: Blog

RPG Maker VX

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:59:01 -0500

Just heard about and got the new RPG Maker (VX).

It seems OK at first glance, but there are some new elements that will make things sufficiently different to cause delays in any developments.

One thing that was improved is that Enterbrain has allowed for me to install the application on a computer without internet access by giving a URL to copy and paste into a computer that does, get the registration result and copy it back to the other computer.

The main drawback with this is, the specs for the new RPG Maker require a faster CPU than my laptop has, so I won't be able to use it. (Maybe in future a new laptop would be the answer.)

However, what is important is this:

I HAVE A PURE COPY OF THE GAME NOW.

This is important because the scripts are working correctly and the graphics are default and I can start my project over! Now if there are any problems with the scripting, it'll be because of my own stupid mistakes!

Once again I will be starting the old RPGs I've worked on before, from scratch. However, should things become more intuitive, the results will be pretty good.

And of course there are still plans on doing all the endless other projects and World of Warcraft-playing, so don't worry about that.

It Took Me A Week...

Mon, 19 May 2008 23:10:10 -0500

...but I finally finished my prime number factorization program.

First, a little background. I bought a used 80486 computer in 1998, when Pentium 3s were new. My previous experience had been with TRS-80 Basic and Applesoft BASIC, but I had some knowledge of IBM PASCAL and QBASIC off of school and (later) work computers.

But 1998 was six years since I had access to a work computer, and I didn't know about Visual BASIC or anything like that. However, I was shrewd enough to have made a copy of QBASIC just in case I ever got a 486. And now I did.

Unfortunately, the new printer I bought for the old computer didn't work with it. Apparently Windows 3.1 had corrupted drivers. I ended up usually running QBASIC from a modified AUTOEXEC.BAT (starting program on boot) or from a disk (booting to disk was possible in those days).

So it wasn't until YEARS later that I made a program to print out prime numbers in a very small font (Lucinda Console size 4) and in columns.

And because of the difficulty of the learning curve for Visual Basic .NET, I was forced to backtrack and use QBASIC.
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Now for the current project.

Listing all the prime numbers in columns is easier than it looks, but listing all positive integers followed by a list of their prime factors is much, much harder, because the columns have to line up and the string array cannot exceed 32k, so the whole page has to be calculated twice-- once for the top half and once for the bottom half.

But it's done. Finally.

I also had to deal with making sure it stopped after 20 pages, keeping it confined to 209 columns and 166 rows, allowing a print to screen feature, listing exponents on a seperate line instead of just going 3x3x3x3x3, using a middot instead of "x" for multiplication, and many more things.
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I notice this sort of thing just isn't marketable. If I look around on the internet, someone's already got free programs to test primality or show factors of numbers. Some of these are Java or Flash or even web-based PHP. Nobody these days uses QBASIC or wants to put up with its limitations (low memory, no standalone windows or compilation, causes other programs to slow down).

But ironically, it is still the most functional thing for me to use. Once I worked out the bugs, I ran it and it saved a 20-page document that I could print out later with Notepad.

If I wanted to print it out any other way, I'd have to take a long, long time learning the programming language, then almost as long figuring out how it opens and writes to files, then have to figure out how to make it align columns.

Anyway, here is the original code:

'FACTOR2 (c) 2008 Zoom
'Puts all primes in columns to fit a 209x166 page
'using Lucinda Console font size 4.
'Set to collating 20 pages at a time
'Program does not print the pages by itself

DEFSTR A-E
DEFLNG F-Q
DEFINT R-Z
DIM d(83)'print data (half page)
DIM w(166)'width of each line (even if not printed)

SCREEN 0
WIDTH 80, 50
CLS
COLOR 7
PRINT FRE(-1)
PRINT "Print to file [y/n]"
DO
a = INKEY$
LOOP UNTIL UCASE$(a) = "Y" OR UCASE$(a) = "N"
z2 = (UCASE$(a) = "Y")'yes(-1)=print to file
INPUT "Enter the number to begin the next page :"; p
IF z2 THEN
x0 = 209'cols
y0 = 166'rows
z3 = 20'pages
b = CHR$(183)
OPEN "factors.txt" FOR OUTPUT AS 1
ELSE 'instead, do page limits for screen
x0 = 79
y0 = 50
z3 = 1
b = "�"
END IF
z4 = 0'page#
p2 = p
r = 0'0=top of page, 83= middle of page

nxpg:
p = p2
z4 = z4 + 1
IF z4 > z3 THEN GOTO zz
r = -83

nxhf:
r = r + 83
IF r > 83 THEN GOTO nxpg
IF r = 83 THEN p2 = p
z5 = 0'next row to put data in
FOR t = 0 TO 165
w(t) = 0
IF t < 84 THEN d(t) = ""
NEXT t
IF p = 1 THEN
FOR t = 0 TO 2
w(t) = 8
NEXT t
z5 = 3
p2 = 4
IF r = 0 THEN
d(0) = "1=unit  "
d(1) = "2=prime "
d(2) = "3=prime "
END IF
END IF

