What are attributes of a fun (video) game? I've been struggling to find one recently ( Read more... )

We picked up a Go board on Freecycle today. It didn't come with the instructions so I started looking around online. The wiki article has good detail, but rather confusing when trying to cover too many variations inline. Then I found this one ( Read more... )

"John D. Cook takes a stab at explaining why programmers are not paid in proportion to their productivity. The basic problem, Cook explains, is that extreme programmer productivity may not be obvious. A salesman who sells 10x as much as his peers will be noticed, and compensated accordingly. And if a bricklayer were 10x more productive than his ( Read more... )

Check-in 33. That's the last of the Seaside cards. I also did the promo cards. I declare the game engine functional. Now all we need are brainz ( Read more... )

 The longer I sit here next to my window watching it rain, pour, blow, howl, drench, and freeze outside... the more I am immensely impressed by modern construction and just how comfortable it is inside.  That said, driving is such weather is a distant second...

 They fixed it!!!

I implemented the Dominion : Seaside Duration card mechanic, and the four basic/simple Duration cards.  THEY BEAT GoldDigger!!!

Test setup: 10,000 random 2 player games with random cards from the specified decks; MediumAI vs. pure GoldDiggerAI.
S = Seaside (5/26 implemented).  I = Intrigue (17/25 implemented). B = Basic Dominion ( ( Read more... )

 Two Dominion related topics:

1. There have been a number of people that have expressed interest in getting together and just talking / testing strategies, especially as they relate to AIs.  This sounds like a delightfully nerdy way to spend an afternoon.  But when?  I'm not free any evenings this coming week, but there is some time next Saturday/ ( Read more... )

 So, Dominion seams to be a hot new game in the friend circles.  And I needed a new hobby.  And Rival gave express instructions...

So I've been writing the game logic and AI to play Dominion on my computer.  It seams that writing the basic game mechanics was rather easy, though some of the action cards are much less strait forwards.  It was also ( Read more... )

(Or at least the little remaining tatters...)

 I have a new enemy.

Watching conference all weekend. Four two hour sessions broadcast live online.  One good way to relax.