OpenEuphoria

2. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by irv mullins <irvm at ellijay.com> Sep 04, 2004
• 511 views

Lobelia Overhill wrote:
...
> I'd like to build on that and create a similar game for my computer (for
> myself), and I'm wondering if Euphoria would be a good program to use?
> I would like to have it running from my hard drive or a CD ROM ...

Euphoria might be a good choice. 
What are the rules for that game? 
Does it require graphics, and if so, what kind?

Irv

4. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by irv mullins <irvm at ellijay.com> Sep 04, 2004
• 530 views

Lobelia Overhill wrote:
> 
> Well there weren't any rules as such it was just a case of enter horse in 
> competition, roll dice, decide penalties (I made up dice that had penalties
> on and one that decided 1st 2nd etc).  It's more of a simulation than a game.
> Graphics?  I dunno, that might be a bit over ambitious to start with.
> There are horse games online that have the basic idea - buy/breed a horse,
> train and compete it, but none of them are quite what I want, and I thought
> it'd be an idea to do my own version!

Computers tend to lack imagination. That's why you will need some rules.
I suggest you start by outlining the game step-by-step. For example:

1. How many players?
2. for each player, choose 1 (or more) horses.

3.Once that's done, then for each horse:
  roll dice
  based on outcome of roll, update status of horse
  You may want a list of penalties which the computer chooses at 
  random when a penalty is rolled. Otherwise, it's too predictable.

4.repeat 3 until -- something. horse wins? retires? 
       Player runs out of liniment? Whatever.

You can write and test the game steps without utilizing any graphics. It's
not going to be very exciting without some kind of graphics, but those 
can be added later. 

Irv

6. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Lobelia Overhill <lobeliaoverhill at yahoo.com> Sep 05, 2004
• 518 views

Ooookaaaay, I typed up an outline of what I want my game to be like, 
then I went to Euphoria to start programming, and weeeeell it doesn't
look like I'll be doing anything else :(  
--------
* batteries not included

8. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Lobelia Overhill <lobeliaoverhill at yahoo.com> Sep 06, 2004
• 501 views

D'you mind if I email it to you?
----------
* batteries not included

10. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Lobelia Overhill <lobeliaoverhill at yahoo.com> Sep 08, 2004
• 510 views
• Last edited Sep 09, 2004

OK, you asked for it ...


HORSE GAME

WHAT HAPPENS?
You give yourself a player name and you are awarded capital of 
€500,000 (or whatever your currency is).  You purchase a farm from a 
selection of plots with a choice of how many acres (can it be 
programmed to use either metric or imperial measurements?) of land, 
which you name (include [fictitious] location).  You can build 
stables, indoor arenas, outdoor areas, fence off paddocks, fence the 
property, buy equipment that you will need to look after and work with 
your horses, from the appropriate merchant, for varying amounts of 
money depending on quality.  You choose a horse to buy from the 
bloodstock agent, you select the breed, gender and colour of horse. 
The markings (face and legs) and temperament are randomly chosen by 
the game.  The horses are unnamed, and of unregistered parentage. 
Your horse is automatically transferred to your farm upon purchase.
Now you choose how you will look after your horse.
Where it will live? In a stable, or field?  How often will you feed, 
water, groom and muck out your horse?  daily, weekly, monthly, or 
never (your choice affects your horse's wellbeing).  The amount of 
money it costs depends on the quality of the foodstuff, and how often 
you feed.  When you've made your selection of where the horse will 
live and how you will look after it, it is set until you change it.
Now you will need to think about exercise, schooling or training your 
horse.  These are choices you make manually, and each choice (type and 
duration) of exercise affects your horse's wellbeing and overall 
standard, and the horses' competitive usefulness is decided by how 
well you look after and train them
Registering of horses: there are Associations (dressage, showjumping 
and eventing) that you can register you horse with, depending on what 
sort of competitions you want to enter, a horse can only be registered 
with one association at a time, and can only compete under the 
auspices of that association.  Each Association charges a different 
amount of money.
Competing horses:  When you enter your horse in a competition, you pay 
an entry fee, the horse's training and overall standard will determine 
how well it does, it's experience points count as a "bonus" towards 
placings.  There are types of competition: showjumping, dressage, 
eventing, in-hand showing and ridden showing (for youngstock up to the 
age of 5 years).  Showing competitions are judged by the horse's 
wellbeing.  Showjumping, dressage, and eventing have levels; novice, 
intermediate, advanced, open, national (grand prix) and international 
(championship).  The level your horse can compete at depends on it's 
experience.  The higher the level the more expensive the entry fee, 
and the higher the prize money.
Earning money:  everything you do costs money, capital won't last 
forever, you can earn money by
A. Putting stallions up for stud; if you have a suitable stallion you 
can offer other people a breeding to your stallion for a fee.
B. Enter your horses in competitions; the better trained they are the 
better they will do in competitions, the more you compete the more 
experienced they become, and the more money they can win.
C. Selling horses; the better your horse, the more money you can 
expect to ask for it.  A well looked after stallion or mare that has 
won a lot of competitions will be worth much more than a neglected 
gelding who's never entered a competition.
There is a [hidden] Welfare Officer who monitors your horses, If you 
do not take proper care of your horses they will be seized by the 
Welfare Society and you will be fined according to the severity of the 
neglect.

