INN OF LOST SOULS: general chit-chat thread

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:07 pm

No, they have those guns, sneaky sunsofbiches

Post by **Ameena** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:21 pm

Bah, I think mentioning spammy-posting users has just caused it to happen, lol...but none of them are in a forum I moderate so I'll have to leave it to one of you guys to go round with the big Spam Remover of Righteousness.

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:09 pm

DAMMIT! Ameena you indeed summoned one. Anup35 had a weird website, but seemed like a resgistered domain with e-mail, had no front html yet but all seemed innocent, so I wen't 'ah well'.

Four bloody nude shakira post spams - two seperate two replies to existing threads

IP banned, web address banned, user twatted - but that f*cking pisses me off since I ok'd the little shit.

dfxdx · Post by **dfxdx** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 7:51 pm

Website update - DM's copy protection system. Hope y'all like it!

Adamo · Post by **Adamo** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:00 am

http://constc.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Dungeon Master miscellanea

My 16-17 year old self has spent more time playing Chaos Strikes Back on Atari ST than my 32-year old self dares to admit.

Turns out, there's a whole fan subculture for Dungeon Master and Chaos Strikes Back out there. There's The Dungeon Master & Chaos Strikes Back Encyclopaedia with information about games as well as a download section with several reincarnations of the games.

Most notable among them is one by one Paul R. Stevens who created an exact replication of the game. Here's how he did it, in his own words found here:

Finally, after many years, I got my hands on the binary executable for the game. I wrote a disassembler to turn it into human-readable op-codes and proceeded to translate it to C++ using the Microsoft Version 6.0 C++ compiler. Eight hours a day for six months. About 120,000 lines of pseudo-assembly language. Crazy thing to do. But it works.

Just insane. Clearly, one of the highest examples of computer nerdiness I've ever came across. Hat off. The biggest achievement is that the resulting code is fairly cross-platform; there are distributions for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. And I can certify, the gameplay feeling is identical to that you get from playing it on an original Atari ST. Well, except it loads much faster. And the pixels look blockier on these damned modern high-res displays than they did on a TV screen back in the day. And the Mac OS X port for some reason doesn't deal well with keymaps, so you lose the ability to strafe from the keyboard, which can make the game tedious at times. The Windows version fares better in this regard, and you can even assign mouse clicks on a particular screen coordinate to keys on the keyboard. As anyone who played these games in original will attest, this is an invaluable feature to have as it is much faster to hit 6,4,4,spacebar than to click on four icons on the screen to cast a fireball

Then there's Dungeon Master Java by Alan Berfield, an also cross-platform version of Dungeon Master engine written in Java, with custom raytraced art, giving the game a bit more polished feel.

And then if you look a bit more around on the net with a search engine, you can also find an incredible ammount of custom-designed dungeons fans are creating.

Jeez, now if only I again had as much time as I had 16 years ago...
Labels: side interests

posted by Attila Szegedi @ 17:55 1 comments links to this post

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:48 am

Weeee, the game is everywhere...as it was meant to be

So, it's 2007, it's 20 years since the release - the question is, what is the exact 'birthday' date? Is it around somewhereand which release was the first?

Sabreman · Post by **Sabreman** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:43 am

The best I can turn up is 'late 1987', according to the (rather excellent) feature in Retro gamer magazine. That was the ST version.

Apparently the game made its first public appearance at the Las Vegas CES in June 1986, running a simple slideshow of screens. Even that was enough to convince a Mirrorsoft honcho to sign it up for a Euro release.

Post by **Gambit37** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:48 am

We have one year to sort something out, ST version came out just before Christmas, 1987.

Incidentally, the PC version came out 4.5 years later, even after the SNES version!

ian_scho · Post by **ian_scho** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:29 pm

Santa Claus has finally arrived! I'm connected to the internet at home now! A whole stonking 'up to' 1MB ADSL thingy.

I can bug you all now, in Flash Chat....

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:31 pm

Sweet! Pity I'm doing washing just now...but, another day I can bewilder you with lots of verbage!

Post by **Gambit37** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:39 pm

Verbose verbiage? A la V for Vendetta? Probably the worst film I have seen for a very long time...

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:42 pm

Really, I kinda liked it...

Post by **Gambit37** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:49 pm

I watched it on DVD the other night (got it for Christmas) and fell asleep half way through -- it was the middle of the day!

Awful dialogue, one dimensional characters, terrible acting (especially Portman who can do a lot better than that but is generally overrated), simple politics, cringe worthy effects and one of the most lacklustre on screen 'relationships' I've ever seen. And it takes itself so seriously it ends up looking like a piece of pretentious wank. Spare me, please -- this is one for eBay.

I don't know anything about the original comic -- I'm assuming it wasn't as bad as this awful, awful movie.

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:02 pm

Ah, you missed Stephen Rea's summary of the end third of the film if you think it takes itself 100% seriously or some of the other little bits.

Post by **Gambit37** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:11 pm

No no, I watched the second half yesterday, so I've seen it all. It's pants -- it's not possible to have any sympathy with the main character (hey, I'm wearing a mask, aren't I cool?), his relationship with and treatment of Evey is utterly improbable (and what's up with her bizarre accent?) and Stepehn Rea was the biggest disappointment of the film -- dull, by the numbers, tired acting. And what on earth was John Hurt doing in this steaming turd of a movie?

I really didn't give a shit about any of these characters and I only watched the second half as I don't like forming opinions of things unless I've experienced them in full. What a waste of time!

