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I realize this is a bit of a longshot, and I don't want to run a QA on the site for this, but does anyone have a lead on a lawyer in New Hampshire to help me through incorporation? I'm also looking for a CPA, but those are relatively easiler to locate.

I've looked at various services such as Harbor Compliance, but they don't seem to be legal help, just document filing services ...

fixed up some of the map image stuff last night.
thanks to Brylarke for correcting my misconception about png filesize; i incorrectly assumed that gif output would be smaller than png (without testing my assumption), but i was very wrong. png++
painted gridlines on the map if "grid" player flag is set.

when a player moves, the irc bot outputs two URLs; the long one is specific for that instance of the game (for timeline feature to be added later) and the other just shows the latest map image. if you open the latest image URL and move again, you can just refresh the browser and it will update the map. in some (probably most) browsers you can scroll to the area of the map where your units are, and when you refresh the browser will keep that position.

demo here: http://irciv.port119.net/?pid=1

civ2 fans might recognize the map graphics... i won't tell if you don't. if anyone is handy with game graphics, replacement images will be welcome. images are png format with magenta (255,0,255) for transparent regions. have a squiz in the scripts/images directory. i might reduce the unit image down to 48x48 tonight.

pushed to github: https://github.com/crutchy-/test
note: irciv.php and irciv_lib.php contain most of the game functionality and can be found in the scripts directory

coming up next... fixing bug in map_img function (vertical unit image offset is wrong, but i might change the unit image as well), and adding a city to the map :-)

http://wiki.soylentnews.org/wiki/IRCiv
http://wiki.soylentnews.org/wiki/IRC:exec

was a bit lazy last night, but instead of fillrect terrain we have terrain images (atm only land and ocean).

website now has a png logo, and players can access their latest map using http://irciv.port119.net/?pid=<player_id>

example: http://irciv.port119.net/?pid=1

haven't pushed to github yet. will do tonight (australian time).

coming up next... playing with the map image generator to get settlers and warriors on the map. wanna try png maps for antialiased layers, as long as the files aren't unreasonably large.

Wooo, that nearly killed me to finish it. It's going living at 20:00 UTC (4PM EST), which is the start of our peak hours. We'll be revising it based on community feedback and if other important points come up as time goes on.

Of course, words means only as much as the actions taken behind them, but I think we've been relatively consistent in meeting the goals I outlined. Here's a small sneak preview for those who read my journal til the whole thing goes live

Statement of Purpose

Our aim is to stand in stalwart opposition to these trends. We will be the best site for independent, not-for-profit journalism on the internet, where ideas and free discussion can take place without external needs overshadowing the community.

For those of you in the Unites States, today is Mother's Day.

I have no masterful prose to offer here. Rather, I'd like to extend an opportunity for the community to share their memorable experiences. A time when you especially felt supported or nurtured or challenged.

In my case, my Mom passed away several years ago. On this day I especially feel the loss of the exceedingly gentle and yet tough woman who sacrificed greatly so that I might have a chance at a good life. She taught me manners. To say "Please" and "Thank-you". She encouraged me to do my homework, sometimes at the threat of losing certain privileges. When I was just a few years old and puking my guts out from some illness, she sat by me gently stroking my back, encouraged me to have some flat Coca Cola and saltines to give me strength, and applied cool compresses to my forehead to help alleviate my fever. She offered perspective and gentleness when I was getting over my first childhood crush, when I failed my first try at my driver's license, and when I faced career changes in my life.

I realize that some here may have had less than wonderful moms; I have met some of you and my heart goes out to you. I hope that with time, you may be able to find peace.

For those who have had special times, I encourage you to please take some time to visit or call and make a small sacrifice for her.

Also, I ask you on this day to put aside for a moment the black-and-white minutia of the latest gadget or OS and share a vignette of a special time you shared.

I'll close with this: "Mom, I don't know if there is a heaven, but if there is, I know you are there. I hope I've grown to be a man you are proud of; I know I wouldn't be half the man I am without you. Thanks is too little, but it is all I have to offer. I miss you."

have been having some difficulty with my internet connection, so progress has been a bit slower than i would like

set up an apache vhost on my dmz server for the IRCiv website, and coded a little php web app that will allow exec to upload map images to the website using a private key, and displays an image based on a map filename passed in the URL (validated to allow only a alphanumerical chars)

the IRCiv logo is displayed in a gif format (less sexy) on the IRCiv webpage @ http://irciv.port119.net/
thanks to mrbluze for use of his domain and also for some style guidance on the logo

pushed to github: https://github.com/crutchy-/test
note: irciv.php is in scripts directory and contains most of the game functionality

coming up next... making IRCiv upload map images to the website when a player moves

This is a generic journal entry posted entirely so that you can tell me I'm awesome, call me a dick, or impart useful information since SN lacks a messaging feature and I'm not giving out my email address.

updated unit movement, added settler, got active unit cycling working

made up a simple logo to (eventually) go on the IRCiv website
for now its here: http://wiki.soylentnews.org/wiki/IRCiv

pushed to github: https://github.com/crutchy-/test
note: irciv.php is in scripts directory and contains most of the game functionality

coming up next... building/setting up the IRCiv website (to eventually host player map images)

put movement of active unit into a function

created <init> and <quit> reserved aliases in exec (irc.php), which i'll eventually use for loading/saving game data (in addition to timed saves).

used cmd.php (attached to * alias which runs on every received line of data) to fire commands on a 330 numeric event (whois/logged in as) to make startup a bit easier - automatically sets player alias lock to "civ" (in game channel only) and outputs a status command, so that when a player joins a game channel, they can start moving their active unit pretty much straight away (after a 2 or so second delay in processing login script).

IRCiv wiki page created: http://wiki.soylentnews.org/wiki/IRCiv

latest source pushed to github: https://github.com/crutchy-/test

next up... adding a settler unit and getting the active unit cycle function working

IRCiv is a little game (and game engine of sorts) for building stuff like in "Civilization"-branded games.

Currently it piggybacks as a couple of scripts for the exec bot. Refer to the wiki for more info on exec: http://wiki.soylentnews.org/wiki/IRC:exec

Implemented some basic unit movement last night. Can use "up" or "u" action on the active unit (along with equivalents in the 3 other directions).

The game is being gradually developed/tested most nights (Australian time) in the #civ channel of Soylent IRC. Feel free to join, but be aware that you may get pinged by the bot a fair bit (you're always free to duck in and out whenever you like of course).

Other stuff that has been implemented already:
- auto-login on join/logout on part
- logins based on nickserv account name (using whois), so means that players must be registered with nickserve
- supports nick changes
- map generator has been developed (random landmasses based on a couple of parameters)
- map image dump
- map text file dump
- player settings and flags system
- player active unit status output to either game channel or private message (based on "public_status" flag)

Currently development is mainly in PHP, but using the exec bot system, game features/modules can be developed in any language.
Each command runs as a separate script in its own process instance, but can easily communicate with IRC and access persistent game data.
The project is open-source (GPL2) and can be found here: https://github.com/crutchy-/test
Feel free to fork or pilfer, but please share your changes/derivatives.
Anyone interested in contributing to the current project, look for crutchy in #soylent or #civ on IRC.