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• Dealing with bad/incomplete/unclear specifications?

  - by eagerMoose

  I'm working on a project where our dev team gets the specifications from the business part of the company. Both the business management and the IT management require estimates and deadline projections, as they should. The good thing is that estimates are mostly made by the actual developers who get to do the required features. The bad thing is that the specifications are usually either too simple (it turns out you're left with a lot of question marks over your head because a lot of information seems to be missing) or too complex(up to the point that you can't even visualize where everything would "fit" in the app). More often than not, the business part of the specs are either incomplete or unaware of what can and can't be done (given the previously implemented business logic). Dev team is given about a day per new spec to give an estimate and we do try to clear uncertainties, usually by meeting up with whoever did the spec. Most of the times it turns out that spec writers haven't really thought everything through, and it's usually only when we start designing and developing that we end up in trouble, as a lot of the spec seems to have holes. How do you deal with this? Are you generous on estimates in advance?

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• Is it a good idea to use a formula to balance a game's complexity, in order to keep players in constant flow?

  - by user1107412

  I read a lot about Flow theory and its applications to video games, and I got an idea sticking in my mind. If a number of weight values are applied to different parameters of a certain game level (i.e. the size of the level, the number of enemies, their overal strength, the variance in their behavior, etc), then it should be technically possible to find an overal score mechanism for each level in the game. If a constant ratio of complexity increase were empirically defined, for instance 1,3333, or say, the Golden Ratio, would it be a good idea to arrange the levels in such an order that the increase of overal complexity tends to increase that much? Has somebody tried it?

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• What would most games benefit from having?

  - by Phil

  I think I've seen "questions" like this on stackoverflow but sorry if I'm overstepping any bounds. Inspired by my recent question and all the nice answers (Checklist for finished game?) I think every gamedev out there has something he/she thinks that almost every game should have. That knowledge is welcome here! So this is probably going to be an inspirational subjective list of some sorts and the point is that anyone reading this question will see a point or two that they've overlooked in their own development and might benefit from adding. I think a good example might be: "some sort of manual or help section. Of course it should be proportional to how advanced the game is. Some users won't need it and won't go looking for it but the other ones that do will become very frustrated if they can't remember how to do something specific that should be in the manual". A bad example might be "good gameplay". Of course every game benefits from this but the answer is not very helpful.

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• Help parsing long (3.5mil lines) text file, line by line and storing data, need a strategy

  - by Jarrod

  This is a question about solving a particular problem I am struggling with, I am parsing a long list of text data, line by line for a business app in PHP (cron script on the CLI). The file follows the format: HD: Some text here {text here too} DC: A description here DC: the description continues here DC: and it ends here. DT: 2012-08-01 HD: Next header here {supplemental text} ... this repeats over and over for a few hundred megs I have to read each line, parse out the HD: line and grab the text on this line. I then compare this text against data stored in a database. When a match is found, I want to then record the following DC: lines that succeed the matched HD:. Pseudo code: while ( the_file_pointer_isnt_end_of_file) { line = getCurrentLineFromFile title = parseTitleFrom(line) matched = searchForMatchInDB(line) if ( matched ) { recordTheDCLines // <- Best way to do this? } } My problem is that because I am reading line by line, what is the best way to trigger the script to start saving DC lines, and then when they are finished save them to the database? I have a vague idea, but have yet to properly implement it. I would love to hear the communities ideas\suggestions! Thank you.

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• How to do a multishot in xna?

  - by DeVonte

  I am trying to simulate a gun in which shoots multiple bullets at the same time(similar to a spread out shot). I am thinking I have to create another bullet array then do the same as I have below but in a different direction. Here is what I have so far: foreach (GameObject bullet in bullets) { // Find a bullet that isn't alive if (!bullet.alive) { //And set it to alive bullet.alive = true; if (flip == SpriteEffects.FlipHorizontally) //Facing right { float armCos = (float)Math.Cos(arm.rotation - MathHelper.PiOver2); float armSin = (float)Math.Sin(arm.rotation - MathHelper.PiOver2); // Set the initial position of our bullets at the end of our gun arm // 42 is obtained by taking the width of the Arm_Gun texture / 2 // and subtracting the width of the Bullet texture / 2. ((96/2)=(12/2)) bullet.position = new Vector2( arm.position.X + 42 * armCos, arm.position.Y + 42 * armSin); // And give it a velocity of the direction we're aiming. // Increae/decrease speed by changeing 15.0f bullet.Velocity = new Vector2( (float)Math.Cos(arm.rotation - MathHelper.PiOver4 + MathHelper.Pi + MathHelper.PiOver2), (float)Math.Sin(arm.rotation - MathHelper.PiOver4 + MathHelper.Pi + MathHelper.PiOver2)) * 15.0f; } else //Facing left { float armCos = (float)Math.Cos(arm.rotation + MathHelper.PiOver2); float armSin = (float)Math.Sin(arm.rotation + MathHelper.PiOver2); //Set the initial position of our bullet at the end of our gun arm //42 is obtained be taking the width of the Arm_Gun texture / 2 //and subtracting the width of the Bullet texture / 2. ((96/2)-(12/2)) bullet.position = new Vector2( arm.position.X - 42 * armCos, arm.position.Y - 42 * armSin); //And give it a velocity of the direction we're aiming. //Increase/decrease speed by changing 15.0f bullet.Velocity = new Vector2( -armCos, -armSin) * 15.0f; } return; }// End if }// End foreach