GAME "TIME"
Game starts at Monday January 1st year 1, players can proceed to next 
day, next week or next month when they have dealt with their horse[s].
Next month is useful for foals, yearlings, 2 year olds and horses that 
are resting, or recuperating from injury/illness, or broodmares in foal.
Next Week is useful when schooling
Next Day is useful for training (makes game more interactive) or 
checking to see what you are doing wrong.

A horse will live from 0 to a randomly game chosen age over 15 years 
(to a maximum of 30 years).  When the horse reaches it's life 
expectancy it is automatically retired to the Rest Home.  The horses 
life expectancy can be extended by proper care of the horse.  All 
horses automatically retire at 30.  A horse can be retired voluntarily 
after the age of 5 years.

LINKS WITHIN GAME
LAND AGENTS
Is where you buy your farm which comes complete with a house, and 
either 1, 5 or 10 acres.  Purchase of a farm is a one off deal (price 
depends on size of plot), you can purchase more land (by the acre) 
when you want to expand.
BLOODSTOCK AGENTS
Is where you buy your stock horses (there will, when I finish it, be a 
list of breeds to choose from)  Player chooses the breed of horse, the 
gender and colour, and the horses are yearlings (1 year old).  Prices 
are set at €5,000 per horse, regardless of breed or gender.  Player 
can buy up to a max. of 5 horses from the bloodstock agent, once they 
have bought 5 horses they cannot buy anymore from there, they have to 
breed to produce other horses.
BUILDER'S MERCHANTS
Here you can buy stables (timber, stone brick, block), fencing (hedge, 
stone, wooden, plastic, wire), and field shelters (stone, timber, 
brick, block)
Wheelbarrows, skips, pitchforks, shovels, brooms, feed and water 
buckets, feed and water troughs.  Arenas (indoor and outdoor) 
showjumps, cross-country fences.  Prices vary according to the 
material.  These things are purchased manually as needed via a link to 
the Builder's Merchants
FEED MERCHANTS
Here you can buy feed for your horse
Foal mix (for horses up to 3 years)
Light mix (for horses that are resting, recuperating)
Cool mix (for horses in training, broodmares and stallions at stud)
Heat mix (for horses in competition work)
Hay (all horses need some hay)
The feed merchant will send you a months supply (and debit your 
Capital) monthly.  You can change the feed type as needed.
SADDLERY
Here you buy tack and other equipment for your horse
Basic stable management set (grooming kit, head collar, lead rope)
Competition stable management set (show grooming kit, head collar and 
lead rope)
Lunging equipment
General purpose tack (saddle, girth, stirrups & bridle)
Dressage tack (specialist saddle, girth, stirrups & bridle)
Eventing tack (specialist saddle, girth, stirrups & bridle)
Showjumping tack (specialist saddle, girth, stirrups & bridle)
Hurricane turn out rug
All weather turn out rug
Night rug
Day rug
Cooler rug
Stable bandages
Travelling boots [horse]
Exercise boots [horse]
Competition boots [horse]
And for the rider:
Basic kit (jodhpurs, boots, hard hat, sweatshirt, jacket)
Dressage kit (breeches, long boots, top hat, tail coat, shirt)
Showjumping kit (breeches, long boots, hard hat, shirt/tie, jacket)
Eventing kit (breeches, long boots, crash hat, body protector, jersey)

DESCRIPTION OF HORSE
Breed	set by player choice of breeds (haven't completed list yet)
Type	set by game according to breed of horse: light, medium or heavy 
weight
Uses	set by game according to breed of horse: dressage, showjumping, 
racing, eventing, showing in hand and ridden.
Height	set by game within specific parameters according to breed of horse
Colour	random for bloodstock horses, determined by parentage of bred 
horses. From a choice of colours (haven't completed list yet)
Markings	random face and legs; star, stripe, snip, blaze.  1, 2, 3, or 
4 socks or stockings.
Gender	Chosen by player if bloodstock horse, random by birth for 
future generations male or female, geldings by player choice.
Intelligence	Is a random (hidden) number between 1 and 5, that in 
bloodstock horses can increase the number by a max. of 2 points from 
training.  This is inherited by future generations, and is a factor in 
competitions.

HORSE'S IN-GAME PROFILE
As a player cares for and trains a horse it develops.
Health	increase/decrease according to management: max. 100%
Happiness	increase/decrease according to management: max. 100%
Fitness	increase/decrease according to management: max. 100%
Muscle	increase/decrease according to management: no limit
Athleticism	increase/decrease according to management: no limit
Suppleness	increase/decrease according to management: no limit
Abilities	increase/decrease according to management: no limit
Agility	increase/decrease according to management: no limit
Speed	increase/decrease according to management: no limit
Stamina	increase/decrease according to management: no limit
Jumping	increase/decrease according to management and breed of horse: 
0 - 6 feet
The player can see the percentage the horse has gained, all origin 
horses start with 0%, bred horses inherit a trait from a parent
Health is decided by care of horse - needed for everything
Happiness is an overall rating - needed for everything
Fitness is determined by exercise - needed for competitive work
Muscle is determined by exercise - needed for competitive work
Athleticism is determined by exercise - needed in jumping events
Suppleness is determined by exercise - needed in dressage
Ability is determined by exercise - needed in dressage
Agility is determined by exercise - needed in jumping competitions
Speed can be inherited, and be determined by exercise - needed by in 
racing and eventing
Stamina can be inherited, and be determined by exercise - needed in 
racing and eventing
Jumping can be inherited, and determined by breed of horse, and 
exercise - needed in showjumping, racing (National Hunt), and eventing.
The horse's intelligence factor can slow down or speed up the time 
taken to train.

