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Development => Calculators => Calc Projects, Programming & Tutorials => Topic started by: JWinslow23 on January 25, 2017, 06:39:51 AM

Title: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: JWinslow23 on January 25, 2017, 06:39:51 AM
Long time, no see, everyone ;)

@123outerme 's programming "group" Tilda^3 just got a new member...me! Of course, the first project I suggested to do was a puzzle game on the TI-84+.
The result of our creative processes? Short Circuit.

(http://i.imgur.com/ACQwev9.gif)

This is a demo right now, showing you each object you can place (in order, these are straight wires, curved wires, forked wires, crossing wires, AND gates, OR gates, NOT gates, and diodes). Those numbers above each object will end up being the amount you have left to use.

Here are the controls:
ARROW KEYS - move cursor
PLUS/MINUS - go through objects
MODE - rotate selected object
2ND - place object
ALPHA - erase

Download here (https://github.com/TildaCubed/short-circuit/raw/master/SHRTCRCT.8xp). We also have a GitHub repository (https://github.com/TildaCubed/short-circuit), if anyone wants to take a look at that.
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: p2 on January 25, 2017, 12:44:13 PM
Wow it looks really nice!! ;D It's nice how you moved the items selector to the right so the numbers wont be misunderstood as row numbers ^^
ill there be harder//bigger levels? Or wont you ever use the entire map's space? :)
Also you might want to add some stats like level number and time on the right side (much empty space) :)

I like it  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: JWinslow23 on January 25, 2017, 02:20:09 PM
Quote from: p2 on January 25, 2017, 12:44:13 PM
Wow it looks really nice!! ;D It's nice how you moved the items selector to the right so the numbers wont be misunderstood as row numbers ^^
ill there be harder//bigger levels? Or wont you ever use the entire map's space? :)

That 8x11 grid is the maximum size we have for levels. I do believe there will be a few places where we will use the entire map space, and there may be a level editor to make your own levels as big/complicated as you want as well.

Quote from: p2 on January 25, 2017, 12:44:13 PM
Also you might want to add some stats like level number and time on the right side (much empty space) :)

I like it  :thumbsup:
That's the plan ;)

Thanks!
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: p2 on January 25, 2017, 02:35:24 PM
Quote from: JWinslow23 on January 25, 2017, 02:20:09 PM
Quote from: p2 on January 25, 2017, 12:44:13 PM
Wow it looks really nice!! ;D It's nice how you moved the items selector to the right so the numbers wont be misunderstood as row numbers ^^
ill there be harder//bigger levels? Or wont you ever use the entire map's space? :)

That 8x11 grid is the maximum size we have for levels. I do believe there will be a few places where we will use the entire map space, and there may be a level editor to make your own levels as big/complicated as you want as well.
uuuh better stay away from introducing scrolling for bigger maps.....
sure it would be possible but you wont be able t oreally see everyrhing as it doesnt use greyscale xD TWould be too hard to see things then ^^
(by the way, a light greyscale would be AWESOME for the background grid) ;)
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: JWinslow23 on January 25, 2017, 02:38:42 PM
Quote from: p2 on January 25, 2017, 02:35:24 PM
Quote from: JWinslow23 on January 25, 2017, 02:20:09 PM
Quote from: p2 on January 25, 2017, 12:44:13 PM
Wow it looks really nice!! ;D It's nice how you moved the items selector to the right so the numbers wont be misunderstood as row numbers ^^
ill there be harder//bigger levels? Or wont you ever use the entire map's space? :)

That 8x11 grid is the maximum size we have for levels. I do believe there will be a few places where we will use the entire map space, and there may be a level editor to make your own levels as big/complicated as you want as well.
uuuh better stay away from introducing scrolling for bigger maps.....
sure it would be possible but you wont be able t oreally see everyrhing as it doesnt use greyscale xD TWould be too hard to see things then ^^
(by the way, a light greyscale would be AWESOME for the background grid) ;)
No scrolling, levels will never need to be bigger than the grid size. And grayscale in TI-BASIC would be nice, but impossible :P
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: xMarminq_ on January 25, 2017, 02:46:22 PM
THIS IS IN BASIC?!  O.O
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: JWinslow23 on January 25, 2017, 02:51:48 PM
Quote from: xMarminq_ on January 25, 2017, 02:46:22 PM
THIS IS IN BASIC?!  O.O
Completely. Commented source code is right here (https://github.com/TildaCubed/short-circuit/blob/master/SHRTCRCT-comments.txt), or open the program in the editor if you don't believe me ;)
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: Snektron on January 25, 2017, 03:58:06 PM
Looks really cool :) You should ad a freeplay mode too. What kind of building blocks are implemented/planned btw?
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: kotu on January 25, 2017, 04:09:54 PM
i see a problem - where does a gate take its inputs from? two squares either side, and ignore the square directly behind it??

also, the levels could be fiendishly difficult (too difficult) with that size of map.
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: JWinslow23 on January 25, 2017, 04:24:58 PM
Quote from: Snektron on January 25, 2017, 03:58:06 PM
Looks really cool :) You should ad a freeplay mode too.

