Finally... finally... finally... Forgotten Elements was released!
Version 1.0 is online now and can be played!

Hello Community!

Today is the day! The complete game is now playable in 3D!
That means that you can play in zone 2, equip any items or cast any spell while you are enjoying the new graphic mode!

Have fun with the new update!
Marlon

Yeah, that's the same thing that came to my mind. It's really very simple, 2D picking is not a huge task in my opinion. For picking 3D objects (clicking on a monster, a keeping or something like this) I use a combination of JPCT library (http://www.jpct.net/doc/com/threed/jpct/Interact2D.html) and an own implementation. But it's also not that comprehensive.


Thanks, I made all the graphics. But... what art in particular, do you mean?

I just wrote functions for that (isHover(), isTouch()) and calculate mouse click on object priority (childs of a gui element have higher priority for example).
The whole GUI system wasn't that hard. It was more hard to actually design them as I am not a born graphic designer. 

Wow, this is a really cool idea! I will think about it!

I was really impressed as I saw the Ardor3D demos on its website. Its really looking great and its fantastic what possibilities you have with the engine!
I wanted to test it, but after hours of work (In October 2011 I made a thread in the Ardor3D forum: http://ardor3d.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3579&p=12591&hilit=marlon#p12591), I gave up.
And yeah, now I remember, you helped me! The community and the team at Ardor3D is really nice!
But maybe the engine is not the first choice for my game.
On the same day I switched to JPCT and after a few minutes I had my first test program running...

Thanks!
I made the GUI from scratch, I just paint image over image...


I had much trouble with Ardor3D, which i tried first. JMonkeyEngine seemed like a complete game engine to me. It would be too big for Forgotten Elements, that already existed as a 2D game before I started developing the 3D version.
JPCT is quite "developer friendly", straightforward and it really fits well with my project.
EgonOlsen (developer of JPCT) helped me pretty much, without that support I would'nt have advanced that fast.
It is my first 3D game, btw...

Not much = about 30 euros/month.

No problem, just ask!

I am not sure if I ever will earn money with Forgotten Elements.
I didn't start the project to make profit (as perceived 99% other browsergame/online game developer [sorry]), I made it to realize a dream of mine.
So I will never sell items or other features, that make other players stronger. Forgotten Elements should be fair for everyone.
With the help of advertisement I am able to pay server fee and other business expenditure.
Unfortunately, after getting 15000 registered users only 4 donated money to Forgotten Elements. That's faaar to little, so I have to monetize other features, if I want to continue in 2013.

I thought about selling skill/attribute reset runes, so it is possible to unlearn skills and attributes for a small amount of money.
Furthermore I thought about selling items, which only beautify the players characters.
I think those options would be fair...

But the problem is, that I don't know how to make advertisement for the game, without paying a lot of money.
But we will see, when its done (Forgotten Elements is still in beta) ...

Btw, sorry for my bad english:/

Thanks for the suggestion, I am going to change that in the future.
And yes, I am the only developer of Forgotten Elements (except the story and dialogues, which were done by a good friend of mine).

Thanks for your words!

Mhhh.. technical details...
Basically Plain Old Java (wrote the 2D engine on my own) and JPCT for the 3D version.
For persistence I just use a database.
The MMO server communicates with the clients with the TCP protocol. I implemented the server with the help of JAVA NIO.

I hope that answers your question.

I just looked up the database: There are actually 14265 registered players. But the game was played more often, because you don't have to register to play it.
I have to mention, that the 2D version of the game is over 2 years old.
For the moment it is possible to play the 2D version as well as the 3D version and all players agitate in the same world.

Could you tell me what you mean with "clunky"? Any suggestions here?
Thanks for your feedback!

Cool, that you like it!
Actually I wanted to do a 3D video as soon as possible (maybe this week). In addition players are welcome to record their gameplay and send it to me.
I will then make a complete video of many different areas and scenes...

Actually it's just a bar with 12 skill slots + 1 life bulb + 1 energy bulb.
Really simple, nothing stunning...
I don't think that this has something to do with "Trend".

Yeah, JPCT is still going!
Thanks for your words!

And I know that the UI won't win a price for innovation, but sometimes its better to not reinventing the wheel:
Mythos: http://www.mythoslevelingguide.com/wp-content/uploads/mythos-screenshot-2.jpg
Torchlight 2: http://img2.mmo.mmo4arab.com/news/2012/04/26/tl2/tl2_1640.jpg
Path of Exile: http://www.gameogre.com/mmoblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/path-of-exile-screen1.png

I am not amused, either.
Blizzard just stole my idea of a skill bar and life/energy bulbs.
Unfortunately I never played Diablo III...

Hello out there!
I want to introduce you to my 3D Action MMORPG "Forgotten Elements" which recently evolved to a 3D game!
For the 3D part I use the 3D engine JPCT (http://www.jpct.net).
Feel free to try out the open beta, several hours of gameplay await you!
And here is the link to the game: http://www.forgottenelements.com