Funeral Noodles?
Sunday, March 13th - Saturday, March 19th
March
13th
Mood: Not Bad
Well. I got some good news today. Me working for Motion Man seems to be
looking more realistic. I got an email from Jon confirming things with
Motion. Unfortunately I'll have to work with another guy, but no matter.
Also, I may be getting thanked in his album credits.
SCHWEEET!
=P
So yeah, I didn't really do much. I watched the Rovers FA Cup match. I guess we just deserved to win. Other than that, I did...VERY LITTLE!
I spent 2-3 hours of the afternoon trying to fix the PC and cleaning it up a little. It started screwing up. It would run amazingly slow, and then just..well, bugger all really. It was unusable, and I began to fear I was about to experience May 03 all over again. For those of you that don't know, in the middle of May 2003, the PC died. Completely. It wouldn't start up. Gone. Over a years worth of work, personal files. Everything.
Gone.
Because of some barsteward who wrote a trojan to do that. He deserves to have his toe nails pulled.
With a spatula.
Nice, eh?
But yeah, in other news (yes, this is an uneventful day), I've had a potential breakthrough with my project. I've found out I don't need to save the generated map as a GIF after all. Instead, I can simply create an 'Image' object type from the array instead using a combination of a ColorModel and a MemoryImageSource.
Haven't a clue how to do it, but at least it's possible without extra stuff now.
Out of curiousity, I saved the map as a GIF using some software, and then tried displaying that rather than my randomly generated image.
It practically removed the flickering. So, hopefully, this should really make a difference. And I'm going to try adding the double buffering thing again this week. So, if all goes to plan, I might have my graphics engine fixed as of the end of next week. Then I might be able to get my animal play pen sorted over easter.
Ahh, that would be so good.
And so unlikely.
Just before I finish up for the night, I'll explain what this 'animal play pen' thing is. Since the program I'm creating is pretty complicated, I've been creating lots of small programs and putting them together once they work fine. I created a small program that generated a map first. Then I created a user interface that did nothing. Put them together.
Then I made a program clock. That was then put in.
So my next major step (once I've fixed this graphics problem), is to create a small program that will let an animal move around randomly. Once I've got that going, I'll make sure it can path find directing itself to a source of food when hungry. I'll then add flocking algorithms so they stay within range of one another. Then I can add hunting code for the lions. Once I've got my animals behaving how I want them to, I can put it into the main program, and I'll be well on my way to finishing the program.
I really need to get a move on, I'm slipping even further behind schedule, and it won't be long til I start having to work on other assignments and exams.
BLAH.
Night
Chris.
March 14th
Mood: Alright
Tired.
Tired. Tired. Tired.
I so should have an early night.
But you know me 0=).
Today wasn't particularly exciting. I got up about 9ish to do a bit of work on that creating an Image from my terrainArray. I made some progress, but all the examples I could find used bit shifting, which I've never used before. Hell, I only found out what "<<" means in java by accident. When I tried modifying the examples to display a colour of my choice, it didn't work. Just kept saying 'Possible loss of precision'.
I don't care! Just run the damn program!
But yeah, it wouldn't.
Took it into Steve's class and while he was setting up, I had a bit of a brainwave.
And it worked. Instead of using a byte (eight 0 or 1's, such as 00001111) array, I used an int (integer) array. It worked in the end. Don't know why. Don't care. By the end of the evening, I'd made a program that converted the map array to an Image. I've still to try it on my home machine and put it into my main program, but it'll work, surely?
Fingers crossed.
I'm beginning to settle into Steve's class. It's reasonalby straightforward, although the strange examples didn't help Terry or Ian. They're stuck, and Terry's asked me over to his over Easter to teach it instead of Steve. Oy.
=P
For tea, we (Dan and I) went to MaccyD's for a McFlurry.
They didn't have any!!
How blasphemous.
Had to make do with Frijj, although it's hardly the same.
Jeff's class was alright. There were only five of us, and two of which were teachers. We began to write our first RMI program, allowing us to have one computer program on several machines. Not sure how it works just yet, but I'm sure it'll become more apparent as the weeks progress.
Other than that, I've done bugger all.
And now I'm off to play Age of Empires.
Night.
Chris.