"No, no, say what you *really* think..."

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:13 pm

Nothing wrong with being honest and concise!

Opa-Loka · Post by **Opa-Loka** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 7:38 pm

V for vendetta.

Any film that gets based on an apparent mirror image of 1984, needs rethinking. even basing Mr hurt in the role of "leader" was a bad move.
yes the level of acting may not have been the best.
special effects was something to be desired.
The plot may have been a little week. (get it plot. ha. ha) sorry!

Having said this I do believe the film warrents merit.
ITS NOT SET IN AMERICA
and well if I was to be honest I really enjoyed it.
If you have read my other post http://www.dungeon-master.com/forum/vie ... hp?t=26198 then you'll know I love stories of apocalyptic futures. V does this from that point of view.

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:01 pm

I dunno, I liked Hugo Weaving's physicality, I liked Natalie, I liekd the fact that it wasn't an action fest more a 'what the heck is he doing' fest, which was why I really liked the Stephen rea bit, because he also highlighted the plot, then blew it off. And yes, while it may been americans doing it, I liked it was set in Britain too dammit!

Sabreman · Post by **Sabreman** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:09 pm

I thought the film was great, and I'm a big fan of the original comic. Some things need to change in transition to another medium (plot and pacing to name a couple), and some things have to change to remain relevant.

Opa-Loka · Post by **Opa-Loka** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:10 pm

oh I feel a wave of English pride.
ENGLAND PREVAILS!!!!!
There are good speaches in the movie, And none more than V's introduction Speech.
Let me venture to introduce myself: I am a vagabond variable, viz., a vermifuge against veiled villainy, a vivisection of vermin, a valediction to varletry, a ventilation of venom, a veritable Via Dolorosa of vexation, a vanguard of virtue and a vaunted valentine to vengeance: with verve I vanquish and then vanish like vapor. With the vantage of valor I visit the valleys of shadow to venge and to vindicate, the vigilance of my vendetta becoming the vehicle of your deliverance, O virtuous vestal, from these verminous vampires in this verboten, vesperal vector. And as this velvet vers libre veers close to violet vainglory, I end this vaudeville and beg you to call me V.

V me!!!
Thats alot of V's.

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:18 pm

I thouht it set the tone well, kinda cheesy but it worked and was fun - which made the blacker elements such as the evie torture or steven fry charatcer's arrest nice counterpoints that stood out

Opa-Loka · Post by **Opa-Loka** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:47 pm

I admire Mr Fry for his understanding of the English language. He has an excellent sense of humour. (a bit of fry and laurie).
We all know he's gay. But to introduce such a presonal point into a film, Where he's hiding gay art in his celler was a great choice. Also the way that the film showed the similarity to Evey's mothers arrest,was a great link in the film.
I know Miss Portman has moments of week acting (crying to skywalker that he's breaking her heart in episode 3) That was REALLY BAD. But she done bloody well. I felt a little odd when she came in to see the priest.
Odd as in uncomfortable. Not excited.
But I think this is her only bad scene.
As for Hugo. He is a fine actor, capable to take on a veriety of different roles. He wouldn't be out of place on the stage with other great actors such as Burton, Stewart, or Blessed.
I'd also like to say Hurt was prob the best person to play Chancellor Adam Sutler. But the downside is I know he's played the same role in other films.

Adamo · Post by **Adamo** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:47 am

Gambit wrote:

You'll be warned for: (...) 1.3) Deliberately flaming, trolling or spamming

I was trying to guess what the "trolling" means, but no idea.

Quoting too much? Starting similar topics that are already on the forum? same about "flamming". does that means offending people?

Post by **Gambit37** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:07 pm

Flaming: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaming
Trolling: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_%28internet%29

Both articles are stated as either requiring cleanup or being unverifiable, but the basic definitions in the intro paragraphs are well understood to be accepted meanings of these terms.

Remeber, Wikipedia isn't always accurate as it can be edited by anyone.

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:13 pm

Yeah, basically deliberately negative or controversial saying comments just to have angered or passioned replies back that seve no purpose other than to get a rise out of someone.

And yes, flaming is not so much offending people but verbally attackign them for their views and beliefs in a discussion - a flame war being where a discussion just degenerating into people insulting each other

Trantor · Post by **Trantor** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:01 pm

It happened again - you have entered my dreams! I somehow dreamed that I would meet Suule (who was female!), Adamo and zooooom in a little house somewhere in the middle of nowhere. This forum eats my brain...

And I just learned that I will finally have a full-time job from March on! Too bad I have to move to Berlin for that (I don't like the city), but at least I can do something.

Adamo · Post by **Adamo** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:42 pm

Trant, maybe you should give up for a moment?

When I was working way tooooooooo muuuuuuch on CSbuild (12 hours non-stop for example), these nasty little tiles were in my mind when I was sleeping...

then I could build a dungeon in my mind. But otherwise, i had a problem with saving

ian_scho · Post by **ian_scho** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:43 pm

But that's what this forum is to me too. A nice, quiet place with occasional companionship and the sharing of ideas.

Don´t know about Suule though.

Post by **linflas** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:27 pm

*i see dead screamers*

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:30 pm

Lol, well, basically I just plug my brian directly into the net now to save time and therefore always be here

Trant, glad you finally got work! See, 2007 - good things this time! Hopefully you will find a nice part of Berlin to live in and find that the city isn't so bad, or something

You are beyond help with the weird dreams I'm afraid