Recent posts by ArcStudios on Kongregate

Topic: Game Programming / Arduino Robot

Wat? You probably are storing these wrong.

Yeah I guess I’m just used to as3

var randomNum = Math.random(); //lets assume it was assigned 0.6
trace(randomNum); //returns 0.6
trace(randomNum); //returns 0.6
trace(randomNum); //returns 0.6
which when referenced is always the same random number that was given to randomNum.

in C every time you reference it its random.
Serial.begin(9600);
int randomNum = random(1); //lets assume it was assigned 0
Serial.println(randomNum); //returns 0 or 1
Serial.println(randomNum); //returns 0 or 1
Serial.println(randomNum); //returns 0 or 1

this caused me to be very confused for a good 15 minutes.
who knows. Maybe I am doing something wrong. Only just started into this few days ago.

Several languages don’t have these. (C++ for example). In fact you are stuck with the array at the size you created it.

sounds like a vector but harder to manage. Way harder. No idea how programmers manage to deal with arrays of data that can’t be managed easily. Its taken me days to figure out how to make a simple simon says game.

Questions, Questions, Questions.

This must be what I sound like! Looking these things up should give me a good start.

Dude! Nice avatar. ;)

You would know! We need to start our own professional astronaut basketball forum team. In Space.

Topic: Game Programming / Arduino Robot

So I bought some arduino stuff and I’m loving working with hardware. It seems really simple and easy to understand logic. The programming is a little… interesting. Frustrating how difficult it can be to work with randomly generated numbers which when referenced are always random which is not explained in documentation, and arrays are almost useless with no pushing or splicing capabilities. Good thing I can make some custom headers with code::blocks and import them!

I have a very simple question that may have a very complex answer.
If I have a robot and it is running on battery power. Say it recharges itself in direct sunlight with a solar panel… How can I get the thing to shut down into a very very low power usage mode when it has very low battery and re-engage into full operation when sunlight is exposed to it and its battery is at greater yield. Example below:

Robot uses X amount of power to do A or B.
A uses a lot of power (comparatively) to do something like spin in a circle, B is a lowest usage mode where it simply sits there and waits for battery power to return to > certain % to turn A back on.

Is this even possible with something like arduino? would I need another little mini robot brain that handles very very simple logic and uses very very little power and its only job is to turn arduino on and off?

I want this little bugger to be able to sit there for years if thats even feasible in hybernation waiting for restored power. Any ideas?

Thank you.

Topic: Game Programming / 3D Game Creation In the Near Future

Nope. I’m using Codeblocks.

Topic: Game Programming / 3D Game Creation In the Near Future

@JohnnyBohnny C++ its pretty straightforward actually. A few differences in overal syntax between as3 and c++ but they are surprisingly similar. Then I just have to set my mentality to knowing everything is in 3D, and know the methods of opengl and I’m also using SDL with it which really helps.

Topic: Game Programming / 3D Game Creation In the Near Future

Halfway through development of a really crappy proof of concept FPS game. opengl is really awesome.
made a loader that loads models I create in blender. I think if I try really hard I could complete a 3D FPS game for 1GAM. It’ll be really simplistic, but my goal is for it to exist and function with mostly no bugs. : P

@JohnnyBohnny I think thats good advice. I don’t like Java though. C++, arduino, maybe ruby on rails, and of course as3 sound like my current direction. Not sure what kind of holes that leaves in my education of languages. I could do as you say and learn them all but… eh. Time isn’t on my side at this point in my life.

Topic: Game Programming / 3D Game Creation In the Near Future

Originally posted by JohnnyBohnny:

AC, what programming languages do you already know? If you are new to programming, I suggest you start with MSWLogo, Game Maker or Stencyl.

actionscript 3.0 for a few years. Countless programs, prototypes, and games. But not a single one that I deem worthy of releasing yet. I’m not new to programming at all. And IMO the programs you have listed aren’t very great tools for learning about programming, as much as they are good for learning about game design and the logic involved even though I think I remember Game Maker or Stencyl allowing some programming as well as the usual click and drag nonsense.

Topic: Game Programming / 3D Game Creation In the Near Future

Guys I appreciate the friendly slap in the face that I may never make a hit game in my life. Its great to be “realistic”. I’m just not really for that. I will pour every last ounce of myself into my art. Maybe what I said was in the wrong light. Maybe I don’t want a “hit” I just want a “success”. No bugs, smooth fun gameplay, everything else a great game would have. If I make a game that I see as an equal to some of my favorite games and nobody cares, I’ll still consider it a success.

Anyone hear heard of a game called Hydrophobia? That game is beautiful. I have never in my life seen a game that boasted such beautiful, such realistic water ever. Looking up reviews of it I was disgusted to find how many people were bagging on it. Wrote the game devs an email telling them how much I appreciated the game, and they wrote back a fairly long email thanking me.
They built a great game IMO, nobody came. But I consider it a great success.

Besides… at the end of the day I’m not making great games for other people. I’m making the games nobody else ever did. The ones I could never find no matter how much searching I did. I’m 19, I have a lot of time left to make something great, but talking about it here and now affects nothing. I prefer action.

Like I said… this whole discussion really wasn’t about that.

