DKC Atlas Forum

[Cosmicman]

I've been working on this personal project for a while, its basically a 3D playable game of the Snes trilogy featuring all the world maps (not levels), enemies, and everything I can think of.
Some environments and items will be destructible using a banana/coconut shooter, the Kong family and enemies will be roaming the world, everything will have real life physics and every inch of the map will be fully modeled to resemble the game map as close as possible, for example the castle and ships will have fully modeled interiors so it can be explored inside and outside, and every tree, grass, fire, water or any other item will behave with real physics as it collides with the player or wind. It will also have night/day/rain/snow/etc .
My goal is to finish this before 2017, it will be more of an experience rather than a game, but maybe I spend more time with it and make it so that there are some fun missions. Most of what the screens show will be much different in the final version, I just rushed a lot of parts to have something to share with all of you, Video coming soon.

















EDIT: This is a list for anyone that wants to help get this project done a few years earlier
I will update it as I go.

I need:

From all 3 games, all animal buddies crates.

DKC 1
*Mincer
*Dumb Drum

DKC 2
*Galleon, if possible a full version and a cut in half version, to be used in Gangplank Galleon, Cocodrile Cauldron and Krem Quay.
*Biplane barrel


DKC 3
*Bear cabin, needs interior modeled too, the same house will be used wherever there is a bear cabin in all the maps.
*Funky vehicles, I have the hovercraft, need the gyrocopter and the motorboat, I don't remember if there's more vehicles.
*Boss KAOS

[OneOf99]

So how is this gonna work exactly? You could make it into a 3d puzzle game involving some combat with the kremlings (like the Zelda series, perhaps?)

[Cosmicman]

Anything is possible, but something like a Zelda game would take years to make for a team of one.
Something closer to Mario 64 seems possible, where the island itself will work as levels needed to explore to open more parts of the islands.
For now I want to be able to explore and go inside Klubba's Kiosk, and Kranky's house and destroy everything inside. Eventually I will end up making all levels of the Trilogy in 3d, connected to this map and playable as 2d style, that's my dream but it won't be completed anytime soon.

[Jeffrey_Bones]

Well then!

[Cosmicman]

Cranky's Cabin with full interior that I'm currently working on.
There will be one Cranky's Cabin per island.
Here is a few shots to show the progress from sprite to game.

[OneOf99]

What I meant in the sense of Zelda was that as you progress throughout the island you unlock more powers (such as the Kong Slap or Kong Roll) that allow you to access more areas on the island. Also, what are you making the 3d models in and what format (.obj, for example) are they in?

[Jeffrey_Bones]

Amazing work.

[Cosmicman]

Amazing work.

Thanks !

What I meant in the sense of Zelda was that as you progress throughout the island you unlock more powers (such as the Kong Slap or Kong Roll) that allow you to access more areas on the island. Also, what are you making the 3d models in and what format (.obj, for example) are they in?

As of now the full map and all the player's abilities will be unlocked from the start, it would be really hard and time consuming to balance a game when there are abilities to unlock, I also don't want to limit the player from the start, I think keeping it simple is more fun for this type of game.
I'm using C4D and Sculptris, for format .Obj and .Fbx.

[OneOf99]

Would you like me to help with making some of the 3d models? And can't do anything like animating a beefy kremling, but I can make a lot of stationary objects. As for your idea with everything being unlocked from the start, I can see your reasoning for it and I think that it is a good idea.

[Cosmicman]

Would you like me to help with making some of the 3d models? And can't do anything like animating a beefy kremling, but I can make a lot of stationary objects. As for your idea with everything being unlocked from the start, I can see your reasoning for it and I think that it is a good idea.

Any help would speed up the progress, specially when I need the most help with stationary objects, let me think about the items I really need so I can come up with a game plan to keep everything organized and I will PM you the details.

And I just realized Cranky's Cabin is a barrel, not a square shaped house...

Edit: Fixed it.