Competitions
(Dressage, Showjumping, Eventing)
Scores are based on horse[s] overall "points".  Each entry increases a 
horse's experience by 1 point, a placing (4th 5th or 6th) increases by 
5 points, a 3rd place by 10 points, a 2nd place by 15 points, and a 
win by 20 points.
The horse's percentages (health etc) and it's intelligence factor 
indicate initial placings.
I was thinking of having a [hidden] "superstar" bonus, 1 in every 
100/500/1000 horses would have this bonus which gives it higher 
placings in competition
The horse's experience dictates what level (novice etc) it can compete 
at. (a novice horse cannot compete at Grand Prix level and a Grand 
Prix horse cannot compete at novice level).
If a horse is registered as a showjumper it cannot compete in any 
other type of competition.

STABLE MANAGEMENT (automated)
(player selects schedule for each horse they own)
Muck out stable	□ daily	□ weekly	□ monthly	□ never
Feed horse		□ daily	□ weekly	□ monthly	□ never
Groom horse		□ daily	□ weekly	□ monthly	□ never
Water horse		□ daily	□ weekly	□ monthly	□ never
Turnout (stabled horse)	□ daily	□ weekly	□ monthly 
□ never
Check rugs		□ daily	□ weekly	□ monthly	□ never

TRAINING/EXERCISE (for youngstock)
(player selects schedule for each horse they own)
Foal handling		□ daily	□ weekly	□ monthly	□ never
Yearlings		□ daily	□ weekly	□ monthly	□ never
2 year olds		□ daily	□ weekly	□ monthly	□ never

EXERCISE/SCHOOLING (for older, competing, horses
(player selects schedule for each horse they own)

exercise duration 	¼ hour	½ hour	¾ hour	1 hour
Lead in-hand		○	○	○	○
Lunge		○	○	○	○
Loose school		○	○	○	○
Roadwork		○	○	○	○
Fieldwork		○	○	○	○
Flatwork		○	○	○	○
Dressage		○	○	○	○
Jumping		○	○	○	○
Cross Country		○	○	○	○


Lead in-hand (youngstock, broodmares, stud stallions only/optional for 
others)
Horse is led at walk and trot on a short lead rein.
Lunge (youngstock, broodmares, stud stallions only/optional for others)
a specialised type of exercise/training where the horse (kited out 
with tack, and occasionally a rider) is "lead" on a long (lunge) rein 
in an enclosed area at walk, trot, canter and over jumps - the person 
doesn't have to run with the horse.  Primarily used for horses over 2 
years, to introduce them to the basics
Loose school (youngstock, broodmares, stud stallions only/optional for 
others)
Similar to lunging, but here the horse has no tack or rider, the horse 
is encouraged to walk, trot, canter and jump within an enclosed area - 
often used to demonstrate how high a young horse can jump.
Roadwork (broodmares, stud stallions only/optional for horses over 3 
years)
aka hacking out, where you ride your horse on the road - if you live 
in a rural area - at walk and trot.
Fieldwork (broodmares, stud stallions only/optional for horses over 3 
years)
General [ridden]  exercise in a field, walking trotting, cantering, 
galloping.
Flatwork (horses over 3 years old)
Basic [ridden] schooling work in an enclosed area, walk, trot and canter.
Dressage (horses over 3 years old)
More advanced flatwork involving lateral work and other intense movements.
Jumping (horses over 3 years old)
exactly what it says on the tin, you ride your horse over jumps, in 
this case in an enclosed area
Cross Country (horses over 3 years old)
Jumping [ridden] over solid jumps at canter and gallop over a course 
of varying distance, includes ditches, water jumps etc.

Exercise/Schooling Effects
This information is hidden from the player, the percentages are 
subject to alteration during beta testing)
Each type and duration of exercise will increase the horse's 
development.  Type and duration of exercise is determined by the 
horse's age.  Training depends on what sport the horse will compete 
in.  The amount of energy a horse uses up depends on how old the horse 
is, how fit the horse is and the duration of exercise. This is 
something the player works out by trial and error (daily max. ¼ hour 
for foals, ½ hour for yearlings, ¾ hour for 2 year olds, 1 hour for 3 
year olds, up to 2 hours for horses over 3 years old)

