I remember reading a "Teach Yourself HTML" book back in 2000 which basically got me started on website development, basic stuff. All excited, I bought a lot more books after that, from "Learn XML" to "Learn Java in 21 days", which for some reason I never really bothered reading afterwards. Learning Flash with in-built tutorials and from net (sites like Flashkit) helped in doing a lot of freelance website development but in the end I pretty much still am jack of all trades (just like with games development).

Anyways, last book I read was the DaVinci code (which was great btw, a must read) and now I have just realised that in the end, it's the paper editions that really help you (or at least, me) immerse yourself in the content matter whether you are learning HTML or just enjoying some fiction. Reading tutorials online just doesn't have the same feel to it, even though they are free.

At the moment, I am reading some books on a lot of different subjects, trying to understand more of JAVA(script) to CSS for website development, among other things. Also, I am interested in learning Java so let's see what keeps me more interested in the next few days.

Oh and side by side I am working on a game project (having canceled a lot more before) which I hope to actually finish and publish this time. It's based on old Tanks game formulae from arcade with co-op action (offline co-op). Well, it's a total revamp and only the control scheme and top down style is similar I guess.

Labels: CryptiKarma

The discussion link.

UPDATE: Actually, just goto the homepage.

Labels: Industry

I have been busy for the past few months working mostly on websites (freelance, obviously). Way too boring but neccessary at the same time. I am going to reboot the whole site soon, layout to content. The mods section will be pretty much moved to the corner since I intend to concentrate on actual games I have been working on for some time now.

On the side note, bought the SideWinder X6 keyboard from Microsoft to replace my 4 year old Microsoft natural keyboard (which still works, compared to Logitech keyboards I have tried..). It sits next to my Logitech MX518 and both work fine, just fine (try playing COD4 and 5 with this combo, pure bliss). Surprisingly, keys are small compared to Natural keyboard (they are like Notebook keys) and for the first 2 days I without even trying managed to get used to the new layout and even the rest pad (too bad it isn't detachable though).

Here's a pic from Microsoft..

I am mentioning both products because I have read reviews on sites like Amazon and Newegg where users complained how magnets in X6 destroyed the mice. Now I am not saying they are lying but it didn't happen to me. So MX518 users should be fine. As far as performance is concerned, ignore G15 fanboys out there. The keys in typical MS fashion are just way too comfortable (and yes, I can press multiple keys without any issues). Every Logitech keyboard I have tried so far always made typing or gaming hell for me because of hard-ass keypresses. Other like it, I hate it. Plus, X6 is slim, and the numpad is removeable (bonus points right there).

NOTE: You can set the shortcuts in Foobar to 'Global' and set the media keys (eg., Next/Previous/Pause|Play) on the keyboard to call these shortcuts. By default these keys work with media player only when it is minimised. After setting global keys shortcuts they will work with Foobar as well (when it is minimised to system tray).

ANYWAYS, I recommend giving this keyboard a try before jumping into G15 bandwagon. Also, Battlestar Galactica (season-4) finale airs on 20th. FRAKING WAIT IS FRAKING KILLING ME.. FRAK.

Labels: CryptiKarma

"Even within the scientific community it's a problem. You see, if I run a complicated model and I do something to it - like melt a lot of ice into the ocean - and nothing happens, it's not likely to get printed. But if I run the same model, and adjust it in such a way that something dramatic happens to the ocean, like if the heat transport turns off, then it will be published. People will say this is very exciting and it will even get picked up by the media. So there's a bias - a very powerful bias - within the media and within the science community itself toward results which are dramatizing."

View the Channel 4 documentary here.

Labels: Nuts

Been busy this week working on a logo for 'CryptiKarma Entertainment' (return of the Swastika). Side by side, working on a god game aimed at casual gamers and hardcore gamers alike.

For starters I am using GameMaker for protoyping the whole thing. Considering the amount of pita GM can generate in just one hour of working with high res sprites, I am really looking forward to a update which cures the 'lossless' compression problem in GM (among others).

Labels: CryptiKarma

Great article from HT by Vir Sanghvi:

"It's harder still to argue that Hinduism, which survived centuries of Buddhist influence, Muslim rule and the British empire, faces any significant threat from the activities of missionaries in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh or Karnataka."

Must read.

Labels: Nuts

I don't care about Star Wars or the MMO behind all the NGE controversy, but still, the people bitching about it even after his death just makes me sad.

Anyways, his last post and some info about NGE if you (like me) didn't know about the whole fiasco.

Labels: Industry

I haven't worked on my mods for Wc3 for sometime now. So before I pack-up my modding tools and thow away the key, I have decided to finish some of the mods that I really enjoyed working on all this time..

Skeletal Rage 2 : Sequel to SR: Extremities, SR2 pretty much achieves what I wanted to achieve with SR in the first place. A dark gory battlefield with skeletons and their captured slaves duking it out mindlessly. Win by numbers, through speed, using epic heroes and vehicles, or good old strategy.

