Development Blog Update - Spark Engine Questions and Answers #1

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
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Please post comments on the topic Development Blog Update - Spark Engine Questions and Answers #1 here
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  • BCSephBCSeph Join Date: 2005-02-24 Member: 42384Members, Constellation
    Neat Info. In regards to the whole toolset encompassed in the Spark Engine, I cant think of a modern engine that ONLY consists of graphics rendering. Think Unreal 3 - has tons of software that comes with it, etc. The entire development aspect is still called the Unreal3 engine.
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  • schkorpioschkorpio I can mspaint Join Date: 2003-05-23 Member: 16635Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1750404:date=Feb 3 2010, 03:03 AM:name=Max)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Max @ Feb 3 2010, 03:03 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750404"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Please post comments on the topic Development Blog Update - Spark Engine Questions and Answers #1 here<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <3 UWE

    keep up the good work guys :D
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  • WatchMakerWatchMaker Join Date: 2003-09-26 Member: 21233Members, Constellation
    "...we wanted to make sure the technology was flexible enough that we wouldn't have to start again from scratch for the next game."

    NS3 confirmed?
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  • locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
    Cool update Max! Interesting idea crowdsourcing the windows specific bits.
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  • noncomposmentisnoncomposmentis Join Date: 2004-11-13 Member: 32773Members
    Yay, a Max post! I'm sure the one or two Mac and Linux gamers will be pleased by the cross-platform talk.
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  • ctdctd Join Date: 2009-06-01 Member: 67611Members
    After looking at <a href="http://www.steampowered.com/steamworks/index.php" target="_blank">http://www.steampowered.com/steamworks/index.php</a> I have a Few Q's regarding steamworks:

    Does integrating Steamworks mean the game will be attached to our steam accounts like say DoW2 or MW2 is?
    Will updates/DLC/patches etc download from steam content servers automatically or will we do it manually from UWE?
    What about the inclusion of things like Steam Cloud, VAC, in-game voice, Steam Community, Stats, and Achievements?

    Thanks.
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  • JibrailJibrail Join Date: 2009-04-16 Member: 67200Members
    great blog max allthough I didnt send my questions ( cause I just found out 1 hour ago ) to you I got most of them answeard more or less.
    keep up the good work and Im looking forward another blog from ya.
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  • pufuwozupufuwozu Join Date: 2010-02-02 Member: 70407Members
    Releasing the DirectDraw specific layers sounds like a really interesting idea!

    I would really like to help contribute porting the layer to OpenGL so that I can have it run on Linux.
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  • ozbirdboyozbirdboy Join Date: 2007-08-07 Member: 61827Confirm Email
    Good blog Max; thanks for the clarification on steamworks and other OS support.

    Looking forward to the next few posts!
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  • Ryo-OhkiRyo-Ohki Join Date: 2009-03-26 Member: 66917Members
    Steamworks confirmation? You've made my day.
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  • AhnteisAhnteis teh Bob Join Date: 2002-10-02 Member: 1405Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    So glad to hear you've been working equally hard on the game! :)
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  • kramedkramed Join Date: 2006-11-10 Member: 58525Members, Reinforced - Gold
    Very cool update. As a programmer (dont do games though) it is very cool hearing about the technology used. I am glad your not working on the engine alone anymore. That would be enough to make someone go bald in no time (unless your John Carmack). You guys should get someone dedicated to work on the tools so you guys dont have to ###### around with wxWidgets either. Anyways, hope progress is being made.

    More updates like this.
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  • DeeDee Canada Join Date: 2002-12-15 Member: 10836Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=1750408:date=Feb 2 2010, 04:38 PM:name=WatchMaker)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (WatchMaker @ Feb 2 2010, 04:38 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750408"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->NS3 confirmed?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Zen of Sudoku 2
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  • Mr. EpicMr. Epic Join Date: 2003-08-01 Member: 18660Members, Constellation
    edited February 2010
    <!--quoteo(post=1750435:date=Feb 2 2010, 09:30 PM:name=Dee)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dee @ Feb 2 2010, 09:30 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750435"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Zen of Sudoku 2<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    preorder for the NS2 DLC.
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  • oblivion is at handoblivion is at hand Join Date: 2009-06-14 Member: 67833Members
    edited February 2010
    <!--quoteo(post=1750408:date=Feb 2 2010, 04:38 PM:name=WatchMaker)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (WatchMaker @ Feb 2 2010, 04:38 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750408"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->"...we wanted to make sure the technology was flexible enough that we wouldn't have to start again from scratch for the next game."

    NS3 confirmed?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    More like The The Zen of Sudoku 2: The Revenge Gaiden

    Edit: sorry always sucks when someone beats you to the joke when you don't read all the posts
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  • noncomposmentisnoncomposmentis Join Date: 2004-11-13 Member: 32773Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1750436:date=Feb 2 2010, 07:33 PM:name=CyberMantis)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CyberMantis @ Feb 2 2010, 07:33 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750436"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->preorder for the NS2 DLC.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You joke, but if this game was made by EA..................
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  • DakillaDakilla Join Date: 2004-08-31 Member: 31063Members
    edited February 2010
    if you opensource the windows DirectX graphics code, there will be a community port to OpenGL (and it will be a PR stunt too). and i can live with typeing in the server adress.
    its just to run steam under wine to check the servers there and copy paste to the Linux client. its very ugly but it will work!
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  • booiiingbooiiing Join Date: 2010-01-08 Member: 69971Members
    edited February 2010
    maybe you could use <a href="http://www.linuxgames.com/xqf/index.shtml" target="_blank">XQF</a> as a server-browser on linux?
    the project seem quite dead, but it is actually stable and useable and maybe adding a new game to it will be less effort than providing your own server-browser?

    also: releasing the low-level api and having it ported by community-members is ++good! be sure to announce this in #icculus.org in freenode to get some high-grade game-developers/porters interested in this!
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  • wilbefastwilbefast Join Date: 2009-10-18 Member: 69079Members
    edited February 2010
    Good to hear you're going to supporting other platforms *eventually* if nothing else we're a patient bunch, and it's understandable that you need the revenue from this ASAP. Money is autonomy.