Freeplay? What do you mean by that?

The gameplay, by the way, will be that you have some certain objects already placed, and you have to strategically place blocks in order to be able to connect the circuits. You will be able to see them running, which will certainly help in planning and visualizing.

Quote from: Snektron on January 25, 2017, 03:58:06 PM
What kind of building blocks are implemented/planned btw?
Quote from: JWinslow23 on January 25, 2017, 06:39:51 AM
(in order, these are straight wires, curved wires, forked wires, crossing wires, AND gates, OR gates, NOT gates, and diodes)
If you're looking for behavior, though:

Straight wires will allow a current to pass straight through a block.
Curved wires will turn the path of a current.
Forked wires will allow a current of one type to fork in two directions.
Crossing wires will allow a current to pass straight through a block, as well as pass straight through in the other orientation, without disturbing each other.
AND gates will take 2 or more wires hooked up to it, and output a current based on ANDing the currents supplied to it. (Currents can be ON or OFF while travelling, and if a current doesn't arrive, it counts as OFF.)
OR gates will take 2 or more wires hooked up to it, and output a current based on ORing the currents supplied to it.
NOT gates will take 1 current supplied to it, and output a current based on NOTing the input.
Diodes will allow a current to pass the direction it points, but not the other.

Quote from: kotu on January 25, 2017, 04:09:54 PM
i see a problem - where does a gate take its inputs from? two squares either side, and ignore the square directly behind it??

also, the levels could be fiendishly difficult (too difficult) with that size of map.
A gate will take input from any square that is not directly in front of it (besides NOT gates...we'll work out that behavior later). The currents coming to the gate at that time will be taken into account.

These levels COULD be difficult, but we plan for them not to be. ;)
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on January 25, 2017, 11:52:18 PM
This looks absolutely amazing, especially considering it's pure TI-BASIC. Nice use of text sprites there. Also the game reminds me of Pipe Dream for the PC for some reasons, but with electric cables. As for free play mode, I think Snektron meant a sandbox mode where you can build a cable network of any size you want without being limited to the main levels, but maybe I am wrong
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: 123outerme on January 26, 2017, 12:04:56 AM
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on January 25, 2017, 11:52:18 PM
This looks absolutely amazing, especially considering it's pure TI-BASIC. Nice use of text sprites there. Also the game reminds me of Pipe Dream for the PC for some reasons, but with electric cables. As for free play mode, I think Snektron meant a sandbox mode where you can build a cable network of any size you want without being limited to the main levels, but maybe I am wrong
That would be a really interesting mode! I'm not sure how we'd handle outputting each item as having infinity of them though :P Maybe we just wouldn't output numbers at all.
But yeah, I'll consult my higher-up.
(Even though he said he joined my programming group, JWinslow is pretty much the head of this project, since he's come up with most of the code and a lot of the ideas :P )
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on January 26, 2017, 04:20:27 AM
For the sandbox mode I would just say have the user do whatever he wants then he can test his build to see if it will short circuit. It's not very important for now, though, as long as the rest of the game works :)

Also lol small programming groups are getting rare nowadays, although at least I am glad they no longer all start their own forums like back in 2005 (if you check TI-Story you will notice dozens of small forums starting in 2004-05 and not even lasting through the year lol)


By the way, this would most likely be possible on a CE, but there might be some artifacts since I don't think all character combinations are available. On color calcs, people might be better off using ICE or some BASIC lib.
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: JWinslow23 on January 27, 2017, 08:18:58 PM
I would like to confirm that I am starting work on actually running currents. I will add in, at the very least, straight paths for now, and then we'll see where it heads. No pun intended ;)
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: p2 on January 28, 2017, 12:02:45 PM
inb4 we'll have a redstone simulator here :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: JWinslow23 on January 28, 2017, 10:01:07 PM
A new update is available! Now, once you actually quit the game, the current runs until it can't anymore. Also, I fixed a small bug with the number display on the bottom.

