Stories with Tag patterns

• Show HN: CFRS[] Community Demos: Patterns with turtle graphics using 6 commands

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  Posted: 2025-01-20 21:47:11

  Verbose tl;dr

  The Hacker News post showcases CFRS[], a minimalist esoteric programming language with just six commands designed for creating turtle graphics. The post links to a collection of community-created demos demonstrating the surprising complexity and artistic potential achievable with this limited instruction set. These demos range from simple geometric shapes to intricate fractal patterns and even animated sequences, illustrating the power of constrained creativity within CFRS[]. The project aims to explore the boundaries of what's possible with minimal coding and encourages experimentation with generative art.

  A Hacker News user has shared a project showcasing the surprising complexity achievable with a minimalist turtle graphics system. The project, titled "CFRS[] Community Demos: Patterns with turtle graphics using 6 commands," demonstrates the creation of intricate and diverse patterns using only six fundamental commands. This highly constrained approach to generative art explores the creative potential within strict limitations. The user highlights the community aspect, indicating that multiple individuals have contributed to the collection of demonstrated patterns. The post links to a website where these patterns can be viewed and, presumably, where more information about the project and the specific six commands can be found. This suggests a potential for community engagement and collaborative exploration of this minimalistic artistic medium. The emphasis on "patterns" implies that the focus is on the visual output generated by sequences of these six commands, and that the project is likely concerned with the aesthetic and mathematical properties of the resulting designs. The title's use of "CFRS[]" hints at a potentially underlying formal system or coding language, although the exact nature of this is not explicitly stated in the title itself. The project serves as an example of how compelling complexity can arise from seemingly simple rules and a limited instruction set.

  • Show HN
  • CFRS
  • Community Demos
  • Turtle Graphics
  • patterns
  • programming
  • Visualization
  • graphics
  • Demo
  • coding
  • art
  • Generative Art
  • Creative Coding
  • 6 Commands
  • minimalism

  Summary of Comments ( 1 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42773436

  Verbose tl;dr

  The Hacker News comments are generally positive and intrigued by the simplicity and potential of the CFRS[] project. Several commenters express interest in exploring the system further and appreciate the clear documentation and interactive examples. Some discuss the educational value for teaching programming concepts and the potential for creating complex patterns from a limited instruction set. A few commenters draw parallels to LOGO and other turtle graphics systems, while others suggest potential improvements like adding color or exploring different command sets. The overall sentiment reflects admiration for the project's elegance and its potential for creative exploration.

  The Hacker News post "Show HN: CFRS[] Community Demos: Patterns with turtle graphics using 6 commands" has generated a modest number of comments, primarily focusing on the simplicity and educational potential of the project.

  Several commenters express appreciation for the minimalist approach, highlighting the surprising complexity that can arise from a limited instruction set. One commenter draws a parallel to the elegance of the esoteric programming language Brainfuck, known for its extreme minimalism, suggesting that the demonstrated turtle graphics system shares a similar appeal. This commenter further muses on the potential for exploring Turing completeness within such constrained systems, wondering if complex computations could be performed using only the six turtle commands.

  Another commenter emphasizes the educational value of the project, particularly for introducing programming concepts to beginners. The visual nature of turtle graphics is seen as a key advantage, providing immediate and engaging feedback that can help learners grasp fundamental ideas. This commenter also suggests that the limited instruction set encourages creative problem-solving, forcing users to think strategically about how to achieve desired outcomes within the given constraints.

  A different comment focuses on the potential for artistic expression within the system, suggesting that the simple commands can be used to create intricate and aesthetically pleasing patterns. This commenter even proposes the possibility of generating animations or even music using the turtle graphics output, demonstrating the potential for extending the project beyond its initial scope.

  One commenter offers a practical suggestion for improvement, proposing the addition of a "repeat" command to simplify the creation of repetitive patterns. This addition is seen as a way to enhance the usability of the system without sacrificing its core simplicity.

  Finally, the original poster (OP) engages with the comments, responding to queries and providing clarifications. They explain the motivation behind the project, emphasizing its focus on accessibility and ease of use. The OP also acknowledges the suggestions for improvement, indicating a willingness to consider future enhancements based on community feedback.

  While the number of comments is not extensive, the discussion provides valuable insights into the project's strengths and potential applications. The overall sentiment is positive, with commenters praising the simplicity, educational value, and artistic potential of the turtle graphics system.

• Standard patterns in choice-based games (2015)

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  Posted: 2025-01-13 00:35:22

  Verbose tl;dr

  The blog post "Standard Patterns in Choice-Based Games" identifies common narrative structures used in choice-driven interactive fiction. It categorizes these patterns into timed choices, gated content based on stats or inventory, branching paths with varying consequences, hubs with radiating storylines, and hidden information or states that influence outcomes. The post argues that these patterns, while useful, can become predictable and limit the potential of the medium if overused. It advocates for greater experimentation with non-linearity and player agency, suggesting ideas like procedurally generated content, emergent narrative, and exploring the impact of player choice on the world beyond immediate consequences.

