The Lone Stranger Network » dev http://blog.lonestranger.net things that are only connected in my brain Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:45:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Ludum Dare #17 Pre-Compo Competition! http://blog.lonestranger.net/2010/04/17/ludum-dare-17-pre-compo-competition/ http://blog.lonestranger.net/2010/04/17/ludum-dare-17-pre-compo-competition/#comments Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:45:11 +0000 LoneStranger http://blog.lonestranger.net/?p=162 The latest in the Ludum Dare 48 Hour competitions is less than a week away! Time to get out that base code and wait, right?

WRONG! There is so much for you to get ready and practice. You could be doing any of these:

  • Draw some sprites for a random animation, either directly in a bitmap editor or on paper and scan them.
  • Polish that basecode to fix that thing you found last compo that really bugged you.
  • Install GIMP or Audacity or other development related application and practice how to use it.
  • Pull out your microphone and record yourself and other sounds around the house to create a song in Audacity.
  • Create a Towlr.
  • Think of witty motivational posters.
  • Rip CDs to MP3s and create a great 48hr in-the-zone coding playlist.
  • Stock up on food for the weekend.
  • Clean and organize your desk.
  • If you are feeling adventurous, take your first steps with that new language.
  • Vote!
  • Spend some quality time with the family so they know you still love them when you ignore them over the weekend.

Whatever you do, please share it with us on Ludum Dare! And also, no matter how much or what it is that you do, you’re a winner in this pre-compo competition!

Of course, none of these things will actually be used in the LD competition since that is against the rules (except the basecode) however they can’t keep you from using the skills you just learned!

]]> http://blog.lonestranger.net/2010/04/17/ludum-dare-17-pre-compo-competition/feed/ 0 LD48_13 is nigh! http://blog.lonestranger.net/2008/12/02/ld48_13-is-nigh/ http://blog.lonestranger.net/2008/12/02/ld48_13-is-nigh/#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:14:36 +0000 LoneStranger http://blog.lonestranger.net/?p=51 The 13th Ludum Dare 48hr Game Programming competition starts this Friday, so it’s time to get the tools in order so there is less fussing when time is running short.  Also, my wife and I have been invited to Thanksgiving, The Sequel this Friday, so I won’t be home when the topic is announced.  I’ll try to check in to LD.com with my phone so I can at least start planning things out in my head.

So let’s take a look at what I’ll be using…

  • Java 6 SDK
  • Eclipse 3.3.2 IDE
  • Photoshop CS2
  • HP OfficeJet 6450 All-In-One for scanning doodles
  • No Fear Energy Drink (Go Boris Said #60!)
  • Everlasting Gobstoppers
  • mIRC for chattery
  • Killer Game Programming in Java and the base code I used from last two compo, plus some enhacements.
  • Rock Band USB microphone, unless I get to the store to buy an adapter for my real mic.
  • Rock Band USB Drums plus the Drum Machine from Andrew Rudson.

    • The two additions are the USB devices.  I actually used the mic last compo to make the sounds for the monster, arrows and stair-stepping in my tower game.  I will have to go stock up on Gobstoppers and No Fear Energy Drink.

    I’ve just fired up Eclipse to create my workspace for this Friday.  It helps to have a clean app that opens up a window so I can get down to business once the theme is announced.  I wanted to add some functionality to the base code to make things easier.  For compo 12, I added the screen shot button so that I could easily take snaps of my progress.  This time, I want to integrate a simple logging class to make debugging easier.  If I get it done in time, I’ll link to a new base code zip file later in the week. 

    Anyway, I’m looking forward to completing a decent entry.  One of my personal goals is to crack the top five in any of the game categories.  It was nice last time to get in the top five for Food, but it would be even better for a game category.

    See you then!

    ]]>     http://blog.lonestranger.net/2008/12/02/ld48_13-is-nigh/feed/ 0     Ludum Dare 48 Hour Challenge #12 http://blog.lonestranger.net/2008/08/07/ludum-dare-48-hour-challenge-12/ http://blog.lonestranger.net/2008/08/07/ludum-dare-48-hour-challenge-12/#comments Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:12:27 +0000 LoneStranger http://blog.lonestranger.net/?p=24 It’s time again.  Seems like just a short bit ago I was working on LD48 #11, and maybe it was.  The contests are on a much better schedule now which should help in participation. 

    I’ve been keeping myself busy working on a reborn and re-imagined project from back in ‘03.  I’ll probably release more info on that when I have something good to show off.  If we get a compatible theme, perhaps some of the work on LD48_12 can be reassigned afterward to my other project.  Honestly, working on that project the past week has kept my skills and mind frame in the perfect place for the LD48.

    Last time around I had to take time out from the alotted 48 hours to attend a baseball game.  I won’t have that problem this year, though I am in the mood for a good egg and bacon breakfast at a local joint Saturday morning.  I hope to remember to take a picture of that for the food compo.

    This time around isn’t going to be much different than last time.  I’m going to use mostly the same tools as before:

    • Java 6 SDK
    • Eclipse 3.3.2 IDE
    • Photoshop CS2
    • HP OfficeJet 6450 All-In-One for scanning doodles
    • No Fear Energy Drink (Go Boris Said #60!)
    • Everlasting Gobstoppers
    • mIRC for chattery
    • Killer Game Programming in Java and the base code I used from last compo.

    The only thing we need now is a theme!

    Good luck, and see you in 1 day, 9 hours and 48 minutes!

    ]]>     http://blog.lonestranger.net/2008/08/07/ludum-dare-48-hour-challenge-12/feed/ 0