USFIRST Simulator 2004 (Play the playingfield in 3d)

[WindTech]

Well...i brought something similar to this to my team last year, never finished it unfortunately. so, i figured i'd put somethin together for this year ;)
its not done yet, but the physics are in place and all thats really left is making it user friendly to mod and start playing with different drive types, arms, features, so forth.

Capabilities:
Full integration of all obstacles/objects on the playing field
Dual-channel commands for 2 driver systems (as shown)
6 drive-shaft support (3 force applicators each side or whatever u want)
10 additional usable "joints" for functions in our imaginations
Generally handles at 210fps with over 80 moving objects on the screen.
Average poly count limit of 3500 (depending on your system really...)
Physics calculated: friction, viscosity(balls squish when proper force is applied and piping bends), torque, acceleration, gravity (yes you can change it ;p), mass (gravity wouldn't be much without mass now would it?), collisions, misc other things nobody thinks about often, and soon to be heat tolerance. All will be exportable to an excel document for later analysis; test database ports range in size from 10kb to 1.8mb.

In progress (and well on their way too)
USB joystick support (sidewinders are useful for this one - 15-pin works too...but how many people have 2x 15pin ports in their box?)
Non-code intensive modding system (just assign the variables)
C and PBASIC(leftovers from last year) code parser for testing
Its Shockwave/Macromedia Director(tm) based and ColdFusionMX is my best friend on this one. Online based 2v2's are coming...I'll host a server when I get it running (peer to peer is a pain in the rear because I'm too lazy to go and code another xtra just to do it...the physics for this are bad enough ;p)
--
Well, heres the link, and go ahead and enjoy ;)
USFirst Simulator 2004 (http://usfirst.xdtech.net/USFirst2004.exe)
Oh btw...yes...the bot is a box...why? because i didn't feel like shoving anymore graphics onto an alpha test :)
And yes, I know there are field objects missing (like this is a hard problem to fix...) the core program is literally an engine - pseudocode generates the objects on the level itself for easy modification.

Controls: (temporary joystick for drive only)
the drive operates independant of the chassis
Q W E
A -- D
Z X C
Left/Right arrows - rotate chassis for positioning
Up/Down arrows - when stationary, these will pop the respective front/back sides of the bot (based on drive angle, not chassis) off the ground in order to climb the stairs (or you could use tires/treads but I'm just showing off the physics now ;p). Be fore-warned, the up/down arrows have no restrictions for debug purposes, if you hold them down, your bot will continue to rotate, and eventually cart-wheel out of the arena only to return when you exit/restart the program ;p

Notes:
ctrl+click the red mobile goal to push it around a bit; debug tool
one of the purple balls (start clicking) can be clicked/dragged about to try throwing it into the closer of the stationary goals (yes, it will bounce off of each of the individual pipes properly). The mobile goals only work properly with the 2X ball atm so if you manage to get it up there, take a screen shot ;p
If you encounter any scipt errors, or any problems, please post them here or contact me other wise so that I may start fixing them.
email: craftgod@earthlink.net
aim: Fenrisul
back-up email: wind@xdtech.net

Oh yeah, one last thing...no Autodesk products were used in the making of this simulator, NEWTEK FOR LIFE!!! (and of course macromedia :cool: )
Till then, peace. (And keep building!)

[Bharat Nain]

Awesome :D , not too many objects, but its fun when you have nothing to do

[SpaceOsc]

Wow!!! i thought i was the only one that away wanted one of these. cool! :D


Im not Game Programer so i must ask how do u modify it?

Id like to be able to see the field from another camera angle

[ebmonon36]

That is so cool.

I moved the red goal and it hit the blue goal and flew off the screen. Then I stood the robot on end and drove it into a pile of balls against the wall and..welll...it's gone now too. :D

Eric

[IMDWalrus]

Nifty. I love this little program!

One suggestion: could you possibly make it so that ALL of the balls are user-movable? That would make this little gem an even better timewaster... :)

It's already been suggested, but an option for multiple camera angles would be nice too. Then again, I can't program games very well, so I have no idea how hard it would be to do. Again, great job.

