The Clear October Sky

WoW-360
david.nikdel posted in general on March 27th, 2006(cacophony)

Posted a new project page for WoW-360.

Check it out.

X360 Router
david.nikdel posted in general on March 16th, 2006(cacophony)

So I finally found a fun project for the XBox 360 controller I bought. I just finished the main part of a program I call X360 Router, designed to allow me to use my gamepad to control World of Warcraft. Right now, the app supports selecting a primary among multiple controllers and mapping various button presses to key and mouse messages (sent only to WoW). The right shoulder button toggles the left thumbstick into mouse mode (as opposed to sending movement keys like the D-Pad). Also, the right trigger functions as a shift indicator (not to be confused with the actual keyboard key “shift”) giving dual functions to many of the keys such as ABXY and the right thumbstick (does a cameraturn rather than character turn).

Now that this part is done, my plan is to make a WoW interface mod which will act as a companion to the router application. Right now, the number of useful hotkeys is limited to six (X,Y,B and their shifted counterparts). What I’d like to do is design an interface where rather than being bound to a single buttonpress, spells are cast using button combos. I figure if I only bind to combinations of two, I’ll get 36 (6*6) usable combinations which is just enough to map the bottom three action bars (12 buttons per bar). This also lends itself to an intuitive interface. I’d like to display the ABXY pad in the upper or lower right corner and show, on top of each button, a two icons representing the spell that will be cast (or secondary menu that will be accessed) if that button is pressed (with or without shifting). The A-Button would be reserved for jump,while shift-A could be used to back out of a sub menu. I think I would also use Start to toggle on and off the regular spellbar (to switch into mouse and keyboard mode).

I’ll post again with a download link when the mod is done.

I own the spoon(tm).
david.nikdel posted in general on March 2nd, 2006(soliloquy)

Life has been both hectic and exciting since my last post. I had a test in my Languages and Automata class last week which it turns out I got a 97 on (go me). Then, this week has been packed full of fun and exciting events, only some of which I’m ready to talk about. For one, I found out the patent application for my kiosk filelist distribution system is going to move forward (funny enough, I found this out not by being told by my director, but by seeing the patent incentive bonus clear hehe).  I guess this is good, although who knows how long it will take before it actually becomes a real patent (assuming it gets approved). As much as I’m not so sure about the legitimacy of software patents, I can’t deny the appeal of eventually seeing one with my name on it. My dad holds a patent for a physical invention and we have a bronzed plate with the schematic on it in our living room. I’ve always thought it was the neatest thing.

Despite my process patent qualms, I can’t really argue with NCR’s stance. Companies today see IP firms cropping up all over the place just acquiring patents and then sitting on them. Existing solely to litigate, they never intend to produce a product of any kind (the very definition of a drain on society). The only defense against this seems to be to have your own portfolio of patents showing prior art and possibly turning the tables should any of them get challenged. It may end up that they are infringing on your patent, but since these IP firms don’t actually make anything, it’s hard to show legitimate loss, so their flank is unfortunately covered. It’s pretty rediculous the state of things these days. Hopefully when someone with half a brain finally gets in the white house, this might get sorted out. Microsoft and Google have both separately been pressing for changes in the way the patent system works for some time now, so maybe if the rest of the industry gets behind them money will make change (no pun intended) where common sense, so far, has not.