ASCII Fishtank Mini Contest!

Michalson · 2003-12-09T19:18:21

Update 11/19/2002 I've posted an updated version of the rules which includes instructions on how to upload your entry. You can see them at the official site. (A note to judges: I've also deleted the test information from the database, your accounts are still there but the fake entries and all the information attached to them is gone. Also a note to pan narrans, I've corrected that typo on the news page and your display name has been updated) Hopefully this edit doesn't screw up the formatting of the previous stuff in this message EDIT: Just to clarify since this thread is now a "Gamedev Announcement": This contest is not directly affiliated with or run by Gamedev.net (so don't send Dave or Kevin questions about it, they won't know what you're talking about). Contest OverviewThe purpose of this contest is to create the most graphically appealing, interesting to watch fish tank. The only catch is that this is an ASCII (text only) fish tank. No fancy graphics or 16 million colors, the sole method of displaying your aquatic world is through text.The contest will end on November 30, 2002 at 11:59 PM, EST SpecificsEach entry must portray a fish tank/aquarium with your choice of real or mythical sea creatures (though it is expected that most of your sea creatures should be recognizable and not totally alien). You are limited to using either standard 80x25 character or 80x50 character text mode, and the standard palette of 16 foreground colors and 8 background colors (these colors may not be altered). How you go about this is up to you. You may create a 32bit Windows console application, a 16bit DOS application using mode 3, or you may create a pixel perfect emulation of either mode using your preferred graphical API.Additionally...Each individual can submit any number of unique entries (however it is at the organizers/judges discretion to determine if two entries by the same person are not sufficiently different, in which case the competitor may choose only one to be judged).Entries must run on Microsoft Windows 98 or 2000 (preferably they should run correctly on 95, 98, ME, 2000 and XP).The contest is open to everyone that abides by these rules, however entries by judges/organizers are not eligible to win and will be removed from the pool of contestants after the first round (scoring).Existing "Ascii art" libraries, such as aalib cannot be used. If you have any doubt regarding the validity of a library please contact the contest organizer and provide a link to the libraries homepage.These rules may be modified at any time without prior notification.Accurate emulation of 80x25 (8x16 characters) or 80x50 (8x8 characters) should use the following as reference.JudgingEach judge will score entries in three categories:Graphics : General eye candy appeal. Use of shape, color and animation will be considered.Life : How interesting/impressive the behavior (AI) of your aquatic creatures is.Appeal : Overall impression of polish, creativity and original features.All judges will then meet to determine the final winner for each category, and an overall contest winner.Number of winning positions subject to change without prior notice depending on the number of entries received. SubmissionsIn order to qualify you must submit a single ZIP file of no more than 500KB containing:Your executable and any data files it needs.A readme file (plain text or HTML) explaining how to use your program and any special features you wish to point out.The complete source code to your entry.A plain text file, ENTRY.TXT , which lists your name, the name of your entry, your email address and optionally your forum nickname.Instructions on how to submit your entry coming soon LegalitiesAuthors retain all rights and ownership to their entries.If source code is submitted with the contest as per the requirements, then it is up to the entrant to include any terms of use licenses with his/her source code. [edited by - michalson on October 25, 2002 12:06:23 PM] [edited by - michalson on November 19, 2002 6:09:09 PM]

GDNet Lounge Community

Started by Michalson October 20, 2002 11:23 AM

210 comments, last by Michalson 20 years, 4 months ago

TwistedMatrix

122

October 30, 2002 03:14 PM

quote: -michalson wrote
Also, to use assembly in DJGPP do this (this is a conversion of the assembly code I posted on the previous page):

union REGS regs;regs.h.ax = 0x1202; regs.h.bl = 0x30; int86(0x10,&regs,&regs);regs.h.ax = 0x3; int86(0x10,&regs,&regs);regs.h.ax = 0x1110; regs.h.bx = 0x800; regs.h.cx = 0xA; regs.h.dx = 0x0; int86(0x10,&regs,&regs);

Um, lets not confuse the guy anymore than he already is. That is not assembly. It''s a software interrupt function. they are not even close to being the same thing.

-= Twisted Matrix =-

- Twisted Matrix

Michalson

1,657

Author

October 30, 2002 03:41 PM

quote:Original post by TwistedMatrix
Um, lets not confuse the guy anymore than he already is. That is not assembly. It''s a software interrupt function. they are not even close to being the same thing.

-= Twisted Matrix =-

They are exactly the same thing. The usage of software interrupts is a hardwired feature of the x86 cpu though the INT and IRET opcodes and the interrupt vector lookup table. The earlier example I posted was of the real assembly to use those interrupts, and as I stated the above was a conversion to use DJGPP''s abstraction layer, which while not true assembly code is designed to allow the programmer to access the platform dependent x86 registers and some of its opcodes (such as the INT opcode).

