Saturday, December 18, 2010

Rubik's Cube

I have always really liked the idea of a Rubik's Cube since I first heard of it in 4th grade. The next year I got one and learned how to solve in within 2 months. From there on out I have been working towards lowering my time and simplifying the algorithms to make things easier on myself.

When someone solves a Rubik's Cube they USUALLY aren't just making things up as they go. Most "cubers" and their speedy counterparts, the "speedcubers", are using a very lengthy list of memorized algorithms that make up a method. Yeah crazy, scary, big word. Fact: algorithm simply means a VERY specific way to solve a problem. But before I get too much further, I shall digress. Each method has it's own order in which the "cubies" are each put into the correct position. To do this, each method is broken down into several steps. For example, the Fredrich (CFOP) method first creates a cross on the bottom, puts the corners into the bottom layer, then fills in the second layer, orients the top layer, and finally permutes it into the correct location. And viola...solved cube.

In order to accomplish each step in a method, it is first broken in all possible cases, to which a algorithm is assigned. So while solving, you are executing the current algorithm, whist "looking ahead" to determine which algorithm you are to use next. So an uber complex problem is thus simplified into easy memorization.

After you have everything memorized and have been solving for quite some time, you will notice yourself actually understanding what all your crazily quick finger motions are doing, and how things are affected by these algorithms. You will also understand why you must use such a complex algorithm to get a LL ( last-layer) cubie into place, without disturbing the solved portions of the cube. But all this understanding...ness takes the desire to get the end result (solved cube + amazement from all spectators) and devotion. You HAVE to be committed to learning the algorithms and getting more dexterity with your fingers.

Well, that about raps up my skimming view at Rubik's Cubes.

~V 1.0~

//If you have any topics you would like to see me write about, drop me a comment\\

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Roguelikes

Back in 1980 two guys, Michael Toy and Glenn Whichman created a lovely little game called Rogue

Start up Screen
It was a very simple game in which is made up of a grid of ASCII. You originally were the @ sign that walked around. Nowadays there is a graphical version, which I have, (http://www.dosgamesarchive.com/download/rogue/) it isn't nearly as cool as the original version on a terminal. Your main goal is to descend deeper and deeper into the dungeons, leveling up of course, until you retrieve the Amulet of Yendor. I know. Spicy name. Then you get to tote it all the way back to the top. In my opinion, an excellent way to waste innumerable hours.
Playing Rogue


THEN...the people saw that this was good, so they went to their own computers and started work on their own games that were like Rogue...but weren't Rogue. So before the 80's had run its course, there was Hack,  Moria (obviously based on Tolkien's Middle Earth), Larn, a successor to Hack known as NetHack, and numerous other less popular titles. All these games expanded on the overhead view looking down upon your character, but they also added classes, races, and other goodies. Then in 1990 the open-sourced Angaband was born based heavily on Moria, in 1994 Thomas Biskup of Germany brought us my personal favorite: ADOM (a nifty acronym meaning Ancient Domains of Mystery), in 1996 Diablo was born (which featured...graphics!),  DoomRL (very entertaining),  another of my favorites, Dwarf Fortress, was born in 2006, and another T.o.M.E.. At this point you may be trying to find these games to buy, but unfortunately...they are all FREE*!!

*Thomas Biskup asks you to send him a postcard in exchange for getting his game ;)



DoomRL

DoomRL is a really nostalgic game. It brings you back to the original Doom, probably because it has ALL the original sound effects and music! Really great combat mechanics, and interesting leveling system.

Doom Startup Screen
I'm the @ symbol

With a Berserker Pack 

ADOM

ADOM is a really really fun game. The first few run-throughs are really confusing but once you start to understand where you need to go and start memorizing the commands it can really get fun.

ADOM Startup screen

Leveling Up


The 3rd level of a Dungeon


A room full of enemies
Dwarf Fortress

Dwarf Fortress...Wow. There is SOOO much detail in this game! Before you can start building your fortress the game must first generate an entire world for you to play in. It first creates a really realistic world with forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, and oceans. Then, DF populates this world with a variety of races and special creatures and generates a history (generally like 500 years) and THEN you can play. But there is a whole mode of this game devoted to reviewing the generated history ;)!!! Also it simulates weather and places  gems and minerals in the correct geological conditions that they form in, in real life! Good Stuff Tarn Adams!

Dwarf Fortress Startup screen


Getting some designations in place

Mining bedrooms for the dwarfs

Some stats about this VEERY young fortress

The finished bedrooms


These games are often overlooked because of their (insanely) high learning curve. It does take a while to get used to the different environment in which you, as the player, find yourself. For example, in Dwarf Fortress you don't actually have direct control over any of your dwarves; you just assign jobs that must be done, but it is still up to "the dwarfs" to actually realize they are selected to that type of work, that they aren't doing anything else, and that they should do it.

Roguelikes have definitely gotten much more complicated since the original Rogue, but I would definitely suggest you try at least one of them out. Also, give yourself some time to learn the commands and at least partially understand the game before quitting. There is fun in it....somewhere ;)

~V 1.5~

//If you have any topics you would like to see me write about, drop me a comment\\

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

We're Up!

So now that I officially have this thing up and running I might as well tell you a little bit about what this blog is planned to be. Every *insert finite amount of time here* I will post a...post that will explain several bits of information about things that I like to do, learn, see, eat, etc. I will try to include some exciting things that are going on without boring anyone too too much. So here it goes

Tim

~V 1.0~

//If you have any topics you would like to see me write about, drop me a comment\\