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• Programming Language vs. Game Engine [on hold]

  - by hunteroatway17

  I understand that this question has been asked multiple times before. I am just asking this quick and simple question. I have been learning programming in C#, Java and C++ for the past 6 months; Just experimenting with each. I think that C++ is the one that I like most. What I would like to know and am wondering about is should I learn a programming language and use a 2D framework like Allegro; Or should I learn Unity and make 2D games in that because it is probably faster and easier. I want to learn something that I can get pretty good at, seeing as I am pursuing a career in indie game development. I also have a programmer's mind set and I am a left brain thinker so learning a language is not a issue. I just want to best and most future proof choice. Thanks.

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• Ubuntu App Contest - Open Source Libraries

  - by Chao

  I just found out about and started looking into the Ubuntu App Contest, and I wanted to double check the contest's stance on using open source libraries built by others that are freely available on the web. I read through the rules and some of the other Q&As, and it sounds like using these libraries would not be allowed (since it could mean the app isn't built from scratch, and the library would not be in the Ubuntu archive - although I could bundle the library with the app), and I just wanted to verify this assumption. Thanks! Chao

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• Are programming languages pretty much "stable" for now?

  - by Sauron

  Recently i have looked at the "timeline" of Programming Languages and while a lot has changed in the past 5-10 years, there are a lot of languages that have pretty much "stayed" the same in their niche/use. For example, let's take C language. We don't really ever see much languages being developed (correct me if i'm wrong) to try to Unseat C. However, there are a lot of languages that try to do similar things (look at all the SQL/No-SQL languages) Scripting Languages, etc... Is there a reason for this trend? Or is it just because C was designed very well ? and there isn't really any need for new once?

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• How does Python compile some its code in C?

  - by Howcan

  I read that some constructs of Python are more efficient because they are compiled in C. https://wiki.python.org/moin/PythonSpeed/PerformanceTips Some of the examples used were map() and filter(). I was wondering how Python is able to do this? It's generally interpreted, so how does some of the code get compiled while another is interpreted - and in a different language? Why not just compile the whole thing?

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• What are the common character animation techniques used in tile based hack&slash games?

  - by Gorky

  I wonder what kind of animation techniques are used for creature and character animation in modern hack&slash type tile based games? Keyframing for different actions may be one option. Skeletal framing may be another. But how about the physics? Or do they use a totally hybrid system of inverse kinematics supported with a skeleton,physics and mixed with interpolated keyframing for more realistic animations? If so, how and for what reasons? I can think of many different solutions for the issues below but I wonder what's used and best suited for issues like: Walking or moving on an uneven terrain Combat interaction, combat physics and collisions Attaching rigid items to character and their iteractions ih physics world Soft body dynamics like hair, vegetation, clothes and fabric in line with animations and iteractions.

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• What is a proper way of building Winform apps with multiple "screens"

  - by CurtisHx

  What's a proper way of building a Winform app that has multiple 'screens'? For example, I'm trying to write a small backup program (mainly for giggles), and I've been dumping controls and containers onto the form. I'm using panels and group boxes to separate out the different screens (eg: I'm using a panel to hold all of the controls for the "Settings" window, and another panel to show all the current backups that have been set up). Well, my form.cs file ballooned into a massive amount of code, and I feel like I'm doing something wrong. I can hardly find anything in the file, and I'm ready to start over. This project was just for me to expand my knowledge of C# and .NET, so starting a new project is not a huge deal.

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• How to search drupal site from the new Unity lense?

