Last Monday saw the "Drink Spikers", after only dropping 1 game in the minor rounds, make their way into the Semi Final of the Monday night Beach Volleyball Social "A"s competiton. After easily dispatching "The Force" (46-31) who seemed to be somewhat depleted from their best form, the Spikers had a tough and torrid battle with the ever challenging "Wongas".
Highlights of the game included being down throughout the whole game, but hanging on just enough to stay in touch, and finally getting back to even at around 30 a piece. After trading advantage point several times each (in OT), finally the Spikers were able to win the Grand Final with a deft touch by yours truly - A comfortable set by Big Al gave me the opportunity to get a good jump, and an easy purchase on a solid spike was on offer, but instead (somewhat cheekily) I placed the ball in the dead zone (centre court) with a casual flick of the wrist. The look on the opposition's faces said it all. Dirty.
Granted, it's not normally how you'd want to win a game, but, with pride and $100 drinks voucher at the local pub (The Winston, Pirie St) on offer, winning came first.
Congratulations to all the boys in team Drink Spikers (Paul, Tim, Al, and myself) - it was a good team effort, can't wait to crack the $100!!
P.S. Thanks also to our cheer squad (Lin and Donna) who watched the entire game - especially to Lin who dolled out the medallions (with complimentary kisses) to the lads and Tim for buying the beer!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Friday, November 25, 2005
Politics: Peak Oil makes it to Australian TV
Australia's national broadcaster ABC has produced a 15 minute segment on the show Catalyst about Peak Oil. Finally there is the beginnings of a discussion on this very important issue.
Although they covered the topic in some detail, it was only a 15 minute segment on a channel that is rarely watched by the mainstream public. If only this type of journalism was being done on the big channels. Instead, 60 minutes is covering the latest human interest stories (Not that I mind, it just seems the world has more pressing stories to tell!).
The most compelling fact of this story was the hands-up poll conducted by an Australian Oil man at an Industry conference, who asked the assembly, how many think we've already reached the 'peak'.. 50% or so said yes.. Scary. You'd think those people would have an inside look..
Although they covered the topic in some detail, it was only a 15 minute segment on a channel that is rarely watched by the mainstream public. If only this type of journalism was being done on the big channels. Instead, 60 minutes is covering the latest human interest stories (Not that I mind, it just seems the world has more pressing stories to tell!).
The most compelling fact of this story was the hands-up poll conducted by an Australian Oil man at an Industry conference, who asked the assembly, how many think we've already reached the 'peak'.. 50% or so said yes.. Scary. You'd think those people would have an inside look..
Friday, September 30, 2005
Life: Malaysia calls
My first overseas trip for several years started in KL, Malaysia. Lin and I set off early Sunday after the AFL grand final, which meant no big night.. Not really a bad thing!
Kuala Lumpur is quite a city. Huge, smelly, and full of smog. Great food, great fun, great adventure. I only wish I had more time to explore it all.. I intend to return one day soon.
Highlights - The food..!!!! Well, I love Indian and Chinese, so Malay is a natural fit. I ate all the time, and due to Lin's family being locals, it was all free, all the time! Against our constant urging, the Ng family would not let us buy a single meal.. Luckily, when Collin (Lin's cousin) wasn't looking, I rushed off to pay our final bill!!! So many options - from stuffed tofu to curried fish or beef, chicken rice, steamed boat a plenty... Mmm.. mmm..
Also, we visited a shopping complex devoted entirely to IT hardware and software. I'm talking about a place larger than any shopping centre in Adelaide - 6 levels of laptops, CDS, flash drives and the like.. I was naturally in heaven!!! The price for a notebook is amazing. Compare: a $AU2500 lappy there to an equivalent machine back in Adelaide would be around 4000.. I think I would have to think twice about a local purchase..
KL is a shoppers paradise, no doubt about it. Not that I wanted to go to market after market, but we could have - the exchange rate was very generous as well.
