lol - that's good gypsy. if you want me to show that i'm a 'better' programmer than JP (or whatever your original point was) posting old basic code won't entice me. my point wasn't at any point in time to compare my programming skills against JP's. It was simply to point out that the mechanism used to root out problems was A) largely ineffective and B) not something that I find an admirable method of programming. You seem to think making critical comments of someone demands that the criticizer go through some rigorous testing to prove that he/she can do better.

If you are really that hell-bent on determining who is the better programmer, why not make up a realistic test. The relative speed with which I could provide a stable, feature-rich game along the lines of TW is no measure of whether or not I am a 'better' programmer. Indeed, many applications take a lot longer to get to a final stage because of appropriate testing. Where did speed ever come into this? If anything, the desire for speed is what leads to ****ty programs overall. see, this is what i am talking about when i mention your logic (or relative lack thereof). your follow-up challenges are completely off the wall stupid. that being said, i would of course be very interested in seeing the pascal (delphi) version. would i do a better job of extending it? i think so, but i have no real interest in investing that much time into such a project. you being the 'professional' that you are, can keep this baby on the high road that it's on.

quote:Originally posted by Doctor Who

quote:Originally posted by John Pritchett (EIS)

Since TWv4 is using the same code base as TWv3, bugs that I identify and fix in v4 can be implemented into v3 as well. I have been doing that for a few weeks now and I will continue to do that. For example, I've implemented an entirely new mail system in v4, and I'll implement that in v3 as I finish up with that version.


I dont understand that to be honest..
If there are SOOOO many problems with the legacy code.. then wouldnt it be easier to rewrite the game as you want it for version 4 rather than trying to mod the majority of the code..

I am not a programmer nor do I really wish to be.. But the main reason for "long waits" on bug fixes is that the legacy code makes it difficult.. Does this mean that you hope to have it all 100% bug free by v4 or does it mean you just feel it's going to be easier to do a quick mod for ver4 then spend hours&hours&hours later down the road doing fixes


Here are the choices. If I write the game from scratch, I'm going to have to charge a new fee for registrations. If I'm going to just give it away, I'm going to continue making fixes and changes to the existing code base. Unless I just get a thrill from writing the game from scratch, there's no incentive for me to do that. That's the reality. And the reason I'm releasing this as v4 instead of just a new revision of v3 like I was originally planning is to appease some of the players who don't want to see gameplay problems fixed, only bugs.

I am writing a new engine, and when I finish a game with that engine, it won't be a "TW update". It'll be a new game and I'll sell it as such. Make sense?

I think we need to stop distracting JP and let the man work. He's spending too much time in the forums when he should be coding. [;)] Seriously, it all sounds intriguing. I'm eagerly awaiting the final results.

quote:Originally posted by Didaskalos

lol - that's good gypsy. if you want me to show that i'm a 'better' programmer than JP (or whatever your original point was) posting old basic code won't entice me. my point wasn't at any point in time to compare my programming skills against JP's. It was simply to point out that the mechanism used to root out problems was A) largely ineffective and B) not something that I find an admirable method of programming. You seem to think making critical comments of someone demands that the criticizer go through some rigorous testing to prove that he/she can do better.

If you are really that hell-bent on determining who is the better programmer, why not make up a realistic test. The relative speed with which I could provide a stable, feature-rich game along the lines of TW is no measure of whether or not I am a 'better' programmer. Indeed, many applications take a lot longer to get to a final stage because of appropriate testing. Where did speed ever come into this? If anything, the desire for speed is what leads to ****ty programs overall. see, this is what i am talking about when i mention your logic (or relative lack thereof). your follow-up challenges are completely off the wall stupid. that being said, i would of course be very interested in seeing the pascal (delphi) version. would i do a better job of extending it? i think so, but i have no real interest in investing that much time into such a project. you being the 'professional' that you are, can keep this baby on the high road that it's on.


Consider what you have to work with and what JP has to work with. The BASIC code appears to be from Star Traders circa 1977, which Tradewars was based on, IIRC? The "Load tape" reference threw me for a loop.

The BASIC to Pascal conversion must have been a hairy one, all the GOSUBS and GOTOS had to be converted into functions and procedures. Modern BASIC got rid of GOSUBS and GOTOS anyway, or at least considers them bad programming practies.