Originally posted by Danishdragon:

Unity

Yeah… I’ve thought about it. But I don’t like the programming languages I would have to learn, other then C#. Its also too close to home. I’d rather start learning something much different then the stuff in the flash game world. Thats a great idea though.

Topic: Off-topic / Should I use Linux?

@ Zoronii I know. Getting new hardware is in the cards, but not in the cards… yet.

@Quintrigmeth and everything works fine on Ubuntu as well? Sounds great.

Topic: Off-topic / Should I use Linux?

Thinking of setting this up tonight. I guess I should just back everything up on my second harddrive, put linux on a disc, format my first harddrive and then install linux? Ubuntu was exactly what I was aiming to use!
Theres really no huge list of limitations??

Topic: Off-topic / Should I use Linux?

So the thought just aroused in my head. I’ve been using a trial version of windows for a few years now. Its a trial version of XP, every 30 days I type in a code into the command prompt and it renews the 30 days. I can do this a maximum of 4 times. So every season I have to backup everything onto my 2nd harddrive and format the 1st one, reinstalling the trial version.

I firmly believe that buying a copy of XP is a waste of money. I should just upgrade to another version of windows, especially with support for XP going down the drain. But my system can barely handle XP right now, so I wouldn’t upgrade until i bought a new computer anyway.

But what about linux? Its free, no renewing, its perfect!
I have some concerns though…. What programs would be impossible to run on linux? I absolutely have to have access to Adobe flash to make my games. I also greatly enjoy playing the games I buy on steam and from what my friend has told me, you have to use WINE in order to play any windows games, its a lot of work to setup some games to do this, and some simply will not play on linux. I love playing games, so that may be a deal breaker.

But linux is faster. A lot faster.

Topic: Game Programming / 3D Game Creation In the Near Future

ok wtf. Truefire you just blew my mind man.
I didn’t know a thing about directX, I didn’t even know it was microsoft related. But to think that the freakin Xbox is short for DirectX box. W… T…. F….
(continues reading)

Topic: Game Programming / 3D Game Creation In the Near Future

It was hypothetical. I firmly believe that with enough time and energy anything can be achieved.
So since I never stop programming and learning, It would be great misfortune to never make a great enough game to become a “hit”.

Thats not really the discussion though. The most I can simplify my question is I want to know the best road to 3D game development in this day and age, and what lies down the road in that department.

Currently on the table: Unity3D, C/C++
I didn’t have high hopes for XNA even with it being responsible for games like Torchlight, and Hell Yeah!
I suppose sHTiF is right. The language doesn’t make the programmer. But it does make the program… so I simply need to know the best tool for the job.

“Q: How do you create this game?
A: I’ve programmed everything with C++ and DirectX (OpenGL for the first version). For the voxel sprites, I created my own voxel editor.” is from the game creators blog that made cube world. The video I linked is of that game for anyone oblivious to what I’m talking about.
I suppose this further emphasizes that C++ is the road I should take?

I do know a little C++ made a program or two with it. A full game even. I know nothing about DirectX so I suppose my next step is to research that.

Topic: Game Programming / 3D Game Creation In the Near Future

Lets say I have the goal of making a few hit flash games. Mobile or Computer. Enough momentum to get players, potential collaborators and envious programmers to know my company name and for me to revel in the years it took to reach success.

Afterwords the future is important to me. My end goal is not to be a flash programmer as amazing as it is, but to conquer a few very big game ideas as well as making little games (flash or not). Things that would not be satisfying if done with as3 and/or flash. It has to be 3D, and if programmed well, run smoothly.

At the current moment what are my options? It seems C, C++, and C# are all great for getting into the thick of the low level stuff. As well as the option of prebuilt engines like Epic’s Unreal and XNA studios that let you dive into coding.

I also would like to know what my future options are. Lets say I make a few hit games within the next 4 years. After that time span will learning to use something like XNA be pointless? It seems like there would be nextgen consoles by then. Are the C languages the best route?

And possibly more importantly, If I wanted to collab with a team, or join a large game company what language would they greatly appreciate me knowing that I could also use in the here and now to make small 3D projects? I really want to qualify in the game industry in the future. The next languages I learn could bring that to light or cause another few years of learning before I can be accepted into the ranks.

Current Inspiration, something I wish I could make as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=729VkxC4Z6E

Topic: Game Programming / GiTD [#29] Entries and Discussion (started!)

Yeah I’m in. And the game I’ve been hoping would match the theme does!
Time to start working on it.

[reserved table for one]

Edit: on second thought. I’ve got too much going on this month. I’ll finish an old game for this month instead of trying to finish 3 projects, study for my GED, and work.

Topic: Game Programming / First kongregate game

Aaants is a very talented guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfn2fV3-2eg

Topic: The Arts / Need Art/Animation Talent

If your a greedy gus and want money up front, please press F6 to close your browser/tab.

If your willing to put hard work and effort into a project like I have, with no monetary gain coming until the end of the project when its uploaded to several hundred flash portals, look no further.

Heres the best news. The programming is 90%. Its almost entirely finished.
But It needs every spec of art looked over, making sure that it looks professional, and lickable.

If you want your name out in the world, and some extra coin in your pocket,
please email us at
arcstudios@hotmail.com

lets get this project done.