Welcome to DBP-Site.com. This site primarily will be for cataloguing the results of the Dark Basic Professional Challenges thread into a database of working code examples.
This challenge was to create an overhead shooter game, for example a game where the players could move around and hide behind objects for cover. Alternatively, a Bomberman-like game was acceptable too.
It was judged on:
Another open ended challenge allowing for an imaginative approach. The challenge could be a test of how fast someone could click the mouse or type something after a visual cue, but we were free to try something else.
This challenge was to make a clone of the classic 1982 Namco, Dig Dug. Unfortunately, there were no entries!
This was a simple Pong challenge with some interesting entries. It didn't have to be an exact clone - variations on the theme were accepted.
This was a no-media clone of the popular game Generally. It could be 2D or 3D, as long as the camera was overhead to make it a top-down racer. The camera was free to move if it wanted to though. The vehicles could be anything.
This challenge was to create any kind of game where the only limitation was that the rendered output could ONLY be text.
This challenge was to create a game based on a retro classic but with a different twist… That and to just have fun!
Some background reading and for anyone who doesn't know what a chatbot is. A chatbot is basically a piece of software that you talk/type to and it responds based on keywords in what you've said, with the objective of trying to emulate intelligent conversation. There are a couple of ideas and heaps of information at wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatbot
The entry code should create a maze (2D or 3D). There must be a way to solve the maze (a path from start to finish). The maze could be any shape or size. The maze should be random, in that each time you run the code, it creates a different maze. There should be a graphical representation of the maze on screen.
To write a program which makes the most creative/fun/interesting use of this image:
We could deviate from the Christmas theme if we wanted, but it was up to us what we did with the image.
This challenge was different in that the prize wasn;t JUST picking the next challenge - but the winner will got the chance to have a custom bitmap designed for them by a professional artist (that's David)! That was a prize worth having at any time - but especially at that time with the nVidia competition underway.
This was a one off, so there were a couple of changes to the normal rules. Firstly, the Christmas Smiley image must be used in some way. To keep things simple, the image was included as data at the end of your entry, and converted using a data-to-image function. This meant no loading of files was necessary, and all entries could be tested with the usual copy-paste-execute technique.
Secondly, the judging was done by he community…
This could be any effect that transitions from one bitmap to another, or even one 3d scene to another. Some examples would be fading the screen, a horizontal or vertical wipe, or a page curl.
It was judged on the following criteria, in order of importance:
An example of a cursor effect is where you have a trail of images following the cursor around as you move it with the mouse. This can involve some physics aspects - like gravity and elasticity, or it could involve flocking AI, or particle effects.
Another example, a cursor effect where the cursor becomes a magnifying glass and everything under it became enlarged and distorted.
Those were examples, but there was no restriction. It could have been something completely original. So long as it involved use of the cursor in some way, and it had some kind of effect, then it was allowed.
The primary aim of this challenge was to create a Noughts & Crosses game (O&X) which you would play against the computer. Secondary targets were making it look 'funky'.
This was an open challenge to create a maths-based game. The player would have to do some kind of maths challenge to complete the game, however the challenge or point of the game or genre was left up to the programmer.
A mouse gesture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouse_gesture) is a symbol, character or shape you draw with your mouse.
The specific rules for this challenge were:
Write a program that will run LOGO programs!
The challenge is pinball. It was judged based on three things.
This challenge was to create a medialess clone of the original space invaders game.
Medialess paint program challenge. Points were awarded for feature such as save/load, area filling, lines, brush sizes and cutting and pasting image sections around.
Create a math parser. Some suggestions were:
This challenge was to create a terrain editor which could export the terrain as a DBO (Dark Basic Object) file or as a Hieghtmap...
This was a challenge to create a random island terrain with lapping waves.
This challenge is to create any game where you can win (fake) money!! (people with serious gambling problems may want to give this one a miss though!)
It can be a casino game like a slot machine, roulette, black jack etc. In fact, it doesn't have to be something you would find in a casino. You could create a horse racing game, or even a stock market simulator - or create your own new game! So long as it involves betting in some form, and you can win money, anything goes!
