UNX511 - 20121 - Project - TeamA

Project Outline

• Zork-like adventure game
• Type: text-based game
• Possible platform: Web/XHTML/HTML5, Terminal
• MMORPG-ish (killing, leveling, etc. involved) , but text-based game and it's all about statistics
  • No maps!

Project Description

Ganglands is a multiplayer, text-based adventure game in the vein of Zork and King’s Quest. Players compete to become the greatest mob boss in the ganglands by forging alliances, engaging in combat, and solving devious puzzles. Each task successfully accomplished garners experience points and money, which can be used to level up your characters and buy tools and manpower that help you claw your way to the top. Ongoing contests give you access to special bonuses and a leaderboard keeps track of your various accomplishments.

Team Members

First Name	Last Name	Seneca Id	wiki id	IRC nick
Natesh	Mayuranathan	nmayuranathan	Nmayuranathan	Tesh_
Rainulf	Pineda	Rainulf	Rainulf	_Rainulf
Lucas	Alba Bresso	Lucas	Lucas	N/A
Ahmad	Ali	Ahmad	Ahmad	N/A

Development Plan (Rough)

• Project planning (Jan 11)
• Game interface/interaction planning (Jan 18)
• Game design/technical programming design (Jan 25)
  • C++/OO design
  • Socket OO design - accepting connections
  • Main game design
  • Putting the socket and the main game design together
• R0.1 - basic chat serving capability and in-game displays (Feb. 13)

Useful Code Snippets

Basic HTTP Server: http://rainulf.ca/files/server.cpp

/**
 * Runs a linux command, reallocates memory for whatever the command outputs
 * @author Rainulf
 * @return character pointer to the allocated memory
 * @note needs to be free()'d after use
 */
char* runCmd(const char* cmd){
   FILE* fp;
   char* out = NULL;
   char* more_out;
   char ch;
   int count = 0;

  /* Open the command for reading. */
   fp = popen(cmd, "r");
   if (fp == NULL) {
      printf("Failed to run command\n" );
      return 0;
   }

   /* Read the output a line at a time - output it. */
   ch = fgetc(fp);
   while(ch != '\n' && ch != EOF){
      more_out = (char*) realloc(out, ++count); // no need to free more_out

      if(more_out != NULL){
         out = more_out;
         out[count-1] = ch;
      }
      ch = fgetc(fp);
   }
  
   pclose(fp);
   return out;
}

/**
 * Concatenates two strings by allocating memory for the two
 * @author Rainulf
 * @return concatenated string - dynamically allocated
 * @note needs to be free()'d after use
 */
char* concat(const char* a, const char* b){
   char* tmp = malloc(snprintf(NULL, 0, "%s %s", a, b) + 1);
   sprintf(tmp, "%s %s", a, b);
   return tmp;
}

/**
 * Gets input from STDIN character by character until '\n' or MAXLEN is reached, puts into the character pointer str
 * @author Rainulf
 * @return n/a
 * @note MAXLEN have to be defined
 */
void getInput(char* str){
   int charCount = 0;
   char ch;
  
   // get input from user
   ch = getchar();
   while( (ch != '\n') && (charCount < MAXLEN) ) {
      str[charCount++] = ch;
      ch = getchar();
   }
   str[charCount] = 0;
}

Meetings

(Latest on top)

Monday, February 6, 2012

• Venue: Skype
• Agenda (subject to change):

• Clearly define project concept and goals
  • At its core, the game is a MUD which merges features of 'crime sim' role-playing games (akin to Mob Wars)}
  • Players log into a client (Curses/Web/Android)
  • Server displays instructions and listens for commands
  • The goal is to become Godfather - leaderboards are established to track this
  • To reach this goal, users take Jobs and/or Hits for experience, and join a Gang
  • The combined wealth and experience of a Gang allow them to advance on a leaderboard
  • Periodically, a contest gives users the chance to acquire more money, more experience, and rare items - this makes it easier for them to advance and allows them to compete for more things
  • The game never ends. Any user can start up from scratch and eventually build up to a Godfather
• Assign roles
  • Lucas/Natesh: C/++ Server Leads
  • Natesh: C/++ Curses Client
  • Rainulf: Web Client Lead
  • Ahmad: Other roles as necessary
• Plan roadmap and deadlines, noting that midterm and Stage 1 project document submission is on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
  • Current goal: Text-based chat client - Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012
• Next Meeting: Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Saturday, January 28, 2012

• Venue: Skype
• Topics: Requirements Assessment, Project Planning
• Database access was discussed - MySQL's C API will be used
• Rainulf suggested that we set up a server for development with root access (for port 80 and installation of additional tools)
• Gameplay processes were discussed in detail

• what will the player experience when they launch a client?
  • on first launch, a short intro is displayed with basic gameplay instructions; other times description of current location
• how will player data be stored? - JSON string is parsed using Jansson library and passed to database using MySQL's C API
• what happens when players log out?

• Ideas for gameplay were fleshed out

• methods for player advancement and goals
• combat mechanics
• quests

• a location is described (text that displays when they "look") and a task to perform there

• First release is scheduled for Feb 13