Along The Tech Tree: 3 more games! =)

ID:43801
 
Jun 5 2008, 2:54 pm
Keywords: techtree
People have heard me speak of my dark CRT before. I supposedly have my gamma better calibrated at the moment, but lots of web sites, including the games section on BYOND Strategy, seem like they could use more contrast. I have been waiting for a favorite games distinction again, but maybe I'll adjust the layout.

For the curious, I ordered an adapter that converts 2 RCA cables to stereo jacks (which I should then be able to use with computer speakers). I expected to have it by now. Hopefully, I'll be able to hear my television at a reasonable volume soon.

More importantly, BYOND Strategy has 3 new games this week! Play them! Download them! Host them!


  • HM Geek announced and released Sotario, a turn-based game for two players with resource management and minions. I have not played it yet, but it seems nice and unusual. =)
  • 172.16.0.1 announced and released Infamous ZipCom, a turn-based world conquest game with a modern war theme for 2 to 12 players. IP's attention will be divided between Infamous ZipCom and Fortay when providing updates, but I'm not worried. I'm more upset that it is taking me so long to have review sessions for games which could meet the feature guidelines. =)
  • I finally released Occupied Forces, a territorial dispute game with simultaneous turns, upgradeable production, and multiple unit types (which can be edited through XML). I also updated the game with a different subscription idea. I'll probably add sounds later.
  • I missed this last week, but 172.16.0.1 announced that he might release a story-based version of Fortay for one player. Meanwhile, the original game might get some AI (and a feature review session if I can get my butt moving).
  • Bandock's new project is called Text Nuclear War. There's a screenshot in his latest blog post. That's right. BYOND 4.0 interfaces: So good you'll screencap text! =)
  • DadGun is running a poll asking whether or not Era of Command should have defined places to build. I'm curious about whether or not what the voters think matters since details on the new turn-based game appear scarce. =)
  • Choka is looking for people to work on a turn-based game called Sinxys Saga. I confused it with a separate RPG project, which I apologize for. However, candidates could probably use more details on the game and the positions offered.
  • Nategrant and Oasiscircle's Palace now has a visitor map on the hub page. I think it's an evil trick so they can send waves of monsters towards your house. ;)
  • I designed what seem to be decent subscription rewards for Super Real Robo GH. I think that I've finally finished the interface too, but it will probably see some minor changes as I go. Meanwhile, I started designing an anime-themed RTS and a simultaneous turn game with a dungeon crawling theme.



  • Got news? All of the fun ways to go blind on the internet... and I choose web page color adjustment?
Jun 5 2008, 3:46 pm
ACWraith wrote:
...including the games section on BYOND Strategy, seem like they could use more contrast.

I agree with you about the games section. The yellow text on grey background doesn't work very well.

Stealing the background & text colours used in the rest of the site might work.
Jun 5 2008, 4:26 pm
If your CRT is dark and you can't get the contrast up, that's usually a good sign it's dying. Old CRT monitors just seem to wear out like that. Another thing I've seen a lot is loss of focus.
Jun 5 2008, 7:28 pm
ACWraith electrically haunted:
For the curious, I ordered an adapter that converts 2 RCA cables to stereo jacks (which I should then be able to use with computer speakers).

What sort of adapter? I actually have a similar problem, except in the other direction. I want to plug an RCA white audio and RCA red audio cable into an adapter where I can plug in a pair of stereo headphones. My TV is monoaural and I always feel like I'm missing out on a lot of cool music and stuff in the games I play.

It took me ages to find a store that sold a mono-to-stereo adapter, which itself was a huge improvement (I could listen to sounds in both sides of my headphones instead of in just the left side), but the sounds have no dimension. =)
Jun 5 2008, 7:39 pm
Here's the adapter I ordered. There actually seemed to be a lot more adapters going in the opposite direction.
Jun 6 2008, 4:29 am
Typically RCA cables have to run through an amp, which is why RCA->stereo jacks are uncommon. You can however use this type of jack to plug into the Line In on your sound card and record audio from a TV, VCR, DVR, etc.
Jun 6 2008, 1:24 pm
I'm trying to use the adapter to get to an amp. Supposedly it comes with (amplified) Logitech speakers for that purpose. Apparently, amplifiers use stereo jacks now instead of RCA. At least the ones that I can afford.

I should be able to run composite audio cables from the TV to the adapter, connect the adapter to my computer speaker amplifier, and then connect speakers to the amplifier.

Amazon says that I won't be getting the adapter until the 10th. It wouldn't bother me except that it's starting to get hot and I won't be able to hear the TV over a fan or air conditioner. =(
Jun 6 2008, 2:37 pm
I stopped by The Source today to see about picking up a dual-phono-jack-to-stereo-jack adapter. Plenty of dual-phono-jack-to-stereo-plug systems (I could, theoretically, hook up my consoles to my speakers), but not any dual-phono-jack-to-stereo-jack systems.

I had actually considered a headphone amplifier, but all the ones I've seen have one male end and one female end, since they're just intended to be rigged up in sequence between a headphone plug and a speaker jack.

I'm wondering how feasible it would be to rig up a handmade crossover out of stock cables and some wires. In theory all I'd have to do is reattach the leads. I'd still probably have to hook up an amplifier in sequence, since I wouldn't have a volume control (or much volume) otherwise.