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DarkBASIC Professional Discussion / - DBPro Coding Challenges -

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IBOL
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Posted: 5th Dec 2005 21:01
hey ric,
can i please use your button-generation function from the editor-compo
make_button() for my own programs?
i will credit you (for all the people who will see it...)
bob

Ric
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Posted: 6th Dec 2005 00:40
No problem Bob.

Don Malone
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Posted: 6th Dec 2005 23:42
@Tinkergirl

I see what appears to be some light speckles on the snowman but did not notice it so much on the ground, except behind the cabin. Is that the proper effect? Nice job on the snowman BTW.

I am using a Gefore 5500 FX from Chaintech. Had trouble the first time I tried to run it but much better results this time.

In Memory of My Dad.
I miss you very much.
Phaelax
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Posted: 7th Dec 2005 07:32
Quote: "I have a 256Mb 7800GTX and a 4400+ Athlon X2 with 1Gb DDR RAM, so I'd hope it could take whatever you throw at it!"


show off.

what, no ddr2 ram? pfft, you are soooo yesterday man.


Deadly Night Assassins
Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 7th Dec 2005 12:07
hehe - well the mobo is nForce, so wont run the RAM any faster than 400Mhz :-( I also had to donate my 500Mhz RAM to my sister when she bought a 1Gb stick of DDR and for some reason her motherboard (my old one) didn't like it but my new one does... So we swapped. I'm just that kind!

Is anyone else making anything for this?

Ric
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Posted: 7th Dec 2005 17:45
Just working on my snow particles:



I'll integrate it into the terrain later tonight - hope it doesn't kill the frame rate!

Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 7th Dec 2005 21:16 Edited at: 7th Dec 2005 22:17
That code gives me only 90fps. Thats going to kill it like that, try using Instance on the flakes...

Edit: Btw, I have been doing some work on the new version of my site. I was wondering if anyone wanted to volunteer to make a pack of all the entries (+name and winner) since the robotic arm challenge in June....
6 months of entry collation anyone?

I am hoping to make this a searchable database...
EDIT:
http://www.thingy-ma-jig.co.uk/new/index.php

The challenges up to the robotic arm are now searchable.. Much easier than I thought it would be actually!!

Alexb Orsova
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Posted: 7th Dec 2005 22:50
what's the current challenge? I didn't feel like sifting through all those entries.
Ric
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Posted: 7th Dec 2005 23:15 Edited at: 7th Dec 2005 23:18
@Nick: Your right - instancing the flakes increased the frame rate by 50%. And the effect still looks ok with fewer particles - 1000 was a bit excessive!

Good to hear you're planning on updating the website - it really is a great resource. The search bar works really well too. Is it really 6 months since the last collation? Well, unless anyone really wants to do it ( ) then I'll volunteer to do it again. Probably be in a couple of weeks once I finish work for the Christmas break, assuming nobody else does it before then.

@Alexb: The current challenge is to make a Christmas screensaver.

Peter H
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Posted: 7th Dec 2005 23:35 Edited at: 7th Dec 2005 23:37
If you tell me how you want them "collated" ( ) then i'll do it...

[edit] oh, and might i make a suggestion for your "DBChallenge Database"? it seems more logical to start them with the newest challenge and descend to the oldest challenge... so you don't have to go all the way to the bottom to see the latest stuff...

"We make the worst games in the universe..."
Ric
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Posted: 8th Dec 2005 00:28
Well volunteered that man! I'll let Nick tell you exactly how he wants it done, but basically you need copy all the code snippets from each challenge and email them to him along with stuff like name of entrant, name of challenge, and date.

One tip - do it in reverse .... if you go backwards chronologically, you come across the final version of each persons entry first - rather than copying their code snippet only to find they updated it on the next page.

Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 8th Dec 2005 00:31 Edited at: 8th Dec 2005 00:33
Peter - that is a very good point, and all it requires me to do is change ASC to DESC in the SQL query! (I like easy fixes )

Basically, for collation, all I need is the latest entry (ie the most complete) for each person in each challenge. The easiest way is to have a folder for each challenge and make 1 file per entry named after the person entering it. Its also usefull to know the winner

EDIT - Ric, thats a cunning way to do it!

Peter H
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Posted: 8th Dec 2005 01:03
okay, i'll get started on that.

and ric, great minds think alike! that's what i was already thinking!

"We make the worst games in the universe..."
Ric
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Posted: 8th Dec 2005 02:02 Edited at: 8th Dec 2005 02:26
Ok then - here's my Snowy Scene! It takes a while to generate the shadow map, so please have a little patience!

done:

-Rewritten terraform function since 'blue island' to form more natural looking mountains
-mountains cast shadows on each other
-added some houses, which cast shadows on the terrain
-added 500 lovely snowflakes
-added a sun

to do if I get time:

-work on lens flare effect
-might add some trees if it doesn't kill the fps



Screenie:



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Zotoaster
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Posted: 8th Dec 2005 11:35
I like it alot, but I think it's kind of lacking that Christmasy feeling, if you know what I mean. I would suggest some trees, and a nighttime sky, with stars That would make it look very nice.

