Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Automated area reading and a client

After the problems with the main Hesperia server I got motivated again to work on Hesp2. Last time I got stuck on annoying XML stuff while programming the area reader. Area files will be stored in XML from now on which makes them a lot more readable and manageable. XML is a bit like HTML so it should be easier to write areas:


<mob vnum="1600" level="75" gold="0" sex="f" race="Uyaite">
<keywords>kylidra scholar sprite uyaite</keywords>
<shortdesc>Kylidra the Scholar</shortdesc>
<longdesc>Kylidra the Scholar floats here, chanting spells.</longdesc>
<mobdesc><!--[CDATA[ Though she appears ... ]]--></mobdesc>
</mob>


I wrote a small program that converts existing area files to this new XML format that Hesp2 can read. It successfully converted the Watchtower and Drakwald Forest so you can actually walk around properly :)

Now that the world itself is taking shape it's time for the client. The client program will run through a website so you can play Hesperia everywhere. Right now it's basically a simple telnet client but at least it works. In the future it will show all output from the game in a visual way instead of text only. It will all be very fluffy.

And of course another screenshot for those who don't want to read everything :P

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear fantastic Nyx!

i read in u last post
so you can actually walk around properly :)

just a simply question: where :)

and

It will all be very fluffy.

do boo really get a new fur ?

signed
Grendel and thanks for doing so much for us!

Nyx said...

Hey Grendel,

So far you can walk around in the Watchtower and Drakwald. Converting other areas doesn't take a lot of effort so I can add more if I want.

It's still in the development phase so it's not running on a public server yet. If you want to see it sometime, give me a tell when you see me online.

And yes, Boo will have to get a new fur =)

/Nyx

Anonymous said...

You should certainly make the couch an implemented feature in the WT. Kylidra needs some place to sit down and regen her mana, I'd assume. :O Casting all those spells on those ungreatful newbies must get tough.

Also, any new updates? It's been a while since you've said stuff! :[ Can you walk aroud... hmm.. Har yet? My favourite room ever is there, that tree!

-Mint/12 other clerics at least.

Anonymous said...

still looking around to find ...
somehow i didn't find the
ip/port ... to watch nyx working;)

Grendel ... ah yes and Rats & Pest :)

Anonymous said...

cheers with the work nyx, even though i haven't seen you in a while, Why only for kylidra gets special favours, I would say we give a couch to hyaden, anaykia and odesina too.

The Noob Independent HL.