A New Beginning

For the past several weeks, I've been working on implementing a 2D OpenGL rendering engine dubbed IronClad. A lot of progress has been made, and I have decided to start working on a new project that will fully utilize the features of my engine. You can find the source code on my GitHub page here.

Implemented Features

• Full use of modern OpenGL features such as vertex array objects
• Instanced geometry which allows for high-speed, batched rendering of many vertices
• Per-pixel shader-based lighting (currently only point lights)
• Optimized mesh loading
• Entity wrapper for easily controllable mesh instances
• Minimalistic physics system
• Loading of a custom level format for easy scene creation

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Latest Project: Praecursor

Precursor - n. 

1. A person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a forerunner
2. A substance from which another is formed, esp. by metabolic reaction. 

Story

Over the years, a resistance has slowly been brewing in the tight-knit lower-class communities with the intent of ending the limitation of availability. Minor outbreaks of violence have been popping up more and more frequently across the nation. They are in desperate need of a tipping point and something to give them an advantage.
In an effort to invent time travel, scientists attempted to graft light molecule sequencing with human DNA. The experiment went wrong, resulting in a human being who lived a few seconds ahead of everyone else, an effect subject to variation based on light exposure. And that's where you come in...

I watched Looper recently (excellent movie by the way), and it sparked me to think about using time-travel or time-manipulation as a game mechanic. Thus, Praecursor was born. The inspiration for the title is accredited to Tonitrus on the FreeNode IRC network.

The year is 2033. With the invention of genetic enhancement, everyone expected the human race to thrive and coexist peacefully within a generation. Instead, several powerful corporations monopolized the industry, driving prices through the roof to make the enhancements exclusive to the upper class citizens of the world. Because of this, the rift between the wealthy and the lower class has grown dramatically. The artificial augmentations that enhance cognitive and athletic ability, overcome physical limitations, and add unprecedented mastery of skills are easily accessible to the rich, consistently giving them a distinct advantage in all aspects of life over those less fortunate.