Work continues on the DoctorWare website. This is almost ready for uploading. I have also been commissioned to develop an intranet using PHP and Perl script, which can act as a file server and dynamically track the status of customer upgrade requests. This will operate on Macintosh and Windows platforms.

Development is currently on hold whilst I write 6,000 words for assessment.

I have looked a little at the Torque game engine (Indie Licence) which you can have a look at by visiting www.garagegames.com - its somewhere under the 'Make Games' tab. Its the same engine that was used to make Tribes II.

I will continue development after Uni work has been submitted.

I am currently looking at 3d engines for when I upgrade Battlefield to the 3d version. The current favourite is the ogre engine, which you can check out at www.ogre3d.org

I am also making final preparations for implementing binary heaps in the path finding.

Welcome to the BattleField home page! Today the site was uploaded, with a screenshots section from the latest version of BattleField and various other information pages. There are currently no downloads, as I don't feel that Version 1.3.4 is A) Bug-free enough, or B) Exciting enough to warrant downloading. In the meantime, check out the screenshots!

The next features being implemented are

• Binary Heaps for the pathfinding (makes them run quicker)
• General level AI implementing Unit type flags (shooter, fighter, fast, etc.)
• "Tool-tip" information on a unit (on mouse over the unit)

After a solid week of research I finally decided on a structure for the BattleField AI system. It seems like a hierarchical AI system (sometimes referred to as a blackboard system, unless I'm getting my buzz words mixed up) is the best bet. Basically a "General" works out overall strategy, and passes it on to a "Captain" who gives orders to groups of units. These orders are then translated by "Sergeants" to orders for individual units, and these units then act on them. The units can also react to the environment around them without input from the higher AI levels.

"Phase One" of the AI Implementation involved writing the Sergeant Level AIs, so that units can be given general commands, and will carry them out. I also allowed the general to select a "Mad Rush" battle plan (more will be implemented later, and selection will be dependent on the general's characteristics) which orders half the computer units to charge forward into combat and the other half to stand back and shoot. Support for unit specialties (i.e. better at shooting or combat) is being added later on.

Today Battlefield finally went realtime. I have removed the turn based code and replaced it with a timed game loop. Once OpenGL is implemented this will become the proper game loop.

Had to fix several bugs to allow multiple combats and to resolve unit selection issues. Selection is still basic but I'm planning to support multiple selections and group movement at a later date.