Development Blog Update - Unknown Worlds Podcast #26

FlayraFlayra Game Director, Unknown Worlds EntertainmentSan Francisco Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 3Super Administrators, NS2 Developer, Subnautica Developer
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  • invader Ziminvader Zim Join Date: 2007-09-20 Member: 62376Members
    edited July 2008
    wuhoo first post

    this is big news, will probs change alot of discussions on this forum

    the boundaries are now limitless

    i have two questons, what is the engine called?

    my suggestions - the Selection engine, or the evolution engine, the frontier engine, or the fade engine - borrowing from the games themes, or the unknown engine, borrowing from the company name.


    and how will its system requirements compare to source?
  • La ChupacabraLa Chupacabra Join Date: 2008-02-25 Member: 63729Members
    it's hard to have doubts with your enthusiasm! From your explanations it seems like a good decision to have a engine finely tuned to NS rather than tuning NS to work on source...
    <!--quoteo(post=1682981:date=Jul 10 2008, 09:30 PM:name=invader Zim)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(invader Zim @ Jul 10 2008, 09:30 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1682981"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->my suggestions - the Selection engine, or the evolution engine, the frontier engine, or the fade engine - borrowing from the games themes, or the unknown engine, borrowing from the company name.
    and how will its system requirements compare to source?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I would also advise something directly connected to NS! Onos? ;p
  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    It'll be interesting to see where this goes now that you're writing the whole engine.
  • WispWisp Join Date: 2007-12-18 Member: 63211Members, Reinforced - Diamond
    Will the game's graphics be as good or better than they would be on Source?
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Join Date: 2003-11-28 Member: 23688
    some will probably see this as a set back, but i think its good news. The source engine can be slow (and a pain in the backside!) to develope on, its pipeline is poor when compared to others. I hope the switch allows a more streamlined developement process for the devs, good luck. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • AlignAlign Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
    If this game ever comes out it's going to be so awesome.
  • FlayraFlayra Game Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment San Francisco Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 3Super Administrators, NS2 Developer, Subnautica Developer
    <!--quoteo(post=1682985:date=Jul 10 2008, 02:01 PM:name=KungFuDiscoMonkey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KungFuDiscoMonkey @ Jul 10 2008, 02:01 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1682985"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It'll be interesting to see where this goes now that you're writing the whole engine.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Definitely "as good" and probably somewhat better. Definitely more appropriate for the NS universe and indoor environments (more to come here).
  • MapsterMapster Join Date: 2007-11-01 Member: 62796Members
    edited July 2008
    It's rather upsetting to know that NS2 will not be using the ValveHammer Editor after so many people have made custom maps for when the game is released; but atleast now the game is more open for modifications so for all we know you could make an even better map editor.

    EDIT:
    Engine Names: Selective / Open / Extraterrestrial
  • Lt_HendricksonLt_Hendrickson Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14761Members
    free pens if there is no bhopping on the new engine
  • BreadManBreadMan Join Date: 2002-12-15 Member: 10854Members, Retired Developer
    edited July 2008
    But can it do physics? One of the things I always smiled about was the thought of things (marine bodies) reacting realistically to an Onos charge.

    +1 vote for keeping the engine name local. Constellation Engine? Hive Engine? Course that might get a little confusing since you'd invariably be calling it just "Hive" by the next podcast. "What Hive? The hive in Hive or just Hive hive?" I like The Unknown Engine, or TUE for short.

