Thread: Bringing a DREAM to life... Are you interested in designing a Game Creation System (GCS)?

Originally Posted by Supernova

Could you give a brief description of exactly how the finished program will function? Sorry if I seem like I'm being a little thick, but I don't get a 100% clear picture from what you wrote. From what is clear though, what you seem to be talking about is coding a 3D modeling program, an image editor, a sound/music editor, and integrating them all, which seems like it would be a lot of fairly advanced programming. I'm not saying it can't be done, I just want to point out the size of the task. There are freeware options available for all three of these tasks (Blender 3D, GIMP, Audacity), have you considered working on a program that utilizes files created with these instead?

The script editor however, as you described it, sort of puzzles me. As you described it, it doesn't sound like anything that any software I've encountered is capable of. Again, not trying to rip on your idea; I like the core idea; I just want to point out some of the challenges it poses.

Have you ever used the level editors UnrealED, Hammer, or TESCS? That is somewhat what I envision this will be. These editors use the game engine they come with, as well as the resources of the game, to create spaces for the game. This will do the same things, but create whatever game or dream world the user desires. A GCS like DREAM works something like this:
UNITY: Game Development Tool

The script editing is basically a way to add additional functionality to a piece of software, using simplified commands instead of a language like C#. So instead of something like:

Main
{
class planet;
{
\' Details of planet go here'\
}
}

The user would type something like this:

Planet Primordia
Average Surface Temperture: 75 degrees
Populated: No
Terrain: Lava and rainforest

This would create a 3D planet for you to explore. Of course it would have to be far more descriptive in order to give the editor enough to work with. Each section may have one or many subsections. You would need to describe the people beyond humanoid if you were creating another race. You would have to describe the type of forest. Is it an ancient old growth forest or is it many young trees? Details would be needed for every single object your planet will have. Once your description is complete you press enter and BAM! Your world is created.

Of course you may not like text entry so in that case you would use the world editor and, using 3D tools, you could create within the editor your 3D world. Both means accomplish the same end. Scripting would be better for adding functionality or detailing objects, like people or weapons. The 3D tools would be better for terrain and modeling. DREAM would be able to do some of the things that Blender, Gimp and Audacity do, but it would most likely not be able to do all of them. Just the basic most essential features. That way you don;t have to have to install and use these programs, and you don't have to deal with their steep learning curves.

I know that this will not be easy. Hard work will be needed to manifest DREAM. That's what I was referring to when I said, "...in the trenches." Here is the key though... When you are working within your Life's Purpose you are genuinely, truly happy. One of the common factors you will see in many people is that if they love what they do, the difficulty of the job does not bother them. This is also how you can tell if someone is not flowing in the Life's Purpose. They are not genuinely happy and fulfilled. They could be hard workers or not, but they hate what they do, and that will have some effect on the quality of their work.

I know I was raised to work hard as I believe I have said elsewhere. This was how my dad was raised and how his dad raised him. I don;t mind hard work. But if I was working hard at a drive through window, for example, I would hate it. I would hate it because it is not my Life's Purpose, as far as I know, to work at a drive through window. I would also hate it because I would be working hard at something worthless and meaningless. Nobody can support themselves working at a drive through window. So you are working hard at something you hate, spending precious hours at this task, literally wasting your God given abilities, skills and talents while accomplishing nothing of value. You will most likely need another job you hate and will have to work hard at it as well in order to make enough to pay for rent and groceries. Your days, and I have experienced this many times, will be spent basically working and sleeping. You would literally be wasting your life away in my opinion.

With that let us return to the subject at hand. I hope I have sufficiently answered your questions -
- DreamBliss