Newsletter #71 - SAO: Redux

News

Version 1.2.5 of Stick Adventures Online has been released. In this update, the in-game chat has been replaced by the web-based chat, a help button has been added, and the ban list has been cleared.

Development has finally started again for Stick Adventures Online. The game is being recoded from the ground up. This update is being called "SAO: Redux".


From the Programmer
Written by Invisible

If you are writing a physics engine, I highly recommend reading Nonconvex Rigid Bodies with Stacking. It's easy to read for the most part, and really helped tie up some loose ends for me. I implemented the described method, except without using a contact graph and shock propagation (friction was also omitted). The resulting physics engine was far from perfect, but gave me that final bit of information I felt I was missing. I believe I now have enough experience with writing physics engines to write the simple one which SAO will use.

I'm currently in the process of recoding SAO. I have a movable camera and character working, as well as jumping and collision with one-way and solid platforms. The trick to getting one-way platforms to work correctly is to check if the character was intersecting the platform at the beginning of the timestep. If so, let him fall the rest of the way through it. If not, block movement if the character is currently intersecting the top of the platform and is moving downwards.


Currently the game is only showing what it "sees". This makes it easier to debug. I am currently adding in the background layer though, so graphics are coming soon.

If you are interested in trying SAO: Redux as it is being developed, feel free to stop on by the online chat and ask for the latest demo.


Artist's Easel
Written by GreyKnight

iScribble Sketches #29

(Click to enlarge)


(Click to enlarge)



Community Spotlight

There is no community spotlight article this week. If you have anything you would like to say in the next community spotlight article, please post it here.


Funny Quote of the Week
From the online chat

InvisibleMan: Wow, I may have set the terminal velocity a bit too high
InvisibleMan: At this rate, your character will move the world when he hits