More modern versions of the Tradewars source code can be found here:
http://www.classic-games.com/tradewars/download.html

Scroll down past the Tradewars:TNE crud, and see the "Other Files" at the bottom of the page. There is a JAR archive for the Pascal version of Tradewars, so at least that would put you in the 1980's.

The point that Gypsy was trying to make, was that the conversion of the original BASIC code to what it is now, took a lot of work and a lot of time. Rome was not built in a day, neither was TWGS.

Like me, you know that converting someone else's code is hard work and it is easier to use the design and requirements to write new code from scratch. Like JP said, if he did that he would have to charge for brand new registration codes to cover the cost of developing a new engine from scratch. At least with the legacy code, there is a base to work with. So JP is doing the best he can to keep the current product alive. I am sure all this criticism is not helping matters, and is only making it worse.

quote:lol - that's good gypsy. if you want me to show that i'm a 'better' programmer than JP (or whatever your original point was) posting old basic code won't entice me.

my point was simply to show that you are a person who likes complaining about something while throwing out claims of being able to do it better and cheaper but then when the time comes to step up to the plate runs and hides behind some back peddling rambling. Who the better programmer is makes no difference.

quote:my point wasn't at any point in time to compare my programming skills against JP's. It was simply to point out that the mechanism used to root out problems was A) largely ineffective and B) not something that I find an admirable method of programming.

It wasn't meant to compare your skills to JP's? Reading your posts it’s easy to see you feel your skills are superior to not only JP but a whole lot of programmers. You made no fewer the 5 direct comments about either his lack of professionalism and or skill, and in those comments implied that you could do it correctly, and quite easily. It’s kind of hard to misconstrue "You write and release **** code and I could do it better" (which basically paraphrases your comments) as not comparing your ability to someone else's

quote:You seem to think making critical comments of someone demands that the criticizer go through some rigorous testing to prove that he/she can do better.

It doesn't demand it, though it's nice to prove where the critical comments are coming from, those being from people that have a clue as to what they are talking about or some desktop support tech who thinks he is a programmer because he knows what a const is or can do a google search on debugging.

quote:If you are really that hell-bent on determining who is the better programmer, why not make up a realistic test. The relative speed with which I could provide a stable, feature-rich game along the lines of TW is no measure of whether or not I am a 'better' programmer. Indeed, many applications take a lot longer to get to a final stage because of appropriate testing. Where did speed ever come into this? If anything, the desire for speed is what leads to ****ty programs overall. see, this is what i am talking about when i mention your logic (or relative lack thereof).

I am not hell-bent on determining who the better programmer is, it's a non-issue but I for sure would put my money on the person who is actually doing it then who just talks about doing it. Lot's of people can claim to be able to build a better house while sitting on a bench drinking lemonade, but I tend to back the guy who has the hammer in his hand and is driving nails. Also I never said anything about a time limit, heck this game has been in beta for 20 years I would hardly call that some speed record that would be monumental to break. I merely said that according to your comments that a person with your skill should be able to knock it out in no time, but by all means take all the time you need.

quote:your follow-up challenges are completely off the wall stupid. that being said, i would of course be very interested in seeing the pascal (delphi) version. would i do a better job of extending it? i think so, but i have no real interest in investing that much time into such a project. you being the 'professional' that you are, can keep this baby on the high road that it's on.

what follow-up challenges? I simply would like to see after all your grandiose comments about what a professional programmer you are and how simple it would be to do this logically and end up with a superior program what you actually would come up with. I am sure a lot of people would be interested in seeing the source code for v3, but as it's already been stated it's crap, right, so what's the point? You said you would port the Trade Wars legacy code to a modern programming architecture, but that you needed a starting point you asked for the code, and while the v3 code isn't available for public download everything it’s based on is. You have been given the original BASIC source that the game was based on, you have been given a run down of the progressions it made over its history, the source for Trade Wars 2 is available on the net (I am sure you know how to use a search engine), I assume you have played the game a few times, exactly what more do you need? JP was given the code in basically the same state as Trade Wars 2 is in and wrote v3 and TWGS and he has never even played the game, I can't imagine you wouldn't be able to do the same, oh wait that's right you have no real interest in investing that much time into such a project (even though less then 6 hours ago you said you "would be very happy" to), no I guess you would rather just run your mouth, which is fine that’s what America is about, please continue on. I just wanted to be sure you and your claims were as spurious as I believed.

