http://matt.benic.us Matt Benic posterous.com Flintzahttp://feedburner.google.com Sun, 15 May 2011 07:41:48 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/iowK98_7iA0/iskinned-with-decalgirl http://matt.benic.us/iskinned-with-decalgirl <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/lfpFIAfiEuEBajgBjgnhnxgolubfcwfrfuBxeHkmqjDcDJcDfxAGIwzditEJ/p301.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="P301" height="373" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/lfpFIAfiEuEBajgBjgnhnxgolubfcwfrfuBxeHkmqjDcDJcDfxAGIwzditEJ/p301.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/xvjqcgFkwfHvinAnlnAxfaoDsroxBudeHCczazwHviHJAoqrlHFyizCysksr/p303.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="P303" height="373" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/xvjqcgFkwfHvinAnlnAxfaoDsroxBudeHCczazwHviHJAoqrlHFyizCysksr/p303.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/euAjoAEgDdervidjtEpBHxFpiEqbmACIggzhgGoqlnhhzFppbhtkFrjcEqkB/p305.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="P305" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/euAjoAEgDdervidjtEpBHxFpiEqbmACIggzhgGoqlnhhzFppbhtkFrjcEqkB/p305.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://matt.benic.us/iskinned-with-decalgirl">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p>When I still had a PSP, the thing attracted dirt and fingerprints like mad and it felt like I spent more time cleaning it than playing on it. I tried a couple of skin solutions, but they all had some issue or other-too thick so the analog stick got blocked, began peeling off too easily, etc. Then I stumbled on decalgirl.com, read rave reviews about their skins and decided to import a kit. It turned out to be a great choice, and together with a screen guard changed the way I used my PSP.<br />So when @justinpaver was going to be heading over from the states for a visit I jumped at the chance to have him bring some decalgirl skins over.<br />In addition to skinning my and Nat's phones, I got a skin kit for my MacBook too.<br />Applying the skins is not a task to be rushed, I had to set aside about 30 minutes per device. The phone kits also come with a code for a matching desktop background, which is pretty cool (pity the same isn't available for the MacBook). The result is pretty cool, and with no sticky residue being left behind on the devices after the covers are removed, it's a great way to keep them in good nick. </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/iskinned-with-decalgirl">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/iskinned-with-decalgirl#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/iowK98_7iA0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/iskinned-with-decalgirl Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:14:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/1WP2RHWNZD8/the-gift-of-life-thanks-dad http://matt.benic.us/the-gift-of-life-thanks-dad <p> <p>Ten years ago today, I was on the receiving end of a miracle. A miracle made possible by my Dad's generosity, the awesome skills of medical professionals and the Lord's good grace. After spending my life to that point dealing with sick kidneys, they finally failed me completely and I needed a new kidney - which my Dad selflessly offered to donate. I was 21 at the time, and without the new kidney I quite simply wouldn't be here today-or at least would be living my life dependent on a dialysis regime (which is not fun). My kidney is now ten years old and going strong.</p> <p /> <div>Those of you that know me, and didn't know about this are quite possibly amazed (most people are when they find out), because I live a normal and healthy life. I don't seem 'sick' - and that's because I'm not. The transplant gave me what I'd never had- a completely healthy kidney- and I've been careful to look after it since. The negative "effects" are limited to regular checkups with a specialist and taking daily immuno-suppressants, not a bad deal :)</div> <p /> <div>I'm one of the lucky ones. There are hundreds, if not thousands of people of all ages, from all walks of life, that desperately need transplants and can't get one from a family member for whatever reason. They have their names on a list, and are hoping and praying to be the lucky recipient of a 'cadaver' organ.&nbsp;</div> <p /> <div>YOU CAN GIVE THESE PEOPLE A NEW LIFE LIKE I GOT. All you need to do is:</div> <div><ol> <li>Register as an organ donor with your local donor organization. In SA that's the Organ Donor Foundation (<a href="http://www.odf.org.za">http://www.odf.org.za</a>)</li> <li>Carry your donor card in your wallet or bag at all times</li> <li><strong>Discuss your choice with your family</strong>. They will ultimately be the ones that have to give the go ahead to harvest your organs, so they need to know about and your wishes and know to respect them.</li> </ol> <div>Please, <strong>don't believe the rubbish</strong> some people insist on spreading about donation:&nbsp;</div> <div> <ul> <li>Doctors and paramedics&nbsp;<strong>will not</strong>&nbsp;give you inferior treatment to secure organs.</li> <li>Your organs <strong>will not</strong> be sold for some crazy profit to the highest bidder.&nbsp;</li> <li>Your body <strong>will</strong> be treated with the utmost respect and will be perfectly fine for open casket display if that's what you want.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/the-gift-of-life-thanks-dad">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/the-gift-of-life-thanks-dad#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/1WP2RHWNZD8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/the-gift-of-life-thanks-dad Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:38:39 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/fV4ydTxyTxM/new-arrivals http://matt.benic.us/new-arrivals <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/tzxkvjwgbudzFkowxaeArFpBwgEFzEGiwvuFpjjIbrwHeapkpDDpvmzixtCa/p652.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="P652" height="667" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/tzxkvjwgbudzFkowxaeArFpBwgEFzEGiwvuFpjjIbrwHeapkpDDpvmzixtCa/p652.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/aBDInadFEpmDzhfplvklnCcpBhcAghhGbCAoqJipdsBnhwuequJnHncdIsmw/p655.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="P655" height="667" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/aBDInadFEpmDzhfplvklnCcpBhcAghhGbCAoqJipdsBnhwuequJnHncdIsmw/p655.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/yqJApFocvdqzEAGFrgxvzHzlmpqtjvAdoGkkjwAzHmAhbrbmfncqEhvikHcz/p657.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="P657" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/yqJApFocvdqzEAGFrgxvzHzlmpqtjvAdoGkkjwAzHmAhbrbmfncqEhvikHcz/p657.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://matt.benic.us/new-arrivals">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p>We adopted these two from someone moving to a smaller place and looking for a good home for them. The grey one is Misty and the other is MJ. </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/new-arrivals">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/new-arrivals#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/fV4ydTxyTxM" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/new-arrivals Sun, 16 Jan 2011 22:30:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/u5i4dzNJHWk/is-unity-3d-ready-for-console-game-dev http://matt.benic.us/is-unity-3d-ready-for-console-game-dev <p> <div>Over the last couple of months I&#39;ve been getting my hands dirty with <a href="http://www.unity3d.com">Unity 3D</a> on a project for <a href="http://www.lumaarcade.com">Luma Arcade</a>, and for the most part it&#39;s been a fantastic experience. Unity&#39;s 5 or so years of building their tools and having a large user base to test it and provide feedback really shines through. Getting simple concepts going is laughably easy (as evidenced by 48 hour gameplay challenges like the recent <a href="http://Game.Dev">Game.Dev</a> one) thanks to the intuitive interface. The powerful art tools and C# scripting also allow those early efforts to be extended and polished into top notch products.</div> <p /><div>Unity has a reputation in some circles of being a tool limited to mobile, web, or relatively simple PC and Mac games. Their recent push into the traditional console market, with versions of their engine for Xbox 360 and PS3 (there is already a Wii version) is set to change that. For the most part, I would say they are ready for the jump and many developers will welcome their powerful toolchain as another option when targeting these platforms. There are however, some issues I personally feel need serious attention before Unity becomes the ideal tool for medium- and large scale console development which I would like to point out here. Please note that these are my own views, and not necessarily those of Luma, it&#39;s directors or employees.</div> <p /><div><div><b>Outdated and unstable IDE support</b></div><div>Unity has the developer-friendly ability to generate project files that allow devs to work with a Unity project file in <a href="http://www.monodevelop.com">Monodevelop </a>(which is bundled with Unity) or <a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/default">Visual Studio</a>. These projects can be fully debugged like a natively developed project as well. This is the theory anyway and I&#39;ve seen the system in work on other developers&#39; systems. My personal experience however (and based on reports online I&#39;m far from being alone alone in this) is that Monodevelop will crash within minutes of trying to debug a unity project. The generated projects are also in the outdated Visual Studio 2008 format, and are re-generated whenever a file is added within Unity so manually upgrading the projects to 2010 format is not a practical option. This leaves those of us with up to date software out in the dark. Considering the importance of being able to debug properly, this is a huge issue that needs addressing. Giving developers the option to output 2010 format projects should be a fairly trivial improvement, the stability issues on Monodevelop will of course be more of a challenge.</div> <p /><div><b>C# as second class citizen</b></div><div>Unity has script/code support for JavaScript, C# and Boo. The focus in documentation and samples is quite heavily skewed towards JavaScript, and there are some areas (such as lack of proper support for namespaces, quirks trying to import C# code and  outdated API support) that point to C# being a second class citizen as far as Unity scripting is concerned. Moving into the console development space, C# is the natural language choice for most teams due to it&#39;s similarity with the still-dominant C++. There is no doubt that javascipt&#39;s flexible nature holds some advantages over C#&#39;s more traditional rigidity, but I&#39;d wager familiarity will win out in this case and console teams will go with C#. For this reason I believe Unity would benefit from a greater focus on it&#39;s C# support. It does appear this is already happening, as online documentation at least now (mostly) includes examples from both languages.</div> </div><p /><div><b>Non nestable prefabs</b></div><div><div>Unity&#39;s excellent prefab system allows the creation of reusable template objects called prefabs that can easily be added to a scene and then have minor changes applied per instance, but still benefit from later tweaks to the prefab. The problem here is that these prefabs can&#39;t be nested, so for example if a wheel prefab is created, then added to a car which is then prefabbed, the connection to the wheel template is lost and any future changes to the wheel prefab will not be passed on to the wheel instances in the car. This diminishes the value of prefabs somewhat, and ideally support should be added for this.</div> </div><p /><div><b>Binary object formats</b></div><div>Unity&#39;s scene and object files (including their reusable prefabs) are binary, and as such not mergeable by typical version control systems. Considering the modular component model Unity uses, multiple developers or artists often need simultaneous change access to these files as they work on different functionality on the same object. This leads to blocking cases which would potentially get even more acute with larger teams. Ideally these should be an easily mergeable text format such as XML. There are of course potential performance advantages to using a binary format, but there&#39;s no reason these can&#39;t be generated when doing a build for the target platform, with the working format being XML.