Side Project

I've also started to work on a side project that is similar to Pocket Tanks but with our own twist of course. Right now I'm currently working on a particle editor for the game, and we just recently decided we were going to make the game in 3D so the video I'm about to post is the current working version of the particle editor, but it's only in 2D right now.

Optimization and Machine Architecture 2

So last month was a pretty technical month. My two day a week class was Optimization and during this class we learned different techniques to make hot spots run faster of course. One the my favorite techniques i pulled from this class was using SIMD or Single Instruction Multiple Data which basically allows us to send multiple adds/subtracts or any other calculation as a single instruction to the processor. This allows your hot spot speed up that many times as it is, so its pretty helpful. We also covered a few graphical optimization techniques, but those are pretty obvious to those who know something or rather about geometries or meshes.

In my other class, MAR2, we actually learned how to program on a GBA device. Our instructor told us could go over Nintendo DS programming but we didn't have enough time within a single month to do so, but they are extremely similar. Anyways, this is our first hands on experience with a device that has no operating system. How do you program on something with no OS you say? Well with some helpful resources, such as an emulator, we access particular memory locations to store certain data like background maps, color palettes, sprites, and much more cool stuff. To manipulate objects, each item has a series of bits that have flags that we can turn on or off if we need to rotate/scale and object or something.

This month, I have Artificial Intelligence and Real Time Animation for my classes. AI is going to be really tough, but RTA so far looks like its going to be an extremely fun class. Videos and Updates will be posted throughout the month.