QUOTE (Nicko @ May 30 2010, 03:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Am I dreaming? Please god tell me this project won't stall and be abandoned!

Not that I was a huge player of ares... but it was one of my first favorite game as a kid. When I ran the demo some old memories overwhelmed me :laugh:

We're doing what we can to keep the project going... right now's finals time for me, so it will be a few weeks before I can continue contributing, but on the other hand, LNSU has told me that he might be able to help out some with Xsera this summer. The project definitely has its ups and downs, especially considering that all of us on the team are in school.

Wow you can't imagine how discovering this project made me happy, thank you wikipedia for informing me!!

Anyways, I can perfectly understand your situation. Studies goes first! Too bad I can't be of help...
I wish everyone one on the project luck with your studies AND the project, I really want to see it completed. I'm not rushing you, mind you..

Thank you again, you're realizing one of my wishes since we passed onto Os X :laugh:

QUOTE (Nicko @ May 31 2010, 10:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wow you can't imagine how discovering this project made me happy, thank you wikipedia for informing me!!

I'm glad somebody put Xsera and Antares up on the wikipedia page for Ares. Unfortunately (as you may have noticed), Xsera doesn't have its own wikipedia page. If anybody wants to work on that, it would be greatly appreciated.

This post has been edited by adam_0 : 31 May 2010 - 01:51 PM

I would like to, but I'm afraid I don't know enough about the project to be able to write about it, and I have studies until 16th of june too.
I could search and document myself, but my final exams are pretty important so it takes up much of my time too.
I'll come back to you when I actually have time and/or have done something, because that's definitively in my league

We could probably use info from the XSera site as a base from which to write a wikipedia article.

Also, if you're at all skilled in graphic design or web design Nicko, then you can certainly help out with the project

This post has been edited by redsteven : 05 June 2010 - 06:32 PM

I started the article, got one sentence in and realized that I didn't know what to say about it. "Xsera is a port of Ares to Mac OS X with ports planned for Linux/Windows" is all I got. If somebody working on the project gives me a rough outline of what they want, I'd be happy to at least start the article. I probably know enough about the project to write something about it.

I don't have a mac available but I'm free to help out in any way I can, once more.

First, what's going on in terms of progress? An engine doesn't make large breakthroughs like this and just stop...

Yeah the team's always making progress, they just aren't very good at letting people know about it via the ASW forums.

QUOTE (Two Jacks @ Jun 23 2010, 10:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah the team's always making progress, they just aren't very good at letting people know about it via the ASW forums.

Regrettably, this statement's pretty accurate. We'll more than likely let you know about big improvements 'cause we're just geeks like that, but if you guys really want to get the most up-to-date information you should join our channel on Ambrosia's IRC server (irc.ambrosiasw.com, channel #xsera). If you're new to IRC, you can check out the channel on our IRC widget here.

QUOTE (adam_0 @ Jun 24 2010, 03:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Regrettably, this statement's pretty accurate. We'll more than likely let you know about big improvements 'cause we're just geeks like that, but if you guys really want to get the most up-to-date information you should join our channel on Ambrosia's IRC server (irc.ambrosiasw.com, channel #xsera). If you're new to IRC, you can check out the channel on our IRC widget here.

True. If you want an idea of what progress we are making, check out our github repository. Although the non-coders love to hear progress reports, there's not much interesting to say until we get another public release out. It would be more along the lines of:

Fixed quadratic zoom timing.
Added snap zooming.
Sort-of-implemented zoom-to-hostile.
Fixed some minor bugs in <filename>

Other than that check out IRC if you're interested in what's going on.

Just to give people an idea of the current activity, here's a sample of the XSera team's RSS feed over the past week or so:

CODE

Date: June 30, 2010 7:26:44 PM AST
Subject: Moved shininess and specular scale values into uniforms set on a per-object...
Source: Xsera

Moved shininess and specular scale values into uniforms set on a per-object...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: rb8a2a43 / (4 files in 2 dirs): (link)
Moved shininess and specular scale values into uniforms set on a per-object basis.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/aAw78C
Date: June 30, 2010 10:27:48 AM AST
Subject: Removed the old mouse API bindings. This completes the API transition....
Source: Xsera

Removed the old mouse API bindings. This completes the API transition....
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r642a1b2 / Engine/Scripting/LuaBind.cpp : (link)
Removed the old mouse API bindings.

