dhsu@Neon.Stanford.EDU (David Hsu) (07/06/90)
hi, i was at egghead the other day and saw this game called omega which dealt with making a simulator for tank design or something like that (the person's explanation was kind of vague). he also mentioned something about programming the tanks behavior using a pascal-type language. could somebody give me more info regarding this game? - thanks alot Dave Hsu
adam@media-lab.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Adam Glass) (07/06/90)
dhsu@Neon.Stanford.EDU (David Hsu) writes: > hi, i was at egghead the other day and saw this game called omega > which dealt with making a simulator for tank design or something like > that OMEGA is a game where you write a program ("AI") to control a tank whose objective is to blow up other tanks and/or destroy their base. You can build your own battlefields, you can make teams, and you can design your own simulations. The language is very high level. "SCAN FOR ENEMY TANK" and "FIRE WEAPON AT OBSTRUCTION" are sample instructions. The language supports labels, rather than line numbers or addresses. It doesn't support very complicated math, and doesn't have trigonometric functions, but you can basically do everything you want with the language. Incidentally, the language is algebraic -- you don't have to think in postfix (which I would have preferred.) It's a gross port -- though it uses menus, dialog boxes, scroll bars, text fields and SFGet and SFPut, it does it by itself -- it does not use the toolbox routines. This is a problem if you have a macro program to scroll up or page down for you. I've seen the version of OMEGA that runs on the Apple IIe, and the graphics are virtually identical, but you can shrink the window with the zoom box on the Mac. The Mac version uses digitized sounds. You get 1000 credits to start. You buy a chassis, a weapon, a drive system and a scanner. You then write the brains of the tank, which can be debugged in a test scenario. Eventually your tank will be good enough to be pitted against the computer. If you win more than 6 out of 10 battles, your security clearance is upgraded, and you get 1000 more credits to spend on parts. This cycle repeats 10 times or so before you 'win' and get an unlimited budget. I've gotten pretty close to winning the game: I think I have two more computer robots left to fight (Panda and Ogre.) I must say I was disappointed by the monotony of tank-explosion sounds, the poor quality graphics (Apple //e style,) and the ease of which a decent program can shred the computer's first five tanks -- I had advanced five or six levels before I even knew it. The manual is fantastic (especially the reference manual,) the packaging standard (i.e., not of Infocom quality), the game fair. It was able to hold my attention for a thrill-filled, fantastic, contiguous 20 hours, but after that, I lost interest. I still play it, but I don't play it that often. Your milage will vary. But first and foremost, the Mac version is a port, not an original work -- rather disappointing from a company as good as Origin. Adam
gordon@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu (John Gordon) (07/06/90)
OMEGA (by Origin) is a game in which you are a Cybernetic Designer,
responsible for designing the ultimate battle tank. You choose from among
differing chassis, drive systems, weaponry, etc. But the biggest aspect of
the game is that you write the tank's AI. You are responsible for how the
tank moves, thinks and reacts.
The programming is done in a language that is similar to COBOL.
The language is adequate, but if you are experienced in programming, there
are some shortcomings of the language that will annoy you, but they can be
worked around. And if you have little or no programming experience, there
are pre-written modules you can use for your own tank.
---
John Gordon
Internet: gordon@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu #include <disclaimer.h>
gordon@cerl.cecer.army.mil #include <clever_saying.h>
GEnie: j.gordon14 Kevin.Hill@f555.n161.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Kevin Hill) (07/08/90)
Omega is kind of stupid. It is similar to games called robot battle and the like. You program your tank to do various things and it does them. I solved the game in 2 days of about 16 hours of labor. However, I have programmed for several years.
Try it out, if you don't like it, make sure you keep the receipt and keep it in saleable condition and you will be able to return it to egghead. I did, telling them that i did not want to spend $50 on a game that entertained me for only 2 days. I want something like Might and Magic II which is still entertaining me after many days and nights!!
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