Poverty, Coding, and Politics

A few days ago I was wondering how I would use the new Isometric feature first, and I considered the idea of a Frogger type game.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frogger)

It turns out that the idea I did have planned, of using the Berlin wall as a theme must have come to me subconsciously as we're nearing the 20th Anniversary of its downfall. So, sometime between today and Monday I should have yet another new game out. We'll see how it goes.

I keep meaning to post things, but sometimes I don't get round to it. Today, I just wanted to post for myself. I use my blog for a range of things, sometimes its politics, sometimes its my games.

I've been on BYOND for well over 7 (probably 8 including my time using a guest key in Dragon Warrior Online) years, so I was about 13-14 when I came on here. I'm now 21 hitting 22, and I'm still here. I just posted on a topic on the main forum relating to what we want and what we think might happen to byond in 10 years time.

I'm happy to admit that I'd like to still be here, whatever I do with my life, in 10 years time. This is my hobby, I spend time when I can on it and I largely enjoy it even if I complain. Heck, I've made a Civilisation clone! There is only a handful of games like that on the entire planet, I'm pretty impressed with myself. I've also produced an entire (albeit ugly) RPG in 24 hours development! Awesome! Unlike other peoples hobbies, mine doesn't cost anything other than the electric and technically the internet things I'd have anyway, I'm happy doing this.

I honestly wish I could spend more time on it, and if my games grows in success and earn me a bit more money than it is at the moment, I probably would.

The BBC has released a new section onto their website called Democracy Live. It is an extension of BBC Parliament, which is the main body for showing the political institutions of the UK to the public. Democracy Live also covers the European Parliament, something that is available on their own website, but arguably this is the first time that you can find proceedings for that alongside national bodies in the same place.

It covers the House of Commons, House of Lords, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland Assembly, as well as some committee meetings. You can read about it here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/guides/ newsid_8226000/8226983.stm

Several Game websites, including Kongregate to name one, use a Medal system of their own. They divide it by difficulty and each type has a defined points score. I've copied this for my own games, so now you can view what medals you have in one place, and via the hub page you can compare your scores by number of medals in each difficulty type and total points.

See here for info:

http://www.byond.com/games/Acebloke/AceMedalTable

Medals are divided into 4 different difficulties:

Easy: 1 point
Medium: 3 points
Hard: 5 points
Very Hard: 7 points

I'm working now to identify them via the individual games pages, they'll be marked at the end of each Medal description with box brackets. All you need to do is follow the very simple instruction on the hub page: Download the program, click the calculate verb and it'll do it automatically.

The reason WHY its in its own program is because it takes a considerable amount of time which already lags the games in question as it is, but can run faster and without holding anything up when its done on its own. This means you have to do it every time you want it updated of course, but its a small price.

At the end of each month and year, I'll list the top players, so there is something to aim for; recognition. So you have up till Monday 30th of this month to make the first list.

SurviveThis! Beta 2 is now out, and I'm hosting now for the next few days as a Halloween special. The game has had several improvements but if you spot something then please page me or post it here. I probably won't be around to join in I'm afraid but the help guide is probably one of my best and should be fairly easy to understand.

http://www.byond.com/games/Acebloke/SurviveThis?tab=live

Edit: It seems to be quite laggy, my apologies. It might improve later at night if UK internet is the problem, but I don't know. If for any reason the barrels don't regenerate you'll have to message here or page me and I'll reboot it.

The updates this time is:

Changes:

Fat and Fast Zombies have different coloured clothes to make them pretty.
Interface changes the focus from white to black.
Scavenging for ammo has been altered to allow a higher maximum number of bullets so players shouldn't run out so much.
Scavenging Scrap now gives a chance of collecting Metal (ex-scrap) or fuel (for flamethrowers, barrel traps).
- In conpensation, you are likely to get more of either when you successfully scav.
Slightly less Zombies each wave.
There are notably less starting ammo in the non-default, with the subs weapons getting 0.
Statpanel has been condensed slightly to take advantage of the space.

New Features:

Outside of the Americas region, Zombie populations will slide to different areas to find new bodies to eat. They will eventually round up into the Asia region which is the most central. Regional movement works as such:
- Africa > Middle East.
- Middle East > Africa, Europe if humans left in Africa, else > Asia
- Asia > Middle East, China, Europe if humans left, else stay
- China > Asia
- Europe > Middle East if humans left, else > America if humans left, else > Asia
- America > Europe
Capital City: Each Region now has a Capital city. This is marked by the most populous city by city proper and not necessarily political capitals or largest metropolitan cities.
- I decided to make Istanbul the Middle Eastern capital, even though its actually in Europe. If it was used as the European Capital, then Iran would have been the Middle Eastern Capital. My reasoning behind this is that Turkey is almost entirely Middle Eastern geographical wise (despite it being politically and culturally European). I'm pro EU assession of Turkey btw :p
- As I might have mentioned before, I included Russian weapons into the Asia region because its devoid of its own weapon design and manufacturers. For this, Russia remains "Asian", in the same way Turkey will stay "Middle Eastern" to help it out.
New Weapon: Broken Bottle. Not quite sure how this works, but I had a sound ready for it straight away. Stronger than your basic bat when battering with your v key.
New Weapon: Flamethrower! Limited range, uses fuel, decent damage.
Scrap scavenging now also provides fuel (see above).
Alternative years, currently only effects population figures. As well as 2009 there is 2000,1950 and 1900.
Body Builder Zombies: Twice as strong, twice as healthy.
Africa, Asia and Middle East have a different tiled floor for extra excitement.
Players hold guns! Yayyyy. One graphic for Pistols, One graphic for Assault Rifles, One graphic for Flamethrowers.
Barrel Traps: Traps on barrels, uses s as with bear traps. Uses 3 fuel instead of 3 metal. Click to explode.
Loot: Enemies may drop loot. Food, Metal or Ammo.

Subscribers:

New Weapon: If you didn't fancy the broken bottle, how about a Sword?
New Weapon: Super Flamethrower, better than the non-subscriber one.
Medals: 7 (Survived and Batters up not currently in game yet)
Ranking System now in based on medals.
Trapper: -1 Scrap/Fuel cost, +50% trap damage, +5 Scrap salvage. -5% Accuracy, -5% Food salvage, -5% Ammo salvage.