[NTLUG:Discuss] Hillcrest idea -- need for volunteer(s)?

[Lance Rose]

If you wanted a game to model yours after, look at an old DOS based game
called treasure mountain.  You worked your way up a mountain by answering
all kinds of questions.  My kids loved the game.  That style of game is
really a good way to go.
----- Original Message -----
From: Kevin Brannen <kbrannen at gte.net>
To: <discuss at ntlug.org>
Sent: Friday, October 01, 1999 1:14 AM
Subject: Re: [NTLUG:Discuss] Hillcrest idea -- need for volunteer(s)?


> Kathleen Weaver wrote:
> >
> > Okay, I've got a cool idea, that so far my kids like, the kids who need
> > this like and the math teacher and the Dean likes.....  SO here's the
idea.
> >
> > I want my students to write a math TAAS game.  This is the sketch of the
> > idea.
>
> Cool idea!  Ambitious, but cool...
>
> >
> > Here's where I need help.  I've never programmed anything this large, or
> > planned it.  I have no idea how the graphics get down, but I want
something
> > way gee, that's cool.
>
> I think you need a brainstorming session with ~3-8 people to design the
> framework and architecture (conceptually); i.e. do the analysis and
> maybe the design, before handing it off to the kids (unless you want
> them to learn to do that too).  You're talking about a complex project,
> IMHO.  If the people really got on a roll, it _might_ could be done over
> a long lunch.  [I don't have the gaming experience, but I would be
> willing to help if the time commitment was about that long, as I'm
> seriously short on time.]
>
> >
> > I'd like -- blame last meeting over this -- that will run on Linux, Mac,
> > Windows... but will require a linux server.  I want for any computer or
> > most computers in the school to be able to handle this thing....
>
> Oouch!  The multi-platform requirement is difficult, though I understand
> why you want it.  Hmmm, my first thought is to do it in Java, then you
> can use a browser on any of your platforms and you'll be OK (and the
> games would be given to the client machines to run and not bog down your
> server).  I wonder if it could be done with Perl/CGI?  There's probably
> other ways to tackle that problem, though they don't come to mind
> immediately.  Perhaps others can provide ideas.
>
> Anyway, if you went this direction, your Linux box could run the
> intranet Web server (Apache) and then all your various plaforms just
> have to have a browser to be a client.  All test/games/statuses/etc. can
> reside on your Linux box too.  I'd probably want a database to hold the
> tests and statuses; though it could be done with flat files.  If you
> need a database, I'd suggest PostgreSQL; I've heard good things about
> it.  Or you could use the free Informix-SE DB; I've used it with good
> success.
>
>
> HTH,
> Kevin
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss