Back to why can't I get my stuff in game?
Posted: 24 Jan 2011, 23:12
This is a summery for understanding what a developer does besides help and mentor future game data developers.
First, we need a story. One with a setting problem and solution. In this case because it is a game we also need many problem and solution side quests that fall into the main problem of the game.
Than, we need graphical tiles fitting the setting of our story, so we can create maps. The way we create maps is simple. We download tiled from http://www.mapeditor.org, begin our new map and than open our tile-set. An example of a tile-set can be found here. http://updates.themanaworld.org/tmwdata/graphics/tiles/ We always use png format/file type when saving and creating an image. Map files are saved as .tmx and also .wlk files (use tmx because wlk gets a bit more complicated.)
Now, we begin making our characters known as NPC's or Non Player Characters. These characters help us give the game its game like element as well as give us the story with the ability (us as a player's ability) to troll along helping with NPC problems through out the game. When creating an NPC you must understand what client side and server side are. A client would be the program that you have downloaded to your computer either from the main site, mana source, nightly or git. Server would be what you log into when you begin playing The Mana World aka tmw (please note tmw is not the only server available; In-fact everyone is free to create there own (we do provide help allot of the time)
Now that we understand what client side and server side are. Npc's come in two parts, 3 if you count the xml required with the png image. Number 1 is of course the actual graphic of the NPC and its xml file as well as an entry with npc.xml. Second would be server sided. The actual scripting of the NPC.
When we have an NPC finished during a side quest there are usually items that are needed to complete a task given by it. This is where most of the new contributors come in. Normally make hats first because it seems easiest. Many new contributors fail to add xml files with there images or simply don't know how. (once again we provide help just ask) Most contributors fail to go through this entire process before wondering why there graphics are not really needed.
After everything is said and done one of our developers will add it to gitorious. Git is a program we use to add and update new content into the project (TMW) Gitourious is the database that holds all this information. http://www.gitorious.org/mana for example is where you would find the client. When the item becomes usable it is added into the updates and becomes available to the players.
This is a summery of how things go about around here so I hope it helps our future game data developers.
First, we need a story. One with a setting problem and solution. In this case because it is a game we also need many problem and solution side quests that fall into the main problem of the game.
Than, we need graphical tiles fitting the setting of our story, so we can create maps. The way we create maps is simple. We download tiled from http://www.mapeditor.org, begin our new map and than open our tile-set. An example of a tile-set can be found here. http://updates.themanaworld.org/tmwdata/graphics/tiles/ We always use png format/file type when saving and creating an image. Map files are saved as .tmx and also .wlk files (use tmx because wlk gets a bit more complicated.)
Now, we begin making our characters known as NPC's or Non Player Characters. These characters help us give the game its game like element as well as give us the story with the ability (us as a player's ability) to troll along helping with NPC problems through out the game. When creating an NPC you must understand what client side and server side are. A client would be the program that you have downloaded to your computer either from the main site, mana source, nightly or git. Server would be what you log into when you begin playing The Mana World aka tmw (please note tmw is not the only server available; In-fact everyone is free to create there own (we do provide help allot of the time)
Now that we understand what client side and server side are. Npc's come in two parts, 3 if you count the xml required with the png image. Number 1 is of course the actual graphic of the NPC and its xml file as well as an entry with npc.xml. Second would be server sided. The actual scripting of the NPC.
When we have an NPC finished during a side quest there are usually items that are needed to complete a task given by it. This is where most of the new contributors come in. Normally make hats first because it seems easiest. Many new contributors fail to add xml files with there images or simply don't know how. (once again we provide help just ask) Most contributors fail to go through this entire process before wondering why there graphics are not really needed.
After everything is said and done one of our developers will add it to gitorious. Git is a program we use to add and update new content into the project (TMW) Gitourious is the database that holds all this information. http://www.gitorious.org/mana for example is where you would find the client. When the item becomes usable it is added into the updates and becomes available to the players.
This is a summery of how things go about around here so I hope it helps our future game data developers.
At least that is the best answer I can come up with. Someone else might have a better point of view. Its sorta wombat and Rotonen's thing to choose what content actually goes into the game.