[WindTech]

there are only a few objects on the field for debugging purposes, no reason to clutter it yet, but i assure you it works ;)
Camera angles are coming, in the fashion of birdseye view (starcraft style ;p), freefly, drivers perspective, from each of their respective locations, audience view, and robo-cam (which will appear in a small side window and probably have some sort of avi-recording capability if i have enough time, but that stuff isn't on the top of my list)
modifying these things will be a snap, it'll be just like using a really simple CAD program, and placing objects such as motors, hydrolics, telescoping poles, and other misc things that will save to a file when you are done, allowing (when i finish the inet play anyway) other players to 'download' your design and play against it.
Due to the nature of this program, I didn't make it to look pretty, noting the lack of any kind of texture what so ever. It is designed to provide accurate results for testing out a design concept without actually having to physically build it first. I think if I put enough work into this...rapid development of conceptualized bots wont feel quite the same afterwards...
This whole thing is gonna be open source when I get it to a nice clean point and put in a bunch of comments/guides, till then if anybody here is familiar with Director, Lightwave, 3ds max, ColdfusionMX, or PHP, please by all means feel free to offer some talent.

[Rickertsen2]

Wow. Very nice job. I see this really going somewhere.
3d stuff is not an easy feat. I speak from(limited) experience. You should feel proud.

<chopy sentences>Its pretty primitive at this point, but a feat none the less... The balls squish? I can't get that to happen. Nor can i get the bars to bend. Model heat tolerances? But why? Will there be texturing? The lighting is a bit dark. </choppy sentences>

[Joe Matt]

Call me sadistic, but I love throwing robots and goals out of the field like they were pieces of paper, only to see them fly off the field and into the abyss.

Improve the graphics, add a build-a-robot option, include AI, and you can really have a good product here! Imagine playing against human AI from famous FIRST teams! This has infinate possablilites!

[Francis-134]

OMG, this is so cool! I just cant wait for you to finish! You probably have already though of this, but when you come out with the next release, could you put something on the robot so we can tell which way is front and which is back?

Has anyone done this before in past years?

[WindTech]

Wow. Very nice job. I see this really going somewhere.
from coder to coder, thanks :cool:

Improve the graphics, add a build-a-robot option
the graphics are going to stay like that until I find a reason to improve them, its designed to test concepts, not looks. however once the core is done and the arena functions completely properly and i've worked out more of the physics based on De Anza's practice field, you'd better believe i'm going to use up all 3500 of those excess poly's per model and weld some running lights on to the bottom of my bot ;p
and in terms of build a bot, i already said its being added, heh, mostly done too...just need to clean it up so i dont have uber traffic when i put up the multiplayer server ;p

you can really have a good product here!
This is for USFIRST, which means its used for learning and development of skills; not for selling or personal profit, thats what Event Alpha is for :cool: On top of that...I'm only 16...poor white boy livin in a relatively ghetto area, have the laptop i built, have a g/f, and am leaving HS in 4 days to go into the world a bit further before full time college, what do i need money for :) potatoes for me thank you very much ;p

Oh yea...and for all of you out there who have been flipping my green box bot off the edge then dropping the goals on top of it in the abyss, i'm going to need some beta testers to push the limits and glitches out of my core; aim/email me ;p

[IMDWalrus]

Oh yea...and for all of you out there who have been flipping my green box bot off the edge then dropping the goals on top of it in the abyss, i'm going to need some beta testers to push the limits and glitches out of my core; aim/email me ;p
But the glitches are the fun part! :D

[Andrew Rosselet]

This is for USFIRST, which means its used for learning and development of skills; not for selling or personal profit, thats what Event Alpha is for :cool:
...

I like ur way of thinking...;)



Tis quite nice, however, as you said, the user interface needs some work. I was wondering why my robot and mobile goal kept cartwheeling out of control and flying off the field. Overall tho, tis a pretty good program ...:D. Keep up the good work!