LEAD IN-HAND duration 	¼ hour	½ hour	¾ hour	1 hour
Affects  by 
Fitness		+ 1%	+ 2 %	+ 3%	+ 4%
Muscle		+ 1%	+ 2 %	+ 3%	+ 4%
Athleticism		0%	0%	0%	0%
Suppleness		0%	0%	0%	0%
Abilities		0%	0%	0%	0%
Agility		0%	0%	0%	0%
Speed		0%	0%	0%	0%
Stamina		+ 1%	+ 2 %	+ 3%	+ 4%
Jumping		0%	0%	0%	0%
Energy (fit older horse)	1%	2%	3%	4%
Energy (unfit horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%
Energy (young horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%

LUNGE		¼ hour	½ hour	¾ hour	1 hour
Fitness		+ 3%	+ 4%	+ 5 %	+ 6%
Muscle		+ 3%	+ 4%	+ 5 %	+ 6%
Athleticism		+ 3%	+ 4%	+ 5 %	+ 6%
Suppleness		+ 3%	+ 4%	+ 5 %	+ 6%
Abilities		0%	0%	0%	0%
Agility		+ 3%	+ 4%	+ 5 %	+ 6%
Speed		0%	0%	0%	0%
Stamina		0%	0%	0%	0%
Jumping (if included)	+ 3%	+ 4%	+ 5 %	+ 6%
Energy (fit older horse)	1%	2%	3%	4%
Energy (unfit horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%
Energy (young horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%

LOOSE SCHOOL	¼ hour	½ hour	¾ hour	1 hour
Fitness		+ 2%	+ 3%	+ 4 %	+ 5%
Muscle		+ 2%	+ 3%	+ 4 %	+ 5%
Athleticism		+ 2%	+ 3%	+ 4 %	+ 5%
Suppleness		+ 2%	+ 3%	+ 4 %	+ 5%
Abilities		0%	0%	0%	0%
Agility		+ 2%	+ 3%	+ 4 %	+ 5%
Speed		0%	0%	0%	0%
Stamina		0%	0%	0%	0%
Jumping (if included)	+ 2%	+ 3%	+ 4 %	+ 5%
Energy (fit older horse)	1%	2%	3%	4%
Energy (unfit horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%
Energy (young horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%

ROADWORK	¼ hour	½ hour	¾ hour	1 hour
Fitness		+ 3%	+ 4%	+ 5 %	+ 6%
Muscle		+ 3%	+ 4%	+ 5 %	+ 6%
Athleticism		+ 3%	+ 4%	+ 5 %	+ 6%
Suppleness		0%	0%	0%	0%
Abilities		0%	0%	0%	0%
Agility		0%	0%	0%	0%
Speed		0%	0%	0%	0%
Stamina		+ 3%	+ 4%	+ 5 %	+ 6%
Jumping		0%	0%	0%	0%
Energy (fit older horse)	1%	2%	3%	4%
Energy (unfit horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%
Energy (young horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%

FIELDWORK		¼ hour	½ hour	¾ hour	1 hour
Fitness		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Muscle		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Athleticism		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Suppleness		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Abilities		0%	0%	0%	0%
Agility		0%	0%	0%	0%
Speed		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Stamina		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Jumping		0%	0%	0%	0%
Energy (fit older horse)	1%	2%	3%	4%
Energy (unfit horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%
Energy (young horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%

FLATWORK		¼ hour	½ hour	¾ hour	1 hour
Fitness		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Muscle		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Athleticism		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Suppleness		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Abilities		0%	0%	0%	0%
Agility		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Speed		0%	0%	0%	0%
Stamina		0%	0%	0%	0%
Jumping		0%	0%	0%	0%
Energy (fit older horse)	1%	2%	3%	4%
Energy (unfit horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%
Energy (young horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%

DRESSAGE		¼ hour	½ hour	¾ hour	1 hour
Fitness		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Muscle		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Athleticism		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Suppleness		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Abilities		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Agility		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Speed		0%	0%	0%	0%
Stamina		0%	0%	0%	0%
Jumping		0%	0%	0%	0%
Energy (fit older horse)	1%	2%	3%	4%
Energy (unfit horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%
Energy (young horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%

JUMPING		¼ hour	½ hour	¾ hour	1 hour
Fitness		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Muscle		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Athleticism		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Suppleness		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Abilities		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Agility		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Speed		0%	0%	0%	0%
Stamina		0%	0%	0%	0%
Jumping		+ 4%	+ 5%	+ 6%	+ 7%
Energy (fit older horse)	1%	2%	3%	4%
Energy (unfit horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%
Energy (young horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%

CROSS COUNTRY	¼ hour	½ hour	¾ hour	1 hour
Fitness		+ 5 %	+ 6%	+ 7%	+ 8%
Muscle		+ 5 %	+ 6%	+ 7%	+ 8%
Athleticism		+ 5 %	+ 6%	+ 7%	+ 8%
Suppleness		0%	0%	0%	0%
Abilities		0%	0%	0%	0%
Agility		0%	0%	0%	0%
Speed		+ 5 %	+ 6%	+ 7%	+ 8%
Stamina		+ 5 %	+ 6%	+ 7%	+ 8%
Jumping (if included)	+ 5 %	+ 6%	+ 7%	+ 8%
Energy (fit older horse)	1%	2%	3%	4%
Energy (unfit horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%
Energy (young horse)	5%	10%	15%	20%