You figured me out gypsy. I really don't know anything about quality programming or software development life cycles. JP is doing a great job producing robust, extendable, stable code - in fact, he is right on par with Microcrap, Blizzard, Valve, etc. To be honest, I think that you are probably the smartest person I've ever discussed programming with. Your standards of programming excellence, your knowledge of the programming in general - you are indeed astounding. I especially enjoy your ideas on what constitutes professionalism. The very IDEA that someone would suggest that EIS release incremental fixes that actually STABLIZED the game - everyone KNOWS perfect code doesn't exist! Bug-free code is a myth made up by those arrogant bastards who write compilers, profilers, tracers and other such voodoo tools. I am ashamed to admit it, but I do release bug-free code to customers. So, if by me claiming to release bug-free code, while at the same time pointing out that JP does not, it is considered 'grandiose comments', well, so be it. My apologies.


my point was simple to show that you like complaining about something while throwing out claims of being able to do it better and cheaper but then when the time comes to step up to the plate runs and hides behind some back peddling rambling.

claiming to be able to do something better does not mean that the person desires to do so. what you are basically saying is, 'if you want to criticize the manner in which we are operating, do it yourself'. I myself have taken that approach, and it is certainly valid. that being said, it does not relect on the validity of the criticism, it simply says 'i don't give a ****' - again, perfectly legit, if not somewhat stand-offish.


I am not hell-bent on determining who the better programmer is, it's a non-issue but I for sure would put my money on the person who is actually doing it then who just talks about doing it.

It doesn't demand it, though it's nice to prove where the critical comments are coming from, those being from people that have a clue as to what they are talking about or some desktop support tech who thinks he is a programmer because he knows what a const is or can do a google search on debugging.

I am assuming that you are implying that I have been lying about being a programmer. Because, like you, I would not share personal information about myself with people I did not know/trust, I really have no way of refuting such accusations. I have nothing against desktop support techs, but I am not one of them. Your continued insistance that buggy releases is the norm indicates your past experiences. My insistance that buggy release code is not the norm (except in uncontrolled environments) is based on my experiences.


It wasn't meant to compare your skills to JP's? Reading your posts it’s easy to see you feel your skills are superior to not only JP but a whole lot of programmers.

Do you work with programmers? Do your programmers not test their code in a standardized manner? Do your programmers not have standard code analysis tools outside of the IDE? In all seriousness, most of the programmers I know have a very standard methodology for testing, analyzing, etc, but you make it sound as if using them means that the programmer is a higher level programmer. When i commented on what I consider 'professional' programming, I wasn't intending to paint this picture of an uber-programmer god-of-all-programming type persona - it is simply the reality of how software is developed at a professional level. You may call it myth if you wish, but you are simply extending your own dillusion.


You did get me on one comment - i did state that i would be happy to port legacy code to a modern programming structure. In my mind I meant I would like to take existing TWv3 code (ie, the version we currently play on) and port/rewrite it in C or C++. I certainly wouldn't relish taking BASIC and porting it to any other platform.

You can challenge me with monumental tasks and then claim I can't do it when I decline, but it is simply a straw-man argument. If I were to challenge you to write a decent obfuscator and you declined on the grounds that you had neither the time nor inclination, would you expect me to assume that you are an incompetant fool? It is pure sillyness.

Your hyper-sensitivity is perplexing. Instead of saying 'yes, it COULD be done better, but we are a one-man show doing the best we can, sorry we can't please everybody, shove off' you decide to take the preposterous position that it is as good as anybody else's effort, and that other programming practices don't really happen, they are just myth, reserved for the TRULY great programmers.

quote:Originally posted by Didaskalos

You figured me out gypsy. I really don't know anything about quality programming or software development life cycles. JP is doing a great job producing robust, extendable, stable code - in fact, he is right on par with Microcrap, Blizzard, Valve, etc.


