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#1 2012-02-17 11:35:14
- MathsIsFun
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Germ Battle Game
This is a game I am working on: Germ Battle Game
I want to do a lot more with it, but I found it fun to play just as it is, so enjoy!
(Why this game? It is a fun way to learn the importance of positioning resources. By watching the battle unfold you can improve your strategy.)
PS: learn the game by playing it. See if you can improve your score on a particular map before pressing "new".
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#2 2012-02-17 14:41:47
- bobbym
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Hi MIF;
I need more firepower! Best score 13.
New high, 18.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#3 2012-02-17 21:36:38
- anonimnystefy
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Re: Germ Battle Game
hi MIF
what bobbym said!
it would also be nice to have a speedup button and attacks in waves.1. wave are only the easiest opponents,then come harder and harder,and in the last wave comes the boss.
another thing could be to only earn points,and when opponents go int the X mark,just decrease the life count.With the points you gain you could buy better weaponry,etc.
but this is indeed a nice game and with some improvements i could love it as much as my favorite game of this type-The Balloon Tower Defense (all four parts).
just keep up the good work!!! 
The limit operator is just an excuse for doing something you know you can't.
“It's the subject that nobody knows anything about that we can all talk about!” ― Richard Feynman
“A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón
#4 2012-02-18 00:20:22
- phrontister
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Re: Germ Battle Game
This was an absolute bloodbath...horrible to see! 
I couldn't watch it all and had to avert my eyes from the slaughter to avoid the nightmares.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#5 2012-02-18 00:35:58
- bobbym
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Re: Germ Battle Game
New high, 427!
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#6 2012-02-18 08:34:44
- MathsIsFun
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Thanks guys. Will add improvements as time permits. Working on a "freeze" weapon (because cold does indeed slow down germs).
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#7 2012-02-18 08:38:32
- anonimnystefy
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Re: Germ Battle Game
i agree.let us know when you add the mprovements
The limit operator is just an excuse for doing something you know you can't.
“It's the subject that nobody knows anything about that we can all talk about!” ― Richard Feynman
“A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón
#8 2012-02-18 10:15:50
- bobbym
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Looks like we need something to slow down phrontister! That is a very big 704 there.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#9 2012-02-18 20:25:52
- phrontister
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Ok...with Slow-Down Mode set to ON.
For me that is left-handed (I'm right-handed), glasses off (I wear reading glasses), cup of tea in right hand, speakers muted.
Turned monitor off immediately after pressing Go, drank cuppa in 2 minutes (was a bit hot) whilst texting a friend with my phone in my left hand, turned monitor on again, observed my score>>>704.
Could that be the game's max? For all maps?
Last edited by phrontister (2012-02-18 21:12:25)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#10 2012-02-18 22:14:29
- MathsIsFun
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Yes, 704 is the max for the set of germs in this version. And a map where you can get good shooting coverage (like that one) is ideal.
I could make the germs more random.
I am experimenting with the freeze weapon, but it just seems to reduce the strategy to putting all weapons where the freeze happens. I was hoping it would broaden the strategy.
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#11 2012-02-18 22:47:09
- bobbym
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Re: Germ Battle Game
He got the max! Now, I did 250 lines of Bayesian analysis to figure where to place my iodine alone and only got 597.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#12 2012-02-19 01:24:10
- phrontister
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Hi MathsIsFun,
Thanks for a nice game - I'm enjoying it. Looking forward to seeing the improvements. 
Hi Bobby,
After reading Wolfram's Bayesian analysis article I'm not at all surprised at your low score from relying on that wobbly technique.
The article abounds with uncertainnesses, such as "endeavors", "estimate", "observed distribution", "may be based on anything", "assessment", "relative likelihoods", "observations", "in practice" (so they're still practising?!!), "it is common to assume", "appropriate range", "normalize", "probability", "confidence intervals", "inference" and "Bayesian analysis is somewhat controversial because the validity of the result depends on how valid the prior distribution is".
The article ends with "Bayesian analysis is used in the design of software filters to automatically detect and delete junk electronic mail (i.e., "spam")"...and we all know how successful that is (not)!
