Idle RPG DS

Did you know regular ol people like you and me can write programs to work on the Nintendo DS? Well, while I'm sure some of you know of the "homebrew" scene (as it's called), I have recently installed all of the IDEs and programming tools necessary to actually do it.

My first test of programming on the DS will be with idle RPG. For those who have never heard of it, it's a "game" (loosely) in which you earn experience and level up based on how long you "idle" (don't touch anything). It's popular on IRC chatting networks. Basically if you talk, quit, join, or do anything other than idle you take a penalty and have to wait longer before you level up again. As you level up you find random equipment that enhances your stats and randomly fight other players of the game (the winner gets time taken off his/her amount and the loser gains time).

It's not really exciting but I think this would be a great test of learning how to program on the DS. Such a game would require learning how inputs and outputs work, how to recognize key presses, recognize when the stylus is being used, how to use random functions, etc etc. Everything that would be necessary in a real game.


Planned:

+ Tons of equipment that it can randomly pick from.
+ Stats on top screen, 5 most recent "news" on the bottom screen.
+ The same time penalty for touching any of the buttons and using the stylus as you would via talking and such in the IRC version.


Something I would like to add in a future version (i.e. way down the road):

+ The ability for a ranking/score system. Compare your rank with others.
+ graphic icons for the equipment.
+ maybe a little character running around doing things while the DS is idle.


We'll see how it goes. I'll start coding it next week once I'm done with all the preplanning. You know, assuming Tropical Storm Fay doesn't make Panama City into the next Atlantis.