[Joe Matt]

This is for USFIRST, which means its used for learning and development of skills; not for selling or personal profit, thats what Event Alpha is for :cool: On top of that...I'm only 16...poor white boy livin in a relatively ghetto area, have the laptop i built, have a g/f, and am leaving HS in 4 days to go into the world a bit further before full time college, what do i need money for :) potatoes for me thank you very much ;p

Oh yea...and for all of you out there who have been flipping my green box bot off the edge then dropping the goals on top of it in the abyss, i'm going to need some beta testers to push the limits and glitches out of my core; aim/email me ;p

I agree totally with you. FIRST should always be non-profit for everything unless impossable. Mabey I should clarify my last statement. When I mean product, it probably ment something like a freeware app, not a cost per unit thing. Mabey the better word instead of product would have been service, or even software for basics. I'm just saying that the compelation of software, time, and other things could make this very good.

[Swan217]

Don't you gamers have a Robot to build? 4.5 weeks left...

Good job though...

[alt.|_/.er|]

Is there any chance you might be willing to release the source code? Maybe then people could put their own bots into to it.....

[WindTech]

Is there any chance you might be willing to release the source code? Maybe then people could put their own bots into to it.....
please read my posts more thuroughly, both source and built-in basic cad designs are coming.

on a side note to that gamer comment...this can be used to quickly conceptualize strategies and test them again and again without having to physically do much of anything. If you want to sit around, waste time, and play games with it thats your thing, but i see it as a tool to trial many different situations in a short period of time. and perhaps for those teams that dont have their own practice field, a general reference. As well as that, I said there will be a working code parser to test autonomous functions, as well as additional bot functions as far as it can without me having to literally re-code something. Did you hop in to an XAF and take off from an aircraft carrier without training first? or did you use a simulator?

Anyway, next release a little bit later today...got nothin left to do but tech stuff at HS, I'll find some time.

Peace,
--Mitch

[Salik Syed]

WOW>... :ahh:

[psychoCHIPMUNKK]

It’s a really fun program, thanks for creating it. If I can make a suggestion, could you make an option for tank style driving? I know we would all love to have swerve steer, but for most of us it’s not an option.

And I found something else fun to do with the program, if you hold the up and down arrows, you can make the bot levitate, and then fly off the screen. Fun!

[dlavery]

This whole thing is gonna be open source when I get it to a nice clean point and put in a bunch of comments/guides, till then if anybody here is familiar with Director, Lightwave, 3ds max, ColdfusionMX, or PHP, please by all means feel free to offer some talent.

I'll make a trade with you. I did the entire kick-off animation with Lightwave, including all the models, texturing and rendering (the whole thing was done in 18 days, while interleaving work, family and about 5 minutes of sleep per day :) next year, I REALLY want some more lead time so I can make it more photo-realistic!). I will happily send you all the .lwo and texture files for incorporation into your simulator. In exchange, can you make a Macintosh (OS X)-compatible version?

-dave

[b1aCkDeA7h]

All of us on Team Mercury agree that this is way too much fun (flying robots are cool).

[WindTech]

I'll make a trade with you. I did the entire kick-off animation with Lightwave, including all the models, texturing and rendering (the whole thing was done in 18 days, while interleaving work, family and about 5 minutes of sleep per day next year, I REALLY want some more lead time so I can make it more photo-realistic!). I will happily send you all the .lwo and texture files for incorporation into your simulator. In exchange, can you make a Macintosh (OS X)-compatible version?

