View source for OpenTasks/Engine/Z Engine

{{Infobox_ClosedTasks|
taskname=Implement Z Engine|
gsocworkload=100%|
techcontact=[[User:Md5|Filippos Karapetis]], [[User:Sev|Eugene Sandulenko]]|
subsystem=Engine|
taskstatus=GsOC 2013 ([[User:RichieSams|RichieSams]] ), Done and Merged|
}}

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===Background:===

Using the existing engine available from http://github.com/Marisa-Chan/Zengine, write an engine implementation for ScummVM. This engine will have to support Zork Nemesis and Zork Grand Inquisitor.

===The Task:===

* Integrate the already existing C engine into ScummVM
* Objectify the various subsystems of the engine and convert the existing code from C to C++
* Rewrite and simplify the engine's resource manager to something similar used by the [[MADE]] engine for Return to Zork
* Refactor the resource manager to avoid using configuration files for each game
* Remove direct usage of SDL and file access and convert each SDL and file access call to use our OSystem infrastructure instead
* Replace custom MList linked list structure used in the engine with ScummVM's own List class
* Further refactoring of the engine
* Adapt our movie code to use the specialized AVI audio PCM compression used in the engine (most of which is already done)

===The Benefits:===

* Integrating Z-Engine in ScummVM will allow Zork Nemesis and Zork Grand Inquisitor to be playable on a variety of platforms without fussing with their configuration files.
* Z-Engine will also benefit all the enhancement proposed by ScummVM.
* Both games are quite popular, and will be a very nice addition to the games that we support. Also, they'll complement the already supported Return to Zork game, and we'll then support all the graphical point'n'click Zork adventure games

===Required Skills:===

* Good C++ skills. 
* Good knowledge of ScummVM coding conventions and portability guidelines (could be learned in less than a week)
* Engine internals could be studied quickly.