Solomn Architect's site

Latest Song from Arrivederci

Sat, 11 May 2013 14:12:18 +0000

I know many of you aren't really a fan of electronic music, and even less like Post Hardcore Dubstep, or Brostep as people call it. But this is my latest track, so love it or hate it, what do you think?

(Remastered)

And I was derping around with After Effects with the waveforms and whatnot :P

How did I completely miss this?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:51:01 +0000

So I've been working with C++ for a while now, and one functionality is that you can use classes as variables within other classes, which I found to be remarkably useful. This peaked my interest on whether or not DM was capable of the same function...

mob/player
   var
      mob/other
   verb/test()
      src.other.loc = locate(src.loc)

... and to my complete surprise I found that it was.

I've been wasting so much of my life making arrays of variables and weird containers, but now that I know I can just build a variable container object, it is likely to make my life so much easier.

How did I completely miss this? And do others use this functionality a lot?

Brony Shout Out

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:17:49 +0000

I'm not shy about it. I'm a full fledged brony and I'm quite happy with myself. I just wanted to see who else around here dabbled in the fandom! That includes pegasisters as well.

For everyone else, try not to hate.

Procedure Optimization

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 04:38:40 +0000

I have a very simple wandering algorithm for mobs to only walk to open, non-dense spaces. It's a smarter way for AI's to move, instead of bumping against walls and whatnot.

wander()
   set background = 1
   var/list/spots = oview(3,src)
   for(var/turf/t in spots)
      if(t.density) spots -= t
   var/turf/spot = pick(spots)
   walk_to(src, spot, 0, 0, 2)

My current AI's are very inefficient with resources. I'm currently developing a zombie survival game, and as you can imagine, there will be many zombies in the world, wandering around. I already have functions handling a check whether or not a player is near, deactivating the AI's wander() function until a player is close, as to conserve resources.

The problem lies in the fact that even with only 50 AI's running and making an attempt to attack my character, the game CPU far exceeds 100, peaking at about 210.

I've narrowed down the problem functions to this wander() proc. I know that the constant checking of oview() along with omitting the dense turfs under the for() loop is causing the massive latency. I also know that this method is probably the most inefficient method of sorting through lists, but I honestly don't know any others.

What could be done to improve this code here?

Recommended Graphics APIs for C++ Developers?

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:07:57 +0000

Ever since I've started programming in C++, I've been working with several graphics APIs like SDL, SFML, and FreeGLUT. I currently use FreeGLUT for 3D and SFML for 2D, but I was wondering if anyone else with experience had any recommendations for other APIs that I may be interested in checking out?

Where to now?...

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 07:27:43 +0000

I haven't been on the forums in at least a couple months. I've been working with C++ and other Graphical APIs and find them more to my suiting than BYOND. I just don't know how or why I decided to turn away from the engine. It may just be it's lack of power compared to C++, but it's undoubtedly where I officially learned the concept of object oriented programming, back when I was 14 and thought Yugioh was cool. I've provided a mastery in DM, although I haven't exactly finished a single project, I do blame that on a lack of motivation.

The things I've learned from everyone on here. Specifically Forum_Account's constant posts on the value of abstraction and libraries. I didn't understand it before, but when I delved deeply into C++ APIs, I now understand what he means. I could care less how a library works, so long as it does.

I'm just so curious about where I should take my ventures. I feel as though I've taken the community and the engine for granted by using it for years but never actually producing a worthy game. I feel like I should at least manage at least one polished project to be enjoyed by the masses, but I'm not sure where to start, or what it should be about.

Lend me your thoughts and ideas. I really want to try giving back to the community I've supported for so long now. And in a way, kinda saying thank you to everyone who's helped me get where I am today.

Electronic Music Compilation #3

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 10:47:15 +0000

Just finished up my third song. So far this one is the only one quality enough to actually be included into my upcoming album, Rising. The name of the song itself is Rising and with the current feel and tone to the music, I find it quite fitting. Here is a link to the YouTube video and my new account for all of my music production. Let me know what you think and I'm always willing to create music for your projects. Just shoot me an email at twilbanks41@gmail.com if you're interested.

Audio Atrocities: A Symphony of Horror

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 23:24:38 +0000

So for a little while now, I've been working on Music Production. Don't ask, I just hop from hobby to hobby. Anyways, I tell you this because I need opinions. I produce mainly Dubstep, but I can do other styles of Electronica as well. I have Two Songs published as of now, and I was wondering if any Dubstep fans were willing to tell me their opinions.

I'm thinking about offering to do some Music tracks for people's projects, if there's anyone willing to accept the offer. The tracks I have posted are my Dubstep productions. If you want, I can do a sample track of more game-themed music. I can do anything from an epic Symphony Battle-Theme, to an 8-bit retro track.

I use the Ableton Live 8.1.1 Suite for all of my music production.

By the way, I've noticed that even though this is the "Art & Sound" section, there's an overwhelmingly large abundance of "Art" over sound. I kinda wanna feel sad... but then I don't.

The End is Near

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:49:00 +0000

It's official, the world is on it's way out the door. Cosmic radiation or some other cancerous material has brought about an idea to me that when I say it, everyone will agree with my End of Days prediction.

Of years of bantering on about how much I just hate the Anime games cluttering up the hub, and how much all of you are just so sick and tired of hearing me preach about how bad they are, what I'm about to say will shock you, so I am forced to do so only between two clearly marked quotations.

QUOTE "I want to make an Anime game." END QUOTE.

That's not even the worst part...

QUOTE "I want to make a Naruto Fangame." END QUOTE.

No, I've not gone insane (yet). After all of the years of saying how there is no hope left for Anime games on BYOND any more, I've been struck with a radical idea. The reason for my recently lunatic thinking is because I honestly think that Anime games can be saved from the fiery hell they're currently dive-bombing into. I want to be the one who proves that Anime games can be made both competently and WITHOUT RIPPING. And the best way to do that is by tackling the largest cancer of them all, Naruto.

Oh yes, Anti-Anime Conformist #1 has turned to the Dark Side and is now plotting the downfall of the most current Anime games on the hub today. Yes, I do know that it most likely won't lend me credit as a developer, just because it's a Naruto game, but I'm willing to accept that to prove a point.

As of right now, the best Naruto games have been mediocre at best, but I want to create something that not just Anime fans can get into, but heavy RPG fan's too. Yes, I want to create a Naruto RPG, complete with quests, dungeons, character progression, and of course, PvP. But PvP won't be like every other Naruto game, where the higher level players just slaughter the low level one's for no reason. My plans are to make it a strategy turn-based combat system, complete with battle screens and all, of course. So it will successfully cut out all of the open world combat nonsense.

At any rate, I'll refrain from boring you will the other details, but I must know. Is this idea worth something? To develop a quality Naruto RPG? Or is it most likely to flop like all of the rips on the HUB right now?

Opinions and questions are appreciated.

I feel all grown up

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:56:59 +0000

So, yesterday was my wonderful 18th birthday. It was quiet, to say the least, however it could have gone much better. To my luck, I was sick all day, so yeah, only something that could happen to me. And I know that yesterday was April Fools Day, but trust me, There's no way that I can tell people about it being my birthday and expect them to believe that, unless it were true. Some might find that to be an entertaining birth date, but when you get the same reigniting-candles gag every year for the last 5 years, it loses it's humor.

What did you do for April Fools Day?