Gameplay Video from SR2 + Screenshots.

I know, it's not the best demonstration considering that most Wc3 players are used to the massively detailed maps like Dota and AOS, but still, I hope it's more than enough for some people to give this map a try and then give some feedback. I have already started work on the standalone version of this game based on another project I have been busy with sometime now (which will be posted here as well, Indie category). So feedback will help a lot with the standalone version as well as the mod.

UNDERWORLD: The Legend of Nephthys : "HDD crash.", "Recovery.", "Not quite dead.", that's basically the story of this project and the reason behind any activity AT ALL for a long time. I ended up chucking a big part of the project (mostly, pre-rendered cinematics) out of the window because of the loss of work that included the story and elements supporting the cinematics in the first place. What I will now do is to release what I have recovered as an unifinished campaign and a gameplay video (coming soon). Here's the last shot from the cinematic :(

Labels: Wc3 Mods

So I came across this video of a fan project ‘Chrono Resurrection’ posted on TIG. Obviously, like most of the remakes, this one was served with C&D notice as well.

Why exactly does the developers kill these fan remakes? Think about it. A remake, if well done, increases the expectations of the fans who expect to see the original developers top the the fan projects in terms of gameplay, graphics.. etc.

Now if you are the original developer and have planned the follow-up title to be a game built on the same engine with minor upgrades to the effects and few additions to the gameplay.. a fan remake which surpasses your plans puts pressure on you to spend time and resources upgrading to and above the level of a free remake.

Infact, the reason why most games don’t come out with mods and TC’s is that, that the developers/publishers are looking forward to milking the IP with sequels and IF the game would have mod support and a huge community building really cool mods, then the players would prefer staying away from a remake which may or may not live upto their expectations. MAJOR drop in sales.

Only few developers, who are willing to give an IP few years break (like Blizzard) can afford to give modding support. It makes the developers money (people buy games sometimes to play mods only) while they fund a completely different project, like an MMO (World of Warcraft). Now imagine EA providing modding support for NFS and Fifa games. Since every sequel has minor updates (or updates that are retarded, like prostreet and Carbon.. or whatever the hell they actually update in their sports games), people would rather spend time playing a game with steady stream of new and FREE content by the community itself. A HUGE LOSS.

That’s why, provide modding support only IF you can afford it. Oh and crush every fan remake if it looks something exceeding your own expectations (else, why bother).

 PS: I haven’t played any Chronos game, but the the video impressed me (seriously, excellent work there).

Labels: Industry

Having recently witnessed the horror called Vista, I was really close to switching back to XP (32–bit) or even Ubuntu (have an eye on it for some time now) until I decided to risk all the ‘programs not working under 64–bit’ curse and move on to a 64–bit OS.

Best decision ever.

Forget the small boot time and startup time no matter how many programs you have installed on PC or set to run at startup, the speed at which ‘every’, even 32–bit, apps start and execute commands is mind-blowing. WindowsXP x64 is finally taking advantage of my dual core (AMD-X2) processor and 3gb ram which was lost on a 32–bit OS, that’s obvious. But of course, with great power comes really annoying ‘issues’. Pros and cons of 64–bit OS:

Cons:
– Games like Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, using MSI installers refuse to install under 64–bit OS. There is a way around which requires you to use a utility to edit the MSI file itself to allow it to run on any OS but that utility itself refuses to run on 64–bit XP.. did I mention that the utility was also created by Microsoft?

– The above mentioned problem is the ONLY problem I have encountered so far. I probably should mention that old DOS games can also run into these problems. Obviously you will be using DosBox for running old DOS games and since I haven’t bothered installing DB I can’t really tell whether the age old games work under it or not in 64–bit.

 
Pros:
– Speed. If you are an artist (includes game developers and Photoshop-only users) or a gamer, 64–bit is a must have.

– Open Source/Freeware heaven. I have almost every single replacement for commercial softwares I was using before because for some reason commercial softwares were behind updating their softwares for 64–bit OS’s compatibility and still are. On the other hand OpenSource/Freeware softwares all run without any issues under x64 system. So, you get legal and free softwares (damn right it’s win-win).

– Updated drivers are out there already. So unless you are using some ancient piece of junk, ignore the talk on how drivers aren’t available for 64–bit. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t search for driver updates from manufacturers before upgrading though. If there are no driver/firmware updates for compatibility for 64–bit OS from the manufacturers even though the hardware is latest, you know who you shouldn’t buy from anymore (while we are at it, Lite-On drives sucks and so does ASUS mobo’s with their retarded layouts and crappy on-board fans).

In the end, I really haven’t experienced any ‘major’ incompatibility of softwares or hardware under 64–bit so far. My keyboard, display card, gamepad even worked without updating any driver (for display card). Everything works fine, and even better than 32 bit XP. No wonder MS is trying to stop XP production and shove Vista down their throat.. probably only the so called ‘hardcore’ gamers (read = people with too much money) will bother for now.

Labels: Industry