Windows Insight App

Summary

The Windows built-in Task Manager program is good.  It's my go-to when needed to verify performance, garner information about a program, or kill a pesky process.  At times, it doesn't do enough.

To cover the bases and add the deep-dive functionality that Task Manager lacks, there's now this application:

Screenshot of the Insight App, taken by itself.

Windows Insight App - a program designed to deliver user manipulation and performance data on a targeted process.

Here's how it works:

• On launch, the program finds all processes running on the computer, removing background apps that are more low-level.
• From the list of running processes, clicking the name of the process will populate the name and computer title of the program, further populating other data fields on the Main and Diagnostics tabs.
• Resolution can be changed, screenshots taken, and unlisted (background) processes manually entered.

As it's yet to be optimized and there are a number of features I'd like to add, the program's not yet ready for download.  It'll be up on my GitHub with a link updated here when publicly available.

Considerations / Specs

The Windows Insight App (WIA from here) is made as a Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) program in C# utilizing the Model-View-View Model (MVVM) framework.

A positive in the development of WIA is how much control over diagnostic information can be given:

A few data-points about a program and the system it's running on.

A current negative aspect about the program is that it checks target processes repeatedly, which can snag a few MB of RAM, more than I'm comfortable with.  Additionally, the program has fallen into the trap of using Object Oriented Programming classes as merely namespace controls (therefore, no longer resembling the original OOP).

Future

Additional options and exposing diagnostic features (read: checkboxes) to users are planned TODOs.  Further, allowing users to change more aspects of their target process and the WIA itself is coming.

In short, optimize and scale.  Get the project's source up on GitHub.  I'll likely stay away from a complete refactor (something I plan to do repeatedly with another tool, Turn Timer), but may come back to clean-up the many redundant classes and re-apply OOP methodologies.

Check in again when new programs, designs, and insights are released here on Make Better Games!

IGDA Nanocon '12 Notes - The Lens of Truth

(Games of Taste - Notes from Nanocon '12.)

The Lens of Truth: Real World Adaptive Level Design

Speakers: Chris Totten (Art Director E4 Software) and Josh Lynsen (Creator of StreetPass Network)

How did we get here?

                How Chris got here:

• Architecture Masters.
• Self education in Blender.
• Teaching on game development.
• Writing on game development.
• Doing game development.
• Advice: Be self-motivated.  Put the time in.  It will work for you if you keep your head down and hit the grind-stone.

                How Josh got here:

• Took the skill in his day job and applied it to what he wanted to do in game making.
• Does things that apply to a part of game making.

Discussion

Use virtual clues for real-life treasure.

How to deal with structures that already exist

                Use Urbanism

                                - Large spaces can keep people away from each-other

                                - Paths, districts, nodes, landmarks allow for meeting

                Connectivity

                                - Cell phones/internet create a damaging interaction issue

Adaptive Game Reuse - take a game and re-center it around a place

                1. Games that enhance

                                - Simple mechanics to real-world situation

                                - Ex: item finding to explore locations

                                - Ex: virtual art/characters in real locations

                2. Games that pervade

                                - Events can only be executed in specific locations

                                - Going from point A to B affects the virtual world

                                - Ex: passing someone in life gives virtual goods/action

                3. Games that rehabilitate

                                - Jane Megonigle

                                                - Works on games that makes the world better

                                                - Gamify basic actions in a positive way

                                                - Ex: Tombstone Hold'em, Cruel to be Kind

                                - Gamifying a common feature/location

Chris and Josh: Creating a ‘Hometown social game’

1. Goals
• Revisit hometown and bring welcome visitors
• Support local business and institutions
• Inject new life into smaller/shrinking cities
• Maintain links to - and value - your past
2. Platform
• Facebook, Google Plus or other social network
• Any communal posting area that supports photos/discussion/moderation
3. Guiding principles
• Large amount of local control
• Encourage tourism as much as revisiting
• Especially support volunteerism
• Especially support local festivals and city events
4. Example point system for pictures taken:
• 2 - you in town
• 5 - you and local landmark
• 10 - you supporting local business
• 50 - you volunteering at local charity
• 50 - you at local festival
5. Rewards
• Game enjoyment and community support
• Gold, Silver, Bronze involvement rankings
• No specific leader-boards
• Less about competition, more about involvement
6. Notes
• No specific hometown?  You are a nomad player.
• National chains ineligible for business photos.
• Chambers of Commerce could be local bases.

Turn Timer 1 - WPF

Summary

I've been a player of Risk for over a decade.  Smashing enemy troops, bottling-up entire continents, and even achieving the odd victory is a high that keeps me coming back.  A piece of feedback keeps coming up, too: My turns are too stinkin' long.

Fifteen minutes of deliberation is not unheard of.  Five minutes is a lightning round.  Attempting to cover any possible outcome is a recurring theme time and time again.

So, for all of my future teammates and opponents, here's a solution:

Compressed screenshot of Turn Timer, taken by another tool not yet ready for display.

Turn Timer - a program designed for any turn-based game that encourages players to take their turns quickly.

Here's how it works:

• Each round takes a default X time (set by the players).
• A player finishes their turn at Y, with a difference D = X - Y.
• That difference gets larger and larger the longer a player deliberates.
• Difference D is added to the next player's turn, D + X.
• If the player uses all their time, the program alarms the gamers that they need to move on.
• If a player ends their turn before X (they got so much time from the previous player they ended their turn early), no time is given to the next round.

Why stop at Risk?  Turn Timer can optimize Chess, cards, and even D&D!  You can check out the most recent download here on GitHub and on Board Game Geek (link coming soon!).

Considerations / Specs

Turn Timer is made as a Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) program in C#.  Both WPF and C# are very familiar to me, thus allowing for Turn Timer's quick creation.

The code follows the Model-View-View Model (MVVM) framework.  MVVM enabled me to get the basic functionality in, and once in, not have to worry about it as I began work on the XAML design.

A separate View and View Model were deemed necessary to handle the Settings popup.

As can be seen, the program is fairly simple, but what it allows for is something more robust than merely watching the clock.

Future

Number one item in the future is to get links onto this post after uploading the program to different locations!

Next issue to tackle is getting the XAML reigned-in to be more pleasing for users.

Finally, I aim to challenge myself to remake Turn Timer in the following formats and languages to move out of my .Net comfort-zone:

• C++
• Java
• Remade as an Android / Mobile app
• Remade as a Universal Windows Application (UWA)

Check in again when new programs, designs, and insights are released here on Make Better Games!