Atomic Shrimp - Tag - Games2023-02-01T12:10:35+00:00urn:md5:c0b98cd55ab1d3c468ecdbd19e8bc1dbDotclearPlay PRANG!urn:md5:80e11d3382e4425eaa5e96c4cc24b9de2020-01-10T19:36:00+00:002022-04-06T19:46:15+00:00MikeGamesProjects<p><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/p/prangsmallthumb.png" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" />PRANG! is a brand new retro-style game - Play PRANG!</p> <h3 class="clearleft">Origins</h3>
<p>PRANG! started out life as a joke - in one of my scambaiting videos, a scammer accused me of 'playing prang of the transaction' (I think they meant 'playing pranks') - In my video, I turned this into a little mockup of an 8 bit video game; you can see that at around the 2:40 timestamp in this video:<br />
</p>
<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FgxD9WiCPrw" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Much, much later, it occurred to me that I could make PRANG! into a real game - and here it is!</p>
<h2>Credits</h2>
<p>None of this would have been possible without the coding skills of <a href="https://www.fiverr.com/gamegeek3">GameGeek3 on Fiverr.com</a>, who coded this game from my sketchy design and game rules.</p>
<p>The music for the game comes from the album <a href="https://ozzed.net/music/dunes-at-night.shtml">Dunes At Night from OZZED.net</a>, comprising:the three tracks: <em><strong>Secret Treehouse</strong></em>, <em><strong>A Calmer Day</strong></em> and <em><strong>Boink </strong></em>- the composer also has a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczW2AAWEWI2gR-wTh5jMrQ">YouTube channel here.</a></p>
<h2>Playing PRANG!</h2>
<p>Click the big ol' button below to open PRANG! in a new tab or window</p>
<p><a href="http:\\atomicshrimp.com\prang" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/p/playbutton.png" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" /></a></p>
<p class="clearleft">Instructions are inside the game, but in a nutshell:</p>
<p>You're PRANG (a yellow octopus thing). Click or tap somewhere on the screen to make PRANG go there in a straight line</p>
<ul>
<li>Collect food items for points</li>
<li>You can't go through the obstacles (green trucks)</li>
<li>The pink umbrella is a powerup - it gives you 15 seconds during which you move faster and can destroy enemies (for points), but if you hit an obstacle during powerup, you lose a life</li>
<li>The enemies (each named for a different scammer I have baited) all have different behaviours; some of them chase you; some move randomly; some can traverse walls; some can destroy the same food you are collecting</li>
</ul>
<p>As the game progresses, obstacles get more numerous, as do enemies, who get faster; food gets more scarce</p>
<h2>Sources</h2>
<p>Want to make your own version or implementation of PRANG!? You Can!</p>
<p><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" rel="license"><img alt="Creative Commons Licence" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-sa/4.0/88x31.png" style="border-width:0" /></a><br />
<span property="dct:title" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/">PRANG!</span> by <a href="http://atomicshrimp.com/post/2020/01/10/Play-PRANG%21" property="cc:attributionName" rel="cc:attributionURL" xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#">Atomic Shrimp</a> is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" rel="license">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License</a>.<br />
Based on a work at <a href="http://www.ozzed.net" rel="dct:source" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/">http://www.ozzed.net</a>.</p>
<p>You are free to remix, adapt and reuse this game - do what you like with it - for free or for profit, but please recognise and attribute the people who have already worked on this (see credits section above), and share what you create freely.</p>
<p>Download the full source and assets <a href="http://www.atomicshrimp.com/public/files/prang.zip">here</a></p>
<p> </p>Invention Diceurn:md5:0910c9aa3df9ad12202c250e057756942014-01-20T23:47:00+00:002015-01-14T00:42:34+00:00MikeCraftGamesProjectsWoodworking<p><img alt="inventiondicethumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondicethumb.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="inventiondicethumb.jpg, Jan 2013" />Even the most creative people get stuck for ideas once in a while - here's a way of generating brand new ideas - Invention Dice - a method for making the Muse less fickle.</p> <p class="clearleft">It's a set of six dice - each one has a theme; the themes are:</p>
<ul>
<li>Materials</li>
<li>Motive Power</li>
<li>Scale</li>
<li>Device</li>
<li>Consumer</li>
<li>Action</li>
</ul>
<p><img alt="inventiondice1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice1.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;" title="inventiondice1.jpg, Jan 2013" /></p>
<p>Rolling the dice generates one of 46,656 different unique combinations - which the inventor can then use as inspiration for a brainstorming session.</p>
