This a topic that I never really get to do justice, so I decided to get up on my soapbox and really rant properly about the greatest game ever… in my humble opinion.

Next time maybe I’ll do a video rant about Robot Odyssey.

Maybe it’d be more accurate to say “StarCraft 2 isn’t as awesome as it should have been” but that won’t get folks attention the same way. I’m planning on making a YouTube video of this rant in the style of my other rants (and explanatory video) on Youtube, but that part takes time, so to be sure I don’t get scooped by anyone else I’m going to take the audio I’ve recorded and release it here podcast style. (If someone else ends up saying this, while they may be more popular I can at least claim to have been first.)

You can download my ranting here in either MP3 or, for that indie cred, OGG  format. I kept it short, less than 6 minutes, so it won’t take all of your day:

8-1-2010-StarCraft-2-rant-podcast.mp3

8-1-2010-StarCraft-2-rant-podcast.ogg

So the same night that John Rivera was busting it all night to make an awesome Bytejacker I was up fiddling with the code for fireworks. Why were we both awake way past our bedtimes on the same night? Who knows. But it’s a great story. Of course in the end I don’t have much that you’d notice unless you were familiar with the code (and the original) but sometimes paying off technical debt is it’s own reward.

Werewolves and Wanderer as an annotated YouTube adventure was never meant to be big this thing. It was just supposed to be this thing I did as part of teaching Stalepie (and maybe others) to program. But like so many things I do this one ended up becoming a bigger production that I thought and I learned lessons on the way too late to apply them. So, like I often do, I wanted to share those lessons with others because I may not be doing another one, but I hope someone will.

The thing about Werewolves and Wanderer the annotated YouTube adventure is I could totally see myself myself making these regularly. I really enjoyed the process, I loved the finished product. But like some other things I sometimes do the possibility of long term commitment is cut short by the fact that I have too many other things to do. Like family, work, school, and rebirthing Cymon’s Games. It’s that work thing that’s really getting in the way. But until someone wants to pay me to perfect my skills as I make annotated YouTube adventures, sketchy rants, video games, video game tutorials, and whatever else strikes my fancy, until that day I’ll just have to satisfy myself with passing on what I’ve learned like this and hoping I inspire someone else.

Do anything for ya? I hope so. Does something for me. Now for some quick details:

What will it be exactly?

From the user perspective it’ll be a text box that you type a program in, press a compile button, and get a console window opening up in your browser running your game. It won’t be big, it won’t be fancy, just basic functionality.

How will it work?

On the back end it’ll take the code you type, run it through some preparatory filters, run that through an Adobe Alchemy compiler that turns C code into an SWF, and returns the SWF file. Then that SWF file will be displayed.

Is this really going to work?

I think so. It should. Peter Nitsch, who knows much more about this stuff than I do, seems to think it has a chance. Impressed with the idea he managed to bang together a functional proof of concept in about a half an hour.

Holy smokes? Do you know what this means?

I know. Cool isn’t it?

When will we see this thing?

Well, uh, yeah. It’s definitely going to happen. I can say that because it’s now my thesis project, but I don’t graduate for another year and a half to 2 years and I’m still a busy dude.

So you’re not doing anything else with ASCIIpOrtal then, huh?

Oh, heck no. See, I’ve got to learn Adobe Alchemy, get acquainted with it and what not. So I need a project to do that. And I figure the best project for that would be [drum roll] ASCIIpOrtal II that will run in a browser with a built in level editor. But since the base code will still be in C that means it can still be compiled Windows, Linux, Mac and whatever else. (NDS Homebrew if I can get myself a NDS and homebrew card.)

There are still a lot of details to work out, some of which won’t be worked out until basically it’s done, but there’s a lot that’s already planned and ready. It’s a bit rough, but the current thesis proposal spells it out pretty good. And if you have any other questions… ask away in the comments below.

I just love these books. I’ve found some but I thought I’d at least ask: Can you help me build my collection of type-in books? How can you help? Well, if you have some and wouldn’t mind parting with them, you can send them to the address below. If you want you can order them from Amazon, Abe books, or eBay and ship to the address below. If you’re in an old bookstore or a second-hand store and wouldn’t mind looking and send them to me. Or you can simply hit the paypal button, let me know that you want to support my collection of BASIC books, and I’ll get them myself.