  EXAMPLE
You've purchased a 1 year old Thoroughbred colt, let's say you've 
chosen to keep your horse at grass (i.e. in the field day and night), 
and you haven't bought a field shelter or a rug.  You opt for never on 
all stable management options, and give it 1 hour of cross-country 
training daily.  You then choose to go to Next Month
When the page refreshes, you will find the Welfare Officer has paid 
you a visit, and he's very angry.
You have mistreated your horse.  It needs to be fed, watered, given 
hay, a shelter, a rug and groomed.  You have exhausted your horse and 
it is lame.
(Messages in red are poor standards, messages in green are excellent 
standards, messages in neutral colour are acceptable standard)
You can call upon an expert for advice/assistance, or try to sort the 
problem yourself.
The expert will advise you call the Vet to treat the horse, and a 
Farrier to see to it's feet (both will cost money - but you have no 
other option) You need to go to the builders merchants to buy a field 
shelter, and the saddlery to buy a grooming kit and rug, and the feed 
merchant to buy feed.
You call the Vet and Farrier and they do what they can for the horse. 
  The Vet advises full rest for the horse for at least 1 month.
You buy a field shelter, and other equipment from the Builder's 
Merchant, a rug and basic kit for your horse from the Saddlery, and 
order feed and hay from the feed merchant.  You set your stable 
management routine to weekly and exercise to none ... Next Month.
The Welfare Officer says: You have improved your horse's living and 
general condition.  I will check again next month.
The Expert says: Much better, but not perfect ...
The Vet says: Your horse has recovered from exhaustion and it's no 
longer lame.
The Farrier: trimmed the horse's feet.
Make appropriate changes ...you want the Welfare Officer to tell you 
your horse is in good condition the expert to tell you You are taking 
good care of your horse the Vet to tell you Your horse is healthy The 
Farrier has to visit monthly to attend your horse's feet, you want him 
to say I trimmed the horse's feet/shod the horse, it's feet are fine

HINTS AND TIPS (the expert will dispense these when asked)
Feeding - feed your horse suitable feed for it's age/workload daily
Water - daily
Hay - daily for stabled horses, weekly for field kept horses
Groom - daily
Check rugs - daily
Muck out - stables daily, field monthly
Turnout stabled horses - minimum monthly, good weekly, optimum daily
Exercise, choose a routine suitable for you horse's age.  Foals and 
yearlings need to be handled (lead in-hand) daily.  2 year olds can do 
lead in-hand, lunging, and loose schooling daily.  3 year olds are 
backed and ridden, flatwork, road work, field work, jumping daily.
4 year olds are in training and can do all types of exercise/schooling 
daily/weekly
5 year olds and over are training/competing and can do all types of 
exercise/schooling daily/weekly.
A horse's competitive life shouldn't last more than 15 years.
Broodmares and stallions at stud need to be looked after in the same 
way as a 2 year old, with occasional riding.
The duration of exercise is determined by the horse's age and overall 
condition, young horses can only work for a maximum of 30 mins per 
day.  Older horses can work up to 2 hours per day at a mix of activities.
The Expert will advise you when you are wrong ...
You need to buy the correct equipment for your horse, it's needs and 
yourself.
The Expert/Vet/Farrier never tell you exactly what to do with your 
horse, you have to learn by trial and error how to look after/train 
your horse.

That is the basic idea, although I keep making changes, so there may 
be contradictions within this text, and I know what I'm talking about, 
even if you don't understand some of the terminology!!


-------
* batteries not included

12. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by "Unkmar" <L3Euphoria at bellsouth.net> Sep 09, 2004
• 518 views
• Last edited Sep 10, 2004

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lobelia Overhill" <guest at RapidEuphoria.com>
To: <EUforum at topica.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 7:32 PM
Subject: Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)




OK, you asked for it ...


HORSE GAME

<SNIP>

That is the basic idea, although I keep making changes, so there may
be contradictions within this text, and I know what I'm talking about,
even if you don't understand some of the terminology!!


-------
* batteries not included

Wow, you have a well thought out plan for a game.
I'd start with a text base system that can do most everything you state.
Once the text base game is done, And I know that a text based game
is usually boring,  but, Once that is done, then all the pretty graphics
can be added. the buliding and arranging of the landscape.
You can color your horse and select breeds with text.
Stallion, Light Brown, Clydesdale.  I'm not a race horse fanantic.
Clydesdale is about the only breed I know.   any how.
You can even select colors and styles of stables and such with text.
Again, I know it isn't anywhere near as much fun but... Think of the
textbased system as a story book game engine.  Once you have the
text based system laid out it should be pretty easy to attache the graphics
stuff.  I'm not saying the graphic stuff is easy. It will be a different
engine
that interfaces with the text based system that would complete the
overall concept and idea that you have put forth.

    unkmar
Just my my 2cents worth.

14. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by irv mullins <irvm at ellijay.com> Sep 10, 2004
• 498 views

Lobelia Overhill wrote:

> That's what I was thinking ... now all I need to know is /how/ do I do it?! :)

A little bit at a time, is how.