<p>Some of the combinations are nonsensical, but this itself can be provocative - and the ideas that flow from your imagination in this process don't necessarily have to fit all or any of the original criteria - it's just meant to spark the imagination.</p>
<h3 class="clearleft">Making The Dice</h3>
<p><img alt="inventiondice2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice2.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="inventiondice2.jpg, Jan 2013" />I made my Invention Dice from a piece of scrap hardwood - in this case, False Acacia, which is a nice heavy, hard wood that can be sanded to a smooth finish. Beech, maple cherry, apple or other fine-grained hardwoods would also work.</p>
<p>I planed the piece until it was square (about 2cm) in section (as the piece was originally a thick dowel, there was a slight rounded chamfer on each edge, but this didn't matter, as I would be sanding chamfers on all edges of the dice anyway).</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="inventiondice3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="inventiondice3.jpg, Jan 2013" />I clamped a stop to my mitre jig and cut six identical cubes.</p>
<div class="wikinote notetip">
<p class="note-title"><strong>Tip:</strong></p>
<p>cut a slice off the end first to make sure it's cut square - then lay this slice down and use it to measure and accurately position the clamped stop - that way, you'll cut perfect cubes)</p>
</div>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="inventiondice4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice4.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="inventiondice4.jpg, Jan 2013" />I sanded each face of each cube, then sanded a small chamfer on each edge - this makes the dice more comfortable to use - and helps them to roll a little more.</p>
<p>It's a lot of sanding - 36 faces, 72 edges and 48 corners, but it's worth taking the time to do it properly.</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="inventiondice6.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice6.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="inventiondice6.jpg, Jan 2013" />Using Inkscape (an open source vector graphics program) I designed a set of icons for the faces of the dice - my original plan was to print these in mirror image on T Shirt transfer material, then iron them onto the faces of the dice - but that didn't work (they didn't adhere well to the smooth wood - and there was a tendency to scorch the timber)</p>
<p>So I drew them by hand onto each face - using a CD marker pen - then painted them (where appropriate) with acrylic paints, then touched up the outlinee again with the CD pen.</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="inventiondice7.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice7.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="inventiondice7.jpg, Jan 2013" />I wrote the labels underneath with a fine graphic pen.</p>
<p>It's worth testing all of these media on a scrap piece of wood, as some inks will tend to bleed into the grain - and some woods are more absorbent than others.</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="inventiondice8.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice8.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="inventiondice8.jpg, Jan 2013" />I knitted a small string bag with a drawstring - using my 14-peg French knitting loom - but it would have been just as easy to sew a small pouch out of scraps of fabric.</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="inventiondice9.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice9.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="inventiondice9.jpg, Jan 2013" />The six dice pack nicely inside the string bag and it fits comfortably in the pocket .</p>
<h3 class="clearleft">Playing The Game</h3>
<p>Just roll the dice, then try to assemble them into a coherent statement - then think about how you would make that thing - for example (as pictured):</p>
<p><b><img alt="inventiondice11.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice11.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="inventiondice11.jpg, Jan 2013" />Giant Random Industrial Metal Clockwork Robot</b></p>
<p>This could be an idea for a story - or maybe just elements of this combination are provocative - how can we use randomness industrially? - How would you make a random device based on clockwork mechanism? Is it possible to make clockwork toy robots from industrial scrap metal? etc...</p>
<p class="clearleft"><b><img alt="inventiondice12.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice12.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="inventiondice12.jpg, Jan 2013" />Wearable Organic Wind Stealth Home Vehicle</b></p>
<p>Hmmm... tricky, but maybe it could provoke thoughts on sustainable laundry drying methods for camper vans used by crack commandos.</p>
<p>OK, work with me... the point is, this starts you thinking in new directions - what about a foldable fabric wind turbine for charging a camping lantern?</p>
