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Modification History
2004-September-1 Jason Rohrer
Created
2004-September-26 Jason Rohrer
Added 0.1.2 releases.
2004-September-30 Jason Rohrer
Added links to dev resources.
2004-October-15 Jason Rohrer
Added 0.2 release.
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<TITLE>Transcend: a new video game by Jason Rohrer</TITLE>
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a video game by <A HREF="http://jasonrohrer.n3.net">Jason Rohrer</A><BR>
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Transcend can best be described as retro-style, abstract, 2D shooter. The graphics are geometrical, and the pace is sometimes frenzied.<BR>
<BR>
Two features set Transcend apart from other games. First, its <B>dynamic graphical engine</B>, which can smoothly morph from one complex shape to another in realtime, produces striking displays. Combining these dynamic shapes with subtle randomizations ensures that each new play through a Transcend level is visually different from the last. The second novel feature is Transcend's <B>musical power-up system</B>. As you play through a level, you are simultaneously assembling an abstract visual collage and arranging a unique piece of music. Transcend merges video games with pure art---it can be viewed either as a game or as a multimedia sculpture.<BR>
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Though I first read it <I>after</I> developing Transcend, the <A HREF="http://www.the-underdogs.org/scratch.php">Scratchware Manifesto</A> captures the spirit that motivated me to develop a game.
<H2>Requirements</H2>
Required:
<UL>
<LI>Stereo headphones or speakers</LI>
<LI>OpenGL</LI>
<LI>Keyboard</LI>
</UL>
Recommended:
<UL>
<LI>3D card that can render OpenGL</LI>
<LI>400 MHz or faster processor</LI>
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Notes:<BR>
Development and testing took place on a 250 MHz PPC computer <I>without</I> a 3D accelerator card (in other words, using software OpenGL rendering).
Transcend is actually playable on a meager system like this, though it runs a lot smoother on a faster computer with a 3D card.<BR>
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The Transcend window defaults to being rather small at startup (300x300) to accommodate slower systems. <B>Please resize the window before playing</B> according to your monitor size and system speed (if you have a reasonable 3D card, window size will not affect frame rate, so bigger windows are generally better).
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<TD VALIGN=MIDDLE>Think Transcend is cool? Donate a dollar.<BR>
<A HREF="http://hcsoftware.sf.net/jason-rohrer/supportMyWork.html">Why support my work?</A></TD>
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<H2>Downloads</H2>
Version 0.2 released on October 15, 2004. This version includes three levels. (<A HREF="http://cvs.sourceforge.net/viewcvs.py/*checkout*/transcend/Transcend/doc/changeLog.txt?rev=HEAD">change log</A>)<BR>
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<B>Important Note:</B> The keyboard layout has changed slightly in 0.2. Most important is the grab/drop key, which is now D (instead of G). See the included <TT>how_to_play.txt</TT> for more information.<BR>
<BR>
Clicking a download link below will lead you a list of download <I>mirrors</I>---pick the server that is closest to your geographical location.<BR>
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<A HREF="http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/transcend/Transcend_0.2-IGF-2_OSX.dmg?download">MacOS X</A> -- 10.2 and later.<BR><BR>
<A HREF="http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/transcend/Transcend_0.2-IGF-2_Windows.exe?download">Windows 95/98/2000/XP</A> -- Includes the GLUT library.<BR>
<BR>
<A HREF="http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/transcend/Transcend_0.2-IGF-2_UnixSource.tar.gz?download">Unix Source Code</A> -- Compile yourself. Requires the GLUT development library [<A HREF="http://www.opengl.org/resources/libraries/glut/glut-3.7.tar.gz">GLUT source</A>] [<A HREF="http://rpmfind.net/linux/rpm2html/search.php?query=glut">GLUT RPMs</A>].<BR><BR>
Transcend is free software (released under the <A HREF="http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html">GNU GPL</A>)
<H2>Screenshots</H2>
Keep in mind that Transcend's dynamic, morphing graphics cannot be captured in still pictures.<BR>
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<IMG SRC="images/screen1.png" WIDTH=500 HEIGHT=500><BR>
Destroying one minor anti-glyph as another approaches.<BR>
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<IMG SRC="images/screen2.png" WIDTH=500 HEIGHT=500><BR>
Battling the major anti-glyph.<BR>
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<IMG SRC="images/screen3.png" WIDTH=500 HEIGHT=500><BR>
A well-established power-up collage and two of the resulting projectiles.<BR>
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<H2>Development</H2>
Development is managed through the <A HREF="http://sf.net/projects/transcend">SourceForge Project Page</A>. On that page, you can submit bug reports and feature requests. You can also <A HREF="http://cvs.sourceforge.net/viewcvs.py/transcend/">browse the source code</A> in CVS or <A HREF="http://sourceforge.net/cvs/?group_id=117745">checkout the latest source</A> to compile a bleeding-edge version for yourself.<BR>
<BR>
I have posted some <A HREF="roughEditInstructions.txt">rough instructions</A> about how to edit Transcend levels. More information about this topic will be added in the future.
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hosted by:<BR>
<A href="http://sourceforge.net">
<IMG src="http://sourceforge.net/sflogo.php?group_id=117745&type=1"
width="88" height="31" border="0" alt="SourceForge Logo"></A>
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