I would be over joyed to make that trade!
It seems kinda uneven as its shockwave based already (which means i'd end up only making some changes to the joystick drivers and misc system specific things like that) so that'll make it generally easy to get into a mac compatible format. heh, can even compile it to integrate into a webpage ;p I'd like to offer you free rendering services for lightwave/3dsmaxr5 in my 'renderfarm' known as the high school i attend. i'm practically a comp admin there and use all 450+ computers (p3 933mhz - P4 2.1ghz) as one giant beowoulf style batch processor after hours ;) -- but then again, seeing where you work and who you are you probably already have access to something just as (if not vastly superior to) powerful to play with :cool:

[dlavery]

I would be over joyed to make that trade!
It seems kinda uneven as its shockwave based already (which means i'd end up only making some changes to the joystick drivers and misc system specific things like that) so that'll make it generally easy to get into a mac compatible format. heh, can even compile it to integrate into a webpage ;p I'd like to offer you free rendering services for lightwave/3dsmaxr5 in my 'renderfarm' known as the high school i attend. i'm practically a comp admin there and use all 450+ computers (p3 933mhz - P4 2.1ghz) as one giant beowoulf style batch processor after hours ;) -- but then again, seeing where you work and who you are you probably already have access to something just as (if not vastly superior to) powerful to play with :cool:

I will PM you for details on sending the .lwo files.

-dave

[Joe Ross]

One of the engineers on 330 has been bugging me for years to write a program like this. Maybe now he can stop bugging me ;)

Or maybe I should stop bugging him about mechanical designs to get him to stop bugging me about programs. :p

[NullTerminator]

Anyway, next release a little bit later today...got nothin left to do but tech stuff at HS, I'll find some time.
Man the 'bit later' TODAY is gone... :confused:, when is the new release going to be up ? , good work on the first one anyway ! :D .

[WindTech]

Sorry for the delay in the next release of the sim, I had thought it was monday and it was really tuesday and robotics ended earlier so I had a bit of free time that I really felt like spending /w sarah (u figure it out) :cool:
Anywho, got home late fell asleep woke up went to school fixed network issues and now I get to go back to work on it ;p
next release coming soon ;)
to be expected:
:::::drive mode selection::::::
--Tank
--Swerve
:::::Bot features:::::
--telescoping poll for grabbing the chin-up bar
:::::misc:::::
faster physics
corrected field layout
all small balls are clickable

[NullTerminator]

Just a reminder: the poles of the goals can be passed right thru .. are u going to fix that so we can try to get some balls in :D

[Tom Bottiglieri]

I would really like to see this pushed into a full production FIRST game. I think it woudl be mad shnazzy to have all the years different games and be able to play against different robots from different years (...say... rage from 2002 maybe? :cool: ) Just an idea tho

[NullTerminator]

I tink we are thinkin to far already.. let the guy finish this years game first ...then he can think about a mega project for all the year's games :D . Maybe we can pursuade some video game company to make one lol ;) .

*Anxious for the new release*

[Levaman]

Despite being the first version, this program has some useful concepts. I cannot wait until the final version is released. This way, we can practice with our allies without them really having to be there. It also will allow us to call the balls' moves to some degree.

Hope it's finished soon, ASAP :] :D

[NullTerminator]

HOW MUCH LONGER :confused:

[echos]

Great Job...

I wish Unreal Tournament 2004 (Unreal 2 Rev. A engine) was out. Not till Feb. most likely "when its done" :(. Its suppost to have lots of support for things like vehicals of that nature, but already has a physics engine that is by far one of the best (Karma Physics). If it was out I would of probally started working on a match simulator. Oh well, probally next year.

UT2003
What I can offer if anyone is intrested, I can make a map of the area and probally make it for DeathBall. Nag me with a PM if intrested.

DeathBall - http://www.deathball.net/ - When soccar meets hockey...

[psychoCHIPMUNKK]

i don't mean to nag, but have you made any progress on the program yet?

[Scott Shaw 237]

This is a great program. Wowowow, what a great program. Can't wait for your next release. *soon hopefully* :)

[Kevin Karan]

Great Job...

I wish Unreal Tournament 2004 (Unreal 2 Rev. A engine) was out. Not till Feb. most likely "when its done" :(. Its suppost to have lots of support for things like vehicals of that nature, but already has a physics engine that is by far one of the best (Karma Physics). If it was out I would of probally started working on a match simulator. Oh well, probally next year.

