Projects on the go

[carlfoxmarten]

I thought it would be interesting (for all of us) if I listed most of the projects I'm currently working on.
All are in various stages of completion, and most are programming projects, though some are computer artwork.

So here is a list in no particular order of projects I'm currently working on:

• Tetris v1.1:
  This is a simple rewrite of some of the graphics and window code for my original Tetris game. It has a higher priority than Tetris Power, due to being rewritten in SDL and needing a font engine.
• Tetris Power (otherwise known as Tetris v2.0):
  A complete, from-scratch Tetris-clone using SDL for cross-platform capabilities that will have a large number of powerups. Updates as they happen, only on Carl's LJ!
• Networked action game: (name available upon request)
  I'm currently in the process of rewriting an ex-course project (and, it seems, without most of the members who worked with me on it), so I'm rewriting certain things in grand style to ensure that it's as flexible and efficient as possible. So far I've started to rewrite the network message system, which has broken almost all other modules (at least, until I finish that part and go on to actually use it elsewhere). I'll also be completely rewriting the display code to decouple it from the game engine (which may also get an overhaul) and so I can use any of a number of front-ends (currently slated to include 2D and 3D variants).
• Ani-Midi:
  No, I haven't forgotten about this project, and I will be working on this again, though now I'm not sure when I'll get back to it, as I have quite a number of projects on the go already and don't have the interest for it again (not to say that it won't ever be done, it's just that all these projects seem to have a timeshare agreement on my brain, and it's not this guy's turn yet). Several things I need to do with this is completely rethink the way this needs to designed. When I first wrote this, there was two ends of a chain to work on, the MIDI side and the graphics side, and I started at each end (though primarily focusing on the graphics end) and tried to work my way towards the middle, which led to a rather large problem when I actually got there. Next time I need to start at the MIDI side and work my way in the direction of the graphics end, keeping in mind how I had managed it last time so I have some idea of what's needed there.
• Space Tree:
  This is a piece of artwork I'm currently designing, as usual, in Blender. It's primarily a pressurized garden dome for rest and relaxation in space, with the centrepiece being a large tree. A spiral staircase will lead down from the dome to a separate area, which I don't currently plan to think about. The rest of the area will contain flowers, bushes, benches, etc. Aside from this, I don't know much more about it, aside from the fact that it looks cool in my head...
• Magpie House Redesign:
  Last but certainly not least is redesigning Kathy's entire website to streamline it (amongst other things). It has come to my attention that people would really like a story arc page (and/or an archive page), so I would like to create one for her that would take a minimal amount of time on her part, which means I need to figure out what it should look like. I've already received one or two ideas from Marmoe, so I was wondering if anybody else would be interested in coming up with another one. Any takers? You can send me a message here on LJ or send it to me via e-mail by the following e-mail address: "c fox marten AT inbox DOT com"
  
  Not the largest number of projects I've worked on at once, but there it is.
  

  ---

  
  Incidentally, I found an old DOS game that is kind of similar to what I'm working on, but without gravity.
  
  It's called Squarez, and it's written by the same people who wrote the similarly-old Jetpack DOS game.
  (both are available from Adept Software in a single zip file)
  
  The initial key setup is a little awkward for me as I'm used to the drop and rotate keys being in the other order, but you get used to that after a while.
  
  I might be inspired by some powerups from it as I write Tetris-Power, in case I miss anything, but not much...
  

  ---

  
  In addition to all of the above, I'm currently taking two math courses (probably a bad idea, but they're on rather different topics, so it's probably not that bad an idea).
  One is an introductory statistics course that I should have taken a while ago and the other is Calculus level 2 (otherwise known as Integral Calculus), which I am taking again after failed it the first time round (I blame the instructor. My current instructor is one I've taken several math courses with already, so I know him a little better).
  
  So I'm currently on campus five days a week, alternating between the statistics class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the Calculus course Tuesdays and Thursdays.
  

  ---

  
  Also, to top off that again, I might be delivering a second route on top of the one I'm running already, which would make this the second time that I deliver two routes at once (you know what I mean!).
  
  As far as I'm concerned, I've delivered newspapers to three different routes in my area in the years I've been delivering papers.
  Also, as far as the newspaper is concerned, I've delivered three different routes as well (and yes, they are the same).
  
  The difference between the above is that, before I was the one whose name was on the route, my brother's name was on the route, and we delivered papers together.
  After a time, my brother got a "real" job at a warehouse, transferring the route to my name and leaving me to continue delivering.
  
  I must say that, while it's not easy to do all the time, it's become difficult for me to do a poor job at it.
  (that's a good thing, right?)
  
  When I started delivering newspapers again after taking a "vacation" off, I actually impressed several people due to the deep snow I waded through to make sure people got the paper.
  (it's a free local newspaper, so it's not quite as imperative that it get delivered properly, but I just can't quite let myself not do it, so I do it anyway)
  
  I'm still looking for another sled to help carry the papers on really snowy days (which might only get used about three times a year on average, but could be used for hill sledding on off days), the places I'd usually look haven't had anything that could be used for these purposes at all...

Comments

[marmoe.livejournal.com]

Just a heads-up to anyone sending Carl a mail to his inbox address for the first time: You will receive an automated reply by the mail server, which you need to reply to (instructions and explanations are include in that mail) in order to have your mail delivered to Carl. That message may get tossed into the spam folder on your account (it happened in my case), so keep an eye out.

[carlfoxmarten]

Thanks Marmoe, I wasn't sure how to word that!