KeepCalmAndDream's recent activity
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Comment on Looking for a top down tactical wargame in ~games
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Comment on Tildes Gaming Club, January 2024: Tinkering in ~games
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentI love logic puzzle games too. Most of the time I do a lot of solving in my head, but Baba is You really encourages me to tinker and just mess around. Especially for later puzzles, many times I'm...I love logic puzzle games too. Most of the time I do a lot of solving in my head, but Baba is You really encourages me to tinker and just mess around. Especially for later puzzles, many times I'm trying to see what behaviours I can program, and then expanding/adjusting/debugging those programs.
Here's some epic tinkering and programming that folks have done using level creation:
Baba is You is Turing-complete.
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Comment on If you came into a lot of money, what would be the indulgent thing you would buy? in ~talk
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentI think the bigger house is the main indulgence.I think the bigger house is the main indulgence.
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Comment on Steam Winter Sale 2023: Hidden gems in ~games
KeepCalmAndDream (edited )Link ParentOoo, the package being given away includes Primer as well. Thanks for the heads-up! Edit: Primer is basically a superextended tutorial. What's being given away on Epic is the Complete edition...Ooo, the package being given away includes Primer as well. Thanks for the heads-up!
Edit: Primer is basically a superextended tutorial. What's being given away on Epic is the Complete edition which has both the Primer and regular Snakebird puzzles in the same game. At any time
you can switch between the two 'worlds' with a press of a button. You'll start off in Primer, and when you feel comfortable you can switch to the main game. -
Comment on What was your first computer game? (Soundcheck question 2023) in ~games
KeepCalmAndDream LinkA platformer called Gods, but not on my PC. After I got a PC, my first games were X-Wing vs Tie Fighter, Command and Conquer and Wing Commander. Spent a lot of time with XWvTF, not much with the...A platformer called Gods, but not on my PC.
After I got a PC, my first games were X-Wing vs Tie Fighter, Command and Conquer and Wing Commander. Spent a lot of time with XWvTF, not much with the other two.
I had a CD of shareware games called Giga Games 4, it had something like a thousand games in it. This was an absolute wonder for young me. Those weren't my first games, but they were the ones I spent the most time with when I was young.
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Comment on Things software developers should learn about learning in ~comp
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentThank you, just signed up.Thank you, just signed up.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~health.mental
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentI like writing code too and I also struggle a lot. Executive function difficulties and physical symptoms like gut tightness. When I was younger my head would run in all sorts of directions about...- Exemplary
I like writing code too and I also struggle a lot. Executive function difficulties and physical symptoms like gut tightness. When I was younger my head would run in all sorts of directions about what I could make, specific algorithms, how I could implement them, etc. My thoughts far outpaced what I could actually do.
I don't know whether it's like this for you too, but I'll ramble on for a bit about my own experiences. I'm sorry if this isn't relevant.
e.g. I'd spend hours trying to figure out what the heck some error message was trying to say. It's telling me about line X, but I see nothing wrong there. Sometimes it's actually something I keep overlooking in line X (like a subtle typo). Sometimes it's an error in an earlier line Y but the compiler reports a problem at X. And sometimes it's actually two mistakes, that one and another that might be in a different line. And my working memory was a mess. After I realized the second mistake and fixed that, I might have forgotten what the first was actually all about.
Even scrolling through long sections of code could make me forget about things like what I was looking for in the first place. Coding was fun as a theoretical activity, but I couldn't properly come to grips with the practical side. I spent a lot of time overthinking too. It took me an incredibly long time to do very little.
It triggered a lot of anxiety and frustration (my gut tightness when working on challenging things is I believe psychological in origin, from since childhood). I kept expecting that I should be able to do better, kept forcing my way through them, just fighting the discomfort, trying to keep more and more in my head. That didn't work, only made things worse and the triggers and discomfort became stronger the next time I tried doing those things.
So I also shut down a lot. Easiest way to get rid of the discomfort was to stop trying to do those things that caused it. I'd play games, watch movies and anime, lie down etc. I'd tell myself "this is what I can manage now, and this is still meaningful". That avoided the problems and didn't address them.
The reality is that human minds don't work the way I tried to force mine to. The wrong circuits are activated when you try to force it, whether it's forcing it through discomfort, hypervigilance, anxiety, depression, etc. You learn best when you're calm and you can't force calm, you achieve that by giving yourself time and space and getting into a calm state of mind for learning. And you have to allow yourself time to learn, to get to the point where the big things you want to do are manageable because you've allowed yourself to do the smaller things first, making the next steps more manageable.
It also took me a long time to have the calm and clarity to identify some of my confusion and difficulties like in the above paragraphs. I couldn't see them clearly while forcibly struggling with them.