UT2003
What I can offer if anyone is intrested, I can make a map of the area and probally make it for DeathBall. Nag me with a PM if intrested.

DeathBall - http://www.deathball.net/ - When soccar meets hockey...

Theres an idea. Inspiration to make a Half-life map in svencoop (http://www.svencoop.com). Reskin headcrabs to make small balls, Houndeyes to make big balls, and gargs to make robots! *evil, mad scientist laugh* :D :D

[tribotec_ca88]

Sorry, we know youre probably busy with your own robot like the rest of us, but I was just wondering, when do you plan on letting us know when you update the simulator...i mean, you dont even have to, but at least let us know it wont be happening so we wont be anxiously awaiting...thanx

[SpaceOsc]

Sorry, we know youre probably busy with your own robot like the rest of us, but I was just wondering, when do you plan on letting us know when you update the simulator...i mean, you dont even have to, but at least let us know it wont be happening so we wont be anxiously awaiting...thanx

its been to long , id like that ;)

[IMDWalrus]

Sorry, we know youre probably busy with your own robot like the rest of us, but I was just wondering, when do you plan on letting us know when you update the simulator...i mean, you dont even have to, but at least let us know it wont be happening so we wont be anxiously awaiting...thanx
I have a feeling we'll be seeing a newer version at the end of build season, or just afterwards. Building a real robot takes time, ya know. :)

[NullTerminator]

Yup, i bet he has got some serious work to do with the program or with their robot, anyways, once we have our robots functional then it will be time to try them out virtually ;) .... still anxious for the next release tho

[iamnafets]

You mentioned needing PHP programming... I'm your man! I'm not sure what PHP would have to do with the program itself but I could definitely make a mean custom website or a scoring system or something. I dunno. I made a high score program for that pinball game that ships with MS Plus and Windows XP (http://www.iamnafets.com/pinball/) which is kind of cool. What team gets the most points in 2 minutes against 3 other players. This reminds me of a Maya competition where you have to build robots to certain specs within Maya and then have like autonomous battles with them. So fun, but GEEEZ WHAT AN EXPENSIVE PROGRAM (not talking about free). There, I'm done rambling.

[Levaman]

HOW MUCH LONGER?????? My sponsers luved the idea of the program but unless it shows more help, they'll make me give up this as a possible tool. :confused:

[Beausif]

I agree with everyone else this is great.
The only problem is when im in class and should be doing work but instead playing this. Goodjob

[sanddrag]

It is really fun to fly your robot off the screen and then try to get it back by just imagining where it would be if your screen was larger. It is also fun to start in the center of the field, spin really fast, then lift off straight up while still spinning, and then waiting for it to come back down.

EDIT: I flipped a goal!

[tribotec_ca88]

Well...i really truly honestly don´t mean to be obnoxious, but i´m gonna give up waiting for the 2.0 version of this simulator...taking too long, if you ask me! If its finished only after the competition it wont be as fun, u know???

However, I congratulate you for your efforts...it (the simulator) really turned out awesome!!! And good luck to your team...!!! -Im being too harsh, you probably have your own robot to deal with huh :yikes: & school too i suppose

L8R...dont 4get 2 visit R website!

[Richomundo]

excellent prog!!!

[MasterChief]

Sorry for the delay in the next release of the sim, I had thought it was monday and it was really tuesday and robotics ended earlier so I had a bit of free time that I really felt like spending /w sarah (u figure it out) :cool:

Hi! This is my first post. Great program. I had lots of fun w/it. :D I was wondering, you have said several times that the new sim release would be out in a few days and it isn't! I'm sorry. :( I probably just couldn't find it. if you did release it, please tell me where it is!! :confused:

[Austin]

Only windows compatible? Will we see a mac v. any time soon?

