crowcity

Edit 12/8/08: Version 0.51 available - contains images of the coins showing whether you’ve tossed heads or tails (rather than plain text).

Here’s an i Ching / Yi Jing / Chinese Book of Changes oracle I made for Nintendo DS. I’m releasing this on 8/8/08 as the number 8 is considered lucky in many Asian countries.

Download it here: iChingDS

Free to use, but do check back here from time to time to see if there’s an update. Any feedback would be gratefully received.

iChingDS should be pretty easy to use, but here are some instructions anyway …

1. Ask your question and press A to toss the coins. Your coin tosses will be displayed (H/T for Heads/Tails) and the first line of your hexagram will be displayed (in red if it is changing, otherwise in black). The hexagram is built from the bottom.
2. Once you’ve tossed the coins six times, your finished hexagram will display on the top screen, complete with text.
3. Any changing lines will be displayed on the bottom screen. You should pay special attention to these.
4. If your hexagram changes, press L or R (shoulder buttons) to switch display between the two hexagrams, so you can read the text.
5. If you wish to recast the coins for a new reading, press Start.

Still to be implemented: sound, touch screen controls, more information, random dragon backgrounds and any user suggestions.

I’ve just started playing Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword for the DS, and I have to say, I’m totally blown away. It’s very rarely I feel like this about a game, but if you’re into fast attacking play and gorgeous graphics, get it. It provides far and away the most beautiful graphics on the system. It feels and looks as if you’re playing on a proper console.

Apparently the game’s object oriented rather than procedural, which is weird for an FPS, but definitely works. The control system works really well, using the stylus to move and attack. It’s amazing to control your own little extremely realistic ninja, jumping and rolling and slashing away, with fabulous animations. It’s incredibly fast! And almost perfectly responsive. The particle physics in the attacks are also phenomenally pleasing. The cutscene artwork and music/sounds are beautiful. Anyway, that’s enough from me - I’m getting back to the game :P.