Simeon Kesler's Blog

Twitter Update for week end 2011-12-25

Simeon Kesler — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Chag sama'ach (Happy Chanukah) everyone #

Twitter Update for week end 2011-12-18

Simeon Kesler — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Off to Bham tomorrow evening for graduation number 2; possibly the last one for a while (barring the token MA from cam next year) #
Choo choo goes the train to Bham; I missed this journey #

Twitter Update for week end 2011-12-04

Simeon Kesler — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Finally uploaded some videos for my portfolio – feel free to take a look http://t.co/nKlRa6KA & http://t.co/Efe32tdu #
@selbyno1 all going fine – currently back in m'cr and looking for work; you? #

Gravitoids

Simeon Kesler — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:18:42 +0000

Version 1.0

An Asteroids-like game in which the player must wipe out all the stars without getting hit; this is harder than it seems, as everything has its own gravity and, just like in real space, there is no friction. One wrong misjudgment of your energy reserves and your speed could very well spell the end of the game. For instructions, press F1 after starting the game.

The game is coded in C++ and makes use of Direct2D for graphical output.

Video

Screenshots

[View with PicLens]

Technologies

The code makes use of Microsoft Direct2D and DirectWrite, both APIs being included in the Windows 7 SDK.

Future Changes

Many changes are planned for this game, including (hopefully) enemy ships with an appropriately complex AI and non-static targets (maybe asteroids orbiting around the stars)

Requirements

Program

The program needs Microsoft Windows 7 to run.

Source

If compiling the source code, please have the linker include the following libraries:

d2d1.lib
dwrite.lib

Files

Gravitoids	7z file of the executable	v1.0.0
GravitoidsSource	7z file of the source code	v1.0.0

Versions

v1.0.0 - 30/11/2011 - First complete version

Particle Effects

Simeon Kesler — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:51:24 +0000

Version 1.0

For my MSc project, I created a Particle effects demo that simulates fire and smoke effects. The aim is to achieve fairly realistic effects using "quasi-Physics"; i.e. using some real physical laws, but sacrificing them where necessary for the sake of performance and visual aesthetics. The program is coded in C++, using DirectX for graphics, with some HLSL coding for the graphics shaders.

Video

Screenshots

[View with PicLens]

Technologies

The code makes use of Microsoft DirectX 11 and of the DirectX Application Framework (DXUT), found in the samples included in the DirectX SDK.

Future Changes

This program will be revisited; future changes include a code edit such that it runs on the GPU and the implementation of collision detection (between the effects and other objects).

Requirements

Program

The program uses DirectX and requires a DirectX 10 capable graphics card and Windows 7. Due to a problem with the release version that currently hasn't been resolved (not all particles render), the code requires that the DirectX SDK be installed for the DirectX debug library files.

Source

If compiling the source code, please have linker include the following libraries:

d3dcompiler.lib
d3dx11d.lib
d3dx9d.lib
dxerr.lib
dxguid.lib
winmm.lib
comctl32.lib

Files

ParticleEffects	7z file of the executable and dependencies	v1.0.0
ParticleEffectsSource	7z file of the source code	v1.0.0

Version

v1.0.0 - 25/08/2011 – First full version

Twitter Update for week end 2011-11-27

Simeon Kesler — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:00:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've said anything – hopefully I'll get a blog post out later; a degree, a holiday and a demo. #

Twitter Update for week end 2011-10-23

Simeon Kesler — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Oh the joy of waiting at an airport gate – next tweet will be from Israel #

Twitter Update for week end 2011-10-02

Simeon Kesler — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Back home and back to coding – will hoepfully have game demo done soon (probably after festivals – Shana Tova everyone) #

Twitter Update for week end 2011-09-25

Simeon Kesler — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:00:00 +0000

To games Expo in London on Friday; there's a career's event that should help me improve job prospects (honestly I'll also enjoy Tue demos) #
There's a slight queue for the EuroGamer Expo here in London, bit at least its fast moving. There'll be pics later. #

A new layout

Simeon Kesler — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:24:01 +0000

Hi all. Just a post to announce a new layout for my website, along with the unveiling of my online portfolio (TRUMPETS!).

Yes, it’s a bit bare at the moment, but it’ll fill out when I can find past work and once I get some of the demos I’m currently working on done.

In other news, I’m heading down to London tomorrow for the EuroGamer Expo, both to enjoy myself and to go to the career’s fair and get some advise on what I should be doing better to land a games programming job.

Wish me luck…

Simeon