[sonosublime]

Holy cow, this looks amazing. It really seems like an ambitious project. I'm surprised this topic doesn't have more responses, but these forums seem kind of dead. I hope you decide to take a bit more time with it and make it into an awesome 3D platform adventure game.

I could help out with animations and in-game cutscenes if you decide to go down that route.

[Cosmicman]

Holy cow, this looks amazing. It really seems like an ambitious project. I'm surprised this topic doesn't have more responses, but these forums seem kind of dead. I hope you decide to take a bit more time with it and make it into an awesome 3D platform adventure game.

I could help out with animations and in-game cutscenes if you decide to go down that route.

This is a project that will never end, I will always be updating it and making it better for as long as I can, if it gets to the point where I'm ready to include cutscenes I will be glad to use your assistance, but it won't be anytime soon.

[OneOf99]

I think he meant 3D animation, but I may be wrong...

[Cosmicman]

Does anyone know If Rare ever put out a HD render of Klubba's Kiosk ? Going by the sprite I can't figure out what anything is supposed to be. Here is what I got done so far.





Also here is the banana tree that is going to be all over the DCK 1 island, not as good as Cyclone's but it will do.



Tree top

[Kingizor]

There is a Klubba's Kiosk render in the gallery. Lots of useful things in there.

[Cosmicman]

There is a Klubba's Kiosk render in the gallery. Lots of useful things in there.

Thanks ! That helps so much ! Looks like the walls are made up of bamboo, I would have never guessed that.

Edit: Kiosk almost done.

[spaceman2028]

Looks like the walls are made up of bamboo, I would have never guessed that.

It's probably because it's an early render. There's a lot more brown in the final version, so take note of that. You may want to zoom in on the image to get a better look.

[vege]

@cosmicman: It sounds / looks fantastic. I like the leaves, barrels, the flying krock, the sea, it is a great work.
I can to see that you create models quickly! I have a lot of ideas in my mind for a donkey kong project, but i am busy, and i am beginner, so your project represents my hope to play a mixed dkc 1,2,3 world. Of course, if you require any feedback or support, I will be happy to help. I did some pretty basic models (with removable eyes, naked models with different clothes) in format c4d-obj/sc1: ellie, squawks, edited squitter, wrinkly, candy, kremling head, etc, if you want edit/use them, write me.
Keep up !!

[Cosmicman]

Looks like the walls are made up of bamboo, I would have never guessed that.

It's probably because it's an early render. There's a lot more brown in the final version, so take note of that. You may want to zoom in on the image to get a better look.

You could be right, but it will be almost impossible to know for sure, the sprite is so small.

@vege Thanks for the offer Vege, those are great models, I will be able to use them on the game, I'm working on a huge list of models I need and I will PM you, I also have to PM Oneof99. It doesn't really matter the 3D program or format, I can convert it to any file if that makes it easier on everyone that wants to help.

Also a few of my models were taken from other sources but I had to modify them so much because they were not modeled to be in a game, for example like the flying krok, I found it on a 3D website, but I had to modify it quite a lot to be able to walk inside from the cabin all the way to the tail.



Game updates: I already have a working galleon, its driveable, you can go from island to island, or just explore around, its possible to find hidden stuff in the seas.

I want to record some videos but I only get 12 fps with Camstudio, as soon as I find out how to get at least close to 30 fps I will share it, the game runs at like 120 fps on my computer even though the islands are insanely huge so I don't know whats causing Camstudio to behave so poorly.

[Joselix]

you send me the download link to try the game

[Cosmicman]

you send me the download link to try the game

The game is not even 50% done, it needs a bit more work before that.

[vege]

You are welcome, Cosmicman. You could test fraps or hypercam to record.

[Cosmicman]

You are welcome, Cosmicman. You could test fraps or hypercam to record.

I will try those programs as soon as I update the island with all the new models I made.



Some more models in progress.



Funky's Flights for the DKC 1 Island.



DK house is in progress too.

[Markster]

Will this support VR? I'd love to feel like I'm inside Donkey Kong Country.

[Cosmicman]

Will this support VR? I'd love to feel like I'm inside Donkey Kong Country.

