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DarkBASIC Professional Discussion / - DBPro Coding Challenges -

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IBOL
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Posted: 29th Aug 2010 18:29 Edited at: 29th Aug 2010 18:30
sorry , didn't realize it had been 2 weeks, and now it's even longer...

the winner is :

and the runner up is



neither program was perfect (but what program is?)
but both were very well conceived and written.

pharoseer's 'ant' study was great in that it used random movement
and pheromone trails. but some ants got really confused on the way.

adamika2000's 'bee world' was really cool to look at, and the lone bee did his job. but when more bees were supposed to be spawned,
the bees seemed to stop working. (lazy bees having a party in the hive!)

so winner, set us a nice long challenge, and we'll pull thru the summer with a live challenge thread.

Pharoseer
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Posted: 31st Aug 2010 07:41
Wow, thanks Ibol. Okay, an idea I've been working on lately is to develop a library of code capable of creating something like .kkrieger (http://www.theprodukkt.com/kkrieger). Since these challenges are no-media except what we can accomplish with code, what about a challenge on creating the most flexible procedural content generation (PCG) methods we can?

That's just my first thought. Let me know what you guys think. If it's too vague I could narrow it down a bit. Also, seeing as how everyone is busy would 4 weeks be a better time frame than the traditional 1-2?
Rich Dersheimer
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Posted: 31st Aug 2010 15:05
Narrowing it down a bit sounds good, like "best procedural wood" or "best procedural bricks", etc.

IBOL
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Posted: 31st Aug 2010 16:40
maybe 'best procedural material' ?
so it could be wood, brick, rusted metal, carpet, etc.

or 'best procedural item' ,
like trees, houses, flowers, barrels, rocks, etc.

something narrow yet wide? (am i indecisive much? )

Phaelax
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Posted: 31st Aug 2010 22:23
That sounds very familiar, I think we've had a similar challenge before with procedural textures. But as I do the DBC challenges I could be mixing them up.

As I was inputting the old challenges (yea Im still working on it) I saw Ric had made a school of fish demo back in 2007, wonder where he's been at.

Ok, so just a quick update, I'm caught up to January 2008 with the challenges. I've also made contact with Nic, he's going to see if he has a backup of the old dbp-site.

I'm also working on adding a resource section to the site as well (mostly just a page of links).

http://dbcodecorner.com


"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" ~ Arthur C. Clarke
Pharoseer
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Posted: 2nd Sep 2010 07:03
Hey guys, I agree I was a bit vague. I like the best procedural item idea. Specifically, I don't believe I've ever seen a procedural house done.

How's that for the challenge? Make a procedurally generated house. Deadline would be roughly four weeks out so we're looking at the second of October as the deadline?

Sound good? Also, if I can find any material on procedural building or floor plan generation then I'll edit this post with links. I'm sure I've seen something before.
Neuro Fuzzy
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Posted: 4th Sep 2010 08:38
I think a procedural house with a two week deadline will be the best. If none of the usual people do something within 2 weeks then it's likely no one will.

Eminent
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Posted: 4th Sep 2010 19:25
Id like to join but I have no idea what a procedural house is.


jason p sage
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Posted: 4th Sep 2010 19:33
well you can't use media for the challenges - so in line with that.. the challenge is to write a program the "CREATES" a house in code (equals = procedurally)

so you write code to create the object(s) .. perhaps randomly... based parameters.. like .. how many rooms... how many doors per room.. perhaps you write code that makes sure "bedrooms" get one door and a closet.. and that there is always a master hallway per floor... or not.. your choice ... but that is the general idea.

Procedural textures are when you write code that can make a texture randomly the same way... like making a "Wood Texture Generator" that somehow in code mathematically can make a texture that reasonably looks like wood.

Have fun man!

chafari
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Posted: 4th Sep 2010 20:41
We could try with something like an editor for our level(rooms,different floors an so on...) and a small material editor for our textures (wood,clouds,sand,marble etc.)

We can do procedural textures, but in my opinion we must have the control of making our level as we want unless it is a ramdom dungeon model.