calc:
e0 = ""'e0,e1=2-line data for number
e1 = ""
v = 0'flag- (-1)yes use 2 lines (0)no use 1 line
v0 = 0'flag - yes= factor already shown, put "�"
before next factor
z0 = LEN(STR$(p2)) - 1
e1 = LTRIM$(RTRIM$(STR$(p2))) + "="
e0 = SPACE$(LEN(e1))
p0 = p2
s = 0

c0:
IF p0 MOD 2 = 0 THEN p0 = p0 / 2: s = s + 1: GOTO c0
IF s > 0 THEN
e0 = e0 + " "
e1 = e1 + "2"
IF s > 1 THEN
e2 = LTRIM$(RTRIM$(STR$(s)))
e0 = e0 + e2
e1 = e1 + SPACE$(LEN(e2))
v = -1
END IF
v0 = -1
END IF
FOR q = 3 TO INT(SQR(p0) + 1) STEP 2
s = 0

c1:
IF p0 MOD q = 0 THEN p0 = p0 / q: s = s + 1: GOTO c1
IF s > 0 THEN
IF v0 THEN
e0 = e0 + " "
e1 = e1 + b
END IF
e2 = LTRIM$(RTRIM$(STR$(q)))
e0 = e0 + SPACE$(LEN(e2))
e1 = e1 + e2
IF s > 1 THEN
e2 = LTRIM$(RTRIM$(STR$(s)))
e0 = e0 + e2
e1 = e1 + SPACE$(LEN(e2))
v = -1
END IF
v0 = -1
END IF
NEXT q
IF v0 = 0 THEN
e0 = e0 + "     "
e1 = e1 + "prime"
ELSE
IF p0 > 1 THEN
e2 = LTRIM$(RTRIM$(STR$(p0)))
e0 = e0 + SPACE$(LEN(e2) + 1)
e1 = e1 + b + e2
END IF
END IF
IF z5 - v > y0 - 1 THEN z5 = 0: GOSUB align
IF w(z5) + LEN(e0) > x0 OR (v AND w(z5 + 1) +
LEN(e1) > x0) THEN GOTO pri
IF v = 0 THEN e0 = e1

c2:
w(z5) = w(z5) + LEN(e0)
IF z2 THEN
IF (r = 0 AND z5 < 83) OR (r = 83 AND z5 > 82) THEN
z8 = z5 - r
d(z8) = d(z8) + e0
END IF
ELSE
d(z5) = d(z5) + e0
END IF
z5 = z5 + 1
IF v THEN e0 = e1: v = 0: GOTO c2
IF z5 > y0 - 1 THEN z5 = 0: GOSUB align

c9:
p2 = p2 + 1
GOTO calc

zz:
IF z2 THEN
CLOSE
END
END IF
z4 = 0
GOTO nxhf

align: 'column finished, align what we have so far
u = 0
FOR t = 0 TO 165
IF w(t) > u THEN u = w(t)
NEXT t
u = u + 1
FOR t = 0 TO 165
IF w(t) < u THEN w(t) = u
NEXT t
FOR t = 0 TO 82
IF LEN(d(t)) < u THEN d(t) = d(t) + SPACE$(u -
LEN(d(t)))
NEXT t
RETURN

pri: 'get ready to print
IF z2 THEN GOTO p0
CLS
FOR t = 0 TO 49
LOCATE t + 1, 1
PRINT d(t);
NEXT t
WHILE INKEY$ = ""
WEND
GOTO nxpg

p0:
FOR t = 0 TO 82
PRINT #1, d(t)
NEXT t
GOTO nxhf

'Do not exceed 2.1 billion

I'm All Right

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:31:46 -0500

Nobody worry about me.

(Nothing to say today, but thought I'd just reassure the no people who read this.)

Latest Throwupdate

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:13:20 -0500

Been sick since Thursday. Almost got fired at job today. Avoided throwing up anything substantial, so I guess I'm still alive.

Got two copies of the same video game, which I was sure I had only ordered one of. Nope, I'd ordered two, so I had to sell it, which means I got 2/3 of my money back given lowering the price to get it to sell and the commission to Amazon.

I got WoW: The Burning Crusade and have been trying to enjoy it, but you know how sickness interferes with that. Anyway, things are much better now with that.

5 WoW addons are listed as "out of date" but I can't find new versions of two of them, and another two of them were custom jobs (meaning I had changed them, and if I update them I have to change them again-- VERY annoying).

Oh, and I actually spent time yesterday rendering some fractal stuff, even though my deviantART account isn't likely to have anything new added.

That's about it for today.