</div> <p /><div><b>Asset server</b></div><div>Sticking with the topic of version control, there is Unity&#39;s integrated asset control system called Asset Server (for which an extra seat license is required). Now while the idea of asset control built into the development environment is appealing, the reality is that this system is not nearly as extensive as the likes of SVN. It also has some serious issues such as updating of certain project files (particularly .asset files defining project wide behavior) causing a project to become unusable. I for one would welcome the replacement of the proprietary asset server system with a more common standard like SVN, or possibly even something like Git or Mercurial that supports distributed teams-an increasingly common occurrence in our industry.</div> <p /><div><b>Focus on non-paying customers</b></div><div>Free license Indie developers have taken Unity a long way, and their admirable support for the indie market has arguably been a massive part on getting the platform to where it is today (and for that reason the following is likely to be flame bait). There comes a time however, when paying customers have to take precedence, and if Unity want to push into the console market that change of direction will have to come sooner rather than later. Unity&#39;s brilliant <a href="http://feedback.unity3d.com">feedback system</a> in which users vote for for improvements and new features is a prime example of a place where this change is needed. Free users get the same weight in this system as paying customers, and as a result blue-sky features that matter less to professional developers (such as <a href="http://feedback.unity3d.com/forums/15792-unity/suggestions/164961-platforms-linux-player-web-player-support?ref=title">Linux support</a>) end up drowning out improvements that would help professional development such as <a href="http://feedback.unity3d.com/forums/15792-unity/suggestions/1279563-support-exporting-visual-studio-c-2010-project-fi?ref=title">some</a> <a href="http://feedback.unity3d.com/forums/15792-unity/suggestions/250110-text-version-of-unity-file">of</a> <a href="http://feedback.unity3d.com/forums/15792-unity/suggestions/165526-editor-subversion-support?ref=title">the</a> <a href="http://feedback.unity3d.com/forums/15792-unity/suggestions/332835-editor-nested-prefabs?ref=title">changes</a> mentioned above.</div> <p /><div><b>Licensing model</b></div><div>Another example of unity&#39;s heritage in smaller developers is their license model. They typically charge a per-seat, per platform license. Recently they also announced <a href="http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/09/23/ea-signs-multi-year-deal-to-use-unity-graphics-engine/">a mass licensing deal with EA</a> that gives all of that publisher&#39;s in-house devs full access to Unity&#39;s tools. Sadly not all professional developers have the clout EA does, and this leaves a big gap for medium to large studios that would rather buy a group license than deal with seat licenses. A bulk license system is needed, ideally with discounts in place as the group size increases.</div> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/is-unity-3d-ready-for-console-game-dev">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/is-unity-3d-ready-for-console-game-dev#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/u5i4dzNJHWk" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/is-unity-3d-ready-for-console-game-dev Sat, 01 Jan 2011 21:32:50 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/toRfnWJJLcg/gamedev-in-south-africa-2010 http://matt.benic.us/gamedev-in-south-africa-2010 <p> Published by Leslie Young back in November, I've only just picked up <br />on this now. It's an excellent retrospective of what local game devs <br />(both indie and pro) have been up to over the last year. In short, <br />it's been a pretty damned exciting year, let's hope 2011 is even <br />better! <p /> <a href="http://www.gamedevsa.com/2010/gamedev-south-africa-2010">http://www.gamedevsa.com/2010/gamedev-south-africa-2010</a> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/gamedev-in-south-africa-2010">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/gamedev-in-south-africa-2010#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/toRfnWJJLcg" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/gamedev-in-south-africa-2010 Fri, 31 Dec 2010 06:15:20 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/A7CP6ZX9bC0/fun-with-initialization-order http://matt.benic.us/fun-with-initialization-order <p> <div><span style="">Here&#39;s something I meant to post ages ago, when I was doing J2ME to Flash conversions, and got caught out by assumptions about the evaluation order of values passed to a method or to initialize an array. It&#39;s one of those really subtle issues that had me scratching my head to figure out what had gone wrong in a piece of code.</span></div> <p /><div><span style="">Consider the following (pseudo)code:</span></div> <div><span style=""><div class="data type-text"> <table class="lines" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <pre class="line_numbers"><span rel="#L1" id="L1">1</span> <span rel="#L2" id="L2">2</span> <span rel="#L3" id="L3">3</span> <span rel="#L4" id="L4">4</span> <span rel="#L5" id="L5">5</span> <span rel="#L6" id="L6">6</span> <span rel="#L7" id="L7">7</span> <span rel="#L8" id="L8">8</span> <span rel="#L9" id="L9">9</span> </pre> </td> <td width="100%"> <div class="highlight"><pre /><div class="line" id="LC1">function evalTest(val1, val2, val3)</div><div class="line" id="LC2">{</div><div class="line" id="LC3">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;print(&quot;val1: &quot;+val1+&quot;, val2: &quot;+val2+&quot;, val3: &quot;+val3);</div><div class="line" id="LC4">}</div><div class="line" id="LC5"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC6">int val = 0;</div><div class="line" id="LC7">int arr = { ++val, ++val, ++val };</div><div class="line" id="LC8">print(&quot;arr: [&quot;+arr[0]+&quot;, &quot;+arr[1]+&quot;, &quot;+arr[2]+&quot;]&quot;);</div><div class="line" id="LC9"><br /></div></pre></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div></span></div> <p /><div><span style="">Now what would you expect the output to be? I had unwittingly assumed the result would consistently be:</span></div> <div><span style="">arr: [1, 2, 3]</span></div> <div><span style="">val1: 1, val2: 2, val3: 3</span></div> <p /><div><span style="">As it turns out, the answer varies from language to language (which is why I got snagged by code working &#39;correctly&#39; in one language but &#39;breaking&#39; in another):</span></div> <p /><div><span style=""><b>Java:</b></span></div> <div><span style=""><div class="data type-java"> <table class="lines" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <pre class="line_numbers"><span rel="#L1" id="L1">1</span> <span rel="#L2" id="L2">2</span> <span rel="#L3" id="L3">3</span> <span rel="#L4" id="L4">4</span> <span rel="#L5" id="L5">5</span> <span rel="#L6" id="L6">6</span> <span rel="#L7" id="L7">7</span> <span rel="#L8" id="L8">8</span> <span rel="#L9" id="L9">9</span> <span rel="#L10" id="L10">10</span> <span rel="#L11" id="L11">11</span> </pre> </td> <td width="100%"> <div class="highlight"><pre /><div class="line" id="LC1"><span class="kt">int</span> <span class="n">val</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="mi">0</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC2"><span class="kt">int</span><span class="o">[]</span> <span class="n">arr</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="o">{++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="o">++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="o">++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">};</span></div><div class="line" id="LC3"><span class="n">System</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">out</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">println</span><span class="o">(</span><span class="s">&quot;arr: [&quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">arr</span><span class="o">[</span><span class="mi">0</span><span class="o">]+</span><span class="s">&quot;, &quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">arr</span><span class="o">[</span><span class="mi">1</span><span class="o">]+</span><span class="s">&quot;, &quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">arr</span><span class="o">[</span><span class="mi">2</span><span class="o">]+</span><span class="s">&quot;]&quot;</span><span class="o">);</span></div><div class="line" id="LC4"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC5"><span class="n">val</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="mi">0</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC6"><span class="n">evaluationTest</span><span class="o">(++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="o">++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="o">++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">);</span></div><div class="line" id="LC7"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC8"><span class="kt">void</span> <span class="nf">evaluationTest</span><span class="o">(</span><span class="kt">int</span> <span class="n">val1</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="kt">int</span> <span class="n">val2</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="kt">int</span> <span class="n">val3</span><span class="o">)</span> <span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC9">&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="n">System</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">out</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">println</span><span class="o">(</span><span class="s">&quot;val1: &quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">val1</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="s">&quot;, val2: &quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">val2</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="s">&quot;, val3: &quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">val3</span><span class="o">);</span></div><div class="line" id="LC10"><span class="o">}</span></div><div class="line" id="LC11"><br /></div></pre></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div></span></div> <p /><div><span style="">Result:</span></div> <div><span style="">arr: [1, 2, 3]</span></div> <div><span style="">val1: 1, val2: 2, val3: 3</span></div> <div><span style=""> </span></div> <div><span style=""><b>Actionscript:</b></span></div> <div><span style=""><div class="data type-actionscript"> <table class="lines" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <pre class="line_numbers"><span rel="#L1" id="L1">1</span> <span rel="#L2" id="L2">2</span> <span rel="#L3" id="L3">3</span> <span rel="#L4" id="L4">4</span> <span rel="#L5" id="L5">5</span> <span rel="#L6" id="L6">6</span> <span rel="#L7" id="L7">7</span> <span rel="#L8" id="L8">8</span> <span rel="#L9" id="L9">9</span> <span rel="#L10" id="L10">10</span> </pre> </td> <td width="100%"> <div class="highlight"><pre /><div class="line" id="LC1"><span class="kd">function </span><span class="nf">evaluationTest</span><span class="o">(</span><span class="n">val1</span><span class="o">:</span><span class="kt">Number</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="n">val2</span><span class="o">:</span><span class="kt">Number</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="n">val3</span><span class="o">:</span><span class="kt">Number</span><span class="o">)</span> <span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="nf">trace</span><span class="o">(</span><span class="s2">&quot;val1: &quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">val1</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="s2">&quot;, val2: &quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">val2</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="s2">&quot;, val3: &quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">val3</span><span class="o">);</span></div><div class="line" id="LC3"><span class="o">}</span></div><div class="line" id="LC4"><span class="kd">var</span> <span class="n">val</span><span class="p">:</span><span class="kt">Number</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="mi">0</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC5"><span class="kd">var</span> <span class="n">arr</span><span class="p">:</span><span