Cheers.

I'm not a grumpy grandpa
IBOL
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Posted: 5th Sep 2010 04:35
i think, chafari, you can approach the challenge however you see fit
(and so can every one else. as simple or complex as you want to make it.)

Pharoseer
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Posted: 5th Sep 2010 06:23 Edited at: 5th Sep 2010 06:46
Yes, I agree with IBOL. Approach the challenge as you see fit. And, if two weeks is the deadline people want, we'll stick with that. That would place the deadline as the 15th I think.

Also, sorry it's taking me so long to respond. I'm currently working 15 to 16 hour days and having trouble finding the time to log in and check the forums. I have a little bit of time now, so I'm going to search for the house generator algorithms that I discovered ages back. I think they were incomplete and very high level, but may help somebody.

Cheers,
Frank

Edit: These aren't the documents I remember, but they may be helpful.

Here's a link to a PDF using an interesting method for creating floor plans:

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcgt/aip.624817.pdf

And a link to a PDF that can scan existing floor plan images and construct a model (not as helpful probably).

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.113.7821&rep=rep1&type=pdf
IBOL
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Posted: 14th Sep 2010 03:40
i can't believe how fast time is passing...
it's already the 13th , and i'm just now looking over the PDF you linked (they need a proof reader! ) (but i am a huge fan of procedural generation)

i know that a LOT of people are spending their time on the Netbook Compo, so maybe you should go with your original instincts,
and give this 3-4 weeks instead of 2.

David Gervais
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Posted: 29th Oct 2010 12:59
I think this thread has been sitting idle for too long.

I have an idea for a challenge, and it might appeal to the 'retro' players out there.. make a 'Text Adventure'. If you are not sure what a 'text adventure' is, here is a handy wiki link..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zork

What do you think? too hard? too easy? Good idea? If anyone has a different challenge to suggest please feel free to do so.

Cheers!

Rich Dersheimer
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Posted: 29th Oct 2010 15:59
A few folks have been talking about text adventures/rpgs around here, so this sounds interesting to me.

But... it does sound a bit generic. Maybe add some kind of restriction or condition to make it more of a coding challenge?

baxslash
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Posted: 29th Oct 2010 17:30
I haven't played one of those for ages!!

Posible ideas to make it more of a challenge:
Must include;
1-dialogue with an NPC?
2-an interesting puzzle?
3-a crossroads (they all have "You are standing at a crossroads" don't they?)

I'd be up for this challenge as long as I'm not the only one!

Phaelax
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Posted: 29th Oct 2010 22:00
sounds fun


"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" ~ Arthur C. Clarke
Rich Dersheimer
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Posted: 30th Oct 2010 15:33
How about this... a haunted house text adventure, in keeping with this weekend's holiday. Bonus points for including baxslash's ideas. Deadline Monday night at midnight, forum time?

BMacZero
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Posted: 30th Oct 2010 19:04
Bit short, isn't it?


Latest progress: Fog of War implemented; frustrated by pathfinding >.>
Rich Dersheimer
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Posted: 30th Oct 2010 19:06
Quote: "Bit short, isn't it?"


Well, probably so. I guess most folks don't surf this forum as often as I do when I'm at work and bored.

But it would be a challenge, eh?

So what do ya think, a week, maybe?

BMacZero
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Posted: 30th Oct 2010 19:18
I like the challenge in general . A week might be enough.


Latest progress: Fog of War implemented; frustrated by pathfinding >.>
IBOL
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Posted: 1st Nov 2010 20:36
i'd like to write a little sci-fi adventure,
if the deadline is not tonight...maybe a week from now?

Rich Dersheimer
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Posted: 1st Nov 2010 21:07
@IBOL - yah, that works for me too - say, midnight forum time next Monday?

I'm going to do a haunted house murder mystery type text adventure.

Phaelax
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Posted: 1st Nov 2010 21:40
David mentioned Zork the other day, and today I saw this on Slashdot.


