Bandock's site

My Last Blog Post: I am in fact a Dragon Born!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:56:56 +0000

Since today is the start of the Chinese New Year, I thought I would make mention that I (along with others on here) was born on the year of the Dragon. Reason for that because I was born on June 17th, 1988 (which at the time the Year of the Dragon was already going on). Feel free to comment dragon or not. :P

Current Status on SByIo Library V3

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:00:24 +0000

Been working on ways to improve the library's input (though I already started seeing nice implementations of onscreen input through other sources). To keep encouraging onscreen input implementation, I might in the near future show an updated version of the SByIo Library V3 source as it utilizes new input handling capabilities.

I already mentioned in a post made about a month ago referring to the base /InputObj type that can be used to create new types of input objects. Hopefully with that new design it may encourage a better design for any game or even library developer (who wishes to make an even more improved version either from the source or from scratch).

I'm also still working on implementing map text object support (though won't be available yet to the public unless they got ahold of V494 test versions or until it officially gets released). I'll keep y'all up to date on what is going on with the SByIo Library.

Restoring my blog to the current state

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:03:09 +0000

Removed my CSS (though I'm keeping the code archived in case anyone wants to see it for one last time) to prepare for the upcoming website change. No more updates will be done to the CSS at present (and in the near future). That is all. :P

A new year comes a new era.

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:13:14 +0000

This may end up being one of the very last blog posts I'll make through this version of the website due to the changes that are coming. Now, there is a possibility I might be busy this year. For that reason, I might also not be as active on BYOND to concentrate on such things. However, I still hope to unleash the new savefile editor along with the new SByIo Library release.

Other things I might do this year hopefully includes developing games in C++ as well as new projects that might deal with BYOND or not. 2011 was a great year for production and hope to make 2012 as productive. True I stated earlier in my post that I might be busy to get important things in life done. When the website update is through, I may show updates to any projects I'm working on or even brand new projects. I wish y'all a great year. :D

Shall I bring back the Los Bandos Laboratory? (Even though, the website will change.)

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:04:50 +0000

For those who have seen my blog back in 2006-2007, I once established a guild to see what experiments anyone could offer. It was also an attempt at encouraging innovation throughout BYOND back in those days. After seeing some recent posts, I thought I would make mention of this old guild name from years ago.

To start it off, some of y'all already know I released the source code to the entire DM External Library Communicator project for client-side DLL/SO usage. I also released a test version source of the SByIo Library V3 (which has been updated since then). The latter was released to encourage production of onscreen input since BYOND has become far more capable of handling it than it was years ago. I remember first experimenting it somewhere in 2006 before the Los Bandos Laboratory guild was formed. In fact, guild support was not even included yet if my memory serves me right.

Here is a link showing my earlier attempt during the BYOND 3.5 Era (which might've been possible to do, but was more painstaking to do): http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v458/Bandock/Screenshots/ On-ScreenInputScreenshot4.png (I know, I created the wrong cursor. The title may not be correct also.)

There have been some others who attempted that concept in the past (before or after my attempt). Since the 494 will be around the corner for the general public, I think it is time to think about some unused concepts used elsewhere, but not in BYOND shall we? :D

Merry Christmas!

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:05:06 +0000

The jolly time of the year. :P

Here's what I got for Christmas:
- Kindle Fire Tablet (From Mother and Father)
- Case for the Kindle Fire
- ViewSonic 24" VA2431wm Monitor (Also from Mother and Father)
- Need for Speed: The Run PC Version (Same as above)
- Portal 2 PC Version (From my younger sister)
- Rage PC Version (From my older brother)

Yep, may notice several games listed. I might be away from any kind of BYOND development for a little while. That is all I have to mention and have a very Merry Christmas!

One more day before Christmas comes an early gift

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:59:19 +0000

The design materials for the DM External Library Communicator! The gift package includes the following:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/24250760/BYOND/Test%20Versions/ DM%20External%20Library%20Communicator_src.zip
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/24250760/BYOND/Test%20Versions/ DM%20External%20Library%20Communicator%20Support%20Library_s rc.zip
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/24250760/BYOND/Test%20Versions/ DMClientDLL.cpp

Knowledge of C++ is required to deal with the DM Client DLL gift. Other than that, y'all get to see how I designed the current version of the communicator as well as the support library. While I will still likely to work on it, I thought I would give nice gifts ahead of time for dealing with client-side access. Just remember there are drawbacks to client-side access in terms of security. Enjoy. :D

Bandock Projects and Experiments December 2011 Edition

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:26:23 +0000

Been quite busy with several projects such as preparing the SByIo Library V3 for a major upgrade. To start that off, it will be able to utilize the new maptext variables shortly. However, ya will still be able to utilize icon-based fonts since they currently support effects not yet supported with maptext. There will now be a base /InputObj type (think of it like an abstract input object) to enable custom support for input objects. To start that off, text input will now be handled by the /TextInputObj type. /InputObj will no longer inherit from the /TextObj type, but instead inherit from the base /obj type (to allow object variables and further control).

Here is a link to the SByIo Library source that still uses the base /InputObj for text input: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/24250760/BYOND/Test%20Versions/ SByIo%20Library_src.zip (If anyone has not yet studied from it yet)

That is not all the news of course. I'm now working on a new savefile editor that will be distributed in the near future. Not too many details on it yet though since it needs to at least work first. I'll let ya know when it is ready.

CleanWin32 wrapper is still on hold for now since I been messing with more Qt. That should be all the news for now.

For those who want a taste at the original Empire Earth: Gold Edition

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:24:20 +0000

Expect to be able to get a free copy between 12 December at 11.00 GMT and Wednesday 14 December at 10.59 GMT according to GOG.com (I still like to call it Good Old Games). This is a nice opportunity to get the game for free before the offer expires. :P

While I'm aware of Empire Earth II (yes, I played that one too in demo form); at least ya can enjoy the original for those who do not possess it at this time.

I will provide the link to GOG right here for those who have not heard of it:
http://www.gog.com (Yes, a great website for obtaining old games legally with no DRM)

Curious of what I been doing?

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:21:23 +0000

Well folks, I put off the CleanWin32 wrapper for now so I can actually use Qt a bit. To mark my first real attempt at using it (though was learning how to use it months ago), I decided to port the Win32 Edition (CleanWin32 Wrapper) of the DMB String Extractor for an attempt at a cross-platform edition (at least code wise).

Of course I may not be able to put a link here, I may have other ways of distributing it. I have once distributed to some in various chat programs on BYOND (especially the console copy I made, though Hiead also used to have a copy that was like the first ever DMB String Extractor). I know some already know about the Qt libraries, but thought I would try my hand at porting the DMB String Extractor that uses Qt libraries.

What else have I been doing? Nothing much really except for making plans for the SByIo Library. I may infact give a gift on Christmas Day (for some who celebrate it) or right around the holidays. Just keep an eye for it. :P