class="kt">Array</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="o">[++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="o">++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="o">++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">];</span></div><div class="line" id="LC6"><span class="nf">trace</span><span class="o">(</span><span class="s2">&quot;arr: [&quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">arr</span><span class="o">[</span><span class="mi">0</span><span class="o">]+</span><span class="s2">&quot;, &quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">arr</span><span class="o">[</span><span class="mi">1</span><span class="o">]+</span><span class="s2">&quot;, &quot;</span><span class="o">+</span><span class="n">arr</span><span class="o">[</span><span class="mi">2</span><span class="o">]+</span><span class="s2">&quot;]&quot;</span><span class="o">);</span></div><div class="line" id="LC7">&nbsp;</div><div class="line" id="LC8"><span class="n">val</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="mi">0</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC9"><span class="n">evaluationTest</span><span class="o">(++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="o">++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="o">++</span><span class="n">val</span><span class="o">);</span></div><div class="line" id="LC10"><br /></div></pre></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div></span></div> <p /><div><span style="">Result:</span></div> <div><span style="">arr: [3, 2, 1]</span></div> <div><span style="">val1: 3, val2: 2, val3: 1</span></div> <div><span style=""> </span></div> <div><span style=""><b>Some others:</b></span></div> <div><span style="">C++ undefined:</span></div> <div><span style=""><a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/621542/compilers-and-argument-order-of-evaluation-in-c">http://stackoverflow.com/questions/621542/compilers-and-argument-order-of-evaluation-in-c</a></span></div> <div><span style="">C# guaranteed to be right to left:</span></div> <div><span style=""><a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Aa691335">http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Aa691335</a></span></div> <div><span style=""><a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa691346(v=VS.71).aspx">http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa691346(v=VS.71).aspx</a></span></div> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/fun-with-initialization-order">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/fun-with-initialization-order#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/A7CP6ZX9bC0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/fun-with-initialization-order Sat, 18 Dec 2010 08:01:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/DrVntW4H7o0/dstv-mobile-on-nokia-n96 http://matt.benic.us/dstv-mobile-on-nokia-n96 <p> With all the marketing Multichoice is doing around DSTV Mobile, I thought I&#39;d brush off the N96 and put it&#39;s DVB-H receiver to the test again (previous attempts proved fuitless). This time around it all worked pretty smoothly on the first attempt-if a bit confusingly. Nokia&#39;s &quot;Live TV&quot; allowed me to purchase a DSTV Mobile subscription (currently free). I did find though that on restarting the phone after removing and reinserting the SIM, the app had lost my subscription data-no big deal for free promos, but I can see some really irritated users when their paid subscription goes missing. Note that while the app doesn&#39;t use 3G to receive the actual TV signal, it does need a cellular data connection to validate licensing (which means no using the service out in the bundus to catch the cricket or rugby).<div> <div>The app itself is actually pretty well put together, with different program guide views in portrait and landscape, the ability to set program alarms and auto-tuning events, and both fullscreen and windowed (with programming info) views. Parental controls are enabled by default, and set to an age limit of 15, so it&#39;s possible first time viewers will have to hunt around for the default unlock code (12345 in case anyone gets here searching for it). Another interesting quirk is that the app locks the video down against both screenshots of content (note the attached shaky cam files taken from my iPhone) and TV out. I suppose I&#39;m not entirely surprised, but this level of lockdown seems seriously ridiculous considering you&#39;ll ultimately need a full DSTV subscription anyway when the service goes paid in a couple of months.</div> <div>The content available in the DSTV mobile package is fairly limited, with the focus heavily on sports, but what&#39;s there comes through clearly. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at both the video and audio quality and the glitch-free nature of the experience, this is no frustrating streamed video. Not being much of a TV watcher, and given the content, I can&#39;t say I could see myself paying for the service but I can definitely see the value to avid sports fans and even the &#39;distract the kids&#39; value of Cartoon Network.</div> </div> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/HKJsR3DzHoJtcc4ecDqtgWdihkZIkhDTN70KAHct13pn687Gzm8EMYAhgtqK/NoTVOut.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Notvout" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/Xis4ZNR9Q5r6JVrc8b1XCkTlegtPBkT4Ax3PjWopF5pGxBeFQtTHahND8pn1/NoTVOut.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <img alt="Programguidelandscape" height="240" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/ndFTdYMm4jb3cMcTgCWt6clqS5xd6fFnYQFIAbKIX7MNNbVcNz7dIwTX7fn3/ProgramGuideLandscape.jpg" width="320" /> <img alt="Programguideportrait" height="320" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/HhnIXdn0IsCm7z559TTob3aNn5VFFNke1sz67h58Ad0ixKNcOonq4hR2TZ9Y/ProgramGuidePortrait.jpg" width="240" /> <img alt="Programinfoloading" height="240" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/ITswLlx6oXM8ZEF4DoB4gnP3vSwU6C6Fe75MzSfHI0Zkg5y8Bw7rlS40HfGl/ProgramInfoLoading.jpg" width="320" /> <img alt="Securitylocksscreenshots" height="240" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/ak3fyZQDuu9Y2T7EvKOSUl53PBBY8viMc5t6GCz7XoLTF8kLBE1thl8oOR3b/SecurityLocksScreenshots.jpg" width="320" /> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/IpF2QzwXErEEGhup5Vd2GL8SoIDvSlTlq2wCj6M8UquZredxQqke47BDVMj8/SS2Cricket.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Ss2cricket" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/eX5w9CG7aZck6Zhqmi2BPJNtmNq9pD2JAwgmERt6WZnmKvJK2eGYIOUPcqDZ/SS2Cricket.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/3hA2cSEQPYcZ4luv0PKm73tpH5WxFQaqbcl4fbtNaD4sCx2ZFidHC4smj5Ub/CNR2D2.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Cnr2d2" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/bkdPseAQqSyjocPKBhSZ8wdFNeNWBsaEbFWJsld1T21zKY2CtJkxPDhWUusG/CNR2D2.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/66tRvEbtPTKPFLg14Tset03KAHFrZMmEhaiOqvZqHlXeHFJWl7sGMx0GHyJ9/ENEWS.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Enews" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/kLxeZoB714LcNm1zztt4XiKJ4K0WrFTv1L9c3MUaRZsTMp3okUnX9oD0FTyJ/ENEWS.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://matt.benic.us/dstv-mobile-on-nokia-n96">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p><p><div class='p_embed p_video_embed'> <a href="http://matt.benic.us/dstv-mobile-on-nokia-n96"><img alt="" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/video.posterous.com/mattbenic/zn7akk1edqcYanECCxJxmZpMpjmcO4Svs58fuOS7IlEspCRJKvczGcRKbgNF/frame_0000.png" /></a> <div class='p_embed_description'> <strong>ChannelO.mov</strong> <a href="http://matt.benic.us/dstv-mobile-on-nokia-n96">Watch on Posterous</a> </div> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/dstv-mobile-on-nokia-n96">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/dstv-mobile-on-nokia-n96#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/DrVntW4H7o0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/dstv-mobile-on-nokia-n96 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 13:11:46 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/IuL4MTQFJ9E/testing-out-the-new-posterous-app http://matt.benic.us/testing-out-the-new-posterous-app <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="P117" height="480" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/isqEiCHvuwjoiuvHilmwIydvmiwsahukEqhBgyzjtIwFEtBnytwotDjkBoxr/p117.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="320" /> <img alt="P119" height="480" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/phxJbJHzsnCkmhAdAkDrnceEqyvCavAzrghrxEwidoecbCEcvltgluDDFrfr/p119.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="320" /> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://matt.benic.us/testing-out-the-new-posterous-app">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p>Posterous has for some time had an app on the iPhone called "PicPosterous", focused on posting multiple images from the device direct to a posterous album (and of course optionally adding a blog post). Checking on the app store today, I saw the sneaky buggers had at some point released a new app called (imaginatively enough) "Posterous".<br />This is my first post from that app, so let's see how it goes. I'm most interested in seeing if autoposting of multiple images works (in the past, in Facebook for example, a new album would be created by PicPosterous with just the first image, the rest would all make it to posterous but not facebook). To test this I've added two hopefully prescient screenshots from the incredibly awesome and devilishly addictive iPhone game, "game Dev Story". If you haven't checked it out yet, do so now (but first warn your loved ones they may not see you for a couple of days. Or weeks)!<br />From an editing point of view, the new posterous app uses the standard iPhone editor (so no text styling), and allows enabling or disabling geotagging, autoposting and private settings for the post. Tags can be added (with a nifty chooser that shows past tags), and of course media can be attached. At this stage only photos and videos can be attached (new or from the library) but no audio recordings. There's also unfortunately no multiple-select for images and videos, so each has to be added individually.<br />In addition to posting to any of your posterous blogs, the app also allows you to view past posts. I've yet to check if they can be edited, and since there's no way to save a draft, I'll try it after posting this.<br />Like posterous itself, the app is dead simple and intuitive, just what you need (well, most of it) and no more. </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/testing-out-the-new-posterous-app">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/testing-out-the-new-posterous-app#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/IuL4MTQFJ9E" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/testing-out-the-new-posterous-app Fri, 24 Sep 2010 22:29:26 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/pkU2x34i3s8/molting-rain-spider http://matt.benic.us/molting-rain-spider <p> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/1kESFT2cqknDLp9SV5hyaQgxwzfDpnLZgQSZncrGMiTUegOd2fVjUik9wA9X/photo.jpg"><img alt="Photo" height="640" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/C90bzi2BXry5TV0a9hEbJkPtZmea49WC2CNb9S6B5eDHxH8vcnhEaZn0U7ZU/photo.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="480" /></a> </div> <p>We lucked out catching this rain spider while it was molting at a <br />friend's house. The wives wanted to kill it :P <p /> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EuJy6qO-9Hg?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></p> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/molting-rain-spider">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/molting-rain-spider#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/pkU2x34i3s8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/molting-rain-spider Sat, 28 Aug 2010 10:13:01 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/sqDtPOs6AY8/reefsteamers-train-to-magaliesburg http://matt.benic.us/reefsteamers-train-to-magaliesburg <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/BeiehluFhDFheIgFrFDtochnccsHuxxjgrAvchuftsgoijvaeFCmqBaeyJqF/IMG_0000.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0000" height="667" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/BeiehluFhDFheIgFrFDtochnccsHuxxjgrAvchuftsgoijvaeFCmqBaeyJqF/IMG_0000.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/rvapzBElEipAhzFHmJIGzbqFiroeBuFuaiJiFhEDhwwyEetnBvuCtusCCpGC/IMG_0008.