Ok, listen, I have no clue what you are talking about, let's get that straight. I'm not a programmer, heck I have trouble USING programs.

That being said, I would like to a few things.

Perhaps you are right in everything you've said (like I said I would not be the one to judge this), still, it seems to me from an ignorant laymen's viewpoint, that JP is doing the best job he can with this game all by himself. As a gamer I'm just thankful that you can still get newer versions of the game, and that it's still being supported. ANY support is better than NO support, but that's just my opinion.

I also want to comment on your current battle with Rick Mead.

Everyone (and I mean everyone) who has had any dealings with Rick Mead knows that if you disagree with him on any point, you are automatically an "idiot" and a "moron."

He loses all credibility when it counts (in a case such as this where the debate is raging as to the compentecy of testing methods for the games). Not only that, but Rick's standard answer is, "if you don't like it go play something else," "if you think you can do it better than why don't you do it?" "if you don't like our customer service don't use the product," etc.

Yet, I will say this, I believe that Rick Mead is in fact some form of programmer working for one of the largest companies, because, when you talk to those companies' tech support, you get much the same attitude as Rick Mead dishes out on a regular basis!

Yet, although I don't agree with his approach, and I don't agree with his demeanor,I have to AGREE with Rick Mead on much of what he is saying here.

I believe if you take the time to re read his posts you will find he has not said the things you claim, and you are twisting his words a lot! His sarcasm, indeed, does imply that he considers the form of quality pre-testing is just a "myth." I see your point there, but you know what, he doesn't really believe that, he's just sarcastic!

What he has said, about JP though, I agree with. The man is doing a bang up job considering that he's working alone and for very little financial compensation. (If you think the TWGS brings him a lot of money, you really aren't out there on the net looking around. The number of active TWGS servers are, by comparison to other game sites, miniscule! Most of the TWG Servers out there have been registered for a long time!

Anyway, Disk, I just wish you would get off JP's case! Rag on Rick Meade all you like, man, but just try to understand that JP really is doing a good thing for the game.

Good lord.. ppl are writing books now. Just wanted to say thanks to JP for getting back into the swing of things with Tradewars. Good luck on working out the bugs are popping up in the new releases.

In the meantime, sysops should mostly stay at v55 til things are STABLE. I don't see why everyone's getting worked up about the progress of the new releases when .55 is perfectly fine to play on.

as far as i can tell, .64 is stable (drop-free)
and though i haven't tried to test them, i should hope free of the better known .55 bugs

quote:I have to AGREE with Rick Mead on much of what he is saying here.


OMG!
I actually agreed with something SGO said. [:D]

Dida is a narcissistic whiner who is only capable of complaining or tearing things down. He is incapable of providing any constructive input unless it DIRECTLY benefits himself. Furthermore, I think he's a total ******** and ******* who eats ****** and ****** his ******* own ******* mother ****** and would ******** his grandmother for ****************** for ******* and *****. And ****** *** ******* **** ********** **** ** * ******!!! The only ******* thing he's good at is ******* trolling for ******* responses from ****** in the forums. Ignore the worthless **** and the worthless **** will ******* go away.

Edit: I got nothing against your mother or your grandmother, they are probably nice enough people. Mostly I was playing with the filters. have a nice day! [:D]

[`1]Originally posted by Didaskalos

quote:You figured me out gypsy. I really don't know anything about quality programming or software development life cycles.

I am sure you know something, you just don't have a clue about the reality of what really does go on in this industry as a whole

quote:JP is doing a great job producing robust, extendable, stable code - in fact, he is right on par with Microcrap, Blizzard, Valve, etc.

I agree with the great job part, but I think his level of service far exceeds many of those companies you mentioned.

quote:To be honest, I think that you are probably the smartest person I've ever discussed programming with.

That doesn't surprise me at all

quote:Your standards of programming excellence, your knowledge of the programming in general - you are indeed astounding. I especially enjoy your ideas on what constitutes professionalism. The very IDEA that someone would suggest that EIS release incremental fixes that actually STABLIZED the game - everyone KNOWS perfect code doesn't exist! Bug-free code is a myth made up by those arrogant bastards who write compilers, profilers, tracers and other such voodoo tools. I am ashamed to admit it, but I do release bug-free code to customers.

