What is it?

Virtu is a graphic library that sits atop the Allegro graphic library. It provides a reusable methodology for building RPG's and Networked RTS'. Within Virtu is a scripting language titled VESSL which stands for Very Easy and SImple Scripting Language. VESSL helps deploy rapid actions and user classes without the worries of hard coding and compiling. Another part of Virtu is the RAISOR, or Robust Artificial Intelligence System and Object Rudiments, module. This module takes care of lots of simple AI actions that NPC's need such as:

• Navigating terrain
• A* style movement
• Environmental interaction
• Smart fighting
• Smart simulated strategy

Aside from these functions, Virtu is meant to bridge Allegro's C-language based system with C++'s OOP, STL, and templatized models. Hopefully, this will add a nice aspect for saving development time.

Initially this is a one-person effort. However, if I can design a robust enough framework and realistically defined project, then hopefully more people will join on.

My focus in this project is as follows:85% time will be spent discussing the planning and designing (WHAT), 10% actual programming (HOW), and 5% squashing bugs! Notice the large amount of time devoted to planning and designing, this represents my belief in 'having a life.' I know that without a good foundation of planning, I wll ultimately end up sinking more time into this project than is realistically feasible.

Current Statistics

• Graphic management Library
  • Currently handles multiple directional and sprite graphics
  • Automatic animation cycling
  • C++ style stream wrapper for Sockets
    • TCP communication
  • Mock Engine Design
    • Further system design necessary
    • Function / Code Specifications needed
    • 85% planning : 10% coding : 5% squashing bugs
    • Good planning begets good programs!
• Project built using VC++ 6.0
• Tested on:
  • Win2000
  • Win98
  • WinNT Client
  • tested it on another platform? email-me
• My current personal project (EN)

What will it become? What are the goals?

• Isometric coordinate converter
  • From Cartesian based system to an isometric coordinate system
• RPG & Chat Client / Server
  • Multiple Protocol Support
    • TELNETable
      • When unable to use binaries TELNET shall be an option
    • HTTPable
      • HTML front end (Java applet) shall be option
  • Distrbuted P2P model
    • Each user is therefore a Client and Server
    • Connecting to a 'friend' will need to be done manually
    • Greedy Nodes (i.e. large sprite requests, channel floods) will be disabled
• Distributed messaging system
  • Public messages are first sent to fastest Node
  • Then Sent to each user willing to listen
    • Public channel messages cannot guarantee correctness or arrival
    • Each message can be verified with two(2) other messages
  • Specific message is then sent to all logically listening Nodes
    • A Logically listening Node is a node that the current user has received a message
    • Node keeps track of Vrility of node
    • If Node hasn't sent a message in more than 120 seconds then node is assumed dead
• Dynamic image shuffling between users
  • Users are allowed to design their own Sprites
  • Sprites shall be compressed locally
  • Sent to users requesting sprite
  • Sprite requesting shall be switchable
• Decentralized user repository
  • Keeping track of each other will obviously take place
• Multi-platformed (Win9X/2K/XP, DOS, Linux, BeOS, following the vein of Allegro)
• Extend Allegro Capabilities
  • Handle multiple [physical] Screens
  • Handle Animation Loops
  • Handle Sound Loops
• Design & Implement a robust Graphical Engine for RPG / Chatting environments
• Design & Implement 2-Dimensional Isometric Capabilities
• Design & Implement 3-Dimensional capabilities, and if not possible, Pseudo-3-D
  • Environments
  • Sprites
  • Objects
• Input and Output via XML
• Design & Implement a Robust and Very Easy and Simple Scripting Language (VESSL)
  • Quick Content creation
  • Quick and Easy modifications and new behaviour
  • Easy Engine Debugging
• Design & Implement a System for handling Pets and Animals
  • RPG aspect allow for pets
  • Horses / Fish / Whales / Turtles / Bugs
    • Relative to the size of a character
      • A player the size of a bug exerts a small amount of influence upon an animal the size of a brontosaurus
• Design & Implement a Robust Artificial Intelligence System and Object Rudiments (RAISOR) for handling
  • Point & Click interface (ala RTS-genre AI)
  • Obstacle Dodging (ala RTS-genre AI)
  • Environmental Elemental Affection
    • ex: A thousand users sitting around a shadowy glade should increase the temperature surrounding the trees
    • Weather affected by users, events, date, time, like life
    • Regarding conversation with xxxxx@iname.com
      • Fully capable environment
      • Fully aware environment
  • Environmental Interaction
    • Bumping into trees knock off leaves
    • Walking past bushes ruffle the leaves
  • Personal Object Interaction

Got an idea? email-me

Where can you get it?

Virtu is currently offered as source and a Windows executable for demonstration purposes. All code is not guaranteed to do anything ethically right or wrong. Use at your own risk.

The files can be downloaded here from the download section.

How can you help?

Currently Virtu is in very Alpha stages, and any source diffs or adjustments will not be worth the trouble.

Having problems? Need help?

If you have problems getting Virtu to work, then check the FAQ file distributed with the source and executables..

You system time:
Author / Maintainer: Eric Nakagawa (ericnaka@hawaii.edu)