This is even possible using ASCII fonts only 7~9 pixels tall. After learning those associations, visual information can be absorbed both quickly and with a very low chance of error. Our eyes are already well-trained to parse alphanumeric information-all that’s required is learning to associate symbols with specific objects. with no “superfluous visual distractions.” In that respect my initial vision for a future tileset when starting Cogmind was something akin to “icons” in their simplicity.ĪSCII also benefits from the fact that we can leverage years of experience distinguishing a very specific set of symbols to identify them even when densely clustered and/or at small sizes. From another perspective, simple symbolic glyphs help distill information for tactical decision-making into its purest form-i.e. tilesets that can be used to inform the tileset selection process. Here I’m interested in comparing the technical qualities of ASCII vs. It turns out ASCII is actually quite practical, with a number of inherent benefits that are difficult or even impossible to replicate with a regular tileset.Ĭertainly ASCII’s purely symbolic approach appeals to players who enjoy experiences more reliant on the imagination, but that feature is more a factor of personal preference. But the choice to use ASCII (as now it is a choice) must be more meaningful than that, because traditions that have lost their meaning tend to die out to be replaced by more meaningful approaches. To an extent we can attribute ASCII’s modern relevance to tradition, continuing to use it because those who came before did the same. We can’t look to roguelike origins for the answer, since early usage was born of limitation rather than free choice. This discussion doesn’t seem entirely necessary given that Cogmind will be both ASCII- and tileset-enabled, but the topic also serves as a background against which to explain the choice for Cogmind’s primary tileset. Each representation has benefits and drawbacks, and to suit all types of players many popular roguelikes have the option of using either, as will Cogmind. Not that any individual preference for ASCII or tilesets is right or wrong, or one is inherently better in every way. And that impact occurs at a deeper level than “oh this looks better than that,” affecting even the efficiency and precision of decision-making itself. While a game’s visual style need not always be rooted in its underlying mechanics (especially the case with traditional turn-based roguelikes), the choice between an ASCII or tileset map representation obviously has a major impact on the experience. See this post on the Bay12 Forums for more info, and to find out how to reclaim file listings.Ah, a visual dichotomy not nearly as old as roguelikes themselves, but nonetheless of great significance today. Automated backups will definitely be in place now, like we thought they were before. Sincere apologies, this should never have happened. All of the files that were orphaned are now in the new Orphaned Files category at the bottom of the category list. Thankfully all file downloads themselves were unaffected. A lot of other data (comments, votes, so forth) was likewise rolled back. User accounts were obviously rolled back too accounts newer than the time of the database backup will need to be recreated. File listings for file IDs 10461 - 16147 could only be partially recovered but have fully intact and up to date file downloads. Long story very short: the site database was lost, the server didn't have automated backups like we thought, and the database had to be rolled back to one from 2015 (yes, I know). Forgot your password?ĭFFD Recovery » announcement posted by Janus on Nov 21, 2022 However, it will allow you to vote, comment, and upload. Registration is not required to download.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |