"Huge Worlds" Episode 2 - Levels but not "levels"?

You want level_load(). Global variables stay the same between level loads. You can also use:

game_save(string name,var number,var mode) with the mode set to SV_VARS - save all the global user defined variables except var_info and var_nsave. Then game_load(string name,var number).

You can create multiple WMP files that all point at the same WDL file and level_load() between them.

I guess it depends on your networking future.

If you want networking, then your best bet is to load in separate zones since that way, all users will have see the same thing.

If you don't want networking (single player), then the level loading described above is optimal since the only state you need to worry about is your own as the player.

I should be more clear about the result I'm looking for - but it's good to hear the confident replies

First of all, this is not multi-player.

Second, this particular city is underground and is logically divided into huge chambers that make up each neighborhood (you would probably either go to some "airlock" type door, or a train station or something, to get to other parts of town). So, I naturally thought of designing each environment separately.

The end result I want is that the player can run all over town, go back to where they came from, et cetera, without resetting anything for loading a new "level".

I could just make it one gigantic environment, but I'd rather make it in sections I'm just not sure how to allow the player to move freely through all those sections at all times.

Thanks

Kami

Then what cell suggested is best and forget I ever mentioned sessions!:)

Yes, if the pause between levels is not a problem, level_load will save your global variables, but maybe you mean something slightly different...

Let's say you have a train that travels through one section of the town on a certain schedule. And if the player leaves the section with the train and comes back 5 minutes later, the train is still "on schedule": the train acts like it still exists even when the level is not loaded.

To do this, just make sure the train's position is based on global variables (like the total time passed). As long as the time variable is updated the train will be in the right place.

This could be complicated if you had a bunch of different things depending on each other (spies who travel by train, and agents that track spies and can modify the train schedule) but in theory, you can update these global variables even when the level isn't loaded.

You could use a starter function that always runs regardless of which level you're on.

Hope I'm helping and not confusing the issue.

I just posted something that could be of use to this thread....

http://www.conitecserver.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB15&Number=354535&Main=354364#Post354535

Good Luck.