"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" ~ Arthur C. Clarke
David Gervais
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Posted: 1st Nov 2010 22:42
ok, Deadline November 9th 2010. (for a full week)

Challenge: Write a text adventure like to good old days of 'Zork' you can just use IF/Then logic with text input and stuff like that, but if you can write a real text parser for expanding the idea go for it. If the name S.A.G.A rings any bells, scenes drawn with lines and fills might be a nice touch.

Have fun, Cheers!

IBOL
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Posted: 4th Nov 2010 20:39 Edited at: 6th Nov 2010 22:05
. . .g o o d . . .

[edit]

is there anyone here who can't use a display mode of 1024x768 ?
that's pretty humble for 'modern' computers i hope...

making real progress... hope there will be lots of entries.
(small & finished is better than big & unfinished)

[/edit]

Rich Dersheimer
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Posted: 8th Nov 2010 04:51
I've taken mine off in a weird direction, but I'll get 'er done!

Phaelax
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Posted: 8th Nov 2010 08:58 Edited at: 8th Nov 2010 10:44
I think the parser is the easiest part, coming up with a story and possible actions is the tricky bit! But I'll have something ready tonight.

I take that back, figuring out how to structure the story in code is the tricky part.

Better make that tomorrow night, I underestimated the challenge.

Your signature has been erased by a mod please reduce it to 600 x 120.
IBOL
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Posted: 8th Nov 2010 16:02 Edited at: 8th Nov 2010 16:04
well, it does take a lot of work, but i'm mostly done with mine.
(if you guys want to extend this one 3 days to a week, that's great with me)

i'm still planning to make a save function when you win, so that
the next installment can pick up where you left off.

type 'c', 'com', 'h', or 'help' to get a list of commands in-game.
most commands are a single word, though some verb/noun combos are necessary.
don't bother with 'the' or full sentences... they won't work.
but there are some funny things to EXAmine if you look around.



baxslash
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Posted: 8th Nov 2010 16:16
Nice work IBOL, I'll spend a bit more time on this tonight!

IBOL
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Posted: 8th Nov 2010 21:19
thanks . it's pretty straightforward in design. 23 locations.
it is actually possible to win in 36 moves, so don't worry too much over any one detail...

i just wanted to demonstrate all the different features of the program.

you've done some nice work yourself lately baxslash.

baxslash
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Posted: 9th Nov 2010 09:47
Quote: "you've done some nice work yourself lately baxslash."


Thanks!

David Gervais
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Posted: 9th Nov 2010 12:08 Edited at: 9th Nov 2010 12:14
*** DEADLINE EXTENDED ***

Because it looks like there are a few more entries 'Almost' done, and I do not like people winning 'by default' I have extended the deadline to..

*** Friday November 12th 2010 ***

I look forward to trying out these text adventures.

Cheers!

P.S. if anyone needs the weekend, I could also extend the deadline to next Monday, just let me know.

Jimmy
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Posted: 10th Nov 2010 00:19
I need the weekend. This way, I can say that I couldn't complete NanoWrimo because I had to do a text adventure. Of course, if my text adventure is more than 50,000 words that should count, too!

NaGaFailMo.
IBOL
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Posted: 13th Nov 2010 05:23 Edited at: 14th Nov 2010 02:18
[edit]

has anyone played mine the whole way through?
i'd really like to know what you think,
and in fairly honest but constructive terms,
because i do plan to continue the story (in 3 further installments)

too easy/hard, too many/few commands, not enough depth,
not enough detail, whatever you can think of...
thanks.

here's a slightly better version of it:


[/edit]

Rich Dersheimer
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Posted: 15th Nov 2010 13:00
Feh. I didn't get mine done after all, too much else going on right now.

David Gervais
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Posted: 16th Nov 2010 11:31 Edited at: 17th Nov 2010 16:15
looks like IBOL wins by default, I hate when contests are won by default but oh well.. Gratz IBOL, nice entry.

Care for some ideas/suggestions?

make the display look like an old green or amber monitor.

a blinking cursor might be a nice addition

perhaps the basic commands listed across the bottom of the screen? or top?

Anyways, I only played a bit, but it's a very interesting game, has that old school adventure feel. Keep it up.