This completes the API transition.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> (+6 more commits...) - http://bit.ly/a8WTY3
Date: June 29, 2010 7:12:09 PM AST
Subject: 3DBase source cleanup. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn -...
Source: Xsera

3DBase source cleanup. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn -...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r6f68ca8 / Resources/Shaders/3DBase.fs : (link)
3DBase source cleanup.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/94Fl72
Date: June 29, 2010 1:09:20 PM AST
Subject: Added code to 3DTest to switch models. You can now switch models with '1', '2'...
Source: Xsera

Added code to 3DTest to switch models. You can now switch models with '1', '2'...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r0982bc5 / Resources/Scripts/Tests/3DTest.lua : (link)
Added code to 3DTest to switch models.

You can now switch models with '1', '2' and '3'.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/cnCBIw
Date: June 29, 2010 1:09:10 PM AST
Subject: Toned down specular again. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn -...
Source: Xsera

Toned down specular again. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn -...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r8cd44ac / Resources/Shaders/3DBase.fs : (link)
Toned down specular again.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/bJR4tB
Date: June 29, 2010 12:32:22 PM AST
Subject: Added magic to adjust for internal reference within an object. This needs to be...
Source: Xsera

Added magic to adjust for internal reference within an object. This needs to be...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r6987a30 / (2 files): (link)
Added magic to adjust for internal reference within an object.

This needs to be moved out to a configuration file.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/dtayqA
Date: June 29, 2010 12:24:25 PM AST
Subject: Minor tweaks to the .obj loader to make it more permissive. Signed-off-by:...
Source: Xsera

Minor tweaks to the .obj loader to make it more permissive. Signed-off-by:...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r1f4c3ef / Engine/Graphics/Object3D.cpp : (link)
Minor tweaks to the .obj loader to make it more permissive.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/9Muj3c
Date: June 29, 2010 11:29:11 AM AST
Subject: Turned off requirement to have a specular map. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn...
Source: Xsera

Turned off requirement to have a specular map. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r60706d9 / (2 files): (link)
Turned off requirement to have a specular map.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/97R82r
Date: June 29, 2010 11:09:08 AM AST
Subject: Added mipmap generation to 2D images. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn...
Source: Xsera

Added mipmap generation to 2D images. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r777f77e / Engine/Graphics/ImageLoader.cpp : (link)
Added mipmap generation to 2D images.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/aaxJES
Date: June 29, 2010 10:57:32 AM AST
Subject: Toned down the specular highlights a little. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn...
Source: Xsera

Toned down the specular highlights a little. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: rcbba174 / (2 files in 2 dirs): (link)
Toned down the specular highlights a little.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/aqGRlt
Date: June 29, 2010 10:54:12 AM AST
Subject: Finished the basic 3D rendering, needs tweaking still, but works. Signed-off-by:...
Source: Xsera

Finished the basic 3D rendering, needs tweaking still, but works. Signed-off-by:...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r25241b1 / (9 files in 4 dirs): (link)
Finished the basic 3D rendering, needs tweaking still, but works.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/amvlA7
Date: June 29, 2010 10:25:06 AM AST
Subject: Made 3D (almost) work. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn -...
Source: Xsera

Made 3D (almost) work. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn -...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: rd214dd7 / (16 files in 7 dirs): (link)
Made 3D (almost) work.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/ad9Q07
Date: June 28, 2010 8:33:47 PM AST
Subject: Turned on glPush/PopMatrix again in Object3D. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn...
Source: Xsera

Turned on glPush/PopMatrix again in Object3D. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: ra74cfd6 / Engine/Graphics/Object3D.cpp : (link)
Turned on glPush/PopMatrix again in Object3D.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/bQB8Jt
Date: June 28, 2010 8:31:12 PM AST
Subject: Merge remote branch 'adam/master' Conflicts: Resources/Config/Credits.txt -...
Source: Xsera

Merge remote branch 'adam/master' Conflicts: Resources/Config/Credits.txt -...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r3acff48 / (7 files in 4 dirs): (link)
Merge remote branch 'adam/master'

Conflicts:
Resources/Config/Credits.txt - http://bit.ly/bR2Wy5
Date: June 28, 2010 8:29:07 PM AST
Subject: Wrote new 3D shaders. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn -...
Source: Xsera

