> Still, it really rubs be the wrong way to think that people can be so into this that they will taint an important day like that with it.
Oh, I bet you're the life of the party.
It's *their* day -- they want to have *fun*. Who are you to dictate to other people how they should live their life?! So it appears silly to you -- tough. That is their decision to make, and we must respect it, even if we don't agree with it.
I don't see a rule or law where it says if you do someing serious, it can't be fun at the same time. In fact, I see the exact opposite - if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.
> Yes, clearly it would be complete lunacy to write video games in garbage-collected LISP, like Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank and so on.
And clearly you've even never *programmed* a game for PSX or PS2.
Naughty Dog's Game/AI runs in Lisp, but all the low level stuff hardware interface code is C/assembly. You don't run Lisp on the GS, or SPU (PSX or PS2), or the PS2's VU's, and IOP.
You can use almost *any* language to write a game - some just make it easier, or way harder then others, so yes, you have a valid point - don't just *assume* using a specific language is crazy - where there's a will, there's a way:)
Abuse was another commercial game written in Lisp.
Re:Wait... so you're telling me...
on
A New Ice Age?
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
> Ah yes, the intuitor guy. An engineer* who seems to wish he's a scientist.
The thing I find ironic with people who complain about how movies are unrealistic, is that they never seem to stop to think "This *movie* is unrealistic." It's SurReal to begin with! The Movie isn't real - so why aren't they complaining about that?!
Oh wait, what they *really* mean, is that their suspension of disbeleif wasn't maintained. For Christ's sake already -- Movies were made to be enjoyed -- Do you *really* need to analyse something to death, before you can enjoy it?! Apparently dramatic effect isn't a valid reason for breaking the Rules of Physics?!
Sure, it would be nice, if everything in the movie was logical, (or would it?!), but perfect movies don't exist. Just enjoy the darn thing already!
> Before the education process, the trouble with OpenOffice is simple -- as long as they're using Word, they can save a document and most people will be able to read it.
> But when they start using OpenOffice, they'll find that when they save a document now almost NO ONE can use it.
Three words: Export as PDF
Unless you're telling me they are emailing docs that both parties are adding to?!
-- The Bible is infallable or perfect!? Right, which *version* would that be now? Better yet, let's consider the sources... - Horace Meyer Kallen said Book of Job was lifted from an early and obscure Greek play - Immanuel Velikovsky admitted "many parallels" between Vedic Hymns and Books of Joel and Isaiah - Zecharia Sitchin claimed Book of Genesis based on Sumerian creation myth - Noah from Sumerian legend of Gilgamesh - The Psalms were taken word for word from Akhenaton's Hymns to the Sun - The Ten Commandments were taken wholly from the Egyptian Book of the Dead
Here's 2 tricks that I accidently discovered, being forced to constantly convert between the two.
To convert a number, K from kmph to M mph M = (K / 2) + (K / 10) i.e. 90 kmp = 45 + 9 = 54... real answer is 55.92 The relative error is 3.4%, which isn't too bad.
I usually drop the fractions, so the formula becomes M = int(K / 2) + int(K / 10) Even though the relative error will be a tad higher at low speeds, and oscillate around 3 to 6% for the most part, the absolute error is at most off by 3 mph for speeds less then 100 kmph. Not too bad at all.
Conversly, to convert anumber, M from mph to K kmph K = (M * 16 ) / 10 And since 16 = 2^4, K = ((((M * 2) * 2) * 2) *2) * 10
Here's 2 tricks when you need to know if a divisor evenly divides into the numerator. (e.g. is N mod D ?= 0)
To tell if a number is divisible by 3: - sum up the digits - if the sum divides by 3 with no remainder, the orginal number is divisible by 3 with no remainder. The proof is pretty trivial to work out. It only takes a few lines to prove it.
Another trick, that isn't well know, and that I can't take credit for is A number is divisible by 7 if - take the last digit off a number and double it - subtract the doubled number from the remaining digits. If the remainder (which may be negative or zero!) evenly divides by 7, the orginal number is divisible by 7. i.e. 4158 415 - (16) = 399 Repeat the process, since adding a multiple of the denominator does't change the mod result. 39 - 18 = 21 Therefore 4158 is divisble by 7.
