You annoying yet perfect little number ... the number 3

StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
in Working with GS (Mac)
Evening all

I've just found the solution to a little formula I've been trying to work out, it's taken about 4 hours in all, I've been swapping two game attributes back and forth, and triple checking how those game attribute numbers were arrived at using a couple of other rules. I've then been randomly putting a + - / or * .... and including one special number... in the hope of arriving at the offset I needed.... after blooming ages I arrived at:

game attribute 1 *96 + game attribute 2 - game attribute 3 + 3.... and all is right in the world.

It took a full hour just to arrive at number 3...

All this for a nice expandable and swipe-able menu which can have additional buttons added to in game.

That's all I had to say... this game design business would be so much easier if my young kids (3 year old and 6 month old) would understand the UK clocks changed and give me a full nights sleep.

One day I'll share what I'm actually making...

Night...

Comments

  • jonmulcahyjonmulcahy Member, Sous Chef Posts: 10,408
    i hate/love when that happens. I hate that it takes so long, but love the result :)

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  • UtopianGamesUtopianGames Member Posts: 5,692
    I think we've all been there m8 :)

    Darren.
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    edited October 2013
    i hate/love when that happens. I hate that it takes so long, but love the result :)
    Absolutely.... sort of frustrating.. but as long as you know it should be possible with the info you have it's just a case of perseverance to figure it out... and there is a great feeling of satisfaction when it finally clicks.

    I think we've all been there m8 :)

    Darren.
    Yup... it's probably the bit I actually enjoy most about game design... pushing my little old mind to breaking point... Although looking at it this morning, I'm sure I've been over thinking how to achieve what I wanted.. I'll simplify it when I make the sequel. :-)
  • BBEnkBBEnk Member Posts: 1,764
    if only you had watched this.

  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    @BBEnk

    he he... if only...

    Obviously the number 3 in my game represents a portal or some link to Budda or something...
  • LumpAppsLumpApps Member Posts: 2,881
    I think it's a very nice number. But I would have had it in.... 3 hours ;)

    I hate that show @BBenk some wannabee scientist saying it can't be anything else, it must have been aliens. The first time it was fun but after a few shows I really can not watch it anymore. Every one knows it is George Lucas and ILM who did all that.

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  • gyroscopegyroscope I am here.Member, Sous Chef, PRO Posts: 6,598

    @StormyStudio

    Satisfying when a lot of effort pays off, isn't it! Looking forward to when you share what you're making, Jon. :-)

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  • jamie_cjamie_c ImagineLabs.rocks Member, PRO Posts: 5,772
    edited October 2013
    I'm just glad to hear I'm not the only one who has to use trial and error to work out equations/expressions, I thought it was just me! :)

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  • tatiangtatiang Member, Sous Chef, PRO, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 11,949
    edited October 2013
    You do realize that @RThurman could have solved that for you in 5 minutes? But then would you have the supreme satisfaction that goes along with working out the solution to such a difficult problem? I think not!

    My notebooks are filled with tables of formulas where I'm trying to find that constant or expression that will fit the math I am trying to use. :P

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  • RThurmanRThurman Member, Sous Chef, PRO Posts: 2,880
    edited October 2013
    Don't be lulled into thinking 3 is perfect. Its definitely not!

    In fact 6 is the first perfect number. (And interestingly, there are no odd perfect numbers!)

    If you are not too picky about what kind of numbers you are seen with, then 3 is a really nice normal number. As normal numbers go, its not a 9 or a 10, but it will do (especially if its cold and outside and you are out of hot chocolate and doughnuts).

    But 3 is a really nice number. Its not hard to get along with like 0,1, or 2. Those little numbers have all sorts of quirks. (Just look at how 0 messed up GS Tables for a while. And I can't tell you how many "off-by-one" bugs I see in a week. And 2? Well... "it's the loneliest number since the number 1." (Google it! Its true!)

    Yes... 3 is a very nice number indeed. Not perfect, but definitely on the positive side of normal.
  • jamie_cjamie_c ImagineLabs.rocks Member, PRO Posts: 5,772
    Don't be so mean to zero, zero is my hero!

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  • RThurmanRThurman Member, Sous Chef, PRO Posts: 2,880
    edited October 2013
    @tatiang -- we've all spent way too much time staring at that little expression editor muttering dirges in the dark. At least you are smart enough to keep a notebook of formulas! The rest of us keep trying to reinvent math every time we open up the expression editor. (Its the note-takers who will inherit the Appstore.)
  • RThurmanRThurman Member, Sous Chef, PRO Posts: 2,880
    edited October 2013
    @jamie_c -- ok "0" can stay. But 1 and 2 definitely have to go!




    @StormyStudio is right.... stick with 3
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    @RThurman ... but what if two is friends with 3.... aka '23'



    .. oh and I guess I'll start writing down my mini mathmatical triumphs. Though I do now annotate my rules in GameSalad with very clear titles and use the Notes behaviour more and more. I'm aware that i'll be making this thing for a while and will no doubt have no idea what it is I've just finished doing.
  • gyroscopegyroscope I am here.Member, Sous Chef, PRO Posts: 6,598


    :D

    ""You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike." - Zork        temp domain http://spidergriffin.wix.com/alphaghostapps

  • mataruamatarua Auckland, New ZealandMember Posts: 854
    96? - I have an app/game I am working on that uses that number too :)
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