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[> Take blue sticky tack]

> Take blue sticky tack
It'll be the most useful item yet.

[character.Moving]

I forgot to mention. Another method to reduce calculations is to check the literal square radius the characters are between each other. Then if they're within the square it'll check the distance squared against your squared radius.

Code: ags

if (character[i].x > character[j].x - 300 && character[i].x < character[j].x + 300
    && character[i].y > character[j].y - 300 && character[i].y < character[j].y + 300
    && character[i].ROC_FUNC_Get_Distance_From2(character[j]) < 90000) {
  // etc
}

I check the X before I check the Y if the room is larger horizontally than vertically. Because once the engine hits a condition that is false it skips the rest of that conditional statement. The majority of the time your character won't even be within the square radius of your guards, so there is no point in constantly running the squared distance call.

Since you're using characters and I know there is a screen limit of something like 40 characters, you'll likely not notice these micromanagement changes. But you should notice it on something with a larger scale. Another method is to first check if either character is actually moving via character.Moving. Because they won't collide into each other if they're both standing still. Or if you're not actually using AGS's Walk command, you'd need to store the Moving boolean yourself. But this could lead into issues if not scripted properly. For instance if you change rooms, or if you manually change the X or Y values of the character. Etc.

Also I'm going to nitpick here for a second and say you should avoid magical numbers like you have. The 300 or 90000 (300 squared). You should use Define for these constant values so it's easier to maintain or change and helps readability of your code later. GUARD_RADIUS vs 300, or GUARD_RADIUS2 vs 90000 is much friendlier for you and others looking or editing your code.

Edit:

I untie a lot of hangups just by getting rid of while loops altogether since the main game is essentially one big while loop.

I'm confused by this. So you only increment once each game loop? Because if that's the case, if you had 40 items to iterate through, it could take a whole second to run through them all? Some games it likely wouldn't matter, but not all games.

You know that whole 'it's only a dry heat' business? [..] (try Florida sometime) I can safely say it's a load of crap.

I was just in Florida the end of March. I know, it's not exactly the hot season but it was definitely comfortable.

Yes, they both suck just as badly as the other. I just know it feels sticky and gross when it's humid (I'm going to be misquoted again - darn it).

At least when it's hot without humidity you can sit comfortably in the shade with a breeze or fan.

I can believe it. It's 27°C here right now and sweaty as all hell. But the humidity is at 48%. I definitely prefer the more dry and higher temperatures vs the humid yet lower temperatures. You're still hot, but it's not nearly as uncomfortable and feeling sticky.

[actually]

I don't necessarily mean to say that Google themselves are perfect, but it's one heck of a better alternative than Apple. And don't even get me started on the whole "Macs can run Windows too!" fiasco.

Off-topic question, is there word of Google attempting to get into the computer OS market? With the new approach with Win8 and their AOL identical UI; I can see them falling down in the future. (image)

I had the Windows Phone 7 and it was honestly quite terrible (I'll talk about the name in a moment). There were features that it had I preferred, but not enough to stick with it over Android. Some of these features being the quick Rate and Review feature. Just hold down on an installed app, select Rate and Review and it takes you directly to the marketplace to rate the game. It's much better than Android's approach on that. Plus the keyboard and predictive text was far superior than the Samsung and other keyboards I've downloaded. I still haven't found a keyboard I actually like. Then to Pin the app to the home screen was super simple or to uninstall it. But with my phone, if I hold down on an App on the home screen it only gives me the option to move it around, or delete it from the home screen. Then within the Apps section, holding down on it will instantly pin it to the home screen. It's a terrible UI, but that's Samsung for you. I've used Android phones by other developers and it's much less annoying for these features.

That's one thing I dislike about Android. How they let the phone developer shit out their own designs. Some being terribly inconvenient versus others. It's nice to have a variation, but it shouldn't be the Only option. Just because I have a Samsung phone, doesn't mean I want to use their UI. It should have the option to switch back and forth between the Google default or to Samsung's, without having to jailbreak your phone and installing your own ROM.

About the terribly long name: Windows Phone 7. It's a horrible marketing idea! To me, the name itself, targets business people or guys. "Oh, it's Windows? That sounds 'computery'". If I were a head guy working for Microsoft that would be one thing I'd definitely change. Give it a name like Silver, Icon, or something catchy with two syllables. Imagine if the Xbox was called Windows Game System. I doubt it would have gotten itself into the console battle with that name. The WP7's plain uncustomizable UI is another story. It's boring and limits you to have a phone the way they think it should be. Everyone's phone being exactly the same. Why they decided to go in a different direction than their computer OS, which is what Android or iOS are pretty much like, is mind boggling. When I had that phone I was bored of it after a couple weeks. You can't even have a bloody background graphic. You can only change the background color to either Black or White. Then the button colors can be changed to fluorescent and ugly bright colors of their choice.

