Dark Signs X (DSX) alpha release

[MadDoc]

Hi,

Dark Signs X (DSX) for the Mac is a console-based game that simulates a network environment. The game has a dark storyline where you play a computer hacker.

DSX has its own native programming/scripting language called XScript, which is a BASIC-like language. You can write your own programs and run them in the console, or run them remotely on servers within the game. XScript currently supports 40 commands, including IF...ELSE...ENDIF, LOOPS and VARIABLES, with many more planned for the final release. It also has its own directory structure (try typing 'dir' in the console to see!).

This is the first alpha release of the game and I really want people to give me feedback on the flexibility of XScript as a scripting language for the game. I would also like people to experiment with creating their own servers for use in the game (any good ones may be included with the finished game!).

DSX really is very flexible because of XScript and I am hoping people will show some enthusiasm for it :)

I have written a users manual for the game, which is included in the download as a pdf file (or you can download it separately). I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that everybody wishing to try out DSX reads the manual as it has some tutorials written to demonstrate the use of XScript.

There is no goal in DSX as of yet, as I have yet to create any missions (being only an alpha).

Included in the download, are 3 programs:
1. DSX v0.5 - Alpha 1 (the main game)
2. Script Editor v0.9 (to write the XScripts)
3. Server Builder v0.9 (to build your own servers)

I would really appreciate any and all feedback.

There are a few known bugs already that I am working to resolve:
1. Quitting: Whenever you quit you will get an error message. Just ignore it and click 'Quit'. It does not result in data corruption.
2. Nil object exception errors: DO NOT move anything from its default location - you'll only have yourself to blame!

Get it here (when you get there, choose DSX v0.5.sitx and right-click and download linked file):
http://www.igarry.com/dsx/files/

Thanks guys,

MadDoc,

[aaronsullivan]

Hmm... performance on my iBook 500Mhz is weird.
I get repeated keys ALL the time almost. The repeat delay is WAY too low. It makes it frustrating to type, epecially since sometimes it doesn't catch all my keystrokes... so it repeats some presses and skips others. :/

also, the root directory shown in the prompt shows only 3 letters... which is okay, but home shows up as "ome" I'd think it would at least start with the FIRST 3 letters like "hom."

Sadly, I didn't take it a step further than just playing with the basic command line because typing was infuriating. :)

[Nick]

I like the idea and the style but a few things went wrong. One thing (preference) is not using the mouse while playing the game. Since it's console based, there's no need. Next thing, when I started the game I instantly typed 'dir' to find out what was there. I then typed 'cd system' and 'dir' again. I found the root folder. So I typed 'root' and 'dir' and inside the root folder, was the root folder. I could do this for infinite amount of times. Same thing if I had started with 'cd home' instead of 'cd system'. After a while I just wanted to quit. Having not read the manual and not know how to, I typed 'exit' into the prompt and nothing. So I typed 'quit' and got a lovely error pop up. Here is the entire text of the pop up:
Runtime Failure:Failed Assertion. Please report what caused this error along with the information below.
RuntimeWindow.cpp:1907 form

Hope that helps and that you take care of those issues. Another thing I would like to see, is integration of the editors with the game so the player can be in game writing the code.

[Nick]

Sorry I didn't see the thing about typing 'quit' in your first post.

[MadDoc]

@ aaronsullivan:

I get repeated keys ALL the time almost
Sorry about that. I didn't think it was quite that bad (so long as you aren't touch typing speed). I will play around with the repeat delay. It may be because your iBook is much slower than mine that it is more noticeable - but point taken.

also, the root directory shown in the prompt shows only 3 letters... which is okay, but home shows up as "ome" I'd think it would at least start with the FIRST 3 letters like "hom."
This is partly a bug and partly not reading the help file for the cd command. If you type 'cd' alone - you are taken to the 'root' directory. If you type the name of a folder at your current location PRECEDED BY A "." then you are taken to that folder. If you want to navigate to a specific folder then you must type the full path, starting with .root and followed by each subfolder preceded by a "."

Example 1 :
current directory = root>_
If I want to change to the home directory (which is within the 'root' directory) then I must type:
cd .home
NOT cd home

Example 2:
current directory = root.home>_
If I want to change to the system data directory (which is root/system/data) then I must type:
cd .root.system.data

The preceding "."'s are crucial. At the moment it is really buggy and I appreciate that - I will rectify it, but it does work if you use the syntax correctly :)

@ SimReality/Nick:

One thing (preference) is not using the mouse while playing the game.
I'll sort that out - no problem.

Next thing, when I started the game I instantly typed 'dir' to find out what was there. I then typed 'cd system' and 'dir' again. I found the root folder. So I typed 'root' and 'dir' and inside the root folder, was the root folder. I could do this for infinite amount of times. Same thing if I had started with 'cd home' instead of 'cd system'.
Again, this is partly a bug and partly incorrect use of syntax (see above). In the next release, I shall make it so that the command fails if the "." is not included where required.

Another thing I would like to see, is integration of the editors with the game so the player can be in game writing the code.
So would I ;) , I will see what I can do for the next release.

I really appreciate your comments guys. I hope you will continue to persevere with XScript and see if you can write any interesting scripts. Please remember that this is NOT anywhere near a final release.

PS. Read the manual :)

Garry,

[Nick]

Just for my knowledge, what language are you using for this game? Are you using SDL,OpenGL, or any other API?

[MadDoc]

I'm using RealBASIC 5.5.3

MadDoc,

[MadDoc]

MAJOR UPDATE RELEASED!

I have just uploaded DSX v0.5.1 here. (http://www.igarry.com/dsx/files)

This is the version log:

v0.5.1:
Bug fixes:
- Fixed the error message on quitting
- You can now type as fast as you like - DSX now uses the native KeyDown method within RealBASIC to catch keystrokes
- Made the inclusion of a "." before path changes compulsory when using the cd command.
- Removed the trailing space following the unrecognised command message
- CAPS LOCKS now works

New commands:
- getversion

Bugs remaining:
- Say command: The delay is not in milliseconds. If you want a teletype effect, I would use a delay of 1.

This should make testing a more pleasant experience! I will probably get to work on a better editor next as I need people to make me some scripts/servers.

MadDoc,

[Nick]

A ton better. I like the typing speed fix as well as the quitting :). One little thing I noticed in a quick 30 second review is the use of the command 'cd ..' which I'm used to meaning go up a level (back). In your program it does something weird where it returns back to the root folder but doesn't display root> on the side. Try it out and you'll see what I mean. Other than that it looks good.

[MadDoc]

Thanks Nick, have taken your suggestions on board and have released a major new update:

DSX v0.6 has now be uploaded here. (http://www.igarry.com/dsx/files/)

Here is the change log:

v0.6:
Bug fixes:
- Files/folders placed in the default users folder are now copied to every new user created
- Typing cd .. now moves the current location one subfolder up
- Fixed a maths bugs where the user was unable to assign to a variable, the value contained within a variable function variable

Game changes:
- User-defined commands added. Simply add a compiled .dss file to the /root/system/commands folder and that script will be executed when you type its name from any location in the console, thus functioning as a command. As yet, these user-defined commands cannot accept any parameters.
- Removed the help all command. Typing help now displays all available commands in the game

New commands:
- date
- delete
- format
- info
- lineup
- md (make directory)
- pipeoff
- pipeon
- pipestatus
- rd (remove directory)
- scan

This is by far the most stable version to date. I also feel that the ELEVEN new commands add a lot of functionality to the game.

MadDoc,