My principal interest in mobile applications is to push the boundaries of innovation to create uniquely mobile experiences. I hope my blogs excite and challenge developers to think 'outside the box'.
As seen on TV and stress relief
coultonp | 16 July, 2008 13:49
Last night the BBC aired a program (can be seen here if your really interested
) hosted by Physicist Brian Cox which featured some of my work (nice N95' shots) and some from my colleagues in Infolab21 and apart from elevating me to the exalted tile of ‘Boffin’ 
its gives me a excuse to show one of my favourite projects of 2008 I had undergraduate Drew Jackson working on. The title of the project was Lancaster Bomber (in honour of the famous WW2 aircraft named after our fair city) and it’s a game whereby we recreated the Lancaster University campus to allow me to fly around and shoot at the buildings in my very own Lancaster Bomber. Here comes the stress relief if you watch the video from the BBC you will see my workplace Infolab21 and if you then watch the game you will see me blow it up in the game (after a nice flying manoever through the underpass which is were our buses depart from )which after a hard day can be deeply satisfying.
Interestingly the models of campus were made using Google Sketch-up (didn’t quite have enough time to finish all the detail for the whole of campus but that can be done later) and transferred to Dark Basic to turn it into a game. This proved to be a remarkably flexible solution ( especially as Drew hadn’t done any 3D modelling before) and meant we could use the models in a variety of forms on different platforms. My limited experience of flight simulator controls shows up in the video so I am planning to replace them by using an N95 instead
.
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Great press coverage
Sorcery-ltd | 17/07/2008, 11:34
I really liked the BBC video. Not so sure about Lancaster Bomber - looks like you should get Brian Cox to help out with the physics model (is there one?) :-)
Planes should turn when the they aren't flying level and the Lancaster Bomber would certainly have stalled if you pulled up that sharply coming out of the underpass... OK so I'm a physics and aircraft SIM geek! I'll shut up now.
I think I prefer the beer named after the aircraft that's named after your fair city though!
Mark
P.S. Just kidding, keep the great games coming!
beer and physics
coultonp | 17/07/2008, 13:31
Mark
To be honest (geekyness apart) you are right there isn’t much real relationship to actual plane physics here and I have incorporated some artistic license and sacrificed simulation for game play. However, its still deeply satisfying to fly around the campus blowing things up and maybe in the future I will extend my political incorrectness and incorporate people ;)
I am also an aficionado of the beer and next time perhaps I will do something around that ;)
Cool
Sorcery-ltd | 17/07/2008, 16:35
Yes, something in the style of A-10 Tank Killer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-10_Tank_Killer if you didn't enjoy that one at the time) with civilian cars, buses and people running around all over the place, fleeing for cover... sounds great!
Just try not to destroy the volunteer unit, my brother-in-law works there! Maybe when I'm over visiting sometime we can meet up for a pint of Lancaster Bomber. :)
BBC Video
GSi-R | 17/07/2008, 19:15
Great video, not seen Tomorrows World in a long time.
Very interesting concept regarding being able to paint your TV Screen anywhere.
Well done on the feature too mark.!
Micky
GSi-R
small world
coultonp | 17/07/2008, 20:46
Mark
small world i was doing some work with LUVU last week not sure if it was your bprother in law though.
Give us a shout if you come up to Lancaster and I will buy you a pint
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My principal interest in mobile applications is to push the boundaries of innovation to create uniquely mobile experiences. I hope my blogs excite and challenge developers to think 'outside the box'.
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Re: As seen on TV and stress relief
yundan | 16/07/2008, 19:11
顶:)
hehe,my english is poor-_-