Questions

[Voxel Space]

I would like to ask a few questions before purchasing BlackVoxel's paid content (adventure mode):
What the limitations to the school mode are, what extra
functionality is added in the paid Adventure version that makes
it worth buying?  is the Voxel Fire engine modifiable
to include octree /light rendering systems or would it be an
impractical modification for the underlying code? If not, what is the
extent of the engine's capability, would it be easier to start from
scratch to make a sandboxed game like TROVE or Un-turned (with
physics) or could the engine manage it? 

This is a good base engine,
keep improving, and it will become what most hope for... A software that
can be used for almost anything voxelized, best of all, Open Source.

Thank You!


~=VS=~

[Enigma]

Hi and welcome to the Blackvoxel Forum.

I would like to ask a few questions before purchasing BlackVoxel's paid content (adventure mode):
What the limitations to the school mode are, what extra
functionality is added in the paid Adventure version that makes
it worth buying?

To make it simple, in adventure mode, you have access to the whole world : http://www.blackvoxel.com/view.php?node=1641
You are intended to play, extract resources, process it, use machines to build stuff, machines and make airplanes.
You have access to all materials, so you can access the complete tech tree.

In school mode, you are limited to the flat blue central zone. The other zones doesn't exists in this mode.
The school mode is mainly intended to teach and learn programming with the 3 actual programmable robots.
In this mode, you can get stuff like programmable robots and automation directly with the "J" key.
The school mode in not really intended for playing. Even if we did not disabled the regular game mechanics,
 you can not access other zones in the world, so some materials will be missing to really play the game.

is the Voxel Fire engine modifiable
to include octree /light rendering systems or would it be an
impractical modification for the underlying code? If not, what is the
extent of the engine's capability, would it be easier to start from
scratch to make a sandboxed game like TROVE or Un-turned (with
physics) or could the engine manage it?

To answer in few words, the VoxelFire engine is a specialized game engine, not a general purpose game creation tool like (as example) Unity, the Unreal Engine or the Godot Game engine (to speak about a free software tool) that would allow easy game creation. I know that many of the game like you mentionned are often made with the Unity game engine.

The VoxelFire engine was thinked in first place to make possible what the Blackvoxel game needed to do. This game have very specific needs that would not have been possible without a custom engine. Programming an engine like the VoxelFire takes a long time.

With the definition you gave, you are far enough from the Blackvoxel paradigm. And modifiying a game engine (or more, creating a new one) is not something I would recommand unless you know very well what you are doing. It requires a very good level in programming and can take a very long time.

In addition if you want to create a game, you have take also into account the terms of the licence of the game engine. The GPL V3+ licence of the VoxelFire code means you have to comply with it. https://www.blackvoxel.com/view.php?node=1571

keep improving, and it will become what most hope for... A software that
can be used for almost anything voxelized, best of all, Open Source.

Such a tool would be a dream. But I'm affraid it won't exist.
First because the word "voxel" can mean a lot of very different things. I mean, really different. And there is not best choice. What is good depend on the game.
Then because game engines are like cars. You can't have an "all in one" vehicle that can be best than specialized vehicle in their specific area. What you can call "the best car" depends on what you want to do.
VoxelFire can be good in Blackvoxel because it is specialized for what this specific game have to do.
Unforunately, specializing means making choices. Some choice you have to make in a game engine to make it better for some uses means... that you have a price to pay : it will be worst or not suitable for some other uses.

Best regards,
The Blackvoxel Team

[Voxel Space]

 A dream can be what you make it, but mostly it is a mirror; one that reflects the choices of the past into the progress of today, to show a glint of what can be tomorrow... it is up to you to position that light to form the next image. My dream is not of voxels, not a game, but a way to change the outcome of the world. Voxels seem to be a good start, not for the dream itself, but as a guide on how to get there; voxels can show a world of their own; an idea, that gives a way for the image to be seen; a choice, for how tomorrow will become. This 'dream' is already being made by people who realized it, engines like Atomontage and Voxel Farm can both create fully volumetric (realistic) voxelized space. No matter how useful they are, their methods of execution is why they can fall, the reason for asking if your engine has the same capability is because yours has what the others are missing: a pillar to support the weight of progress, and its continuous use by others; a vital piece of freedom, called Open Source. While the other engines have more functionality, a high price to pay (more in their decisions than in their actual cost ) is what makes the option seem much further away than it truly is; behind a wall with a locked entrance when it should be open. As a city built on greed will blacken in the fog of ignorance.. ignorance of the strength and opportunity that its foundation holds for everyone willing to improve it, for the ones they keep outside the walls also in search of a better place. This will not stop their journey. With the knowledge of the downfalls held by these establishments and the skills to proceed, they will build their own city, not as strong initially, but one with the shared potential to surpass the ones in lead... because what may seem like a barrier  is usually a chance to build something great.

Even if this is not the purpose of your engine, no matter how small in comparison, it is built on a good foundation, I hope to see it become even better and maybe even make my own mods for it some day! Good Luck, and ... Thanks!

~=VS=~

[Enigma]

So, thanks for your encouragements and your positive thoughts 

The photorealistic voxel engine you spoke about are not a likely "improvement" way for Blackvoxel engine. That's completely different way, architecture and engine type. Not the same needs and objectives.

In the eventuality we'll make an uprade of the rendering system someday, it would likely end up in something specificly chiselled for the Blackvoxel needs.

Our original goal for Blackvoxel was to make a good game, to make something different and creative by exploring new concepts. Competing in the general engine costly race against big game companies is a completely different business.

In the hope we have answered to your question, we wish you a good game.
The Blackvoxel Team