DarkBASIC
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| File:DarkBasicLogo.gif | |
| Developer(s) | The Game Creators |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2000 |
| Stable release | 1.21
/ August 14, 2008 |
| Written in | Compiled to C++ however the scripting language is BASIC |
| Engine | |
| Operating system | IDE for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux |
| Platform | Crossplatform |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Game creation system |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www |
Search DarkBASIC on Amazon.
DarkBASIC is a open source game creation programming language released by The Game Creators. The language is a structured form of BASIC and is similar to AMOS on the Amiga. The purpose of the language is game creation using Microsoft's DirectX from a BASIC programming language. It is faster and easier to use than comparable languages, but also less powerful.[citation needed] It is marketed on its ability to allow a total novice to make playable games after following its tutorials.
DarkBASIC is a programming language that specializes in the creation of games. It can create both 2D and 3D games, providing function libraries that enable a game to be programmed with considerably less code than with a language such as C++ without such dedicated libraries. DarkBASIC consists of an IDE, debugger and interpreter, and an engine built on DirectX 7. The compiler emits Bytecode that is appended to an interpreter to create a stand-alone executable.
It was first released in 2000 by DarkBasic Software Ltd (now The Game Creators Ltd.). In 2002, The Game Creators released an updated version called DarkBASIC Professional able to use newer versions of DirectX. The pre-Professional version is informally referred to as DarkBASIC Classic to distinguish between the products.
The current DarkBASIC Classic version is 1.21, released on 14 August 2008. Since the introduction of DarkBASIC Professional, The Game Creators have stated that there will be no further updates to the language, although it will still be sold.
In 2016 the source code of DarkBASIC professional was liberated for the community.
Features[edit]
| Audio/Video | Extension | Save |
|---|---|---|
| Wave | WAV | Yes |
| Windows Media | WMA | |
| Mpeg Layer 2 | MP2 | |
| Mpeg Layer 3 | MP3 | |
| MIDI Playback | MIDI | |
| RMI | RMI | |
| Scream tracker | S3M | |
| Fast Tracker | XT | |
| Impule Tracker | IT | |
| SoundTracker | MOD | |
| CD Audio | CDA | |
| 2D | Extension | Save |
| Bitmap | BMP | Yes |
| Run Length Encoded BMP | RLE | |
| Device Independent Bitmap | DIB | |
| Portable Network Graphics | PNG | |
| JPEG | JPG | Yes |
| DirectDraw Surface | DDS | |
| Targa | TGA | |
| PCX | PCX | |
| PhotoShop | PSD | |
| Tagged Interchange Format | TIFF | |
| 3D | Extension | Save |
| 3D Studio | 3DS | |
| DirectX | X | |
| Dark Basic Object | DBO | Yes |
DarkBASIC is a wide language which covers all areas of game development typical of its time, hence it also includes a wide range of file formats typically used in games. Extra features such as multiplayer and EAX support became available in an expansion pack.
Display[edit]
- Automated double buffering
- Fullscreen support
- Gamma control
Input/Output[edit]
- Mouse, keyboard and gaming controller support
- Force-feedback control
- System handling
- File handling
Video and audio[edit]
- Video animation control
- Audio control
2D[edit]
- Accelerated 2D blitting
- Mirror, stretch, blur and fade
- Screen-sized and animated sprites
- Transparency[vague]
- Pixel-accurate collision
- 2D drawing Functions
3D[edit]
- Landscape terraforming
- 3D primitives
- Polygon collision detection
- Full model manipulation
- Model animation
- Ambient lighting
- Directional lighting
- Texture filtering
- Alpha blending
- Distance fog
DarkBASIC Professional[edit]
Developed as a replacement for DarkBASIC. As with DarkBASIC it consisted of an IDE, debugger and compiler. Unlike DarkBASIC, the DarkBASIC Professional compiler outputs machine code. The engine originally used DirectX 8.1 but has been updated to use DirectX, 9.0c. The language is essentially the same as DarkBASIC with a few additions. Notably types which allow combining simple data types into a composite data type similar to Structs in C. Other features include the use of shaders, 3D maths commands and vertex editing commands. The current version is 7.61 released 1 June 2011.[needs update?]
![[icon]](/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008) |
Sample code[edit]
Hello world[1][edit]
PRINT "Hello world."
WAIT KEY
END
Simple rotating cube[2][edit]
REM 3D rotating cube demo
SYNC RATE 60
MAKE OBJECT CUBE 1,100
DO
XROTATE OBJECT 1,WRAPVALUE(OBJECT ANGLE X(1)+0.3)
YROTATE OBJECT 1,WRAPVALUE(OBJECT ANGLE Y(1)+0.5)
SYNC
LOOP
END
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Darkbasic Professional user manual
- ↑ "darkBASIC codebase". Thegamecreators.com. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
External links[edit]
- Lua error in Module:Official_website at line 90: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- The Game Creators' Forums
- WikiBooks - Learn how to Program DarkBASIC
This article "DarkBASIC" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