    Edit: Would love to see some maya-like controls make their way into the new editor, such as a manipulator for moving/rotating/scaling in the 3d view and a quick way to maximize whichever view you're currently working in and toggle quickly back to all 4 views (a quick tap of the spacebar in maya).
  • cerberus414cerberus414 Join Date: 2005-05-07 Member: 51098Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    Holy crap, this is good news. I mean, I'm personally a big fan of companies developing games on their own engines because it's optimized just for THAT game. More universal engines like UE3 tend to have lots of issues (ie. lawsuit Epic vs Too Human devs). From past experience, I realized that Source engine doesn't have a much better netcode than it's predecessor, GoldSrc, if not worse. Source was intended to be used primarily for developing single player games. If the Unknown Engine can forget about unnecessary things like AI (like they said in the podcast) and really nail down the netcode, then NS2 will be one hell of a game. I don't think I've ever been more excited. Thanks UWE!
  • SuperflySuperfly Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3485Members, Constellation
    You guys make me nervous when you say things like "borrow" and "feels like". Be fearful of large corporate lawyers.
  • PogoPPogoP Environment Artist Join Date: 2004-01-31 Member: 25827Members, NS2 Developer, Constellation
    Good to see you finally announce this new engine Charlie! It's gonna rock! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
  • MaxMax Technical Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment Join Date: 2002-03-15 Member: 318Super Administrators, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts, Future Perfect Developer
    edited July 2008
    <!--quoteo(post=1682995:date=Jul 10 2008, 03:03 PM:name=BreadMan)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BreadMan @ Jul 10 2008, 03:03 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1682995"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->But can it do physics? One of the things I always smiled about was the thought of things (marine bodies) reacting realistically to an Onos charge.

    +1 vote for keeping the engine name local. Constellation Engine? Hive Engine? Course that might get a little confusing since you'd invariably be calling it just "Hive" by the next podcast. "What Hive? The hive in Hive or just Hive hive?" I like The Unknown Engine, or TUE for short.

    Edit: Would love to see some maya-like controls make their way into the new editor, such as a manipulator for moving/rotating/scaling in the 3d view and a quick way to maximize whichever view you're currently working in and toggle quickly back to all 4 views (a quick tap of the spacebar in maya).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    We do have physics in the engine. At the moment we're using NVIDIA's PhysX middleware. The Unreal Engine also uses it, so I figure it's probably a decent choice. We also integrated the Bullet physics engine and we can switch between them easily, so we have the option to ship with either.

    Both of those features are in the editor already. All of the editing operations can be done in the perspective view, and my goals is to make it so that you don't really need to use the orthographic views at all (I don't really like them personally).
  • PogoPPogoP Environment Artist Join Date: 2004-01-31 Member: 25827Members, NS2 Developer, Constellation
    edited July 2008
    I don't like the orthographic views either, but in a brush-based engine I think they are pretty much essential for precision world-sculpting.

    Edit - The 'Nostromo' engine? I think somehow the engine name should link back to the influences of UWE's games, ie Alien.
  • ArghArgh Join Date: 2004-09-07 Member: 31508Members
    edited July 2008
    If you are looking for an engine name (did Charlie suggest Maxor on the podcast?), how about Evolution Engine. Fits in well with the environment (but isn't too specific), doesn't have the same initials as any other 3D engines I know of, and unlikely to be confused with the old Harley Davidson motorcycle engines of the same name.

    Edit: huge apologies to Invader Zim, who suggested this before me. No idea how I missed that!
  • CanadianWolverineCanadianWolverine Join Date: 2003-02-07 Member: 13249Members
    "Wow!" That is what I thought when I heard the news.

    Glad to hear it is resulting in accelerated pace, I feel that is important for your starting venture into a game beyond where Zen of Sudoku, though I really hope you get to release more casual games at some point - personally I am really getting into the "casual" scene, I like the price range, the amount of spare time spent, and how it seems geared towards specialized fun (I'm thinking of Audiosurf and Peggle as I type this).

    Hmm, Name the Engine? <b>Unknown World Creator</b> - Makes me think of a whole galaxy to explore and geared towards the creative.
  • Dark RageDark Rage Join Date: 2007-12-05 Member: 63081Members
    edited July 2008
    Definitely awesome news. Anything that helps to streamline your process just makes life easier.

