New to Lua
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:48 am
Hi,
Long story short I decided to switch to Lua because of Love, lol.
Anyway I was on a path to Python and Pygame but decided to postpone Python in favor of Lua Love. Nothing against Python, there are tons of resources, but my gut said make the switch and see where it takes you. I will eventually revisit Python, but not right now.
In the past I've made attempts at Delphi and VB but got so distracted making my GUI that I didn't learn any code. Won't happen this time.
I actually have a real world need to learn coding, whether it's Lua, Python, or some other language.
I teach tactical decision making and problem solving using a game that I helped design, not code, but design. I used it at West Point and I'm currently using it at the Ground Forces Academy Odessa, in Ukraine. Anyway it lacks a lot of things and could use a complete overhaul. It's called Follow Me if I'm allowed to I can post some screenshots if anyone is interested.
Anyway I would someday like to make a clone of this program and add my own stuff, and eventually replace it as my primary teaching tool.
The game is currently coded in VB6, but from what I see Lua and certainly Python would more than meet the requirements for such a game. The combat model is fairly simple. But the terrain coding could use some updating, and the AI is a PIA to code.
If any of you older folks are familiar with Avalon Hill's Panzer Blitz or Squad Leader this is the genre of game that I'm talking about. For those of you unfamiliar with those games they are "analog" military boardgames (wargame). By analog I mean paper hex-based maps with cardboard counters. The game that I use is a "digital" version of that genre of game. These types of game are not graphics intensive, but they do require a fairly decent AI to be challenging. From what I understand I believe Lua will be a plus in that area.
At the moment I have no illusions of cloning this game right away. I do think a competent programmer could probably do it fairly quickly.
It seems to me that Lua Love will get me there sooner.
The rest is up to me.
TJ
Long story short I decided to switch to Lua because of Love, lol.
Anyway I was on a path to Python and Pygame but decided to postpone Python in favor of Lua Love. Nothing against Python, there are tons of resources, but my gut said make the switch and see where it takes you. I will eventually revisit Python, but not right now.
In the past I've made attempts at Delphi and VB but got so distracted making my GUI that I didn't learn any code. Won't happen this time.
I actually have a real world need to learn coding, whether it's Lua, Python, or some other language.
I teach tactical decision making and problem solving using a game that I helped design, not code, but design. I used it at West Point and I'm currently using it at the Ground Forces Academy Odessa, in Ukraine. Anyway it lacks a lot of things and could use a complete overhaul. It's called Follow Me if I'm allowed to I can post some screenshots if anyone is interested.
Anyway I would someday like to make a clone of this program and add my own stuff, and eventually replace it as my primary teaching tool.
The game is currently coded in VB6, but from what I see Lua and certainly Python would more than meet the requirements for such a game. The combat model is fairly simple. But the terrain coding could use some updating, and the AI is a PIA to code.
If any of you older folks are familiar with Avalon Hill's Panzer Blitz or Squad Leader this is the genre of game that I'm talking about. For those of you unfamiliar with those games they are "analog" military boardgames (wargame). By analog I mean paper hex-based maps with cardboard counters. The game that I use is a "digital" version of that genre of game. These types of game are not graphics intensive, but they do require a fairly decent AI to be challenging. From what I understand I believe Lua will be a plus in that area.
At the moment I have no illusions of cloning this game right away. I do think a competent programmer could probably do it fairly quickly.
It seems to me that Lua Love will get me there sooner.
The rest is up to me.
TJ
Sounds like an interesting challenge; boardgame-like stuff can be pretty hard to do right. But it is fun to work on.