I know a mathematician by proxy of a good friend of mine, who noticed the 7 trick. He also suggests that there is a rule for any prime number, but I haven't seen any proofs.
For *learning* some really cool tricks for +, -, *,/, sqrts, etc, see the Human Calculator, by Scott. Flansberg
I know we shouldn't make fun of the users, but everyone should watch Saturday Night Live - Nick Burns - Your Company's Computer guy. Funny stuff. My bro's get a kick out of it, when I say that while helping them with their computer probs.
Are there only 5 skits? I've seen... - Billy Bob Thornton (the best one) - Jamie Fox (very funny) - Callista Flockhart - Jackie Chan - Jennifer Aniston
-- "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary." - Wrongly credited to St. Francis of Assisi http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/ Oct2001/ Wiseman.asp
I worked on a recent PS2 game (last year.) I was the sound engineer (amongst other PS2 programmer) Here is what I learned...
Yes, the PS2 only has 2 megs for sounds, BUT don't forget that.VAGs (native PS2 sound format) are compressed about 4:1 !! (Gamecube does a little better - you can customize the ADPCM quantiziation headers. Sorry, forgot what those bytes are called, as another programmer did the GameCube sound engine for our libs.)
Strip the VAG headers, you don't need the extra 48 byte headers taking up sapce in SPU ram. (SPU = Sound Processing Unit)
It should be pointed out that PS2 SPU native sampling rate is 48 Hz, not 44 Hz! For best results, stick to that multiple. Beware that you may get aliasing, because your sfx are at 24 HZ, not 22 Hz.
The spreadsheet tip is a VERY good idea, but before you get going you need to classify all your "music" (sfx included) into 2 categories
1. Resident 2. Streamed
Why, you're probably asking? Isn't it obvious what goes where? Not exactly! You need to maximize that 2 megs, which means KNOW your DATA. Here are some examples - sfx - always resident. i.e. UI)) - sfx - resident - i.e. level) - misc sfx - streamed - music - streamed (in stereo)
Get a programer to modify the game to let the sound designer that lets you test ALL the game sounds -- sometimes sfx files aren't compresed properly.. Bet
Minimizing buffer "slack" is key. Pack all your resident sfx together into one big file.
For streaming sfx, you'll need a few 32K buffers. Double if you want stereo sfx.
For music one 256K buffer, since you'll be streaming INTERLEAVED audio data.
The PS2 can do Dolby Pro Logic encoding in real-time. It is a simple 720 degree system, with the volumes being allowed to go negative. Check the ps2 newsgroup.
Lastly, use Multistream! Save yourself the hassle of rolling your own "streamer." You can use it to stream audio AND data. You can have it automatically transfer data from the IOP->EE or IOP->SPU.
Am I saying it is useless? Of course not. But to conclude you can't exist without money is pretty short-sighted and ignorant.
> The fact of the matter is that your knowledge is what gets you the job that pays your salary that puts food in your mouth.
You seem to be ignoring the TIME spent to acquire the knowledge and experience. Money is NOT just knowledge. It represent both Time and Experience/Knowledge.
> Knowledge has a monetary value. Knowledge MAY have value -- if it is useless knowledge, what is the value then? If it saves your life, what is it value?
I agree with you ergo, even if the moderators don't. Some pointless award isn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
However, just because there is war, unemployment, starvation, etc, doesn't mean the masses aren't allowed to ignore them for a day. Let them have their fun for a night, because they will have to deal with reality tomorrow.
> Um, I know citing "freedom of expression" is a knee-jerk reflex here at Slashdot, but it applies only when you're not breaking any laws while doing so. The cliche'd example would be yelling "Fire" in a crowded movie theater.
Clear Counter-Proof. If the theater REALLY is on fire, yelling "Fire" alerts the owners that their PROPERTY is being damaged (and also alerts others that THEY may come to harm because of it.)
> The first time you (or a loved one) get hit by a drunk driver, you'll realize that this limits the freedoms of a drunk driver, but increases the freedom of innocent people like you and I.
WHAT are you smoking!?!
You think MORE laws will help people be responsible?!?! Responsible people DON"T NEED laws to tell them how to behave. Irresponsible people IGNORE the law in the FIRST place. If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns.
Get a clue stick, and wake up to reality.
