Reply To: Need of beryllium and other rare materials for Focus Fusion

[Ivy Matt]

Heh, I didn’t intend for my name suggestion to be taken all that seriously, but if other people like it…

Another idea I had for a name was “Plasmania”. However, a quick Google search shows it has already been used as the name of an Apple II game supposedly having something to do with blood plasma…and space ships. Or something like that. The company that developed the game is long gone, so I think there wouldn’t be any trademark conflicts. However, I am not a lawyer.

I’ll throw out a third idea: “Energy Quest”. Not surprisingly, this phrase also turns up on a Google search, but I’m not aware of any games or other software under that title.

And, not to speak for other members, but Breakable was referring to this idea, informally at least, as “Fusion Wars” on the first page.

epimenide wrote: entertainment should have priority over realism (I know, pushing this here sounds heretic!)

Not at all. This is the “Social Marketing” forum. 😉

epimenide wrote: Basic math will probably be unsatisfactory for scientists, but I’m sure even they would enjoy showing something “almost real” like that to kids to experiment with the concepts (I know I would!)

Right. “Almost real” is a good way of putting it. The essential idea is that the devices in the game shouldn’t behave much differently from the real devices, or from the simulations the physicists use. Which is why the game will eventually need the input of actual physicists. Of course, an actual physicist may see this as a step down from a more realistic simulation, which is a step down from an actual experiment. The Talk Polywell forum seems to have a number of physicists who have plenty of time on their hands, but I must say I haven’t seen the same around here, so I’m guessing what physicists we have are pretty busy.

Aeronaut wrote: I agree that top-notch (lots of shiny, reflecting stuff that exudes energy) graphics and animations will be absolutely required for the public release version, and that Torulf is more than up to the task if he should decide to get involved. But I wouldn’t necessarily begin with polished graphics. Too easy to have a change in art direction in mid-development. The point in my mind is to proceed using what we have in hand right now, which is good enough graphics to test game design and play.

Keep the interface separate from the functionality is the programming philosophy I’ve learned. Then you can improve the one without impacting the other too much.

I used to draw quite a bit, but I never really made the leap to computer art, so I’ll give the same caveat about graphics as I have about programming: I can try it, but I guarantee I will spend at least half the time learning to use my tools.

Incidentally, does anyone know what sorts of programming and graphic design tools are used to design Facebook games? I haven’t paid much attention to FarmVille and the like. I think the only Facebook game I’ve played is “Jedi vs. Sith”, which doesn’t really have graphics—or didn’t the last time I actually played it.