Bug free code exists and is quite easy to attain in a non dynamic environment were variables are fixed and no matter how complex the code is, it simply is required to perform the same set of functions given the exact same set of parameters. But when you add in evolution of end user requirements and uses coupled with unexpected variables, time constraints due to unrealistic release goals and a multitude of other intangibles... code breaks, that’s reality. You are lumping all programming into one simple category, and while in an ideal world all code would be bulletproof, that is simply not how it is. Do I like the idea that it's so common place that the vast majority of professional code is released faulty, absolutely not. Did I release faulty code, do I continue to approve the release of faulty code? Unfortunately yes, the industry has evolved to a point where getting to the market first is more important then what you offer at the market. Most of the time Feature lists are promoted well before development begins, development that would take a year to do right is required to be done in 6 months, this isn't just my experience this is what is happening par in the industry today, and if you don't believe that then you are fooling yourself. The bottom line is programmers don't make standards, marketing does. A little research will show that this issue is one of the major issues confronting the industry today. When even NASA has code that breaks, oh wait yeah those guys are all a bunch of sub-par morons anyway

quote:So, if by me claiming to release bug-free code, while at the same time pointing out that JP does not, it is considered 'grandiose comments', well, so be it. My apologies.

No those weren't the comments I was referring to, it was the ones that you could release this application in a better manner then is currently being done, of course you could say you have a better way to do a lot of things until they are done, it's just empty talk.

quote:claiming to be able to do something better does not mean that the person desires to do so. what you are basically saying is, 'if you want to criticize the manner in which we are operating, do it yourself'. I myself have taken that approach, and it is certainly valid. that being said, it does not relect on the validity of the criticism, it simply says 'i don't give a ****' - again, perfectly legit, if not somewhat stand-offish.

You are absolutely correct claiming to be able to do something is not claiming a desire to do so, people make those types of claims all the time with no intention to act on them, as a matter of fact I would say that for the most part those that really can do things better, just do, they don’t waste time telling people about it. Those that can't, cry and moan until someone who can does.

quote:I am assuming that you are implying that I have been lying about being a programmer. Because, like you, I would not share personal information about myself with people I did not know/trust, I really have no way of refuting such accusations. I have nothing against desktop support techs, but I am not one of them. Your continued insistance that buggy releases is the norm indicates your past experiences. My insistance that buggy release code is not the norm (except in uncontrolled environments) is based on my experiences.

I am not implying anything of the kind, I simply gave examples at polar opposites and you have no accusations to refute, what you do for a living is irrelevant, I take you at your word that you release bug free code and in your experience it is not the norm. You will find though as your experience grows that it certainly (and unfortunately) is the norm in the software industry as a whole.

quote:Do you work with programmers? Do your programmers not test their code in a standardized manner? Do your programmers not have standard code analysis tools outside of the IDE? In all seriousness, most of the programmers I know have a very standard methodology for testing, analyzing, etc, but you make it sound as if using them means that the programmer is a higher level programmer. When i commented on what I consider 'professional' programming, I wasn't intending to paint this picture of an uber-programmer god-of-all-programming type persona - it is simply the reality of how software is developed at a professional level. You may call it myth if you wish, but you are simply extending your own dillusion.

Not at all, I was referring to this specific piece of software, what goes on in other applications is not the concern. You implication that this program was developed by and continues to be maintained by a sub-par programmer was the basis for the reference to your ability. Make no mistake this has nothing to do at all with tools, debugging or closed system testing, it is completely to do with your pompous attitude towards what it take to work on this particular project. The other comments about industry standards are a separate matter with which you think that it's not the norm for 'professional programmers' to release buggy software, when in fact it is. I also never claimed that it was right, just that it was so.

quote:You did get me on one comment - i did state that i would be happy to port legacy code to a modern programming structure. In my mind I meant I would like to take existing TWv3 code (ie, the version we currently play on) and port/rewrite it in C or C++. I certainly wouldn't relish taking BASIC and porting it to any other platform.

You can challenge me with monumental tasks and then claim I can't do it when I decline, but it is simply a straw-man argument. If I were to challenge you to write a decent obfuscator and you declined on the grounds that you had neither the time nor inclination, would you expect me to assume that you are an incompetant fool? It is pure sillyness.

