Bug fixed

The bug illustrated in the previous post has been fixed. It turns out
to be the result of a mistake in the original code base, where Windows
bitmap files are loaded with an alpha channel added, but the function
calls to rescale the image and generate the OpenGL texture object were
written such that the data is treated as though there’s no alpha
channel. That has been corrected. In fact, we even decided to change
the code to use PNG’s instead, for its insane lossless compression and
true 255-level transparency.

Too bad the library we’re using does not support 64-bit PNGs yet.

- SwordAngel

OpenGL Quirk

Above is a texture mapping quirk at work in my OpenGL game. At the center of the page is a MD2 model of a demon-like creature.

The texture that’s supposed to map on this guy is this:

Obviously something went wrong…

- SwordAngel

Fighting Evil (NOT by Moonlight)

Sorry for the general lack of update in the past weeks. Rumors of my abduction to the dungeons of Windspear Hills
have been greatly exaggerated. I was simply “busy” fighting multiple
battles all over the multiverse: some on the planet Char; some around
the region of Amn; some against the evil in the Kingdom of Baron; some
in my supercomputer grid composed of Melchior, Balthasar, and Casper
(a.k.a. my local area network of 2 laptops and 1 desktop); and yet some
more in my kitchen againsts undead chickens using the Wok +3
(Prometheus) given to me as a reward in a previous quest (“Drop Mom Off
at the Airport”), although my dexterity penalty and lack of resistance
to fire doesn’t help. Finally, there’s the computer graphics course.

Among all these battles, the ones on my computers are the most
productive. In fact, I have become an apprentice in the art of
spyware/adware removal and protection, under the guidance of Master
Mahmood, now a veteran in this ever growing battlefield. Apparently,
barring the case where they need someone who speaks Arabic, I will
probably be the next guy to be hired.

By the way, hopefully some of you still haven’t gone to watch Star
Wars. Last time the big movie going that Eliott organized was cancelled
and some of you went in smaller groups. I heard good things about
Madagascar also, so that may be an alternative.

- SwordAngel