The Daily Click

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Terrain Shaping (at Runtime)

Author:

ShadowCaster

Submitted:

3rd October, 2003

Views:

6836

Rated:

People often ask if it is possible to create a "worms-style" game where you can alter the terrain during the game. This example shows you how to do this with a simple "space invaders" clone. The shields can be fired upon by both the player and the enemies to create holes which you can then shoot through. Likewise when the enemies reach the bottom of the screen they will create holes in the shield when they collide with it.

I've uploaded the game as two seperate files; those of you without MMF 1.5 that still want to check out this feature can download the EXE and have a go.

Code
http://www.create-games.com/shadowcaster/examples/terrain_code.zip

Executable
http://www.create-games.com/shadowcaster/examples/terrain_exe.zip

If something I did doesnt make sense, or if you need any further help, feel free to contact me.

~Mike

Posted by AsparagusTrevor

3rd October, 2003

Yeah unfortunately this seems to be the only way to have destructable terrain that uses backdrop objects. So if you have a groovy background you want to show through when the terrain is destroyed... tough. Until MMF2 arrives, hopefully.

Posted by Rhys D

3rd October, 2003

use the background system object

Posted by Rhys D

3rd October, 2003

i was trying to get people to try it

i have no idea if that will work

Posted by Rhys D

3rd October, 2003

and i wish people would stop using my account. AHEM SHADOWCASTER

Posted by cake

3rd October, 2003

hahaha. Ah there's another method, which is rather, not goodish;
You have the level as a giant active object, but no two pixels of the object can be the same colour, they only have to vary like by 1. Then you GetRGBAt and then enter the coordinates of the bullet and stuff and the ReplaceColor with 0,0,0 to make it transparent.
But ignore that noone in hell will make an active object with no two colours the same, its rediculous!

Posted by cake

3rd October, 2003

that example's really cool ShadowCaster! As for the only-one-colour-for-sky-texture thing; creativity and improvisation can work around that

Posted by ShadowCaster

4th October, 2003

Rhys: Hey, you said it, not me

Lando: Thanks

Posted by Muz

4th October, 2003

Hmm... wasn't this the same idea used ages ago? I don't got MMF 1.5, so I can't really check.

Posted by ShadowCaster

4th October, 2003

Muz: Yes it is, people (including myself) have been using this for quite a long time. But people have been asking for an example, so here it is

Posted by renneF

5th October, 2003

all my problems are solved!

Posted by DeadmanDines

9th October, 2003

"Yeah unfortunately this seems to be the only way to have destructable terrain that uses backdrop objects. So if you have a groovy background you want to show through when the terrain is destroyed... tough."

GAHAH! It is actually VERY possible to do that in MMF1.5!

The trick is to have a copy of your lovely background image stored externally as a bmp or gif. Then, you can use the Create Backdrop function to lift a piece of graphical data from the image and paste it in the area you want. I'll post an example some time.

Posted by Jimmy Brzezicki

10th October, 2003

If you want another example download Grizzlies 2. It's quite good really. Yes I made it. Yes, I am desperate for downloads. You know you want to (only 1.4 megs!). Ok, I'll leave now.

Posted by Keatonian

10th October, 2003