So, I have been working on a new game with a few friends, I have got most of the Level Designer/Builder working, watch it on the video below.



The game will be a cross between F-Zero, Wipeout, trackmania with user generated tracks and fun new game modes. The game will be released on XBox 360 Community Games.

So, its the last year of the naughties, and I got a new years resolution to try and update my site more often. Well more often than every 18 months anyway!

So, apart from work what have I been up to? lots of little things, games playing and the like but not much to show really.

Last weekend, I got a bit bored as you do and wrote a little genetic programming demo, which can be downloaded here: genetic_programming_demo.zip

Its quite simple really, only spent a few hours on it. Basically each of the little white dots has a string of 'DNA' 32 letters long, each letter represents a statement in a very simple programming language, such as 'if target left', 'move left', 'end if' etc. At the start of the demo the string is randomized, and after 10 seconds the best 2 are picked. It is based on a points system on directions of movement and food eaten. It is pretty cool to watch the code refactor and form.

If it does not run, and gives an error a long the lines of application configuration is incorrect. You will need to download the Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Runtime Redistributable.

Well after some f**king awful domain name issues with Registerfly, I have caswal.com back and site is restored YAY.

So, If anyone wants to get a domain name, try eNomCentral, customer support is hellishly fast and helpful.

More news/posts soon, on the Brittle and Tunnel Engine.

There has been big bashing of the PS3 and its unit price.
Which although is the most expensive of all the consoles for this generation, isnt really all that expensive in unit terms.

I have roughly converted the launch prices of consoles aproximately adjusted for inflation, following this rule:

Rules of 72

Taking inflation at about 3.5%. So here is my crappy graph:

So the PS3 ain't too bad, but not too great either, not that I'm a PS3 fanboy just putting things into perspective.


I havn't updated this thing in ages, why did I even purchase it?

Extreme has taken one of those breaks, the one where you never get round to working on it, or you have had a great new idea for a new project (well, actually I have 2) but thats besides the point.

The thing with 3xtreme is it all started by accident in the first place, it was almost a bet against myself that snowballed into what it is now.

But YES! Random thought?

I'm not gonna have a normal boring blog, logging day to day things (well perhaps my projects, just to have a log).

So time to start my random thought,

First off I need my subject material I came across: China shoots down Satellite

So, China shoots down a Satellite, one of their own old weather satellites. Everyone is up in arms, how this shows hostile intentions.

Now about 1/3rd down the article it has a nice little 'China in Space' thingy.

So China sends a man into space, to match US and Russian achievements,
China plans a space walk (to match US and Russian achievements)
China has shot down an object in space (to match US and Russian achievements)

I see a slight plan here. Looks to me that the Chinese space agency has gone to Wikipedia searched for Space Race, NASA etc and made a checklist of what they need to do. So they feel competent. That what I think.

China and the US will almost never go to war, both have too much to lose. US Companies have soo much invested in China they wouldn't allow the White House to go near it, they might talk mean, but there is no bite. Not if the Fortune 500 all say no. Lets just take a look at that list

2. Wal-Mart (After a quick google, Wal-Mart has 6000 factories (from their various suppliers) of which 80% thats 4,800 of them are in China).
3. General Motors - 2 Factories in China (They are car ones though) - and probably a lot more suppliers have factories there.
5. Ford Motors - 1 Factory in Chince - and probably plenty of suppliers have factories there too
25. Boeing - I know that the wings for 747's are hand made in China because they are so labour intensive.

Store Chains like Home Depot, Target, Costco, etc.

Clothes and Shoe companies like Niké.

Well, there is plenty more but I am far too tired to list them, China the US are far too economically tied together to go to war, the effects of which would have diastorous effects on their economies (and the worlds). All this war mongering is just talk to help to justify the stupid defense budget of the USA. The USA could use that money to become the saviours of the world, clear 3rd world debt, stop world hunger and all that merry stuff, could become the Saint of the world. It becomes a lot harder to terrorise a country (USA) when it has saved soo many peoples lives.


Anywho, diverging from my original random thought Congrats China! (well Chinese Space Agency) On doing all you have done so far on $500 million per year, I know $$$ goes further in China compared to the US, but still. NASA is too beaucratic and bloated for its own good. almost needs disbanding and a new leaner agency formed. Thats my 2 cents.


Hopefully a new random thought soon.

I have updated 3XTREME, to version v1.2, get it here:

3XTREME v1.2

Here is the changelog:

Version 1.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Added a gearbox to all cars, this has proved problematic, the gearbox has
basic traction control no drive is given to wheels with no grip or airborne
and remaining wheels get more power. The main problem with the new gearbox code
is as the car gets damaged, the vehicles lose all speed, and sometimes the gearbox
becomes pretty frantic, changing through the gears, unsure of how much torque to
give the wheels.
Gearbox and throttle is syncronised across the network.
Shrank the map, added more level objects.
Improved the network code, so the car is push towards its network location,
Rather that just 'teleported' to it.


Version 1.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Better threading and other error checks to reduce crashes.
Improved the Camera a Little

Have fun.


Well 3XTREME is ready for public release, so download it Here:

3XTREME v1.0

So here are some screenshots, for you to view while you wait for the download, although it shouldn't be too long. :)