I don't know your circumstances, don't know why you don't have much time left. But with whatever time and space you have, would there be something more manageable you could try to do, that's still meaningful for you? Maybe a part of one of your ideas. I had lots of ideas in the past for games, for the most part I've only created parts of them. A battle system, a way to handle dragging and dropping stuff, some algorithms, etc. I think my battle system turned out interesting, even though I didn't turn it into a full game. Maybe exploring different ways of coding, just experiencing more about what writing code can be like. I gave up struggling with C++ after accepting I had too many difficulties with it and spent time exploring other languages like Python, that also turned out to be interesting and meaningful.
I wrote some documentation for a software library I was using, that was meaningful too.
If you don't mind sharing, which ideas were you most excited about? What language(s) do you use?
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~health.mental
KeepCalmAndDream LinkWhat do you find meaningful? What brings you joy?What do you find meaningful? What brings you joy?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentMotion sickness may not be the best way to describe it, gut tightness is something I experience when doing other things like programming too. Playing Stray is like the full motion sickness end of...Motion sickness may not be the best way to describe it, gut tightness is something I experience when doing other things like programming too. Playing Stray is like the full motion sickness end of it, Outer Wilds is sometimes in between that and programming.
But yeah, fortunately there doesn't seem to be any serious time pressure (20+ mins has been plenty for each expedition) so I can just pause for a while and physically move around. Autopilot also helps since trying to land at high velocities tends to trigger it.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
KeepCalmAndDream LinkPatrick's Parabox, a recommendation from another Tilderino. Absolutely brilliant sokoban-style game where you can go into certain blocks. There are deep and mind-bending consequences of this,...Patrick's Parabox, a recommendation from another Tilderino. Absolutely brilliant sokoban-style game where you can go into certain blocks. There are deep and mind-bending consequences of this, including going to infinity and beyond, and shrinking down to the infinitesimal. Words (and Steam trailers) do it no justice, if you enjoy reasoning through logic puzzles (and/or Christopher Nolan films) you've got to experience what this game has to say.
Also playing Outer Wilds which has been mentioned a lot recently. I tried it for a bit years ago but I had a lot of gut discomfort playing it (for me, some games like Stray trigger motion sickness. Outer Wilds didn't trigger it to this extent, but it's still uncomfortable. It's very strange because I usually don't have this problem with fast paced FPSes.)
The game world is so full of mystery and I want to stick with the game to completion. A little each day, slowly if I need to, just willingly experience the discomfort. Odd way to talk about a game but it sounds like it'll be worth it.
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Comment on Steam Winter Sale 2023: Hidden gems in ~games
KeepCalmAndDream (edited )LinkSnakebird is a sokoban-style puzzle game where you try to maneuver your Snakebirds to the exit. Your snakebirds need to get long enough to reach the exit, collect fruit to lengthen your...Snakebird is a sokoban-style puzzle game where you try to maneuver your Snakebirds to the exit. Your snakebirds need to get long enough to reach the exit, collect fruit to lengthen your Snakebirds, just like in the classic Snake game. Very simple rules, but IMO has the best puzzle design among all the puzzle games I've played. The presentation is charming too.
The game isn't easy, be prepared to really work through the puzzles. You can't rely on trial and error, each puzzle requires you to think about what's stopping you from achieving some step (e.g. how do I get everything up there? I need at least one of my snakebirds long enough to do so. Which one should it be? If this snakebird extends, then the other one seems to be obstructed, so maybe I should extend the other one. These blocks are also in the way, how do I free up enough room/use them as stepping stones? In which order do I push everything up/away? This sort of thing) and then figure out how to get past that.
The rules are very simple. Very few new behaviours are introduced through the course of the game. As you work through the puzzles, you'll realize implications of those (micro-scale) rules, which are new (macro-scale) techniques that you can apply towards solving later puzzles.
EDIT: I replayed some Snakebird levels, the crux of most puzzles is getting your Snakebird(s) into the right shapes and figuring out what those shapes should be.
Snakebird Primer is a much easier version. Also on sale right now. I've not played it, but veteran Snakebird lengtheners report being able to finish its 70+ puzzles in around an hour. There doesn't seem to be anything new in Primer that isn't already in Snakebird, this is intended (I think) as a gentle introduction to Snakebird
Patrick's Parabox is another sokoban-style puzzle game where you can go into and out of some of the blocks, sometimes many levels deep, Inception- style. (Thanks again for recommending it @jhombus!) It's not a mere gimmick, the game explores the consequences of this, which may turn your brain into scrambled egg. The difficulty doesn't ramp up as quickly as in Snakebird.
Jelly is Sticky is another sokoban-style puzzle game. What if some blocks can stick to each other? Very cool ideas explored, but I felt it's done over too many levels, felt like I was doing a fair bit of busywork rather than thinky stuff. But the difficulty also increases more gently than in Snakebird or Parabox.
The game is inspired by Jelly no Puzzle (Japanese title and developer. It simply means "Jelly puzzle"), which I found to have an absolutely brutal difficulty curve (I played it before Jelly is Sticky). Not on Steam, but the desktop version is freeware and doesn't require any knowledge of Japanese.