Unfortunately, all that buzz comes at a significant price. the skyline is 'hazed' 24-7, and the air is smelly. Not to mention the traffic, which was, to put it midly, a nightmare! I don't think I ever saw Sydney so bad!!
Overall, I think we will definitely return sooner than later..
Kuala Lumpur is quite a city. Huge, smelly, and full of smog. Great food, great fun, great adventure. I only wish I had more time to explore it all.. I intend to return one day soon.
Highlights - The food..!!!! Well, I love Indian and Chinese, so Malay is a natural fit. I ate all the time, and due to Lin's family being locals, it was all free, all the time! Against our constant urging, the Ng family would not let us buy a single meal.. Luckily, when Collin (Lin's cousin) wasn't looking, I rushed off to pay our final bill!!! So many options - from stuffed tofu to curried fish or beef, chicken rice, steamed boat a plenty... Mmm.. mmm..
Also, we visited a shopping complex devoted entirely to IT hardware and software. I'm talking about a place larger than any shopping centre in Adelaide - 6 levels of laptops, CDS, flash drives and the like.. I was naturally in heaven!!! The price for a notebook is amazing. Compare: a $AU2500 lappy there to an equivalent machine back in Adelaide would be around 4000.. I think I would have to think twice about a local purchase..
KL is a shoppers paradise, no doubt about it. Not that I wanted to go to market after market, but we could have - the exchange rate was very generous as well.
Unfortunately, all that buzz comes at a significant price. the skyline is 'hazed' 24-7, and the air is smelly. Not to mention the traffic, which was, to put it midly, a nightmare! I don't think I ever saw Sydney so bad!!
Overall, I think we will definitely return sooner than later..
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Life: Lin's Birthday
Happy Birthday Lin!
I hope you are having a great day. I won't mention how *old* you are.. I know you'd kill me if I did!
I bought some flowers for her, they look like this:
I hope you are having a great day. I won't mention how *old* you are.. I know you'd kill me if I did!
I bought some flowers for her, they look like this:
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Programming: Coding Is Like Poetry
I've always enjoyed poetry, and as a programmer, I've often noted the similarities between them. Today I noticed an interesting chat on the CodeProject forum about this very thing.
Followed up with a nice Haiku from
Followed up with a nice Haiku from
Friday, August 05, 2005
Tamagotchi Pokies
It seems that South Australia's anti-gambling king has found a new target of his angst. According to this article he has discovered that those kids toys called Tamagotchi have a gambling element within them.
I don't see how playing the pokies at 6 years old is good for a child's development. I for one don't see how it's good for anyone, but then, I don't play and I've never won 'big'..
The cynic in me can't help but wonder who funded this inclusion? Gambling cartels preparing for their future income streams..?
I don't see how playing the pokies at 6 years old is good for a child's development. I for one don't see how it's good for anyone, but then, I don't play and I've never won 'big'..
The cynic in me can't help but wonder who funded this inclusion? Gambling cartels preparing for their future income streams..?
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Politics: Birds and Wind Energy
Once again partisan politics rears it's ugly head in Australia. We have a perculiar position right now of a Liberal fedaral government with all (I think) states being Labor. The current issue stems from the Victorian government's desire for a wind farm in Bald Hill, South Gippsland.
It seems the local community are up in arms about it's location and have resorted to the claim of "what about the birds?" to see that it is not built in their back yard.
The reality of bird deaths may be real, but the extent of these deaths, compared to the benefits to the community at large, is negligible. Birds? even the (British) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds have stated that wind farms are a good idea, and that the deaths of birds (which they acknowledge does happen on occasion) is negligible compared to the deaths of birds from other sources.
Millions of birds are eaten by domestic cats each, year, more fly in to houses (windows) or cars to their deaths. Surely a slowly spinning turbine (these things aren't exactly propellers) can easily be avoided by a bird on route.
I think that the federal government should be doing everything it can to reduce our Coal burning requirements, and should forget about politics for the sake of the country. Is it that difficult?
After all, what is more important? Birds in the sky, or clean air in which to breath (for all of us, including the birds!)
