Many games are held together by duct tape • Hacker News Board

Re: Many games are held together by duct tape

#151

Post by somesortofsystm » Thu, Jan 16, 2020, 2:21 PM UTC

Jaruzel wrote: post #103

somesortofsystm wrote: post #19

I recently found myself trying to describe modern software techniques to a layman, who is a carpenter. "Its like this - you're hired to build a house. First, you have to go get someone motivated to harvest the raw materials for you - designs, logic, etc. - which will then be turned into the 'raw wood' that holds up the walls and keeps the roof on. Then, when that person is busy getting the materials cut, you start bu…

I'm not sure about 'modern software techniques' but to me, you seem to be describing Minecraft. :D

Take bit of this, a bit of that, string them together to make a tool that will do one thing. Put that tool between two other parts, and glue it in place.

Eventually, you get the house built and - if you're good - it looks pretty good and it keeps the kids warm.

But don't, ever, look between the walls. You won't be happy with all the thorny and spikey bits that are glued in place. And yeah, there's quite a lot of hammers and drills and saws literally glued in place - don't touch a single one. They belong there.

Re: Many games are held together by duct tape

#152

Post by somesortofsystm » Thu, Jan 16, 2020, 2:24 PM UTC

mr-ron wrote: post #84

mywittyname wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's like, 1) get a product owner to describe requirements (not sure why they are gathering raw mats instead of producing blue prints) 2) He tries to steal code from previous jobs to bring to new jobs, because he pretend that he "owns" them. 3) He can't steal code from previous jobs because he left them in the walls. 4) Javascript is glue.

But why is he gluing the tools?

They need to be there to keep the walls from falling over. :P

Re: Many games are held together by duct tape

#153

Post by michaelbrooks » Fri, Jan 17, 2020, 11:51 AM UTC

Ocerge wrote: post #76

michaelbrooks wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks to Breath of the Wild, I've recently enjoyed watching a few speedruns and it's amazing to see the number of glitches in BoTW. Check this out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEtHpCfi_DE I also don't understand how anyone can accept speedrunning through glitches as a world record, but I guess if everyone does the same run with similar or the same glitches then it's fair? Seems like it just becomes a race to know…

Sorry for the downvotes. For the speedrunning community, somebody pointing out that using glitches during a speedrun is cheating is a bit like making an obvious joke about somebody's last name. Not the first time they've heard it, and won't be the last :)

I only pointed it out because I wanted to understand the reasons, especially when world records are being set. However, I accept your apology and reasoning for downvoting me, and I would never point it out during someone's speedrun since I would just want to enjoy their achievements.

Re: Many games are held together by duct tape

#154

Post by xsmasher » Fri, Jan 17, 2020, 7:13 PM UTC

ken wrote: post #119

> “Games aren’t just an ordinary piece of software, they are a complex beast that require many different disciplines to successfully ship, and often on timelines that require sacrifices to be made,” said game developer ... Is this any different from any other type of software? What is this "ordinary" software that doesn't require different disciplines, or have timelines?

It's not the most complex or hardest kind of software, but it does have special concerns.

Dates are huge; you have to have a good E3 demo, and you (often) have to ship in time for Christmas. These dates can not slip.

There's also a lot more art / interfacing with artists / art tooling and collaboration than a typical software project.

Re: Many games are held together by duct tape

#155

Post by xsmasher » Fri, Jan 17, 2020, 7:16 PM UTC

petermcneeley wrote: post #33

braythwayt wrote: post #20

Nit: I wish people wouldn’t mention programming and computer science in the same essay, unless it’s something very technical such as discussing synchronization algorithms. Most programming isn’t science. Most programming isn’t even engineering. Most programming is contracting or DIY tinkering. We use ridiculous metaphors like constructing an airport, when most programmers are tradespeople working on renovations. Have…

Nit: Actually most programmers I know are vastly intellectually overqualified for their jobs. We are talking like science PhDs. It's not "tradespeople working on renovations" it's more like rocket surgeons making mud huts.

I would not call that "overqualified," just "overeducated."

It turns out the main requirements of the job are not education.