I am going to attempt to attemp to do this!

I have no real programming experience, so I guess we’ll see how this pans out; I will be using Pygame to code, and setting up timelaps to record my progress (what of it there is). I’ll try to get a webcam going, and even mobile updates (for the time that I am not at my desk). Motivational posters (plural) should be up shortly after I have any idea what the topic will be.

here’s hoping this goes well!

Good luck to everyone else participating!

Framework declaration:

So you guys can keep me honest, I just put the current version of the crappy framework I’ll be using up on BitBucket:  http://bitbucket.org/excitemike/stego/

I’ll be using that, FlashDevelop, Photoshop, Sfxr, and maybe this.

I cannot wait to start!

MrPhil's Desk Shot

Tags: desktop

It’s that time again: LUDUM DARE TIME

I almost completely hosed my computer today too, trying to install Arch linux to dual-boot with my Windows XP partition. Being a GRUB n00b I’d managed to render the machine completely unbootable but thankfully I was able to repair my master boot record and go back to the warm, snuggly, familiar surroundings of XP in time for the competition. In retrospect it wasn’t the best time to start juggling operating systems.

I think GRUB was having a problem with the SATA disks I’ve got configured in as a RAID using NVidia’s software RAID thingy. The disks seemed to change order before and after boot – the RAID disks appearing last in the list at first, then first in the list later – and also depending on whether I tried to boot from CD first or not. GRUB got totally confused about where to load its boot menu from, as far as I could tell.

Anyway, time to put that little problem aside and focus on making the greatest game the world has ever seen. Some of the themes were really interesting this time round. If I was a betting man I’d say the theme this time is going to end up as Exploration, but I’ve learnt to try and not think about it until the theme is actually announced.

My tools are going to be:

• Python 2.6 – mmmm Python
• Pygame – a cool 2d game library for Python
• Eclipse IDE, with PyDev plugin
• pythonutils – a small collection of miscellaneous utility classes
• pygame-fenix – a pygame wrapper library which mimmicks concepts of the Fenix language, written by Fiona
• Graphics Gale – my fave 2d sprite editor, great for animation
• The GIMP – open source paint program
• Cakewalk SONAR – I will get some music done this time!
• sfxr – mspaint for sound effects, by the awesome DrPetter
• Goldwave – for tidying up sound effects
• pyCatcher – for making a timelapse video

I think that’s the lot.

Well, I’m psyched. Are you psyched? I am really rather psyched, myself. Jolly good. Can’t wait!

Tags: grub, linux, psyched, theme, thinking, tools

After extensive fidoodling around with Flixel, I have managed to make it so it has a .raw image embedded into the SWF which it reads and uses as map data.  Voila!  Now I will be able to edit my map in Paint Shop Pro as is the standard among my people.

My underwelming gui class

gui.rar

Good luck to all!

LD16 will be my first go at Ludum Dare, or anywhere. It’s going to be a fun weekend.

But since this dare is latin for “to give” I will make an exception.

This is going to be my first time participating Ludum Dare. I don’t know if I will finish a game or not. I am determined to put some AI into my game whatever that game becomes. I’ll be using python/pygame but otherwise starting from scratch.

It’s almost time….. Make that last grocery store run. Sharpen your pencils. Grab a stack of scratch paper. Plug in your microhone. Take the dog for a walk. Pick out your favorite coding music. Sign into IRC. Start your IDE. And go rent Twilight. You’ll need it.

Tags: ld48_16

Hopefully I am metaphorically dealt some good cards. This is my first Ludum Dare. I am thinking of using C++ and SDL or Gamemaker.

All right, so, I’ve managed to work out how to participate without a) unboxing and setting up my computer just for the compo, in the middle of a move, or b) leaving little software dev turds all over someone else’s computer, the solution being, use entirely portable (as in USB-stick portable) software for development. In this case, allinoneruby.exe, notepad++, mercurial (the command-line part only), pidgin (for irc), and whatever graphics software is already on this computer (such as MS paint, probably). This is made even more delightfully awkward by the fact that I normally do my work on a Mac desktop, and now I’m on a PC laptop. Should be awesome.

I should also add, in addition to my previously announced use of Ruby and Gosu, I may make use of chipmunk for physics, and I may steal some code out of an earlier project of mine, Operation Lambda. I anticipate using application-level code like menus, user preferences and resource management, not any gameplay code.