I started the game as first person so it kind of feels like that already, it will be really easy to add VR support. I added third person too but I assume it will still look great in VR.

[OneOf99]

This, this is looking great already! The only thing I would do is make the tree village object be more bumpy, the tree is so unnaturally cylindrical.

[Cosmicman]

The renders that you see have zero bump maps, I insert those once its in the game if not the model would take a long time to render.

[OneOf99]

I see, I understand. We use Autodesk Inventor at school, and full blown rendering takes a lot of time (whole class periods usually for okay-ish quality images). But I would like to see it if possible! (If you don't want to then I understand, you do things at your pace)

[Cosmicman]

I see, I understand. We use Autodesk Inventor at school, and full blown rendering takes a lot of time (whole class periods usually for okay-ish quality images). But I would like to see it if possible! (If you don't want to then I understand, you do things at your pace)

I haven't added the new models to the game but I was able to use fraps to capture some videos. I will upload them in a few.

This videos were shot in the old map, some of the textures and lighting are scrambled. That was fixed in the new map. The fireworks are from the Kremland fair, they are out of control, going all over the place.






As you can see everything is very incomplete, mostly placeholders.

[MatiZ]

All videos are private

[OneOf99]

All videos are private

Same problem here. He probably forgot to click "Share" or something. No biggie, easily fixed.

[Cosmicman]

Sorry, I will fix that right away.

[vege]

It looks cool! Thumbs up to your videos, i like them, especially the animation in the sky, the killer instinct detail, the elements, i can imagine kremlings with artificial intelligence against the kongs (Quake game style).

[Cosmicman]

Thanks Vege ! The killer instinct arcade has sound too, and it gets louder if you get close to it, but the video didn't have sound. Again this is a very early build so I will try to update with some new videos soon.

[Cyclone]

I see, I understand. We use Autodesk Inventor at school, and full blown rendering takes a lot of time (whole class periods usually for okay-ish quality images). But I would like to see it if possible! (If you don't want to then I understand, you do things at your pace)

I haven't added the new models to the game but I was able to use fraps to capture some videos. I will upload them in a few.

This videos were shot in the old map, some of the textures and lighting are scrambled. That was fixed in the new map. The fireworks are from the Kremland fair, they are out of control, going all over the place.






As you can see everything is very incomplete, mostly placeholders.

Wow very nice. PUts all my work to shame! I'm jealous of your talent!

[Cosmicman]

Wow very nice. PUts all my work to shame! I'm jealous of your talent!

Most of my models were done by looking at your renders, your videos or the images you provided to the gallery, so your work has helped a lot and has been a huge inspiration to me. I hope you don't see it as stealing or copying, but as something positive.

[OneOf99]

Dude, all of this looks amazing. I especially liked the entrance to the volcano (forgot the exact name of it). Is this going to include the Galleon?

[Cosmicman]

Dude, all of this looks amazing. I especially liked the entrance to the volcano (forgot the exact name of it). Is this going to include the Galleon?

Thanks! I have a working galleon that even shoots cannons. You can sail the seas and go from island to island. The galleon burns and sinks too if you damage it. I will also add the boats and planes from Funky's flights, those will be driveable too.

[sonosublime]

This looks amazing. Are you planning on making it 3rd person?
You have the skill to make the 3D DK game that everyone has been wanting forever (when instead what we got was DK64...)

[Cosmicman]

Yes, I can change between first person and third person, you can also use a gamepad or keyboard. I will do some third person videos soon, my plan is to make all 4 original kongs playable, but right now there is just a human body as a placeholder.

Edit: Got the K.Rool Kopter running and flying the skies ! It won't be stationary like in this video , it will be flying around the castle, but close enough so you can jump on it. If you miss it you will fall down all the way down, and it takes a few minutes to get up there again, so it will be a bit frustrating . I will try to make it as easy as possible. I'm still working on the interior of the Kopter, this model was made by someone else and not intended to be explored inside, so as soon as I complete the interior I will post some videos running around inside.

I will do some third person videos once I replace the human model with Donkey Kong.