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0008" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/rvapzBElEipAhzFHmJIGzbqFiroeBuFuaiJiFhEDhwwyEetnBvuCtusCCpGC/IMG_0008.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/gwztobpduwihBFFpwpACtHfolbzDfEsDebHsbvrbfsgqFiabcaEewnHqhmbj/IMG_0009.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0009" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/gwztobpduwihBFFpwpACtHfolbzDfEsDebHsbvrbfsgqFiabcaEewnHqhmbj/IMG_0009.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/ljEitpzJGHxmxJuweCEjEDGwggziuzqkkBbyGGzrgFjDunlBenjJurAJDddE/IMG_0012.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0012" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/ljEitpzJGHxmxJuweCEjEDGwggziuzqkkBbyGGzrgFjDunlBenjJurAJDddE/IMG_0012.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/mGcBkjoJJkvrubHbwGwvJHxhuepwDspshuEcxGibzeHDmliJalHnvxfCJnva/IMG_0006.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0006" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/mGcBkjoJJkvrubHbwGwvJHxhuepwDspshuEcxGibzeHDmliJalHnvxfCJnva/IMG_0006.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/jplyAHItbacDlFEqIxclsFCvagapCaDzmvEGmltFxGmlwFndtGzyHqqzrulg/IMG_0004.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0004" height="667" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/jplyAHItbacDlFEqIxclsFCvagapCaDzmvEGmltFxGmlwFndtGzyHqqzrulg/IMG_0004.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/rxwyjjAlyeIfpxhhffoqzdEgrxhAJHJFFebhFCcogeIGuwdAboebcADBpfax/IMG_0005.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0005" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/rxwyjjAlyeIfpxhhffoqzdEgrxhAJHJFFebhFCcogeIGuwdAboebcADBpfax/IMG_0005.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/JeqheGwpnhAGfdtmtAlJaGwFiaufGIArrvappJfJjyGBfuIFHtCugpejAket/IMG_0002.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0002" height="667" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/JeqheGwpnhAGfdtmtAlJaGwFiaufGIArrvappJfJjyGBfuIFHtCugpejAket/IMG_0002.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/rqlDmIzAinhqklDddualxmqBhpoCHvxAsuEmCpBIkFcCCFHpkrmksboyticb/IMG_0001.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0001" height="667" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/rqlDmIzAinhqklDddualxmqBhpoCHvxAsuEmCpBIkFcCCFHpkrmksboyticb/IMG_0001.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/oojeyAlsqkasCbxuCzizIjebekBhkAvFAydJqsnAblwHfFFvCpqzAakbEtsh/IMG_0011.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0011" height="667" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/oojeyAlsqkasCbxuCzizIjebekBhkAvFAydJqsnAblwHfFFvCpqzAakbEtsh/IMG_0011.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://matt.benic.us/reefsteamers-train-to-magaliesburg">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p><p><div class='p_embed p_video_embed'> <a href="http://matt.benic.us/reefsteamers-train-to-magaliesburg"><img alt="" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/video.posterous.com/mattbenic/djxfHCoumjmztdECCJHdckqAfymAtIvDkgirjfgsBBffxvDxHxCIdAofobAa/frame_0000.png" /></a> <div class='p_embed_description'> <strong>IMG_0010.mov</strong> <a href="http://matt.benic.us/reefsteamers-train-to-magaliesburg">Watch on Posterous</a> </div> </div> </p>Today we took the Reefsteamers steam train from Maraisburg station to Magaliesburg. The train departs a little after 9am, winding out of Joburg at a nice lazy pace. We had initially tried to book a 3 seater coupe, but they were sold out for this trip so we settled for regular single seats. This turned out not to be a great idea, the regular seating area is way too noisy for those of us without kids and the screaming tolerance they build ;) We were lucky enough to find a coupe who's occupants hadn't pitched and 'upgraded'. I'd definitely suggest anyone planning on taking the trip to hold out for one of these compartments, they make for a great experience. Make no mistake, these are vintage commuter trains in their original state, no Rovos level niceties, but they are a nice way to relive those old trips to holiday spots by rail.<p>After about two and a half hours of relaxed travel through the countryside (including some shunting stops on the single gauge track), the train dropped those travelers who had booked for lunch at the Magaliesburg Country Hotel, and then carried on to drop the rest off at the self catering picnic grounds. Sadly the lunch at the hotel wasn't much to write home about, but the dessert at Wimpy around the corner was great. Whether going with kids or without, I'd suggest skipping on the hotel dinner and rather going for a Wimpy burger or the picnic option.</p><p>The trip back was somewhat shorter at about ninety minutes, due to fewer shunting stops, but was no less relaxing-especially with bellies full of food.</p><p>Overall, this was a fun experience at a reasonable price. It would also definitely be a great way to entertain kids and introduce them to an older, slower paced way of doing things.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/reefsteamers-train-to-magaliesburg">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/reefsteamers-train-to-magaliesburg#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/sqDtPOs6AY8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/reefsteamers-train-to-magaliesburg Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:37:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/yCcwWYdpS3Q/the-harvest http://matt.benic.us/the-harvest <p> <p><a href="http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/t/theharvestmobile/default.htm"><em>The Harvest</em></a><em> is a </em><a href="http://www.lumaarcade.com/"><em>Luma Arcade</em></a><em> developed and </em><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/Games/"><em>Microsoft Game Studios</em></a><em> published title under development for the upcoming </em><a href="http://www.windowsphone7.com/"><em>Windows Phone 7 platform</em></a><em>. The game is developed in C# using Microsoft's </em><a href="http://xna.com/"><em>XNA</em></a><em> set of API's on top of the .Net Compact Framework. The high production quality bar for a game on a (not yet final) mobile platform meant serious work on squeezing every ounce of performance out of the engine. In addition to the usual engineering challenges of developing a truly AAA 3D title, and working closely with the MGS publishing team in a senior role, this project gave me the incredible opportunity to visit Microsoft in Seattle to work with them directly on performance challenges, gameplay and usability fine tuning, audio balancing and more.</em></p> &nbsp; <div>From <a href="http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/t/theharvestmobile/default.htm">Xbox.com</a>:</div> <div>On a future Earth, the invading alien Harvesters use humans and animals to create cyborgs: crude amalgamations of flesh and machinery. Mankind, in the form of the Global Defence Force, now fights a war against The Harvesters using human controlled mechanized infantry units. As a member of the GDF army, you have been sent to investigate reported Harvester activity in the ruins of an ancient city once used as a military base. As you explore, fight off wave after wave of The Harvester horde, find hidden upgrades, and defeat imposing enemy boss units in order to return Earth to its rightful inhabitants.</div> <div>Designed from the ground up to be the best looking 3-D mobile phone game to date, The Harvest&trade; features innovative touch screen gameplay, along with visceral combat, and opportunities for exploration, character customization, and more. This action RPG experience is an Xbox LIVE-enabled game for Windows Phone 7, and will immerse you into a deep and intriguing story where it is vital that the GDF is victorious.</div> <p /> <div>Videos of The Harvest in action:</div> <div><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wsCcBNoDjfg?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></div> <div><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nO032mnscSY?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></div> <div><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zUIaaLk2cWQ?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></div> <div><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j9pX1blaNY8?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></div> <div><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1CumdDN6nzI?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></div> <div><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YTZ5UbuEEfw?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></div> <p /> <p /> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/S2X71dHTtoiZVotiyHZY2MJB7fd7f3fVgLY3TkrVbKgykJ9XkxcyW992Cfdt/simTheHarvestMobile00.jpg"><img alt="Simtheharvestmobile00" height="300" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/bbfrsRgGBiW94uLXd4ZPt868L2uMKmqOoPv6niqJ4sHwYbgryyghHXUeNooQ/simTheHarvestMobile00.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/ZmhOg3dM2gsIyVLk644CiJkamAClxLqvEmP5GNDjI2B2Rq1Fsv4mzUn5FgCC/simTheHarvestMobile01.jpg"><img alt="Simtheharvestmobile01" height="300" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/X99xz67pFwDObpQaJZ4N3H259HvGocnHHmf5s1hTwCD1SaOYE9OlijKtY5fq/simTheHarvestMobile01.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/kQLLWGIj04SibDQ51g0RAnscdIsyKk8xBW1p4oTsfGAfiX5wOCa1wbwh2F7j/simTheHarvestMobile02.jpg"><img alt="Simtheharvestmobile02" height="300" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/qn16vOplghIdZBLdvwDhYuhe1Ob7JotKxEFKIGWt18UpzCcgMs8yQojoC05r/simTheHarvestMobile02.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/wwHCipGU7DnuCx2ingbq5rt5VGPSGkcpfK6nY1xlV6VerGEPkAET2gLQ6Fyz/simTheHarvestMobile03.jpg"><img alt="Simtheharvestmobile03" height="300" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/LunKexwqWB8P4nMWikP6ingEOuff7vvaVIi12jUaem9Gj5FDR35uBjORvi0F/simTheHarvestMobile03.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://matt.benic.us/the-harvest">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/the-harvest">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/the-harvest#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/yCcwWYdpS3Q" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/the-harvest Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:45:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/F99J2FlI3PQ/champ-chase http://matt.benic.us/champ-chase <p> <p><em><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://www.championsforchildren.org.za/champchase">ChampChase</a> is a project of the <a href="http://www.afroes.com">Afroes Foundation</a> developed for them by <a href="http://www.i-imagine.com">I-Imagine</a> as part of the <a href="http://www.nelsonmandelachildrensfund.com/index.php">Nelson Mandela Children's Fund</a> <a href="http://www.championsforchildren.org.za/">Champions for Children Campaign</a>.&nbsp;</span></em><em>Released as an online flash title as well as a J2ME mobile game, the challenges here were to quickly build a Flash equivalent to I-Imagine's flexible J2ME engine, as well as expand on the company's in-house high score system and communicate with it from flash.</em></p> <div>The game is a 2D platformer aimed at educating young players about various dangers they may encounter such as criminals, drug abuse and online predation. This was achieved through a combination of stylized characters associating each concept with a familiar object or animal with typically negative&nbsp;connotations, as well as more direct information provided at key points. The game is simple and fun, placing the player in the role of a protector saving children from these dangers.</div> <p /> <p /> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/CK72jF0zKn5eC3vWqacHO27o8Umf2umZUhYLAzoTAEJSi3yIkCwgly71n7hc/City.png"><img alt="City" height="502" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/dfafDekIV1DrJi1yGqphNJk5OzA11a7tIfyuCyHZHJQ5DDLBGHP5jQfQ0cGi/City.png.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/yKPAh9uH2wrqutzYE2KFyLKfATfrL6DIiG2NVC8kbr8OmTGfkA3jivgPZ5iw/Criminal.png"><img alt="Criminal" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/HSSmPaGyDA9KkOzsrEZ6SMKh3m3huRg4ZIu69K6ap71ONLGWTdpDpU6nufgH/Criminal.png.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/Yr2hfOOg6VM3tCtE0jDidAbWwxVKVQWYAfbVHOBBd28pb0gE0CQzkXNLd7Su/HighScores.png"><img alt="Highscores" height="502" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/R96QDq5GNbZhGbtdOA6zGWbBi7pmsLCBpBCiazu2qrXl1Wlsp47pyLqql4Gd/HighScores.png.