Fight'N Rage is a very fluid scrolling beat-em-up featuring anime-style chartacters. Lots of levels, branching paths, endings and unlockable content.
Space Tyrant is a quick turn-based 4X strategy game with a lot of personality. Each campaign mission usually takes (IIRC) 20 - 45 mins. It has a board-game feel to it, your decisions feel weighty. 80% discount (in my region) right now.
Happy holidays everyone!
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Comment on Mobile Suit Baba by Hempuli is out today and free for now in ~games
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentThanks for sharing, this is awesome! Didn't realize Hempuli made so many other games too. I think the Fruit is homage to Snakebird, which is another brilliant puzzle game. Haven't found it...Thanks for sharing, this is awesome! Didn't realize Hempuli made so many other games too. I think the Fruit is homage to Snakebird, which is another brilliant puzzle game.
Haven't found it difficult so far, but it's very cute!
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Comment on Is there a programming language that brings you joy? in ~comp
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentThank you, I might spend more time with Lua and LoVE.Thank you, I might spend more time with Lua and LoVE.
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Comment on Is there a programming language that brings you joy? in ~comp
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentI looked a little at Lua a few weeks ago but haven't played around with it much. Tables (and metatables) seem versatile and cool, but has there been anything you want to do that it (or the rest of...I looked a little at Lua a few weeks ago but haven't played around with it much. Tables (and metatables) seem versatile and cool, but has there been anything you want to do that it (or the rest of Lua) doesn't do easily? Doesn't have to be anything sophisticated, I'm a hobby coder too and all my projects have been small.
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Comment on Is there a programming language that brings you joy? in ~comp
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentDon't think I'll be jumping into metaprogramming at the start, but that's good to hear, thank you.Don't think I'll be jumping into metaprogramming at the start, but that's good to hear, thank you.
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Comment on Is there a programming language that brings you joy? in ~comp
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentThat was me too, and I never got comfortable with a lot of the Extra Stuff. Appreciate your thoughts. It's sounding like adapting to changes isn't difficult (and could be fun). I'm definitely...I've always seen it as "C with Extra Stuff™" where a lot of the Extra Stuff is things I have to look up as I go
That was me too, and I never got comfortable with a lot of the Extra Stuff.
Appreciate your thoughts. It's sounding like adapting to changes isn't difficult (and could be fun). I'm definitely going to check out Zig.
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Comment on Is there a programming language that brings you joy? in ~comp
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentThanks a lot for sharing your thoughts. So far Zig (and what the developers are doing) is sounding great. Hopefully docs will consolidate as Zig matures and finalizes.Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts. So far Zig (and what the developers are doing) is sounding great. Hopefully docs will consolidate as Zig matures and finalizes.
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Comment on Is there a programming language that brings you joy? in ~comp
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentI'm curious about Zig too. How do you feel about its syntax? I used to struggle a lot with C++ and eventually gave up. I guess the syntax is still evolving, does it throw you off when there's a...I'm curious about Zig too. How do you feel about its syntax? I used to struggle a lot with C++ and eventually gave up. I guess the syntax is still evolving, does it throw you off when there's a change?
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Comment on Is there a programming language that brings you joy? in ~comp
KeepCalmAndDream Link ParentHow do you feel about Zig? I used to struggle a lot with C++ syntax and eventually stopped using it, do you find Zig easier to use?How do you feel about Zig? I used to struggle a lot with C++ syntax and eventually stopped using it, do you find Zig easier to use?
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Comment on Is there a programming language that brings you joy? in ~comp
KeepCalmAndDream (edited )LinkI code mainly as a hobby, all my projects so far have been small. I like Haxe, but not sure I'd use the word "fun" to describe any language. Thinking about algorithms, planning out how to...I code mainly as a hobby, all my projects so far have been small. I like Haxe, but not sure I'd use the word "fun" to describe any language.
Thinking about algorithms, planning out how to structure code in a way that's reasonably efficient and cleanly represented by the language's syntax and capabilities (so the specific language does matter here), running the incomplete but gradually growing code, I find all this fun (when I don't overthink). Installing (including everything you want to use like the IDE, libraries), debugging, trying to figure out obtuse error messages, waiting through long compile times, all that is usually not fun.
So languages could be fun in the sense of minimizing the unfun stuff. I think Haxe does well here (though I don't have experience with many languages to compare it with), it supports a fast compile to bytecode and I don't struggle with it's syntax.
I also like Haxe for the "cool factor". Multiple compile targets (including bytecode), cool features that I actually use (like abstracts) and some that I don't (like macros that operate on expressions rather than strings like in C) but I still find very cool conceptually. That's also fun in a way, just using a tool that you find cool.
Haxe has a relatively small community. Haxe's official documentation is succinct and to the point, and not a lot of tutorials made for the language and its libraries, I did struggle learning some things.
I like Python too for short bits of code, but for anything split up over multiple classes I prefer something statically-typed.
They're pretty old, but you might enjoy Sid Meier's Gettysburg and Antietam.