March 15th
Mood: Decent
So much for getting up early to do some work. I was meant to build the
Image creator file into the program.
Well, at least I intended to. Never happened. It took me almost 3 hours to get out of bed.
BLAH!
So yeah, got up and went into town to do my usual. Met with Holly and just chatted til Kay turned up. Few town laps later, we decided to go back to Nats to fix her PC. Holly accidentally got a trojan on her machine. Thankfully it wasn't anything major, it just reset the start page over and over. Even if you changed it, it wouldn't work. I removed it from the start up.
Didn't work.
Deleted the entries from the registry, which I've never touched before.
Didn't work.
Ran Norton.
Didn't work.
In the end, I just found the most recently created file created in the Windows\System32 folder and moved it.
It worked.
Bob - 1, Lame Trojany People - 19238.
One for the little guys :p.
It did take longer than expected, but I got rid in the end. After that, we made our way to Kirsty's since her parents were away on a short break. Didn't intend on staying long, I was just gunna walk Holly to her house, then go home. But things never go to plan and I ended up staying. I'm glad I did. I got to spend a bit more time with her.
We didn't really do much other than a bit of cooking (there were a few of us), although to be honest, it was all Holly. I just sorta, sat there, and tidied up a little. More than the rest mind!
As I was leaving Holly caught me off guard.
Not that I'm complaining. Twas a good suprise.
And with that, I'm going to have an early night.
Because I sure need it.
Night.
Chris.
March 16th
Mood: Alright
Annnnnnnd again. So much for getting my work done.
At least I didn't really intend to get up early. I contemplated it about 9am, but decided turning over, pulling the duvet up and catching a few more ZzZz's would be a better course of action.
I eventually got up around dinner time and just wandered into uni. I really couldn't be bothered with today. I guess it's the class. It doesn't really interest me like it should, or even like I expected. It's a shame I guess.
The class was a little more interesting than normal, but that's probably because I actually learnt something. We had Jenny instead, but it was more educational I guess than Violeta's recent lectures.
Ah well. This is Jenny's area of expertise. Sorta.
Still can't get into it. Meh. And I normally enjoy debates.
Other than that, I did bugger all.
Went online, and played on more Age of Empires. I forgot how fun it can be, especially when it's a big free for all and players don't have to bother over resources. But yeah, I just screwed around on that really. Just set up a scenario with 8 players on a small map and maximum resources.
Crazy.
I finally managed to get the Image maker built into my program. It started kicking up a fuss, but I did sort it eventually. It was beginning to annoy me. After all, all you had to do was remove the unnecessary bits and that's it, right?
Apparently not.
But yeah. It's still working.
BUT NOT!
The flicker is still there ¬.¬
I guess I'll have to have another go at the double buffering tomorrow afternoon. Oh that'll be fun.
*rolls eyes*
Two last things. Firstly, I was reading up on a recent games developer meeting, and Will Wright, creator of The Sims was showing off his new game, Spore. Strangely enough, it similar to my program, simulating evolution, from the very beginning of just a few cells, to animals, to life like creatures, building and eventually space-colonisation.
Awesome.
No screenshots though =(
Secondly, was talking to a guy on the LPU. Apparently he thinks being homosexual is unhealthy. So I asked him why. He proceeded to quote Fox News (an amazingly biased and pro-Bush news channel) saying how homosexual people have over 500 sexual partners, and so they're OBVIOUSLY going to get STDs.
How I laughed.
Night.
Chris.
March
17th
Mood: YAY!
Ahhhh.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
I did it. I finally did it.
I FINALLY fixed the problem with my project graphics engine. No more flickering. No more dodgy menus. Works a treat.
Well, except for one problem, that I'll worry about later.
I can't believe I've fixed it. Especially not with 20 lines of code that shouldn't have worked.
But right now, I don't care. It's done. I was in disbelief for a while. Soon as it sunk in, I literally felt the weight off my shoulders being reduced.
A little anyway!
Ahhh! Today is good!
So yeah, I started working on the animal workshop I mentioned. I've some non functioning buttons on, and a lion. That's it so far. Tomorrow I'll add a thread so I can animate it. I wanna really make progress over the Easter holidays, just so I can really flaunt it when I present my presentation. I wanna really own the other projects. It's not going to be hard really. Edd and Dan have to learn how to use some software, and C++. The latter is reasonably difficult, so credit where credit is due. Terry's is just software configuration.