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/3LeEPSHtDVpSsBUCv0jDlWJWzDPAdYxU5UEeJukhWZsm1bcDv8pIJspHtjmF/Message.png"><img alt="Message" height="498" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/oMMboXQRgJEWP7X5NYSHRNRMFjsJVk6AFpZcLt5WPXNirHHRIlP6jhFF7qhf/Message.png.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/UCCzM6mrLq2gj5GIwsxg0gBBEuERdIGHVFRWOun3wPeoNRdjMX2P8Rqvo70F/Mission.png"><img alt="Mission" height="501" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/gBkMul5G8AaZt97bznQBvnKh4lxsMaNCQrK2OK55gcz04z4E9LAMMqId1f74/Mission.png.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://matt.benic.us/champ-chase">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/champ-chase">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/champ-chase#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/F99J2FlI3PQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/champ-chase Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:21:01 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/yHhZ8ZqKcZU/death-of-optimism http://matt.benic.us/death-of-optimism <p> <span style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have always been supportive of South Africa and positive about it&#39;s people and future, the guy who would argue down naysayers at work, at the dinnertable, wherever negative sentiments might arise. For every pessimistic complaint about our politicians, our crime levels and our problems I would provide a counterpoint.</span></span> <p /><div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">My family has been on the victim&#39;s end of it&#39;s fair share of property and contact crime. We&#39;ve been tied up, stabbed and held at gunpoint in armed robberies. We&#39;ve had cars and small items and even the entire stock of our shop stolen. Most families in this country have had similar experiences, regardless of race or background. Despite this I have always sung South Africa&#39;s praises to all who would listen, firmly believing these problems would be solved.</span></div> <p /><div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For every corrupt politician shamelessly leeching funds needed by the poor and downtrodden to fund an opulent lifestyle, I have firmly believed there is another dedicated, hardworking individual with a love for their homeland  and the fire of justice in their belly. For every potholed road I&#39;ve been able to point to a glowing new advancement in public transport. For every dirty downtown street I&#39;ve been able to counter with encouraging stats about waste management and recycling. Dropping educational standards? Growth in industry and sheer number of people getting an education will sort that out in the long term.</span></div> <p /><div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">But none of that matters anymore. As of this Thursday past my optimism is gone, taken by the thugs with knopkierries beating on a door, the other side of which had been barricaded by my wife and one of her patients to keep these monsters out. Who were these vicious villains? Were they drugged up kids on a narcotic warpath? Career criminals looking for their belongings? Perhaps escapees from the mental ward come to exact their revenge on the institution? No, they were my wife&#39;s highly trained and respected colleagues in medical work. Nurses and other staff that work in the public hospitals. Professionals entrusted with the care of our sick and downtrodden, wanting to drag co-workers out of the hospital and physically assault them for not partaking in their illegal strike. Health care workers forgoing their oath of service to haul non-striking theater staff out of active operating theaters, regardless of the already anesthetized patients who&#39;s lives lay in the balance.</span></div> <p /><div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">At the same time schoolbusses were announcing they would discontinue their services during the strike action for fear of being targeted. By schoolteachers. Let me spell that out: school buses full of children the potential target of violence by school teachers. I  am completely in favor of industrial action, of underpaid and undervalued workers having the right to express their unhappiness and disillusion, especially when these are the workers carrying out two of the most important jobs imaginable: caring for our sick and teaching our young. However strike violence is not a valid part of this action, and nothing on earth justifies these same caregivers turning on each other and on their charges, nothing.</span></div> <p /><div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Because of the hair-trigger nature of racial debate in our country I have to emphasize that this is not about race. There were members of various races on both sides of that door. This is simply about the people of our country failing at a basic human level-to have empathy for our sick and young. Even in times of war, hospitals and schools are considered places of safety and refuge. Violating them in any way whatsoever is looked on with great scorn and leads to trials in The Hague. Yet here are our own medical staff and teachers violating that universal principle-for a pay rise. What kind of a people must we be, when those in our community we are expected to trust more than any other must be feared like common thugs? How can we be expected to carry on &quot;Leading SA&quot; and hoping for a bright future for our beautiful rainbow nation? Well I for one can&#39;t. My hope and faith and optimism -fundamental parts of my being- have been wrenched from me by the dogs that threatened the life of my wife while she was in the act of helping someone.</span></div> <p /><div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cry the Beloved Country. Indeed.</span></div> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/death-of-optimism">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/death-of-optimism#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/yHhZ8ZqKcZU" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/death-of-optimism Sat, 26 Jun 2010 07:16:51 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/sIoxpbWn_ZM/great-netbook-case-on-the-cheap http://matt.benic.us/great-netbook-case-on-the-cheap <p> Nat and I were in a PNA for something, and spotted their leather Bible <br />cases-which happen to be just the right size for a netbook and are <br />under 200 bucks! <br />This is a simple one, there were full combos with a separate <br />compartment for a (paper) notebook, pen loops, etc in the same price <br />range. Compare that to 300+ for a neoprene sleeve, and you have a <br />damned good deal.<p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/42bwVsT6ZaWPZl3lCp59DVeIYG2IFK65zSvWGwvEL6igAJS0Fw7HL4ZZmyAj/photo_1.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Photo_1" height="667" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/Dk9p2qstu9VHX9hUkU0JFZoXJ0RVZM5DKrhpX2jYNxw5OqLK2WG8uXXWEAG9/photo_1.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/SeYB0jQ2kCfnLlfAVbxb9oPqAbXkQhy3DofgEItdQuRY3zCX3UeCaL1hAVu3/photo_2.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Photo_2" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/QwODTKrvF7uGajGuc48TU1WrSiev0ItTtchjkTWQd1y8QL2Y1yqs23HGrmYM/photo_2.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://matt.benic.us/great-netbook-case-on-the-cheap">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/great-netbook-case-on-the-cheap">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/great-netbook-case-on-the-cheap#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/sIoxpbWn_ZM" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/great-netbook-case-on-the-cheap Sat, 12 Jun 2010 03:10:43 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/lLGQjs8-oD0/some-great-productivity-keyboard-shortcuts-in http://matt.benic.us/some-great-productivity-keyboard-shortcuts-in <p> Windows 7 may basically be Vista with a fresh coat of paint and with a bit a of steroid injection, but it also comes with some great productivity enhancements to the UI, like Aero Snap (pulling a window to the top or sides of the screen snaps it to fullscreen or half screen, respectively). What's even better for keyboard-centric users like myself are the keyboard shortcuts around those features:<br /> <ul> <li><b>Windows Key + Left/Right</b>: Resizes the current window to half the size of the screen it's currently on, and snaps it to the left or right edge of the screen, respectively. Pressing one of these repeatedly will cycle the window through original size and snapped half size across different screens. These are fantastic for comparing documents side-by-side.<br /> </li> <li><b>Windows Key + Up</b>: Maximizes the current window.</li> <li><b>Windows Key + Down</b>: Restores the current window to it's previous size if maximized, otherwise minimizes it.</li> <li><b>Windows Key + Shift + Left/Right</b>: Switch the current window between screens. Really useful when you usually have your notebook dual screened with an extra monitor, and windows start on the wrong screen (ie hidden) when that extra monitor's not available :)</li> </ul> For mobile warriors, these two are great:<br /> <ul> <li><b>Windows Key + X</b>: Opens the Mobility Center, a really useful control panel that allows you to quickly change audio, power, wifi, display, sync and presentation settings.</li> <li><b>Windows Key " P</b>: Opens a panel that lets you quickly cycle between multiscreen/projector layouts.</li> </ul> All the <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/Windows7/Keyboard-shortcuts">Windows 7 shortcuts are available on Microsoft's site</a>, all the usual suspects are there, as well as some new ones not mentioned here. </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/some-great-productivity-keyboard-shortcuts-in">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/some-great-productivity-keyboard-shortcuts-in#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/lLGQjs8-oD0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/some-great-productivity-keyboard-shortcuts-in Mon, 24 May 2010 00:47:56 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/Iqg-PSyTOUk/flash-development-workflow-for-traditional-de-0 http://matt.benic.us/flash-development-workflow-for-traditional-de-0 <p> <a href="http://matt.benic.us/flash-development-workflow-for-traditional-de">Part 1</a> of this walkthrough ended off with a flash animation linked up to a main application class that would allow regular updates of that application. This time around we'll see how to access objects in your application added in Flash from the library. Once these are in place, your artists can go nuts customizing them, as long as the basic setup stays the same. <p /> <div><strong>The Menu and Button classes</strong></div> <div>Let's set up a simple menu class that will allow us to continue to gameplay, or quit the animation. In Flashdevelop, create a new class in your package (right-click the package, Add-&gt;New Class) called <em>Menu</em>, specifying <em>MovieClip</em> as it's base class. Add two <em>MovieClip</em> members to it for the buttons, called <em>playBtn</em> and <em>quitBtn</em>:</div> <div><div class="data type-actionscript"> <table class="lines" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <pre class="line_numbers"><span rel="#L1" id="L1">1</span> <span rel="#L2" id="L2">2</span> <span rel="#L3" id="L3">3</span> <span rel="#L4" id="L4">4</span> <span rel="#L5" id="L5">5</span> <span rel="#L6" id="L6">6</span> <span rel="#L7" id="L7">7</span> <span rel="#L8" id="L8">8</span> <span rel="#L9" id="L9">9</span> <span rel="#L10" id="L10">10</span> </pre> </td> <td width="100%"> <div class="highlight"><pre /><div class="line" id="LC1"><span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC2"><span class="cm"> * Play button.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC3"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC4"><span class="kd">var</span> <span class="n">playBtn</span><span class="p">:</span><span class="kt">MovieClip</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC5"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC6"><span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC7"><span class="cm"> * Quit button.