Car Wars Designer - What Next? Need Help...

klausbreuer · 11-18-2010, 02:36 AM

Hi everybody!

My sincere apologies for not being active here for such a long time!
If you don't know who I am: I'm the nut who developed the Windoze-based CarWars vehicle designer, found (for free) here:
http://www.breueronline.de/klaus/carwars/index.html

I have been rather busy, creating a map system. This should be filled with cars driving about, allowing you to test your vehicle design.
This, however, drove me into the direction of Artificial Intelligence, and it turned out to be fascinating enough that I started writing a book about it (yes, it's doing well, hopefully be done in about three months).

Meanwhile, I also spent some time in the clinic. Turns out that I have a brain tumour, and won't be around for all that much longer.

Thus: the design program works well, but needs to have bikes and trucks added instead of just cars. However, I find it more important to finish the book, and thus have little time to continue with the CarDesigner.
If all goes well, I might be able to enlarge it, but time is slipping away...

And therefore I ask you: anybody interested in continuing the program? It's written in Borland Delphi for Windows, although I planned to port it to Lazarus (a free Delphi-like language, which results in code for Windows, Mac OS and Linux). I might be able to do the translation (easy enough), meaning you don't need to buy Delphi (if you're not already using it anyway).

The code is not difficult to understand (I always comment my code thoroughly), and I'll gladly help with any questions.

Ciao,
Klaus

TheChin! · 11-18-2010, 02:07 PM

Klaus,

Is there no hope for getting rid of the tumor? I am very truly sorry about your situation. It will be a real tragedy for this community to lose someone of your obvious talents, and I'm sure to the other communities you touch, both virtual and physical also. I hope you can beat the odds and pull through this. I remember you mentioning your chemo and you were gone so long this last time I thought you had permanently left. So your post is a relief and saddening at the same time.

If no other dedicated Delphi programmer present themselves, I could, as a last resort, attempt to continue on. I have experience using Borland Builder for C++ an had to pass some variablse between Delphi code and C++ so I'm not totally unfamiliar with it's syntax. I don't think that I would ever be able to complete the vehicle "testing" component you have been working on, but I probably could work out adding on other frames, weapons and accessories and such.

An admirer of your work,
Joe (TheChin!)

LokRobster · 11-18-2010, 04:42 PM

Wow Klaus, sorry to hear the bad news!!

I'm a fan of your car designer, thanks for your contributions to CW... I'm not a programmer but I know some others here are.

Good luck to ya, here's to beating the long odds. I'm hoping the Cure-All Nano-bots are developed by the time I'm looking at a terminal disease --

klausbreuer · 12-11-2010, 03:14 AM

Hi again, everybody!

I've got a major operation on Monday - if it goes well, I'll be around for a bit.
If not, well, I need somebody interested in the Source Code, as it might simply get lost otherwise.

I might be able to put a link to it on the net, but as far as I know, Steve Jackson wouldn't appreciate that. Thus: anybody interested, whom I could send it to, and who would look around for anybody interested in continuing this?

And don't worry - if the OP goes OK, I'll be adding bikes to the designer in a few months ;)

Ciao,
Klaus

Jeffr0 · 12-11-2010, 07:04 AM

Okay, Klaus. I guess I'll step up then. I've never coded Delphi, but I guess I'd figure it out in a pinch.

I'm in shock about this, though.

(I'll be praying for you on Monday.)

You really have made a tremendous contribution to CAR WARS fandom and are a really cool guy to boot. I wish I had something better to say right now....

Good luck with the op.

My email address is autoduelist AT gmail DOT com.

klausbreuer · 12-11-2010, 08:41 AM

Hi again!

Thanks a lot, Jeffr0, very much appreciated! :-D
I'll email you the sources today, it is (including a bunch of graphics) about 20 MB.
No need to worry about me too much, Monday I'll be cut up by a truly excellent Professor, very well known in this field :)

I promise to add some bikes to the designer when I come back from hospital in a few weeks ;-)

Ciao,
Klaus

PS: If anybody should be interested: I put up my (very nearly finished) tower defence game EMTD (Evil Ms Tower Defence) up, including the source:
http://www.breueronline.de/klaus/emtd/index.html

It is very easily extendible, using simple text files. Missing is just sound, and the maps are (so far) a bit unbalanced... feel free to email me feedback, additional maps, graphics, creeps and towers ;)