Read the article here
Wind farms appear to be the next battleground between the Bracks Government and Canberra, after the federal Environment Minister promised to use his power to stand up for aggrieved rural communities and protect birds from turbines.
It seems the local community are up in arms about it's location and have resorted to the claim of "what about the birds?" to see that it is not built in their back yard.
The reality of bird deaths may be real, but the extent of these deaths, compared to the benefits to the community at large, is negligible. Birds? even the (British) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds have stated that wind farms are a good idea, and that the deaths of birds (which they acknowledge does happen on occasion) is negligible compared to the deaths of birds from other sources.
Millions of birds are eaten by domestic cats each, year, more fly in to houses (windows) or cars to their deaths. Surely a slowly spinning turbine (these things aren't exactly propellers) can easily be avoided by a bird on route.
I think that the federal government should be doing everything it can to reduce our Coal burning requirements, and should forget about politics for the sake of the country. Is it that difficult?
After all, what is more important? Birds in the sky, or clean air in which to breath (for all of us, including the birds!)
Read the article here
Monday, July 04, 2005
Politics: Bogus War On Terror..
If you've spent any time talking politics with me over the last few years, then most of this article, by Michael Meacher will not be 'news' to you. It does however hold some small hope to see it splashed so brazenly over the Guardian's pages, even if it is only 'commentary'.
Meacher pulls no punches, by naming the PNAC, it's geopolitical imperatives, and the fallout resulting from 9/11, a clear and worrying picture emerges.
That's quite a claim, isn't it? And to think the author is no less than a former British MP.. His summary is no less impacting..
Read the full article here.
Meacher pulls no punches, by naming the PNAC, it's geopolitical imperatives, and the fallout resulting from 9/11, a clear and worrying picture emerges.
In fact, 9/11 offered an extremely convenient pretext to put the PNAC plan into action. The evidence again is quite clear that plans for military action against Afghanistan and Iraq were in hand well before 9/11. A report prepared for the US government from the Baker Institute of Public Policy stated in April 2001 that "the US remains a prisoner of its energy dilemma. Iraq remains a destabilising influence to... the flow of oil to international markets from the Middle East". Submitted to Vice-President Cheney's energy task group, the report recommended that because this was an unacceptable risk to the US, "military intervention" was necessary (Sunday Herald, October 6 2002).
That's quite a claim, isn't it? And to think the author is no less than a former British MP.. His summary is no less impacting..
The conclusion of all this analysis must surely be that the "global war on terrorism" has the hallmarks of a political myth propagated to pave the way for a wholly different agenda - the US goal of world hegemony, built around securing by force command over the oil supplies required to drive the whole project.
Read the full article here.
Programming: Riskier (Part 4)
Finally I have a working program. After many prototypes, tests and experiments, I have finally built a shell of a server in C#.
Currently, it is listening to one client generate message (MoveUnit) via .NET remoting. The world object is being updated correctly. Now, my next step is to have the fact update propagated to all interested parties. That should be interesting. The plan is to simply register each player object with the server, such that when a unit or region fact update is allowed to be known to a client, it is sent a message – this will be a simple .NET delegate (event). Ultimately, I intend to build a message packet which will accumulate updates, but that optimisation will come later, if required.
Next, I intent to start exploring the idea of using Reflection to automate the FactUpdate event. I thought it would be really cool to simply tag a property with an attribute that would indicate to the server that an update to the various clients is required – great plan, but yet to be confirmed. The fall back position will be to manually code the event call for each property for each entity. Not hard, but certainly not as elegant. It will no doubt be more efficient though, so all would not be lost.
Of course, a functioning server will demand a new and improved client. My intent is to build a primitive command based ‘terminal’ which will simply be a basic object viewer, in the spirit of mail-based BBS games of 10 years ago (no doubt these games still exist, and are well participated in!).
