13 replies to this topic

[ghett0gs0n]

i ve to develop a simcity clone for my final year project and i ve no clue hwo to start and wit wat. if anyone wit experiance can giv me a basic idea of wat i need to do, how to do it and how to get started .....................

[fireside]

What class is it for? Do you know any particular computer language? Does it need to be in 3d?

[Sol_HSA]

Based on the question (both content and the "language" it's written in), I'd recommend choosing another final year project.

However, regardless of whether it'll be rendered in 3d or 2d, the game itself is pretty 2-dimensional.

Without much time to prepare, I would start off by making the 2d grid "paint" program, where the user can place buildings and streets. That's most of what the player can do in the game anyway. Then I would figure out what kinds of things simcity simulates.

I would probably NOT try to simulate everything simcity does, as that would be a huge hurdle (tons of factors like crime rate, property pricing, pollution etc, all of which affects the others, as well as desirability for certain population class or industry type), and would just try to simplify things.. doing things like desirability of housing depends on distance to work, schools, shops, and nearby parks..

Oh well, it wouldn't be all that simple in that case either. You're looking at a project that would probably take a couple of years for you to make in any case.

[ghett0gs0n]

Its my final year project for my Btech. in Computer Sc. .it cannot be changed. i knw c/c++ and would like to work in dat.Its to be made in 2D .
kindly elaborate on
" would start off by making the 2d grid "paint" program".
i am familiar with the concept of grid however how to go about makin one , should i use some engine or any specific program?

ty for promt responses.

[Sol_HSA]

Seriously, if you want answers, first clean up your language. Using "sms talk" or "leet" is considered disrespectful in these parts.

You have to write proper code for your compiler, why not write proper English for your peers? And no, we're not asking for 100%, just 80% would do fine, thank you.

The city map is a grid. Houses, street segments, etc. are rectangles. You need a data structure that describes this map, and tools for the user to pick what kinds of tiles to plot in (be it houses or street segments).

[fireside]

There's an open source version called lincity. The win32 version is here:
http://www.geocities...22/lincity.html

You might even be able to use the graphics if your class allows that. SDL is a good c++ 2d library. If you know Java at all, there's also jgame which has a little nicer sprite library, plus you could make it online, which would be cool.

[Sol_HSA]

Yes, it might make sense to take a peek at lincity, but don't get too deep into it, as it will probably confuse you more. Building your final year project from scratch instead of (possibly) ripping off pieces from lincity won't help you when you're writing your report.

I am curious about the assignment, though - did you pick it yourself, was it one of many options, or was it chosen for you?

[ghett0gs0n]

it was chosen by me and i didnt have much time to improvise :P (some 3-5 secs i guess) however i hav learnt to negate my stupidity and callousness with my unbridled enthusiasm :D


ty for the link , a quick question can i use a engine to degisn the 2-d grid?

[Sol_HSA]

Okay, since you've totally ignored my requests for you to write in English, I'll stop trying to help you now.

[ghett0gs0n]

By english do u mean i should write the first letter in capitals and put fullstops?

[fireside]

Quote

ty for the link , a quick question can i use a engine to degisn the 2-d grid?

It's just math. Pick your sprite size and then figure out your spacing. If the pieces are 50X50 pixels then you can figure out where to put it by multiplying fifty by each grid number. The grid numbers are usually 2 dimensional arrays that you can keep track of what's in there by assigning each element a number. That would be a good place to start anyway. Come up with some sprites and figure out a way to place them and possibly revolve them, or give the illusion of revolving by using four sprites turned in different directions and exchanging them when the arrow keys are pressed. I've never actually played simcity so I'm not sure how it works to tell the truth, but I always start with a core concept and then build on it using object oriented methods. I would also simplify it, so I'd cut it down to the smallest number of elements I could get away with.

[ghett0gs0n]

Ty,I'll post again when im done with the grid.

[Sol_HSA]

ghett0gs0n said:

By english do u mean i should write the first letter in capitals and put fullstops?

There's no "u". Writing "you" doesn't take all that more effort.
There's no "i" (lowercase).
There's no "ty". You can thank in longhand just as well.

Capitals and full stops help readability a lot.

Doing these small things makes your text much more readable, and you seem much less lazy afterwards.

[alphadog]

First, be careful with code on the net. You'll be tempted to plagiarize and, if you do, I know local universities here do a fair job of comparing code to what's out on the net. Don't get nailed that way. It's a sorry way to go down.

Second, take some time and tell us exactly what your assignment asks for. Otherwise, we "hav no clue hwo to recumend and wit wat".

As I think Sol_HSA may be wondering, I get the feeling your "enthusiasm" will result in an over-ambitious project that will kill you in the end. Figure out the minimum needed to meet specs, get that done, then "refactor"/beautify/add functionality with whatever time allows afterward.

And, I agree with another Sol_HSA point: take the time to write legibly and coherently. It doesn't have to be perfect spelling and grammar, but to get semi-pro and pro people on this forum to respond, don't make us have to work to understand you. I understand; you are busy and want to type fast. We are busy too. We don't have time to write a parser to understand what help you want...