Spectrum Progress #01 30 сентября 1996

Игры

Game room - description of a unique non-deterministic game Soldiers of the Future.

  Few gaming software, so rapidly risen to the top of the 
charts, and so rapidly coming down from there.




  (C) Captain Power, 1996.



                - Do you remember how the world was

                without the robots. There was a time when

                in the face of the universe man

                was lonely and had no friends.

                Now he has assistants

                being stronger, more

                reliable, more efficient,

                than he, and he absolutely limit
                data. Humanity is no longer

                lonely.

                          Azimov said, "I Robot".



  More than two years have passed since the magazine "ZX-Revue" 
(N4, 1994) published articles S. Simonovic of nondeterministic 
games (nondeterministic games - games that do not have the 
ultimate goal) and the program of "Snake Fight" for IBM. 
Message about the birth of a new class of games has not gone 
unnoticed. Just one year later appeared the first game for our 
ZX Spectrum, which can be be called spectacular, logical.



  Among them are immediately singled out the game "Virus"
S. Kukovyakin, allowing you to create cellular
organisms and test their survivability in battle with
other "viruses."


  Later came the game "Virus 2", has a new
interface and advanced capabilities create
organisms. And, although both of these programs have
deficiencies and valid cause for criticism, they
interest of many fans to smash his head
a computer screen. The editorial board of "Spectrofon" even 
organized a championship, "virusovodov", brought together a 
large number of participants. 


  And now, a year after the establishment of the first combat 
viruses, the evolution of the spectacle-logic games reached 
combat robots, androids! 



        "Soldiers of the Future"



  Ivan Gudkov game "Soldier of the future" is not
only a big step from cellular organisms to
electro-mechanical system, but also
further development of ideas nedetermenizma. You have created 
robots can bring up, spending them through the battle, a 
victory that extends the battle opportunities. This provides a 
meaningful extension of the game. 


  But the advantages of "soldier of the future" that
not limited. Use Sprites
the second part we all love the game
"Laser squad" - a very
a good solution. The spectacle of yourself
fighting familiar heroes just grabs!
Very helpful to get this pleasure
multiple picture modes occurring
battles.


  In general, care about this game is raised to the proper 
level. The interface is easy to all three parts of a game 
package: Editor fighting robots, the map editor and the program

providing combat.


  Working in Edit mode of robots has
graphics support. Perhaps someone
grieve the Russian language in the game, but
Believe my experience, that can read a couple of times 
(po-russki!!) a detailed description, learn the basics of 
combat robotics and proceed to the accumulation of battle 
experience and money. 


  I must say that the money appeared in GI
future "is not accidental. From the opening novella, part of 
the game package, you can see that was formed several companies 
have begun develop their own models of combat robots. You

also invited to do this. And each victory your robot will be 
awarded prize money, which allows to carry out its 
modernization. 


  This summary, I think, is enough
to motivate those who are not familiar with
this wonderful game program. On all
other possibilities can be found in the game description. Now 
try to share the experience practical work on creation and 
education combat robot.




           YOUR SOLDIER



  Initially, the intricacies.


  Raised by a single soldier, you always
it can be propagated as well as
completely change its configuration to change the password and 
name. All this leads to the editor

robots, if you already have a ready-strong military robot. If
it does not, then be patient, because
passage of the new fighter through the battle - it is
the only way to improve its combat effectiveness.


  The fact that a beginner robotics put in a fairly narrow 
limits. 


  Firstly, there is a limitation in
funds allocated to you to develop
own model of electronic-mechanical
fighter. You will have at the start of his career
meet the 4700 motto. Increase this amount,
As already mentioned, will depend on the number of victories of 
your pupil. 


  The second limitation is related to fifty mean
shooting robot. This feature I am inclined to
refers to the "build quality" of weapons purchased by you, and 
a further increase in the level of accuracy can be attributed 
to the accumulation of experience "for maintenance and 
adjustment" weapons. But it will be later, and now you can only 
buy a level of accuracy (1% in 50 credit), but not more than 
19% (which seems, at first You "do not trust the" highly 
accurate technique). 


  The robot, created under these conditions, weak
as a newborn, unable to realize all
potential of the equipment and perform complex program of 
action. 


  Faced with these problems and to experiment a bit, I came to 
two conclusions uncomplicated: 


  > To create a powerful robot must

     a lot of money


  > You can make money fast


  It is about how to start the game efficiently,
in order to increase combat capability for too long not 
discourage you hunt to deal with this interesting game, and 
will be discussed below. 



      EFFECTIVE STRATEGY



  Times the amount of money in the account of your robot 
uvelichevaetsya after victories, the greater the number of 
opponents to flunk Your pet is, the greater the amount you can 
have. Obviously, the weaker the opponent, the faster you can 
deal with it. Therefore, creating the most unprotected robot 
and arranging fights between the copies, you can (every time 
copying another winner) is relatively quickly accumulate a 
large sum to bring it into high alert.



  To implement this strategy must
fulfill the basic conditions:


  > Create the most suitable for such

     Education Robot


  > Create the most favorable conditions
     conditions for rapid training



        CREATING A ROBOT



  We must assume that in this case, convenient
is a robot whose:


  > Weak protection (whatever it faster

     shot! )


  > High ability to detect and

     destroy the enemy



  Now let's see what features can
ensure that such unusual features of the robot.



  1. The average accuracy (average weapon skill).


  I can confidently say that the average accuracy equal to 1% - 
the best indicator for the newly created robot. Suppose a small

level of accuracy you are not afraid, because
Accurate firing is added 20% accuracy.
In addition, every 15 wins hit rating will increase by 1%.


  But it is not necessary to set 0% accuracy, because
the robot in this case probably will not be able to
"Dump" its a clone (copy) with the first hit.