Perhaps you could start by setting up a database which would allow you to 
add and remove horses, and store a few attributes, such as age and experience.

Once that's done, you'll need to decide how the horse data gets updated.
Should it be once per turn, or perhaps in real time (or modified real-time)?
IOW, does your horse get older whether you play or not?

Then you can write a loop which will adjust the horses' age, etc periodically.
AFter that, you can worry about processing 'events' which affect the horses.

You'll need several utility programs to make testing easier. First thing 
to get woould be an Euphoria database browser. There are a couple in the 
archives. You'll use this to set up and modify the database as needed for 
testing.

Then look thru the database docs for info on how to access the records 
and change the data.

Irv

16. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by rudy toews <rltoews at ilos.net> Sep 11, 2004
• 507 views

Lobelia Overhill wrote:
> 
> Ooookaaaay, I typed up an outline of what I want my game to be like, 
> then I went to Euphoria to start programming, and weeeeell it doesn't
> look like I'll be doing anything else :(  
> --------
> * batteries not included
> 

fyi:
you mention outline. i use one to layout my programs.
i use a small commercial one called ActionOutliner.
also tried out a graphical program called Edge Diagrammer. works nice but i
don't want to buy one just yet.

http://www.crimsoneditor.com/
is the editor of my choice for regular files

also here is sites that have freeware too.

http://john.redmood.com/organizers.html
http://www.jlarue.com/blastfrompast.html


later
rudy

18. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Lobelia Overhill <lobeliaoverhill at yahoo.com> Sep 11, 2004
• 524 views
• Last edited Sep 12, 2004

> Just watching this thread, Lobelia, what programming level do you have?

None.  Aside from a vague memory of BASIC
 
> If you have none at all, euphoria is a great language to start with, and
> you have already written all the pseudo code, but you still have to start
> off REALLY simply, one SMALL step at a time. Irv's idea of using the
> database libraries is good, but if your programming experience is low,
> you have to start even simpler than that.

And how do I do that ... ?

> I would suggest learning first how to create/input/modify/age/kill(natural
> death)
> your horse, and how to display them first. ie learn how to use variables
> and sequences.

How?
 
> The important thing, is if you want to do it, expect to spend some time,
> and persevere. I'm sure you've already realised there's tons of help here.

right, so can someone help me ... ?  

In simple one syllable words if possible, because so far I have no clue
whatsoever
what to do, at all. Nothing. Zip, Nada.  
Opened Euphoria Editor, couldn't do anything, looked for a "how to use Euphoria"
file, couldn't find one.  Couldn't find anything.  Maybe I was looking
in the wrong place, or for the wrong thing ...
What am I supposed to type? 
Numbers? Letters? Sentences?
-------
* batteries not included

20. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Chris Burch <chriscrylex at aol.com> Sep 11, 2004
• 500 views
• Last edited Sep 12, 2004

Hi

You're in the right place, and it won't all come from me either!

1. Download and install euphoria - have you done that?

2. Navigate, with explorer, to the eu directory, find the html folder, and
click on refman.html. If for some reason you don't have that, find the docs
folder, and start by clicking on refman.doc. 

3. Read everything

4. Navigate to the bin directory (still in euphoria folder), and start ed
by clicking on ed.bat. A dos window will open with the editor running. If
it is not blank, press ESC, followed by n. You will be asked for a new
filename. Let's start by entering 'test.ex', withouth the quotes, and press 
enter.

5. now enter this (DO NOT COPY AND PASTE, TYPE)

integer x

for i = 1 to 100 do
     x = i * 2
     printf("Numbers are : %d , %d \n", {i, x}
end for

(do not think, do)

6. Run the program. Press ESC, then e

Thats it, you've just written your first eu prog.

Experiment (see 3)

Next lesson, procedures.

Chris

22. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Pete Lomax <petelomax at blueyonder.co.uk> Sep 11, 2004
• 501 views
• Last edited Sep 12, 2004

On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 15:57:32 -0700, Chris Burch
<guest at RapidEuphoria.com> wrote:

>>      printf("Numbers are : %d , %d \n", {i, x}
>Should have been
>      printf(1, "Numbers are : %d , %d \n", {i, x}

That looks like a bug in EUforum, stripping the trailing closing
parenthesis to make Chris tear hair out. Rob?

My try:
      printf(1, "Numbers are : %d , %d \n", {i, x})

(you never know)

Lobelia, if you visit
http://www.rapideuphoria.com/archive.htm
and type in:
simple cuny

The first entry, simple user input routine:-
Can you get that to run and accept input?

Pete

24. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Marc Giao <giao at sympatico.ca> Sep 12, 2004
• 569 views

Lobelia Overhill wrote:
> 
> None.  Aside from a vague memory of BASIC
>  
> And how do I do that ... ?
> 
> How?
>  
> right, so can someone help me ... ?  
> 
> In simple one syllable words if possible, because so far I have no clue
> whatsoever
> 
> what to do, at all. Nothing. Zip, Nada.  
> Opened Euphoria Editor, couldn't do anything, looked for a "how to use
> Euphoria"
> file, couldn't find one.  Couldn't find anything.  Maybe I was looking
> in the wrong place, or for the wrong thing ...
> What am I supposed to type? 
> Numbers? Letters? Sentences?
> -------
> * batteries not included
> 

Hi Lobalia,

For "A Crash Course in Game Design and Production - Euphoria Edition"
you may want to visit the following site.

http://www.berighteous.com/euphoria/

Half way down the page you may find some info of use.