An interesting point from all this is that I have found it has been much harder to build this program than I had expected. Don’t get me wrong, I never though this would be easy, but I really have struggled to make the progress I had wanted. I have however learned several important skills, so all is not lost. I have in the process learnt many things about C#, the .NET Framework, and Object-Oriented design. At least my secondary goal was obtained!
As a vehicle for learning new technologies, it has been worthwhile. I can only hope that I am now in a good position to commence the ‘guts’ of the program. Writing the actual ‘business’ logic is where the process should become interesting and start yielding some visible results.
Firstly though, I need to beef up the client!
Currently, it is listening to one client generate message (MoveUnit) via .NET remoting. The world object is being updated correctly. Now, my next step is to have the fact update propagated to all interested parties. That should be interesting. The plan is to simply register each player object with the server, such that when a unit or region fact update is allowed to be known to a client, it is sent a message – this will be a simple .NET delegate (event). Ultimately, I intend to build a message packet which will accumulate updates, but that optimisation will come later, if required.
Next, I intent to start exploring the idea of using Reflection to automate the FactUpdate event. I thought it would be really cool to simply tag a property with an attribute that would indicate to the server that an update to the various clients is required – great plan, but yet to be confirmed. The fall back position will be to manually code the event call for each property for each entity. Not hard, but certainly not as elegant. It will no doubt be more efficient though, so all would not be lost.
Of course, a functioning server will demand a new and improved client. My intent is to build a primitive command based ‘terminal’ which will simply be a basic object viewer, in the spirit of mail-based BBS games of 10 years ago (no doubt these games still exist, and are well participated in!).
An interesting point from all this is that I have found it has been much harder to build this program than I had expected. Don’t get me wrong, I never though this would be easy, but I really have struggled to make the progress I had wanted. I have however learned several important skills, so all is not lost. I have in the process learnt many things about C#, the .NET Framework, and Object-Oriented design. At least my secondary goal was obtained!
As a vehicle for learning new technologies, it has been worthwhile. I can only hope that I am now in a good position to commence the ‘guts’ of the program. Writing the actual ‘business’ logic is where the process should become interesting and start yielding some visible results.
Firstly though, I need to beef up the client!
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Politics: Energy For The Future
I can't help but think about it. One time, in the near future, it is quite possible, that we will, as a society, come to the end of cheap abundant energy. I'm talking about Peak Oil first, then Peak Gas, and finally Peak Coal (which is of course, some time in the future!). Of course, no one is able to accurately predict when, and how gradual the decline will be. Some say that PO is imminent within the next 5 years. At best, even the optimists are saying 30 years is possible.
I am a bit of an optimist, so I like to think that the doomsayers are getting this wrong, that if we can absorb the impact intact, then we have a chance to manage the 'powerdown' phase. It would only be possible if we are expecting it, and have made the necessary adjustments. No doubt, it would still be a major undertaking, which would change society in unknown ways.
So what can we expect from a power downed world? Unfortunately, I'm really not sure. But I am sure that the extent to which we can maintain the good elements of our society is directly proportional to the immediacy at which we tackle this issue. I.e. We need to start thinking, talking and doing right now. Every day, month and year we wait is risking everything.
Maybe they're all wrong. Maybe the folks at the US Department Of Energy are right. The world's oil producers may well have accurately reported their current reserves, and everything is indeed under control. I hope so, but I don't feel so confident.. It's just a feeling though, so don't quote me! Issues related to the reserve reporting process are numerous, however, and are another topic entirely!
So what hope is there? The hope is that as a community we can rally together, and create a future that is sustainable. I have noted that the PO meme is now starting to enter the collective (at least, in the financial papers), and so I hope that we will soon see a growing awareness in a way similar to the 'green bag' meme that has recently swept Adelaide.
Unfortunately, the similarities end there! The green bag movement seems to have been effective because ultimately it is a small step that barely hampers our lifestyle. What is required to mitigate PO is much more, and will indeed affect our day to day living.
