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I'm taking a break
I'm going to take a break for an indefinite period from BTTC.
I'm a bit busy with other things. It looks like I have an opportunity to start my own software company writing applications for specific industries. I can seriously kick some butt here. Most of my competitors in these fields are MS lackeys that have very little design / implementation / testing skills. Their favorite phrase in the industry I am now targeting is "Lotus Notes is the best" and "We can't implement that <Critical feature X> for you."
I've also been delving deep into the heart of Linux and the Free Software world. In the past week or so, I've learned how to setup and manage a network of Linux and Windows computers. I've set up a DNS server, a DHCP server, and I am working on diskless computers at the moment. IP Masquerading, Port forwarding, and all the other delicious treats are at my fingertips. I need to polish this stuff off if I am going to even suggest Linux for the business environment. After all, I can't look like some dumb kid. I have to be an authority on the subject. When I can speak with conviction and when I am comfortable on those subjects, then I will be convincing, and then the businesspeople will trust me.
Being out of work for so long has left me a bit bored with playing around with code for fun. I feel like I have to do something useful to earn money for a while before I can go back. I can't let my family down. I have to provide them with a comfortable income.
I also hit a point in the project where I convinced myself that it can be done, and I know exactly how to do it. As a scientist, that means that I'm done with the problem, and it is time to bring in the engineers to actually put together a useful solution. I guess that means I am lazy or incompetent - but I like to believe it means I am just a scientist, trying to figure out how things work, but uninterested in making things work.
I am pretty sure I will be back - maybe in a few weeks, most likely in a few months. There is a small chance that I will never come back, but I will be back doing something, somewhere, for someone's entertainment. I have programmed games since I was a kid on the Commodore 64, and there is no reason why I would ever stop completely.
If someone wants to take over the project and manage it, or contribute to it, go for it. Take it over. Call it your own project. I gave full rights to BTTC to you individually and to all of you as a community when I put it under the GPL. I want the community to own it, and I want it to be free forever.
The SF site will remain under my control until I can trust someone to take good care of it. However, the SF site is not the only site where BTTC code can be published. You can put your own modified code anywhere you like, and you can even call it BTTC.
Jonathan
2002-06-01 17:07:20 UTC by jgardn
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Game Rules
I am programming game rules right now, working out the best way to get it done easily.
So far, you can move infantry around on the board. It's not much, but it is a beginning. I'll probably finish all the rules for infantry first, as they are the simplest. Then hopefully, I'll have worked out a good system to add rules. At that point, BattleMechs and Vehicles will be added.
Just to let you know what is happening out there.
Jonathan
2002-04-17 06:32:53 UTC by jgardn
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Graphics Revisited (and it looks great!)
The popularity of MegaMek has inspired me to move forward and implement stuff a little bit backwards. Rather than aiming to get all the support programs working first, I have decided to get the main program running and build the support programs later. I hope this will have the intended affect of turning this project into a "bazaar" and get me out of the "cathedral" building mentality.
Which means I had to get cracking on the graphics engine once again. And this time, I am proud to announce, that I am proud of the results it is churning out. After mulling over OpenGL in the back of my head, and reading the Red Book from cover to cover for the 18th time, I have some really nice results.
"Standing on the Shoulders of Giants", too many to mention here, but I'll try to assemble a list of the people whose code I have examined to bring this baby together. It really is important to become an expert in a field before trying to go very far - or at least copying what the experts have already done!
As for as for proof, I have it sitting here in my home directory. I *COULD* post some screenshots, but there are a few things that I want to fix that I know HOW to fix, so I figure, "Why bother posting screenshots when they will be totally outdated in a few hours?" I mean, I could spend an hour and post the screenshots on the web page, or I could spend an hour and add another cool feature. (And this bugger is already crawling with featuritis and I am loving it!) If you are screenshot-thirsty, come by and visit me when I pop up on IRC (Hint: watch the mailing list). I'll send you whatever you want.
Expect to see some really cool scenery. From the trees to the environment-mapped water surface, to the flowing hills, to the awesome mechs and infantry... you will be amazed. I am amazed, and I wrote it!
So, hold on to your pants, stick around, and see what you can do to help. I'm still very much in business, and the project is more alive than ever.
And PS: You won't find any working graphics code in the downloads section - you'll have to go to CVS.
Jonathan
2002-03-27 15:12:58 UTC by jgardn
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BTTC v0.3.3 coming up
Major milestons this release will hit:
1) Revamped modular BattleMech editor. A complete rewrite from head to toe to make it modular like the Vehicle Editor.
2) Advanced installation script: More features, maybe a better windows installer.
3) Hooray! Some graphics! I will steal(*) some graphics off the web of people's minis, and use them for graphics of mechs and stuff. I will also include a tutorial on how to create your own graphics using the Gimp.
4) And much, much more...
(*) I will use the graphics without permission. If the owner of the picture complains, then I will remove it.
2002-03-14 01:20:59 UTC by jgardn
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Removed Developers
I have removed all the developers. If you want to join back in, speak up and then I'll add you in if you would like to check stuff in directly.
2002-03-14 01:17:51 UTC by jgardn