  The blog post "Standard Patterns in Choice-Based Games (2015)" by Emily Short explores common design patterns employed in interactive narratives, specifically those using a choice-based structure where the player progresses the story by selecting from presented options. Short argues that understanding these recurring structures can be beneficial for both authors creating these games and players engaging with them. Recognizing these patterns allows authors to deliberately utilize established techniques, potentially streamlining the development process and creating a more consistent player experience. For players, awareness of these patterns can enhance their understanding of the underlying mechanics driving the narrative, allowing for more strategic engagement with the choices presented.

  The post identifies several key patterns, categorizing them for clarity. One prominent category revolves around gating, where access to content or specific outcomes is controlled by earlier choices, often involving acquiring items, skills, or relationships. These gates can function as prerequisites, locking off content until specific criteria are met, or as branching paths, diverting the narrative based on the player's accumulated state. This pattern can enhance replayability by incentivizing players to explore different paths on subsequent playthroughs to unlock previously inaccessible content.

  Another significant category encompasses timers and counters. This refers to the implementation of hidden or explicit tracking mechanisms that influence the narrative's progression. A timer might represent a deadline the player must meet, while a counter could track the accumulation of resources or the development of a relationship. These mechanisms introduce a sense of urgency or consequence to player choices, as inaction or specific actions can increment or decrement these values, impacting future events. The post highlights how these mechanics can create a dynamic and evolving narrative landscape, even within the constraints of a choice-based system.

  Short also discusses patterns related to character relationships and internal states. These patterns often involve tracking the player character's relationship with non-player characters (NPCs), influencing the availability of certain dialogue options, actions, or even entire plotlines. The internal state of the player character, including traits like personality, morality, or mental health, can also be tracked and influence the unfolding narrative in similar ways. This allows for a more personalized player experience, reflecting the consequences of choices on the player character's development and relationships.

  The post further delves into hub and spoke structures, where the narrative revolves around a central location or concept (the hub) from which various self-contained storylines (the spokes) branch out. This allows players to explore different facets of the narrative world at their own pace, returning to the central hub to select new avenues for exploration. This structure offers flexibility in narrative design and can accommodate varying lengths and complexities of individual storylines.

  Finally, Short touches upon the concept of nested patterns, where multiple patterns are combined or layered to create more intricate and nuanced narrative experiences. For example, a gated section of the narrative might itself contain timers and counters, adding complexity to the player's decision-making process. This demonstrates the potential for sophisticated and dynamic storytelling even within the seemingly simple framework of choice-based games.

  By highlighting these patterns, the blog post provides a valuable framework for understanding the underlying design principles of choice-based games, fostering both greater appreciation for existing games and offering guidance for aspiring creators. It emphasizes that despite the apparent simplicity of choosing between predetermined options, the strategic deployment of these patterns can result in rich, engaging, and replayable interactive narratives.

  • choice-based games
  • Game Design
  • interactive fiction
  • narrative design
  • Game Development
  • patterns
  • design patterns
  • branching narratives
  • storytelling
  • 2015
  • user interface design
  • game mechanics
  • player agency
  • non-linear narrative
  • plot structure
  • replayability
  • user experience
  • information architecture

  Summary of Comments ( 53 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42678647

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN users discuss various aspects of choice-based games, focusing on the tension between player agency and authorial intent. Some highlight the "illusion of choice," where options ultimately lead to similar outcomes, frustrating players seeking meaningful impact. Others argue for embracing this, suggesting that the emotional journey, not branching narratives, is key. The implementation of choice is debated, with some advocating for simple, clear options, while others find value in complex systems with hidden consequences, even if they add development complexity. The importance of replayability is also raised, with the suggestion that games should offer new perspectives and outcomes on subsequent playthroughs. Finally, the use of randomness and procedural generation is discussed as a way to enhance variety and replayability, but with the caveat that it must be carefully balanced to avoid feeling arbitrary.

  The Hacker News post titled "Standard patterns in choice-based games (2015)" has generated a moderate number of comments, delving into various aspects of choice-based game design. While not an overwhelming discussion, several commenters offer interesting perspectives.

  One compelling thread revolves around the tension between player agency and pre-authored narrative. A commenter argues that choice-based games often create an illusion of choice, where pre-determined outcomes are simply dressed up with different wording. They suggest that true player agency requires more dynamic systems, where choices have meaningful and lasting consequences that ripple through the narrative. This sparks a small debate, with others arguing that the enjoyment of choice-based games lies precisely in experiencing carefully crafted narratives, and that excessive player agency can lead to incoherent or unsatisfying stories. The discussion touches upon the inherent limitations of the format, and the different expectations players might bring to these types of games.

  Another commenter highlights the importance of pacing and information control in choice-based games. They argue that effective games carefully reveal information to the player, creating suspense and a sense of discovery. Choices should feel meaningful not just in their immediate consequences, but also in how they shape the player's understanding of the game world and its underlying mysteries. This comment connects to the earlier discussion about player agency, suggesting that a sense of agency can be achieved through strategic information management, even within a pre-authored narrative.

  A few commenters also discuss specific examples of choice-based games, both successful and unsuccessful, illustrating the points raised in the broader discussion. These examples range from classic text adventures to more modern visual novels, highlighting the evolution of the genre and the different design approaches employed.

  While the discussion isn't exceptionally lengthy, it offers some insightful perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of choice-based game design, touching upon issues of narrative structure, player agency, and information control. The comments generally agree on the importance of carefully crafted narratives, while differing on the degree of player agency that is desirable or even achievable within the format.