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Microsoft Tilecode

microsoft.github.io

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Re: Microsoft Tilecode

#11

With Christmas coming up soonish, and many of us going to be locked in at home (even more than ever before), there's a device I can recommend that is fun to build and reasonably fun to build on. It's basically a GameBoy (and runs emulators for it and other devices) for a laughably low price: https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/odroid-go/ (first link I found, there may be better ones — I bought it in Europe, where a few o…

I really got into these retro handhelds recently and I love them, but I would like to suggest some more options as Odroid has stock issues a lot of the time (do go for them if they're in stock, though, the shipping times are much better than other retro handhelds.)

For cheap, I'd suggest the Pocket Go, [1] but for my favourite I love the RG350P, [2] which is a little more expensive but has a community with a lot of homebrew behind it and it can run pretty much anything from PS1 downwards. There is also the RK2020 [3] with a little more oomph than the RG350P, the RK2020 is a pretty brazen Odroid-Go Advance clone, so if Odroid has the Go Advance in stock, get that instead, but they rarely do.

If you find these just a touch too expensive, they can be found on Banggood for small to hefty discounts. I got my RG350 (not RG350P, the RG350P is a minor improvement over the RG350 but at around the same price) for $60 on Banggood. Also, expect 1-2 month shipping on these consoles, but in my opinion it's so worth it.

[1] https://retromimi.com/collections/handhelds/products/pocketg... [2] https://retromimi.com/collections/handhelds/products/rg350p [3] https://retromimi.com/collections/handhelds/products/rk2020

Re: Microsoft Tilecode

#12

With Christmas coming up soonish, and many of us going to be locked in at home (even more than ever before), there's a device I can recommend that is fun to build and reasonably fun to build on. It's basically a GameBoy (and runs emulators for it and other devices) for a laughably low price: https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/odroid-go/ (first link I found, there may be better ones — I bought it in Europe, where a few o…

This is really underpowered....

For the same money you can get a powkiddy or something simillar, running linux and with support for GBA, (S)NES, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNrpVhP8fDc

All the usual suspects (ebay, aliexpress,...) have it.

also firmware: https://github.com/TriForceX/MiyooCFW

Re: Microsoft Tilecode

#13

It strongly looks like PuzzleScript [1]. In fact, I would be surprised that this wasn't inspired by PuzzleScript; the paper [2] seems to have no mention of PuzzleScript though. [1] https://www.puzzlescript.net/ [2] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/uploads/prod/2020/0...

There is a whole class of visual term rewriting programming languages, usually targeted at children. I think KidSim https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/176789.176795 was the first of them. PuzzleScript is awesome and definitely in the same category. One of the interesting things about TileCode is that it works on a Gameboy like device with minimal inputs and no mouse or keyboard.

Thank you for the pointer! My bad that I didn't thoroughly read the related work section (which does mention KidSim). I think I was also misled because the "when" section of the rule is based on the pattern, but its "do" section is not the output pattern but the instruction list for each actor matched in the pattern. In the other words it can potentially do much more than pattern rewriting (note that PuzzleScript also extends on this, so it is evident that this mechanism has a strong limitation).

Re: Microsoft Tilecode

#14

With Christmas coming up soonish, and many of us going to be locked in at home (even more than ever before), there's a device I can recommend that is fun to build and reasonably fun to build on. It's basically a GameBoy (and runs emulators for it and other devices) for a laughably low price: https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/odroid-go/ (first link I found, there may be better ones — I bought it in Europe, where a few o…

This is really underpowered.... For the same money you can get a powkiddy or something simillar, running linux and with support for GBA, (S)NES, etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNrpVhP8fDc All the usual suspects (ebay, aliexpress,...) have it. also firmware: https://github.com/TriForceX/MiyooCFW

Those don't have GPIO pins, the Odroid Go does. There's something inherently charming about being able to run emulated games on a microcontroller. Also, because it's an ESP32, it supports Arduino so playing around with programming it is fairly straightforward.