So much of our efforts involve consuming or transforming energy. So much so that perhaps we forget the extent to which this is so. Whether it is food, grown far away, transported, prepared, served, or eaten, or water, collected, pumped, and channeled to us in its many myriad forms, we rely on these essential human resources, that are all totally tied to the use of energy. Further to this, there is clothing, housing, and the other essential commodities we rely on each day. These are the things that we will need to ensure can continue in some form, if we are to survive in a reasonable condition.
It seems that the current governments both here in South Australia and federally are relying on Coal for our future energy needs. Fair enough, I suppose. You can't pretend that we have another solution. As much as I wish we did we simply don't have a viable alternative to supplying all of our energy needs beyond PO and PG. It's seems short sighted to forget about CO2, or argue for seqestration of the gas!
At least, not yet.. It seems there is some very exciting technology being explored in both HDR and Solar Towers, in SA and VIC respectively. I must admit to being quite excited about the ST, actually. The concept, design and prototype appear to be a very clever and likely generator of steady electricity. Right now, the plan entails a 1 km high tower, with the circumference of the MCG, and girt (sorry, couldn't resist!) by an 8 km green house 'skirt' that will collect the heat to send up the column, thus propelling large turbines within! Such a great idea, I wish I'd thought of it. Have a read!.
On the other hand, I don't know much about HDR, but it seems like it could be a good 'short term' solution - call it a stop gap measure. The only problem seems to be that hot rocks will eventually cool down.. Hence, it's not actually 'sustainable'.. Not literally, any way (it would *only* last 3000 years. Maybe you see it differently!
At least I just bought a new bike with the intention of riding to work on occasion. That's my first step in working towards a sustainable future. Now I just have to use it more!
Then all I need to do is learn to grow my own vegetables, stop driving, use less electricity and buy less!
Ugghh. I'm tired just thinking about it. No wonder most people are in denial..
I am a bit of an optimist, so I like to think that the doomsayers are getting this wrong, that if we can absorb the impact intact, then we have a chance to manage the 'powerdown' phase. It would only be possible if we are expecting it, and have made the necessary adjustments. No doubt, it would still be a major undertaking, which would change society in unknown ways.
So what can we expect from a power downed world? Unfortunately, I'm really not sure. But I am sure that the extent to which we can maintain the good elements of our society is directly proportional to the immediacy at which we tackle this issue. I.e. We need to start thinking, talking and doing right now. Every day, month and year we wait is risking everything.
Maybe they're all wrong. Maybe the folks at the US Department Of Energy are right. The world's oil producers may well have accurately reported their current reserves, and everything is indeed under control. I hope so, but I don't feel so confident.. It's just a feeling though, so don't quote me! Issues related to the reserve reporting process are numerous, however, and are another topic entirely!
So what hope is there? The hope is that as a community we can rally together, and create a future that is sustainable. I have noted that the PO meme is now starting to enter the collective (at least, in the financial papers), and so I hope that we will soon see a growing awareness in a way similar to the 'green bag' meme that has recently swept Adelaide.
Unfortunately, the similarities end there! The green bag movement seems to have been effective because ultimately it is a small step that barely hampers our lifestyle. What is required to mitigate PO is much more, and will indeed affect our day to day living.
So much of our efforts involve consuming or transforming energy. So much so that perhaps we forget the extent to which this is so. Whether it is food, grown far away, transported, prepared, served, or eaten, or water, collected, pumped, and channeled to us in its many myriad forms, we rely on these essential human resources, that are all totally tied to the use of energy. Further to this, there is clothing, housing, and the other essential commodities we rely on each day. These are the things that we will need to ensure can continue in some form, if we are to survive in a reasonable condition.
It seems that the current governments both here in South Australia and federally are relying on Coal for our future energy needs. Fair enough, I suppose. You can't pretend that we have another solution. As much as I wish we did we simply don't have a viable alternative to supplying all of our energy needs beyond PO and PG. It's seems short sighted to forget about CO2, or argue for seqestration of the gas!
