Category Archives: Projects

Open Sourced Dungeon Crawler

So I decided to open source my dungeon crawler game that I made a while ago. My original plan was to develop it further and make it into yet another Xbox indie game available for download.

However time was always a problem while I was at university so I never got around to completing it. I hopefully one day however will return to complete a similar like game but I wont be making it in C# or reusing any of that code. (Except maybe the level generator, that was pretty incredible if do say so myself).

Feel free to use any of the code or any of the art.

https://github.com/Stewart-Taylor/DungeonCrawler

The main components of the game which you will want to look at are.

  • The Level generator ( All levels are created through clever procedural techniques)
  • The particle effect system.
  • The character sprite animation system. ( All characters are created from individual parts. So you can cut off legs, arms,etc)

If you have any questions about the source code feel free to email me. Be warned though it is a bit messy.

Also I plan to open source a lot more of these small projects that I have worked on, in the hopes that it is useful to someone else.

 

GitHub

Over the past few years I have been using Git for source control on my projects both personal and for university. I really enjoy using it and find it makes it much easier to manage larger projects and I think it would be useful if others can benefit from the code I have written as well.

My account is https://github.com/Stewart-Taylor

I’m also now hosting my Laser System on it, as people request the code for it frequently (Also feel free to use it in your own project no need to ask for permission).

Honours Project – Dynamic Path Planner

I have been recently working on my honours project for my final year of university. The project is about using dynamic path finding algorithms to help autonomous vehicles navigate unknown terrain. The project is mainly focusing on developing the best navigation systems for ground space vehicles such as autonomous rovers that would navigate asteroids or planets.

I have completed my initial prototype which uses generated elevation models. These elevation models are loaded from a modified “ppm” format which uses the red and green values to provide 24 bit two dimensional arrays.

A slope model is then calculated using the specified slope algorithm (Horn Slope, maximum, average). This slope model is the converted to a hazard model which can be used for the rovers navigation.

The path finding part of the prototype makes use of the A star search algorithm. The simulation uses the algorithm to find the safest route to its destination. This means it will find the route with the lowest incline.

 The next prototype I create will be to develop a simulation which will make use of the D star search algorithm. This new prototype will be used to show the comparison of A star and D star when it comes to navigating unknown terrain.

Windows Phone

So I recently manged to very luckily win a new Nokia Lumia 800 in a competition. I have been playing about with it quite a bit .I’m really impressed how easy it is to quickly make stuff for it.

Look Familiar?

 

I do plan on bringing my Paddler Log app to that sometime (I will still be working on the android version however).

3D Procedural Level Generator

I started working on getting my Level Generator from my Dungeon Crawl Game working in 3D this was the result after much work.

2D Version (From Dungeon Crawl)

 

 

3D Version

It still requires a lot of work before it will be complete obviously.

This is the start of one of my new projects which is to convert my Dungeon Crawl Game into 3D. This means I will probably release the old 2D version for download soon.

Dungeon Crawl ( Working Title)

Here is some information on the game i’m currently working on.

In this dungeon crawler game you must battle your way through the many levels of the dungeon and try to amass as much treasure as you can before you are finally defeated.

Every play through is different as each dungeon is unique and randomly generated. It will also be filled with enemies, treasure and traps.

The game contains an eye-catching effect system making spells look vibrant and powerful.

The combat is kept exciting by letting the player make use of swords, shields and even spells. Or you could always just lure your pursuer into a trap.

 

Some Images (WIP)

I”ll post more game footage soon.

Working on a new game for coursework

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For my university work I have to create a 2D game using XNA . The coursework is pretty much make a game that is similar to StormGate and Nova Remnant quality. This means my other projects will be put on hold until January .

I have a deadline for this coursework which is in December so I can pretty much gurantee right now that I will release it in Januaray . I have not fully decided if it I will try and get it on Xbox indie games. At the moment the version I am making for my coursework assignment will be a PC game.

 

I will try and update Zodolex occasionally with more levels but It will be a while before I add the cool stuff I had planned such as online scoreboards and new powerup types.