Like I said in the video, I’m looking for BASIC games listings. I’m not worried about platform dependent BASIC games (like ones that use graphics) because often times those graphics routines can still be translated into Allegro or something such. In fact I’d be thrilled to have them. And magazines with BASIC listings would be brilliant too.

My address is:

Joe Larson
1924 W 1540 N
Lehi, UT 84043

Gotta remember to change that if I ever move.

My collection so far:

To avoid duplication (not that it would be that big a deal) here’s my collection so far:

BASIC Computer Games by David H. Ahl , 1973.

More Basic Computer Games by David H. Ahl, 1979.

BASIC Fun: Computer Games, Puzzles, and Problems Children Can Write by Susan Drake Lipscomb and Margaret Ann Zuanich, 1982.

BASIC Fun with Adventure Games by Susan Drake Lipscomb and Margaret Ann Zuanich, 1984.

Creating Adventure Games on Your Computer by Tim Hartnell, 1984 – Donated by Matt “Stalepie” from the Cymon’s Games forums.

Space Attack: Micro Adventure Number One by Eileen Buckholtz and Ruth Glick, 1984.

Jungle Quest: Micro Adventure Number Two by Megan Stine and H. William Stine, 1984.

Million Dollar Gamble: Micro Adventure Number Three by Chassie L. West, 1984.

Time Trap (Micro Adventure, No 4) by Jean Favors, 1984.

Mindbenders (Micro Adventure, Vol. 5) by Ruth Glick and Eileen Buckholtz, 1984.

Robot Race (Micro Adventure, Vol. 6) by David Anthony Kraft, 1984.

Doom Stalker (Micro Adventure, No 7) by Ruth Glick and Eileen Buckholtz, 1985.

The Big Freeze (Micro Adventure, No 8) by Jean M. Favors, 1985

Dead Ringer (Micro Adventure No 9) by Chassie West, 1985

Spellbound (Micro Adventure, No 10) by Megan Stine and H. William Stine, 1985

Captain Kid and the Pirates (Magic Micro No 1) by Glick, Buckholtz, 1985

Superworld (Magic Micro No 2) by Steven Otfinoski,1985

Wizards of Wonder (Magic Micro Adventure, No 3) by Megan Stine and H. William Stine, 1984

The Cats of Castle Mountain (Magic Micro, No 4) by Buckholtz, Glick, 1985.

If you donate a book I’ll make sure you get credit for adding it to my collection.

What do you think I should do with my collection?

What do I want these for? I’ve got my own long-term plans for the games in these books. Partly it’s because I’ve never had an original idea in my life and these books are great sources of inspiration. I want to find great programs to re-write in C. But if there’s enough interest maybe I can do reviews or video reviews for these books. Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Annotated 2010 7DRL Challenge Reviews on Temple of the Roguelike.

Well that’s good if you want a fair and balanced review of all the games, but some of those are way too low on the scale and feel, I deserve, some special attention. So here’s my list of the best of the 2010 7DRL challenge, with no appologies for those that didn’t make it:

#1. Math: The Roguelike.

Starting at the top of the list because I don’t trust you not to get bored before the end and I do not want anyone to miss this one. Even if you don’t like text graphics, I don’t care. Play this game. This is the one game this year that I felt needs to be remade with graphics and sold by scholastic. School children across the world should be playing this game in class.

You’ll need to have at least basic Algebra under your belt to win this game, or at least to play it well, but manipulating the formulas of the game to maximize the damage you do feels so good. I found myself really thinking if a 3D6 was better than a 6D3 and whether I’d be better off if my roll was less than 8 doubling the damage or linking it to the turn number. I almost pulled out my graphing calculator to do some analysis a few times. This game is GREAT.

Did I mention I like this one?

If you don’t play roguelikes then you’re brain is no doubt going to waste, atrophying with every episode of Lost and every round of Farmville. Save your brain and play Math: The Rogulike. And if you do playing roguelikes you have no excuse not to play this game. Roguelike’s are nerdy enough. Revel in it. There, no one has any excuse. Go play it. Go, now. Come back later and see the rest, but go play this.

