Tom 7 Radar: all comments

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2683. Stephan (fl-71-3-58-176.dyn.sprint-hsd.net) – 31 Jul 2005 09:40:38 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
I've built a level using transponders, which I've played and solved. But when I go to upload it to the server I get "upload failed: fail bad lev: The solution is invalid!"

(I'm using Escape 200507261; win32)

Which files should I send you to help resolve this?
 
2682. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 29 Jul 2005 22:26:50 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
Okay, they finally got the machine back up, and now there is a new version for OSX.
 
2681. Anonymous (ool-4578ad9b.dyn.optonline.net) – 29 Jul 2005 19:51:32 [ CT Info ]
I have to disagree with PK-FL: "The place where Louis dwells" in The Whiffenpoof Song refers to Mory's -- a private dining club on York Street by the Law School which is where the Whiffs sing for their supper. Louis was the name of Mory's manager way, way back.

And as much as I enjoy Louis' burgers, if you read up on the "creation myth" a little you'll see both how their story changes over time and how talented the family is at self-promotion. I have a hard time taking their story as anything but a fun-to-believe fabrication.
 
2680. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 28 Jul 2005 09:21:36 [ RIAA Radar ]
Well, GBV aren't even a band any more, but they only released like 2 records on TVT.
 
2679. Anonymous (adsl-64-169-2-48.dsl.renocs.nvbell.net) – 28 Jul 2005 05:21:19 [ RIAA Radar ]
Don't forget "Guided by Voices".
 
Serious bummer, Tom. Thank you for sharing this highly personal and meaningful post with all of us out here. I hope that people's words of encouragement have been of some comfort to you.

Though you don't know me, I'll risk giving you this advice:
Work to become the best Tom 7 that you can be. Not to win her back, but because you know in your heart that is what you need to do for you. Be her friend, a good friend. Make her a partner in your life without expecting to get back together as a couple. As you grow as a person and she sees that, she may want you back as a boyfriend. She may not, but you will be more of a whole person in all of your subsequent relationships.

I know that these are lofty ideals that seem unrealistic when you are in emotional pain, but I have observed you to be a thoughtful person, and I think that you have the willpower to do it.
 
2677. Hock (adsl-67-119-9-165.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net) – 27 Jul 2005 01:50:09 [ trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and alone ]
Thanks for writing this post. I learned a lot from it. Also: bummer.
 
2676. Anonymous (69.251.236.177) – 26 Jul 2005 22:07:20 [ Quake 3 Done! ]
YES!!! I have finally beaten all the levels on nightmare. It is amazing that after 6 years, this game can still bring such joy.
 
2675. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 26 Jul 2005 19:25:11 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
It's still down, sorry...
 
2674. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 26 Jul 2005 00:39:00 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
Well, damn, I guess it will have to wait until tomorrow, since sourceforge's OSX compile server is down right now.
 
2673. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 26 Jul 2005 00:30:03 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
Really? I was pretty sure I released an OSX update, but I guess I screwed it up somehow. I'm doing another release right now to make crossover wires pushable, so I'll make sure that OSX is updated.
 
2672. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 26 Jul 2005 00:25:22 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
Oops, it's not?
 
2671. Stephan (fl-71-3-46-127.dyn.sprint-hsd.net) – 25 Jul 2005 22:21:36 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
Should the new cross-over wire block be pushable?
 
2670. John Lewis (h170.32.255.206.cable.lngv.cablelynx.com) – 25 Jul 2005 22:09:59 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
I can't update on OSX either...:-(

I want TRANSPONDERS!!! :-)
 
2669. Ken (ca01-ch01-bl03.in-indianap0.sa.earthlink.net) – 25 Jul 2005 21:59:26 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
Sorry, that sounds too much like a complaint. Thanks for releasing the Windows build. It makes my workday more bearable
 
2668. Ken (ca01-ch01-bl03.in-indianap0.sa.earthlink.net) – 25 Jul 2005 21:57:49 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
Argh, Tom, you are torturing me. You released a new windows build but not one for OSX. I only get about 15 minutes to play at work (on Windows). I really looked forward to trying the transponders at home (on OSX). Boo, hoo.
 