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC8"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC9"><span class="kd">var</span> <span class="n">quitBtn</span><span class="p">:</span><span class="kt">MovieClip</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC10"><br /></div></pre></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div></div> <p /> <div>As with the App class, add basic singleton functionality, but this time initialize the singleton in the menu constructor:</div> <div><div class="data type-actionscript"> <table class="lines" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <pre class="line_numbers"><span rel="#L1" id="L1">1</span> <span rel="#L2" id="L2">2</span> <span rel="#L3" id="L3">3</span> <span rel="#L4" id="L4">4</span> <span rel="#L5" id="L5">5</span> <span rel="#L6" id="L6">6</span> <span rel="#L7" id="L7">7</span> <span rel="#L8" id="L8">8</span> <span rel="#L9" id="L9">9</span> <span rel="#L10" id="L10">10</span> <span rel="#L11" id="L11">11</span> <span rel="#L12" id="L12">12</span> <span rel="#L13" id="L13">13</span> <span rel="#L14" id="L14">14</span> <span rel="#L15" id="L15">15</span> <span rel="#L16" id="L16">16</span> <span rel="#L17" id="L17">17</span> <span rel="#L18" id="L18">18</span> <span rel="#L19" id="L19">19</span> <span rel="#L20" id="L20">20</span> <span rel="#L21" id="L21">21</span> </pre> </td> <td width="100%"> <div class="highlight"><pre /><div class="line" id="LC1"><span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC2"><span class="cm"> * The Menu instance.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC3"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC4"><span class="kd">private</span> <span class="kd">static</span> <span class="kd">var</span> <span class="n">instance</span><span class="p">:</span><span class="kt">Menu</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC5"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC6"><span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC7"><span class="cm"> * Singleton accessor.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC8"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC9"><span class="kd">public</span> <span class="kd">static</span> <span class="kd">function </span><span class="nf">getInstance</span><span class="o">():</span><span class="kt">Menu</span></div><div class="line" id="LC10"><span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC11"> <span class="k">return</span> <span class="n">instance</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC12"><span class="o">}</span></div><div class="line" id="LC13"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC14">&nbsp;<span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC15"><span class="cm"> * Creates a new Menu and sets the singleton pointer.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC16"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC17"><span class="kd">public</span> <span class="kd">function </span><span class="nf">Menu</span><span class="o">()</span> </div><div class="line" id="LC18"><span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC19"> <span class="n">instance</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="k">this</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC20"><span class="o">}</span></div><div class="line" id="LC21"><br /></div></pre></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div></div> <p /> <div><em>Note I'm not clearing the singleton pointer at any stage, but it will be replaced the next time an instance is created, releasing the reference to the last object and allowing it to be garbage collected. This isn't a singleton in the purest sense, but it does allow us global access to the most current instance. Actionscript doesn't have destructors and I'm yet to find a replacement that I'm 100% happy with.</em></div> <p /> <div>Finally, add a function <em>onButtonReleaseHandler</em> to handle button presses, and implement the (extremely simple) menu logic:</div> <div><div class="data type-text"> <table class="lines" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <pre class="line_numbers"><span rel="#L1" id="L1">1</span> <span rel="#L2" id="L2">2</span> <span rel="#L3" id="L3">3</span> <span rel="#L4" id="L4">4</span> <span rel="#L5" id="L5">5</span> <span rel="#L6" id="L6">6</span> <span rel="#L7" id="L7">7</span> <span rel="#L8" id="L8">8</span> <span rel="#L9" id="L9">9</span> <span rel="#L10" id="L10">10</span> <span rel="#L11" id="L11">11</span> <span rel="#L12" id="L12">12</span> <span rel="#L13" id="L13">13</span> <span rel="#L14" id="L14">14</span> <span rel="#L15" id="L15">15</span> <span rel="#L16" id="L16">16</span> </pre> </td> <td width="100%"> <div class="highlight"><pre /><div class="line" id="LC1">/**</div><div class="line" id="LC2">&nbsp;* Handles an onRelease event.</div><div class="line" id="LC3">&nbsp;* @param source The MovieClip that triggered the onRelease event.</div><div class="line" id="LC4">&nbsp;*/ </div><div class="line" id="LC5">public function onButtonReleaseHandler(source:MovieClip):Void</div><div class="line" id="LC6">{</div><div class="line" id="LC7"> switch(source) {</div><div class="line" id="LC8"> case playBtn:</div><div class="line" id="LC9"> App.getInstance().playGame();</div><div class="line" id="LC10"> break;</div><div class="line" id="LC11"> case quitBtn:</div><div class="line" id="LC12"> fscommand (&quot;quit&quot;);</div><div class="line" id="LC13"> break;</div><div class="line" id="LC14"> }</div><div class="line" id="LC15">}</div><div class="line" id="LC16"><br /></div></pre></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div></div> <p /> <div>You'll also need to import the <em>App</em> class at the top of the file, using it's fully qualified name:</div> <div><div class="data type-actionscript"> <table class="lines" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <pre class="line_numbers"><span rel="#L1" id="L1">1</span> </pre> </td> <td width="100%"> <div class="highlight"><pre /><div class="line" id="LC1"><span class="k">import</span> <span class="nn">us.benic.matt.App</span><span class="o">;</span></div></pre></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div></div> <p /> <div><em>Note: I've switched on the actual source object here. Actionscript's switch statement is extremely flexible, unlike that in C++ and Java, any object can be used as a case, including strings.</em></div> <p /> <div>Here is the completed <em>Menu</em> class:</div> <div><div class="data type-actionscript"> <table class="lines" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <pre class="line_numbers"><span rel="#L1" id="L1">1</span> <span rel="#L2" id="L2">2</span> <span rel="#L3" id="L3">3</span> <span rel="#L4" id="L4">4</span> <span rel="#L5" id="L5">5</span> <span rel="#L6" id="L6">6</span> <span rel="#L7" id="L7">7</span> <span rel="#L8" id="L8">8</span> <span rel="#L9" id="L9">9</span> <span rel="#L10" id="L10">10</span> <span rel="#L11" id="L11">11</span> <span rel="#L12" id="L12">12</span> <span rel="#L13" id="L13">13</span> <span rel="#L14" id="L14">14</span> <span rel="#L15" id="L15">15</span> <span rel="#L16" id="L16">16</span> <span rel="#L17" id="L17">17</span> <span rel="#L18" id="L18">18</span> <span rel="#L19" id="L19">19</span> <span rel="#L20" id="L20">20</span> <span rel="#L21" id="L21">21</span> <span rel="#L22" id="L22">22</span> <span rel="#L23" id="L23">23</span> <span rel="#L24" id="L24">24</span> <span rel="#L25" id="L25">25</span> <span rel="#L26" id="L26">26</span> <span rel="#L27" id="L27">27</span> <span rel="#L28" id="L28">28</span> <span rel="#L29" id="L29">29</span> <span rel="#L30" id="L30">30</span> <span rel="#L31" id="L31">31</span> <span rel="#L32" id="L32">32</span> <span rel="#L33" id="L33">33</span> <span rel="#L34" id="L34">34</span> <span rel="#L35" id="L35">35</span> <span rel="#L36" id="L36">36</span> <span rel="#L37" id="L37">37</span> <span rel="#L38" id="L38">38</span> <span rel="#L39" id="L39">39</span> <span rel="#L40" id="L40">40</span> <span rel="#L41" id="L41">41</span> <span rel="#L42" id="L42">42</span> <span rel="#L43" id="L43">43</span> <span rel="#L44" id="L44">44</span> <span rel="#L45" id="L45">45</span> <span rel="#L46" id="L46">46</span> <span rel="#L47" id="L47">47</span> <span rel="#L48" id="L48">48</span> <span rel="#L49" id="L49">49</span> <span rel="#L50" id="L50">50</span> <span rel="#L51" id="L51">51</span> <span rel="#L52" id="L52">52</span> <span rel="#L53" id="L53">53</span> <span rel="#L54" id="L54">54</span> <span rel="#L55" id="L55">55</span> </pre> </td> <td width="100%"> <div class="highlight"><pre /><div class="line" id="LC1"><span class="k">import</span> <span class="nn">us.benic.matt.App</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC2"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC3"><span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC4"><span class="cm"> * Menu for the Flash Workflow demonstration.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC5"><span class="cm"> * @author Matt Benic</span></div><div class="line" id="LC6"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC7"><span class="kd">class</span> <span class="n">us</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">benic</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">matt</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">Menu</span> <span class="kd">extends</span> <span class="n">MovieClip</span></div><div class="line" id="LC8"><span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC9"> <span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC10"><span class="cm"> * Play button.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC11"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC12"> <span class="kd">var</span> <span class="n">playBtn</span><span class="p">:</span><span class="kt">MovieClip</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC13"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC14"> <span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC15"><span class="cm"> * Quit button.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC16"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC17"> <span class="kd">var</span> <span class="n">quitBtn</span><span class="p">:</span><span class="kt">MovieClip</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC18"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC19"> <span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC20"><span class="cm"> * The Menu instance.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC21"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC22"> <span class="kd">private</span> <span class="kd">static</span> <span class="kd">var</span> <span class="n">instance</span><span class="p">:</span><span class="kt">Menu</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC23"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC24"> <span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC25"><span class="cm"> * Singleton accessor.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC26"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC27"> <span class="kd">public</span> <span class="kd">static</span> <span class="kd">function </span><span class="nf">getInstance</span><span class="o">():</span><span class="kt">Menu</span></div><div class="line" id="LC28"> <span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC29"> <span class="k">return</span> <span class="n">instance</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC30"> <span class="o">}</span></div><div class="line" id="LC31"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC32"> <span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC33"><span class="cm"> * Creates a new Menu and sets the singleton pointer.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC34"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC35"> <span class="kd">public</span> <span class="kd">function </span><span class="nf">Menu</span><span class="o">()</span> </div><div class="line" id="LC36"> <span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC37"> <span class="n">instance</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="k">this</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC38"> <span class="o">}</span></div><div class="line" id="LC39"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC40"> <span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC41"><span class="cm"> * Handles an onRelease event.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC42"><span class="cm"> * @param source The MovieClip that triggered the onRelease event.