[Greg Needel]

has anyone been able to land the bot on the ball drop bin.....i have been trying unsucessfully

[MasterChief]

:ahh: :ahh: Ahhhh! I did it! I landed on the ball drop bin!! I am trying to get a screenshot, but I don't know how!! :ahh: :ahh: :D

[Fireworks 101]

All you have to do is push the "Prt Scr/Sys Rq" button then paste the picture into paint. :D

[MasterChief]

I got it! C:\Documents and Settings\bcrobotics\My Documents\My Pictures Oh yeah! :cool: :cool: :D

[MasterChief]

Sorry about that. :( I'll try attatching the photo. ;)

[M. Hicken]

impressive, i hope that i can drive the real life one with a bit more ease. I tought my green robot to fly, lol, very nice :-)

[Greg Needel]

nice......i think it is amazing that all someone has to do is post the idea and someone will do it....we should have challenges with this program like first person to get both goals off the feild...then whoever does it posts a screen shot.....this can fill the voild while we wait for v 2.o

[Vince lau]

ok here is a challenge, try to get the robot to balance on the yellow ball

[MasterChief]

im working on it.
;)

[MasterChief]

I GOT IT!!!! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: OOOOOOOH YEAH!!!

[Joe Matt]

Congrats, I guess, but you can't link from your computer and expect it on the internet. Errr... that's not how it works dude. Try posting it as an attachment.
*EDIT* never mind, you fixed it.

[ngreen]

Next challenge. Get on the ball corrall. The near one preferably.

[MasterChief]

no problem :cool:

[MasterChief]

OH YEAH!! :cool:

[Joe Matt]

Get the bot on the top bar. Muahahahah... ;)

[MasterChief]

Yeah, yeah......... :-|

[MasterChief]

OOOHH YEAH!!!! SUPREME MASTER!!!!! :cool: :cool:

[dlavery]

no problem

OH YEAH!!

Yeah, yeah......... :-|

OOOHH YEAH!!!! SUPREME MASTER!!!!! :cool: :cool:

etc. etc. etc.

Could I suggest that if this is going to turn into a thread full of one-line messages concerning how well you can play a video game, that the discussion be moved to the Chit-Chat forum? Could we please get back to the subject at hand? The simulator is VERY cool, and we are all anxiously awaiting the next version. Mitch - we know you are busy with the development of your team's robot, but can you report on any progress? (and did you receive the Lightwave models I sent?)

-dave

[sanddrag]

For balancing on the yellow ball, we don't knwo how long before or after you stayed on before you took the screenshot. So we will never know if you were truly balanced as you say.

Has anyone else flipped a goal like I did? It's not easy. I was only able to do it twice in about 3 hours of play.

[WindTech]

Hey guys...first off I'd like to apologize for the delay in the releases, it looks really nice I promise you; Dave Lavery's model of the arena is absolutely beautiful and I'm still using my old model for calculations and dave's simply for show and overlay and added a check box to turn off the uber 180,000 poly arena off or not (for those of us who can't afford 150$+ gfx cards), the next release will be big...as of now the compiled version occupies a total of 13.4mb... a large factor popped up after talking to some of the CAD artists of other teams...it seems more than one team is using more than 6 wheels of drive...which means i have to double the physics and double the fun...w00t for me not being able to do that easily -_-;;
the trade i made /w mr. lavery consisted of this: i get the models - i make a mac version. so yea, i'll compile a mac version on the next major build. (the transparencies that i really want to get in seem to be crashing my radeon9000mobile so be careful...)
enough for tech talk...there is also a larger issue at the moment...earlier this evening...I lost my good friend Scott...here...read up...
http://www.xdtech.net/friends/scott/memory.html

Honestly...build coming soon...(btw...congrats to this masterchief guy, i think he effectively broke physics when he balanced it on top of the bar...i dont think i enabled collisions on it yet ...)

[ngreen]

no problem :cool:

Not the mobile goal, the ball corral, It is the little grey piece outside the arena that is on the near right side.

[EIROBOTICS86]

Honestly...build coming soon..


So when is this exactly coming out

[Solace]

umm, can't we give this guy a little break? he obviously has more important things to worry about.

[Joe Matt]

umm, can't we give this guy a little break? he obviously has more important things to worry about.

