Topic: I've got an Energy setting macro utility... (Read 3580 times)

Vertigo · « **on:** January 22, 2003, 09:35:53 pm »

OK, I've built a small utility that can attach to SFC3 and manipulate the energy levels. This allows me to bind keys to "energy presets." It's even advanced enough to determine the *current* location of the green and red bars. So, a setting of 120% energy *is* 120%, no matter the hull. It's a very un-userfriendly "proof of concept" app right now, but it seems to work.

So, it can be done. The question becomes: is this a good idea? Is it worth polishing up to a full-blown utility? is it cheating to use such an app (it does give you an advantage)? Should it be expanded for other macro functions?

Making the core code was easily, I used to do reverse-engineering at my last job. It will take twice as long to make it user-friendly. In a perfect world, some MFC master could volunteer to build a front-end for me?

zaniwhoop2 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2003, 11:07:58 pm »

I am no MFC master, however I have played around a bit with it (nothing wildly complex though, basically dialogs and controls, files, a bit of the Internet, that's it). In short, I'll do it as best I can.

KD4 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2003, 06:11:55 am »

that is something that should have been put in the game from the begining

Rhaz · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2003, 07:36:26 am »

I think it's a great idea!

Son of Technobabble · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2003, 08:06:36 am »

It's great that somebody will work to fill the lack of an option that the game should have had in the first place. But beware, you, or the people who use it will eventually be accused of cheating (after all, it isn't a game feature). Just don't let that stop you.

BTW I think I read somewhere in the old boards that there was a similar tool for things like that in SFC2 (game commander?) maybe I'm wrong.

Keep up the good work!

Vertigo · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2003, 05:40:11 pm »

It seems to me it would be acceptable assuming you just warn the other side at the beginning of the match. Something as simple as a "using macro" chat line.

Anyway, I'm still hashing out how much functionality I want in the utility. I think I'll make the app remember different ships, and load different macros for each configuration.

Oh, and speed settings are DEFINTELY going in. I'll probably hijack the left/right cursor keys, so they cycle through:
full reverse
stop
1/4 (actually 26% due to the sweet spot)
1/2
3/4
full

Any suggestions on other functionality is greatly appreciated.

Vertigo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2003, 09:35:53 pm »

OK, I've built a small utility that can attach to SFC3 and manipulate the energy levels. This allows me to bind keys to "energy presets." It's even advanced enough to determine the *current* location of the green and red bars. So, a setting of 120% energy *is* 120%, no matter the hull. It's a very un-userfriendly "proof of concept" app right now, but it seems to work.

So, it can be done. The question becomes: is this a good idea? Is it worth polishing up to a full-blown utility? is it cheating to use such an app (it does give you an advantage)? Should it be expanded for other macro functions?

Making the core code was easily, I used to do reverse-engineering at my last job. It will take twice as long to make it user-friendly. In a perfect world, some MFC master could volunteer to build a front-end for me?

zaniwhoop2 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2003, 11:07:58 pm »

I am no MFC master, however I have played around a bit with it (nothing wildly complex though, basically dialogs and controls, files, a bit of the Internet, that's it). In short, I'll do it as best I can.

KD4 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2003, 06:11:55 am »

that is something that should have been put in the game from the begining

Rhaz · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2003, 07:36:26 am »

I think it's a great idea!

Son of Technobabble · « **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2003, 08:06:36 am »

It's great that somebody will work to fill the lack of an option that the game should have had in the first place. But beware, you, or the people who use it will eventually be accused of cheating (after all, it isn't a game feature). Just don't let that stop you.

BTW I think I read somewhere in the old boards that there was a similar tool for things like that in SFC2 (game commander?) maybe I'm wrong.

Keep up the good work!

Vertigo · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2003, 05:40:11 pm »

It seems to me it would be acceptable assuming you just warn the other side at the beginning of the match. Something as simple as a "using macro" chat line.

Anyway, I'm still hashing out how much functionality I want in the utility. I think I'll make the app remember different ships, and load different macros for each configuration.

Oh, and speed settings are DEFINTELY going in. I'll probably hijack the left/right cursor keys, so they cycle through:
full reverse
stop
1/4 (actually 26% due to the sweet spot)
1/2
3/4
full

Any suggestions on other functionality is greatly appreciated.

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