    My vote for the new engine name : The Origin Engine
  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Join Date: 2008-06-17 Member: 64467Members
    What can I say, I'm just happy to see progress on NS2, just makes me happy lol
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Wow, haven't listened to the podcast but apparently you're writing your own engine or something? I have some free time so maybe I'll download it. That's pretty big news.
  • CxwfCxwf Join Date: 2003-02-05 Member: 13168Members, Constellation
    Guys, guys, you're missing a hidden consequence of this announcement:

    They're writing a brand new engine which will save resources by not including AI at all, since its purely multiplayer. That means -- No babblers! Gasp! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/skulk.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::skulk::" border="0" alt="skulk.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/skulk.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::skulk::" border="0" alt="skulk.gif" />

    >.>

    In all seriousness, great job team, and so far I've liked Origin and Evolution as suggestions for the engine name.
  • killkrazykillkrazy Join Date: 2007-09-10 Member: 62238Members
    edited July 2008
    <!--sizeo:7--><span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><!--coloro:#FFFF00--><span style="color:#FFFF00"><!--/coloro--><!--fonto:Franklin Gothic Medium--><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic Medium"><!--/fonto-->The Darwin Engine<!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->â„¢<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--> (or just "Darwin")
    I'm half excited, half scared... I'm not doubting Max, that's not for me to do, but can he single handedly create a multiplayer game engine that is on par, or beyond that of Source? .. I'm hoping so <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
    It does, however, seem like all the screenshots look like HL1 engine, but I'm not a coding tech-head so I don't know what that means in reality <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
  • locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1682984:date=Jul 10 2008, 04:57 PM:name=La Chupacabra)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(La Chupacabra @ Jul 10 2008, 04:57 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1682984"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->it's hard to have doubts with your enthusiasm!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    +10, just hearing you talk about it made me enthusiastic.
    <!--quoteo(post=1682994:date=Jul 10 2008, 05:54 PM:name=Lt_Hendrickson)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lt_Hendrickson @ Jul 10 2008, 05:54 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1682994"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->free pens if there is no bhopping on the new engine<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    LOL!

    There sure are a lot of good name suggestions out there. A couple more:
    NanoTec
    Catalyst (Might have to fight ATI for that one though)
    Leap
    Blink
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    I like "Darwin" pretty well.

    I'm mourning the loss of all your awesome Source tools right now, but at the same time I'm pretty pumped about the new engine. I mean I doubt you guys would screw up something this big. I can't wait to see what comes out when you have your very own engine. And I trust you guys when you say you won't slip into vaporware territory <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />

    I can also understand moving away from Source. I mean I've literally spent hours trying to get a model into that thing. Jeez.
  • BuzzouBuzzou Join Date: 2006-12-14 Member: 59056Members, Constellation
    great work guys, good to hear you're making lots of progress, can't wait to see some proper screenshots too!

    as for a name, i think darwin is the best one so far - its tied in with the natural selection theme, and wont be confused with any other part of the game. if not, maybe beagle?
  • WatchMakerWatchMaker Join Date: 2003-09-26 Member: 21233Members, Constellation
    The Colbert Engine.
  • glimmermanglimmerman Join Date: 2004-04-29 Member: 28300Members, Constellation
    edited July 2008
    The Carnot Engine?

    It's not related to NS, but if you guys start developing other games you can use it for that as well.

    and for those who don't know, the Carnot Cycle is a cycle in a hypothetical heat engine (commonly called the carnot engine) and is the most efficent engine possible.
  • schkorpioschkorpio I can mspaint Join Date: 2003-05-23 Member: 16635Members
    what about calling it the "ULTIMATE SWITCH" engine

    wow what a shock, but it makes a lot of sense to just make an engine 100% focused on the needs of NS2.

    It sounds like the editing tools will really be something - i've personally always found hammer very slow - where as with qradient you could whip up a basic map in a couple of hours.

    Good Luck <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
  • kingmobkingmob Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3650Members, Constellation
    Very interesting news!

    I like the picture of the editor too.
    I noticed it's Vista. :-)
    I fear the Vista.
  • whocareswcwhocareswc Join Date: 2007-07-31 Member: 61735Members
    hehe nice work guys.. or should i say guy.. Flayra. what do you do.. it was quite funny listening to the pod cast and hearing that. we needed such and such, so Max did it . then we wanted to see people walk around, so Max disappeared for a week, then we wanted a new chain, so max made one... etc..

    still.. your 'all' doing good work

    call the engine 'maximize' its his baby. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
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