Real Time Battle and Python

[hg]

Matimus wrote:

> On May 3, 5:20 am, hg <h... at nospam.org> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have started to work on a python-based robot, and am interested in your
>> feedback:
>>
>> http://realtimebattle.sourceforge.net/www.snakecard.com/rtb
>>
>> hg
> 
> This is not necessarily a response to your effort, but just a note
> (rant) about realtimebattle. It reminds me more of homework in 300 and
> 400 level college engineering classes than a game. Based upon my
> previous effort and realizations, I found realtimebattle coding to be,
> from a programming perspective, an exercise in protocol implementation
> first. Once the protocol work is done you need to implement control
> algorithms for movement and enemy tracking. Think PID algorithms
> (Proportional, Integral and Differential). Only when the protocol and
> control portions are done can you focus on strategy and play the game.
> You should also note, however, that the first two tasks are quite
> daunting. And the second is difficult to get right. I found the whole
> process to be very tiring and not very rewarding.  I don't mean to
> discourage you, I just think it would be more fun to write my own game
> than to 'play' that one.
> 
>  A better game, from a programming perspective, would be
> "discretetimebattle". Where each player controls their robot with
> second order parameters (velocity not force), the world has no third
> order effects (friction) and the time is discrete. Discrete time
> meaneing that the protocol  updates every player at regular intervals
> with the same information and, in terms of the simulation, each update
> represents a set time delta.
> 
> I would be interested to know if anybody else has played, or tried to
> play, realtimebattle and has similar sentiments.
> 
> I do wish you luck though. If you get a robot working you are a far
> more dedicated and patient individual than me.
> 
> -Matt


I do try to separate the "engine" from the "driver". Yes the engine is a
pain to code and the documentation quite skimpy (have to got through C
headers to understand the command set) ... still I'll try to finish it.

hg