At least, not yet.. It seems there is some very exciting technology being explored in both HDR and Solar Towers, in SA and VIC respectively. I must admit to being quite excited about the ST, actually. The concept, design and prototype appear to be a very clever and likely generator of steady electricity. Right now, the plan entails a 1 km high tower, with the circumference of the MCG, and girt (sorry, couldn't resist!) by an 8 km green house 'skirt' that will collect the heat to send up the column, thus propelling large turbines within! Such a great idea, I wish I'd thought of it. Have a read!.
On the other hand, I don't know much about HDR, but it seems like it could be a good 'short term' solution - call it a stop gap measure. The only problem seems to be that hot rocks will eventually cool down.. Hence, it's not actually 'sustainable'.. Not literally, any way (it would *only* last 3000 years. Maybe you see it differently!
At least I just bought a new bike with the intention of riding to work on occasion. That's my first step in working towards a sustainable future. Now I just have to use it more!
Then all I need to do is learn to grow my own vegetables, stop driving, use less electricity and buy less!
Ugghh. I'm tired just thinking about it. No wonder most people are in denial..
Programming: Programmer Courses
Recently, my company has started providing courses on various programming topics. I'm not impressed. Not at the offer, which is great, but at the need.
Let’s make one thing clear from the beginning, I don’t mind if a company is willing to send a programmer on a course if they want to… I just think that if a coder wants to learn something, he will - Off his own back, in his own time.
Why? Because the history and spirit of programming is to find out, explore, experiment and fail, in order to succeed. Not to simpy be told (and try to stay awake!)
After all, that’s where the fun is in the first place, right??? Well.. At least that’s why I like to code, anyway!
Let’s make one thing clear from the beginning, I don’t mind if a company is willing to send a programmer on a course if they want to… I just think that if a coder wants to learn something, he will - Off his own back, in his own time.
Why? Because the history and spirit of programming is to find out, explore, experiment and fail, in order to succeed. Not to simpy be told (and try to stay awake!)
After all, that’s where the fun is in the first place, right??? Well.. At least that’s why I like to code, anyway!
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Politics: They Rule
Check out this great web site called They Rule -
What a great concept! And it looks really good too. I'm not sure how I'd use this, since I'm not conducting research at this level, but..
There are a lot of user-built maps which are great to look at.. Check out linkages for the CFR (Council Of Foreign Relations).. Lot's of mates there!
They Rule allows you to create maps of the interlocking directories of the top companies in the US in 2004.
The data was collected from their websites and SEC filings in early 2004, so it may not be completely accurate - companies merge and disappear and directors shift boards.
What a great concept! And it looks really good too. I'm not sure how I'd use this, since I'm not conducting research at this level, but..
There are a lot of user-built maps which are great to look at.. Check out linkages for the CFR (Council Of Foreign Relations).. Lot's of mates there!
Life: The Continuing Saga of That Damn Car Stereo
Yesterday I rode to work in order to drop off my car to be repaired (see a previous post). When I picked it up, they had the gaul to charge me for a 'ground loop'.. I don't even know what that is, but clearly, it sounds like something they should have checked for in the first place.
At least I had music, I thought. So, I'm sitting in traffic playing with the remote control (which is kind of cool, even though basically useless), when I realise that the b@stards haven't hooked up the front speakers... The good ones! How can you miss such an important part of an install? I can't help but ask - What were they on?
I think this time I'll do the work myself.. Damn them. There goes my sleep in this Saturday!
It's worth noting that the company in question is Strathfield Audio in the Adelaide CBD. Not good enough boys.
At least I had music, I thought. So, I'm sitting in traffic playing with the remote control (which is kind of cool, even though basically useless), when I realise that the b@stards haven't hooked up the front speakers... The good ones! How can you miss such an important part of an install? I can't help but ask - What were they on?
I think this time I'll do the work myself.. Damn them. There goes my sleep in this Saturday!
It's worth noting that the company in question is Strathfield Audio in the Adelaide CBD. Not good enough boys.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Life: The Screech Of An Unearthed Stereo
As someone who writes software for a living, I'm always thinking about testing. Not that I like testing, but testing is the only way to validate your work. Even the most confident programmer checks the basic operation of his work.. right?
