How can I help

[GustavoUlate80]

How can I help in this mod because I dont know many programs to use (Only a part of bink video and miles sound system) I would like to help in something 3d modeling coding etc if you tell me of a good program to use and a basic discription of how to use it

Note : I learn quickly how to use programs

[feneur]

Please see http://www.wildfiregames.com/0ad/page.php?p=12831 for more info on how to get involved in this project. Due to the complexity of a project like this (0 A.D. is a standalone game btw, not a mod) it's really recommended that you have some earlier experience though.

[Jeru]

Blender is a free 3d graphics software with its own community guides and such. You're much more likely to find help there than here.

If you like programming, I guess similar communities can help you learn C++ and JavaScript. Google around, or buy books on Amazon, or sign up for a class where you live, etc.

[Kimball]

Although we really appreciate your enthusiasm, it's not our job to figure out what you're good at. I would recommend checking out the Application Form to see what positions are available and if you are eligible for one of them.

[GustavoUlate80]

Is blender like google sketch up I mean Is it that easy to use and learn because I am very good with sketch up and I would like a program as that simple

[WhiteTreePaladin]

Blender is very different than Sketchup. Blender is much more powerful, but more complicated. With Sketchup you can get to modeling nearly right away. With Blender, it will take some time to learn how it works before you can make anything.

In order for a model to be used in the game engine, it must first be converted to triangles. In Blender everything is already in triangle form or quads, but quads are easily converted to triangles. I've found that Sketchup (the free version) is not very good for game models because it often results in a bad topology (messy geometry) when everything is forcibly converted to triangles.

While Sketchup is very good for making non-game architecture models, an inexperienced person would get into bad habits when attempting to use Sketchup for game models. (I know this from personal experience.)

An experienced person could probably use either program for game models.

Blender is a great program, I recommend you try it. You really must find some good tutorials about how to use the interface and how to get started; I don't recommend trying to figure it out on your own as you will quickly get discouraged. If you find Blender too difficult, you can always try other free 3D programs and try Blender again later. I originally tried Blender (2.42 I think), gave up, then tried again a year later. At that point, I finally understood it, but it took some determination and working through some good tutorials before I could really make anything substantial.

Edited March 7, 2010 by WhiteTreePaladin

[GustavoUlate80]

I made a sketch up model which I made and I uploaded

In case you want to see it go to

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9G6EU23V

and download

It is a autoextractible ( note no virus)

Will knowing sketchup help me with blender

[WhiteTreePaladin]

With Sketchup (or any 3D program) you can get practice visualizing things in 3D, and learning the basic 3D manipulations (moving, rotating scaling, etc). That will prove helpful in Blender. However, there will still be a lot left to learn when you start Blender. If you do want to try Blender, get the latest stable version - 2.49b. Do NOT get the alpha version (2.5); it is not ready to use yet and because it is so new, none of the tutorials will match it.

Don't try to make anything serious at first, just follow the tutorials that show how the interface works. For example, things like using the number pad to change the view, panning around to get different views, and switching in and out of object mode and edit mode are goods things to begin practicing. Blender takes a little getting used to at first, but once you understand it (this can take some time), you can model things quite fast.

Here is a link to the lastest stable version of Blender: Blender

Here is a link to the site that I used to learn Blender: Blender 3D: Noob to Pro

- you'll need to scroll down the page to get to the tutorial links; start with "Unit 1."

[edit]

If you like video tutorials, there are some really good ones on the Blender Underground site. I've watched them before, though I already knew how to use Blender before I watched them. Here's link to the video tutorial section: http://blenderunderground.com/video-tutorials/

Edited March 8, 2010 by WhiteTreePaladin

[GustavoUlate80]

Thanks Il see what I can do

[GustavoUlate80]

question , what do you think 0 ad needs most ( coding , java , 3d artist , etc ) since I could help with that

[WhiteTreePaladin]

We mainly need experienced C++ programmers. JavaScript scripters are also needed. We can always use some more artists, sound designers, etc, but some previous experience / skill would be needed.

The game is open source and some of the basic art has been released with it, so you don't need to join the team to get access to it. However, it is not as easy as simply downloading and installing it. It would take some SVN experience to get a copy. We are working on an Alpha version that should be easier to use than the current version. It should come out later this year.

In the mean time, I'd recommend learning Blender. Maybe by the time the Alpha comes out you'll be able to make some characters, props, buildings, etc.

[rjs23]

You need javascript scripters? For what?

Because I happen to be javascript scripter.

[Ykkrosh]

For gameplay scripts (like these) and GUI scripts (like these). (It's quite different to the JS used in web pages - the language is the same but there's no DOM and it's running in a completely different environment.)

[rjs23]

Ah, but why you guys need us for? to create new scripts, improve scripts, make suggestions, test for bug, or what?

[GustavoUlate80]

I know something 0 ad needs most are methods of zoom , I mean in AOE3 you only have the isometric zoom mode . in 0 ad you should do the zoom methods used for empire earth 1 which the first zoom mode is more 3d(normal), the second is another method (epic) and the third is isometric . for this idea to work you guys have to make a special hotkey like f4 or something

[GustavoUlate80]

I made an installer for 0 ad where can I upload this

[janwas]

I appreciate the good intentions, but an installer is still probably not a good idea (see http://www.wildfiregames.com/forum/index.p...howtopic=12533).

There will be a pre-alpha release quite soon, and fairly regular releases after that. In the meantime we'd be happy to see programmers giving the code a spin, but making things accessible to gamers via installer will probably only lead to frustration on both sides (witness the above thread).

[GustavoUlate80]

The installer has been checked it works fine anyway I added the instruccions to it it is an advanced winrar sfx which was autochecked when made

[GustavoUlate80]

I made another installer which is more advanced. The download site is here

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SQGJ0X9C

(In case you dont know how to download from megaupload :enter the captcha in the "captcha box " at the notheastern part of the website then wait the download time and download)

Instructions are included at the installer : update after the installation finishes and compile using the build instructions included in the installer you should read everything in the installer

This installer was also autochecked and also note that it doesn't include any virus or spyware , troyan horse , etc

If you want to uninstall go to add/remove programs and there you find the corresponding box

[GustavoUlate80]

I made another installer which is more advanced. The download site is here

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SQGJ0X9C

(In case you dont know how to download from megaupload :enter the captcha in the "captcha box " at the notheastern part of the website then wait the download time and download)

Instructions are included at the installer : update after the installation finishes and compile using the build instructions included in the installer you should read everything in the installer

This installer was also autochecked and also note that it doesn't include any virus or spyware , troyan horse , etc

If you want to uninstall go to add/remove programs and there you find the corresponding box

please don't respond to this unless you have tried the installer

[GustavoUlate80]

I am good making maps for 0 AD( I spend a lot of time in AOM and age of empires making them , maybe I can contribute in that case If you show me of a tool to make maps

Edited April 3, 2010 by GustavoUlate80

[feneur]

Please see http://trac.wildfiregames.com/wiki/Atlas_User%2527s_Guide for the Scenario Editor User's Guide.

[Quassy]

Please see http://trac.wildfiregames.com/wiki/Atlas_User%2527s_Guide for the Scenario Editor User's Guide.

For Linux users it's probably worth mentioning that Atlas can be run using

'/usr/share/games/0ad/system/pyrogenesis_dbg' -editor

right?

[feneur]

If that's where the game is installed yeah, it will probably not be in the exact same location on every computer/system, but yeah, I'll add something like that

[feneur]

Now it should be possible to know how to start Atlas on Linux, please tell me if it could be written in another way to be easier understood etc.