(http://i.imgur.com/mZBK1po.gif)

Check the original link for the current download.
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: Dudeman313 on January 30, 2017, 03:37:16 AM
Looks like one of those annoying pipe games but with a so much more unique title. I like it!  :D
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on February 01, 2017, 06:09:51 AM
I love that current animation. I will download the game when I have a chance. :)
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on February 08, 2017, 02:44:31 AM
On a side note @JWinslow23 you should specify in the first post that CLEAR finalizes the level/make the current flow, because it took me a while to figure out how to finish a level <_<

Also how do you access the other mode?
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: JWinslow23 on February 08, 2017, 02:50:58 AM
Thanks for reminding me that this game (heck, even this demo) is not fully complete :P

There is no other mode. Right now, it's a permanent sandbox, mostly for testing. I should really get a jump on figuring out how to split currents :P
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on February 08, 2017, 02:52:42 AM
Ah ok I thought this was the first level. I wasn't too sure what to do either so I'll have to check through the screenies again to remember. :P
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: mazhat on March 15, 2017, 12:27:15 AM
Ah, hardware games.

This game reminds me of Robot Odyssey with all the gates you got here. I miss sparky.
I hope you have a chance to complete this.

edit: Was there any inspiration behind this game? I'd love to know.
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on March 15, 2017, 01:27:22 AM
Yeah I hope it gets finished. Personally it reminds me a bit of Pipe Dream for Windows 3.1 but also those bot programming games. Builderboy made one of those for the 83+ years ago.
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: mazhat on March 15, 2017, 01:36:49 AM
Builderboy was the person who made the Code War port.
I don't think any competitions were held though :^(
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on March 15, 2017, 06:42:47 PM
Yeah I forgot how he called the calc version. He participated to Cage Matches in 2010 on Omnimaga
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: 123outerme on March 18, 2017, 07:43:13 PM
Quote from: mazhat on March 15, 2017, 12:27:15 AM
Ah, hardware games.

This game reminds me of Robot Odyssey with all the gates you got here. I miss sparky.
I hope you have a chance to complete this.

edit: Was there any inspiration behind this game? I'd love to know.
No particular inspiration that I know of, although JWins might have one. We simply decided we should do a puzzle game as our first collaborative project, and settled on a technological theme. We then took that to mean "fix wiring issues in a circuit board", and then here we are now.
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: Pieman7373 on March 19, 2017, 04:09:32 AM
Btw, I am really looking forward to the completion of this! :D  :w00t:
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: mazhat on March 19, 2017, 05:17:27 PM
Pretty fascinating.
Could you go into more detail on how the puzzles will work?
An example level will suffice too :^)

I hope you have levels that take advantage of the spatial-logic as well as the regular gameplay.
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: 123outerme on March 27, 2017, 12:33:28 AM
Quote from: mazhat on March 19, 2017, 05:17:27 PM
Pretty fascinating.
Could you go into more detail on how the puzzles will work?
An example level will suffice too :^)

I hope you have levels that take advantage of the spatial-logic as well as the regular gameplay.
Each puzzle will have at least one input and output (where the energy "comes from" and where it ends up to complete the level). You have to get the current (or each current, if multiple are in play) from the input to the output, basically. There will be multiple voltages of energy (multiple types, basically). Various pieces like AND, OR, and NOT gates, diodes, splitter pieces, and more will be available to use, allowing for solutions to use bitmath and other neat tricks.

This isn't officially going to be a feature (hint: @JWinslow23 let's make this) but I imagine three modes for the game: Story, "Creative" (a better name should be chosen for this), and Sandbox. Story is the one we've decided on, where the user gets a finite amount of preselected pieces to solve the story missions. I imagine "Creative" to be Story mode but with unlimited pieces of every kind, making solutions as wild as the imagination could get. I believe we've already agreed that Sandbox should exist, a free-form mode where you can mess around with the game's mechanics.

Quote from: Pieman7373 on March 19, 2017, 04:09:32 AM
Btw, I am really looking forward to the completion of this! :D  :w00t:
Glad to hear! We'll be working on this more hopefully, meaning a screenshot maybe sometime soon.
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on April 17, 2017, 02:44:39 AM
Yeah I agree with Pieman about looking forward for this. I'm glad you guys are still considering finishing this :)
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game [ti-83+] [ti-84+] [monochrome]
Post by: mazhat on July 11, 2017, 12:28:46 AM
Any more updates? :^(
Title: Re: Short Circuit - an electronics puzzle game
Post by: 123outerme on July 31, 2017, 04:10:29 PM
Quote from: mazhat on July 11, 2017, 12:28:46 AM
Any more updates? :^(
Not so far, JWins and I haven't had much time to correspond as of late. I'm looking forward to getting back to work and finishing it, and you can always see the latest at our Github repo (https://github.com/TildaCubed/short-circuit).