Wrote new 3D shaders. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn -...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: reb2c47f / (6 files): (link)
Wrote new 3D shaders.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/dpAmSk
Date: June 26, 2010 5:50:47 PM AST
Subject: Merge remote branches 'remotes/LANS/master', 'remotes/adam/master' and...
Source: Xsera

Merge remote branches 'remotes/LANS/master', 'remotes/adam/master' and...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: rb67c1cb / : (link)
Merge remote branches 'remotes/LANS/master', 'remotes/adam/master' and 'remotes/gamefreak/master' - http://bit.ly/bwwCaq
Date: June 24, 2010 7:09:14 PM AST
Subject: Removed the APOLLO_MUSIC_DISABLE magic from Sound.cpp. Signed-off-by: Alastair...
Source: Xsera

Removed the APOLLO_MUSIC_DISABLE magic from Sound.cpp. Signed-off-by: Alastair...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: rb34d1dd / Engine/Sound/Sound.cpp : (link)
Removed the APOLLO_MUSIC_DISABLE magic from Sound.cpp.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/dCF0Gh
Date: June 24, 2010 6:59:51 PM AST
Subject: Renamed PlaySoundSDL -> PlaySound. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn...
Source: Xsera

Renamed PlaySoundSDL -> PlaySound. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r22bc0b9 / (3 files in 2 dirs): (link)
Renamed PlaySoundSDL -> PlaySound.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/9HO0mN
Date: June 24, 2010 6:48:14 PM AST
Subject: Merged some branches. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn -...
Source: Xsera

Merged some branches. Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn -...
Commit by Alastair Lynn on master :: r9318919 / Resources/Config/Credits.txt : (link)
Merged some branches.

Signed-off-by: Alastair Lynn <arplynn at gmail dot com> - http://bit.ly/cI6LQu
Date: June 23, 2010 2:33:43 AM AST
Subject: Fixed zooming so that insta-zoom works. Signed-off-by: Adam Hintz...
Source: Xsera

Fixed zooming so that insta-zoom works. Signed-off-by: Adam Hintz...
Commit by Adam Hintz on master :: r35a9f6b / (3 files): (link)
Fixed zooming so that insta-zoom works.

Signed-off-by: Adam Hintz <adam dot 0 dot dev at gmail dot com> (+7 more commits...) - http://bit.ly/bY6gZM

Do I know what any of it means? Nope, not at all, but it looks cool.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed here if you want to partake in the awesomeness

EDIT: Was hoping the "code" tags would make it into its own little scrollable frame. oh well

This post has been edited by redsteven : 30 June 2010 - 10:05 PM

Wow, I didn't know prophile was doing that much this recently. Looks like I have some catching up to do.

Wow, you're getting some serious progress in the graphics department.

This post has been edited by Dark.Revenant : 30 June 2010 - 10:35 PM

Awesome, more progress updates! If only my subscriptions to the threads here had stayed current instead of dying. <_< Oh well, at least I've renewed them now!

Can't wait for Demo 3.

QUOTE (redsteven @ Jun 30 2010, 08:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

EDIT: Was hoping the "code" tags would make it into its own little scrollable frame. oh well

Use 'codebox' tags instead of 'code' tags.

Glad to see that progress is progressing along nicely
Keep up the good work guys.

Come on guys, don't make this project die, I want it so bad
You can do it! :laugh:

OMG YES

Very nice!

Great to see that the project is coming along nicely and getting there

Oh jeez this project just made my day! I used to play this game at my grandparents as a kid and I remember being so disappointed when I found out I was only playing the shareware copy of it. I grabbed my roommates Mac and played it for a bit (I tried out both the xsera and the Antares fork). Glory! OS Classic games were the best--especially Ambrosia games.

Anyway, I'm now in my first year of school at university as a comp sci major and am wondering if I could maybe try doing a bit of work with a linux port on this. I'm a PC user and usually am using Linux, so I would definitely like to give it a try (no promises, I've never done anything like this). If any of the devs think I might be up to the task, just let me know how to get in contact or how I might go about helping out. And kudos to you guys for helping bring some of my childhood back.

Oh and by the way, I think the game should eventually turn into a kind of improved, Escape Velocity: Nova kind of game...if anyone here ever played it. I think that would be cool.