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[smalfont.bmp]

Hi

In version 7.301 there doesn't appear to be a default font loaded into index 0 anymore.

For now the workarounds I've found for old routines:-

• Include a smalfont.bmp file in the .app directory as this will still be automatically loaded into font index 0
• Explicitly load a font first of all into index 1

[can anyone think of a reason why GLBasic wouldn't be a good choice if complex AI needs to be introduced?]

Hi

I'm working on a clone of Lords Of Chaos, a fantasy turn-based strategy game that was available on the old 8-bit & 16-bit home computers - arguably the best game of its kind from that era. I'm a couple of weeks away from finishing the basic tileset & sprites and then I can start coding the map editor.

I'm not new to programming (Basic, Assembly and web specific languages) or OOP (some Java experience) but I thought I should learn something new. After spending some time considering which language to use I was going to go with C++ but then it occurred to me that I might be making things much harder for myself than necessary. Maybe GLBasic would be more suitable. It does everything I need for the basic game engine and I take it I can call C++ routines from within it if need be. I've decided to try GLBasic first of all to see how that goes. Anyway, more on the game...

The game mechanics will be (relatively) easy to code. In a matter of a few months I'll probably be able to reach the point where the game is playable as a one player experience without any enemy AI. I don't need fancy graphics, real-time physics, fast frame rates, networking, particle engines, etc. Look at a screenshot from the original Atari ST version to see why:-



My game will look very similar, but in 640 x 480 instead. Here's the thing: The enemy AI is everything in this game. It's 95% of why it was fun to play and by far the most advanced thing I'll be doing. For example, I'll need my own special A* pathfinding algorithm, goal driven teamwork, complex state-driven agents and some rudimentary scripting for setting behavioural traits in the map & agent editor. If that sounds ambitious, it is. My question is, can anyone think of a reason why GLBasic wouldn't be a good choice if complex AI needs to be introduced?

No matter which language I use the AI component of the game will be by far the most difficult and timely part. I can't think of any reason why GLBasic would be worse or better than another language in this respect. I guess I'm just fishing for advice here. Can anyone with experience in GLBasic see potential problems arising?