I noticed a bug I'd never seen in photoshop before recently. I'd go to file>open, the open dialog would appear for a billionth of a second, and photoshop would disappear. Bip. Deft and timely application of PRNTSCRN allowed me to see what folder the open dialog was open to in that split second - some temporary folder full of garbage hash filenames. VYG7NTC9\, specifically.

Starting photoshop with ctrl-alt-shift held down to reset all settings fixed it (of course I had to rebuild my workspace and preferences, but whatever, I can open stuff again.)

It began happening a second time, and I correlated it to using the import drivers for my canon powershot s50. Same folder name, too.

This time I searched the registry for it, and found the full file path: C:\Documents and Settings\Lunaran\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\VYG7NTC9\. I open it up in explorer ... and explorer mysteriously disappears.

In fact, nearly any application I use to try to look in that folder is immediately killed by Windows XP. WS_FTP can browse to it, and I can look in it with Word, and nothing else survives the exposure to whatever awesome temporary bullshit contents that folder has which XP deems so important.

Anyone have any idea why? 

malware? 

Try if you can start the IE, then use "delete temporary files" or something in the options.
And use a proper browser in the future. 

Do I need any additional software to get the dual monitor setup to work? For example laptop and CRT monitor configuration. 

If you are using Windows, then the basic graphics drivers (where you can set desktop resolution and bit depth) take care of multi-monitor setups. Same with OSX. Other OSes have such and such method for doing it that you will have to search to discover.

Make sure you also have an unused port to connect the monitor to :D 

Rocks for steam, you can play whatever game on the main monitor and have all your steam chat and community windows on the other, its great :) 

Fuck you, I don't use explorer. Windows uses it for other things anyway - like the import driver for my digital camera. 

ok? 

It began happening a second time, and I correlated it to using the import drivers for my canon powershot s50.

Don't use japanese imports. It's a rootkit! Honest american drivers only.

It seems it tries to protect some files.

I remember having an experience trying to find drivers for my OEM SB Live soundcard. The installer from creative.com wouldn't install since the detection routine found that the card was an OEM product. (I lost the CD.) So I stalled the installer and found the temporary files and copied them over to another place to do the install. :)

Some companies seem so touchy about their drivers. 

Patronizing condescension doesn't get as warm a response. This seems like a perfectly fair policy. 

http://www.farrarfocus.com/atom/

Looks interesting. 

That looks truly awesome. I want to fly a spaceship through there.


Lun: Sorry, no offense meant. :(
Did the deleting help? 

Hmm. That atom sent me on a weird surfing spree.
The tech it uses has been used in old videogames when the hardware was too slow for real 3d polygons.

I remember being in Italy as a kid and there was this arcade hall that had this space shooter game where you sat inside, and I was too young to really play. Might have been 1984 or 1985... I remember the big death animation explosion and how the sounds made the seats rumble. I wish I could find out the name by then. My parents later told me that we had to take another route to the beach so I wouldn't see the arcade hall and want to play the games.

Oh how has everything changed since then.

I remember my friend had a C64 and a small black and white TV connected to it. We went downstairs to borrow Turbo Tape from an older boy to get some game to load.

There should be a post icon with a big teardrop from one eye.

It's not the games per se but the sense of wonder of something new. Perhaps all this technology we are using now will look ancient in 23 years as well... so it's not worth too much hassle in comparing the minute details of this or that clockspeed and pipeline width.

Experiences are things that leave memories. And it's important to get out and do various things and get those experiences. I so remember the beaches and ruins and catacombs and the tap that poured water to a pool when it was not attached to anything and a million other things too - but these things haven't really outdated. They're still there and if I have kids, I could go and visit them and say "your daddy was here 35 years ago". It's perplexing in a way, how things age at different rates. 

reminds me of electric sheep ( http://www.electricsheep.org ), another fractal-ey thing. 

fuck 

There's a lot I could write about games with discrete countable states, games with uncountable states, and in-between games where the uncountable states are really clustered onto a simpler graph of meta-states. But it's late and I wouldn't be coherent, but here's a cool video project that implies some of those ideas.

http://www.thenewgamer.com/content/archives/averaging_gradius

It also makes me think of that Trackmania video where they have thousands of cars playing out all possible routes through the course simultaneously.

http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/5930 

OK people, Ive made a six map mini episode using quoth. I have sent a copy to kell. So far I havent incorporated skyboxes (but will) and it probably needs a bit of tweaking here and there. I need some playtesting done, but dont want to host a final version online yet cause obviously its not finished. If anyone thinks theyre up for the job, then please email me and I will send you a copy, or leave your email address where I can see it on this messageboard and I will send you a copy. It uses a base theme mostly, lost of quoth demons on the later maps and kell's fury texture wad.

My address: trowbridge.richard@googlemail.com

Jolly Good! 

Don't c+p post in multiple threads please.

My email is in my profile - I'd be happy to take a look, always did like the fury set. 

Hope you like levels. Skyboxes are coming, also more secrets, and anything else worth improving on. Any ideas? Only dv5.bsp uses fury set, cause at that point you are sent to another planet! 

EH WOT CHEERS BLOKE MATE CRIKEY SKIPPER DINGUS WALLA WALLA OLE BISCUIT BARREL 

Rather! 

Again originated in the Doom community:
The 32in24 projects. The idea is that one mapper creates a basic layout (for a DM map) with gameplay (item placement), then another takes over and details the map. Each one has 12 hours to complete his job, so in the end there are (theoretically) 32 new maps, given there are enough participants, after one day.
Now, of course it would have to be a little different with Quake. I'd say each mapper had 24 hours for his part, and no fixed amount of maps.

From the Doomworld thread:
Layout Rules: [...]
- Create a basic layout, with direct focus on gameplay. Disregard detail almost completely.
- Must place items, including Player 1 start, At least 8 DM starts, and weapons. Must also include exit. DO NOT FLAG ITEMS MULTIPLAYER.

Detailer Rules: [...]
- Call a map in the 32in24 thread (when calling, check to see if anyone else is working on the map before you start)
- Try to preserve gameplay as faithfully as possible; consult layout mapper if you want to make changes to layout/items
- Build outwards whenever possible, especially in small areas.
- Impassible lines are your friends! We don't like bumping into stuff :(
- Make the map look damn sexy
http://www.doomworld.com/vb/wads-mods/41358-32in24-five-9-16-07-testing/ 

Add me, bitches!

My Steam ID is apparently this:

><((((�> Mr Fribbles

OH STOP YOUR WHINGING, JUST COPY AND PASTE, CTRL+C, CTRL+V! Admit it - you like the fish. 

FrickaC already made a game like this (which is awesome btw) but check this out:

http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=5016.msg61043#msg61043
http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?PHPSESSID=ae9773f3734386f237be8af231e1d49e&topic=5016.msg61142#msg61142 

Are those actual minigames or "just" single images?