You back? Good wasn’t it?

2. ASCIIDash

This is a randomly generated turn-based Boulder Dash clone with text graphics. If you’ve never heard of Boulder Dash, here’s a quick primer… seriously? You’ve never heard of Boulder Dash? Boulder Dash has been made for just about everything since the beginning of computing. The only game that might have wider scope is Tetris. You’ve never heard of Boulder Dash? Alright, here’s a synopsis: a more puzzy sort of Dig Dug game with boulder physics. Drop boulders on enemies to turn them into gold, collect gold, get to the exit, try not to get crushed or eaten.

True the screen looks like alphabet soup at times, but if this were given a graphical polish it’d shine like a star. If you’re here, that shouldn’t bother you.

3. Dungeon Sweeper

Alright, graphics, for those of you who can’t stand text. And mouse input. This should appeal to everyone. But more importantly than aesthetics this game is truly innovative and you’re going to die a lot before you get the idea.

The idea is that like minesweeper you get an inkling of the enemies around you, but you can’t be sure if that “4″ you’re seeing is one monster of level 4 or two of level 2. There’s a definite puzzle aspect to this one. Fans of Desktop Dungeon should really give this a try.

Frustratingly this game seems to put you in unwinnable situations many times. If you’re clever you can sometimes extend your experience somewhat, but often times a game ends before it begins. it’d be nice if this didn’t happen, but it’s not worth skipping this one over. For innovation alone this deserves a look.

4. A Quest too Far

Maybe it’s just because I’m getting old, but a roguelike where you’re losing your youthful vigor with every step just resonates with me. This mechanic definitely brings something new to the Roguelike table in the form of forced inventory management. You’re going to use your stuff because if you don’t you’re going to have to drop it as old age takes it’s toll. A fantastic game on many levels.

5. Princess RL

Made by the same guy who made the excellent DDRogue last year, Princess RL is in many ways a sequel. This year he’s combined a stat management mini-game with DDRogue. You’re raising a princes to either be a little lady or a little amazon, sneaking out once a month to adventure in the hills surrounding the school. It takes a few games to get the hang of it but it’s not one to pass up, especially if you’re into roguelikes.

6. Toby the Trapper

Darren Grey is another one returning from last year and his game this year is well worth a look. You don’t have any direct attacks against your opponents and instead have to lay traps for them to fall into. It’s a simple mechanic that works surprisingly well and does much to change the way you play the game.

And that’s all I’m gonna feature. If you wanna play more go ahead and hit the annotated list. You can sort the list however you think is important and hit the top few and you’ll probably not go wrong.

Did I miss one? Was there a game in this years 7DRL challenge that you felt deserves mention. Let me know below.

Now THAT is thinking with portals.

Zugz has promised more levels in this set, so stay tuned.

… uh, never mind.

I first ran into Marky online when I saw his ASCII Lemmings game on YouTube. We connected on chat and began an interaction back and forth as I mentored him in his development ASCII Lemmings as a one-switch game for Gamma 4. I say mentored because while I intended to contribute more in the end he did everything and I answered his questions. Unfortunately for Gamma 4 we missed the deadline my a mere 11 hours. Fortunately this meant Mad Mister Marcus could develop his game into a multi-switch game. The number of switches ended up being 4, by the way.

Marcus posted many of his old programs on the forums. Unfortunately they use Windows.h instead of curses so they’re not cross-platform compatible, but they are a lot of fun.

This week’s program, Obit, Marcus just kinda threw together. That’s a Cymon’s Games game right there. After he made the text version he, without any prior experience, made an allegro version. Wow. Marcus is another one that I consider to be a Cymon’s Games success story. Not that he learned programming here, but Cymon’s Games gave him an excuse to program, and that’s what it’s all about.

I hate ice levels is a punishingly difficult game that satirizes all the worst things in platform games including disappearing blocks, (mercifully few) pixel-perfect jumps, and of course lots of slip slidey ice.

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/526208