Cheers!

IBOL
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Posted: 16th Nov 2010 15:17 Edited at: 17th Nov 2010 18:43
yay, i win. SUCKS that its by default
i wanted to see what other people came up with...there's so many ways to do a text adventure.

BillR
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Posted: 16th Nov 2010 16:25
@IBOL - I was impressed by the amount of detail/story in your game, nicely done! - congrats!
(you must be Quik?, bet you didn't know that!)
IBOL
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Posted: 17th Nov 2010 06:37
thanks billr, i'm glad you played it!
i have 95% of the second installment done, that picks up right where you left off.
i'll put it in the 'program announcements' section in a week or so.

i guess i'll be posting the next challenge soon... i've got an idea...

David Gervais
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Posted: 17th Nov 2010 16:15
lol, I just finished the new 3D compo things and had 'Quik' on my brain.. I meant you IBOL LoL that was too funny. I'll go back and edit..

Cheers!

Darth Vader
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Posted: 18th Nov 2010 13:35
Want to attempt the next challenge hope it's not too difficult! It's been a while since I've used DBpro want to brush up a little!


IBOL
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Posted: 18th Nov 2010 15:12 Edited at: 18th Nov 2010 15:32

*********************
New Challenge
*********************


Using a small version of my text adventure above


create a mapping function

- Deadline 11:59pm EST, 11/28/10
*********************


the program has been adjusted so that you can move freely, everything unnecessary has been removed,
and the keyword "MAP" has been added, along with a blank function at the bottom.

fill that function.

use lines, boxes, circles, text, generated images whatever (even 3D , although that will render the 'print' commands useless )

generate the map at startup, or as the player goes.

the room array has a data item rm().KNOWN, which is 1 if the player has been to that room, or 0 if they have not.
it would be better NOT to show rooms the player hasn't been to yet.

.n1, .e2, .s3, .w4 show which room that room connects to in that particular direction (N,S,E,W)

create whatever additional function, routines, etc. that you need.

Dr Tank
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Posted: 18th Nov 2010 16:52
Quote: "(even 3D , although that will render the 'print' commands useless )"

Here's a trick:



I don't think it's possible for transparency to work with this trick. You can either use ghosting, or have your text display object behind other objects. For oldskool text adventures with the writing in a separate panel to the 3d that won't be a problem, but then for that you could use different camera views on screen anyway, and wouldn't need to use this trick.

Sorry I have no time to enter challenge. Too many other things on.
IBOL
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Posted: 19th Nov 2010 22:19
wow, Dr. Tank, you are skill!
i had no idea that could be done, camera -1.
but i ran your program, and it does work.

inserting the code into mine directly does not...
so it will take some poking around to find out how to make it work.

CIII_P_OH
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Posted: 24th Nov 2010 05:00
@Phaelax

kudos for the site, much better than the old dbp-site imo.

thanks for your efforts
IBOL
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Posted: 28th Nov 2010 22:54
well, unless someone enters the posted challenge in the next few hours,
we're going to need a new challenge.

regulars, lurkers, whoever, lets get some challenge suggestions...

IBOL
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Posted: 29th Nov 2010 20:02
no entries.


######New Challenge#########
come up with a new challenge
############################


Phaelax
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Posted: 1st Dec 2010 02:37
Challenge: Palindrome
A palindromic number reads the same both ways. The largest palindrome made from the product of two 2-digit numbers is 9009 = 91 99.

Find the largest palindrome made from the product of two 3-digit numbers.

"Only the educated are free" ~Epictetus
"Imagination is more important than knowledge..." ~Einstein
David Gervais
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Posted: 1st Dec 2010 02:40 Edited at: 1st Dec 2010 02:42
I challenge you all to make some kind of ball drop thing-a-ma-jig, something like plinko, or a mathematical '50/50 odds' tumbler pyramid. Use physics, or just plain manual plotting. a game or a demo, anything goes.

think you can do this?

Cheers!

Edit, another challenge was set first, put mine on hold if you want, or flip a coin and decide which you would rather play with.

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