I reckon that if the author took all those wobbly expressions and their contexts, formed a 'ring of confidence' with them on a large enough sheet of paper and then cut out the circle, I'd be able to drive a truck through the hole.
Of course, I may have misunderstood the article entirely, because the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease score for the first two paragraphs is 12.3 (which is about 80 away from what I can cope with), while its Grade Level is 16.8 (which is way above my level of 'achievement').
All that aside, the positions of the soaps and iodine in my last post's 'slow-down' version are the first and final...no relocations were necessary during the game.
Last edited by phrontister (2012-02-19 12:26:32)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#13 2012-02-19 06:01:45
- bobbym
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Hi phrontister;
I tend to agree. I am not a big fan of even Bayes theorem, tending to support the small but vicious circle of people opposing it. Also, if given any choice I will not even use it.
16.8? Now how the heck do they come up with those numbers? I tend to use the rule that if there is more than 4 big words per page, then skip it. Why even my posts are too brainy for me.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#14 2012-02-19 08:11:30
- anonimnystefy
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Re: Germ Battle Game
so:
Last edited by anonimnystefy (2012-02-19 08:12:15)
The limit operator is just an excuse for doing something you know you can't.
“It's the subject that nobody knows anything about that we can all talk about!” ― Richard Feynman
“A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón
#15 2012-02-19 12:57:41
- phrontister
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Hi MathsIsFun,
Here's another 704 in which I didn't have to move the exterminators after their initial placement.
I can't score anywhere near as well with plainer maps, no matter what strategy I adopt. I found that out early on, and so I cheated by choosing helpful maps to get the good scores.
It looks like the maps are of random construction, cos I can't find maps of old games I've screen-captured.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#16 2012-02-19 13:48:55
- bobbym
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Hi all;
I found that out early on, and so I cheated by choosing helpful maps to get the good scores.
I guessed that. Lots of hairpin turns cause high casualties for the germs.
What I would like to see is no penalty for moving the soap or iodine. What I do not get is the big range of the iodine bottle. Seems that the actual kill zone is much smaller making it ineffective.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#17 2012-02-19 15:09:42
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Re: Germ Battle Game
The iodine explodes when it first contacts the edge of a germ. I might make it go a little further.
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#18 2012-02-19 17:10:16
- bobbym
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Hi MIF;
That will help, thanks.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#19 2012-02-20 09:56:38
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Update: New version posted (use Refresh, look for 0.3)
Two new weapons: freeze (slows em down), and antibody (small radius shooter)
Have included a cell division, so the germs can multiply!
But I am not sure if this makes the game better or not, so could you guys test it out? You can change the number of seconds under options. Set a high value to reduce frequency. Be careful of a small value (like 3), you will get overwhelmed. Let me know if it is a nice option, and how many seconds the cell division should be.
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#20 2012-02-20 10:13:49
- bobbym
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Hi MIF;
Scores are down a little but it is working fine. This is level 3.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#21 2013-04-24 16:01:21
- julianthemath
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Re: Germ Battle Game
So addictive! I got 283!
Buy 1
for $1, 
for $0.50, for $3, 
for $2.50, 
for $1.25, 
for $0.25, and 
for $5.Come on, buy a smiley!
#22 2013-04-24 16:05:54
- julianthemath
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Re: Germ Battle Game
-2652?
Buy 1
for $1, for $0.50, for $3, for $2.50, for $1.25, for $0.25, and for $5.Come on, buy a smiley!
#23 2013-04-24 19:17:11
- julianthemath
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Re: Germ Battle Game
Why do I always get negatives? I'm having a negative nightmare already!
Buy 1
for $1, for $0.50, for $3, for $2.50, for $1.25, for $0.25, and for $5.Come on, buy a smiley!
#24 2013-04-26 10:57:41
- mathgogocart
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Re: Germ Battle Game
ahhhhh negative 146
Last edited by mathgogocart (2013-04-26 10:57:58)
bbcode;.Uhhhhhhhhh im bored.
"Those who feed spambots are spambot conspiarators,and bad people." mathgogocart.
#25 2013-04-26 12:20:36
- bobbym
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Re: Germ Battle Game
I give lessons, 3 times a week, if you are interested.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.