11-18-2010, 02:36 AM	#1
klausbreuer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Munich, Germany	Car Wars Designer - What Next? Need Help... Hi everybody! My sincere apologies for not being active here for such a long time! If you don't know who I am: I'm the nut who developed the Windoze-based CarWars vehicle designer, found (for free) here: http://www.breueronline.de/klaus/carwars/index.html I have been rather busy, creating a map system. This should be filled with cars driving about, allowing you to test your vehicle design. This, however, drove me into the direction of Artificial Intelligence, and it turned out to be fascinating enough that I started writing a book about it (yes, it's doing well, hopefully be done in about three months). Meanwhile, I also spent some time in the clinic. Turns out that I have a brain tumour, and won't be around for all that much longer. Thus: the design program works well, but needs to have bikes and trucks added instead of just cars. However, I find it more important to finish the book, and thus have little time to continue with the CarDesigner. If all goes well, I might be able to enlarge it, but time is slipping away... And therefore I ask you: anybody interested in continuing the program? It's written in Borland Delphi for Windows, although I planned to port it to Lazarus (a free Delphi-like language, which results in code for Windows, Mac OS and Linux). I might be able to do the translation (easy enough), meaning you don't need to buy Delphi (if you're not already using it anyway). The code is not difficult to understand (I always comment my code thoroughly), and I'll gladly help with any questions. Ciao, Klaus __________________ Have a look at the CarDesigner - feedback much appreciated!

11-18-2010, 02:07 PM	#2
TheChin! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cleveland, OH	Re: Car Wars Designer - What Next? Need Help... Klaus, Is there no hope for getting rid of the tumor? I am very truly sorry about your situation. It will be a real tragedy for this community to lose someone of your obvious talents, and I'm sure to the other communities you touch, both virtual and physical also. I hope you can beat the odds and pull through this. I remember you mentioning your chemo and you were gone so long this last time I thought you had permanently left. So your post is a relief and saddening at the same time. If no other dedicated Delphi programmer present themselves, I could, as a last resort, attempt to continue on. I have experience using Borland Builder for C++ an had to pass some variablse between Delphi code and C++ so I'm not totally unfamiliar with it's syntax. I don't think that I would ever be able to complete the vehicle "testing" component you have been working on, but I probably could work out adding on other frames, weapons and accessories and such. An admirer of your work, Joe (TheChin!)

11-18-2010, 04:42 PM	#3
LokRobster Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Republic of Texas; FOS	Re: Car Wars Designer - What Next? Need Help... Wow Klaus, sorry to hear the bad news!! I'm a fan of your car designer, thanks for your contributions to CW... I'm not a programmer but I know some others here are. Good luck to ya, here's to beating the long odds. I'm hoping the Cure-All Nano-bots are developed by the time I'm looking at a terminal disease -- __________________ Our decades-old & rarely updated CarWars blog & Hotwheel conversion tutorial: North Texas Autoduel Association

12-11-2010, 03:14 AM	#4
klausbreuer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Munich, Germany	Re: Car Wars Designer - What Next? Need Help... Hi again, everybody! I've got a major operation on Monday - if it goes well, I'll be around for a bit. If not, well, I need somebody interested in the Source Code, as it might simply get lost otherwise. I might be able to put a link to it on the net, but as far as I know, Steve Jackson wouldn't appreciate that. Thus: anybody interested, whom I could send it to, and who would look around for anybody interested in continuing this? And don't worry - if the OP goes OK, I'll be adding bikes to the designer in a few months ;) Ciao, Klaus __________________ Have a look at the CarDesigner - feedback much appreciated!

12-11-2010, 07:04 AM	#5
Jeffr0 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Harrisonburg VA	Re: Car Wars Designer - What Next? Need Help... Okay, Klaus. I guess I'll step up then. I've never coded Delphi, but I guess I'd figure it out in a pinch. I'm in shock about this, though. (I'll be praying for you on Monday.) You really have made a tremendous contribution to CAR WARS fandom and are a really cool guy to boot. I wish I had something better to say right now.... Good luck with the op. My email address is autoduelist AT gmail DOT com. __________________ Jeffro's Space Gaming Blog Microgames, Monster Games, and Role Playing Games

12-11-2010, 08:41 AM	#6
klausbreuer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Munich, Germany	Re: Car Wars Designer - What Next? Need Help... Hi again! Thanks a lot, Jeffr0, very much appreciated! :-D I'll email you the sources today, it is (including a bunch of graphics) about 20 MB. No need to worry about me too much, Monday I'll be cut up by a truly excellent Professor, very well known in this field :) I promise to add some bikes to the designer when I come back from hospital in a few weeks ;-) Ciao, Klaus PS: If anybody should be interested: I put up my (very nearly finished) tower defence game EMTD (Evil Ms Tower Defence) up, including the source: http://www.breueronline.de/klaus/emtd/index.html It is very easily extendible, using simple text files. Missing is just sound, and the maps are (so far) a bit unbalanced... feel free to email me feedback, additional maps, graphics, creeps and towers ;) __________________ Have a look at the CarDesigner - feedback much appreciated!