Beginning game programming course

[JDFan]

JD has got it, you need to throw some Pi in there. Since the character isn't something that you can type (easily), it is put in as a math function. I am assuming there is a whole library of math functions. Math.PI or Math.Sin and Math.Cos listed in the coursework.

[Generic Eric]

{
 In this thread:  How to Suck
 {
  Order ebook
  {
   Finally start reading ebook on 2 year old kindle
   {
    Read over the important stuff
    {
     Realize Kindle is too small for this ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---
     }
    Finally decide to use kindle webapp on PC
   }
  Find out you can link it from inside the assignment on coursea page
 }
 {
  Use entirely different computer set up than accustom to.
  {
   Like seriously, lets spend another 2 hours to set up the environment. 
   {
    I have a laptop, why not use that instead of the LCDs in the basement. :smh
    {
     ---fudgesicle---, another small screen
     {
      Realize I wasn't done setting up the environment on the PC in the basement.
       {
        Resort to humor to disguise frustration
       }
      }
     }
    }
   }
  }
 }
}

[Vigo]

{
// I hear ya on that frustration.
Console.WriteLine("Set up programming environment");
int Hour_Wasted = 3;
}


One nice thing I ended up doing was setting up the environment on both my work laptop and my home PC. I save my project work in a cloud drive. (I use the cloud drive through my Adobe subscription at work). So, I pretty much just save my project there, and I can work on programming stuff wherever I am.

[arquillos]

I really think that the doc installation part should be avoid at all costs ...Why not having online doc? I really donīt understand.


BTW Iīm in

[Vigo]

Roster updated:

eds1275
JDFan
Generic Eric
yotsuya
Vigo
RoyalScam
thatpurplestuff
shponglefan
melvinbates
Admiral688
wp34
lordnacho
05SRT4
EssexMame
empardopo
arquillos
BorgDog


And for the record, if anyone wants to do any PM think-tanks for game ideas, I'm all for it. We can also consider opening other threads as well.

[eds1275]

I had a random idea for a silly game, where everyone could work on their own levels and then it could sort of come together at the end. It was like a beat 'em up with crummy graphics like mega man 1, and then every level gets a little better until the graphics are good at the end. Maybe throw in a bonus round shmup or something. I was thinking of using the mecanim avatar system in Unity for the character to keep the movement the same.

[Vigo]

I had a random idea for a silly game, where everyone could work on their own levels and then it could sort of come together at the end. It was like a beat 'em up with crummy graphics like mega man 1, and then every level gets a little better until the graphics are good at the end. Maybe throw in a bonus round shmup or something. I was thinking of using the mecanim avatar system in Unity for the character to keep the movement the same.

Thank would be cool to see. 

[Vigo]

Here is a dose of inspiration for y'all - a 10 player "joust" like arcade game.  It looks like there are different job classes, but the mechanics and graphics are all pretty simple.

[Generic Eric]

Looks cool.

I'd put a quarter in that.

Do you think they angled the joysticks?

[BorgDog]

Dang I'm behind already!  I best get going on the class, doing too much work at work.  add me to the list Vigo

[Vigo]

Done! 17 of us now. 

[shponglefan]

Recent Extra Credits video on making a basic game.  I thought they made a good point about starting with the core mechanics and then building out from there:

[shponglefan]

And for the record, if anyone wants to do any PM think-tanks for game ideas, I'm all for it. We can also consider opening other threads as well.

I'm up for having a separate thread.  In fact, I'll go ahead and create one

Here is the thread: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,144143.0.html

[shponglefan]

I had a random idea for a silly game, where everyone could work on their own levels and then it could sort of come together at the end. It was like a beat 'em up with crummy graphics like mega man 1, and then every level gets a little better until the graphics are good at the end. Maybe throw in a bonus round shmup or something. I was thinking of using the mecanim avatar system in Unity for the character to keep the movement the same.

That sounds like a cool idea.  Would it progress stylistically from early 8-bit graphics through to 16-bit era and beyond?

[Generic Eric]

I had a random idea for a silly game, where everyone could work on their own levels and then it could sort of come together at the end. It was like a beat 'em up with crummy graphics like mega man 1, and then every level gets a little better until the graphics are good at the end. Maybe throw in a bonus round shmup or something. I was thinking of using the mecanim avatar system in Unity for the character to keep the movement the same.

That sounds like a cool idea.  Would it progress stylistically from early 8-bit graphics through to 16-bit era and beyond?

I had an idea similar to that. 
From lunar lander level to a moon patrol level, to an asteroids level to a galaga level.

[lordnacho]

Told my 5 year old about making a game and asked if he had any ideas.  He went bat ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, couldn't get him to stop thinking about it for the rest of the night. 
Few of his ideas that made some sort of sense.  Level one you could spray the wicked witch with a hose and try to melt her, level 2 would be racing a car against jack skellington(I think this later turned into the bad guy in Turbo), level 3 was running away from darth vader to escape pods.  Maybe I could make some mini games like these for him as practice.