> With so many drunk driving accidents, you really have no business being on the roads at 2:30am on the weekends (holidays, etc).
YES, it is MY business. Who are hell are you to tell me when I can visit my friends?
> I can buy an XBox or a PS2 now for $180.00 (or a Gamecube for $100) and know with 100% certainty that it will play any modern game released for it. High polygon counts, pixel and vertex shaders, high resolutions, large textures, etc...
The PS2 doesn't have pixel shader support. It's "high resolution" is 640x448
> All the theological apologism you can throw at the matter doesn't disguise the fact that bulk of the body of religious literature which eventually became "the Bible" was written by people who believed in its literal truth as the word of God.
And your proof / reference is... ?
> As science learns more about our world, the amount of religious belief that any intelligent, educated person can hold diminishes --
Slashdot Mirror
> Still, it really rubs be the wrong way to think that people can be so into this that they will taint an important day like that with it.
Oh, I bet you're the life of the party.
It's *their* day -- they want to have *fun*. Who are you to dictate to other people how they should live their life?! So it appears silly to you -- tough. That is their decision to make, and we must respect it, even if we don't agree with it.
I don't see a rule or law where it says if you do someing serious, it can't be fun at the same time. In fact, I see the exact opposite - if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.
Peace
> Yes, clearly it would be complete lunacy to write video games in garbage-collected LISP, like Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank and so on.
:)
And clearly you've even never *programmed* a game for PSX or PS2.
Naughty Dog's Game/AI runs in Lisp, but all the low level stuff hardware interface code is C/assembly. You don't run Lisp on the GS, or SPU (PSX or PS2), or the PS2's VU's, and IOP.
You can use almost *any* language to write a game - some just make it easier, or way harder then others, so yes, you have a valid point - don't just *assume* using a specific language is crazy - where there's a will, there's a way
Abuse was another commercial game written in Lisp.
> Ah yes, the intuitor guy. An engineer* who seems to wish he's a scientist.
The thing I find ironic with people who complain about how movies are unrealistic, is that they never seem to stop to think "This *movie* is unrealistic." It's SurReal to begin with! The Movie isn't real - so why aren't they complaining about that?!
Oh wait, what they *really* mean, is that their suspension of disbeleif wasn't maintained. For Christ's sake already -- Movies were made to be enjoyed -- Do you *really* need to analyse something to death, before you can enjoy it?! Apparently dramatic effect isn't a valid reason for breaking the Rules of Physics?!
Sure, it would be nice, if everything in the movie was logical, (or would it?!), but perfect movies don't exist. Just enjoy the darn thing already!
> I remember when TeamFortress was THE GAME!
Yeap, the golden days of Quake.
> It was the first on-line team style game.
No, CTF, and ThunderWalker preceeded it. (Not by much though.)
Mega-TF ruled too.
> Still going on about the Bible? That's so Nineteenth Century, you must live somewhere pretty primitive.
You still depend on the wheel? That's so old, you must still be using primitive technology.
Obviously, or not so obvious in your case, the point was to educate those who still depend on it.
Peace
> Before the education process, the trouble with OpenOffice is simple -- as long as they're using Word, they can save a document and most people will be able to read it.
> But when they start using OpenOffice, they'll find that when they save a document now almost NO ONE can use it.
Three words: Export as PDF
Unless you're telling me they are emailing docs that both parties are adding to?!
--
The Bible is infallable or perfect!? Right, which *version* would that be now? Better yet, let's consider the sources...
- Horace Meyer Kallen said Book of Job was lifted from an early and obscure Greek play
- Immanuel Velikovsky admitted "many parallels" between Vedic Hymns and Books of Joel and Isaiah
- Zecharia Sitchin claimed Book of Genesis based on Sumerian creation myth
- Noah from Sumerian legend of Gilgamesh
- The Psalms were taken word for word from Akhenaton's Hymns to the Sun
- The Ten Commandments were taken wholly from the Egyptian Book of the Dead
For anyone who hangs out at the excellent Audio/Video forum
The problem with non-movable bass, is that if you have sound nulls, you can't really do much about it.
> You think buildings would be safer if every builder was allowed to "innovate" their own designs?
...
