Comments on: Colossal turing machine made in city-building game http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 22:33:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Chevan http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762113 Chevan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762113 What's also really impressive is that this isn't the only approach to building an in-game computer in Dwarf Fortress. There was another person who built a working calculator using a mechanism and switch design instead of a water-based system: http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/User:BaronW What’s also really impressive is that this isn’t the only approach to building an in-game computer in Dwarf Fortress. There was another person who built a working calculator using a mechanism and switch design instead of a water-based system: http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/User:BaronW

]]> By: mramberg http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762630 mramberg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762630 So if I get this right, God exists and he's making theoretical machines out of virtual dwarf cities. He is mad, then. So if I get this right, God exists and he’s making theoretical machines out of virtual dwarf cities. He is mad, then.

]]> By: octopod http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762378 octopod Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762378 au contraire, it's at the bottom, add oracles, and walk up the arithmetical hierarchy. sadly at each level, the halting problem remains an issue. you could try logging a bugzilla report on sunday, but nobody'll get round to fixing it, so have a cup of tea instead. au contraire, it’s at the bottom, add oracles, and walk up the arithmetical hierarchy. sadly at each level, the halting problem remains an issue. you could try logging a bugzilla report on sunday, but nobody’ll get round to fixing it, so have a cup of tea instead.

]]> By: Guysmiley http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762635 Guysmiley Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762635 Anyone looking to kill an hour or so while giggling uncontrollably should really read the saga of the fortress Boatmurdered. It's insane and hilarious all at the same time. http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/Boatmurdered/intro.html Anyone looking to kill an hour or so while giggling uncontrollably should really read the saga of the fortress Boatmurdered. It’s insane and hilarious all at the same time.

http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/Boatmurdered/intro.html

]]> By: SamLL http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762126 SamLL Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762126 I think you get to declare that you won the game if you can get your fortress to contain a dwarf-computer that is, itself, running a copy of Dwarf Fortress. I think you get to declare that you won the game if you can get your fortress to contain a dwarf-computer that is, itself, running a copy of Dwarf Fortress.

]]> By: fxq http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762132 fxq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762132 Yes, declare yourself the winner one microsecond before the crushing self-similarity rips the atoms from our bodies! Yes, declare yourself the winner one microsecond before the crushing self-similarity rips the atoms from our bodies!

]]> By: dw_funk http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762133 dw_funk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762133 Urist McTuring has been ecstatic. She admired a fine computer lately. But seriously, I derive a lot of pleasure just from reading these forums. It's one thing to make a good game; it's another thing entirely when one makes a game that inspires others to create. With the intricate stories, bloodline games, and architectural feats, Toady and his brother have really done something incredible. SamSam: he didn't place all those objects himself. He had to convince an army of smelly, drunk, often bloodthirsty dwarfs to do it, probably by feeding them cats. Urist McTuring has been ecstatic. She admired a fine computer lately.

But seriously, I derive a lot of pleasure just from reading these forums. It’s one thing to make a good game; it’s another thing entirely when one makes a game that inspires others to create. With the intricate stories, bloodline games, and architectural feats, Toady and his brother have really done something incredible.

SamSam: he didn’t place all those objects himself. He had to convince an army of smelly, drunk, often bloodthirsty dwarfs to do it, probably by feeding them cats.

]]> By: tgvaughan http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762390 tgvaughan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762390 By "more complex than a simple Turing machine" I was thinking of the roll of tape variety. (By complex I was thinking about the Kolmogorov complexity of the design, not the possible complexity of the output.) Thanks for your clarification. By “more complex than a simple Turing machine” I was thinking of the roll of tape variety. (By complex I was thinking about the Kolmogorov complexity of the design, not the possible complexity of the output.) Thanks for your clarification.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762135 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762135 2 cats, lol 2 cats, lol

]]> By: hadlock http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762648 hadlock Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762648 I approve of this blog post! This is easily nerdy enough to make the /. front page. Keep 'em coming, Rob! I approve of this blog post! This is easily nerdy enough to make the /. front page. Keep ‘em coming, Rob!

]]> By: octopod http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762396 octopod Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762396 np heh, jk! np

heh, jk!

]]> By: ben http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762400 ben Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762400 But can it run linux? But can it run linux?

]]> By: E-beth http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762401 E-beth Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762401 Does anyone else think of the Legend of Zelda map when they see this? Does anyone else think of the Legend of Zelda map when they see this?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762151 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762151 So instead of computer bugs and crashes does it have cats and catsplosions? CAPTCHA: abilities stepping So instead of computer bugs and crashes does it have cats and catsplosions?

CAPTCHA: abilities stepping

]]> By: Antijoe http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762154 Antijoe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762154 Logopolis! Logopolis!

]]> By: Lobster http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762672 Lobster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762672 That is the greatest test of true artificial intelligence: it must contain more than 2,000 logs. That is the greatest test of true artificial intelligence: it must contain more than 2,000 logs.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-763444 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-763444 Well, if a true turing machine can calaculate anything any other turing machine can calculate, which is the definition, then, yes, you could program it to play Dwarf Fortress. Well, if a true turing machine can calaculate anything any other turing machine can calculate, which is the definition, then, yes, you could program it to play Dwarf Fortress.

