gatesphere 45 Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 I had an idea today, to make a competitive game out of the LaunchPad. The basic idea is CoreWars with a physical layer such as the LaunchPad. I have outlined the basic idea at my blog: http://blog.suspended-chord.info/?c=14 I welcome any comments or questions, and would like to ask for help from those who would like to see this become a reality. I think this could be really cool. Any thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeekDoc 226 Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 :shock: Ummm... wow. :shock: That sounds VERY cool. I'm not sure how much help I can be, but I'll jump in where I can. -Doc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gatesphere 45 Posted September 19, 2010 Author Share Posted September 19, 2010 Thanks, that's the kind of response I like The thing is, I'm really busy the next few years, as I am working on an honors thesis for my degree. So, my work on this, and MSPhere, and all my other programming projects, will suffer as a result. That is, unless I get help from others. So, yeah, your help, wherever it might be, would be greatly appreciated Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jsolarski 94 Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 ill keep my mind open on how this could be done!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bluehash 1,581 Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 This game reminds me of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOPR. I'm going to give this a thought. As far I can understand, will you be writing the client side software or is it available as of now? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gatesphere 45 Posted September 20, 2010 Author Share Posted September 20, 2010 I would be writing the client software, the server software, and the protocol document, as well as a small chunk of validation code for the firmware. And you better believe I'll have 2 or 3 bots competing myself. So yeah, I'd be writing everything, nothing's available yet. But the client software should be the easiest to write, it would basically take serial output and send it to the server. Like I said, though, if anyone wants to help, it would be greatly appreciated Thanks for the replies, guys. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jsolarski 94 Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 If you need a test server, i have my linux dev server up 99% of the time, and it has a static IP reachable through the internet. your more then welcome to use it, it has the basics loaded, Apache, PHP, mySQL, SSH, and any other thing that may be needed lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gatesphere 45 Posted September 21, 2010 Author Share Posted September 21, 2010 Thanks for the server offer, but I am running two servers from my house, both reachable via the internet as well. I'm hosting my website off of one of them But yeah, thanks for the offer! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMLB 24 Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 That's pretty cool. I would submit code if ever there was a road map and a SVN. I think I might have fun making a client. we should probably use the debugger interface of the launch pad rather than serial port. that way we can emulate sensors (maybe if we can change the value of the IN register) we could also Have every bot execute at designated speed or some thing have them start at the same time and read their output ect... Also it would reassure that you are running a lauch pad and the code can be compiled by the client too Also, Instead of having obfuscated code you could have the client encrypt a string (key added to the code of the launchpad) with a key sent by the server at the time of the competition (like a public key) and then the server tries to decrypt it and then match the strings that way the code can be well documented and you don't rely on the client for authentication Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gatesphere 45 Posted September 21, 2010 Author Share Posted September 21, 2010 As for SVN, I prefer git, so if this ever amounts to anything, I'll be using git. At the moment, though, this is just a pie-in-the-sky idea, as I have classes right now. The debugger is a cool idea, but that requires that everyone participating is using a Windows platform. I want this to be open. The obfusticated code part with the client and such is simply to ensure that the code submitted to the administrator is the same code that is on the board, and that no "illegal" modifications have been done to it. However, you did bring up a good point... what if they authenticated the software correctly and then decided to spoof packets to the server? However, I really think that all of this stuff can be avoided anyway... the LaunchPad community seems pretty trustworthy. I just wanted to try my hand in some encryption coding. Thanks for the advice and feedback, and also the comments on my blog! Might I inquire as to how you found it? I'm looking to find where I'm being advertised and such. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMLB 24 Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Git SVN ect... I just meant on a public server. If the code was on a source forge or google code, I would be more encouraged to checking some changes. That ways if you get too busy or loose interest, other developers can continue the project. As for the debugger, I believe there is a driver for the debugger for Linux. I have not tried it yet but these things seem kinda standard... we could use the JTAG interface too and make our own drivers. Just a thought. As for your website, I found it with google. It was the 4th hit when searching for launch pad VCC 3.3v Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gatesphere 45 Posted September 21, 2010 Author Share Posted September 21, 2010 Yeah, yeah. I know what you mean now I envisioned the LP sending a stream of commands over serial to the client. Having the LaunchPads work in unison isn't really an issue, as all the processing of the events happens on the server. It will simply collect commands from each (in a buffer), and execute them in order of speed (ex, 4800baud vs 1200baud: 4.8k and 1.2k act in unison, then 3 actions from the 4.8k, then again they act in unison, etc.). And I didn't know I was on google, though I tried it and it's actually a link through here. But thanks for letting me know! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeekDoc 226 Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 EVERYTHING is on Google, gatesphere... I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords... (Android FTW!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gatesphere 45 Posted September 22, 2010 Author Share Posted September 22, 2010 EVERYTHING is on Google, gatesphere... I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords... (Android FTW!) Nice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMLB 24 Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Yeah, yeah. I know what you mean now And I didn't know I was on google, though I tried it and it's actually a link through here. But thanks for letting me know! Nope it was a direct link to your web site. http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&o ... d+VCC+3.3v I just thought It could be interesting to take advantage of some of the interrupts P1 interrupts (i don;t know if its possible). I am just brain storming Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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