Now finally on topic. That's why I prefer to download the more convenient way. Free and most importantly: hassle free. Well it's not entirely hassle free, sometimes you get a rip that is worse quality than everyone claims it is. A:9 V:9, when the encoding was poor and the audio sounds like you're sitting in a can. But it's usually pretty reliable for a free service.

Darth's analogy of the car only being able to drive on roads they choose is spot on.

I would suggest keeping a squared distance and checking against that. Thus removing the square root call because it's very taxing on the processor and not needed if you're only checking if something is within a radius.

Also to avoid yet another taxing calculation, do this instead on your Real distance function call:

Code: ags

function ROC_FUNC_Get_Distance_From(this Character*, Character*c) {
      int dx = c.x - this.x;
      int dy = c.y - this.y;
      return FloatToInt(Maths.Sqrt(IntToFloat(dx*dx + dy*dy)), eRoundNearest);
    }

The reason for this is that int calculations are faster than float calculations, so try to do all your int calculations first before converting to float. Even if it's just a few microseconds but they add up overall.

And for your squared distance:

Code: ags

function ROC_FUNC_Get_Distance_From2(this Character*, Character*c) {
      int dx = c.x - this.x;
      int dy = c.y - this.y;
      return dx*dx + dy*dy;
    }

Also, send me some of these girls that have never ever farted or done anything untoward around you.  That sounds pretty unique!

They're Canadians.

I'm serious though. I've only known one girl who would fart around guys. She was a yappy girl with attitude, skinny as a toothpick, very tiny and super gorgeous. Which is probably the main reason it didn't bother me as much. When I was younger and working at the grocery store with her, she would randomly walk up to me, fart then laugh about it. Then she'd quickly walk away as a customer came down the aisle. The person would without a doubt think it was me. It was pretty funny actually.

This actually made me laugh because I honestly had the impression earlier that many of your opinions about this were formed from movies...and it seems I was bang on!

I'm confused as all hell by this. So it's only Hollywood magic to be nice to others? My opinions aren't formed from movies. It's what I've learned to dislike. It's mostly what I've learned to dislike about my father (he's one of those people open to farting whenever the urge strikes). I actually adopted his behaviors when I was young and used to do the same around my girlfriends.

I just started to notice how I didn't like my dad doing it all the time. It's actually probably his recent girlfriend he's been dating for the past 10 or so years that made me realize how unappealing it is. When he'd let one rip at inappropriate times, she'd scold him in a serious but joking attitude (not disgusted, but basically trying to point out that he could've held it - she's not farting like a machine gun all the time, so why does he need to).

This is amusing on two levels:  one, because you are the one associating manliness with farting and not me, and two because you've somehow mixed up something natural with being primal or mannish only.

Fine, we'll replace "you" with "most men". Because it's exactly why they do it. It's the exact reason why I have done it. It can also be a joke and a competition when you're with other guys.

Shitting is just as natural as farting. But just because one is temporary, doesn't make it less gross than the other. It only makes it more forgettable because, like you said, you're not walking in it the next day. And don't tell me you're willing to stick your nose into your boxers after letting go a large fart. Your anus is not magical - it's not just gas that's getting released.

Unless you're trying to argue that a fart isn't gross, then I can't see why we're arguing that it's not appealing. Period.

Is a quick 'excuse me' enough to satisfy you or does the woman still lose appeal and approval in your eyes?

Why would I lose appeal because she has to fart? Excuse me is all I ask for and to be less gross about it - like aiming that cannon away from me. Or in bed, just lift the covers on the side that you're on to not trap that lovely brew in there.

My main argument about damaging sex appeal was mostly about witnessing something unappealing from the masses. Like my last edit above with the girls thinking all men are gross because of the piss on the floors or urinal. Hell, just from the amount of times I go into the stall to find a nice yellow surprise on the toilet seat (it's almost every single time). Some guys are pigs. It's a fact. Imagine a girl having to enjoy that as much as I do - especially when they pretty much need to sit down.

Just because I love a vagina doesn't mean I want to see photographic shots of the innards before making love or oral. Same with her taking a Mexican night shit and wanting to make love afterwards. Shower it up baby. lol

I don't have a cork up my ass and am walking on eggshells around women, so don't think of me as being like that. I just prefer a woman who respects herself as much as she does me, and I like to do the same.

Haha now you're making me sound like a prude. No. I don't run away "Oh god I gotta fart".

