2658. mjn (dialn-async401.dial.net.nyu.edu) – 24 Jul 2005 21:07:19 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]

These things sound like a lot of fun.

I think having bombs explode when you push them into things makes a little more sense than activating/stepping away, mostly because of all those potentially confusing scenarios you listed. Perhaps it could act like a red block normally, but if you pushed it into something that would stop a red, it'd blow up and take the other thing with it (the same way grays remove holes)?

Although I don't know what would happen if you pushed it into electricity--would it disappear, or would it take out the electricity, too? (Hell, maybe you could clear out a region of electricity by pushing a bomb into it.)

Not sure about holes, either. Doesn't seem like a bomb should be able to "blow up" a hole--maybe it could just fall in.

Inactivity could be done with sleeping bombs/heart framers.

Chain reactions would be fun. I'd vote for panel activation, too, and for bot-killing.

2657. Brian (potetz.dsl.telerama.com) – 24 Jul 2005 19:17:19 [ trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and alone ]

Crap. I'm going to have to start checking this journal much more often. I can't believe you were in my office last week while I was acting like an idiot. At least my intentions for calling were good.

Crap. You guys were a great couple. I hope its alright if I'm still optimistic. I'm pretty fond of both of you, and it was nice seeing both of you happy, and that when things were working out, they seemed to be working out really well. I hope things work out.

2656. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 23 Jul 2005 23:50:31 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]

Discussion welcome, of course.
1. Nothing except bots should require looking at the whole level every turn -- so nothing can be activated "automatically." This would include timers on bombs. Instead, they have to be activated by the player being near them or pushing them.

2. Bombs shouldn't be bots, because we should be able to have lots of them in a level. (??)

3. I thought that there could be a few states for bombs:
(a) inactive
(b) after pushed or touched by the player, they become active
(c) after the player steps away, they explode

.. but stepping away is tough to define. the player should be able to switch directions while pushing it, so that would mean that we'd need to include at least the diagonal directions. what about transports? what if the bomb is swapped into bizarro world when it's active? if bots activate bombs too, would a bot standing next to an active bomb prevent it from exploding? what if the player steps away but a bot steps in his place? what if a bot activates a bomb but then the player steps away from it?

4. do bombs activate panels? set off chain reactions with other bombs?

errr

2655. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 23 Jul 2005 22:38:52 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]

I have been thinking about bombs, but they are tricky. So, I'm not sure the right way to do them yet.

2654. John Lewis (h170.32.255.206.cable.lngv.cablelynx.com) – 23 Jul 2005 22:24:51 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]

When will we see bombs? :-)

2653. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 23 Jul 2005 15:44:00 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]

Transponders implemented! Also a new wire present.

2652. Anonymous (69.251.236.177) – 23 Jul 2005 14:30:01 [ Quake 3 Done! ]

Thanks to all of your guys help, I have finally beaten Xaero on nightmare. Just 6 stages left on nightmare and I will have done them all. Exquisite!

2651. FARINA00 (host226-98.pool8536.interbusiness.it) – 23 Jul 2005 12:52:18 [ trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and alone ]

Tom, of course this won't soothe at all your "pain", if conventional pain it is - but let me just tell you that I can understand perfectly because some minor details aside (paying for dinners etc., little things you mentioned in the beginning just to cast them away before the "serious core") - I just lived your same *exact* situation for the same *exact* reasons, with my last girlfriend. Who now isn't my girlfriend anymore, after a 2 years and half story, and a full year of cohabitation [possibly this has been my most important relationship ever]

Now go out and win her back as I am trying to do: we went through this two times already and unexpectedly enough each time our bound grew stronger... on a geometric progression :D Hey, btw we need the female touch on the ugif messageboard. Go Tom go!

2650. Max (pcp0010478666pcs.hamden01.ct.comcast.net) – 23 Jul 2005 00:47:57 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]

Okay cool.

2649. Tom 7 (gs82.sp.cs.cmu.edu) – 22 Jul 2005 14:32:34 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]

It's the OS that sends 'em, not me. ;) OK, well, I'll get around to fixing that bug soon enough. It won't quit from places where you have data to save (editing/playing), though.

