National Guardsmen's site

Welp it's that time again!

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 07:11:11 +0000

Well my membership ends in two days, I'll renew it when I have a little spare change. If I can earn $0.31 I could have enough in my paypal. If anyone would like to donate a some change send it to my paypal skaterdudejarrett@yahoo.com

Anyways progress has been nonexistent the past couple weeks, just lost that drive to program.

No don't look at me I'm hideous !

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:09:03 +0000

I have noticed one of Byond's biggest problems. Developers do not know how to present their games. Most games I have ever seen, or tried to play all followed the same trend. One main window with a image set as the background, and some sort of popups for every other prompt or dialog. Is it to much trouble to look into how to properly use a child element, and just create a pane for all your character creation and winget all the info?

With Byond trying to usher in a era of new original games, and attract more experienced developers from outside communities. Why should we be showcasing games that are still using alerts, inputs, and in some case ugly browser popups? Its simply just unappealing to the eye, and in my opinion not a good way to attract would be developers.

I have also noticed a growing trend of "Developer Teams" searching for skin artist. I hate to break it to ya guys, but a programmer should be able to layout your interface(if you have a drawing of sorts) and program it with no problem, and if you want it to look pretty have someone design some kind of header for the panes, or a background image that can be used pretty modularly.

Byond has the capability of producing visually appealing games, and the term visually should be taken as more than just pixel art. The games UI and pixel art should, be just as appealing as one another. A game with crappy UI and nice game art, will always be just as crappy as UI. So please start spending more time on your interface!

Enough of my rant, I feel a bit better now.

Ahhh I like :)

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:35:18 +0000

Just got done installing Ubuntu 11.04 Natty on my netbook, and I must say that I really like it. Ubuntu has really grown a lot from the first time I used it in probably 2006 with 5.04. Anyways now I need to download wine and all will be good!

On another note I have been working on a few new side projects, one being my NonByond Login system which I currently have for sale on the Resource Center. I have revised how the system functions and made manging users a lot more user friendly. I have alot been working on Perdita a little but I just cant seem to find the motivation to push out much more content. The systems need to be revised and made a little bit more modular as to take some of the work load off me and reduce the copy and paste.

Anyways my byond membership runs out in like 2 weeks, I hope to cash out on the Resource Center and have enough to renew it.

Null path

Wed, 11 May 2011 14:26:39 +0000

Code:

turf
    Grass
        icon='Grass.dmi'
        mouse_opacity=2
        Click()
            var/Ref="/obj/Tracks/[usr.Placed]"
            var/obj/A=text2path(Ref)
            var/obj/O = new A(src)

Problem description:
runtime error: Cannot create objects of type null.
proc name: Click (/turf/Grass/Click)
source file: Tracks.dm,8
usr: National Guardsmen (/mob)
src: Grass (2,7,1) (/turf/Grass)
call stack:
Grass (2,7,1) (/turf/Grass): Click(Grass (2,7,1) (/turf/Grass), "default.map1", "icon-x=26;icon-y=19;left=1;scr...")

I am confused on how I am trying creating a null object, from my understanding text2path converts a text string into a path I can use. But for some reason I keep getting the above runtime error, anyone care to explain to me what im doing wrong?

Perdita Update

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 22:38:15 +0000

Well progress on Perdita this week has been next to none. I been back in North Carolina all week on Spring break, hanging out with some people I haven't seen in about a year. However Perdita's next few quest have been planned out, and the Stone Temple Cave has yet again been pushed back in the games plot.

Also been thinking about putting out a demo on how to do Saving and loading like it's seen in Perdita seeing as it has been requested quite a few time.

But anyways as always, do me a favor and check out Perdita! I would love to get some more comments on how I can improve the game.

And here is a link http://www.byond.com/games/NationalGuardsmen/Perdita

Perdita Update

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:33:59 +0000

Well as promised I got around to pushing a update(more of a content patch) out for Perdita! I have finished all quest for the Rockland Plains and I have added the ability to dig! Also have added a macro for the Check button as requested.

Perdita's is progressing pretty good, maybe not as fast as I would like but I have been having to study for my upcoming ASE certification test in Heavy Duty Drive-train and Heavy Duty Electrical system(this ones quite a pain!).

But anyways here's a few screen shots!

Hmm, why are there so many graves?

Yummy!!

Dang pesky chickens!!!!!!!

Keep diggin them holes!!

Also forgot to mention that I have added two Inn's and have updated the games inventory system a little bit. Anyways here is a link to Perdita!

Perdita Updates

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:52:38 +0000

Well it's about time I post what I been up to with the development of my quest and puzzle drivein RPG Perdita.

As of lately I have refining and polishing up the games core systems. I have manged to reduce a lot of lag that was being generated from mob movements, also have been working on a tweak for "Check" button. All have noticed a few bugs in certain NPC AI, but not quite sure of a fix yet.

All in all everything is going great! I have incorporated Gakumerasara's Terulia Relay Chat, and he has provided the game with a outstanding Server. Several Areas have been redesigned to offer the player more quest and to reveal more of the games story.

I am currently looking for Pixel Artist, who would be willing to donate some time and art. I would really like to get away from using the RPGMaker graphics, but for now it's all I can swing.

Anyways be looking for a major update of Perdita by the next weekend.

Your Opinion Matters to Me!!

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:03 +0000

While recently doing some closed testing on my quest driven RPG Perdita I was informed by testers that questing can get boring really FAST!!! And since Perdita does not having players grinding against monsters, or each other for that matter this really bothered me.

What would most you expect to see in a game that is driven solely by players completing quest? I have thoughts of a forging system where players craft objects that could be helpful to them while adventuring or questing. But it still leaves me on how players interact with each other, and should I say compete?

Currently players do not really interact with each other at all, besides the ability to trade items for gold and such. I would like to add a sense of competition, but I really do not want to do levels or such. Does anyone have any unique ideas on what I could do to create player competition?

If all else fails I have a good base for a single player game.

Perdita - Chapter One

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 07:48:21 +0000

Heres a few screenshots of what I been working on lately. Perdita is a quest driven RPG, you will not find any grinding or slaying monsters left and right. Instead I opt for players to be able to learn new skills, and spells that allow them to take on puzzles and allow them to explore all the game has to offer.

My Login Screen

Character Loading

Delete a Character

Character Creation

One of the Quest in the Town of Dwell

Who is this odd fellow hiding the forest?

Sara... if only she knew how big of a role she will play.

The first dungeon players can unlock by beating quest!

Also I need a pixel artist, I hate having to use the RPGMAKERXP graphics.

A little obstacle you can only tackle if you have the Ring of Fortitudo

That's pretty much all I'm gonna show right now. I have been trying to use as much open art resources as I can but I am finding that it can be hard to come by.

Anyways expect to see more from me as time progresses!

Bump Problem

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:29:44 +0000

Code:

mob
    NPC
        Quest1
            IndianLeader
                icon='NPC.dmi'
                icon_state="Leader"
                density=1
                Bump(mob/B)
                    var/A=rand(1,3)
                    if(A==1)
                        B.InterAlert("Hey do you need help?")
                    if(A==2)
                        B.InterAlert("Hey right click on me!!")
                    if(A==3) 
                        B.InterAlert("You know I know a lot about this land")

Problem description:
For some reason the Bump is not happening. Would someone please help me understand what i am doing wrong?