  So, after setting the level of average accuracy
equal to 1% (price: 50 credits), the remainder of your amount 
of money will make 4650 a difficult task. 



  2. Memory (RAM).


  Blocks of memory rather expensive device (price: 900 
credits), but saving for them - not the most successful 
solution. As no Say what you like, and 3 chip to 10 lines of 
software - this is the required number of memory blocks for 
minimum decent battle program. More on this will be discussed 
in the "Program". 


  Stock: 2850 credo.



  3. Processor (CPU).


  The main indicator of the processor is the number of 
operations performed for one second. Depends on this

speed of the program the robot. Of course, the more powerful 
processor is better, but their prices high, so is limited until 
the processor DDD7 (cost: 1000 credits).



  Stock: 1850 credo.



  4. Corps (Body).


  The body consists of "head" and "body." These parts are 
characterized by level of protection. When teaching Protection

will interfere. Therefore, the recoverable least secure housing 
Micro-SH (Cost: $ 100 credit).




  Stock: 1750 credo.



  5. Videoskaner (Video).


  From the video depends on the ability of the robot to detect
the enemy, and it is characterized by an angle, range and 
density of the review. 


  Yet restrict the system
Videoscan 2T (Cost: 150
credit) for the sake of saving money. But after receiving the 
prize money try to buy more powerful scanners, it will pay off 
speed orientation of the robot.



  Stock: 1600 credo.



  6. Energozashchita (Shield).


  This is expensive stuff, but,
Fortunately, we still only need
minimal protection in 1 unit.
(Price: 900 credits) for admission
to fight. For the future, please be aware that
this is the main indicator of survivability robot. The game 
protection determined by three-digit number. Consequently, you 
have the opportunity for long enough to develop the robot. 


  Residue: 700 credo.



  7. Weapon (Weapon).



  At the level of protection that we have provided for
training fights, it is quite suitable Marsec pistol (Cost: $ 
100 credit). Clones Your robot will fall

practically after the first
hit.


  Residue: 600 credo.



  8. Energy accumulators (Store batters).


  If you spend the remaining 600 credit
charging the battery, you will receive 38,250 units.
energy. Will be sufficient to conduct the training bouts.



  9. Program (Program).


  The game uses a special programming language
behavior of the robot. About him enough detail in the
description. Here I would
just to mention some features.



  When talk about buying
memory blocks (step 2), Tip You get a 3 chip. The fact that the 
robot vtechenie battlefield will not only seek the enemy and

shoot him. Provision should be made as
largest possible number of full-time situations. For example:
ends with the energy in batteries, the robot
shot a whole clip, pierced protection from the back
etc.


  Of course, all of these situations can be intentionally
excluded from school fight. But, I can advise to combine the 
accumulation of cash compiling and debugging fighting programs. 
This You have the necessary experience, which is useful in 
preparing for the "real" fights. 


  And if we talk about learning this fight, it is strongly 
recommended to set the mode for programming aimed fire (AIM), 
so that your robot does not have to every now and then dispose 
from the empty cages. 


    Note. The annex to the magazine you

                   can find a sample robot
    the one who is ready to bring up (file: ro
    bot <R>, no password). Equipment Machinery
    dovaniem meets the above

    scheme, and the program being fully work
    petitiveness can be easily usover
    nologies, including better (for this she was napisa
    on).



        EDUCATION OF A ROBOT



  We have already mentioned that the conditions of education 
will depend on the rate of accumulation of money funds. Under 
the terms of a map view of the fighting (ground, so to speak 
...), which fighting for better education to draw myself.



  Obviously, the smaller the range, the faster
robots find each other. But we should not go too far and put 
the rivals' nose to nose " before the battle. Remember that it 
is better to combine business with pleasure, that is, save up 
money and gain experience.



      Note. The annex to magazine

                     You will find a small

      polygon (file: map0 <M>), which satisfies
      bin that is placed entirely on the screen
      not (under the regime of images MMP).


  For the impatient or for those who managed to write a 
brilliant program the robot behavior and afraid of her "break" 
(best is the enemy of the good? "), fits the way education 
robot" in the dark. " That is, put the fighters in the 
ma-vermillion poligonchik (size edak, 2x1) and include

mode NSM ("battle without images).


  Especially "cool" will look like a fight with
"Dolls" (robots without a program).


  But, let everyone choose for themselves. " At the end of
all primary goal of all should be one -
a powerful combat robot.


  What could be the real fighting robot?


  It seems to me that he necessarily
should be powerful Energozashchita, best
armament and equipment (including Energy restorer - restorer of 
energy) close to the maximum value (80%) the average level of 
accuracy. And the number of memory chips is sufficient for 
recording a program that implements a complex situational 
behavior. For example: 

- When the fire burst, and when sighting

   single?
- When to pursue the enemy, and when "Uno
   Sit legs?


  In general, programming the behavior of the robot -
it's a different story. I note
only that after acquiring all the
the best equipment (what a pile of money needed
for it!), raising Energozashchita and
modernization program behavior will be for you
primary care in the preparation of a robot for battle.

  Accounting program, you must take into account the level of 
alleged enemy, and his fighter, but if another team fighting to 
hold (Two for two), then imagine how much room for creativity?



  In conclusion, we express the hope that
not far away for big events,
organized by various computer magazines.


  This game has attracted the attention of many gamers, it is 
capable of uniting around this robot, the creators of military 
robots based on the ZX Spectrum. 


  So, perhaps, Dear future robotics, our robots will meet with 
you at all starry sky!


  And they will close on the same planet ...



  Supplement SP: According to unconfirmed reports, the
Novgorod has held competitions among
"Robotics."

  We leave the subject organization of competitions
open and forward the views of our readers.