• xtrn/utopia/utopia.js

    From Rob Swindell (on Windows 11)@VERT to Git commit to main/sbbs/master on Tue Jan 20 22:57:09 2026
    https://gitlab.synchro.net/main/sbbs/-/commit/996c10d895fd35996a8874d8
    Added Files:
    xtrn/utopia/utopia.js
    Log Message:
    AI (Gemini) attempt at a clone of the Intellivision game "Utopia" for SBBS

    This version of the script (the AI called v10.1.16) was the result of several prompts/iterations and at a point where the bot really couldn't add any more features or functions (even though it kept suggesting great ones) without removing basic functionality or (re)introducing bugs. It got really frustrating after this point, basically going in circles with a very apologetic but confident programming robot. Still... impressive for a *free* AI chat bot. https://gemini.google.com/share/71b6228f0bf7

    I did js-beautify the code and removed the comment block at the top, but otherwise, it's exactly as Gemini made it. It's a playable game but has some issues I'll be addressing:
    - the cosmetics (e.g. graphic character choices) are pretty basic/ugly
    - it's very hard-coded for an 80x24 terminal (not a huge issue)
    - it only spawns a single fish
    - it saves the user-game data in the current directory instead of the "correct"
    path/filename (data/user/####.*)
    - the saved-game data (json) isn't versioned, so it really has to match the
    game version you run or weird behavior or errors will happen when you load a
    saved game from a different version
    - the game economics aren't really fleshed out
    - some of the (important?) elements of the original (e.g. hospitals) aren't
    included (https://history.blueskyrangers.com/instructions/utopia.html), but
    being single player instead of multi-player I do expect there to be some
    differences (e.g. PT boats being sinkable by pirates and being able to sink
    pirates, I think is a good one)

    There were a lot of good ideas that the AI suggested and even implemented before and after this version of the script and I'll try to merge those in while also addressing my own concerns/issues with the game.

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    þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net
  • From Rob Swindell (on Debian Linux)@VERT to Git commit to main/sbbs/master on Wed Jan 21 03:32:24 2026
    https://gitlab.synchro.net/main/sbbs/-/commit/8665d57b9ebd4a6cdf4dc829
    Modified Files:
    xtrn/utopia/utopia.js
    Log Message:
    Multi-fish patch

    Successfully merged in Gemini's patch for multiple fish

    I also changed some of the characters used to be a little better
    (e.g. $ for merchant, the Pt symbol for Pirate, lowercase alpha for fish)

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net
  • From Rob Swindell (on Debian Linux)@VERT to Git commit to main/sbbs/master on Wed Jan 21 18:16:36 2026
    https://gitlab.synchro.net/main/sbbs/-/commit/11183ff911935e79e5a7edf8
    Modified Files:
    xtrn/utopia/utopia.js
    Log Message:
    Cosmetic and usability improvements

    - flash (blink) the fish and boats when they're caught/sunk for one turn
    - don't redraw the legend for every turn
    - add Ctrl-R key to force a redraw (for testing mainly)
    - add [L]og key to view all past messages
    - turns count up rather than down
    - some code cleanup
    - better error logging
    - no AI-generated code added in this commit

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    þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net