Dundee "smart" city.

This is a funny one.... Dundee has been named as one of the smartest citys on the planet by some of the worlds leading experts. (HERE). I find this really funny coz it names as one of the reasons the ever growing computer games comunity there, which by definition makes me really smart - and if thats not enough to make you laugh, then nothing is.

The other odd thing is that it seems to try and suggest it was planned.

"It said the city had "continued to transform a former shipbuilding community that suffered severe economic shocks into a national powerhouse and leader in game design and sciences"."

Now.... I find it odd - being one of the founders of this "game design" comunity, that they think it a planned thing since anyone actually IN computer games, knows it was simply because DMA brought in heaps of folk, who then splintered off and formed their own companies. Now, Dundee does have a huge number of games companies per head of population, but non of this is because of the planning of Dundee City Council.

However, all that aside it's good to see I guess as it might help to upgrade peoples opinion of Dundee and let them consider it a place to live. We struggle a lot to hire folk, and lots of folk dont want to move here because its got a bad name, so I guess in that respect its good; funny....but good.

Im still here!!!!

I know....its been a while. I'm still actually recovering from my trip believe it or not. I got back just over a week ago and I'm still not sleeping as well as I was, and this means I have no energy at night to do anything else....bit of a bugger really. I am start to think about things again though, and hope to get stuck in soon, although Im not sure if that'll be XeO3 or my MMC add on - time will tell.

Of course...I didnt make a diagram of the MMC thing, so now I have to reverse engineer what I've already done! doh!!

Time for Another Update

The Information Literacy Game has a new update and a bunch of new features.

Get the zip file

• You can track results using a parameter in the URL


• You can use alternate question sets by using a parameter in the URL


• There is a new optional image for the game board


• There is a new set of optional images for the dice


• You don't need to run the game in a window of fixed size any longer, it adjusts to the size of the window you have open


• This is Version 2.0! I'm going to start using tracking numbers so people will know if they have a new or older edition

The new board looks like this:


Stay tuned for future information and updates!

Mode DMA videos and pictures.

So, another day... another stack of pictures and videos uploaded to my flickr and YouTube accounts. I'm starting to run dry now, most of the video I have has been uploaded, and although I do still have a stack of level building graphics for games, I have very little "pictures" left. Which is good I guess, as it means folk can now see everything.

Anyways...back to XeO3. I think I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and put some code in the level loading when done, however it will mean I lose my 1k I've been holding onto in an attempt to keep the character sprite system, but it just appears theres no real space left for them. I need to add code to draw them, spawn them and move them - not to mention the actual graphics themselves.... Luca's gonna kill me....

XeO3: Possible solutions....

While I was talking to Luca last night, I thought of a possible solution to our background animations. The problem is that its code driven, and then tables that drive them which allows cycling frames of animation to be played. This however isn't good for every level as on level 2 (for example) Luca would like to change the sequence and even speed of animations. To this end, I think it might be possible to move the animation code into the level data, and if I do that it would get loaded with each level. Its unusual to load code in this way, and I've never needed to do it, but it might work fine here.

I'll give it a try soon and I hope this will allow Luca to allow do the animations the way he wants.....

Unseen Tanktics video.

This little gem was never used, much to my frustration at the time. When it was made I tried for months to get it included in some Animation festivals as it really was right up there with the likes of Pixar at the time. Created by John Harrison its a great little video.

Anyway - enjoy!

DMA Design stuff....

I've been trying to look out some Uniracers pictures for an upcoming article, and while doing so I've been admiring all the old images I have from those times. The idea originally was to use my DMA Website to show them all, but its just taking too long to put together, I just don't have the time at the moment. Theres also WAAAAAY too much to put up. So, what I thought I'd do is start uploading them to Flickr! That way everyone gets to see them now, AND I don't have to worry about bandwidth costs etc.

I have hit a slight snag however.... I logged out of my flickr account, and now can't log back in! Oh well.... I've emailed the support team so I hope to get it resolved soon. In the meantime, you can see the images I have already uploaded here: www.flickr.com/photos/mikedailly/

I have also decided to upload all the DMA Videos I've been holding back to my youtube account. Im not sure what the longest video you can post there is, but I have some toppers!