DungeonMaker 1.0 released

[Henningsen <alg@glinx.com>]

The DungeonMaker is a program that uses artificial life methods to create
random dungeons or mazes. It is a C++ library for use in grid-based games,
and can also be used as a stand-alone program for pen and paper role
playing. It is being released under the GPL. 

The current version of the DungeonMaker allows you to structure the dungeon
by placing rooms, walls, and guaranteed-to-remain-open places (for later
placement of NPCs, items, and story hooks), and then constructs a random
dungeon around that. The structural elements are placed in the rooms-file,
and the local character of the dungeon is determined by the parameters in
the stats-file.

The dungeons generated by the DungeonMaker1.0 tend to have a maze-like
character. For version 2.0 I have two major plans: Enable the program to
place random rooms, and implement a genetic algorithm that based on
quality-ratings for dungeons evolves the parameters in the stats-file to
yield optimal dungeons. This can be used by letting the user enter quality
ratings according to his preference, so that users can play in dungeons that
are individually adapted to their taste, or by basing the rating on user
performance to balance the game.

In the meantime, Stephan Beal has taken over lead development of the
DungeonMaker. He has turned the DungeonMaker into a proper library (to use
version 1.0 you have to compile it into your own program), and is reworking
the data structures used by the DungeonMaker. In particular, he is providing
a hierarchy of objects which makes it easy for users to add their own
"DungeonElements", and is implementing a sophisticated storage strategy for
these data.

To check out the DungeonMaker, go to one of these sites:
http://dungeonmaker.sourceforge.net
http://alifegames.com/dungeonmaker

Peter Henningsen 
alifegames.com
http://alifegames.com      website re-launched with new content
read    "Complicity and the Brain: Dynamics in Attractor Space"
at           http://alifegames.com/project/ComplicityBrain.html


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