tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8180452695906918671.post3606909724992088366..comments2022-08-26T12:56:27.542-04:00Comments on Game Developer Journey: The Problem with the Mythical Black BoxJWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248318534942408752noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8180452695906918671.post-25654839584178112822009-07-11T02:48:48.193-04:002009-07-11T02:48:48.193-04:00@Quest:
I found a solution to your problem with th...@Quest:<br />I found a solution to your problem with the SkyCop demo -- you need the DirectX 9.0c runtime currently available <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2da43d38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&DisplayLang=en" rel="nofollow">here</a>. This was the problem on my new PC and I suspect the same for you.JWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13248318534942408752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8180452695906918671.post-63072772070062059232009-07-07T13:45:13.221-04:002009-07-07T13:45:13.221-04:00@Quest:
Thanks for pointing out the SkyCop error;...@Quest: <br />Thanks for pointing out the SkyCop error; I just noticed this on my new laptop with Vista and will fix it ASAP. As for BBs, I guess I meant to limit scope to <em>code/libraries from another developer you add or link into your codebase</em>. I'm not as concerned with the abstractions of circuitry and compilers; they're a given thanks to the hard work of the smart folks who have already overcome those challenges. Box2D is more along the lines of what I was thinking. In my case I would have to wonder when my game performs in an unintended manner, "Did I introduce this bug or is it a problem with Box2D?" Nine times out of ten it would be my own mistake, but that one time where Box2D has an unexpected quirk could be very frustrating. And not knowing how to fix the problem is worse -- I nearly scrapped SkyCop because I didn't understand how to fix the underlying framework.<br /><br />@jimmy:<br />Thanks for the link, I'll definitely check it out!JWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13248318534942408752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8180452695906918671.post-88526099848773592402009-07-05T14:53:57.385-04:002009-07-05T14:53:57.385-04:00There is a talk from PyCon where Alex Martelli dis...There is a talk from PyCon where Alex Martelli discusses "Abstractions as Leverage" http://pycon.bliptv.com/1957071 . Key points include: know your level of abstraction and a few layers below; all abstractions leak "Spolsky's Law" ,know when to use an abstraction and when to break it.jimmyhttp://www.twitter.com/jimmyhchannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8180452695906918671.post-79586695512616814452009-07-05T04:56:34.829-04:002009-07-05T04:56:34.829-04:00SkyCop_1_1.exe - Unable to Locate Component
"...SkyCop_1_1.exe - Unable to Locate Component<br />"The application has failed to start because d3dx9d_41.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."<br /><br />Followed by the standard "SkyCop_1_1.exe has stopped working" with the Close Program button. I'm running Vista x64. SkyCop 1.0 works fine.<br /><br />Now on the topic of BBs (Black Boxes).<br />In Flash development, the Flash compiler and IDE is a huge BB to me. I've got some vague ideas of how it works, but nothing solid.<br />Box2D (physics engine) is also another BB.<br /><br />I'm comfortable using these BBs because they've got pretty good documentation. Flash has some quirks, but nothing a quick Google won't turn up. Adobe is highly reputable, and the Box2D physics engine has a substantial following with many applications using it (in addition to being open source.)<br /><br />Technically though, most languages themselves are a BB. Even the computer circuits themselves can be considered a BB. Programmers have been building on top of each other's Black Boxes for years and years now.<br /><br />That's why we've all started to specialize into different areas. You would be incredibly valuable if you could understand every aspect of a computer's programming from the electronics to the operating system, but how many people know all of that?Questhttp://www.ezqueststudios.comnoreply@blogger.com