Unless a person is super clingy and spends every moment with their girlfriend, then they pretty much have to do it in front of her. All I'm saying is there are PLENTY of moments throughout the day to pass gas without looking like a jackass. How many times do you piss a day, or go to your bedroom to get something, or leave the house. Plenty of times.

You don't see the handsome swoony guy on a chick flick spreading cheek on the couch to let one go - it would ruin what the women see in him. Unless of course it was somehow a fart joke or something to enhance his comical side. Oh how they love funny guys.

The majority of girls I've known have never passed gas in front of me. Friends, relatives, lovers, etc. They do it out of respect and self preservation. I wouldn't get pissy and say "Oh my god! You're disgusting". It happens and needs to happen.

Everyone has the friend or relative that burps his ass off twelve different ways while drinking a can of pop. I personally find it rude (To be off-topic and honest, I actually am more baffled how someone could physically burp that much during one can of pop. Seriously. I would need to drink a whole 2L bottle to burp that much. They've got to be swallowing air along with it or something). How does that enhance his image to you. Why does he need to burp louder than he talks? Is the burp a form of communication? No. But most guys who do this have formed this persona of: "I need to belch this shit out and let everyone know I'm a real man". Their dad does it, or friends do it, they copy them. They don't think about it, they just do it.

And to those men, they see it as actually being feminine if they're not belching out the alphabet or shooting the birds with their ass gas. Just like how you're baffled how I choose to do these things at moments when it's more suited. You've likely pinned me with a feminine tag and are super confused by it - just because to you, it's just a fart. It's a manly fart. "It's part of our nature. Why hide it?".

So why don't we all just shit in a coffee can on the living room floor while our family is all gathered together to watch a movie. Sounds like the new future of openness to bodily functions.


My point. Simple. How is shitting on the living floor any different from farting?


Edit: I forgot to comment on this:

So it's disrespectful for someone to fart in your presence?  And for a woman, it's not only disrespectful but will lead to an eventual total loss of sex appeal?

Honestly. To a degree yes. If I were hooking up with a new girl and it's only been a couple weeks and she's already at that stage where she can fart around me. It would all depend on how the fart itself was presented. If she's gotta do it, then by all means. I just wouldn't want us sitting side by side on a picnic table having her let one rip, take a swig of beer, and then let another rip.

But if she were to do it in a respectful way, like stand up and move a move away a bit, I'd be much better with it. Even an apology or an excuse me would be nice.

The same would still apply for someone I've had a long term relationship with. But it's much less unappealing with someone I love.


Edit: How this went from segregating washrooms to being socially polite is a baffle, but it pretty much stems on the same shit.
I mostly meant I don't care so much if my male friends or family are farting like animals when it's just us (the mens washroom - basically). But when a woman is around (having a unisex washroom), I feel like we should be more polite - just as I would expect women to do the same around men.

I mostly don't care if men are pigs around me because men can be disgusting and I don't care about the sex appeal of my male friends. Which is why I like having separate washrooms. I don't want a woman to enter a unisex washroom to see all the piss on the urinal or floor and think "men are gross", grouping me in that category as well.

Yeah I'd agree that I'm saying it closer to "aboat" than I am "aboot". But this is the thing that confuses me. I've been to nearly all of the US states and it's only a few that I hear say it differently. Actually to be honest a lot of the states I've visited have a very indistinguishable accent to my neighborhood (Southern Ontario). But if you seriously think I say "a boot" then you should definitely hear an Eastern Canadian speak. A Newfoundlander.

You're from Texas right? If so, that pretty much explains it. lol

I didn't say I wasn't attracted to women because they shit. I'm only saying I would prefer to not be witness to it. Keyword being: prefer. Of course I'll be walking into a bathroom that has been previously fumed (one reason why I have ventilation in every bathroom). I'm not going to leave my girlfriend because of it. I'm only saying that everything that someone does that is unattractive to you, is of course going to affect the sex appeal - even just slightly.

And I don't mean forever, I just mean at that moment. Unless you're constantly doing something unappealing like farting at inappropriate places, like during a meal or nestled together on the couch. That would have to be a constant thing though to be detrimental to the relationship. Look at how many marriages or serious relationships can't even last 10 years. It's everything you do that affects that. From the gagging sound you make when you're brushing your teeth, to the way the fork scrapes along your teeth as you eat. I'm not saying these small things are the reason for people breaking up, I'm saying it all adds up.

Anyway, I'm not secretive with my body or its functions, or anything of the sort. I just know what is rude or unappealing and like to avoid doing so around people I respect. It all falls down to respect.