  - by Ognjen

  I'm creating a simple Unity lense for my college site which is based on Drupal, but I don't know how to adapt this command for Drupal API. Please help, it's python. We now create our query url, using the Wikipedia opensearch API url = ("%s/w/api.php?action=opensearch&limit=25&format=json&search=%s" % (self.wiki, search)) I'm using template to write lense following Wikipedia example http://developer.ubuntu.com/2012/04/how-to-create-a-wikipedia-unity-lens-for-ubuntu/. I don't know python but Im familiar with C. This Drupal API calling is the only problem I have to successfully develop a lense. Please help!

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• How do you prevent inflation in a virtual economy?

  - by Tetrad

  With your typical MMORPG, players can usually farm the world for raw materials essentially forever. Monsters/mineral veins/etc are usually on some respawn timer so, other than time, there really isn't a good way to limit the amount of new currency entering the system. So that really only leaves money sinks to try to take money out of the system. What are some strategies to prevent inflation of the in-game currency?

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• Removing an element not currently in a list: ValueError?

  - by Izkata

  This is something that's bothered me for a while, and I can't figure out why anyone would ever want the language to act like this: In [1]: foo = [1, 2, 3] In [2]: foo.remove(2) ; foo # okay Out[2]: [1, 3] In [3]: foo.remove(4) ; foo # not okay? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ValueError Traceback (most recent call last) /home/izkata/<ipython console> in <module>() ValueError: list.remove(x): x not in list If the value is already not in the list, then I'd expect a silent success. Goal already achieved. Is there any real reason this was done this way? It forces awkward code that should be much shorter: for item in items_to_remove: try: thingamabob.remove(item) except ValueError: pass Instead of simply: for item in items_to_remove: thingamabob.remove(item) As an aside, no, I can't just use set(thingamabob).difference(items_to_remove) because I do have to retain both order and duplicates.

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• Algorithms for rainfall + river creation in procedurally generated terrain

  - by Peck

  I've recently become fascinated by the things that can be done with procedurally terrain and have started experimenting with world building a bit. I'd like to be able to make worlds something like Dwarf fortress with biomes created from meshing together various maps. So first step has been done. Using the diamond-square algorithm I've created some nice hieghtmaps. Next step is I would like to add some water features and have them somewhat realistically generated with rainfall. I've read about a few different approaches such as starting at the high points of the map, and "stepping" down to the lowest neighboring point, pooling/eroding as it works its way down to sea level. Are there any documented algorithms with this or are they more off the cuff? Would love any advice/thoughts.

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• Alt-Tab in 12.04 requires pressing Enter to select app, can I disable that?

  - by Brett Hoerner

  Alt+Tab quickly opens the switcher for me, but tabbing over to the next app and releasing the keys will just leave it selected, not switch to it. I have to press Enter to actually switch to the app. How do I make it automatically switch when I release like every other switcher out there? Same behavior occurs when using Super+Tab with either the Compiz Ring Switcher or Shift Switcher. This seems different from the 11.10 behavior.

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• Writing a Master's Thesis on evaluating visual scripting systems

  - by user1107412

  I am thinking to write my Master's thesis around theorizing, and then implementing a PlayMaker or Kismet-like (building game logic by visually arranging FSMs) tool in Unity. The only thing I am still concerned about is the actual research question that I should pose. I was kinda hoping that the more experienced game designers out there might know. Update: What about reducing the use of visual programming to graphically designing FSM-Action-Transition flows, which can then be attached to game entities (very much like http://playmaker.com does it)?

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• Ubuntu App Submission won't allow the "free" bubble to be checked

  - by Compt

  I am at the final stages of the Ubuntu App Developer Showdown, and I'm right at the point where I am submitting my app. The problem I run in to however, is that even though buy is at $0.00, it will not allow me to click on the "free" button, and keep that configuration saved. So when I go to "preview your app", it shows it saying "USD $0.00 ---- Buy" instead of saying "Free ---- Install". So I was wondering if it makes any difference or not.

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• Abstract Factory Method and Polymorphism

  - by Scotty C.

  Being a PHP programmer for the last couple of years, I'm just starting to get into advanced programming styles and using polymorphic patterns. I was watching a video on polymorphism the other day, and the guy giving the lecture said that if at all possible, you should get rid of if statements in your code, and that a switch is almost always a sign that polymorphism is needed. At this point I was quite inspired and immediately went off to try out these new concepts, so I decided to make a small caching module using a factory method. Of course the very first thing I have to do is create a switch to decide what file encoding to choose. DANG! class Main { public static function methodA($parameter='') { switch ($parameter) { case 'a': $object = new \name\space\object1(); break; case 'b': $object = new \name\space\object2(); break; case 'c': $object = new \name\space\object3(); break; default: $object = new \name\space\object1(); } return (sekretInterface $object); } } At this point I'm not really sure what to do. As far as I can tell, I either have to use a different pattern and have separate methods for each object instance, or accept that a switch is necessary to "switch" between them. What do you guys think?

