Dark and Light

Why can't you enter buildings in Dark and Light?  Why are there no caves or underground areas?  Why is there no falling damage?  Why can't you swim underwater?

I asked the same question on the DnL forums, but did not get a satisfactory answer.

These issues seem to me to be related in a sense.  They are common features in almost all MMORPGs, but are missing from DnL, and I think they were also absent from SoG as well?

Now, I have no knowledge what-so-ever of computer graphic design or terrain rendering models, so bear with me if I get this all wrong.

As I understand it, the basic world engine was designed by one of the original members of the design team for DnL, but he left and took his terrain engine with him.  But Farlan stole parts of it, (or something like that), and there is currently a big legal argument over who did what etc.

My question really has nothing to do with who has proprietory rights to what.  My question is this:

Is there some basic limitation to the terrain engine, (whoever owns it), that will not allow inclustion of the features I listed at the top of the post?

I *think* I read somewhere that there is a separate program that overlays the trees, grass, buildings etc, on top of the basic terrain.  Is that the way that works, and is that unique to this particular game or is it standard for all games?

If there are any designers out there that can give me the, (computer dummy's), version of this I would really appreciate it.

Are these features something that the present designers just haven't gotten around to including yet, or are they features that can never be added in due to some type of program limitations?

To answer pretty much all of your questions :

It's Dark and Light.

My advice :

Don't bother with it, go play a real mmo.

Why?  Well, try some research on different websites. Anyway you may certainly have more valid responses here, rather than on the official DnL boards.  

Oh, and BTW  there were in-door scenes and caves in DnL in 2002-2003 and 2004 as you can see here:

or here:

Oh... and you forgot to mention fields too, as shown here:

or rivers, dense forets and many other features...

So to address your question, there is no such thing as "some type of program limitations" like you mentioned, and it's the same engine which manages the trees, grass and buildings, etc. It just appears the "designers" now in charge tried to disguise the former engine code, and judging from what you say, it doesn't seem to work any longer, even though they kept all the basic functions. You know, the issue with warez products is that generally you're not given the user documentation. And this really is an issue sometimes. But that's how it goes, you know, that 's life, you gotta learn at some point.      

Hope I covered your technical questions.

Thank-you, yes you did answer my questions, but I am still confused. 

Are you saying:

A.   These features *used* to be included, but were removed?   

B.   The features are *still* there, but that the designers don't know how to use them? 

C.   The features are there, and they designers know how to use them, but have *chosen* not enabled them? 

D.   The designers tried to *change* the code to make a legal claim that it was not the same code as the original designer's code, and botched it up?

Trying to research the technical aspects of all this at different sites would amount to trying to get a degree in computer animations for me,  I don't even understand the terms that they use!

head on over

Originally posted by agh50

Thank-you, yes you did answer my questions, but I am still confused. 

Are you saying:

A.   These features *used* to be included, but were removed?   

B.   The features are *still* there, but that the designers don't know how to use them? 

C.   The features are there, and they designers know how to use them, but have *chosen* not enabled them? 

D.   The designers tried to *change* the code to make a legal claim that it was not the same code as the original designer's code, and botched it up?

Trying to research the technical aspects of all this at different sites would amount to trying to get a degree in computer animations for me,  I don't even understand the terms that they use!

Simple.

Farlan stole the tech for the engine then didnt know how to use it.

So the answer is;

B.   The features are *still* there, but the designers don't know how to use them.

Does this mean that they *might* be included sometime in the future?  Also, I am not sure I understand how the designers can understand how to use some of the program, but not know how to use another part of the same program.  Wouldn't it be an 'all or nothing' type of situation?

Does Farlan have the resources to hire the designers necessary to complete it? 

Is it likey that Snail Game would be able to do it?

Originally posted by agh50

So the answer is;

B.   The features are *still* there, but the designers don't know how to use them.

Does this mean that they *might* be included sometime in the future?  Also, I am not sure I understand how the designers can understand how to use some of the program, but not know how to use another part of the same program.  Wouldn't it be an 'all or nothing' type of situation?

Does Farlan have the resources to hire the designers necessary to complete it? 

Is it likey that Snail Game would be able to do it?

SnailGame? Well their CEO declared without beating about the bush that... there will not be any obstacle, remember?

http://news.mmosite.com/interview/content/2006-08-25/20060825054954597,1.shtml 

I quote: