Black Water Games is a freeware online game developement company that is currently producing its first RTS (Real Time Strategy) game entitled The Lays of Middle Earth. The Lays of Middle Earth is a study of JRR Tolkien's "The Silmarillion" and "The History of Middle Earth". TLME is currently using a powerful and in-developement engine being created by one of your fellow Massassians... GhostofYoda (GoY).

Here is a screenshot of his latest work:



Special thanks goes to JediKirby for creating those 3D Trees for our Engine in Summer of 2004.

And now a message to you guys:

I am actively seeking members to our community who are skilled in the following:

+ Management / Scheduling
+ Website / Forums skin creation

I thank you personally for your interest in our product, and we hope to have a workable Scenario Editor by the end of Summer of 2005. All comments and questions are welcome! :p

The art needs serious help, but neat nonetheless. (And get some skins on thems trees!)

During the Summer time, after an favorite mod for Rome: Total War is completed, we will be recieving some much needed help in the area of Graphics Artists, specifically 3D modelers, animators, and Texture artists. So don't worry. And those trees will be replaced... soon, with some new ones as soon as our 3D Modeler gets time to do them. We're "part-time" as such, we don't rush our members to get things done, to the point where it conflicts with family or school, so we're fair in all regards.

I can't say it looks particularly impressive at this stage, with the mismatched grass/dirt textures, no textures on the trees, and the blank HUD I guess is what that marble is, but I'm sure it'll look better as more work is done on it.

Yes, it will be looking better in the up comming months. By than, we should have some good solid concepts done for our first civilization... the Eldar! They're an early Elven civ for you non Tolkien-freaks. :p

And @ MZZT: You know DirectX 9.0 by any chance?

Nope, sorry. It's something I plan to learn eventually tho (at least DirectPlay).

But before you ask, no I can't become involved in any group projects at this time. :p

Heh, dang. I'm surprised GoY isn't here. :p

I would like to help, if time wasn't the issue. And all my unfinished projects. But I will give a pointer on what I see so far: Blend the dirt and grass textures. Otherwise, looks horrible. :p Ok, I won't say anything until summer 2005. Meanwhile, you could have a look at a certain .produkkt and see if you get some ideas from that.

/Edward