The Chosen

After finishing the first admin panel I was ready to start creating a database for my RTS. Using the picture table editor, I created a small picture listing and saved it out in text file form for lookup by the actual game. Next I simply copied the code from the admin panel to load the text and build the picture database in the RTS. After loading the database, the RTS now uses a name reference to look up any and all pictures in the database for painting. Once again, having all of the pictures in one database ahead of time allows me to pre-load and pre-render each image, which should hopefully help to reduce the initial stress of loading the game and its engine.

The first admin control application, the picture table editor, is done and in use. I made the final mods, adding functionality to the buttons, adding a menu system to save out and reload the entire pictures file, and adding some save-guards to prevent accidental data corruption. After finishing the final set of mods, and compiling them into a runnable format, I quickly came across a mild bug. Apparently the valid clause of the path field if not properly handling one of the new variables I added. This will be a very minor fix, and all in all I’m pretty pleased with how the first admin screen turned out. Of course I spent extra time planning and coding extra features to easily expand the admin panel as soon as it becomes necessary. In the end the entire admin control set will all be contained in one runnable application, allowing me to setup scripted instance and user variables that can be shared across all admin controls, and maybe even with the RTS it’s self, but for now I am satisfied with just the one screen.

I’ve taken a small break from working on the engine to plan out a little more of the backbone of the data behind this huge program. I decided that it would be smarted to have one list of all the pictures, for purposes of pre-loading and other lookup. Knowing how many pictures are going to be needed before this is all done, I went ahead and created the first admin app for maintaining that picture table. It is almost completely done. After just a few more hours and some minor testing, it will be ready to go live, and pictures can start being created and entered. The picture table editor is just the first in a collection of admin controls that will be necessary as this project grows in size. I will also need unit editors, map editors, and maybe even a GUI designer. However I’m goanna try and take this one step at a time.