Set up a second monitor (actually a TV) and I'm gonna hook up a Gamecube to it tomorrow.

For the last week of school I was playing this nonstop. So much bloody fun!

Oh man did this thread get derailed quickly. I'm gonna try and bring it back though. I wanted to look at Braid as an example of one of the ways that people use innovation. The core concept behind Braid was pretty fresh and unique but I found they used it in a pretty uninspired manner. The time shifting mechanic got milked for every last bit of gameplay in a very linear way. Not to say that this is bad, the gameplay was fun and the presentation was top notch. Another example of this a game like World of Goo, another great game with an interesting and fun mechanic that was explored in a very by-the-book fashion. These games to me at least feel a bit more like commercialized indie games geared towards mass appeal.

A counter example is a game like Minecraft where the block building and terrain destroying was the big innovation. Instead of providing, levels and puzzles to complete using it, the game is an open world sandbox where there isn't any goal. Dwarf fortress is another example of this, the main hook being it's insane level of detail and customizability and deep gameplay again set in an open world. Now granted some ideas or mechanics lend themselves to different types of games there is still a wide variety of ways that people explore their ideas.

An example maybe in the middle of the previous two is VVVVVV. The gameplay revolved around the gravity flipping and while it did have specific puzzles on a level to level basis it was linked together in a open fashion which was a strange blend that worked in it's favor.

I don't know where I'm going with this but maybe I can start some discussion about innovation and lead it away from argument about bullet-hell games. I just think it's interest, how different developers take their ideas in different directions.

Mind's Eye and Where Eagles Have Been by Wolfmother

Ok I made a thread awhile ago and some of you may have seen it but I am back with two more questions. First, I am using the Google Weather API to add weather data into my application, everything is working great until I try to access the forecast data. The way the Google Weather API works is you give it a city and it will give you an XML file containing all of the current and forecast data. Here is what it returns for Toronto:

Code:

<xml_api_reply version="1">
<weather module_id="0" tab_id="0" mobile_row="0" mobile_zipped="1" row="0" section="0">
<forecast_information>
<city data="Toronto, ON"/>
<postal_code data="toronto,ON"/>
<latitude_e6 data=""/>
<longitude_e6 data=""/>
<forecast_date data="2011-07-07"/>
<current_date_time data="2011-07-08 01:04:51 +0000"/>
<unit_system data="US"/>
</forecast_information>
<current_conditions>
<condition data="Mostly Cloudy"/>
<temp_f data="72"/>
<temp_c data="22"/>
<humidity data="Humidity: 60%"/>
<icon data="/ig/images/weather/mostly_cloudy.gif"/>
<wind_condition data="Wind: SE at 8 mph"/>
</current_conditions>
<forecast_conditions>
<day_of_week data="Thu"/>
<low data="62"/>
<high data="77"/>
<icon data="/ig/images/weather/partly_cloudy.gif"/>
<condition data="Partly Cloudy"/>
</forecast_conditions>
<forecast_conditions>
<day_of_week data="Fri"/>
<low data="63"/>
<high data="82"/>
<icon data="/ig/images/weather/partly_cloudy.gif"/>
<condition data="Partly Cloudy"/>
</forecast_conditions>
<forecast_conditions>
<day_of_week data="Sat"/>
<low data="64"/>
<high data="82"/>
<icon data="/ig/images/weather/sunny.gif"/>
<condition data="Sunny"/>
</forecast_conditions>
<forecast_conditions>
<day_of_week data="Sun"/>
<low data="68"/>
<high data="86"/>
<icon data="/ig/images/weather/partly_cloudy.gif"/>
<condition data="Partly Cloudy"/>
</forecast_conditions>
</weather>
</xml_api_reply>

http://www.google.com/ig/api?weather=toronto,ON
Without indents it is a little confusing to decipher but all of the forecasts for the next four days are under the same tag. So how can I only take to information for one of the days?


So that's problem number one. Number two is with the loader class, I can get everything set up with a URLRequest and everything but once I download the image I would like to get it into flashpunks graphic system. In my other topic Chevy said something about taking the bitmapdata of the child of the loader and give that to flashpunk entity but I can't for the life of me figure out how to do that. If someone could provide a quick code sample or something that would be amazing.

Thanks.

It's Working by MGMT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyaDTiXH3R4
Really fucked up video.

I am fine with sequels as long as they innovate and put a twist on the classic formula and that it isn't a sequel to a game where there are 50 other games like it and they are making ANOTHER one. MW3 looked terrible, they expected me to be impressed by breach and clears again which were already in a cod game before.

The Microsoft conference was awful, Sony was moderate but I hope Nintendo blows everyone out of the water. If they announce a new Metroid for Cafe, I will piss myself in happiness. As long as it is nothing like Other M.

I like their derezzed remix.

New Born - Muse

Favourite Muse song hands down, I love the intro.

I just thought you guys might like to know that Google has this unofficial weather service. You can access it by using the url: http://www.google.com/ig/api?weather=toronto,CA but replace Toronto with your city of choice. It will give you an XML file with current temp weather and the forecast for the next few days. I just got this working in flash for a program I am making and I thought you guys could benefit from it too. Also apparently there is one for stocks too: http://www.google.com/ig/api?stock=YHOO that ones for Yahoo. I thought it was pretty cool and hopefully you can get some good use out of it.

Pink Floyd - Money
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpbbuaIA3Ds

what time signature is that in again? is it 5/4 or 7/8?

It's 7/8 but it switches to 4/4 later in the song. The most popular 5/4 song to my knowledge is the mission impossible theme song.

I find that I can really like certain songs but I end up disliking them because they are too short. Such is the case with this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvcJhXJpNNg It is only an interlude but I really thought it had the potential to be a full song.

I wish it didn't exist for my age group and area. I am good at becoming friends with people but my problem is I always think I don't know them well enough to make a move so I get to know them and we become friends and then suddenly the opportunity is lost. It doesn't help that I am fairly introverted.

Hey, I listened to some of your tracks and was wondering if you wanted to do some music for a game I am making. It's a kind of sci-fi type game but it's arcade-like, similar to something like Geometry Wars. I had a music guy so previous projects but he hasn't returned my e-mails in over a month and a half so I'm looking for someone new. I am looking for some electronic music for the background of the game, maybe a little bit of a light dubstep feel. I listened to your songs and I think the style that would  fit the game the best is from like 3:00 onwards in your In Transit song. I am looking for something like that but maybe little more upbeat. Anyway if you are interested message me and we can discuss it further. Also I am considering getting the game sponsored (it is a flash game) and if I do I would be willing to negotiate a percentage of the profits.

Good day.

I think it would be neat to make the morphball a rigid body and use Unity's built in physics.

The graphics look really stunning, at least the maxed-out pc version does. The volumetric lighting looks great and they did depth of field really well.

I believe Rockstar also has a studio in Toronto, I think they were responsible for the GTAIV PC port.

Lol but like people without their parents there.

Thanks for that, worked like a charm