[Arianne-general] 3D-engine

[<Rag...@we...>]

To "all",

I'm not a graphics-programmer, so don't expect technical arguments here. I'm trying to "collect" arguments here (even though I'm a bit biased, please forgive me). But we have to make a decision on this in the near future. We can afford delaying the decisions for some weeks, but no more. This is why:

- we have to do a prototype, because we want to. Simple, but strong argument.
- we *must* make a prototype, because without an acceptable prototype, we won't attract the additional developers and artists we need - and we need *many* for an MMORPG - , because if we can't make a working prototype, good workers won't believe we can make a game at all. This insight hurts, but this is always the case with truth.
- we cannot but make a working prototype, because if we don't, some members of our team will loose motivation. There are already too much of "us" gone with the wind. It's encouraging how fast we proceed now, compared with the time - shall I say months? - nothing visible happened, but anything less, and we will sink into the sands of some open-source desert. Basic conceptual work will be done within four weeks or less, thereafter there's only tweaking left, so we cannot but do something practical.
- working on a 3D-client is fun, isn't it... :-)

what if we do wrong decisions:
- we must again choose another engine. That is (I'm citing) painful, but it can be done. Changing the engine later on is hard, but not starting now is worse. Most probably a working Arianne has to change the engine at least once anyway, so better be prepared.

what we should not do now:
- choose an engine that does not support what we want *now* for the prototype.
- choose an engine that makes animating characters difficult, because animation will be the most crucial graphical issue of Arianne (this is the gamedesigners point of view).
- choose an engine of a team or dev, who does not care for the needs of his "customers" (With irrlicht, we have to find out by simply asking).

No decision is made yet, and even though irrlich has it's head in front, we have not ruled out any other engine except for "crystal space" (<- that was the name, wasn't it? :-), and even haven't ruled out own developement (at least, I have not, even if it sounds like this now and then).

I won't nail anyone to it, and I don't want to build pressure where it's not necessary, but I'd strongly suggest that on Februar the 1st we should have made a decision on this issue.

Ragnar-GD
Arianne Lead Gamedesigner

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