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Homebrew Wrestling Tech Demo

Name:	David Horn
Date Posted:	Jan 08, 2008
Rating:	4.5 out of 5
Public:	YES
Comments:	YES
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Profile Page:	View profile page for David Horn

Blog post

Hello again!

Well, today I'm very pleased to release my first torque-built tech demo of my game.
Several years ago on a website called gamingring.com, I released a very similar tech demo. It is basically the create-a-ring functionality.
Let me explain what is in the demo that was in the original.

Basically, here is the options screen:

You'll notice that the user can change the ring mat, the apron, the rope colors, and the light colors.
There are several loaded presets for rings that wrestling fans are familiar with, and some that they are not such as Steelers, Penguins (can you tell where I'm from?) and several holidays.

You can then preview the scene and see the results as per the screenshot below.

Some new things that I have added based on the great (albeit poorly documented - sorry, it is) Torque capabilities.

One is the ability to save a preset of your own. I used the XML console resource to save and load ring presets. Another is the ability to view some of the ring animations.

I have a cyclic animation for the apron cloth slightly moving. I faked cloth animation with bones. You can see the ropes bouncing via the buttons on top, and you can see what happens on impact. The ropes bounce and the apron moves. One thing I don't know if I can do is animate the mat. I chose to use a dif file to get the shadow. But I don't think you can have any kind of animation on dif files. I looked into the resources that add shadows to dts objects, but they produce weird shadows with the ropes.

The main difference is that it's moddable. Modding is huge in the wrestling gamer community and it's something that I couldn't provide to the fans before. Now with Torque, modding can be a reality. And I'm glad. I really want to make a nice simple wrestling engine and have people create mods for it.

To create a new mat:
Create a jpg file that is 512 in width and 512 in height. Feel free to use the mat.psd file in the HBWtechDemo\HBWtechDemo\game\data folder.
Name it mat. WHATEVERYOUWANT.jpg
Put it in the HBWtechDemo\HBWtechDemo\game\data\interiors
That should be it! Hopefully the next time you load the game, it will appear when you hit previous and next.

To create a new apron:
Create a jpg file that is 512 in width and 512 in height.
Name it apronWHATEVERYOUWANT.jpg - it must start with the letters "apron"
Put it in HBWtechDemo\HBWtechDemo\game\data\shapes\ring

There are a couple bugs - like when you constantly preview and preview, the spotlights get faster and faster. Not sure why.

I have included the source code that I've written. Again, this is for fun and education only, so please take whatever elements you would like. This is my first distribution, so if I have distributed code or Torque engine parts that I shouldn't have, please let me know asap.

I hope you enjoy!

www.homebrewwrestling.com/HBWtechDemo.zip

Next up is the character selection and getting into the real meat of the program. I noticed that during playthread animations, if I happen to move a character over the x/y/z plane during the animation, the character snaps back to its original position. This will be a major problem and hopefully there is an option to allow the animation to change the Player's position.

Thanks and God bless! Enjoy! Feedback is always welcome.

Recent Blog Posts

List:	11/03/08 - Homebrew Wrestling Official Demo 07/31/08 - Homebrew Wrestling - gameplay video and pics 05/19/08 - Homebrew Wrestling - first gameplay video 03/10/08 - HBW new demo, now we're getting somewhere 02/08/08 - Homebrew Wrestling - 1 step forward, 5 back 01/08/08 - Homebrew Wrestling Tech Demo 12/06/07 - The start of the Arena 12/02/07 - Homebrew Wrestling intro

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Matt Huston (Jan 08, 2008 at 21:58 GMT) Resource Rating: 5

That is pretty cool David, you have really come along with it in the past month.

Morrie (Jan 08, 2008 at 22:28 GMT)

David,
I notice in the demo you made WCW, Smackdown, Raw, ect. I would remove them so you don't get sued.
I know its just a demo, but I'de hate to see you get in trouble over it. Have thought about using TGEA for it.
This way you could Normal map the characters. Also its a better engine and maybe you could get someone to publish it for the XBox360 or PS3. I would seriously buy a wrestling game that gives more freedom than other games.

David Horn (Jan 09, 2008 at 00:43 GMT)

Ha - thanks man. but I wont get sued because I'm receiving no money for this. It's for educational use only. I already own a business so i dont do this to make money... and surprizingly, I'm just making it for fun. It will be available 100% for free.

Morrie (Jan 09, 2008 at 02:17 GMT)

But, its a trademark of the WWE. Also what about a TGEA version.