Agreed totally. We are in the MIDDLE of the build season dang-it! Give the kid a break! This is hard stuff to do. It'll come out when it'll come out. I'm still amazed at his first product. Just give it time.

[MasterChief]

Not the mobile goal, the ball corral, It is the little grey piece outside the arena that is on the near right side.
oh! sorry!

[Kerry547]

Hey this is great. I don't know if anyone noticed it, but if you hold the left and right buttons at the same time the robot will fly.

[DCA Fan]

umm, can't we give this guy a little break? he obviously has more important things to worry about.
Honestly! His friend just DIED and all you guys are saying 'When's the next build?' Take your time WindTech, you've done a great job. My condolences to you.

[MasterChief]

I agree w/ you but be quiet George! :-O And everyone asking about the release date! WindTech, you have my sympathies. :( Just get it to us whenever is best for YOU!

[IMDWalrus]

enough for tech talk...there is also a larger issue at the moment...earlier this evening...I lost my good friend Scott...here...read up...
http://www.xdtech.net/friends/scott/memory.html
Wow...unless I'm misinterpreting the message in the link, it sounds like your friend committed suicide. That's terrible. Losing someone close always hurts...losing someone in this manner seems to be far worse.

All that I can really offer is my sympathy...it's not very much, but just be aware that there are people that care about you.

:(

[Vince lau]

sorry to hear about your friend :(

[Joe Matt]

Wow...unless I'm misinterpreting the message in the link, it sounds like your friend committed suicide. That's terrible. Losing someone close always hurts...losing someone in this manner seems to be far worse.

All that I can really offer is my sympathy...it's not very much, but just be aware that there are people that care about you.

:(


I lost my grandmother who I was very close to this past week. She raised me when I was little and my mom was at work. It's hard to say goodbye. My thoughts are with you and your friend's family.

[Scott Shaw 237]

Wow...unless I'm misinterpreting the message in the link, it sounds like your friend committed suicide. That's terrible. Losing someone close always hurts...losing someone in this manner seems to be far worse.

All that I can really offer is my sympathy...it's not very much, but just be aware that there are people that care about you.

:(
I have to agree with you. It sounds like Scott committed suicide. I am so sorry for your lose and you have my deepest sympathies.

[Daniel Brim]

Windtech, I'm so sorry for you. The pain that you must be feeling is unimaginable. To all of you people who are asking for an immediate release, honestly, you need to be aware of other people's feelings.

Good luck in the coming weeks.

[Heretic121]

windtech i know what your going through man and its going to be hard for a while, our school recently lost a student from a car acceident (one of my x'es best friends) so my smypathies are with you

[Jeff Waegelin]

Can we get back to the topic before this gets too off-track? There've been some rather inappropriate comments, and they have been dealt with. Any more, and this might need to be locked. So, let's get back to the discussion before one of the mods has to do that.

[Greg Needel]

i actully hate to be the one to bring this up again because i know how hard of a time this build season has been on you. But i was wondering if you had made any progress on your amazing simulator. i know alot of teams would have loved to use this for stratagy and being that it is the first week of regionals i just thoguht i would post the question. Also if your not done (which is understandable) is there a point where you could release a mid build so people could see your progress and have something to play with.....good luck this season with your team, and i hope to meet you along the way to shake your hand for something truely amazing that the FIRST community has never seen before

[Pat Roche]

Has anyone else launched themselves off the playing field yet? :D ;)

-Pat

[Racer26]

Wow. Period. That really sucks dude. I'm stunned that someone could have such a pessimistic outlook on life. I can't really even compare, as I have never lost someone that close to me. I hope youre doing okay. My sentences are so choppy because I can't believe my eyes. I certainly hope no CDers share the same outlook. In the words of Red Green: "Keep your stick on the ice"

[patTeam241]

Is the program still available, the sever seems to no longer exist. Is the program anywhere else?

[Astronouth7303]

I hadn't even heard of this, but there are at least 2 other threads about making a new one:
Here, and here.