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• Procedural object generation and unique identification

  - by 2080

  My question relates to procedural content generation and data management of the emerging objects in a database. I assume a networked game, with a server-client model. Unspecified objects in the game world are generated while the game is running with procedural algorithms (for example perlin noise). The players (/clients) can modify the properties of these objects, but have to notify the server of these changes. How could this communication address unique objects, so that both the server and the client know of which object they are speaking? Not only the inner properties of the objects can differ, but also visible, such as the position. When the player wants to select one of these objects the game has to find out the id - does anyone know which methods or algorithms can accomplish that?

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• Code Line Delimiter [closed]

  - by John Isaiah Carmona

  Possible Duplicate: Why are statements in many programming languages terminated by semicolons? I just found out that R Programming Language, which is somewhat belong to the C family (I'm not sure about this but it uses {} instead of begin end), uses a new line as a delimiter for a new line of code instead of the semi-colon ;. Why is some programming language designed to use a new line instead of a symbol like semi-colon which I think will make the code more readable? Phyton total = item_one + \ item_two + \ item_three C total = item_one + item_two + item_three;

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• When to use functional programming approach and when not? (in Java)

  - by john smith optional

  let's assume I have a task to create a Set of class names. To remove duplication of .getName() method calls for each class, I used org.apache.commons.collections.CollectionUtils and org.apache.commons.collections.Transformer as follows: Snippet 1: Set<String> myNames = new HashSet<String>(); CollectionUtils.collect( Arrays.<Class<?>>asList(My1.class, My2.class, My3.class, My4.class, My5.class), new Transformer() { public Object transform(Object o) { return ((Class<?>) o).getName(); } }, myNames); An alternative would be this code: Snippet 2: Collections.addAll(myNames, My1.class.getName(), My2.class.getName(), My3.class.getName(), My4.class.getName(), My5.class.getName()); So, when using functional programming approach is overhead and when it's not and why? Isn't my usage of functional programming approach in snippet 1 is an overhead and why?

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• How to copy or replicate a complex website to local file and modify then

  - by Andre Chenier

  I am not good at designing the visual side of a website. I found a website which I gave 10 over 10 because its functionality suits my aims and also it seems very esthetical. I know HTML, PHP, mySQL and some degree of CSS. I don't know JS, Ajax, Jquery. So I want to replicate this web site (save completely) on my local and then modify it. (content, colors, icons etc.) I saved this web site in Chrome and IE. After clicking the site from my local folder, a saw an ugly & non-working site. My aim is to understand the functions of the parts that I don't know. For example when I delete a js in its page what will happen as the result of the deletion operation. Since the page is too complex it has lots of css, js files to download inside. I don't want to deal it manually. Is there any alternative and easy way to get the web page completely to my local which also works like a charm from local? regards

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• Is there an antipattern to describe this method of coding?

  - by P.Brian.Mackey

  I have a codebase where the programmer tended to wrap things up in areas that don't make sense. For example, given an Error log we have you can log via ErrorLog.Log(ex, "friendly message"); He added various other means to accomplish the exact same task. E.G. SomeClass.Log(ex, "friendly message"); Which simply turns around and calls the first method. This adds levels of complexity with no added benefit. Is there an anti-pattern to describe this?

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• How do you save/export changes made in Firebug?

  - by blunders

  Using Firebug to edit CSS, how do I save/export changes made to the CSS? TOOLS: Firefox, Firebug MAJOR UPDATE: If you know of a way to lock the forward/back/refresh on a FireFox tab, please let me know. Otherwise, I've given up on using FireBug/FireDiff as an IDE for CSS, it's nice, but lol... press backspace at the wrong time and ALL your work is gone... funny. So, really like the browser highlighting to CSS/HTML in Firebug. Know any good CSS editors that do this? Really had hope FireBug would work, but for now only see it as being good for ad-hoc inspection and test; meaning using it for what it's made for. UPDATES: @Lèse majesté: Just as an update, "Web Developer add-on" does let you edit CSS, but it does not let you edit/save CSS changes made by Firebug. Meaning you use Firebug to ID and maybe test changes, but it does not let you save the changes from Firebug. Here's a "how to" covering how to use them together: FF + FB + WD @Lèse majesté: Still playing around with FireDiff. It works okay, found one bug already (although I'm just working around it), and there's no "how to" I've been able to find, so I'm just trying every feature and clicking around... (for example, to export a diff you must be over the last item in the list, right click, and select as "Save Diff". The ".diff" is just a text file, no idea why at this point the ext is .diff.

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