XeO3: Scripting....

Not doing much but cleanign up the script for the demo. I manged to 148 bytes by swapping from

    PFor  10
       Move  -2,10
    PNext

to...

    MoveLoop  10, -2,10

And the code looks much nicer too. Of course I added around 100 bytes of code for the new function, but theres more space there as the script only has 3k to play with!

XeO3: Move commands...

I've just finished adding the MoveLoop command, so I hope this helps to make script writing simpler. Now I need to go through and change all the demo levels scripts to use this new command.

I've also started to fill in the code documentation on the grounds that if I leave it to last, then even when I finish I'll not be able to release the source for months after - until the documentation is complete. So if I start now, it shouldn't be long after the game comes out that the source code is released too! It should be fine though as the code isn't going to change hugely at this stage, so documenting it now I suspect is fine.

XeO3: Script Docs complete!!!

Well, I've finished the 1st pass of the scripting docs!! Didn't take too long at all, I'm quite pleased about that. I do still have a couple of examples to do, but they can be added anytime really....

I also just realised I should really add a MoveLoop command since 90% of move commands are surrounded by For/Next loops!

       PFor   50
          Move  -2,0
       pNext

This takes 6 bytes. But if I were to do this....

       MoveLoop  50, -2,0

It would only take 4. Now, 2 bytes doesn't seem like much, but I have 91 loops in level 1 at 2 bytes per loop which makes 182 bytes saved. Not only that but you'd have less typing, and the code would just look nicer!

;-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
; tear drops...
;-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drop_1:
    DRIFT -1
    Move 0,1
    Move 0,1
    Move 0,2
    Move 0,2
    Move 0,2
    PFOR 4
       Move 0,3
    PNEXT
    PFOR 5
       Move 0,4
    PNEXT
    PFOR 6
       Move 0,5
    PNEXT
    PFOR 200
       Move 0,6
    PNEXT
    KILLSPRITE

becomes....

;-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
; tear drops...
;-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drop_1:
    DRIFT -1
    Move 0,1
    Move 0,1
    Move 0,2
    Move 0,2
    Move 0,2

    MoveLoop 4,   0,3
    MoveLoop 5,   0,4
    MoveLoop 6,   0,5
    MoveLoop 200, 0,6
    KILLSPRITE

Which is much nicer!! Not only that.... But that would give you VERY simple loops in loops.... So a Square path that would look like this...

  PFOR 90
      Move -4,0  
      Move -4,0  
      Move -4,0  
      Move -4,0  
      Move 0,4  
      Move 0,4
      Move 0,4  
      Move 0,4  
      Move -4,0  
      Move -4,0  
      Move -4,0  
      Move -4,0  
      Move 0,-4  
      Move 0,-4  
      Move 0,-4  
      Move 0,-4  
  PNEXT    
  KILLSPRITE

becomes - THIS! (which obviously saves even MORE memory!)

  PFOR 90
      MoveLoop 4,  -4,0  
      MoveLoop 4,  0,4  
      MoveLoop 4,  -4,0  
      MoveLoop 4,  0,-4  
  PNEXT    
  KILLSPRITE

XeO3: Wiki

I'm slowly updating the wiki just now, and documenting the scriping system as best I can. I was going to keep the wiki quiet for now, but Luca's let the cat out the bag so what the hell!

You can get to the wiki either via the main XeO3 web site, or directly at wiki.xeo3.org. All I'm doing there just now is script documentation, but feel free to go and have a read and give me some feedback. Remember the whole reason for doing this was to get a modern game engine out there for people to be able to MOD and release more games! So for that there needs to be some good documentation, and that means people have to understand when the hell I'm talking about!

Still we're on target and things are progressing well (for a change).

I also finished updating my DMADESIGN.ORG site to use my new CGI script, and I did my first perl script as well...very odd - oh well.

Bandwidth Leachers!

I've just spent an hour getting an image script working so that I can stop people leaching bandwidth. Now, dont get me wrong, I actually have stacks of bandwidth left, and I don't even mind them using the images! But what really gets me is when they point directly to one of my images for use as an avatar! If they're a moderator or something, then this image could get pulled down thousands of times! More to the point, if they're a moderator, then they should have the good manners to copy the image onto their own bloody servers! It's not like I'm going around demanding they take down stuff thats on my site, I'm pretty open about people using stuff.. *sigh*

Actually... I downloaded a nice little script, then spent an hour debugging it and making it work! It had several errors in it - typical. :)

(Fek... Now I have to update all my sites so that they can't just pinch another one!)

What are the most popular wireless devices?

Technology has fast evolved with time. There has always been inventions in the world of technology which has affected man’s life one way or the other, but the invention of wireless technology had been one of the major landmarks. It has made life easier and provides mobility. Wireless communication is referred to an operation either electrical or electronic which involves the transfer of information through network channels over a distance (may be either short or very long) without involving the use of hard wired connections. There are many wireless technologies available in market today and is used to refer to everything from Cellular Phones to Global Positioning Systems.

Some of the most popular wireless devices include Satellite Televisions, Global Positioning Systems, Cellular Systems, Security Systems etc. Cellular system is perhaps the most popularly used wireless device. They use radio waves to carry information from one location to another. This information exchange is only possible across sites which can transmit and receive information. They help people to remain connected to the outside world anytime and from anywhere. They offer great connectivity which other devices don’t. Global Positioning system or GPS is one of the most important inventions of the century. Its uses 24 satellites which sends three dimensional information’s such as latitude, longitude and altitude to GPS receivers. It is widely used in European countries but still has a long way to go in India. Television has been around for many years and has always evolved with time. One of the best things that has happened to television technology is the interception of data through satellites which allows the users to receive hundreds of channels at any location. Also the quality of picture received is vastly improved. Security has always been of utmost importance for any individual, organizations or houses. With the advent of wireless technology, security systems have replaced the wired systems previously used and are now much more reliable.

Wireless technology has indeed played a very important role in the modern society. More over due to the cut throat competition, the cost of these popular wireless devices has reduced substantially. Now, most of the gadgets are within the reach of common men. These devices not only make our life easier but also are a great means to improve our intellectual ability. Upcoming devices are adopting the wireless technology, giving the players a cutting edge. With people becoming tech-savvy, the big business houses will have to constantly come up with innovative ideas in the making of gadgets.

XeO3: Polls!

I've added a couple of poll's on the right, please take a moment and fill them out. I'm also interested in what other platforms people are interested in seeing XeO3 ported too... I'd like a SNES version myself, and Amiga... aside from that I know there was interest in the Atari 400/800.

I'm busy writing scripting documentation, and will open it up to public viewing soon enough. Once this is done, I just need to clean up some internal code and then we can release it!