I wasn't aware you felt it was a monumental task, from all indications from you, until now, it would be a very easy task given basic logic. As far as you question goes I guess if it went something like this: I was using your software to rewrite my code to safe guard it from theft and then came to you and told you that you and your software were unprofessional and that any freshman (not sure if that was high school or college) could do a better job and that all you needed to do was use some easy simple logic to make it all better and then you asked me if that’s all it took can you do it and I said yes just give me a base to start with and you did and then I said well i really don't have the time, but you are still a sub-par programmer and your methods suck.... well yeah then I guess I would expect you to consider me an incompetent fool, along with a few other things. Hey you already backed out in the last post you don't have to keep making excuses why you aren't going to, it would have been a waste of your time anyway

quote:Your hyper-sensitivity is perplexing. Instead of saying 'yes, it COULD be done better, but we are a one-man show doing the best we can, sorry we can't please everybody, shove off' you decide to take the preposterous position that it is as good as anybody else's effort, and that other programming practices don't really happen, they are just myth, reserved for the TRULY great programmers.

My position isn't that JP's effort is as good as anyone’s, my position is his effort is better then most. and I don't think it can be done better given the circumstances and certainly not by you, my contention is if it could be it would have been. There have been plenty of Trade Wars clones started and abandoned by people who felt they could make a better mouse trap and I am sure there are more to come.

quote:Originally posted by Supreme Galactic Overlord

Ok, listen, I have no clue what you are talking about


Welcome back...

gypsy - i will concede that by and large, consumer software is released with bugs, often with full knowledge. I'll also concede that JP's situation, while not being necessarily unique, nevertheless is difficult when it comes to releasing stable code. I think you have a very limited perspective when it comes to the software industry as a whole. The consumer industry is buggy as hell, with every nob and his brother writing a new linux kernel or windows app. The manufacturing industry (I'm not talking about po-dunk warehouse down the road) is much much stricter, and I would venture a guess (I don't know for certain) that revenue wise, the manufacturing industry is significantly larger than the 'Microsoft-esque' market. you have your point of view, I have mine. You can defend till you're blue in the face, and I can attack until said result happens to me; the bottom line is my critique stands, whether it is liked or not. I have nothing against the TWGS project; I hope JP can pull in a ****load of money for the grief he gets; I still think it could be done better.

I find it mildly amusing that people have chosen this particular thread to start their cheerleading careers; it's pretty clear that JP doesn't give a Darn what is said in this forum. why should it bother him that there is yet another complaint about what is being done? why should it matter that someone says 'Go JP Go! You are da man!'

It should be painfully obvious that I don't give a **** what people think about me here, and yet players (and i use that word loosely) continue to post how much they disagree with me, how i'm a pompous Butt, etc etc. LOL. It strikes me as unbelievable that people continue to argue repeatedly about the same things, flame the same flames, get upset about the same statements over and over again, and still act as if some great new outrage has taken place. You think i'm pompous, i think you're stupid. In the end, it really doesn't matter either way. Shrug.

quote:Originally posted by Didaskalos

I find it mildly amusing that people have chosen this particular thread to start their cheerleading careers; it's pretty clear that JP doesn't give a Darn what is said in this forum. why should it bother him that there is yet another complaint about what is being done? why should it matter that someone says 'Go JP Go! You are da man!'


You know, I reading your posts and I'm reading Gypsy's. It occurs to me that you seem to have a grasp on reality and he doesn't. (Which I've always suspected about him) but with each continued post in this string things become more and more clear.

I don't have a clue about programming. Gypsy seems to think that is some thing of which I should be ashamed. Well, then, the large portion of the world's population should all be ashamed then. Whenever the man posts, he just proves my points, that's true irony.

Let's look at the facts as I have seen them year after year.

At the old Stardock bbs, (bbs.paul.com I believe it was), Gypsy and several others there pretty much ran that game. It was like this big elitist fest over there and if you weren't in the clique well, you just weren't going to play plain and simple!