You will find lots of people here ready to help... Hang in there and good luck.

Marc

26. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by irv mullins <irvm at ellijay.com> Sep 12, 2004
• 499 views

Lobelia Overhill wrote:

> what to do, at all. Nothing. Zip, Nada.  
> Opened Euphoria Editor, couldn't do anything, looked for a "how to use
> Euphoria"
> file, couldn't find one.  Couldn't find anything.  Maybe I was looking
> in the wrong place, or for the wrong thing ...
> What am I supposed to type? 
> Numbers? Letters? Sentences?

Ah, now we're getting somewhere 
You began by asking us a question not unlike "How may I navigate this 
747 from Sidney to London?", when what you really should have been asking 
is "why don't those airplane thingys fall from the sky?" 

Given the nature of your question, you shouldn't be surprised if people 
assumed you have considerable knowledge of the topic.

So really you need to accept the fact that writing a game, like piloting 
a jetliner, isn't where you start. Not even if you have access to several 
qualified instructors. And flew a kite once.:)

You need to start with very simple things. Once you clearly understand 
*each* of them, then you put them together (hundreds of thousands of them, in
the
case of the game you describe) to make the complete program. 
Even the most complex program is just a whole lot of simple things 
put together. In the right order. 

The first step is always this: write a "Hello World" program.

Open a plain text editor (notepad, if you are running Windows). Do not 
use Microsoft Word or Office!

type the following:

<code>
puts(1, "Hello World!")
</code>

Save your work under the name "hello.ex" (without the quotes)

Open a DOS window, and at the prompt, type "ex hello" (without the quotes).

On your screen you should see something like:
Hello World!

Sorry if this sounds patronising, but many people have trouble even getting 
that far. Perhaps they don't use a plain text editor, or because they 
can't open a DOS box, or because they don't have euphoria installed correctly, 
or any number of other mistakes. It's important to find out if the above 
works before going on, because all those steps are essential to writing and 
running any program, In any language. 

Irv

28. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Lobelia Overhill <lobeliaoverhill at yahoo.com> Sep 16, 2004
• 498 views

> Ah, now we're getting somewhere 
> You began by asking us a question not unlike "How may I navigate this 
> 747 from Sidney to London?", when what you really should have been asking 
> is "why don't those airplane thingys fall from the sky?" 

But I don't need to know /how/ a plane flies in order to fly one ...
Can you drive a car?  How did you learn how to do that?

> Given the nature of your question, you shouldn't be surprised if people 
> assumed you have considerable knowledge of the topic.

Err, but I said I was a Newbie, which should have set off several klaxon's
and some flashing red lights, and caused people to start pointing and laughing
...
 
> You need to start with very simple things. Once you clearly understand 
> *each* of them, then you put them together (hundreds of thousands of them, in
> the
> case of the game you describe) to make the complete program. 

*nods* yees, I'm trying to find out what the hundreds of thousands of 
"them" are, and how to put them together ... 

> The first step is always this: write a "Hello World" program.

Derek Parnell (G'day mate!) has already shown me how to do that ... 

> Sorry if this sounds patronising, but many people have trouble even getting 
> that far. Perhaps they don't use a plain text editor, or because they 
> can't open a DOS box, or because they don't have euphoria installed correctly,
>
> or any number of other mistakes. It's important to find out if the above 
> works before going on, because all those steps are essential to writing and 
> running any program, In any language. 

Well, once I'd downloaded Euphoria, I had a look at the manual, I said "wuh?" 
(very confusing that manual) I tried looking for something easier to understand,
and couldn't find anything.  I tried opening Euphoria editor and poking around 
there and that didn't help.  

I knew writing a program would take hours and hours - that's not a problem
I don't have a life ... If I'd known I was going to have to turn my brain 
inside out in order to learn how to write the appropriate program, I wouldn't 
have bothered.  Evidently the [obviously scant] knowledge I had of BASIC 
isn't helping me here ... 
Sorry if that sounds rude, but when something states that it's easy
to use and requires no previous experience I'd expect something that 
I can switch on and start using within a few hours, rather like when I 
buy a VCR.  And I /never/ need to use the manual to do that!


* batteries not included

30. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by cklester <cklester at yahoo.com> Sep 16, 2004
• 496 views

Have you done this: http://www.rapideuphoria.com/what2do.htm?

-=ck
"Programming in a state of EUPHORIA."
http://www.cklester.com/euphoria/

32. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Craig Welch <euphoria at welchaviation.org> Sep 16, 2004
• 494 views
• Last edited Sep 17, 2004

Lobelia Overhill wrote:

> But I don't need to know /how/ a plane flies in order to fly one ...

I'm being pedantic, but ... yes, you do.