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC43"><span class="cm"> */</span> </div><div class="line" id="LC44"> <span class="kd">public</span> <span class="kd">function </span><span class="nf">onButtonReleaseHandler</span><span class="o">(</span><span class="n">source</span><span class="o">:</span><span class="kt">MovieClip</span><span class="o">):</span><span class="kt">Void</span></div><div class="line" id="LC45"> <span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC46"> <span class="k">switch</span><span class="o">(</span><span class="n">source</span><span class="o">)</span> <span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC47"> <span class="k">case</span> <span class="n">playBtn</span><span class="o">:</span></div><div class="line" id="LC48"> <span class="n">App</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">getInstance</span><span class="o">().</span><span class="n">playGame</span><span class="o">();</span></div><div class="line" id="LC49"> <span class="k">break</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC50"> <span class="k">case</span> <span class="n">quitBtn</span><span class="o">:</span></div><div class="line" id="LC51"> <span class="nf">fscommand</span> <span class="o">(</span><span class="s2">&quot;quit&quot;</span><span class="o">);</span></div><div class="line" id="LC52"> <span class="k">break</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC53"> <span class="o">}</span></div><div class="line" id="LC54"> <span class="o">}</span></div><div class="line" id="LC55"><span class="o">}</span></div></pre></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div></div> <p /> <div>Now we need a simple<em>MovieClip</em> subclass called <em>Button</em> that will notify the menu when it is pressed. Flash does have it's own <em>Button</em> class, but it's really inflexible in that <em>Button</em> components can't use a custom Button subclass. The norm seems to be to just use a custom <em>MovieClip</em> subclass, and the functionality in the Flash <em>Button</em> class can easily be implemented anyway. For our purposes, a simple class that calls the <em>Menu</em> singleton's <em>onButtonReleaseHandler</em> when it is released will suffice:</div> <div><div class="data type-actionscript"> <table class="lines" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <pre class="line_numbers"><span rel="#L1" id="L1">1</span> <span rel="#L2" id="L2">2</span> <span rel="#L3" id="L3">3</span> <span rel="#L4" id="L4">4</span> <span rel="#L5" id="L5">5</span> <span rel="#L6" id="L6">6</span> <span rel="#L7" id="L7">7</span> <span rel="#L8" id="L8">8</span> <span rel="#L9" id="L9">9</span> <span rel="#L10" id="L10">10</span> <span rel="#L11" id="L11">11</span> <span rel="#L12" id="L12">12</span> <span rel="#L13" id="L13">13</span> <span rel="#L14" id="L14">14</span> <span rel="#L15" id="L15">15</span> <span rel="#L16" id="L16">16</span> <span rel="#L17" id="L17">17</span> <span rel="#L18" id="L18">18</span> <span rel="#L19" id="L19">19</span> <span rel="#L20" id="L20">20</span> </pre> </td> <td width="100%"> <div class="highlight"><pre /><div class="line" id="LC1"><span class="k">import</span> <span class="nn">us.benic.matt.Menu</span><span class="o">;</span></div><div class="line" id="LC2"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC3"><span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC4"><span class="cm"> * Button for the Flash Workflow demonstration.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC5"><span class="cm"> * @author Matt Benic</span></div><div class="line" id="LC6"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC7"><span class="kd">class</span> <span class="n">us</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">benic</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">matt</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">Button</span> <span class="kd">extends</span> <span class="n">MovieClip</span></div><div class="line" id="LC8"><span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC9"> <span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC10"><span class="cm"> * Creates a new button and sets it&#39;s onRelease to notify the Menu instance.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC11"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC12"> <span class="kd">public</span> <span class="kd">function </span><span class="nf">Button</span><span class="o">()</span> </div><div class="line" id="LC13"> <span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC14"> <span class="c1">// Notify menu instance when released</span></div><div class="line" id="LC15"> <span class="n">onRelease</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="kd">function</span> <span class="o">():</span><span class="n">Void</span> <span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC16"> <span class="n">Menu</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="na">getInstance</span><span class="o">().</span><span class="n">onButtonReleaseHandler</span><span class="o">(</span><span class="k">this</span><span class="o">);</span></div><div class="line" id="LC17"> <span class="o">}</span></div><div class="line" id="LC18"> <span class="o">}</span></div><div class="line" id="LC19"><br /></div><div class="line" id="LC20"><span class="o">}</span></div></pre></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div></div> <p /> <div><strong>Changes to the App class</strong></div> <div>At this point very little needs to be added to the <em>App</em> class, it just needs the function the <em>Menu</em> class called, <em>playGame</em>. This will move the main clip to the <em>Level</em> frame:</div> <div><div class="data type-actionscript"> <table class="lines" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <pre class="line_numbers"><span rel="#L1" id="L1">1</span> <span rel="#L2" id="L2">2</span> <span rel="#L3" id="L3">3</span> <span rel="#L4" id="L4">4</span> <span rel="#L5" id="L5">5</span> <span rel="#L6" id="L6">6</span> <span rel="#L7" id="L7">7</span> <span rel="#L8" id="L8">8</span> </pre> </td> <td width="100%"> <div class="highlight"><pre /><div class="line" id="LC1"><span class="cm">/**</span></div><div class="line" id="LC2"><span class="cm"> * Play the game.</span></div><div class="line" id="LC3"><span class="cm"> */</span></div><div class="line" id="LC4"><span class="kd">public</span> <span class="kd">function </span><span class="nf">playGame</span><span class="o">():</span><span class="kt">Void</span></div><div class="line" id="LC5"><span class="o">{</span></div><div class="line" id="LC6"> <span class="n">gotoAndStop</span><span class="o">(</span><span class="s2">&quot;Level&quot;</span><span class="o">);</span></div><div class="line" id="LC7"><span class="o">}</span></div><div class="line" id="LC8"><br /></div></pre></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div></div> <p /> <div>You may also want to remove the <em>trace</em> call in <em>onEnterFrameHandler</em>. It's demonstrative purpose has been served, and outputting text on every frame will just slow down the animation.</div> <p /> <div><strong>The Menu and Button MovieClips</strong></div> <div>Now we need the actual visual elements used for the menu. First create a new MovieClip in the library (Ctrl+L or Windows-Library to open the library, right click in the library-&gt;New Symbol...) called <em>PlayButton</em>. Set it's <em>Type</em> to <em>MovieClip</em>, check the <em>Export for ActionScript</em> checkbox, and specify it's <em>Class</em> as your fully qualified <em>Button</em> class's name (ie including the package):<p /> </div> <div>&nbsp;<div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Unknownname" height="543" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/t0KHuZa9KGEnJfXoH60smOVPYAaOiCU6w0mQadZZ0WM4g8B6SYTZBTHVAy0W/unknownname.png" width="414" /> </div> <p /> </div> <div>Clicking <em>Ok</em> to dismiss the <em>Create New Symbol</em> dialog causes Flash to open that symbol for editing. Use the flash tools to create a simple button. Eg add a Rectangle for a background, and a TextElement for the text to end up with something similar to this:</div> <div>&nbsp;<div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="0unknownname" height="123" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/eAv92xFoHSik0g4MAQ2ok6nFtzavkYJScdbiylYyQ9fNxBHphN8pItDTqzhf/0unknownname.png" width="300" /> </div> </div> <div>Copy that symbol as a starting point for the Quit button, right click the symbol in the Library and select <em>Duplicate</em>. In the <em>Duplicate Symbol</em> dialog name the symbol <em>QuitButton</em> and as before enable <em>Export for ActionScript</em> and set it's class to your <em>Button</em> class:<p /> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="1unknownname" height="543" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/q1ysiPxI32WPImjBlfW2tmvE0Lv3BYyo3Il8hjyB8KI6GSHt2IKSGzbLkJC6/1unknownname.png" width="414" /> </div> <br /> </div> <p /> <div>Again, dismissing the dialog with <em>Ok</em> opens the component on the stage. Edit it to say <em>Quit</em> instead of <em>Play</em>.</div> <p /> <div>Now create another new Symbol, this time calling it <em>Menu</em> and setting it's class to your <em>Menu</em> class:<p /> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="2unknownname" height="543" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/1KtDTw2nCuuTy0GQ9KV2tyi8IiclFW7SQHEMddljYfPY0BAdVrOAGblk6xk0/2unknownname.png" width="414" /> </div> <br /> </div> <p /> <div>Drag the <em>PlayButton</em> symbol from the Library to the stage, and then do the same with the <em>QuitButton</em>. The result should look something like:<br /> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="3unknownname" height="279" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/mpmsdFxbqmsnuRIWsIywh6MnRjtgPQHjD9ZSC4wqRE5fNgvP54O0Va7rF3Uh/3unknownname.png" width="477" /> </div> <br /> </div> <div>The buttons now need to be named to match the members added to the <em>Menu</em> class earlier. To do this, click on a button on the stage to select it (<em>not</em> it's template control in the library), open the <em>Properties</em> window with <em>Ctrl+F3</em> or <em>Windows-&gt;Properties</em> and replace the <em>&lt;instance name&gt;</em> text in the topmost textbox with the appropriate name. Your <em>Play</em> button should be called <em>playBtn</em> and your <em>Quit</em> button <em>quitBtn</em>:<p /> <br /> </div> <p /> <div><strong>Putting it all together</strong></div> <div align="left">The last thing to do is add your newly created menu to the appropriate frame at the top level of the timeline. Return to the top level by clicking on <em>Scene 1</em> above the stage. In the timeline, on the <em>Objects</em> layer, add new keyframes (right click-&gt;Insert Keyframe) below the <em>Menu</em> and <em>Level</em> labels (should be frames 10 and 20 respectively). Now with the new keyframe under <em>Menu</em> selected, drag the <em>Menu</em> symbol from the library onto the stage. Frames 10 to 20 on the <em>Objects</em> layer should now be grayed out to indicate content exists on those frames.<p /> </div> <div align="left">&nbsp;<div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="6unknownname" height="78" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/T1nsH98f7AEtzncuJecFwDTAWsZRzzb3EDKKpHzRUp5k9pdUUkGs0TLNAKYf/6unknownname.png" width="401" /> </div> <p /> </div> <div align="left">If you now run the animation with <em>Ctrl+Enter</em>, the menu will be displayed, and clicking <em>Play</em> will take you to the <em>Play</em> frame (which is currently empty). The <em>Quit</em> button may appear to do nothing, but that is just because <em>fscommand ("quit")</em> has no effect when run from the Flash environment. When the generated .swf file is run by double clicking it in an explorer window, the effect is as expected.</div> <p /> <div align="left">The full project so far is attached to the post. That's it for part 2, the next post will go into adding and manipulating objects programmatically<em>.</em></div> <p /> <div align="left"><strong>A note on variables linked to stage objects</strong></div> <div align="left">In this example, I used variables within a class who's only link to visual objects is their name. That's <em>scary</em>. Actionscript won't tell you if one of these objects is missing, it will just carry on as if nothing is wrong. You can't even expect an error or exception when you call a method on one of these nonexistent member objects. That's <em>terrifying</em>. Now you may be tempted to insist on creating all objects yourself, programmatically, but that's once again taking a certain amount of creative control (placement) away from the artists, which is kind of the whole point of Flash. The <em>only</em> way to be 100% sure objects you expect to be there are actually there is to check them against null and handle the missing case by throwing an exception/error or making the mistake known some other way.