[Qyzbud]

This is a really sweet project, Cosmic!

I'm loving your environment and object reconstructions; Cranky's cabin in particular is impressive, and I love that the interior can be explored without needing to change scenes. The falling leaves, out-of-control fireworks, animated grass, steam, water, lava... basically everything looks great.

One thought: Some easing for the camera would really help improve the DKC feel; is this something that can be easily adjusted in the engine you're using? What engine are you using, anyhow? I'm guessing it's Unreal Engine 4 based on your YouTube favourites.

I've had the dream of recreating/exploring these worlds for a long time now, and this project seems to be on track to deliver just such an experience. I'm eager to see it develop!

[Cosmicman]

Thanks Qyzbud !

Yes, I'm using UE4, I was experimenting with Unity for a while but decided to move everything to UE4, I find it a bit more user friendly.
The camera seems a bit shaky sometimes because I moved the camera pivot to hide the default weapon, it should be a bit better in these 2 previous videos and a lot better in the other map where I'm starting everything from scratch to keep everything more organized.
I'm surprised you noticed the leaves falling !
This has also been my dream for a long time and I'm having a blast recreating this world.

[OneOf99]

I really like that gun there, will that be the coconut gun? Also, I hope that the flying krock will serve as a possible vechicle for the player! Maybe allow it to shoot out spiked cannon balls or something Kaptain K Rool related... and I love thse propellers, they should deal damage

This is looking better and better, I wouldn't even mind it being in first person like that. It looks really refined, too!

[Cosmicman]

Yes, that is the coconut gun, I forgot to shoot it in the video !

I didn't think about making the flying kroc a drive able vehicle but I will give it a try to see how it behaves, I just wanted to have it like in automatic cruising mode. Those spiked cannon balls is a good idea, I might implement it in the future. Also the blades do damage but for the video I turned it off, I could not walk on the kopter without getting instantly knocked down.

Its a lot of fun in first person, it gives me that feeling that I'm in that world, but third person is closer to the 3D plat-former genre and what most people probably like better, that is why I'm including both options, and I even thought about adding another over the shoulder option like RE4 just for fun.

[OneOf99]

Your post above is really fullfilling, you essentially answered all of my questions that I never asked! Are you a wizard?...

...ehem, anyway, I think that being able to switch from 1st to 3rd person is a good idea, but how will the gameplay be made to be fair for both sides? Maybe 3rd person is better for platforming, while 1st person is better for combat with the coconut gun?

[Cosmicman]

Right now I don't think first person or third will affect anything, just more choices for the player which is always better.

Very early DKC 1 island map, its pretty much empty with just trees and the lake is not supposed to be there, I just put it there to show the water physics.

[vege]

Very good, maybe the terrain looks a bit unsaturated versus the trees (oh well, it is a random video demo, so it is ok). I am liking the physics when the "kong" leaves the water, with adittional water particules could be perfect. I am curious about of requirements of this game. Is it needed using a powerful radeon/ nvidia card?

P.d: The video test 5 is totally awesome!

[Cosmicman]

Thanks Vege, this was something I threw together just to test a few things in the map, I wanted to see how the trees behaved and the water. Its missing mostly everything for now, its not as advanced as the DKC 2 island.

Requirements, I have no idea, but I will assume any computer with a decent card could handle it no problem, I'm actually really impressed at how well the game runs at this point, sadly the youtube videos don't show the same quality as when I play it.

[Cosmicman]

Small update, don't expect anything great, just how the ship sails from one island to another, the islands are still just a place holder in the new map for now. (no color, no grass, no materials, etc) I don't take credit for the ship or physics, those were created by someone else.
I have been working on another project, recreating an obscure 2D mobile game in 3D, which is helping a lot on this project too because all the things I'm learning and applying to the DKC 3D project. Expect a bigger update soon, hopefully a complete run around the DKC 2 Island and inside the K.Rool Kopter.

[vege]

i prefer the sea a bit more angry but it looks cool too. I like the idea of the cannons, Is there any news, mate?