This challenge was to create a media-less clone of the classic game, Lunar Lander. You could also add a twist to it too...
The task was to create a game based upon the original asteroids game. It could have been an authentic remake, or a complete reworking, but the basic concepts of the original needed to be intact - for example, the fragmentation of the asteroids into smaller pieces, and the 'rotate and thrust' control system that are such an important elements to that a game and so they would all need to still be present for the game to be classed as an Asteroids remake.
GamePlay
This challenge was to create a game where a ball plays a big role in the game. The style didn't matter. It could have been a big bouncing shooting ball, just a ball crossing levels, or a puzzle game with a ball. Our choice.
Rules
ODE HAD to be used, which was a good opportunity to learn and understand the ODE commands.
This challenge was to create a first or third person shooting game, rather like Doom.
This challenge was to make a game similar to Generally or Micromachines...
This was a challenge to create a christmas screensaver which, due to deadline, would be ready in time to be used for the festive period.
The challenge was simple, use the inbuilt DBPro primitive commands to build the 'best' 3D 'modeling' program.
This challenge was to te-create the Star Wars Deathstar Trench Run scene from the movie
This challenge was to create a clock. The clock could be in any form, for example:
A challenge to create fireworks display. It could have been done in 2D (eg, ASCII) or 3D (using polygons or cubes). Required trajectory physics and could be done using particles. Some fantastic entries.
The challenge is to produce a version of the classic game Frogger!
If you've never heard of Frogger before (unlikely), then there's an on-line version to try here:
http://www.80smusiclyrics.com/games.shtml
But, there's just one small rule you need to know about this challenge...
The ONLY commands you can use in your program to place anything on the sceen are PRINT and TEXT.
That's right... no 3D, no images, no sprites, no media. Just 100% ASCII!
You are allowed to use CLS and RGB, but anything else that appears on screen has to be printed.
The main chunk of the challenge was a little difficult. Basically it was to give peripheral vision to a FPS player, however it couldn't be as simple as setting the FOV to 180, the ideal entry would have the FOV 90 taking up about the centre 3/4 of the screen with the remaining 1/4 around the edge being the extra peripheral vision.
Without external media, create a tree (or trees). They can be 2d or 3d. Graphics will be judged on suitability, not artistic merit. (See Darwinia's trees for inspiration) Bonus points for growing, moving in the wind, blooming, burning, leaves and other tree-like factors.
So dust off your fractals, gentlemen, and be glad I didn't ask for a shrubbery!
This challenge was to create a simple Role Playing Game (RPG); text, 2D top-down, or whatever.
No judging on graphics (although cool graphics were encouraged). Some cool games were produced
This challenge was to produce a code 'formatter' which would, at its most simple, indent DBP code...
The Space Tech Demo (STD for short) was a challenge to simply create a visual demo of a space scene.
The idea of this challenge was to practice/perfect the use of limbs and 3d rotation by making a robotic arm, or similar. The arm must be controllable by using the keyboard to rotate the various sections of the arm, in order to pick up/drop an object. A bit like controlling a JCB digger to pick up something. We could even have made a game - using the arm to move objects from one place to another, for example.
A simple touch typing game. The game could be anything, as long as there is touch typing involved.
This challenge was to create a Command Parser.
28 points maximum total
A Medialess clone of the classic, Pac Man.
This challenge was to make a vehicle physics simulation, choosing two things:
It could be about any vehicle and could be a simulation or a demo.
Basically, this challenge was testing the programmers ability to take data, modify it and output it.
The REAL challenge is being able to take the data both ways. It's one thing to make data unreadable by anyone but a PC, but its another kettle of fish to make it a two-way process!
The reason I have done encryption/compression is it gives scope for different algorithms to be produced.
make a spaceship racing game.
This challenge was to make a "Random Name Generator"
It would create name for things like alien creatures, futuristic names of people, planets, or ancient / mythical countries & monsters.
Judging was based on:
A challenge to make a breakout style game (loose theme). This one's pretty easy since most beginners start with a pong or breakout style game (or an MMORPG).
Some extras to add in for more 'points':