It's like when I clip my nails for instance. I always either go outside, or to the garage, or bathroom. Why would I want any loose flying clippings to land on the carpet, couch, bed, etc. It can easily be avoided, so why not do it. To me, someone farting, burping or picking their nose all day long has an equal sex appeal as having terrible breath.

I don't scream to have the door closed when my girlfriend walks in on me taking a number two. But yes, I'd be locking the door just so I can have my 5 minutes alone and uninterrupted.

Edit: And I'm not saying you should be uncomfortable all day long because you've got a cork in your ass trying not to fart. I know how painful that can get when you're with a bunch of attractive woman and badly need to let one go. It's better to let them go then it is to hold them in. But there are moments when holding it for the extra few minutes is the gentlemanly thing to do. Or just roll down the window in the car - no one likes dutch ovens.

I quite often hear female washrooms are disgusting compared to the male washrooms. I don't have any firsthand proof of this as I have never actually been in a female washroom. Apparently there's womanly products all over the floors (this is most likely in bars and such though - which is generally where I hear the comment - when random ladies decide to skip the female line and use the mans washroom. Having them stand behind me while I use the urinal while they wait for a stall).

One main reason I prefer the segregation is for the sex appeal. I don't want the sex appeal I have for women tainted by hearing or smelling what can come out of their bodies; just as I don't want them to be witness to mine. I know of some couples who have zero boundaries when it comes to personal hygiene and such (eg: shitting while the other is brushing their teeth in the same washroom). I personally believe in keeping things like that behind closed doors. Just because we both know what each other is doing in the washroom, doesn't mean we need an audience. Over time I can see that seriously killing the sex appeal of any long term relationship.

Anyone have any ideas?

The problem with having the X on the bottom right is that when the GUI is nearly closed during gameplay it will always be sitting there at the top right staring at you. I don't like that.

I agree, Progz.

Methods and properties shouldn't start with a lower case letter, now you're just going out of your way to piss me off.

Hmm. I believe you're right. I've read both a Java and C# book and I could've sworn C# also said first letter being lowercase. Alright, so my Java is showing (and I personally prefer it, but I don't want to piss you off).

"@Override" is stupid, it should just be implemented as a keyword.

You don't need to create your own programming language just because it "looks" stupid, do you?

The header isn't useless, and I will argue that point. It gives you greater control over how functions and objects are linked. If we did away with it, a lot of crap would start colliding unnecessarily.

I'm not speaking in today's AGS, so you'll have to explain this "colliding" thing. I'm talking in more of a future version with a fully working public keyword, forward/backward declaration, etc.

The only way I could see AGS being better is to have it more organized and easier to work with. Any fully OOP language would definitely improve this along with more organized scripts (separate scripts for classes, interface, etc).

One thing I still want to see is the ability to have a script for every GUI, Character, Object, Inventory Item, etc. With a master script for each type. When I say ability, I mean you'll need to manually create one or it'll default on the master script of that type for the interaction methods.

That way GUI's (and everything) would have a master script instead of using the GlobalScript. Then if you wanted to make a more modular GUI (easily exported and imported into new projects - I'm looking at Abs' verb GUI here instead of it being a clusterfuck in the GlobalScript), or just separate it for organization. Basically leaving the GlobalScript as the master for these methods:  repeatedly_execute, repeatedly_execute_always, on_event, game_start, etc. But this conversation doesn't belong in this thread.

The other thing I want to see is Class, fully working pointers, public keyword (instead of import/export - basically eliminating the useless header script (don't argue, the header script is useless and time consuming)). Then of course the other things I've mentioned above. But once this is done, you've already got yourself a language you claim to not want for AGS.

The advantages of just adding a fully OOP scripting language (I like Java, Monkey! And C#, but I've used Java more) is that you could then extend the automatic types that AGS makes. But of course once you do this, you'll need to modify it so that when you Add a character in AGS (using the editor) you can select if they're using the super class Character or an extension of that class (in the case below, you'd select the NewCharacter class).

Code: AGS

public class NewCharacter extends Character {
    @Override
    public void say(String text) {
        //your new custom Say method that will now override the default Say method (only if the character is an instance of NewCharacter)
    }
}

Notice how I made "say" a lowercase? Isn't that the programming standard? That's always confused me when I started with AGS. Classes, Interfaces, etc should be first letter uppercase, with methods and variables being first letter lowercase.

With AGS we currently have Character.x, Object.X, GUI.X, Button.X, label.X, etc. Why is it that Character is the only one that complies with this standard? If the coding script were to switched over to a different language, things like this should to be corrected.

Anyway, back to the subject, that's why I'm so confused with anyone wanting to spend anytime enhancing the current AGS script when it's going to end up like something else anyway (like Java ).

