Wasn't all the copper put into the ground by the government (in the US at least)? That would mean it wasn't even their investment (at least for the copper part).
Very very interesting post. Your ideas are rather straight-forward, and I think you've got a good grasp on what would make good AI in games. One thing you can be certain about: don't be afraid to use 'too much' processing power on this, because we'll have plenty of that even in the near future.
A few years ago I switched from Windows to Linux after years of use, having gotten fed up with all its little annoyances. I used to fiddle with settings and little pieces of software to make Windows behave and look exactly as I wanted it to, wasting hours and hours. Now about a year back I started in a job where I need to use Windows (.Net development) again, and decided not to fight it anymore; all programs and games go into Program Files, all personal files go into My Documents, and everything goes into one big partition, and the standard look will just have to do. Sure, there still are its annoyances, but at the end of the day I can just go back to my Linux box and enjoy =)
The actual name of this law is the USA PATRIOT act, short for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism". Also called the U SAP AT RIOT act.
Is it really the case that these two departments, with the hundreds, if not thousands of people they keep in employment, has yet to notice this? That nobody in the courts has actually telephoned the patent office and said "Look, I know this might be a stupid question, but are you guys actually bothering to read patent applications before you grant them?".
Why would they? Both parties are making good money off of it.
Oh my, you found me out! I was actually defending my own research! </sarcasm>
All joking aside, I'm sure you can see how merely swinging a weight around is easier to do than driving four wheels. Sure, under most circumstances round wheels are still better, but I can definitely see how this design can be helpful. Also, you can call it ROTATING PLATFORM OF SPINNING DOOM =D
Key sentence: "The first prototype consisted of a car with 4 square wheels, in the general configuration of a typical car, with all 4 wheels mechanically connected together so they must all turn in unison. Furthermore, the rotational orientation of the wheels are sequentially off-set from one wheel to the next by 22.5 (1/4th of 90), moving around the vehicle in a CW or CCW direction as viewed from above."
This makes it so that the direction of rotation of the hammer of doom decides in which direction the car moves. Reversing the rotation of the hammer reverses the direction of the car. Take a good look at the image accompanying the article.
Ah, who am i kidding, this is Slashdot after all. Anyway, to summarize: It is 'better' because it allows for simpler motor and gearing, since the only powered part is the rotating weight, whose movement "...is all in a plane parallel to the motion surface. No right angle gearboxes are required."
Hah you're not!:-P Which is probably good, because now your comment won't be -1'ed by FP moderations.
Anyway, I occasionally use Skype (from my linux box) to call my girlfriend, but after about half an hour or so it starts to lag so bad (up to several seconds) it's hardly usable. Of course, we can just hang up and call again, but it's still annoying.
Slashdot Mirror
The ipod fucking sucks.
Wasn't all the copper put into the ground by the government (in the US at least)? That would mean it wasn't even their investment (at least for the copper part).
Very very interesting post. Your ideas are rather straight-forward, and I think you've got a good grasp on what would make good AI in games. One thing you can be certain about: don't be afraid to use 'too much' processing power on this, because we'll have plenty of that even in the near future.
And then WoW is shut down by the court... Just imagine the jump in productivity the world would experience!
Perhaps s/can/must/ ?
I am interested and intrigued by your ideas and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
Yes.
A few years ago I switched from Windows to Linux after years of use, having gotten fed up with all its little annoyances. I used to fiddle with settings and little pieces of software to make Windows behave and look exactly as I wanted it to, wasting hours and hours. Now about a year back I started in a job where I need to use Windows (.Net development) again, and decided not to fight it anymore; all programs and games go into Program Files, all personal files go into My Documents, and everything goes into one big partition, and the standard look will just have to do. Sure, there still are its annoyances, but at the end of the day I can just go back to my Linux box and enjoy =)
The actual name of this law is the USA PATRIOT act, short for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism". Also called the U SAP AT RIOT act.
Good god man, where are my mod points?! I must supply you with several +1 mods!
In case anybody cares, get all topic icons currently in use.
That's what they want you to think.
Why would they? Both parties are making good money off of it.
+1, Pink Floyd.
I know! We should just roll a katamari around in orbit and pick up all the debris!
You misspelled pwn463.
But cookies are delicious delicacies!
In Internet Explorer, you didn't fix it. :-P
In Firefox, there's no problem to begin with.
It's like a danish, but with Gouda!
Oh my, you found me out! I was actually defending my own research!
</sarcasm>
All joking aside, I'm sure you can see how merely swinging a weight around is easier to do than driving four wheels. Sure, under most circumstances round wheels are still better, but I can definitely see how this design can be helpful.
Also, you can call it ROTATING PLATFORM OF SPINNING DOOM =D
Key sentence: "The first prototype consisted of a car with 4 square wheels, in the general configuration of a typical car, with all 4 wheels mechanically connected together so they must all turn in unison. Furthermore, the rotational orientation of the wheels are sequentially off-set from one wheel to the next by 22.5 (1/4th of 90), moving around the vehicle in a CW or CCW direction as viewed from above."
This makes it so that the direction of rotation of the hammer of doom decides in which direction the car moves. Reversing the rotation of the hammer reverses the direction of the car. Take a good look at the image accompanying the article.
RTFM.
Ah, who am i kidding, this is Slashdot after all. Anyway, to summarize: It is 'better' because it allows for simpler motor and gearing, since the only powered part is the rotating weight, whose movement "...is all in a plane parallel to the motion surface. No right angle gearboxes are required."
Hah you're not!
Anyway, I occasionally use Skype (from my linux box) to call my girlfriend, but after about half an hour or so it starts to lag so bad (up to several seconds) it's hardly usable. Of course, we can just hang up and call again, but it's still annoying.
God I hate the term 'best-of-breed'.
And yet, its replies are some of the most interesting and insightful comments on this article (not to mention correct spelling and grammar).