Project Forecourse is a framework for building and deploying games based in XNA and DirectX.

More specifically, it is a set of components, tools, and assets one can pull from and use in order to jump-start their development. There are already many preexisting and completed projects aimed to do this, but I have decided to create my own set of tools to speed up my own game development, build a solid base for my portfolio, create reusable code for any projects I will have to undertake in the future, and is my attempt to contribute to others learning the trade. This is more of a learning experience for me than it is to make money or create something professional, however I am trying to keep this project as professional as possible.

This project is still fairly new and not much has been developed, as I have to balance school work, this, and a few other doings and projects of mine that I am currently a part of, however I am looking to get others involved.

Currently I am focusing on ForeGUI, a component of Forecourse that will handle everything UI related and be completely independent from XNA or DirectX and etc. I am building this component, much like the other components, as stand-alone .NET .DLL’s in C#. I know that it would be best to do this as unmanaged C++, but that is a feat that I am not prepared to do at the moment with my current workload. Below is a list of things I have planned, what I am focusing on, etc.

These will be linked to respective pages with more detail regarding each aspect when that detail becomes available.

Project Forecourse

  • ForeCommon
    • Holds common logic and objects shared throughout Forecourse. Developed as nessicary.
    • Includes wrappers for functions for right-out-of-the-box usage.
  • ForeInput
    • Functional, but not fully developed
    • No support for XBOX 360 Controllers yet.
  • ForeGUI (Current Focus)
    • Currently being developed
    • Responsible for UI logic, management, and rendering.
    • Accessible command queue for interacting with the UI with your outside code.
  • ForeEditor (2nd Focus)
    • Development just started (For making UI Resources for ForeGUI, but will eventually create more things)
    • XNA WinForms application devoted to creation of resources to be used with Forecourse.
  • ForeGraphics2D
    • Development started
    • Handles rendering of 2D World-Space, viewports, culling, texture handling/generating, etc
  • ForeGraphics3D (planned)
  • ForeWorld (planned)
    • Handles creation/usage of “world data” to be used for levels and such
  • ForePhysics (planned)
    • Handles Physics and Collision Detection
  • ForeSound (planned)
    • Handles sound management/manipulation
    • ForeNetwork (planned in the far distant future)
  • And a bunch of components that are needed that aren’t planned/thought of for development any time soon.

If anyone wants to get involved or wants to know more info, please feel free to post a comment or contact me.

Michael Allar