[EssexMame]

f, as in for float? I haven't got there yet but likely will today or tomorrow.

Yup, to tell the compiler it's not a double (which is what it assumes when a literal has a decimal).  so float gravity = 9.8f;

Does this behave any differently to float gravity = (float)9.8;  ?
That seems to work also, and is more as taught in the class...

[JDFan]

f, as in for float? I haven't got there yet but likely will today or tomorrow.

Yup, to tell the compiler it's not a double (which is what it assumes when a literal has a decimal).  so float gravity = 9.8f;

Does this behave any differently to float gravity = (float)9.8;  ?
That seems to work also, and is more as taught in the class...

Either one is the same can also be 9.8F, they all tell the compiler to allow the use of the double as a float for that equation even though there may be some loss of precision, if not specifically told to be allowed the compiler will give an error about it in order to keep problems from cropping up.

[Generic Eric]

I finally got the Guns N Roses program to work.

[yotsuya]

I finally got the Guns N Roses program to work.

All you needed was a little patience. 

[Generic Eric]

Recent Extra Credits video on making a basic game.  I thought they made a good point about starting with the core mechanics and then building out from there:

subscribbled!

Good Share!

[Vigo]

Minimum viable product if gonna be a buzzword for me.

[eds1275]

I had a random idea for a silly game, where everyone could work on their own levels and then it could sort of come together at the end. It was like a beat 'em up with crummy graphics like mega man 1, and then every level gets a little better until the graphics are good at the end. Maybe throw in a bonus round shmup or something. I was thinking of using the mecanim avatar system in Unity for the character to keep the movement the same.

That sounds like a cool idea.  Would it progress stylistically from early 8-bit graphics through to 16-bit era and beyond?

I was thinking of having it as a BYOAC themed game and you would basically go through the progression of videogames. Maybe fighting a wall of text or something as a mini, very annoying boss that randomly capitalizes text and removes the name of the person it is quoting.

[yotsuya]

n=2^b

[Generic Eric]

Finally got the launcher program. I was looking for was to overcomplicate things. I'm confused why gravity worked the way it did, but I didn't use a double anywhere.  Shouldn't that have affected time?

[yotsuya]

Just finished all the lectures and did the little programs that were in the lectures. Now I need to put this game together. Are all the tips on how to do that in the book?

[Generic Eric]

Just finished all the lectures and did the little programs that were in the lectures. Now I need to put this game together. Are all the tips on how to do that in the book?

Most of what is required is in the assignment notes.
What's not, our man JD lays down.  If not for the arrow thread I wouldn't have known it was him.

[yotsuya]

 

Thanks for all the tips and suggestion in the thread, guys. I appreciate it!

[wp34]

Good job guys.  I need to get my assignment finished tomorrow.  I feel like a slacker.

In honor of the lecture this week on data types I thought I would post this picture I took of my odometer a few weeks ago.  My youngest is the one who noticed it.  He was confused when I told him the car only had 41 miles on it.  Great teachable moment.   

[JDFan]

Looks like you missed on l in the greeting (ie. it wil calculate ! ) other than that looks good 

[yotsuya]

Looks like you missed on l in the greeting (ie. it wil calculate ! ) other than that looks good 

Thanks, bro! And thanks for the tip on the gravity. 

[05SRT4]

FML

Kind of just laughed once I finally got everything. Was hoping it was going to be one of those things that I just watch and listen to and then I get it. NOPE.
Not going to lie I had to look through the boards for some help. Wish i would of just done that the first day I started this. I got some tips from here also so thanks guys 

[lordnacho]

Week 2.  Do we need to do another roll call?
I've been tinkering ahead and enjoying moving sprites around with my Xbox controller.  Can definitely see this turning into a hobby.  Thanks everyone for starting this up. 

[JDFan]

Week 2 lectures and assessment are LIVE for those that want to get a couple days head start !

[lordnacho]

Is there an assignment this week?  Not seeing it

[Vigo]

It's showing up for me.

[shponglefan]

Is there an assignment this week?  Not seeing it

I can see it, too.

[yotsuya]

Week 2.  Do we need to do another roll call?
I've been tinkering ahead and enjoying moving sprites around with my Xbox controller.  Can definitely see this turning into a hobby.  Thanks everyone for starting this up.

Did you guys need to sign up for an App Hub membership to use XNA Game Studio Connect on your 360. It's telling me it's $99 to sign up.

[lordnacho]

Is there an assignment this week?  Not seeing it

I can see it, too.

Ah, sorry yeah I see it too.  I'll blame that on bad UI and not me not looking in the right place.

Cool assignment though

[lordnacho]

Week 2.  Do we need to do another roll call?
I've been tinkering ahead and enjoying moving sprites around with my Xbox controller.  Can definitely see this turning into a hobby.  Thanks everyone for starting this up.

Did you guys need to sign up for an App Hub membership to use XNA Game Studio Connect on your 360. It's telling me it's $99 to sign up.

I didn't do that, I have a couple wired xbox controller hooked to my pc