An object encapsulates state and behavior. Abstraction is the means by which the state and behavior of a class are derived from the many specific instances of things that the class is said to represent.
Object oriented (OO) programming is a tricky devil, especially someone like me who was self taught BASIC when I was 9. Reading the above gave me one of those light bulb moments that helped me break through some of the OO jargon and C++ I'm working with.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
iPhone Card Game Art
I'm working with another iPhone developer for a card game. Here's what I have so far for the cards.
I was trying to go for a more modern theme, hence the shiny look. It looks good on the phone. Oh, the characters are part of the theme too.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
I updated my iPod Touch for Free
F! Apple. Why would they charge iPod Touch owners $10 to upgrade to the new 3.0 firmware but its free for iPhones. It's another example of their smarmyness. You can buy a brand new iPod Touch, get home and find out there's another $10 fee to get it to be current.
Regardless, I've been adamant about waiting until the price dropped to free before upgrading but circumstances required I upgrade. I started working with a developer who's targeting the new 3.0 and his app wouldn't install. I went to the internets for options.
I found many sites listing how to upgrade for free which sounds great but the comments are sprinkled with many fails. After a few fails of my own, and a restore or two later, I managed to get the 3.0 Firmware onto my iPod Touch 2G without shelling out $ to the man. Here's how:
1. Be sure you have iTune 8.2 or newer. This is one of the big problems I suspect since the 3.0 Firmware will not work in older iTunes and the error it gives is confusing.
2. Go here http://www.felixbruns.de/iPod/firmware/ and download 3.0 firmware. If you have a 2G Touch, get the 2G ispw file.
3. Start up iTunes and plug in your iTouch.
4. Select it in the iTunes devices list.
5. Click on “check for update”. It will go to the sales pitch but just click cancel on the borrom left. It will return to the devices page and “check for update” should change to just "update".
6. Hold shift and click “update”
7. Select the ispw file you downloaded.
8. let it run its course like normal.
This should update the firmware and you wont lose any files.
I've only done this with my iPod Touch 2G. If you're wondering, the 2G Touch has physical volume control on the side and speakers, whereas the 1G has no physical volume control and requires headphones.
Regardless, I've been adamant about waiting until the price dropped to free before upgrading but circumstances required I upgrade. I started working with a developer who's targeting the new 3.0 and his app wouldn't install. I went to the internets for options.
I found many sites listing how to upgrade for free which sounds great but the comments are sprinkled with many fails. After a few fails of my own, and a restore or two later, I managed to get the 3.0 Firmware onto my iPod Touch 2G without shelling out $ to the man. Here's how:
1. Be sure you have iTune 8.2 or newer. This is one of the big problems I suspect since the 3.0 Firmware will not work in older iTunes and the error it gives is confusing.
2. Go here http://www.felixbruns.de/iPod/firmware/ and download 3.0 firmware. If you have a 2G Touch, get the 2G ispw file.
3. Start up iTunes and plug in your iTouch.
4. Select it in the iTunes devices list.
5. Click on “check for update”. It will go to the sales pitch but just click cancel on the borrom left. It will return to the devices page and “check for update” should change to just "update".
6. Hold shift and click “update”
7. Select the ispw file you downloaded.
8. let it run its course like normal.
This should update the firmware and you wont lose any files.
I've only done this with my iPod Touch 2G. If you're wondering, the 2G Touch has physical volume control on the side and speakers, whereas the 1G has no physical volume control and requires headphones.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Week 2, GSP 410
Week 2 has been a slow start. That is not entirely true, as I had an incredibly busy week with XNA, working late and other obligations, but I've finally sat down to do the reading and homework.
As much as I appreciate DeVry's online classes, I have a real hard time dedicating any time to the forums. Essentially, each week we (the students) are required to post at least three posts on three different days, with at least one before Wed. This usually isn't a big deal, as I manage to shake something out quick. But the content of this class is so serious, it's becoming arduous.
Regardless, I've found some of the reading lately very interesting. I may have to blog about that some. FYI, the book is Software Engineering for Game Development by John P. Flynt.
Interestingly, my curmudgeony attitude about installing Smart Draw and its use in this class struck me in realization that the demo comes with the book. Doh, no wonder we are using it in the class.
As much as I appreciate DeVry's online classes, I have a real hard time dedicating any time to the forums. Essentially, each week we (the students) are required to post at least three posts on three different days, with at least one before Wed. This usually isn't a big deal, as I manage to shake something out quick. But the content of this class is so serious, it's becoming arduous.
Regardless, I've found some of the reading lately very interesting. I may have to blog about that some. FYI, the book is Software Engineering for Game Development by John P. Flynt.
Interestingly, my curmudgeony attitude about installing Smart Draw and its use in this class struck me in realization that the demo comes with the book. Doh, no wonder we are using it in the class.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Week 1, GSP 410
Wow. I mean, wow. I'm having a really hard time not being cynical about my first assignment for this semesters class.
First off, I had to install another program and I really dislike doing that. Especially demo trial-ware of a program I've never heard of and I'm unlikely to use. The program is called SmartDraw, and though it has some decent looking features, it isn't the sort of thing I do every day. The extent of what we did could be done in Word, or Powerpoint, two much more logical choices in the long term. Plus, it bothers me a little that the class assignment is to download and use and turn in work done with a trial demo software. I wonder what the SmartDraw people would think of DeVry using their software this way?
Here's the instructions as I saw them, the the bad grammar, spelling and missing instructions as is.
And this is what I had to do to it.
That's it. Well, that's one third of the assignment, though it was just as simple. Basically select the shape and then fill in the wording as it appears in the book. I hope I can actually learn something from this class. Something outside the "discussion" area, where in my experience to date, little has be learned.
First off, I had to install another program and I really dislike doing that. Especially demo trial-ware of a program I've never heard of and I'm unlikely to use. The program is called SmartDraw, and though it has some decent looking features, it isn't the sort of thing I do every day. The extent of what we did could be done in Word, or Powerpoint, two much more logical choices in the long term. Plus, it bothers me a little that the class assignment is to download and use and turn in work done with a trial demo software. I wonder what the SmartDraw people would think of DeVry using their software this way?
Here's the instructions as I saw them, the the bad grammar, spelling and missing instructions as is.
And this is what I had to do to it.
That's it. Well, that's one third of the assignment, though it was just as simple. Basically select the shape and then fill in the wording as it appears in the book. I hope I can actually learn something from this class. Something outside the "discussion" area, where in my experience to date, little has be learned.
DeVry again
After a much enjoyed and much needed 2 week break from classes, I'm back at it. I'm now enrolled in GSP 410, Software Engineering for Game Programming. So far, the reading has been so dry I can't get through it. Although I think it has some good points, I just seem to have a problem with non-fiction.
Anyway, I'm downloading SmartDraw for my first assignment. We'll see how it goes.
On an aside, I decided to try and link with my professor on LinkedIn, he wouldn't be the first. Unfortunately however, he was unwilling to do so. I don't know why this bothers me, as it doesn't really matter. I guess I just don't like the rejection. Obviously its his profile and he can link with who he wants. Maybe its for the best though, since his profile picture makes him look like a weird stalker.
Anyway, I'm downloading SmartDraw for my first assignment. We'll see how it goes.
On an aside, I decided to try and link with my professor on LinkedIn, he wouldn't be the first. Unfortunately however, he was unwilling to do so. I don't know why this bothers me, as it doesn't really matter. I guess I just don't like the rejection. Obviously its his profile and he can link with who he wants. Maybe its for the best though, since his profile picture makes him look like a weird stalker.
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