:)
Reminds me of that quote off my giant poster on Murphy's Law about Computers
"If engineers built buildings the way programers write code,
the first time a woodpecker came along, it would destroy civilization."
And yes, I am a programmer.
Can someone tell me what FrameMaker does that In Design doesn't ?
(I'm familiar with PageMaker, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat since I had to learn how to use them this past 2 months.)
> Seems to me Microsoft might as well start playing hardball here - Drop the price
... that's called Price Dumping... selling below the cost of your competition in order increases your market share.
They can't
> It's pretty cool, but the Ps2 only has 32MB ram
You mean 32 megs of main ram. It has 40 megs total, including VRAM, SPU, and IOP memory.
..how complicated the Universe is, until you start trying to simulate it.
Morrowind I felt, was actually the first 3D game, that didn't feel 'bare' to me.
So many FPS have environments that are SO stark. Part of what gives a house so much charm, is all the junk that is in it !
I agree, something as simple as even a "noise" texture overlaid on top of evertyhing helps.
Here's 2 tricks that I accidently discovered, being forced to constantly convert between the two.
... real answer is 55.92
To convert a number, K from kmph to M mph
M = (K / 2) + (K / 10)
i.e.
90 kmp = 45 + 9 = 54
The relative error is 3.4%, which isn't too bad.
I usually drop the fractions, so the formula becomes
M = int(K / 2) + int(K / 10)
Even though the relative error will be a tad higher at low speeds, and oscillate around 3 to 6% for the most part, the absolute error is at most off by 3 mph for speeds less then 100 kmph. Not too bad at all.
Conversly, to convert anumber, M from mph to K kmph
K = (M * 16 ) / 10
And since 16 = 2^4,
K = ((((M * 2) * 2) * 2) *2) * 10
Cheers
Here's 2 tricks when you need to know if a divisor evenly divides into the numerator. (e.g. is N mod D ?= 0)
/, sqrts, etc, see the Human Calculator, by Scott. Flansberg
To tell if a number is divisible by 3:
- sum up the digits
- if the sum divides by 3 with no remainder, the orginal number is divisible by 3 with no remainder.
The proof is pretty trivial to work out. It only takes a few lines to prove it.
Another trick, that isn't well know, and that I can't take credit for is
A number is divisible by 7 if
- take the last digit off a number and double it
- subtract the doubled number from the remaining digits.
If the remainder (which may be negative or zero!) evenly divides by 7, the orginal number is divisible by 7.
i.e.
4158
415 - (16) = 399
Repeat the process, since adding a multiple of the denominator does't change the mod result.
39 - 18 = 21
Therefore 4158 is divisble by 7.
I know a mathematician by proxy of a good friend of mine, who noticed the 7 trick. He also suggests that there is a rule for any prime number, but I haven't seen any proofs.
For *learning* some really cool tricks for +, -, *,
Peace
I know we shouldn't make fun of the users, but everyone should watch Saturday Night Live - Nick Burns - Your Company's Computer guy. Funny stuff.
My bro's get a kick out of it, when I say that while helping them with their computer probs.
Are there only 5 skits? I've seen
- Billy Bob Thornton (the best one)
- Jamie Fox (very funny)
- Callista Flockhart
- Jackie Chan
- Jennifer Aniston
--
"Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary."
- Wrongly credited to St. Francis of Assisi
http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger
Ack, a sentance cut got cut off.
Bet --> Better to test before you go gold!
I worked on a recent PS2 game (last year.) I was the sound engineer (amongst other PS2 programmer) Here is what I learned...
.VAGs (native PS2 sound format) are compressed about 4:1 !! (Gamecube does a little better - you can customize the ADPCM quantiziation headers. Sorry, forgot what those bytes are called, as another programmer did the GameCube sound engine for our libs.)
Yes, the PS2 only has 2 megs for sounds, BUT don't forget that
Strip the VAG headers, you don't need the extra 48 byte headers taking up sapce in SPU ram. (SPU = Sound Processing Unit)
It should be pointed out that PS2 SPU native sampling rate is 48 Hz, not 44 Hz! For best results, stick to that multiple. Beware that you may get aliasing, because your sfx are at 24 HZ, not 22 Hz.