]]> By: Bob Rossney http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762948 Bob Rossney Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762948 One more shout-out to the BoatMurdered saga mentioned above. It's a big rabbit hole to go down (appropriately, given the nature of DF), but it's the best gaming saga I've ever read anywhere. To paraphrase J.B.S. Haldane, the internet is not only stranger than we imagine, it's stranger than we CAN imagine. One more shout-out to the BoatMurdered saga mentioned above. It’s a big rabbit hole to go down (appropriately, given the nature of DF), but it’s the best gaming saga I’ve ever read anywhere. To paraphrase J.B.S. Haldane, the internet is not only stranger than we imagine, it’s stranger than we CAN imagine.

]]> By: djn http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762182 djn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762182 One of my plans if I ever have a <i>lot</i> of spare time is to sit down and find out how much logic it's possible to implement with trains (and tracks, signals & routes, of course) in openTTD. Actually, I think I can see a way to make a NAND gate. Storage should be possible as well ... say, how many gates are there in the simplest known turing-equivalent CPU? One of my plans if I ever have a lot of spare time is to sit down and find out how much logic it’s possible to implement with trains (and tracks, signals & routes, of course) in openTTD.

Actually, I think I can see a way to make a NAND gate. Storage should be possible as well … say, how many gates are there in the simplest known turing-equivalent CPU?

]]> By: kc0bbq http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762190 kc0bbq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762190 Every piece is etched with the image of a kitten watching two dwarves being crushed by an Elephant. Every piece is etched with the image of a kitten watching two dwarves being crushed by an Elephant.

]]> By: djn http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762195 djn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762195 Right, the CPU of a PDP-8/S (the really slow serial one) has 519 gates. That'd be a nightmare to do in openTTD, but (scarily) I think it would be possible, if the largest map has enough room. Oh, and that assumes it's possible to find a good solution for memory. Right, the CPU of a PDP-8/S (the really slow serial one) has 519 gates. That’d be a nightmare to do in openTTD, but (scarily) I think it would be possible, if the largest map has enough room. Oh, and that assumes it’s possible to find a good solution for memory.

]]> By: Casey http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762709 Casey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762709 This is like the nerd equivalent of a turducken. This is like the nerd equivalent of a turducken.

]]> By: djn http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762200 djn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762200 Since I forgot to say so earlier, btw: This is extremely impressive, more so because I know I would have thought about it and dismissed it as far too much work to even work out if it was possible. The sheer amount of labour is staggering on its own. :) Since I forgot to say so earlier, btw: This is extremely impressive, more so because I know I would have thought about it and dismissed it as far too much work to even work out if it was possible. The sheer amount of labour is staggering on its own. :)

]]> By: Remus Shepherd http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762205 Remus Shepherd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762205 It's even worse than you think, SamSam. He had to *construct* all those components. That involves telling a miner to dig out the stone, then a hauler takes it to the masonry, then you tell a mason to carve it into a gear/level/switch/whathaveyou, then you instruct a mechanic to install it in the correct location. All this while fending off goblin raids, dealing with liasons from human and elf kingdoms, and making food and beer for your population of insane alcoholics. The person who did this needs medication for OCD and awesomeness. It’s even worse than you think, SamSam. He had to *construct* all those components. That involves telling a miner to dig out the stone, then a hauler takes it to the masonry, then you tell a mason to carve it into a gear/level/switch/whathaveyou, then you instruct a mechanic to install it in the correct location. All this while fending off goblin raids, dealing with liasons from human and elf kingdoms, and making food and beer for your population of insane alcoholics.

The person who did this needs medication for OCD and awesomeness.

]]> By: mdh http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-767102 mdh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-767102 that was very insightful, thank you. that was very insightful, thank you.

]]> By: Chentzilla http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762496 Chentzilla Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762496 I doubt that anyone but the creator himself can truly prove that it really is what he claims it is. I doubt that anyone but the creator himself can truly prove that it really is what he claims it is.

]]> By: Igloo http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-763021 Igloo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-763021 It is possible to build the basic gates in openttd. Two years ago I built a Not, And, Or gate and a memory storage. By combining these gates and memory I created a working LED counter that counted the number of trains that passed on a piece of rail. See http://blog.openttdcoop.org/2008/06/17/the-insane-led-counter-logic-gates-part-1/ for more screenies and details. Creating something with 519 gates within openttd should be possible, because the gates are rather small. It is possible to build the basic gates in openttd. Two years ago I built a Not, And, Or gate and a memory storage. By combining these gates and memory I created a working LED counter that counted the number of trains that passed on a piece of rail.

See http://blog.openttdcoop.org/2008/06/17/the-insane-led-counter-logic-gates-part-1/ for more screenies and details. Creating something with 519 gates within openttd should be possible, because the gates are rather small.

]]> By: Phil Ward http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762510 Phil Ward Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762510 Any minute now, the shades of the good citizens of BoatMurdered will rampage through the halls causing GPF's throughout. Chased by mandrills. Any minute now, the shades of the good citizens of BoatMurdered will rampage through the halls causing GPF’s throughout.
Chased by mandrills.

]]> By: tgvaughan http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-762255 tgvaughan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-762255 Awesome! Babbage had nothing on this maniac! Just to correct though, the author's claim is turing completeness. This is much more complex than a simple turing machine! Awesome! Babbage had nothing on this maniac! Just to correct though, the author’s claim is turing completeness. This is much more complex than a simple turing machine!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/15/colossal-turing-mach.html#comment-763542 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-763542 There's a video demonstrating proper operation, and he's uploaded the map for people to verify. It's legit. There’s a video demonstrating proper operation, and he’s uploaded the map for people to verify. It’s legit.

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