I’ve been working on Eclipse a lot lately. I’ve changed the build system, and also vastly improved the menu system. So, I was thinking that since I’m spending so much time and effort making the game, I might as well make as cool as I can. So, I thought that instead of just making it 2D, I could do a top down 3D view instead. I’m already using OpenGL, so it shouldn’t take that much work to change the current code to 3D. It would make it easier to use particle effects too, so I could have cool looking explosions, and a better looking flame from the ship’s engine.
First, I would have to see if there are any file formats for storing 3D models that would be easy enough to implement. Then, I’d probably set the projection mode to a perspective view (instead of the orthographic view I use now), and get the coordinate system set up the same way as it is now. Then, all I’d have to do is to make a 3D version of the sprite class, and I could program it the same way I am now.
I have to try that out before I start writing game code. It’s a good thing that I have started storing the code in a GIT repository, because I can just roll back the changes if anything goes wrong. I’ve also ported Eclipse to the Autotools build system, and added internationalisation support. I don’t have any completed translations yet, but anyway…
What ever I decide, one thing that definitely needs to be done is resolution independence. Then I’ll need to make two new widgets. A spin-button kind of thing (or drop-down box) to select the resolution, and a checkbox to select full screen mode.