<p class="clearleft"><b><img alt="inventiondice13.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice13.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="inventiondice13.jpg, Jan 2013" />Manual Random Pocket Wood Personal Game</b></p>
<p>I'm picturing something made from wooden cubes... Any ideas?</p>
<h3 class="clearleft">If You Want To Make Your Own</h3>
<p>If you can't find suitable timber, or can't be bothered with all that cutting and sanding, it's possible to buy blank dice or wooden cubes from craft stores.</p>
<h3>The Icons</h3>
<p>The icons comprise:</p>
<ul>
<li><b>Materials:</b> Metal, Wood, Plastic, Edible, Paper, Organic</li>
<li><b>Motive Power:</b> Manual, Electric, Clockwork, Solar, Wind, Water</li>
<li><b>Scale:</b> Giant, Mini, Pocket, Portable, Wearable, Inhabitable</li>
<li><b>Device:</b> Robot, Vehicle, Computer, Game, Tool, Art</li>
<li><b>Consumer:</b> Family, Personal, Office, Home, Industrial, Public</li>
<li><b>Action:</b> Flying, Random, Self-Build, Underwater, Stealth, Disposable</li>
</ul>
<h3>Printable</h3>
<p>A high-quality PNG version of this icon set is <a href="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/i/inventiondice5.png">here</a> - it can be printed on self-adhesive paper and attached to premade blank dice.</p>
<p>Obviously, these aren't the only possible categories of icons for a set like this, and other possibilities exist within each category.</p>
<h2 class="clearleft">Play Invention Dice Online!</h2>
<p>If you can't wait to make your own Invention Dice (or if you just can't be bothered), you can still play the online version here:</p>
<div class="imagecentre" p=""><iframe frameborder="0" height="100" name="dice" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/include/dice/dice.php" width="520"></iframe>
<p><button onclick="var ifr=document.getElementsByName('dice')[0]; ifr.src=ifr.src;">Roll The Dice</button></p>
</div>Ribwort Plantain Shoot Em Upurn:md5:eedc72647d4ec9f3d22577cab543e6552012-08-11T23:01:00+00:002015-03-15T23:02:31+00:00MikeGamesSummerVideo<p><img alt="ribwortplantainthumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/r/ribwortplantainthumb.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="ribwortplantainthumb.jpg, Mar 2015" />Back when I was a young lad, we didn't have computers, video games or the Internet</p>
<p>Instead, we had to play in a shared multiplayer fully-immersive actual-reality environment called 'outdoors'. Here's one of the things we used to do.</p> <p class="clearleft"> </p>
<div class="imagecentre"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="383" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BI90tvH7HqY" width="510"></iframe></div>
<h3>Ribwort Plantain</h3>
<p>Ribwort Plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i>) is a very common plant of grassy places such as fields, roadsides and gardens. It forms a rosette of strap-like leaves, from which wiry, ridged stalks arise, bearing green/brown cone-like compound flower heads, surrounded by a halo of tiny cream-coloured bracts, held on hair-thin stalks that allow them to quiver in even the slightest breeze.</p>
<p>Because of the brownish colour of the inflorescence, it's easy to dismiss this plant as unattractive - but take a closer look - it's really rather beautiful in its own way.</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="ribwortplaintain1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/r/ribwortplaintain1.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;" title="ribwortplaintain1.jpg, Mar 2015" /></p>
<h3 class="clearleft">Shooting Ribwort Plantain</h3>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="ribwortplaintain2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/r/ribwortplaintain2.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="ribwortplaintain2.jpg, Aug 2012" />Pick a long stalk - tough-stemmed ones with short, fat inflorescences work best.</p>
<p>Hold with the flower pointing away from you, then bring the base end of the stalk around and fold it in a loop just below the flower.</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="ribwortplaintain3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/r/ribwortplaintain3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="ribwortplaintain3.jpg, Aug 2012" />Grasp the stalks firmly in both hands and pull the loop upwards to the neck of the inflorescence.</p>
<p>The stalks are slightly elastic; hopefully, the stalk will snap just below the flower and it will be catapulted forward up to a dozen feet.</p>
<h3>Conservation</h3>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="ribwortplaintain4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/r/ribwortplaintain4.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="ribwortplaintain4.jpg, Aug 2012" />Normally, the picking of wild flowers is not really recommended, however, Ribwort Plantain reproduces quite prolifically - there's very little risk of this species being driven to extinction by kids playing this game - and anyway, by the time they're ready for ballistic use, they already contain some viable seeds, so maybe you'd actually be helping.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>