In my research, I’ve spent a lot of time reading what the developers
of rogue-likes have to say. One of the more famous rogue-likes,
Angband, uses text files to define just about everything in the
game. This sounds a lot like the Pragmatic Programmer dictum: “put
abstractions in code, details in metadata.”
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On December 6th, 2008, this was geeky
For a comprehensive RPG like Free Sky, we’re going to need a good
object system. This system should be no more complicated than
necessary, allowing for easy design of game objects and quick
overhauls when the game design changes. This mini-series will be a
quick sketch of my thoughts toward this end.
Some principles, before I get started:
I spent a good year prototyping an object system that matched all
these requirements. Because I spent a good amount of that time
learning as I went, that system became large, unwieldly and brittle to
any further changes. I am now attempting to rewrite the system using
what I’ve learned.
In this mini-series, I’ll take each of the above principles and
explain how it applies to my new design. I’ll also highlight some of
the useful Python packages that I’ve discovered, and techniques that
I’ve learned, that will make this system possible.
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On December 5th, 2008, this was geeky
I haven’t posted since the election. I’m afraid that an imperfect storm of events have kept me away. For one, I burned myself out on the internet in the ramp-up to the election. For another, I decided that November would be National Change Your ISP Month (NaChYoIspMo). I’m now quite happy with WebFaction, and just about everything is working again. So, without further ado, I present to you:
Newstalk.
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On December 4th, 2008, this was trivial
Once again, John C. Wright finds the perfect blend of religion,
philosophy, history, and politics:
The Founding Fathers hated faction and the spirit of faction, and
this republic cannot stand if we cannot pack away the language and
passions of faction, once the election is over, in the same way we
pack up the bunting and the bandwagon banners.
He reflects on “the duties enjoined upon a free man under a republican
form of government in these times; and next on the duties of a
philosopher; and finally on the duties of a Christian.” Read the
whole thing.
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On November 7th, 2008, this was the truth
There were a few things I noticed lacking in my polling place
experience this morning:
What was present at my polling place:
civic spirit (including laughter and energetic enthusiasm from the
election volunteers)
a toddler playing in the corner with his toys while his dad voted
(he didn’t want to leave: “Daddy, it’s not fair!”)
“I voted” stickers (though you didn’t have to wear them)
rumors of free coffee at Starbucks if I presented my voting stub
(True!)
ominously, a Department of Homeland Security truck in the parking lot
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On November 4th, 2008, this was the truth
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