MP STACKERS, newbie game, (started) - Page 24

Verjigorm · #1 June 16th, 2010, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gandalf Parker

Nothing is impossible, its a computer. Impossible is just a technical term we use for "yeah I suppose I could do it but I really believe that it would be more time and effort than its worth".

In this case I could setup something that allowed upload to a different port, or by webpage, or by email. And then set up some sort of check routine for IF the timer runs out and IF xxxxxx nation has not uploaded to the primary port and IF they have a provisional turn file THEN copy the provisional file into place before HOSTing.

I take that back. Its impossible. But that was fun. Thanks for the idea. Maybe some game. Some really monstrously large long-running game like using all 93 nation slots on a 1500 province map.

Well, "Impossible" in computer terms is defined by the set of problems which a Turing machine cannot solve. There are problems which we know are out of bounds such as the ability of a computer to determine when the number of iterations of a loop are infinite or finite, and some which we don't think are out of bounds, but don't know how to solve yet such as the Painter's Problem.

Theoretical Computer Science is fun. ^_^

13lackGu4rd · #2 June 17th, 2010, 05:08 AM

Verjigorm, you went too far

the most basic impossible command for a computer is to divide something by 0, no matter why no matter when. same as in math, after all computers use the mathematical language... than there are the more complicated issues such as the infinite loops that you've mentioned, among some others. oh and while we're at it, computers can't judge situations, they can only make comparisons.

otic · #3 June 17th, 2010, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 13lackGu4rd

Verjigorm, you went too far

the most basic impossible command for a computer is to divide something by 0, no matter why no matter when. same as in math, after all computers use the mathematical language... than there are the more complicated issues such as the infinite loops that you've mentioned, among some others. oh and while we're at it, computers can't judge situations, they can only make comparisons.

I like Verjigorm's answer better. The halting problem and the busy beaver problem are counterexamples to "nothing is impossible" that you can work out on paper. Division by zero is something my computer does just fine - when I ask for x/0 it tell me "undefined", which is a good answer. The claim that computers will never be able to render judgments is an expression of pessimism about AI that AFAIK isn't as widely accepted as the halting problem.

Gandalf Parker · #4 June 17th, 2010, 09:36 AM

You people get deep.

I just use the "impossible" thing to try and spark people into actually asking for things. No matter whether its a consult job, or something in a forum like this, I have a hard time getting them to ask for "impossible" things. I have a hacker attitude that makes it hard for me to put time in on something that just amounts to lots of "doing" and no creative thinking. Ive turned down paying jobs because they couldnt come up with anything challenging.

Jorus · #5 June 18th, 2010, 08:06 AM

I just sat down to finalize my moves, only to find out that the game has hosted after 24 hours. I thought the 36 hour limit was accepted. Anyhow, I can't afford another stale, I'm battling for my life.

Gandalf Parker · #6 June 18th, 2010, 08:23 AM

It did seem to be accepted.
But by the time I had accepted that, taking it down and putting it back with 36 was abit much.

Now that it has hosted I took it down, changed the timer to 36, and put it back up.

Jorus · #7 June 18th, 2010, 09:06 AM

Well, that was fast.
Anyhow - it's pretty easy for me, as I said before, I cannot afford another stale. You can go back to 24 hours as far as I'm concerned. I won't be making any more moves.
Sorry guys, it was fun while it lasted.

Gandalf Parker · #8 June 18th, 2010, 10:44 AM

Yeah its not every time that I happen to be sitting right at the machine when it hosts in order to stop it and reset the timer. But its nice when it happens that way since people dont see a wrong timer for a few hours then complain because they planned on the time it originally showed. Its best to try and keep the countdown display on the game and in the check webpage to be un-fluctuating

So I guess we will be looking for a sub for Jotunheim which is in a very strong position in the game.

Jorus · #9 June 18th, 2010, 11:40 AM

I posted the opening in the appropriate forum, we'll see.

Perhaps you (Gandelf) should have acknowledged that a mistake had been made and made a rollback (as I requested immediately after the hosting) at the same time you reset the timer. Mistakes happen, and how one handles them is the important thing.

Gandalf Parker · #10 June 18th, 2010, 12:14 PM

??? Im not sure how appropriate it would be for me to acknowledge that you made a mistake. Did you want to request a rollback to the group?

The timers, both in the game and in the webpage, showed correctly the whole time so it wasnt a server error.
The switch to 36 hours for the weekend and after went rather more smoothly than normal I thought since I was able to catch it right at hosting time. I thought it would solve your problem.

I dont see anything about another timeframe for the change being mentioned by me. I will look thru the posts again.