-- 
Craig (helicopter pilot)

34. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Craig Welch <euphoria at welchaviation.org> Sep 17, 2004
• 486 views

Michelle Rogers wrote:
> 
> 
> hey..Craig..are you a civilian helicopter pilot? or for the army?

Private ...

> I'm asking because, although I live in NC now, I am from (and lived there
> for most of my life) Alabama, about 5 minutes from Ft. Rucker (which I'm
> sure you have probably been to, if you are in the army).

No, I've never been to Fort Rucker. If I were in 'the' army, I would 
either be based in Oakey or Sembawang, right? Unless perhaps you meant 
the US Army? 

36. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by irv mullins <irvm at ellijay.com> Sep 17, 2004
• 500 views

Craig Welch wrote:
> 
> Lobelia Overhill wrote:
> 
> > But I don't need to know /how/ a plane flies in order to fly one ...
> 
> I'm being pedantic, but ... yes, you do.
> 
> -- 
> Craig (helicopter pilot)

Actually, for fixed-wing aircraft, the flying part is pretty easy.
Knowing how to make it *stop* flying at just exactly the right time 
(and not a moment sooner) is the hard part :)

Irv

38. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by cklester <cklester at yahoo.com> Sep 20, 2004
• 498 views

Lobelia Overhill wrote:

> I said I wanted to create a game but I had
> no idea how to do that using Euphoria.  I've tried to read the manual.  I've 
> tried looking at the demos.  I've tried following emailed instructions.
> and somehow miraculously enough I still cannot understand this "easy"
> language.

Maybe programming isn't for you. Have you tried gardening?

-=ck
"Programming in a state of EUPHORIA."
http://www.cklester.com/euphoria/

40. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Joe <spent_memory at hotmail.com> Sep 20, 2004
• 502 views

If i were u and i wanted to learn how to use Euphoria i would
go right back to the start, start reading the documentation 
again , form an understanding of how the language works before
you even claim u have tried every piece of Help Documentation
available.

42. Re: creating a game ... ? (help!)

• Posted by Patrick Barnes <mrtrick at gmail.com> Sep 21, 2004
• 504 views

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 04:49:00 +0000, Ray Smith <smithr at ix.net.au> wrote:
> I haven't really followed this thread to well ... but (famous last
> words) ...
> 
> The "Beginners Guide To Euphoria" is the only documentation I have seen
> for Euphoria which helps a non programmer learn how to program.
> (It's obviously out of date and I personally don't like the format)
> 
> Because of this I don't beleive Euphoria is the best choice of languages
> for a complete newbie to learn.

I'd have to disagree with you there... I "taught" myself how to write
qbasic when I was young... I wrote a number of programs in it, and
though to myselft: "I know how to write qbasic".
Unfortunately, my knowledge of simple programming paradigms, like
arrays, subroutines, even the use of "else if" was non-existent.
Euphoria opened my eyes.

I've taught a few people how to program, always using Euphoria. They
pick it up quickly, and actually understand program paradigms much
more clearly than I ever did using qbasic. However, in some ways
you're right - while it's an easy language to be taught, it's quite
difficult to download the language and just teach yourself.

Now, I haven't downloaded the installer for a long time, so some of my
comments may be a little out of date... but here's a couple of things
Rob needs to change in the installer (are you listening, Rob?)

1. Drop ed.ex. I'm sorry Rob, I know you created it, and have an
attachment to it, but it's DOS-based, it uses a completely unfamiliar
set of shortcut keys, and it's DOS-based - It's not 1989 anymore...
Use the quite excellent MEditor, or even create your own - it doesn't
need to be much more complex than Notepad, that windows interface
gives people a familiar sight.
2. Automatically associate .ex, .exw, .e, and .ew files with ex.exe
and ex.exw, and the editor. For .ex and .exw, make executing the
default action, and "Edit" selectable from the context menu. For .e
and .ew, just have "Edit". Nobody likes batch files.



Lobelia, if you're still listening...

How far did you get in trying to understand Euphoria?

1. Could you get any of the programs running?
2. Could you open the editor, find an existing program, and run it?
3. Could you run all of the programs in the Tutorial folder, and trace
through them?
4. Could you make your own simple program?

What number can you get up to before you answer no?

If it's 1:  Ask us, we'll tell you how to set up the file associations
so that you can just double-click on a Euphoria program to run it, and
right click to edit.

If it's 2: I suggest you download and use M Editor:
http://palacebuilders.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/emeditor.html
It's a windows based editor that is much much much easier to use than
the program that comes in the installer package.

If it's 3: If you can't run the program, check again step 1... If you
can't trace through?... Tell us the specific problem, and we'll try to
help.

If it's 4: Make sure you're not being too ambitious... Can you make a
program that will say "Hello" (trivial program) ?

puts(1,"hello")
</eucode
If you can do that, try adding to it. 
Make it test the value of a constant, and use an if statement to
decide what the program will print. Try having it read in a name from
the keyboard, and take action on the name entered.

If you're beyond 1-4, and you think I'm being condescending, then tell us what is causing the problem, we'll try to help. Remember, make sure you don't bite off more than you can chew. Small steps help ensure that when you do write your game, you know what is and isn't possible, and can design it appropriately.

MrTrick }}}