I'm just trying to save time in the long run. And I always figured you Monkey, being a programmer that's always testing the limits of AGS, would prefer something more robust to script with.

Yes, AGS script could be changed and made better than it is, but in the end you're only copying what is already out there. Only because that's the model AGS already uses. Its syntax is based off of C and making any improvements will, in the end, just have an identical model to that or anything on that level.

Are you looking at AGS with rose tinted glasses or am I blind in seeing where it could be taken in terms of scripting. I personally can't see any changes made to AGS that would completely differ from something like Java or C#. That's why I argue it's a waste of time remodeling something to be a lesser or equal version of something else already out there (I can't see it surpassing anything). Please help me see how you could make AGS better than something like Java? How would the future enhanced AGS script be any different?

rather than Java I would prefer an actual scripting language

Only reason I've been suggesting Java is that it runs on nearly every platform.

But like I said before, I think switching to another scripting language or redesigning AGS Script [..] is one of the least urgent tasks for the project at the moment, and likely to just be a distraction from more important improvements.

Sorry, I must've missed a post-it or something showing the future improvements for AGS, but what are the other more important improvements aside from the editor related changes? I personally see the editor code swap as being the most important improvement at the moment.

[public]

See that's where things get a little blurry for me. So instead of spending a one time installation of Java and removing AGS Script (or whatever the chosen language), you'd rather spend several hours each time you want to add a new feature.
    We should have a for loop : hours later.
    We should add a public keyword instead of messing around with the terrible import/export : weeks later.
    We should add a switch, interface, const, static, abstract, final, instanceof, super, proper passing of custom objects with proper extending methods : weeks and weeks later.
    Forward and backward declaration, Polymorphism, Continue, Break, etc etc (just to name a few that AGS should have)

And that's just because we have a cute little programming language we don't want to see ruined. It's like owning a car that only drives 20km/h. I could just buy a new car for $10k that'll drive faster than I'll ever need, or I could spend many months and twice the amount of money working and replacing components in this car to make it faster - just because I thought it was a cute little car.

I don't see anything AGS does "unique" with its programming language, or even anything that is worth holding onto that makes it different from any mainstream language. Instead it actually limits the programmer and confuses the hell out of them as they monkey their way into a spaghetti code of nightmare.

i don't know why you did that but it sure was funny even if you were just trying to imitate me

No way man! I was being serious. I love stick figures and star wars. Very fascinating.

Of course I was mocking you. I could never be that boring or senseless. Talking randomly and not actually making sense or having any purpose to speak - let alone record it and ask for comments.

I am giving you this feedback: You should do voiceovers for Dtrah Avred!

Lkeu.. I'm your father!


This is what I gathered from listening to your video audio clip. It's very hard to understand.

Hi, it's me.
And.. umm.. today.. I'm going to.. talk about the game I'm planning on making.
As I've already said before it's star wars the new generation.
And people were wondering about like, why you're tryin to make a series.
Well... it's because. umm.. there's two reasons for it.. one is umm.. because..
umm.. I.. I really.. I don't know about the story it.. it *something* very good, very good to me
the first time.. but like.. I dunno if there's enough action or something.. umm.. but.. umm..
I haven't played like the *something* dvd for it or something.
but I really.. *something* the awards for quite a while but.
I'm.. I'm gonna tell you why.. I did that. I decided to do that.
well. if.. and first of all.. while they're just stick figures.
if anyone of you have played umm.. those stick games on the internet.
where... stick heads... yeah. that's where I was going with this.
the.. they have.. they have good storyline and all that.. so that really grabbed my... desire to do that.
but i don't know.. maybe people are right. maybe i should just focus on one game.
but.. the thing about it.. the reason it took a little longer than I expected was because..
I don't want to start making it until i get all the voice acting done. i know..
and.. umm.. yeah.. so... this is why. i decided to do that. making.. make a series.
cause it'd be pretty interesting. i have.. i have some ideas for the series..
umm.. but i know what you guys gonna say.. so yeah.. and umm..
i really.. like.. i.. i was really looking forward to this the first time I started..
*something* no.. make something different. there's lots of star wars stories already..
or.. as much as *something* said. but.. i'm hoping for it to be good..
so i wanna know guys.. what does..
do you still think i should just make one game or do you still want me to make like a series..
maybe i put it on dvd.
so yeah.. tell me what you think in the.. in the comments.
i'm hoping to *something* ags forums. so yeah..
and you can tell me what you think.. and.. we'll go from there.. thanks.

I haven't a clue what you're talking about or what you have said in the entire clip. Either you're trolling us, or you were legitimately hit on the head with a frying pan (Left 4 Dead style).