The Go has good battery life, instant-on, and has a certain DIY spirit. I don't know if it's possible to run MakeCode programs directly on the Odroid Go but it would probably be doable for someone with more knowledge of these things.

Re: Microsoft Tilecode

#16
post #11

With Christmas coming up soonish, and many of us going to be locked in at home (even more than ever before), there's a device I can recommend that is fun to build and reasonably fun to build on. It's basically a GameBoy (and runs emulators for it and other devices) for a laughably low price: https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/odroid-go/ (first link I found, there may be better ones — I bought it in Europe, where a few o…

I really got into these retro handhelds recently and I love them, but I would like to suggest some more options as Odroid has stock issues a lot of the time (do go for them if they're in stock, though, the shipping times are much better than other retro handhelds.) For cheap, I'd suggest the Pocket Go, [1] but for my favourite I love the RG350P, [2] which is a little more expensive but has a community with a lot of h…

Do you assemble these yourself? I don't really care that much about the console, more about the fun and reward of building it yourself. I see it more as a fun project.

Re: Microsoft Tilecode

#17

With Christmas coming up soonish, and many of us going to be locked in at home (even more than ever before), there's a device I can recommend that is fun to build and reasonably fun to build on. It's basically a GameBoy (and runs emulators for it and other devices) for a laughably low price: https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/odroid-go/ (first link I found, there may be better ones — I bought it in Europe, where a few o…

If it can play Game Boy games I’ve made an easy to use game maker that’s starting to get quite popular https://www.gbstudio.dev/

Re: Microsoft Tilecode

#18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is really underpowered.... For the same money you can get a powkiddy or something simillar, running linux and with support for GBA, (S)NES, etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNrpVhP8fDc All the usual suspects (ebay, aliexpress,...) have it. also firmware: https://github.com/TriForceX/MiyooCFW

Those don't have GPIO pins, the Odroid Go does. There's something inherently charming about being able to run emulated games on a microcontroller. Also, because it's an ESP32, it supports Arduino so playing around with programming it is fairly straightforward. The Go has good battery life, instant-on, and has a certain DIY spirit. I don't know if it's possible to run MakeCode programs directly on the Odroid Go but it…

You're speaking my language. This is a shameless self plug but we - that is Pimoroni - are working on 32blit which is an STM32F750-based microcontroller games console that should be up for general sale soooon - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pimoroni/32blit-retro-i...

Our beta backer tier have been godlike in their ability to make the STM32 do things I'd never thought we'd see... much less see before it's even launched. I mean it already has a Doom port.

I think, compared to the off-the-shelf Emu handhelds on which I cut my teeth (as far back as GP2X and Dingoo A320 days) it's underpowered and overpriced but you're dead on the money that they have a different charm and set of challenges.

MakeCode compiles down to native instructions, IIRC, so it should run on pretty much anything capable of running a screen that meets their - relatively forgiving - specs - https://arcade.makecode.com/hardware/adding

Edit: GP2X not GP32X!

Re: Microsoft Tilecode

#19
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really got into these retro handhelds recently and I love them, but I would like to suggest some more options as Odroid has stock issues a lot of the time (do go for them if they're in stock, though, the shipping times are much better than other retro handhelds.) For cheap, I'd suggest the Pocket Go, [1] but for my favourite I love the RG350P, [2] which is a little more expensive but has a community with a lot of h…

Do you assemble these yourself? I don't really care that much about the console, more about the fun and reward of building it yourself. I see it more as a fun project.

In the case of Odroid Go and Odroid Go Advance, yes. The others no, they're more like an actual product.

Re: Microsoft Tilecode

#20
post #5

Well, I was working on a 2D engine that could do these kind of games (but mostly top down RPGs). I end up developing a tile map editor[1], giving the user the ability to develop their own maps. I end up liking this tile editor so much that I spent more time adding isometric features to it. Both because I love isometric maps and it seems to please people playing the game. So, as in right now, I have a tile map editor…

Looks pretty cool! How would you self-compare your tile editor vs. mapeditor.org ? Where there any interesting ideas etc. that you tried in yours?
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