Btw, perhaps you could make a lightmapping app. I like the lighting on that level.

Peter H
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Posted: 8th Dec 2005 14:35
haha, are those chimneys coming out of the snow hills?
poor people, all the snow landed on them!

anyway, i agree with Zotoaster, it looks good, but not really like christmas

and, of course, it would be awesome if you made a lightmapping app... (if you made a lightmapping tutorial i may just have to give you a penguin )

"We make the worst games in the universe..."
Alexb Orsova
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Posted: 8th Dec 2005 22:11
@ric

wow, that's one really cool scene. better than I've ever seen. nice job ric.
Steve Fash
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Posted: 8th Dec 2005 22:14
Like that one Ric...needs a flying santa and some snowmen though hehehe
@Tinkergirl, like the snowman, but my gfx card didn't show the shaders
Better upgrade after Xmas.....
Keep up the great work guyz

For game/demo music for YOUR PC productions visit:-www.futuredevelopments.org.uk
Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 9th Dec 2005 00:26 Edited at: 9th Dec 2005 00:29
I'm thinking something flame based... I've been playing about with a fire tutorial (I sound like an arsenist now!)


There are a few variables you can play with in the constants area, You'll probably only really want to look at the SECTOR ones and the UPDATE_RATE one. The UPDATE rate is the number of milliseconds between updating the flame. At 0 (ie unlimited), I get about 140 fps. At 20ms I get about 1300fps, so it certainly helps to not do it every frame.

I'm hoping to design a nice warm little living room area, maybe a twinkling tree?

If anyone feels up to it, they could incorperate this into their challenge entry. They'd get a pretty nice effect out it and, if set to something like 20ms like I have it now, very little dent on the FPS. I'm quite pleased with that!

EDIT: Oh yeah, move the mouse up and down to change the flame level...
Screeny added too...


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Ric
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Posted: 9th Dec 2005 02:29 Edited at: 9th Dec 2005 02:30
Added some trees. All different, all animated. And yes, they may look a little familiar!



The downside is that all this generating of shadowmaps, terrain, trees etc. means you'll have to wait a bit for the scene to appear.
Anyhoo - here's another screenshot:



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Ric
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Posted: 9th Dec 2005 02:37
@Nick: - nice work! @Newcommers: Concatenation alert!!

Cash Curtis II
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Posted: 9th Dec 2005 03:00
@Ric - very nice effect. I am impressed with the lightmapping you did.

@Tinkergirl - love the snowman. I saw the shader, but it looked like a bunch of Christmas carolers were shining flashlights on the snow.

@Nick - Nice fire. That will go perfectly with something...

Now, someone add Christmas lights!!

Chilled Programmer 420
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Posted: 9th Dec 2005 10:31
wow, ive been on this site couple weeks now, and i aint never come in here for some reason, whens the next challengs start?

LIVE LIFE LOUD LOVE MUSIC
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Chilled Programmer 420
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Posted: 9th Dec 2005 10:33
how about makin a space shhotem up withe enemies attackin from all directions in 2d...

LIVE LIFE LOUD LOVE MUSIC
rock, metal, punk, emo, ska, reggae, indie, goth, 70's rock, 80's rock, death metal, poppunk, grunge
***caffine, weed, programming and rock addict***
Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 9th Dec 2005 11:01
Well if you win this challenge, you get to set the next one. This one hasn't been running for that long, only a few days - so you still have plenty of time left to win this.

Take a few minutes to read back through the previous entries to get an idea how the whole thing works - I'd also advise glancing over the rules on the first page.

Things to note:
1) No external media allowed at all - People MUST be able to just copy and paste your code into DBP and hit F5. This is one of the reasons its so challenging It leaves the entire thing down to the coder.
2) You are allowed to reuse other people's code, however you must give credit and you must make a substancial change to be able to use it to win, so for exameple, You can use my flame code above, but you cant just change the colours to win - you'd have to include it in your own entry in some unique and different way to me (maybe burning down a christmas tree?)

Its always nice to welcome newcomers Good luck with your entry

Tinkergirl
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Posted: 9th Dec 2005 12:38
Concatenation alert indeed!

We've done so many disparate bits of 'the ultimate wintery scene' so far (Screeny of the fire looks good, Nicholas - looking forward to having time to run it.)

I suppose it'll be whoever gets the most bits together in the best way
Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 9th Dec 2005 13:27
actually - i'm at work right now, could someone compile, compress and attach an EXE to a post so I can play with it at work? I leave work between 5 and 5:30 and I wont be on the forum again until sunday night at the earliest due to a weeked away in Norwich

Peter H
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Posted: 9th Dec 2005 15:59
The fire one?

I attached it

"We make the worst games in the universe..."

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Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 9th Dec 2005 16:23
Cheers Peter
Woooo I get a stunning 30fps on my work machine!

TDK
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Posted: 12th Dec 2005 07:52
Just a reminder that the challenge ends at 9pm today!

My internet connection has been playing up this past weekend so if you don't hear from me by 10pm GMT, then something has died this end and someone not taking part will have to judge for me.

