Thread: The Fifth Contest - Nibbles -- Sign Up

  1. #1
    Just because ygfperson's Avatar
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    The Fifth Contest - Nibbles -- Sign Up

    Theme:Nibbles Clone
    Directions:Write a clone of Nibbles. For more information on Nibbles check online or better yet, play it yourself.
    Criteria:
    efficiency -- use computer resources efficiently
    elegance -- make your code neat and understandable
    portability -- how many computers can your code compile across?
    Special Criteria:
    Interface -- your game must use a keyboard interface. No mouse, no joystick (although points will not be deducted off for that kind of support).
    Features -- what extras can your game handle? (ie: saving game, high scores, etc...)
    Graphics efficiency -- How well-written are the algorithms and/or methods for using the graphics?
    Graphics library -- Is the graphics library used effectively?
    Graphics portability -- Did they go for the always portable text-mode graphic interface, or did they use Windows' DirectX?
    Overall graphical choice -- Was it suited for this type of program?
    Graphic Creativity -- how much effort was put into making the art for the game?

    Note: the graphics special criteria are 3 points apiece, not 5 like the other criteria.
    Time limit: you have 10 days to do this. It ends on August 23, midnight, EST.

    Signed up Contestants: 6 slots left
    vasanth
    SilentStrike
    Techwins
    brendan

    Signed up Judges: 1 slot left
    ygfperson
    d00b
    golfinguy


    Any questions?

    Remember, above all, make sure your program works.

  2. #2
    Registered User
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    Can I judge again? I love examining other people's code, trying to figure out what they are thinking etc. . . so, I'd like to do that again please?

    I can be more in-depth with my technical explination of things if you want this time

    Remember: I wont let you down

  3. #3
    Just because ygfperson's Avatar
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    sure, why not?

    just want to let others know that the idea of a nibbles clone is open to interpretation. just as long as there's a snake, watching out for boundaries, getting points, and eventually advancing a level.

  4. #4
    Registered User moi's Avatar
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    boooo! i wanted to make a textmode nibbles. but anyway: 320x240 :: ehh? 320x200 is much more standard.
    Last edited by moi; 08-13-2002 at 12:17 AM.
    hello, internet!

  5. #5
    Registered User moi's Avatar
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    Originally posted by ygfperson



    Graphical limitations (important):
    your program is assumed to be running in 256 colors, 320 by 240 pixels. You cannot change the pallette. Any initialization will go into this function: int initialize_graphics(void);
    You may plot pixels with this function: int plot_pixel(x value, y value, color value);
    You may draw lines with this function: int plot_line (x1,y1,x2,y2,color);
    Rectangle: int plot_rect(x1,y1,x2,y2,color);
    Circle: int plot_circle(center x,center y,radius,color);
    Blit solid colors: int blit_solid_rectangle_color(x1,y1,x2,y2,color);
    Blit an image where the image is a char 2d array: blit_array (x1,y1,length x,length y);

    me has questions here.

    can't change the palette? how do we know that the default palette isn't 256 entries of pure solid black then? you didn't define it.
    i assume initalize_graphics returns an error code of some sort if it fails (it is prototyped to return int after all)? define this.
    no shutdown_graphics? might be fine in a windoze system, but in dos i need to return to text mode.
    what do the returns of all the drawing primitives mean?
    the blit_array prototype has no return stated. in C this means it returns int. but isn't this different in C++? (can't be sure because i don't code c++.) and since this is a C/C++ contest, that should be changed.
    also don't you need something like a "char *src" in the prototype for blit_array? otherwise what are you blitting from?

    btw i volunteer to clean all this up for you by writing a short but complete specification and accompying .h file and example machine-specific .c file if nessecary.
    hello, internet!

  6. #6
    geek SilentStrike's Avatar
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    conio.h isn't a standard header .

    I'd definetely prefer using some extremely portable C library (I am personally biased towards SDL, but I'd have no problem using allegro), rather than some non-standard header for the I/O and having to wrap my own video routines.
    Prove you can code in C++ or C# at TopCoder, referrer rrenaud
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  7. #7
    Registered User moi's Avatar
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    i'm biased towards allegro

    and i think allegro supports more systems than sdl does, but i would be willing to use either i suppose
    hello, internet!

  8. #8
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    I think contestents should be allowed to use any means necessary to make the game, and leave it to the judges to establish scores depending on what path they choose...

    for example, we could judge like. . .
    Graphics efficiency: How well-written are the algorithms and/or methods for using the graphics
    Graphics library: Did they choose to use a graphics library like Allegro? If so, did they use it correctly?
    Graphics portability: Did they go for the always portable text-mode graphic interface, or did they use Windows' DirectX?
    Overall graphical choice: Was it suited for this type of program?

    This doesn't include the other scores

  9. #9
    Registered User moi's Avatar
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    Originally posted by SilentStrike
    conio.h isn't a standard header .
    edit: never mind
    Last edited by moi; 08-13-2002 at 08:46 AM.
    hello, internet!

  10. #10
    silentstrike
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    "portability -- code must use the graphical API described below. You may use conio.h functions for keyboard handling."

    How do you handle keyboard input portably in a non-console window? You don't .

  11. #11
    Registered User moi's Avatar
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    Originally posted by silentstrike
    "portability -- code must use the graphical API described below. You may use conio.h functions for keyboard handling."

    How do you handle keyboard input portably in a non-console window? You don't .
    if you're in a vga mode, you can use the standard keyboard calls, and watch trash letters show up on your screen, and maybe erase them using the graphics functions. but the gfx library makes no guarantee of this (that you will be in mode-x 320x240)
    hello, internet!

  12. #12
    vasanth
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    Ok sign me in..
    But i am not submiting my program with those standards.. you are free to cut points for compatibility if you wish.. The limitations you have put are too immense.. Well i am using BGI graphics library .. And writing functions to plot pixels etc etc is quite some work... Well i guess my feature score will even out the compatibity problem....


    I will be mailing my entry in another few days....


  13. #13
    Just because ygfperson's Avatar
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    I think contestents should be allowed to use any means necessary to make the game, and leave it to the judges to establish scores depending on what path they choose...

    for example, we could judge like. . .
    Graphics efficiency: How well-written are the algorithms and/or methods for using the graphics
    Graphics library: Did they choose to use a graphics library like Allegro? If so, did they use it correctly?
    Graphics portability: Did they go for the always portable text-mode graphic interface, or did they use Windows' DirectX?
    Overall graphical choice: Was it suited for this type of program?

    This doesn't include the other scores
    hmmm...

    i'm inclined to agree. let's drop this whole graphics api thing until it's better described. one restriction: don't use graphic library features which won't show up in any other libraries. (that's just to make it a little bit fairer).

    any other questions?

  14. #14
    Rambling Man
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    any other questions?
    I think it would be better to say "go make a Nibbles clone, and we'll see which one is best." Instead of giving all of these restrictions for the game.

  15. #15
    "The Oldest Member Here" Xterria's Avatar
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    is 13h 320x200? is it allowed?

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