Morrie (Jan 09, 2008 at 02:22 GMT)

It take me back to when Metallica sued Napster for distributing their music for free, they weren't making any money off it either. Remember Metallica WON. I just hate to see someone get in trouble over something as little as that.

David Horn (Jan 09, 2008 at 03:08 GMT)

True enough. I'll probably take them out upon release. That's why opening the game up to the mod community is so crucial.

So yeah, not too interested in taking it beyond the PC. Right now I've purchased the Adam Pack and I was going to modify the skin to create a template for people to use to create wrestlers. What would be the advantage of the Normal Map?

BTW - thanks, Matt.

Morrie (Jan 09, 2008 at 03:30 GMT)

You could get a more realistic character like Smackdown vs Raw 2008. They used Normal maps. It would give it a real life look.

B Korkut (Jan 09, 2008 at 09:11 GMT)

moddability is a very powerful feature for a game, nice idea there!

And I have some ideas for your ring customization screen:

You should make the color decision via one type of component. Either use a combo box or the color picker (rainbow thingy) for all parameters, do not use both. My decision would be putting all components (ropes, spotlight, entrance parts) to a radio button-ish selection system and then choosing the color via the color picker.

Better than that, but a bit more work required, you can put the 3D ring model in the customization screen (not on a seperate preview screen) and pick the components (ropes, spotlight, entrance parts) by clicking on the 3D model and when user edits their color via color picker, update the colors in the moment, provide a preview instantly.

Matt Huston (Jan 09, 2008 at 09:27 GMT) Resource Rating: 5

I'm sure David would appreciate to be large enough to be noticed and sued by the WWE :)

Brian Wilson (Jan 09, 2008 at 11:05 GMT)

Modding is huge. The other component you might consider adding is unlockable mods via gameplay. Something as simple as by remaining undefeated for 3 bouts, you can now mod the ropes, etc...

David Horn (Jan 09, 2008 at 13:58 GMT)

The reason I used the drop downs for the ropes is because it basically swaps textures. There is a red rope texture, a blue rope texture, etc. I don't know if I could just use a white rope and then add color to it dynamically or not.

I might add the instantanious preview later - but i don't want to spend all my time in the customize area just yet. but it's definitely something i want to look at doing once the game is well under way.

I would use unlockables, but I'm not sure how I'm setting the game up yet. Previously I just did exhibition matches. Since this will be more of an arcade feel to it, I might go for a mortal kombat "climb-the-tree" season mode. The old super nintendo wrestling games did this. Then, unlockables would be applicable. But I like the achievements idea.

Chris (Jan 12, 2008 at 03:20 GMT)

Hi David,

1. Do you plan on having single wrestler and tag team entrances for the game?

2. Unlockables would be great! Will you have unlockable wrestling move sets do you think?

3. How many wrestlers do you plan on having in the game altogether?

Thanks,
nekidsnake

David Horn (Jan 12, 2008 at 16:04 GMT)

1. havent decided. it isn't a high priority

2. no. I'll just release all of the moves that I create as I create them

3. Same thing - I'll release them as I make them. plus i'd like to give the ability for others to mod wrestlers. so no set number

Kevin SUndar (Jan 28, 2008 at 07:41 GMT) Resource Rating: 4

heyy david when do u think u will have the game done by becuz i am soo interested in playing so yeah

David Horn (Jan 28, 2008 at 14:12 GMT)

This is not the message board for those kind of posts.
Thank you.

Kevin SUndar (Jan 28, 2008 at 19:36 GMT) Resource Rating: 4

ohh sorry man but u knoe wat would be good if u make the game just like wrestling encore so wne u slam a guy on like a chair on the ground it effects them like real life

David Horn (Jan 28, 2008 at 20:41 GMT)

sure - please go here for non-Torque questions...

www.gamingring.com

Kevin SUndar (Jan 29, 2008 at 02:09 GMT) Resource Rating: 4

okai sorry wats tourque and where can i tlak to u about the game cna u send me a link

Kevin SUndar (Jan 29, 2008 at 02:57 GMT) Resource Rating: 4

ohh one more question can u make single and tag team wrestlers entrances with the theme cause that would be awsome u knoe

David Horn (Jan 29, 2008 at 13:33 GMT)

again, please go to www.gamingring.com to discuss that.

Kevin SUndar (Jan 29, 2008 at 23:47 GMT) Resource Rating: 4

but where do i go on gamingring.com to discuss it i cant find it

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