Bandock's Secret Agent Headquarters

Those who still use screen objects

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:17:42 GMT

Here is a rarely known secret (well, maybe not much of a secret) involving HUDs:

world
    maxx = 10
    maxy = 10
    maxz = 1

obj
    icon = 'Test.dmi'

client
    var
        list
            test = new()
            test2 = new()
    New()
        ..()
        var/obj/O = new()
        test += O
        O.screen_loc = "4,4"
        O = new()
        test += O
        O.screen_loc = "4,5"
        O = new()
        test2 += O
        O.screen_loc = "1,1"
        screen = test
        sleep(10)
        screen = test2
        sleep(10)
        screen = test

Does the code work? Find out for yourself (may need to supply your own test icon) and see a changing screen. :P

Those who were experienced with DM I bet know this secret. Screen variable has already known as a list type for clients, but works just like a good old normal list with specialties. While others may have already known about it, I'm willing to share it with ya for those who want it.

Bandock Projects and Experiments June 2008 Edition #1

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:14:45 GMT

Curious what projects I been working on recently? Well, I been working on a turn-based strategy game as stated in my previous post. It will be called "Text Nuclear War".

What is it exactly? It should contain features related to this theme and some from other related games such as "DEFCON", "Nuclear War", and others out there. While the gameplay is not in yet, here's a screenshot of the current interface: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v458/Bandock/Screenshots/ TextNuclearWar3.png

There will be more about Text Nuclear War soon. In other news, I also have been working on and even hosted an experiment involving creating a Ultima/Wasteland style city on the world map. The idea of this experiment is to show whatever is changed inside the city changes from the outside. Currently supports only one city per server, but may support multiple cities soon. As some already know, I did some upgrading to the system to support even 2x2 cities (3x3 and slightly larger should come later) which amount to 64x64 maps (32x32 is when it is left unexpanded). Demo for this experiment may soon be downloadable as source code and a DMB file. Concepts used in this experiment can be used to make certain RPGs, strategy games, and others.

That is all I have for such news.

Untitled Text Turn-Based Strategy Under Development

Sat, 24 May 2008 23:03:26 GMT

For any of ya who are still into text-based games and turn-based strategy games should get the thrill of my new project in development. While it is currently untitled and not directly announced yet, I'll let ya know what it looks like when it's ready for testing. You'll see some things found in certain known games.

Aligned with or without religion?

Tue, 20 May 2008 21:34:36 GMT

I normally would not bring anything related to religion up, but I thought I would provide a post referring to two opposing sides. These ya all know are theism (religion) and atheism (no religion).

Main talk here is about whatever you go with a specific alignment due to being religious or not. Does not believing in god make you a sinner as in evil person? My personal opinion is that just because you believe in god doesn't necessarily make you a good person and vice versa with atheism. Common warfare between the religious and non-religious still goes on though.

Another type of war would be like what was experienced during the Crusades involving Holy War. You may have learned about multiple crusades during High School (or earlier). It's been a while since I studied up on the Crusades myself, but to point it out that anyone of either side can be considered good or evil. Good exists in any group along with evil.

To get back to what I was discussing about I've learned from history and observation that if you're a non-believer, you're a sinner. Not everyone uses such words if they're from a different group (even non-religious or athetistic), but can mean the same thing. People who tell you are considered evil for not being in their group are what some people normally call hypocrites. Don't let these type of people disturb just because you want to do something good. You can be in any group you want and still do good deeds. Think it as some sort of Karma system.

This information may not be entirely accurate since I did it out of my own observation and through studies of different subjects. How do you view involving theism/atheism with good or evil?

Seems like they were hiding something :o

Mon, 19 May 2008 07:16:09 GMT

Age Recommendation: at least 13 or older :P
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v458/Bandock/Screenshots/ WTAD.png

The above image is what they were selling or advertising (look at the ad).

Non-BYOND Related Post: Iron Man Movie

Sun, 04 May 2008 18:52:30 GMT

Yep, got to see the movie yesterday. The effects appear to be pretty good and nice storyline. While I don't have much to review; it is a good movie if you ask me.

One thing I noticed in the movie is something C++ programmers would notice and that is C++ related source code. Where to spot such source code? Simple, it is during the development of the first suit when you see what looks like C++ source code in the computer's background and appears to be loading up. No need to spoil what parts of it though. :P

Text City Simulator Version 2 Returns

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:31:33 GMT

While Version 3 is still incomplete (currently being redesigned), I'm here to bring back Version 2. While parts of it are still buggy, at least ya can experience what it was like during the existence of Version 2. :D

Download is now on the hub once again. While this compiled version may require at least 3.5 (the original was compiled in 341), should still be enjoyable.

A year has passed

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:05:00 GMT

Since DMB Strings have become readable the first time in DMB files (at least the current DMB standard). It was a nice discovery because it made it possible to manually read strings (though finding the first string in the entire list could take time).

This happened before a more-powerful decompiler (developed by Slurm and Hobnob) came about. String Extraction (which occurred slightly later) brought in interesting results (which of course only the BYOND staff would know). Let's not forget that before each string exists a 16-bit length size (which also requires decoding). That is all I have to say about what happened a year ago.

Still alive

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:07:28 GMT

Yeah, been a while since I posted anything related to DM. Got back to DM to try unleashing power with DLL files. Newer versions of Disky Challenge may end up utilizing DLL capabilities in the near future.

That is all I have to say for a short post.

Back for DM Programing a bit and have a technique to show

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:10:15 GMT

If anyone wants to implement character-by-character (letters and numbers) output (like using them for NPCs), use the \... macro in output. \... is documented in the Dream Maker Language reference.

Here's some sample Login code that handles such a job (Be aware that this code doesn't use 4.0 features, but is very useful for 4.0)

mob
    Login()
        ..()
        var/msg = "[src] has logged in."
        for(var/T = 1; T <= length(msg); T++)
            world << "[copytext(msg,T,T+1)]\..."
            sleep(1)
        world << null

This is a very easy technique and I'm aware that those who are experienced with DM know this technique and macro. Enjoy. :D