I'm sorry, but that's not a project! He had nothing to design and his testing section is only going to be small! NOT fair.
Ah well. Chatted to Holly a little bit tonight. We didn't talk much, we were both in quiet moods. I guess Holly's just thinking (and looking forward to) moving. I'm just in a funny mood. Not sure why. I've not any reason to I guess. Just feel down.
Meep.
I'm gunna keep this short, can't be bothered.
Night.
Chris.
Mood: Good
Well today wasn't so bad I guess.
Didn't sleep amazingly well mind. Don't really know why. I just feel as if there's stuff on my mind, but I don't know what. Sucks =/.
I had a free afternoon, and since I can't seem to get Holly to come out (bad timing really) to see the movie with me (not sure it's her thing), I decided to go see Constantine. Had nothing better to do, right? So yeah, got into town and watched the movie.
Apart from having to endure 15 minutes adverts (telling me to buy womens purfume and fancy sports cars, which are obviously everyday purchases), I got two trailers. Batman Begins and The Ring 2. Seen them both.
¬.¬
As soon as the movie started, these two guys on the other side started whispering to one another.
SERIOUSLY!
As if you do keep quiet for adverts, then talk throughout the movie! It's not a bar or a playground or something. Jeez.
I couldn't ask them to be quiet, because they weren't being loud. It's just it was loud enough to annoy, but not loud enough to complain. And they talked allllll the way through the movie. SERIOUSLY!
I'm not irritated, honest.
Was meant to do some more work tonight.
That's not going to happen.
Ooops.
Looking forward to seeing Holly tomorrow. And claiming my big hug I kinda need.
There's a new War of the Worlds trailer, doesn't look bad, although it shows you bugger all. Except for FOUR FRAMES of a war machine.
In the dark.
Hidden behind a boat.
BASTARDS. ¬.¬
Finally, I posted one long post to v21. He's still adamant that UFO's are applied only to aliens, even though you can be technically correct using to describe anything you can't identify. Owned him really. Hell, he even agreed with us and then changed his made. He seems to like arguing.
Weirdo ;).
Night.
Chris.
March
19th
Mood: Not Bad
Talk about hectic.
The day started off great. The sun was shining, my baby picked good songs.
Just what a weekend should be like.
After running a quick errand, I went to MaccyD's for a cream egg McFlurry (you have to!). Unfortunately, they were queuing to the door. Well, almost. You get what I mean - not worth the effort. So I had to settle for Vanilla Coke and a Boost instead. Not bad, but no where near as good. =P
Met up with Holly. She seemed a little off, but nothing to worry over. We wandered a little then sat on Church Street in the sun. It was a great day, and reasonably warm to boot.
After a few hours on Church Street and wandering, we nipped to Kims (Holly's sisters) for a little while. After that we ended up at the Cellar. Things went a little awkward after that. We ended up taking things out on each other, unintentionally. But yeah, it kinda messed things up a little bit. Boy did I feel stupid. ¬.¬
I apologised and we sorted things out between us, although I still felt kinda blah. After a bit of working on my program (couldn't really concentrate, so I didn't achieve anything), just posted on the LPU a bit. I was kinda rude to v21. Then again, he deserves it for being so bloody stupid. He's still insisting that even though people don't use it, it's not applicable to anything. Despite people and reliable sources saying different.
Couldn't take it anymore. So I ended up phoning her. It's probably the first time I've phoned someone socially for a long long time. I don't do them. They're evil and against my religion.
*cough*
It might have cost me a bit, but just hearing her laugh, seeing her feel happier worked wonders. We've arranged to meet on Monday which is something to look forward to. It really picked me up - to the point I wanted to get out. So yeah, I went out (although in the process, I missed Al Murray's TV show :().
Got out, and the night wasn't so bad. The music was pretty good, although the night dragged and my sister made a fool of herself on more than one occasion. And I thought that guy was bad for not taking a hint. Seems he's been given lessons to someone else as well! >.<
Normally I wouldn't be complaining, but I got what I want. I'm more than happy, so yeah, I'm gunna complain, because that's what blogs are for.
Night.
Chris.
P.S. Here's a screenshot of my program so far.
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