2648. Max (pcp0010478666pcs.hamden01.ct.comcast.net) – 22 Jul 2005 14:08:01 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]

Yes, it exits if it's on the main menu. Maybe just send a few more SDL_QUIT messages. This will still cancel logout if there's something that needs to be saved, but this is the way that all other OS X programs work so that's good.

2647. Tom 7 (lolo.wv.cc.cmu.edu) – 21 Jul 2005 16:40:55 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]

Max: I wish I knew how to fix this, but I don't think I do. When using SDL, the menu isn't under my control. One thing I don't do correctly is that SDL_QUIT messages (which is probably what gets sent when the OS is trying to close) usually get translated into a "local quit" (like hitting escape) instead of a global shutdown. That's a bug. Does escape exit if it's on the main menu when you try to log out?

2646. Max (pcp0010478666pcs.hamden01.ct.comcast.net) – 21 Jul 2005 14:42:54 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]

On the OS X version, you probably should change the way the program quits. Using the escape key is fine, but not having Apple+Q work probably is the cause of logout failure when you try to shut down your computer without quitting Escape. Normally, it will automatically quit all applications when you shut down, but Escape remains open and cancels logout until you quit it by pressing escape. If possible, you should also add the option to "Quit" under the menu that reads "Escape" at the top, in keeping form with all OS X programs.

2645. Anonymous (pcp01254999pcs.hamden01.ct.comcast.net) – 20 Jul 2005 20:12:38 [ trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and alone ]

Hi Tom
I have know you for a long time and you are a terrific guy. Hang in there and don't give up. Those of os who have met Heather love her also.

2644. ur little sister [3 (pcp01935919pcs.hamden01.ct.comcast.net) – 20 Jul 2005 17:28:23 [ trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and alone ]

i feel for you tom and and can understand your pain i've been through the kind of the same situation, just help yourself to realize that she is the one for you (which we all know at home) and that reaching out, and revealing your whole self will probably save this. its probably a murphy thing because feelings are hard to talk about for me too. so do what you can, maybe some flowers and diamonds(hehe)..perhaps a mini vacation. Good luck. we're all rooting for you at home.. xox g2g luv ya

2643. Max (qu-advlan110.quinnipiac.edu) – 20 Jul 2005 12:53:20 [ Some things. ]

I always thought it was Gary Coleman.

2642. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 20 Jul 2005 10:07:08 [ Some things. ]

Haha, nice.

2641. Arthur (ctwboo101.ctw.utwente.nl) – 20 Jul 2005 09:47:15 [ Some things. ]

MTV says it was the Cash Money Millionaires (who?). And it has been added to Oxford English Dictionary.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471629/20030430/bg.jhtml?headlines=true

2640. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 20 Jul 2005 01:50:02 [ Some things. ]

I think p.diddy invented it.

2639. Max (pcp0010478666pcs.hamden01.ct.comcast.net) – 19 Jul 2005 19:43:47 [ Some things. ]

No, "bling bling!"

2638. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 19 Jul 2005 19:42:39 [ Some things. ]

What, "the true treasure is understanding"??

2637. Max (pcp0010478666pcs.hamden01.ct.comcast.net) – 19 Jul 2005 19:04:02 [ Some things. ]

Wow, that is a cool expression!

2636. Tom 7 (gs82.sp.cs.cmu.edu) – 19 Jul 2005 17:32:11 [ Some things. ]

bling bling!

2635. Adam (lynx.auton.cs.cmu.edu) – 19 Jul 2005 17:16:24 [ Some things. ]

The true treasure is understanding.

2634. Tom 7 (h-72-244-70-115.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 19 Jul 2005 01:06:19 [ NEW: Escape Beta 2! ]

I just checked the newest windows version and 'u' does indeed work when dead. Make sure you don't have control, shift, or alt pressed (the game sometimes gets confused about these, so you might want to press and release them to reset its knowledge). If that doesn't work--well, what version does it show in the title bar? It should be 200507020.