    PS - any word on Valve porting games to Linux, or was that all just wishful thinking and misinterpretation?
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  • Draco_2kDraco_2k Evil Genius Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69546Members
    edited February 2010
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Spark is the entire game engine and tool set we're using to build Natural Selection 2. This includes the graphics, sound, networking, physics, scripting, <!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><b>path finding</b><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--> and effects system (probably others too).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Well. Looks like we'll have singe-player mods after all.
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  • huhuhhuhuh Join Date: 2005-01-07 Member: 33190Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1750463:date=Feb 3 2010, 05:24 AM:name=Draco_2k)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Draco_2k @ Feb 3 2010, 05:24 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750463"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Well. Looks like we'll have singe-player mods after all.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    weldbots.
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  • Draco_2kDraco_2k Evil Genius Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69546Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1750464:date=Feb 3 2010, 12:42 PM:name=huhuh)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huhuh @ Feb 3 2010, 12:42 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750464"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->weldbots<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Good enough. Can't be too hard to teach them how to shoot.
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  • yodayoda Join Date: 2003-11-27 Member: 23619Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    Thanks for the tech update Max. I am sure that there will be a huge community effort to make those things possible (related to portability) regardless if you guys find time to do it or not as there seems to be a fair amount of technical folk in the NS community.
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  • Dauntl3ssDauntl3ss Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7737Members
    edited February 2010
    <!--quoteo(post=1750468:date=Feb 3 2010, 11:01 AM:name=Draco_2k)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Draco_2k @ Feb 3 2010, 11:01 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750468"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Good enough. Can't be too hard to teach them how to shoot.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I guess anyone who is experienced in making aimbots could do it >_>

    Anyway, nice Q&A, Max. Good, deep answers.
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  • 1mannARMEE1mannARMEE Join Date: 2008-09-23 Member: 65064Members
    Great update and I'm sure if you or someone attracts just a little attention on the right people they'll port your core stuff to linux in no time, because that's just how all those linux people work :)

    I would actually prefer using linux for the game (if its stable) I don't care if you have to write your favorite IPs in the console to connect to them and I guess most linux users wouldn't care either, because most of them I know using the terminal or console for everything they do :)
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  • iKossuiKossu Join Date: 2002-12-30 Member: 11593Members
    Great news, good posting and thanks for the status update on my behalf! I was wondering, what's the point in using Direct3D in the first place? Not only OpenGL is cross-platform like stated in the news, but it offers far better abilities and compatibility in comparison to DirectX. For example, the much hyped Tesselation has been in OpenGL for years now.
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  • wilbefastwilbefast Join Date: 2009-10-18 Member: 69079Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1750488:date=Feb 3 2010, 01:29 PM:name=KonserniJohtaja)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KonserniJohtaja @ Feb 3 2010, 01:29 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750488"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Great news, good posting and thanks for the status update on my behalf! I was wondering, what's the point in using Direct3D in the first place? Not only OpenGL is cross-platform like stated in the news, but it offers far better abilities and compatibility in comparison to DirectX. For example, the much hyped Tesselation has been in OpenGL for years now.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I sense a flamewar coming.

    *hides*
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  • Draco_2kDraco_2k Evil Genius Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69546Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1750488:date=Feb 3 2010, 03:29 PM:name=KonserniJohtaja)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KonserniJohtaja @ Feb 3 2010, 03:29 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750488"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Great news, good posting and thanks for the status update on my behalf! I was wondering, what's the point in using Direct3D in the first place? Not only OpenGL is cross-platform like stated in the news, but it offers far better abilities and compatibility in comparison to DirectX. For example, the much hyped Tesselation has been in OpenGL for years now.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Re-education and Re-coding = Time and Effort. The guys are concentrating on actually making the game right now.

    Since NS2 doesn't do anything fancy in terms of features unavailable on DX9, the difference to the consumer is next to none.
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  • nuvmnuvm Join Date: 2009-05-30 Member: 67556Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1750488:date=Feb 3 2010, 07:29 AM:name=KonserniJohtaja)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KonserniJohtaja @ Feb 3 2010, 07:29 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750488"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Great news, good posting and thanks for the status update on my behalf! I was wondering, what's the point in using Direct3D in the first place? Not only OpenGL is cross-platform like stated in the news, but it offers far better abilities and compatibility in comparison to DirectX. For example, the much hyped Tesselation has been in OpenGL for years now.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yeah... no it hasn't. I don't want to start a flamewar, so all I'll say is that one should give limited authority to arguments that consist mostly of baseless, and sometimes wholly inaccurate claims.
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  • Draco_2kDraco_2k Evil Genius Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69546Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1750499:date=Feb 3 2010, 04:11 PM:name=nuvm)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nuvm @ Feb 3 2010, 04:11 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1750499"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Yeah... no it hasn't.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The DX11 tessellation is different, but the gist is the same as it was when AMD called it "Truform" five or so years ago. nVidia's CUDA today is <a href="http://developer.download.nvidia.com/SDK/10.5/opengl/samples.html" target="_blank">very favourable</a> to such extensions.

    Also, good job not starting a flamewar by insulting the opposition...
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