Random questions about the wiki tutorial

[The 4th Class]

Is it finished? Or do people contribute to it page by page every so often? Because I'm sure there's a LOT Vavoom can do that's not covered in there.

Also, I'm sure you've been asked this hundreds of times Janis, but how come VavoomC doesn't support multidimensional arrays? They shouldn't be too difficult to implement, and they can be really powerful tools (perhaps if you only write embarrassingly novice problems like me )

[Crimson Wizard]

Is it finished? Or do people contribute to it page by page every so often? Because I'm sure there's a LOT Vavoom can do that's not covered in there.

It is far from being finished. Maybe you ask something that isn't covered there, then we add what you need. At least there'll be some real incentive to do this (I wanted to write classes reference there a lot time ago, but then I've got a job, then joined Korax Team, and nearly all my free time became spend, so my plans were abandoned).

Also, I'm sure you've been asked this hundreds of times Janis, but how come VavoomC doesn't support multidimensional arrays? They shouldn't be too difficult to implement, and they can be really powerful tools (perhaps if you only write embarrassingly novice problems like me )

BTW, I asked that too. But, after all, still I hardly can remember a situation when I needed multidimensional array so much that I couldn't solve the problem elsewise.
Until multidimensional arrays are not present in Vavoom I may suggest you to use following scheme:

e.g. you need array:

Code: Select all

int a[10][10];

so you make it this way:

Code: Select all

struct int10_t
{
       int value[10];
};
int10_t a[10];

[The 4th Class]

It is far from being finished. Maybe you ask something that isn't covered there, then we add what you need. At least there'll be some real incentive to do this (I wanted to write classes reference there a lot time ago, but then I've got a job, then joined Korax Team, and nearly all my free time became spend, so my plans were abandoned).

Well, since one's asking (:D), I would like to see a tutorial on how to build more "complicated" weapons, like the ones that the weapon tutorial in there already says it doesn't cover. Come to think of it, some of the pages in there need a LOT more explanation to them! Such a poor beginner like me can't even get by the instructions, let alone the code. Also, which file is responsible for the player's death? (ie: he falls to the ground and the screen homes in on the enemy who killed him) There are just so many files that I'm lost.

O yeah, and what's Tableshit?

BTW, I asked that too. But, after all, still I hardly can remember a situation when I needed multidimensional array so much that I couldn't solve the problem elsewise.
Until multidimensional arrays are not present in Vavoom I may suggest you to use following scheme:

e.g. you need array:

Code: Select all

int a[10][10];

so you make it this way:

Code: Select all

struct int10_t
{
       int value[10];
};
int10_t a[10];

Data structures I understand. Data structures I can do.

[Crimson Wizard]

I would like to see a tutorial on how to build more "complicated" weapons, like the ones that the weapon tutorial in there already says it doesn't cover.

"I'll think about this."
( (c) Janis Legzdinsh )

Also, which file is responsible for the player's death?

I believe you should seek DeathPlayerTick() function in Player.vc file and Died() function in Actor.vc file. Cannot say more accurate now.

O yeah, and what's Tableshit?

It is different sorts of... err... table shit...
Just decors, like candles and such.

[Firebrand]

It was a long time since I touched the Wiki pages, I made an initial edit of most of the line/sector specials and some basic documents from the engine itself, but I haven't been able to make more interesting and complex stuff as of now, but I'm sure Crimson Wizard is still interested in completing the classes hierarchy and VavoomC documentation, I'm also interested on seeing it complete, it looks interesting in the way he structured the information, when completed it could be a cool tool (sounds funny, heh!) for anyone to make anything with VavoomC, and as you can see with the latest KA versions, it's powerfull as hell, it allows you to create almost anything if you know what you are doing .

As for you 4th Class, I would keep exploring the VavoomC source looking for stuff, I might guess that you can understand it better than the original source, right?

[The 4th Class]

Alright, I guess I really have no choice but to start off with Vavoom. Though I'll admit I'm not a huge fan of 3D sprites and floors when it comes to Hexen: I think it takes away the nostaligia feel and makes it look more like Quake ][ (which I hated, btw ). That's not to criticize your work, Janis: I think you've done a fantastic job, and by the looks of it, I'm in your debt for you making it. Just that when I play Hexen, I load it up with DOS.

[Crimson Wizard]

The only thing that I didn't like in Vavoom at first was that sprites are really plane and when you jump and see them above they look like thin sheet of paper.
That's why it is much better to play with models... although some of them made me laugh mad especially Chaos Serpents.

[Crimson Wizard]

By the way, 4th Class, I may recommend you to review following threads here, where I asked alot of different questions about Vavoom from the time I came here:

"Some questions about building mod"

"4 more questions on Vavoom C programming"

And maybe you have some ideas of "more complicated weapon" which should be created in tutorial?

[Crimson Wizard]

about weapon tutorial...

http://www.vavoom-engine.com/forums/vie ... =4071#4071

[The 4th Class]

Thanks, I'll check'em out. Btw just curious, what kind of computer are you using? (like microprocessor, CPU, OS, that kinda stuff) I'll be buying a laptop soon (not necessarily a NEW one ), and I want to make sure that I can still play the old DOOM-engine games perfectly on it without having to go through any emulators and whatnot. In my experience with this, NT-based Windows OS's (especially XP) are no good for DOS games, so if I'm gonna get a Windows OS, it would most likely be in the 9x family. Either that, or I get a Linux distribution. Or, how about a dual boot?

[Crimson Wizard]

Huh, my home PC has Intel Celeron 2.53 GHz and I am using Windows XP.
As for DOS games, they can be easily run under DOS emulators. I usually use DOSBox v.0.63. (Without it I won't be able to play original Hexen at all and DR as well ). Then I also worked on old laptop with Pentium I CPU and Win98, but it became broken

[The 4th Class]

Yeah when I'm using my new comp (HP-Pavillion, AMD Athlon 2.2 GHz, WinXP), I have no choice but to use DOSBox. The only trouble I have with DOSBox is that it simply eats all my CPU, else it's just too slow. Other than it, it's a close second to an OS that actually supports DOS (like the Windows 9x series, or better yet, DOS itself ).

Anyway, when it comes to running old games like that, my best computer is my Compaq Presario, 900 MHz, WinME. It plays DOS games like magic without the need of any emulator, especially with the modern MIDI card breathing new life into it, but the trouble with this comp is the ME explains everything. It's been fried for years, and unfortunately at this rate I have no option but to either replace it with a comp with similar specs, or move on.

Way things look, if I do get that used laptop, I'll run it on a Win98/GNU Linux dual boot, though it just makes makes more sense to go for a modern processor, so I'm not completely stuck back in time.