SML Roadmap (9/10/11)

Sep 10 17:54:45 <smc_gamer>	Well, let's see...
Sep 10 17:55:26 <smc_gamer>	For now, my plans for collision detection will be to split the level up into chunks and check sprites against chunks first, then objects inside the chunk.
Sep 10 17:56:40 <smc_gamer>	Physics will probably be simple; momentum is calculated in pixels per frame.
Sep 10 17:57:08 <smc_gamer>	Chunk collision testing will also have to check whether a sprite is near an object, too.
Sep 10 17:57:37 <smc_gamer>	If you're heading at five pixel per frame, and you're four pixels from a block, next frame you'll go in the block, which looks pretty choppy.
Sep 10 17:57:46 *	reghrhre has quit (Ping timeout: 264 seconds)
Sep 10 17:58:25 <smc_gamer>	So the collision check will also have to check pixel near sprites at the sprites speed, but that shouldn't be too much of a performance problem.
Sep 10 17:58:56 <smc_gamer>	As for blocks, there are only a few types of block behavior (solid, platform, itembox, etc.)
Sep 10 17:59:16 <smc_gamer>	So, instead of coding every single block, we could code a few types and then just reskin the others as necessary.
Sep 10 17:59:43 <Joey>	Sounds good.
Sep 10 17:59:52 <smc_gamer>	SolidBlock could probably handle 85% of all blocks we need to put in, but a few of the more advanced blocks (switch blocks, etc.) will have to have their own classes.
Sep 10 18:00:33 <smc_gamer>	Each block will have its own internal settings file, like SMBX's, but it will be overrided if the game finds another settings file.
Sep 10 18:00:47 <smc_gamer>	Each file defines things like hitbox, size, animation, etc.
Sep 10 18:01:13 <smc_gamer>	Sprites will be implemented as a simple group.
Sep 10 18:01:50 <smc_gamer>	I don't have all the kinks worked out of this idea, but I think I can make sprites inherit from a core Sprite class, and only override what needs overriding (behavior, primarily).
Sep 10 18:02:10 <smc_gamer>	This could also make it easy to index them, which is essential for fast updates.
Sep 10 18:02:24 <Joey>	Hm.
Sep 10 18:02:44 <smc_gamer>	All sprites would update on an update loop every frame.
Sep 10 18:02:57 <smc_gamer>	I think an array or Collection will suffice for sprite groups.
Sep 10 18:03:18 <smc_gamer>	Each sprite and block will have a static ID and an "live" ID, too.
Sep 10 18:03:32 <smc_gamer>	The static ID would be like SMBX's block-1, block-2, etc.
Sep 10 18:04:01 <smc_gamer>	The live ID is assigned real-time, and will be used to reference individual sprites and blocks.
Sep 10 18:04:19 <Joey>	Sounds cool.
Sep 10 18:04:29 <smc_gamer>	Live IDs would then be stored in the level file, and new blocks and sprites will be appended to the end of the file when added.
Sep 10 18:04:32 <smc_gamer>	</infodump>