Re: Space fleet battles

[Marc Hernandez <marc@ias.jb.com>]

--- Sponsor's Message --------------------------------------
Who Are the Top Dogs?
Find out about the best newsletters and discussions!
http://click.topica.com/aaaa4qbUrGczbU68iFa/TopDogs
------------------------------------------------------------

On Sun, 18 Mar 2001, Bob Pendleton wrote:

> Oddly enough I worked on several paper and pencil games and a couple of
> very early computer gamesthat were based on the idea of building ships
> from a set of standard parts and then fighting them. There were a lot of

	Keen.  I wrote a simulation system that worked like this
(currently being rewritten) (although this is probably a lower level than
was being though):
	The basic blocks are the Message, Device, System.  Devices are
connected to other devices via named connections (like say "In" and
"Out").  Messages signify changes in state.  The System keeps track of the
devices and sends a tick to the ones that need it.
	On top of this I had a test system which consisted of:
Devices:
Pipe 
	Has an in an an out.  Copies the in message to the out with a
little loss as well as the reverse.
Pump
	Has an in and out.  On activation sends a "PressureAmount" message
down the in port.
Tank
	Has an in and out.  On recieving a "PressureAmount" message on the
out proceeds to send a FluidFlow message down the out if it has fluid in
its tank.  Each tick it subtracts some fluid from the value.  If it
reaches zero it sends a FluidFlow message of 0 amount.  You could simulate
sputtering by sending variable fluidflow messages for the last little
amount in the tank.

Messages:
FluidFlow
Pressure amount.

	Fluid flow has an amount of fluid flowing.  Pressure amount is
basically a requiest to get fluid flow going.  

	What is more interesting is the failure modes.  I hinted at one
with the tank.  Another would be pipes that rupture.  They would send
variable (or 0) value FluidFlow messages but the tank would be losing
fluid at the original rate.

	On top of the fluid system one could build electrical energy,
plasma, actual fluids, air ducts.  And then hook them together.  For
example a pump could actually be:
Water Pump:
	InElectrical (for power)
	InWater      (the liquid)
	OutWater     (the liquid)

	Then when the pump gets some electrical energy it InWater a
PressureAmount message.  If the electrical power overloads the pump could
be erratic or just die or something.  If the electrical power stops the
pump sends a... 0 PressureAmount message.

> fun. There is now reason we can't have more than one project going on at
> the same time and no good reason not to talk about lots of different
> designs.

	I agree.  

--
Marc Hernandez

____________________________________________________________
T O P I C A  -- Learn More. Surf Less. 
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01