Texas Instrument calculators and Commodore 64s are like comparing dinosaurs to birds. The similarities are undeniable but so distant that it's hard to see how one became the other. Commodore 64s are old DOS computers from 1982. They were revolutionary in the way that the computer was in the keyboard and portable. It could also plug into your TV! But that's not what's important here. The C64 ran on a old coding style called "BASIC" which stands for Beginner's All-Purpose Symbolic Instructional Code. And what else uses BASIC as it's programming? TI calculators! It's even called TI-BASIC. I have a TI-83 Silver Edition from 2001. There is a small button on it that's very special to me. The program button or on the calculator: Pgrm. This allowed the user to make custom code in BASIC and create simple products. Sometimes it's very simple, like a program that makes you input Leg A and Leg B of a triangle and it solves the hypotenuse. Other times, full games can be make on it. Some as complex as Doom! It's funny when you think about it. In 1982, the world marveled at the Commodore 64 and BASIC programming! "Don't ya know? It's soooo much better than "FORTRAN"'!" And now it's almost 2020. Nearly 40 years later and here we are in math class. With a calculator that is essentially a small Commodore 64 with a nicer screen. The funniest part is that almost nobody knows that everyday, they use a piece of ancient computing history.
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Since I own a copy of 'Half-Life 2' by Valve, I have free access to a hidden program deep in the folders of the game. No exaggeration! Right now, the root directory for the exe file is:
C:\Users\Glenn_Thompson\Program_Files(x86)\Steam\Steamapps\Common\Half-Life2\Bin That is ridiculous! There is nothing to tell you it is there. I think that's unfortunate because it's really helpful. The exe file is called "Hammer." The Hammer editor allows you to make your own Half-Life levels with professional polish! It takes time to learn and understand like any other game tool, but it's really simple to make nice products. Unlike the Source SDK product, you can only make Half-Life levels. (Side note: You can make levels for other source games but you need to find their bin folders and load a separate version of Hammer!). Although it's exclusive, it does a lot right. Lighting is custom and simple, all you do is spawn it in using a single button on the side and type in "Light." Then, move it on the three mini-maps to place it exactly where you want in 3D space. It also has a fourth window, which is a 3D view of your level and you can move around in 3D by pressing "Z." It's really easy to spawn in entities and create custom doors and events. In my first level, I was successful in making three bad guys grapple from the ceiling when you open the door to their room. I genuinely had fun navigating a level that I had just spent an hour making. Of course, nothing is perfect and neither is Hammer. First, all levels are a custom file type (.bsp) and they export as another file (.vmf). Finally, the code for the lighting, assets, entities and more are also exported as custom file extensions that not even I know. The program also sometimes, fails to compile the map for no reason and you have to copy everything into a new file since the program corrupted it's own file dedicated to light. It makes no sense. In conclusion, it's near perfect. A new version without these complexities would do wonders for the program and community that surround it. Since we have began working with vector graphics, I have a pretty good idea on what makes them different and usefull. Vector graphics are the best option for basic images. Although they look cartoony and can't look more realistic, they are the best looking. Vector graphics are all mathematic and make perfectly anti-aliasted shapes and lines with little fuss. On the other hand, bitmap images can be realistic, since it's pixel based, all bits can be edited and any image can be formed, but they are aliased and look blocky and at worst, blurry. Vector images make the best logos and simple images, while bitmap is fully customizable. Overall, I prefer vector since my style of art is minimalsitic but I do like bitmaps in a photorealistic setting,
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AuthorI am an artist as anyone else is an artist (if that makes sense). My style is abstract and I also draw cartoons. I am also a voice actor for a web-series. Archives
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