Some people were asking my how JevaEngine was going(the java one). Truth is, I haven't started working on it till quite recently, and school is really getting in the way. I've managed to work on it this weekend, and a couple hours during weekdays. So here's what new.
One of the main new implementations in JevaEngine is JetaScript(I've finished writing the parser and main executing modules).
It executes at about 950 lines a second on my PC. I could get it going a lot faster. The reason it's a bit slow is the parameters to function calls of an object are parsed in the executer. Which means a new parser object needs to be created, and then text needs to be parsed. If I really wanted to speed it up, I could create all my classes as singletons, detour the init procedure as well. But that would introduce synchronizing and deadlock issues. Soh, that's a last resort.
What I'm going to end up doing, is taking the scripts, loading them in the parser, then serializing the class, dumping it to a file(which will be considered a 'compiled script'). Then they can be loaded to detour the parsing step(which takes at least 80% of the time.)
Anyways, this is one of the main upgrades in JevaEngine. This will be introducing a new networking protocol, extremely dynamic objects + UI. This will also give a neater design to my server and client. Scripts will be supported on both the server and client end. Server-side scripts will process object events etc(to avoid hackers).
I plan to increase tile sizes significantly, and add layered points on a sprite allowing one to equip their character with various objects. Or mount objects on other sprites(including other objects on the maps).
Because of the advancement of the parser I have created, loading & processing of objects and maps is going to be much quicker w\ realistic syntax. Though, I plan to have objects serialized when distributed to clients. Which will bind their scripts, images, and other properties, making them quick to load.
When I'm done, the engine should be dynamic enough to make isometric games ranging from Puzzle Pirates(w\o the puzzles :|) to Habbo Hotel, or even some forms of RTSs.