Now to just hang it up:

This Binary Universe Poster

So I have been getting questions about what software I have been working on. I normally don’t post anything about work, but I might as well share some images of the latest projects I have been working on.

The first program, called AM Plat, is something that I wrote myself from scratch. The program takes data about arrays of AM radio towers and draws a sketch of them to scale. This image can then be printed, or exported to be used as a map overlay in software such as Google Earth. The towers are described in such a way that they are related to each other. For example, Tower #2 is X feet away at Y degrees from Tower #1. Of course the data isn’t actually in feet but electrical degrees, so some conversions have to be done there before anything can be drawn. To get the data needed, program can connect to a SQL database, can import files from other software, or the data can be manually typed in if the array does not already exist in the database. Of course the program also can save and load projects in its own file format, which is XML-like. The program also has a number of other features such as recalculating the values based on new tower references.

The second program that I am working on is maintaining a rather large FCC Database search program. The program allows the user to search for FM, AM, and TV data from the FCC database. The results are displayed using Crystal Reports. The program also has a number of other features, such as the ability to view the antenna pattern for any tower in the database. I have added a number of new options to customize search queries, and I have rewritten much of the antenna pattern viewer from scratch as the original code was buggy.

Could foreign hackers get into the computer systems that run crucial elements of the world’s infrastructure, such as the power grids, water works or even a nation’s military arsenal, to create havoc? They already have. Steve Kroft reports.

On Monday, July 26th, Unknown Worlds will be releasing the NS2 Playable Alpha to all the Special Edition pre-orderers, on Steam. Like with NS1, this is not the complete game, this is the first of many versions. Here’s what you can expect on that day:

NS2 Alpha 1 content

• One of our shipping maps (ns2_tram), plus some smaller “test” maps
• Marine, with Rifle, Pistol, SwitchAx, Grenade Launcher, and Shotgun
• Skulks, Gorges, Lerks and their basic movement abilities and weapons
• Marine armory “buy” screen for purchasing new equipment
• Alien evolution menu for choosing your lifeform and upgrades
• Basic marine and alien commander interfaces including MACs, Drifters
• Much of the final sounds, artwork, animations, etc.

Lerks, hydras and skulks, oh my!

They will be adding new weapons, upgrades, commander abilities, maps, etc. throughout our development to v1.0. Rxpect the alpha to be patched somewhere between 1-4 times per month. Sometimes they will need to tweak balance, other times they will need to take a step back and make a bigger change, but it will be a work in progress. The fact that they are shipping on Steam makes the updating progress pretty easy.

Something else you should know is that when they release alpha 1 at the end of this month, they are also discontinuing the NS2 Special Edition and all-black marine armor. It will no longer be available after this date, ever. Also, players that order NS2 after July 26th won’t be able to play in the release date alpha. Here’s an in-game shot of the limited edition black marine armor:

Limited Edition Black Marine Armor

If you’ve been on the fence about ordering the Special Edition, you now have two weeks to decide. If you have the Special Edition, you will be able to choose your armor when you play – possibly at the Armory, like the rest of your weapons and equipment!

Human Dominance

The Nerd grapples with the Game Graphic Glitch Graemlin.