Well, it seems that the same rules don't apply when installing a new car stereo. At least, not on a Saturday morning. I just spent over $300 on an MP3 car stereo, and was shocked to find when I drove off that there was a shreiking sound coming from the speakers which exactly matched the motor's speed. Having spent my youth installing car stereos, I immediately knew the problem - The earth wire had not been secured. It's fine when the stereo runs alone, but not when the motor is on. Great.. I'll just turn the motor off at the lights, shall I?
A simple test would have been to run the stereo, at the same time as the motor. Not too tough, right? It goes to show that a little time spent making sure the job is done right will save time in the future. Not only my time, but the next poor sap who will be handed this job in his lunch break.. I can only hope its the *same* guy who stuffed it in the first place.
Of course, such a lesson is timely reminder to all programmers. NEVER assume that just because you got it right every other time, that you don't need to test this time.. Of course you do!
Well, it seems that the same rules don't apply when installing a new car stereo. At least, not on a Saturday morning. I just spent over $300 on an MP3 car stereo, and was shocked to find when I drove off that there was a shreiking sound coming from the speakers which exactly matched the motor's speed. Having spent my youth installing car stereos, I immediately knew the problem - The earth wire had not been secured. It's fine when the stereo runs alone, but not when the motor is on. Great.. I'll just turn the motor off at the lights, shall I?
A simple test would have been to run the stereo, at the same time as the motor. Not too tough, right? It goes to show that a little time spent making sure the job is done right will save time in the future. Not only my time, but the next poor sap who will be handed this job in his lunch break.. I can only hope its the *same* guy who stuffed it in the first place.
Of course, such a lesson is timely reminder to all programmers. NEVER assume that just because you got it right every other time, that you don't need to test this time.. Of course you do!
Monday, May 02, 2005
Programming: Riskier (Part 3)
Fog of War – No real RTS game can exist without FOW, and I intend to build this model in from the ground up. No client will have knowledge of the ‘real’ world, except what they are informed of via the server. Thus the server will be the only location where the real knowledge is, and will disseminate according to rules to be determined later (eg. Proximity, spy networks, satellites, etc.). As such all client data will be considered an approximation, and will thus be time stamped (to indicate currency).
I am not an AI programmer – yet! Although I studied Prolog at Uni, I definitely would not claim myself to be able to write a sentient (according to Turing, anyway!) adversary, and so I will restrict the game to multi player only. Accordingly, the model I will develop is based on the future consideration of allowing an AI to be created which will interact with the central game server in the same way as the players. Thus, the AI will not be able to cheat, or make any decisions from which it has no data to base it on.
Given the nature of trademarks, copyrights, etc., and the fact that my game will be a leap from the original, a new name seems appropriate. I have thought of (and used as a working title) the name ‘Riskier’, which is just a bit of fun, really. Other names that I like are ‘Manifest Destiny’ and ‘Global Hegemony’. The first title refers to the 19th century belief in the US that the two continent of the western hemisphere would be best served by being conquered by the US, which felt it had a God given right to do so.. A perfect name for a game about empire really, isn’t it? The second is a general reference to the way the world is viewing the current state of world affairs (i.e. US Hegemony in the Middle East). Although I like the title, I have found that few know what the word means, and many can’t even pronounce it!
Oh well, Manifest Destiny (MD) will do for now!
I am not an AI programmer – yet! Although I studied Prolog at Uni, I definitely would not claim myself to be able to write a sentient (according to Turing, anyway!) adversary, and so I will restrict the game to multi player only. Accordingly, the model I will develop is based on the future consideration of allowing an AI to be created which will interact with the central game server in the same way as the players. Thus, the AI will not be able to cheat, or make any decisions from which it has no data to base it on.
Given the nature of trademarks, copyrights, etc., and the fact that my game will be a leap from the original, a new name seems appropriate. I have thought of (and used as a working title) the name ‘Riskier’, which is just a bit of fun, really. Other names that I like are ‘Manifest Destiny’ and ‘Global Hegemony’. The first title refers to the 19th century belief in the US that the two continent of the western hemisphere would be best served by being conquered by the US, which felt it had a God given right to do so.. A perfect name for a game about empire really, isn’t it? The second is a general reference to the way the world is viewing the current state of world affairs (i.e. US Hegemony in the Middle East). Although I like the title, I have found that few know what the word means, and many can’t even pronounce it!
Oh well, Manifest Destiny (MD) will do for now!
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Programming: Riskier (Part 2)
I think that this version of Risk, aka ‘The Risk Board Game’ is a bit dull for a rewrite, and so I have decided to introduce a more complex economic model, based on the interaction of individual regions, which will culminate in an equivalent ‘need’ to conquer all the regions on a particular continent. Essentially, each region will have an economic value (it’s core worth – termed ‘E’), but will return to the player each turn (or thereabouts) a value equal to it’s value E plus 20% of all neighbouring E, plus 5% of all those neighbours’ neighbours. In total, 3 levels of recursion are envisaged, as the following table will show:
| Region Distance | Percentage of Economy (E) |
| 0 | 100 |
| 1 | 20 |
| 2 | 5 |
| 3 | 1 |
Also, I decided to add another major change to the risk model, namely by making it Real Time (not turn based). That is, I want each unit to be able to move at any time, restricted only by it’s readiness level. Readiness will be reduced by 50% for each region move, and 75% will be required to move at all. Hence, although everything could move at the same time, it would be strategically dangerous to do so. Readiness will be regained by a unit based on a variety of factors which will be determined later, but which will involve tech level, morale, and whether the region being moved into is friend or foe.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Programming: Riskier (Part 1)
I love the board game of Risk, and have played various RTS (Real Time Strategy) games for several years. At high school I was always building games (via D&D or Battlemech) to keep myself and friends amused. Naturally, as a programmer, I have always thought about writing a game, since building business data-centric applications, although challenging, is by no means interesting, and to most, out right esoteric.
I chose Risk because the game is in essence extremely simple, and hence a great candidate for implementation to a computer. Furthermore, the Risk concept is easily extensible, with various additions to the core game being possible, particularly as future add ons.
So, what is Risk? Well, to the uninitiated (if there is such a person!) Risk is a game of nation building, or empire building. The game is won by conquering the neighbouring regions, and ensuring that your competitors can’t do the same. The winner is, by the classic definition, the last man standing. The value of a particular region is it’s composition in the continent. When all regions within a continent are conquered, the player then receives extra spending points. Armies are generated via these spending points, and thus the game is born.
I chose Risk because the game is in essence extremely simple, and hence a great candidate for implementation to a computer. Furthermore, the Risk concept is easily extensible, with various additions to the core game being possible, particularly as future add ons.
So, what is Risk? Well, to the uninitiated (if there is such a person!) Risk is a game of nation building, or empire building. The game is won by conquering the neighbouring regions, and ensuring that your competitors can’t do the same. The winner is, by the classic definition, the last man standing. The value of a particular region is it’s composition in the continent. When all regions within a continent are conquered, the player then receives extra spending points. Armies are generated via these spending points, and thus the game is born.
Your Blogging Starts... Now
I'm finally blogging. Many thoughts pass through this brain of mine each moment, I wonder whether I'll ever truly be able to capture the essence of them all.. We'll soon see.
At least now I have no more excuses for not having an on-line presence. Here I am!
My intention is to blog about all things Laan. Mostly, I'll be mentioning programming, politics, and partying. My 3 favourite things. Well.. At least 3 favourite things I can blog about, anyway! :-)
At least now I have no more excuses for not having an on-line presence. Here I am!
My intention is to blog about all things Laan. Mostly, I'll be mentioning programming, politics, and partying. My 3 favourite things. Well.. At least 3 favourite things I can blog about, anyway! :-)
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