Busy These Days

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:13:55 -0600

I'm very busy these days, what with watching Torchwood and (later this month) Doctor Who, and being a WoW guild leader, and sorting my music collection to put on an iPod.

Yes, I bought an iPod. been meaning to do that for the last couple of years, once it became obvious that digital music was so much more handy than carrying around a bunch of my CDs (and my comp having tons of my favorite music helped).

But getting the entire music collection sorted and readied for inclusion on the little device has been a major headache, that has been itching for a promotion to Colonel Headache.

Add to this my book I'm compiling in my other spare time (as if a publisher would take it!) and the installation of the Burning Crusade, and you have one really big mess of an excuse for not working on Zap War.

Ah, but these things must be done in their own right, not because of excuse-mongering. There is always the need to prioritize.

What set me off on making Zap War a low priority was the fact that WoW has great 3D visuals that it would be so much tougher to match or even approach, if I were more serious about my project. Whereas I can do the iPod file conversion stuff and write my book in ways they cannot.

Does it mean the timetables for seeing Zap War have to be revised again? Probably. Am I sorry? Not really. I have always said the timetables were estimates and not promises. Besides, I'm sparing you from having to see Zap War, so most likely you should be grateful. :)

I just received the greatest ever video game soundtrack on CD: Tempest 2000! It was brand new and only cost me $2.00. What is the world coming to? That thing's been out of print for 12 years and there are still unopened copies available?!?

Even If!

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:56:00 -0600

Doesn't it seem sometimes, that even if you don't have to do things in a hurry because you have plenty of time, that events conspire to make things need to be done, to fill the cracks in the schedule and make you have to do things faster?

Such is how things are today.

Today I have had plenty of time to do things, and after completing most of them, I discover suddenly something came up and required my attention for a half-hour.

The point is, this night will be no different. And though I have tomorrow off work, which would be an ideal time to work more on Zap War, I just know someone will be asking me to help them with some WoW quest.

I would have to do it-- I'm the leader of the guild and must be an example to the others as to how to behave properly.

People will just say, "It's only a game" of course. But it is a game in which I wish to remain the leader of a guild, and for that guild to become more powerful and numerous. And I do not want for it to fail because of my own doing.

Let this time management trouble come. I am not afraid. I will be ready and waiting to confront it and still work on Zap War on Monday.

Leadership Destroys Creativity

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:40:33 -0600

Well, actually it doesn't usually, but in this case I can definitely say it does.

I decided to quit the WoW guild I'd belonged to, on the basis of certain members being really annoying, and certain things not going my way.

Why, I reasoned, should I put up with these bozos when my dwarf already HAS his own guild and its own bank and everything?

So I moved my elf there. Just today I got a friend to transfer ownership to my elf as well.

So, how does leadership destroy creativity? Let me explain.

For three days I recruited new members-- because there's no point in having a guild with one friend in it and 6-7 inactive members from a month ago (when the guild was founded). Three long, dreary days of giving out tabards and welcome presents to ungrateful noobs who wanted to be promoted, and who quit the guild an hour later anyway.

And of course leadership means having to take care of every little problem that goes your guild's way, even to the extent of stopping questing or levelling to help someone out.

Now, I've been a guild leader in previous games-- Ragnarok Online, The Prophet's Song, and Kingdoms 3. I know how to handle most situations. I also know how much time-consuming it is, and even draining.

One aspect of creativity that has fallen by the wayside is the Zap War comic. I truly did not expect to become guild leader at this time, and it has eaten into my comic-making and put me behind schedule.

Monday will tell the tale. I'm headed to work early and will work on the comic plans and ideas in the breakroom before I start.

If more time can be found, the comic can continue and thrive. Meanwhile, though, I expect to lose another couple years of my life trying to make a guild achieve something.

Still, it's WoW and actually worth it, unlike all the other games I mentioned. And the comic only needs a couple small things to design for me to do page 2.

Cloverfield + Comic Update

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:30:00 -0600

Cloverfield was great! Saw it on Friday and quite enjoyed it. A lot of people are going to hate it because they don't like the use of handheld cams, or the monster wasn't given a proper name, but they can all go to hell. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
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Have 1 page and 2 datafiles finished for the comic. I need at least 1 more thing (probably page 2) before I upload these. Might be ready this week. Probably not, but I'll try.

Comic Update

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:51:04 -0600

1 page done already. But I want to do some of the datafiles, which act like FAQs about the comic. I have several other things to get in order before page 2 can be rendered.

I am also delaying the release of page 1. For some reason, it doesn't look 100% perfect to me, and I am considering whether I should re-render or try different angles. On the other hand, this may only be pre-release jitters.

The moment page 1 is up, I'll link to it on my Zap War page.
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This next week will have a slightly smaller amount of time to work on it, because of the return of Torchwood on Wednesday and Cloverfield coming out Friday.

Zap War

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:32:37 -0600

Working on Zap War now.