Greven

100

October 30, 2002 04:09 PM

quote:Original post by TwistedMatrix
Im a newbie 2, i am using DJGPP also for this compo and would be happy to help you get started.

Just to clear the air, I''m not a newbie

I do MFC/Win32, but it''s been about 7 years since I''ve touched DOS programming. And at work now I don''t have Visual Studio like at home so I''m using djgpp (new thing for me). Just thought I''d clarify

Michalson, You sir, are a god. Plain and simple.

Thanks!

Always remember, you''''re unique. Just like everyone else.

Always remember, you''re unique. Just like everyone else.Greven

Andrew Nguyen

150

October 30, 2002 06:14 PM

Do any of you realize that DevC++ and VC++ have conio? No need for QB or DJGPP here in my mind...

---START GEEK CODE BLOCK---GCS/M/S dpu s:+ a---- C++ UL(+) P(++) L+(+) E--- W++ N+ o K w(--) !O !M !V PS- PE+Y+ PGP+ t 5 X-- R tv+ b+ DI+ D G e* h! r-- !x ---END GEEK CODE BLOCK---

Abob

122

October 30, 2002 09:39 PM

Ok… let me clarify

In DJGPP

First to set 80x50 text mode and get a pointer to the memory

      #include <sys/nearptr.h>int main(){//set 80x50 union REGS regs;regs.h.ax = 0x1202;	  regs.h.bl = 0x30;	  int86(0x10,®s,®s);regs.h.ax = 0x3;	  	  int86(0x10,®s,®s);regs.h.ax = 0x1110;	  regs.h.bx = 0x800;	  regs.h.cx = 0xA;	  regs.h.dx = 0x0;	  int86(0x10,®s,®s);//get pointer to screen__djgpp_nearptr_enable();  textmemory=(char *)(0xb8000 + __djgpp_conventional_base);__djgpp_nearptr_disable();return 0;}

Is this right?
And also is there any thing I have to clean up before I exit (Like set it back into standard screen mode?)

Thanks for any help

[edited by - Abob on October 30, 2002 10:39:51 PM]

[edited by - Abob on October 30, 2002 10:40:47 PM]

Arrg!!

TwistedMatrix

122

October 30, 2002 10:32 PM

Greven, i was using ''newbie'' in a general sense. Dont take it to offense. (I have also been a programmer for 4 years) Im just new to Win32 and pmode programming.
Anyways, Im glad you figured out what you needed. I am doing it a different way. I didnt know about that FAR heap ptr thingine until now (Still dont know really). Let me know if I can help (I will let EVERYONE know when I need help you can be sure of that!

)

>> Michalson
Dude using INT86 is basicly just the same thing as calling some inline assembly to preform a sofware int, I know this. But you said and I quote: "Also, to use assembly in DJGPP do this"
Some assemblers can have up to 100''s of opcodes. INT86 does not allow use of all these opcodes. It has a specific function.

Not that it matters, but since you made a big deal out of It...

-= Twisted Matrix =-

- Twisted Matrix

Michalson

1,657

Author

October 31, 2002 06:11 AM

quote:Original post by Abob
Is this right?
And also is there any thing I have to clean up before I exit (Like set it back into standard screen mode?)

Thanks for any help

If you want to be nice and neat about it (won''t really matter under Windows since it closes when you are done) you could set the screenmode back to 80x25 by using:

regs.h.ax = 0x3;
int86(0x10,&ampregs,&ampregs);

IainC

127

October 31, 2002 09:39 AM

quote:Original post by AtelierVisca
But I agree that Michalson is keeping a pretty tight lip on his technique...

Mua-ha-ha

www.coldcity.com
code, pics, life

[size="2"]www.coldcity.com code, art, life

Michalson

1,657

Author

October 31, 2002 09:54 AM

quote:Original post by IainC
Mua-ha-ha

www.coldcity.com
code, pics, life

Boo! You should kept that until after the competion. Besides, you''re using a round about method. Since you are simply calculating the difference in RGB color space it would be easier to just code colorDifference=Sqr(R1-R2)+Sqr(G1-G2)+Sqr(B1-B2). Of course there is another method that will give more accurate results than your RGB color space comparision.

AtelierVisca

122

October 31, 2002 11:00 AM

quote:Original post by Michalson
Boo! You should kept that until after the competion. Besides, you''re using a round about method. Since you are simply calculating the difference in RGB color space it would be easier to just code colorDifference=Sqr(R1-R2)+Sqr(G1-G2)+Sqr(B1-B2). Of course there is another method that will give more accurate results than your RGB color space comparision.

Why don''t you share this other technique? Hell, I''ll even withdraw from the contest if you think I''m going to use it for the fishtank... I''m really just curious as to how it all works, not in using it against contestants.

To quote myself from an earlier post: the ascii renderer would require the fish to be huge so that they didn''t show up as little blurred blobs.

- James

- James

ASCII Fishtank Mini Contest!

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