2667. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 25 Jul 2005 17:15:43 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
That sounds doable, but having the explosion extend doesn't seem to make much sense if the bomb is already on top of the wall. Or are you saying that it would explode in the position that it's already in, instead of the position that it would be if the push were successful?
 
2666. mjn (pool-68-161-213-167.ny325.east.verizon.net) – 25 Jul 2005 14:51:44 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
Hmm, one last attempt for the pushing-things-into variety:

Have the bombs explode outward in straight lines, like in Bomberman, except not in the direction they're pushed from. The player couldn't be killed by a bomb he's pushing, but he could be killed by a chain reaction, or by a robot pushing a bomb.
 
2665. Tom 7 (gs82.sp.cs.cmu.edu) – 25 Jul 2005 13:03:55 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
It seems to me that making the player invulnerable to the explosion would make bombs too powerful. It's important that tiles have both menacing and useful aspects.
 
2664. mjn (pool-68-161-213-167.ny325.east.verizon.net) – 25 Jul 2005 12:09:37 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
If the player is invulnerable to explosions, then there could be a blast radius with pushing-into-things type bombs. (Hey, how about a couple of different bomb sizes, even?)

Maybe they could also be triggered by electrical pulses, for variety? (like if they're positioned next to a dangling wire)
 
Bummer, indeed! Hang in there. It sounds like you have enough to build on and survive all this crap and hopefully be able to clear up all this emotional debris to start anew. Here's affirming both your fulfillment, and so it is.

Sorry i'll be pasting the content of my email to you as it bounced when I sent it over to your email addy. I thought a gratitude/ fan mail of sorts would cheer you up somehow. Anyway, here it is:

I thought I'd take the time to email you a thank you for all the
wonderful stuff your sharing in your sites. I've uploaded most of y our links on my class e-groups. I thought my art students (Fine Arts & Design college in Manila) would benefit from your infinite creativity. I have this visual journal exercise module for my art studies courses (History of arts, Aesthetics) where they make visual/ conceptual journal entries of what we've taken up in class every week.

It's been years since I last checked out your website and I see you've been productive despite your pursuance of your PHD. You we're still in undergrad when I first downloaded your fonts. Its amazing how you've been able to churn out creative output despite the neckbreaking pace that grad school demands. Kudos to you!

I still can't believe your not an art student! Anyway, thank you.
You've inspired me immensely and now that i've uploaded links to your
websites in my e-groups I know you'll inspire my students as well.

WRR
http://winniedstitchwitch.net
 
2662. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 25 Jul 2005 00:40:50 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
Well, the pushing-bombs-into-things solution assumes that there's no blast radius. But I'd like to have a blast radius. (Otherwise it's impossible to have chain reactions, or situations in which one is trying to delicately avoid collateral damage.) The timer solution requires that I look at every tile on every move, which I want to avoid.

I have throught about the blaster (triggered by an electricity pulse). That would be pretty easy to implement; the main problem seems to be that I would need four of them, one for each direction (something I've also tried to avoid as much as possible). Anyway, I don't think it's really a substitute for bombs, but it's something that might come.
 
2661. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 25 Jul 2005 00:36:46 [ trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and alone ]
That's okay, I don't expect my friends to read my web page in order to make up for my own inability to breach difficult subjects in person. That would be pretty lame of me...
 
2660. Stephan (fl-71-3-46-127.dyn.sprint-hsd.net) – 24 Jul 2005 23:20:01 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
In terms of level flexibility, a timed bomb (three moves of no contact after initial touch?) would be interesting from a level design perspective. This presumes a blast radius. Alternatively, simply pushing the bomb into another tile could trigger it.

Bombs making holes could be fun, though probably less useful.

Instead of bombs and timing complications, how about a controllable (movable?) laser that destroyed tiles in its path?
 
2659. John Lewis (h170.32.255.206.cable.lngv.cablelynx.com) – 24 Jul 2005 23:07:12 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]
Hmmm...perhaps the bombs should be "timed." Instead of pushing them and making them blow up objects when they make contact with them, you could push them somewhere and then hit a special switch that will set off a timer. Then, after a set number of moves, it'll go off...

Just a thought.
 

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