TDK_Man

Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 12th Dec 2005 08:06
dang that went quick! was it a 1 week or 2 week challenge?!

Tinkergirl
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Posted: 12th Dec 2005 10:51
Two week

Alas, unless I suddenly feel a lot better, my entry (sad as it is) will stand. No feelin' too weel.
Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 12th Dec 2005 10:52
awww.. I've done some of my best programming when I've had my sick days

Ric
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Posted: 12th Dec 2005 12:48
Was that two weeks already? Blimey that was quick! My entry stands - more wintery than christmassy, but there you go!

Neofish
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Posted: 12th Dec 2005 17:58
Ok I plan to start at 8:59pm

New site!
Tinkergirl
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Posted: 12th Dec 2005 22:12
Well, that's all I have(n't) got time for. Felt a wee bit better, so thought I better give it a go. Really dissapointed in the fire - should have looked at Nicholas's stuff

Oh well.



Quite liked the stars, but I could have come up with a better positioning formula - last minute stuff.
Zotoaster
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Posted: 12th Dec 2005 22:43
Well the challenge is now finished. Who wins? I'm actually gonna take part in the next challenge, for once, as long as it's something I can stick to.

TDK
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 00:16
Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 00:19 Edited at: 13th Dec 2005 00:22
WAIT!!! HOLD THE PRESS!!!!



Tinkergirl
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 00:20
*laughs* And I thought I was late
Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 00:22 Edited at: 13th Dec 2005 00:22
hehe - I had my work appraisal today and they commented on my innability to keep to deadlines

I attach a screeny



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TDK
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 00:41
You wer lucky - I'd made my decision and was just scanning back through the posts to see if I could find RiiDii's entry. Thought I'd missed it, but there doesn't seem to be one.

Anyway, will look at this one now!

TDK_Man

Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 00:45
he has gone a little quiet since the start of this challenge :-(

I'd like to have got some kind of shadowing working in this one - maybe for the future? dont know.. Quite please with the lighting though

Oh yeah! Scroll the mouse wheel to change the fire feroci... fearoi...... size..

Ric
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 00:56
Quote: "I'd like to have got some kind of shadowing working in this one - maybe for the future?"


As in a shadow map? I've been giving quite some thought since these last couple of challenges to maybe having a go at a polygon light mapper. I've got shadows appearing on a plane, and on a terrain, but on multiplanar polygons is going to be a whole new ball game.

Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 00:58 Edited at: 13th Dec 2005 00:59
This isn't my entry as entry is over (Thanks TDK for letting mine in )



I've played with the ambient lighting and changed the default flame size... Its really quite warming now

I just put it on my screen with all the lights out. The flickering light works well I think.



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Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 01:04 Edited at: 13th Dec 2005 01:04
ok - sorry to post AGAIN - but I think I've got it much better now the camera angle has changed...





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Ric
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 01:04
Nice work Nick - with a bit of fiddling I reckon you could get quite a nice waterfall or smoke effect using the same method.

TDK
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 01:16
Yes I figured out the 'ferocity control'.

Well, I've made a decision, and it wasn't easy at all because if I have to be honest, (and please don't take this the wrong way), you all failed the challenge!

But, that's no big deal as this challenge, I think was probably the hardest of any I have seen so far.

The challenge was to make a Christmas screensaver, so I looked at it from the point of view of compiling, renaming to .SCR, setting it as my Windows screensaver then waiting.

Entries which had to have the camera manually moved around, you couldn't really class as a screensaver. NT's entry did, so that passed the screensaver part.

Then, I looked at the 'Christmassy' aspect.

Tinkergirl's entry to me had the most Christmassy feel to it, but wasn't really a screensaver.

Ric's entry was technically the best (and impressive) entry and looked very nice... but to me it had a winter feel rather than a Christmas feel.

NT's too was lacking in the Christmas spirit, but was reprieved somewhat by the green cone... er sorry... Christmas tree???

Out of 100 points, I can assure you that the scores were no more than two points between first and last place. I would have preferred to call it a draw, but seeing as we need a winner to pick the next challenge...

So applying the initial challenge criteria and after far too much much waffling, here's my decision:

3rd place:

2nd place:

1st place:


And can the winner please refrain from setting a New Year Screensaver for the next challenge?

TDK_Man

TDK
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 01:23 Edited at: 13th Dec 2005 01:24
Actually, having posted the results, I feel I have to apologise to Ric because his program was (as most people will probably agree), the best entry.

But as no-one was a clear winner, having produced a screensaver with a good Christmas feel to it, the only way I could really judge it was by adhering strictly to what aspects the challenge asked for.

As a result, it's unfortunate that doing so placed the best entry in third place.

Right, what's the next challenge?...

TDK_Man

Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 13th Dec 2005 01:26 Edited at: 13th Dec 2005 01:27
WOOT WOOT!!

Now to think of what to set...

I'll sleep on it and let you know tomorrow morning when I get to work (about 9am GMT)

EDIT: I agree - Ric's was the most visually impressive, but the thing I wasn't so keen on was that it took about a minute to start up which isn't really appropriate for a screensaver. It did produce a really nice terrain and snow effect though!

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