CMUd ideas

[George]

Crap. I just installed VS 2002 and it doesn't support your project files. So, my testing with your code will be limited until I figure a workaround. Shouldn't hurt anything in the short run, since I'll have to create my own project for my test driver anyway.

[Peijen]

Yeah, I am using Visual Studio C# Express 2005 Beta 2 and the VS.NET project files were never backward compatible.

[George]

Damn, I wish you told me that before I wasted an hour and a half this morning installing 2002. Ok, so tonight, I'll kill 2002, pray it uninstalls cleanly, and install the express 2005 version.

[George]

MS says VS 2005 will only work with .NET 2.0. So you're using a beta .NET framework?

[Peijen]

MS says VS 2005 will only work with .NET 2.0. So you're using a beta .NET framework?

Yes, I am using .NET 2.0, it's a lot nicer than 1.1 that's for sure. I have not encounter any problem with the software.

Also I mentioned a few time that I am using C# express, I am sorry if I wasn't clear that I am using the 2005 version. I shouldn't expect people to know these things (I am bad at not doing stuff like this ).

Also keep your project files, you should be able to import them into the new IDE without too much trouble.

[George]

I probably just didn't pay attention.

I don't have any project files yet. I spent most of last night discussing crafting and this morning installing VS, so I haven't actually produced any code. The last thing I did before coming to work was try to load your projects to see if they built.

I'll try creating the skeleton of my test driver tonight.

[Peijen]

Coding items are such a pain in the neck. This project would be so much easier if we don't care about OOD. Hoepfully I will have the basics done by tonight.

[Peijen]

I dream up a story to go with the game! I am going to write it down here so I dont forget.

Sometime in the future, CMU was contracted by UN to develop combat robots to replace human military. Near the end of the development the prototype robots get to be field test, an alien invasion! After 100 years of fighting earth was able to repel the alien attacker, but most human have died during the war. Three years later Andrew, the super computer that controls robot production, become self-aware and realized if the human died out there would be no one to keep it running. Andrew formulated a plan for self preservation. A new line of robots was designed that are able to use existing human and alien robotic technology. Adaptable interface design allow the robots to swap parts salvaged from the battle fields. Andrew made a copy of itself in very one of the new robots, which allows it to cheat 'death' if the main super computer gets shutdown.

However, there are numerous difficulty facing Andrew for it's survival. Human survivors do not take well the news of self-awaring super computer because of some stupid movies from 20th Century, and is seeking to destory Andrew before it become too powerful. Mutants, cross-breeding experiement carried out by aliens and human, are also hunted by human survivors, but they have been sighted to band together and attacking small group of travelers. There is also rumors of alien scouts, which suggests a second alien invasion if it's true.

Now I just need to find someone with better writing skill to make that sound cool!

[Jonathan]

Wait, what is the playable race, human? Or robot?

[Peijen]

Wait, what is the playable race, human? Or robot?

hehe, I left that out to see what people would think base on that description.

highlight to see robot ...

[Jonathan]

Background isn't white on my puter, btw.

Yeah, I thought so from the description. It was only your previous posts that led me to ask.

[Jonathan]

One of the neatest ideas in SF I've seen is Herbert's personal shields in Dune so that all combat pretty much has to be melee.

[Peijen]

Hehe, I got the idea when I was playing KOTOR. I have some ideas floating around in my head, I will write them down when I have more concrete ideas.

[Jonathan]

Sometime in the future, CMU was contracted by UN to develop combat robots to replace human military. Near the end of the development the prototype robots get to be field test, an alien invasion! After 100 years of fighting earth was able to repel the alien attacker, but most human have died during the war. Three years later Andrew, the super computer that controls robot production, become self-aware and realized if the human died out there would be no one to keep it running. Andrew formulated a plan for self preservation. A new line of robots was designed that are able to use existing human and alien robotic technology. Adaptable interface design allow the robots to swap parts salvaged from the battle fields. Andrew made a copy of itself in very one of the new robots, which allows it to cheat 'death' if the main super computer gets shutdown.

However, there are numerous difficulty facing Andrew for it's survival. Human survivors do not take well the news of self-awaring super computer because of some stupid movies from 20th Century, and is seeking to destory Andrew before it become too powerful. Mutants, cross-breeding experiement carried out by aliens and human, are also hunted by human survivors, but they have been sighted to band together and attacking small group of travelers. There is also rumors of alien scouts, which suggests a second alien invasion if it's true.

The tricky part to this is writing something that doesn't read like fanfic. I broke it into two logical parts. The first bit is meant to be quick and catchy so people want to play. The second is meant to give new players the backstory so they understand the setting.

Here's my first draft of the first bit.

The world is turned upside down in the twenty-third century. Humanity has spent the previous hundred years fighting off a single alien colony fleet.

The aliens are dead, but at what cost? The human race was nearly exterminated. They survived only by inventing self-aware cyborg combat units to attack the extraterrestial invasion forces. Meanwhile, bizarre alien-human hybrids cover the planet, descending like locusts on outclaves of civilization and ravaging them. Terrestial life is on its last legs. When the aliens return, that will be the end of life on Earth.

A leader named Andrew has decided to end the decay and save the world. Andrew will lead his followers to eradicate the mutant threat and prepare the defense for a second alien invasion. Andrew could be prevented from saving the planet by the other intelligent life on Earth -- human beings.

Second part aint written yet.

[Jonathan]

I do have this fragment which I like.

Human survivors have formed a religion based on the surviving artifacts from the 20th century -- the height of their civilization. They believe in a messiah who will rescue them from the invading battle fleet and enslave the robots, a messiah named Luke Skywalker.

Von Neumann combat androids might be cooler than 'self-aware cyborg combat units'.

[Jonathan]

You could also use Neo, but the idea of a religion based on Keanu is too horrible.

[Alan]

Clearly when we do our mini-reunion, we will end up sitting in Jason's living room all day coming up with a story for Peijen's game. And then playing a D&D campaign based on it.

Old habits die hard.

[Alan]

All of the characters in the backstory should be named after CMU CS/ECE profs, past and present.

[Jason]

I think it might actually be better if you leave the description as you originally wrote it. There's an all your base are belong to us aspect to it that you could use as a marketing ploy.

[Peijen]

All of the characters in the backstory should be named after CMU CS/ECE profs, past and present.

Naturally!