashen,
cause when im thinking about implementing endrews or akus entry in an own game,
i guess its easier to code the whole thing again by myself, as to tweak around with this tons of mostly undocumented code. ;-)
but the closest entry for my personal preference and expectation is endrews entry.
so my vote goes to: endrews
thank you all three for the entrys. :-))))

[Akumayo]

I started my entry from scratch.  It's the first one I've ever build using structs instead of individual variables.

[Ashen]

But it was based on a system you'd already done, right? It looked very familiar from somewhere (from the playerr's perspective, anyway).

My Summary (no offense intended to anybody, I'm just trying to be thorough):

In terms of 'playablity', I way prefered Endrews' entry. I liked that it had party combat - something I was hoping to have in mine, but would've required time-consuming rewrites, and which really doesn't look to be possible with Akumayo's system, without it being easier for you to start from scratch on it. It also looked like it would fit into a game better than Akumayo's, which I think would be quite jarring, mid game.

However ... A part - a large part - of the Comp has to be how easily the system can be intigrated into another game, and on this Akumayo wins hands down. There's not much (OK, none at all) in the way of comments, but the formatting of the code and the naming comventions used make it quite self-explainatory. Endrews' on the other hand is really quite horribly over-written (hundreds of seperate int declaraions where a few structs/arrays would've done, functions declared in Global & Room scripts), dense and confusing. I can see that it works - and works well - but I've had a hell of a time figuring out HOW it does anything, and I'm still not totally sure about much of it. Even a few more on-point comments would've helped a great deal, although I'm willing to concede that a lot of the formatting issue is to taste.

Overall, then, I'm going to vote for ... Akumayo, for providing what I'd say was the more useful resource, that being IMO the main point of this Comp. Although if Endrews' had been just a little more clearly coded, it'd have been a very hard decision.

On a general note, it's a shame to see we all went for fight-based entries.

[Akumayo]

Well, I suppose I'd better vote too, since Ashen did...

At first glance, Endrews would be my choice, becuase his battles are fun and party based, which is difficult to script, he has my kudos for that.

However... Ashen's commented code makes it easy to understand what is happening and why, and I think if I were to try to build off one of the entry's, or put them into a game, I would use Ashen's, becuase it would be easiest to change and re-engineer.

So, I cast  my vote for

Ashen

[scourge]

my vote: ashen

Endrews played the best. Akumayo's was awesome and you're constently improving, but Ashen's module gets my vote.

[Akumayo]

Well, it's been three days, does Ashen win?  What's happening Rocco?

[Ashen]

The rules say a week of voting, don't they? So I suppose we've got until the 19th, unless Rocco wants to call it sooner.

Come on people, get voting! Don't make Akumayo eMoodSad!

[Rocco]

Good, so lets finish this turn, cause it isn't much activity here and it make not much sense to wait until sunday.
I agree with all posts above, and im happy to anounce the merited winner.
WINNER - ASHEN

[Corey]

oh i realisched too late that this is a voting competition... oh well I would have voted on ashen anyway

[Ashen]

OK, this is a surprise.... Thanks all. (And - what were you thinking? )

It'll probably be a couple of days before I start a new one, unless anyone has a suggestion for a theme?