Now, Disk, at that BBS the games were usually 300 to 500 turns, and yet, consistently on day 2 and 3 I'd come across 1 million sector fighters in these people's sectors! Later, I learned from a very good source that these guys, being the programmers and "insiders" that they were had a handle on every bug in the game. One in particular was the bug whereby a corp partner could initiate a fighter transfer on you, then you port at stardock, sell your ship, get the price, but before you conclude the transaction, you send a message by some other means (phone or a messenging program) to your partner to finish the fighter transfer. Your partner would get the fighters, and you would get the money for the fighters. If you do this in a fully loaded interdictor you get 16 million credits.

This was just one of the many bugs these "elitists" used to prove what TWARS Gods they were!

I'm telling you, if you listened to them on Fed comm they were so full of themselves and their supposed Game "prowess" it would literally make you gag.

Fast forward to the Second Battle of the Elite. I was there with a team representing Twars.com (The old Infinity). Gyspsy was the presiding Game op. Someone remembered me from the old Stardock. Problem was, before I ever played there, there was another Galactic Overlord, whom I actually KNEW, and who didn't mind me using his name because he was no longer playing.

Anyway, Gypsy starts posting in his own forums about me being "an impostor" stating that I never played at Stardock and he said "next time you decide to steal someone's name don't choose such a famous and popular player."

His tirades then came over Fed Comm, where he haranged me every time I was in the game! Now, keep in mind, he's supposed to be a neutral observer right?

I started emailing him, and it was then that I realized how truly pompous and ignorant he really was! Then he added sysop cheating to the list. About 3 weeks into the game I was podded invading a large sector of one of the major corps. It was my seventh death since the tournament started. The next day when I went to enter the game it said "tournament mode has been enabled, you have exceeded the death limit" or some such thing.

Gypsy had gone into the editor and made a last minute change to the tournament, limiting deaths to seven. (This was an unannounced change and was not in the rules).

My corp partners told me that later he changed it back and dropped the death limit.

What is my point in all this?

Gypsy has no credibility whatsoever in the Twars community. His lies and his insane ego are LEGENDARY. Whenever he opens his mouth to defend John Pritchett all it does is reflect badly on John.

Gypsy and his "elitist" cronies have attempted to control every aspect of this game for years and years. Nothing has changed. The only thing that happened was, John Pritchett bought Twars, and Gypsy and his "clique" latched onto him, now the "clique" of elitist pompous gamers with no life of their own had true control of the game, with the man who owns the code itself tightly wrapped around their finger (or so they think).

But I don't believe for one minute that Gypsy has any influence whatsoever on John Pritchett. Only in his own delusional mind does he have any sway at all over the changes in this game! That's the funny part. He gets into these forums and talks like he's the big man and he's got all this influence and power over the TWARS world, and all the while JP just shrugs off half of what he says and does what he wants. I can see JP rolling his eyes at Gypsy's self deluded "suggestions" and going "ya ya ya, whatever you say Rick."

It's actually quite humorous really.

quote:
It's pretty clear that JP doesn't give a Darn what is said in this forum.

I would like to modify that just a bit. JP gives a Darn what is said, and he has made changes based on threads and posts. What JP doesn't give a Darn about people who criticize his work on this game. I have to say, I don't blame him, because after all, it IS his game isn't it, and no one has stepped up to give him any advice (if there is a better way to do this or that). Well, maybe Gypsy has, but like I said, after reading his posts I can just imagine how "helpful" his suggestions have been!

I like John Pritchett, as a human being, and as a game designer. I've spoken to him many times. The reason I like him is because he's doing all of what he does with very little thanks, and small reward! That sort of thing appeals to me as a human being. It's like the sysop who ran a BBS for years, allowing people to have free email and in some cases free internet (if it was a world group site). The guy would be up for 12 hours working on his board on a Saturday night, and what for, because he liked people!

John Pritchett likes people, I can assure you of that, and I believe that is his motivating force behind what he does. It's just a shame that people like Rick Meade surround the guy like gadflies, and he's too good natured to tell them to go get lost.

That's my take on this whole thing. And you know what, I feel a hundred times better getting this off my chest.

quote:It was simply to point out that the mechanism used to root out problems was A) largely ineffective and B) not something that I find an admirable method of programming
When presented with trying to fix a bug you are unable to ever reproduce in a test environment, what would you suggest be done differently to "root out problems"?