</div> <div align="left">Related to this is the interesting little issue that numeric values in flash are represented by the <em>Number</em> class, as opposed to some kind of integral type, and must be properly initialized like any other object or will be null. This can catch you by surprise with some really wierd behavior, so if you start seeing NaN's in output, there's an uninitialized <em>Number</em> somewhere.</div> <p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="4unknownname" height="124" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/H5uionRR1RlmuImKctEC3YqIyyjQoZvzWQDT0pTZNmdTcXfJ15rXZeRYQD9n/4unknownname.png" width="329" /> <img alt="5unknownname" height="122" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/yjC7Tf1awu5ed7FVAJxevuZNXlDbciaQ2nK1TW1dwnMz6LLmjTpxRGBKqGYU/5unknownname.png" width="335" /> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://matt.benic.us/flash-development-workflow-for-traditional-de-0">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p><p></p><p><div class='p_embed p_file_embed'> <a href="http://matt.benic.us/flash-development-workflow-for-traditional-de-0"><img alt="" src="http://posterous.com/images/filetypes/zip.png" /></a> <div class='p_embed_description'> <strong>WorkFlowProject.zip</strong> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/7zJuNxJeREN0iZ7RicJvm8UGvFM6ISAJoKSOgySTbTUFSlBdLqjxkaYybYHr/WorkFlowProject.zip">Download this file</a> </div> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/flash-development-workflow-for-traditional-de-0">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/flash-development-workflow-for-traditional-de-0#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/Iqg-PSyTOUk" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/flash-development-workflow-for-traditional-de-0 Mon, 24 May 2010 00:07:10 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/ZPqTR1xt0to/displaying-utf8-from-mysql-with-php http://matt.benic.us/displaying-utf8-from-mysql-with-php <p> I had some issues displaying localized text in a PHP based internal tool recently, it turns out the solution was really simple-the MySql connection just needs to know that the connection must be UTF8. Probably no-brainer stuff for all you PHP-Ninjas.. news to me :)<p /> To do this with a PDO connection, just add an init command when you create the PDO command:<br /> <div class="data type-text"> <table class="lines" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <pre class="line_numbers"><span rel="#L1" id="L1">1</span> <span rel="#L2" id="L2">2</span> <span rel="#L3" id="L3">3</span> </pre> </td> <td width="100%"> <div class="highlight"><pre /><div class="line" id="LC1">$this-&gt;pdo = new PDO(&quot;mysql:host=&quot;.$this-&gt;host.&quot;; dbname=&quot;.$this-&gt;databaseName,</div><div class="line" id="LC2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$this-&gt;user, $this-&gt;password,</div><div class="line" id="LC3">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;array(PDO::MYSQL_ATTR_INIT_COMMAND =&gt; &quot;SET NAMES utf8&quot;));</div></pre></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div><p /> Thanks to <a href="http://akrabat.com/php/utf8-php-and-mysql/#comment-34717">Rob Allen</a> for the tip, variation for other connection methods can be found on his blog. </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/displaying-utf8-from-mysql-with-php">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/displaying-utf8-from-mysql-with-php#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/ZPqTR1xt0to" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/displaying-utf8-from-mysql-with-php Fri, 21 May 2010 04:53:32 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/v-AZFxb7BV8/some-useful-regular-expression-patterns-when http://matt.benic.us/some-useful-regular-expression-patterns-when <p> I'm currently moving a lot of code from Java to Actionscript, and regex has been a lifesaver. Here are some of the patterns that proved invaluable, and that would work on most c-style languages. The Actionscript replacements are obviously specific to that language, but changing them for a different output language really would be trivial:<p /> <b>Find non-parameter variable declarations and assignments</b><br /> <i>Note: this will find returns as well, see the next pattern</i><br /> (\w+)(\s)(\w+)(;|\s=)<p /> Flash replacement:<br /> var$2$3:$1$4<p /> Will replace:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; int myInt;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; boolean myBool = true;<br /> With:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; var myInt:int;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; var myBool:boolean = true; &nbsp;&nbsp; <p /> <b>Find resulting returns in Flash</b><br /> This will match all the wonky return statements resulting from the previous replacement.<br /> var(\s)(\w+):return;<p /> Flash replacement:<br /> return$1$2;<p /> Will replace:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; var true:return;<br /> With:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; return true;<p /> <b>Find parameter variable declarations</b><br /> (\w+)(\s)(\w+)(,|\))<p /> Flash replacement:<br /> $3:$1$4<p /> Will replace:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; public int foo(int intParam, boolean boolParam) {<br /> With:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; public int foo(intParam:int, boolParam:boolean) {<p /> <b>Find function signatures with parameters in c/java format</b><br /> (\w+)(\s)(\w+\([\s?\w\s\w+,?]*\))(\s?\{)<p /> Flash replacement:<br /> function$2$3:$1$4<p /> Will replace:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; public int foo(int intParam, boolean boolParam) {<br /> With:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; public function foo(int intParam, boolean boolParam):int {<p /> <br /> <b>Find function signatures with parameters in Actionscript format</b><br /> (\w+)(\s)(\w+\([\s?\w+:\w+,?]*\))(\s?\{)<p /> Flash replacement:<br /> function$2$3:$1$4<p /> Will replace:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; public int foo(intParam:int, boolParam:int) {<br /> With:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; public function foo(intParam:int, boolParam:int):int {<p /> <b>Find numeric types<br /> </b>(,|;|\(|\)|=|\s)(int|long|short|float|double|byte)(,|;|\(|\)|=|\s)<p /> Flash replacement:<br /> Number<p /> Will replace:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; var myInt:int;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; long myLong;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; float foo(byte bar) {<br /> With:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; var myInt:Number;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Number myLong;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Number foo(Number bar) { </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/some-useful-regular-expression-patterns-when">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/some-useful-regular-expression-patterns-when#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/v-AZFxb7BV8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/some-useful-regular-expression-patterns-when Mon, 17 May 2010 10:31:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/ZDsfbF2a2MI/football-genius http://matt.benic.us/football-genius <p> <p><em><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Returning to I-Imagine as dev lead, I once again started the process of building up the technology behind a title for a new platform. We used the then brand new Xbox Avatars to give players a game that allowed them to take each other on head to head to test their football knowledge, or play solo to beef up their knowledge. Besides engineering the game and flexible trivia engine behind it, my responsibilities and achievements included improving project management processes in the company.<p /> </span></span></em><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">From <a href="http://www.i-imagine.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=47&amp;Itemid=74">I-Imagine.com</a>:<br /> </span></span><em><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /> </span></span></em><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Are you a Football Genius?<br /> Test your football knowledge in The Ultimate Quiz!<br /> The game features six questions packs covering International, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish football with over 3500 questions about your favorite teams, players, and tournaments!</span></span><em><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><p /> </span></span></em><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Football Genius garnered <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/footballgeniustheultimatequiz?q=football%20genius">61 on Metacritic</a>.<br /> </span></span></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/cPkLTHINtCBhz17m2gRaQ0ikE9BygQiGg3KCWgFr4IwITwJlcIQrfbNj6JAn/phoca_thumb_l_FootballGenius_0.jpg"><img alt="Phoca_thumb_l_footballgenius_0" height="281" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/TAvew2Ic6Vz36aq2pR1IPfTZUlewfHANBbdr2jfnPOZiTVHNFeWIFJCiyJCJ/phoca_thumb_l_FootballGenius_0.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/828JMsUqUSgUopEnv6V2y4DMuA1WMyrGxUKcIkGdtREBwjBmVGeJ1MFz7HGo/phoca_thumb_l_footballgenius_1.jpg"><img alt="Phoca_thumb_l_footballgenius_1" height="281" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/T1HReJUwf5oAmZ4L3RIFiAsSsrcSt0NJTevz2Hq3gk2RsK23WLkKHKXz9RVY/phoca_thumb_l_footballgenius_1.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/ealcQfAwFqXa9o9Vby0q8AJh2FbYkY6pg3jMCX4gk7Roe0a0xUT9VENEuZc5/phoca_thumb_l_footballgenius_0.jpg"><img alt="Phoca_thumb_l_footballgenius_0" height="281" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/c5tWgDI9a5icJxbp623f7RFdHofTmgKa6MtyxVr5Hibde1b5OMBGGT8EgRG2/phoca_thumb_l_footballgenius_0.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/bgyPnukcsr8Bd4WB39UXRqzM7LKydcrXdolLAQUsiWrqagumvDbz0BqrxbOx/0phoca_thumb_l_footballgenius_0.jpg"><img alt="0phoca_thumb_l_footballgenius_0" height="281" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/2kXVpU8e8WdEmLa0gOJyiYTCS2blqYz6carxJ4xfExBe5F4yCU7nobdwzzwX/0phoca_thumb_l_footballgenius_0.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://matt.benic.us/football-genius">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/football-genius">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/football-genius#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/ZDsfbF2a2MI" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/football-genius Mon, 17 May 2010 09:24:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Flintza/~3/OF4a4WEMc48/plikpla-0 http://matt.benic.us/plikpla-0 <p> <p><em><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Plikpla was another great puzzle game from smallfry mobile. Once again this was a title that hooked anyone that played it.<p /> </span></span></em><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">From <a href="http://www.smallfrymobile.com/plikpla.html">smallfrymobile.com</a>:<p /> Match eggs and hatch cute and cuddly PlikPla aliens in this wickedly addicting puzzle game.<br /> PlikPla is a puzzle game in which eggs of the same colour must be matched into rows of three or more. All eggs of the same colour will collapse into a single egg of a different colour. Once three black eggs are matched, a PlikPla is born!<br /> Build colour combinations to increase your score and climb the PlikPla global rankings ladder.<br /> </span></span></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Screen1_3" height="208" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/gfRxIVplZ7NgAH56tFH9loVOOGs9dEyiaFhEn8UgHyKXAqNO5EHVDaiSI9GI/screen1_3.jpg" width="176" /> <img alt="Screen2_3" height="208" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/0xrGEJIzuPqANU3HlD2WreoMLqLs8oQ5UuQC9FYGHkLe6W6QBY8Cu8qpmJG3/screen2_3.jpg" width="176" /> <img alt="Screen3_3" height="208" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mattbenic/OzCyTNYGFyB2Dkuz34vYp0t0UmNLUAuZKErM883S8r3FMr5nIwTUNIga0Bmq/screen3_3.jpg" width="176" /> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://matt.benic.us/plikpla-0">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://matt.benic.us/plikpla-0">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://matt.benic.us/plikpla-0#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Flintza/~4/OF4a4WEMc48" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/124256/mattface.JPG http://posterous.com/users/1gysNz9wlMJ Matt Benic FlintZA Matt Benic http://matt.benic.us/plikpla-0