All that being said, this is still a busy weekend; nothing like 48 hours will be spent on this project.

Tags: gosu, ruby, tools

Here’s my plan!

– I’m going to a hockey game with my dad, so I’ll be a few hours late starting.

– Going to call my wife from the hockey game and she’ll tell me what the theme is. So I can think about it at the game! #1 SON!

– But after that I’ve got the whole weekend blocked off and have extra cans of spray deodorant.

– Pizza pops, mac&cheeze, sidekicks for food, with some mana from heaven (AKA STOVETOP STUFFING) for added class.

– If twilight wins, I’m going to make a game based only on information from the trailer, since that’s all I’ve seen.

– If it doesn’t win, I’m going to make a combo twilight-themed entry with the real theme.

See you suckas on the other side!

So, after much contemplation, I finally decided that “What the heck, I’ll do it” is probably the best response.  I’ve followed LD for…3 years now, but never bothered to participate.  My problem is that at 5 tomorrow, I will be leaving to go home…and pretty much unable to code (except possibly to upload onto here).  It is 7 when the competition starts for me, so that gives me 22 hours.  I’m considering staying up all night…but I *am* meeting family after a long time, and I probably want to look presentable.  We’ll see how long it takes me to make the general stuff.  I will be using Game Maker.  I am less proficient in it, but I know it is easier for me to get a game up and running (I am really bad at graphics) than anything else.  I love Java, but, due to school, I know C++ better.  So, I may change at the last moment to C++…if I want to do advanced algorithms…but otherwise its game maker.  I will also use google wave with some of my friends to come up with a hardcore idea 😛

Here is my meal for all 22 hours (plus the 2 hour ride home):

Thats right.  Nothing.  Due to the fact that finals are just over, the school is no longer serving meals….starting today.  I ate at 2, and I don’t want to leave and go somewhere else to eat, so I will be eating at 6…tomorrow.  Its fine.  I’ve done it before.

Anyway, good luck all!

LD16 starts in less than an hour! I can’t wait I’m excited this time around, because I think I’m proficient enough in C++/SDL to use that, instead of Python/PyGame like last time. Unfortunately, now that I look over some of the other posts so far… it seems like alot of people are using Python/PyGame for this compo… where were these guys last time? lol

Anyway, I haven’t attempted to convert a C++/SDL game from OSX to Windows yet… which I’ll need to do for the compo, I assume. I’ll just cross my fingers, after all my Luck modifier’s a +3, I think I’ll be alright 😀

Here’s a pic of my (messy) workstation and our newest kitten:

Workstation and Kitty

So, just because I took the pic (And I _was_ doing the clouds warmup)   (Pics and such continue below)

Here’s Thursday Dinner if Chili (and Beer).

Then tonight was Fancy Franks.  It’s like Hot Dog Casserole.   You make What is basically cornbread, then you but hot dogs in, fill with cream cheese, cover in mustard, katsup, bacon, and cheese, then bake.   It’s yum!

And here’s my probable workspace.   I have a real computer in the other room with a ream graphics card in it, but we’ll see what happens.

Tags: desk, deskphoto, food, foodphoto

Going into the 48, I was planning to have a dedicated pizza on hand in case I should get hungry (and I would). My friends work at Papa Johns so I get one on discount, props be to them. However, I am probably the nicest person alive and put myself at the misfortune of leaving the pizza DOWNSTAIRS where my family lives and I don’t.

What follows might be traumatizing to many, and is even banned in a few countries. Please avert your eyes if you have sensitive stomachs.

I’m afraid this will be a long, long night.

Tags: foodphoto

This is my first Ludum Dare, and hopefully my first succesful one as well. Almost certainly using pygame. My skills aren’t that excellent, but I think I can write a game with enough motivation.

I’m kinda hoping Castles will win. If it doesn’t, I have no idea what I’m going to make. 😀

I’ve got my chronolapse set up, the livestream is going, and eclipse is set up to a brand new empty workspace. Now all I have to do is wait.

Good luck, everybody! And have fun!

I will be entering using C++, Ogre, CEGUI and OgreOggSound if I get around to using sound. I have a framework (well more like a collection of helper classes) based on the needs of my previous LD entries located here (Just the headers and libs). It requires Ogre, CEGUI and OgreOggSound and is a bit rough and messy right now.