The spreadsheet tip is a VERY good idea, but before you get going you need to classify all your "music" (sfx included) into 2 categories
1. Resident
2. Streamed
Why, you're probably asking? Isn't it obvious what goes where? Not exactly! You need to maximize that 2 megs, which means KNOW your DATA.
Here are some examples
- sfx - always resident. i.e. UI))
- sfx - resident - i.e. level)
- misc sfx - streamed
- music - streamed (in stereo)
Get a programer to modify the game to let the sound designer that lets you test ALL the game sounds -- sometimes sfx files aren't compresed properly.. Bet
Minimizing buffer "slack" is key. Pack all your resident sfx together into one big file.
For streaming sfx, you'll need a few 32K buffers. Double if you want stereo sfx.
For music one 256K buffer, since you'll be streaming INTERLEAVED audio data.
The PS2 can do Dolby Pro Logic encoding in real-time. It is a simple 720 degree system, with the volumes being allowed to go negative. Check the ps2 newsgroup.
Lastly, use Multistream! Save yourself the hassle of rolling your own "streamer." You can use it to stream audio AND data. You can have it automatically transfer data from the IOP->EE or IOP->SPU.
Cheers
Oldies but goodies...
Thief is extremely rewarding when you finish it on expert.
Rogue Spear - single player custom mission with 50 terrorists. Yeah the AI have sniper abilities with pistols, but it's also a lot of fun.
> money is what keeps you alive.
I'm getting really sick of this propaganda.
How do animals exist without money?
So how did people exist BEFORE money?
Am I saying it is useless? Of course not. But to conclude you can't exist without money is pretty short-sighted and ignorant.
> The fact of the matter is that your knowledge is what gets you the job that pays your salary that puts food in your mouth.
You seem to be ignoring the TIME spent to acquire the knowledge and experience. Money is NOT just knowledge. It represent both Time and Experience/Knowledge.
> Knowledge has a monetary value.
Knowledge MAY have value -- if it is useless knowledge, what is the value then? If it saves your life, what is it value?
Peace
I agree with you ergo, even if the moderators don't. Some pointless award isn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
However, just because there is war, unemployment, starvation, etc, doesn't mean the masses aren't allowed to ignore them for a day. Let them have their fun for a night, because they will have to deal with reality tomorrow.
> Um, I know citing "freedom of expression" is a knee-jerk reflex here at Slashdot, but it applies only when you're not breaking any laws while doing so. The cliche'd example would be yelling "Fire" in a crowded movie theater.
s .html andf reespeechforeign.htm
Oh God, not THIS again.
Not being allowed to yell "Fire" is NOT a freedom of speech issue. It is a PROPERTY right issue. For more details see
http://www.freecolorado.com/2003/02/absoluteright
http://www.libertocracy.com/Webessays/freespeech/
Clear Counter-Proof. If the theater REALLY is on fire, yelling "Fire" alerts the owners that their PROPERTY is being damaged (and also alerts others that THEY may come to harm because of it.)
Peace
Oooh, guess one of the mods didn't like the Truth slapping him in the face.
I know, I know, don't feed the trolls...
> The first time you (or a loved one) get hit by a drunk driver, you'll realize that this limits the freedoms of a drunk driver, but increases the freedom of innocent people like you and I.
WHAT are you smoking!?!
You think MORE laws will help people be responsible?!?! Responsible people DON"T NEED laws to tell them how to behave. Irresponsible people IGNORE the law in the FIRST place. If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns.
Get a clue stick, and wake up to reality.
> With so many drunk driving accidents, you really have no business being on the roads at 2:30am on the weekends (holidays, etc).
YES, it is MY business. Who are hell are you to tell me when I can visit my friends?
> I can buy an XBox or a PS2 now for $180.00 (or a Gamecube for $100) and know with 100% certainty that it will play any modern game released for it. High polygon counts, pixel and vertex shaders, high resolutions, large textures, etc...
The PS2 doesn't have pixel shader support.
It's "high resolution" is 640x448
> All the theological apologism you can throw at the matter doesn't disguise the fact that bulk of the body of religious literature which eventually became "the Bible" was written by people who believed in its literal truth as the word of God.
... ?
And your proof / reference is
> As science learns more about our world, the amount of religious belief that any intelligent, educated person can hold diminishes --
You DO know that Science is a Religion, right?
Re:what if theory didn't exist?
Peace