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rowett
05-04-03, 12:53 PM
I've recently finished writing my first two games in Microsoft Excel. I would be most interested in any feedback. Also I'd be interested to know if anyone else has ever written games in Excel.

You can see them at http://www.lazyslug.com

It's also my first website so please be gentle!

Many thanks,
Chris

vampireuk
05-04-03, 01:18 PM
heh, those are pretty cool. Good job:)

rowett
05-04-03, 01:21 PM
Thanks!

If you didn't already would you mind trying out the sound effects? You'll need to download the separate sound pack from the games download page.

Let me know if it works!

Many thanks,
Chris

Pafet
05-04-03, 01:33 PM
LOL games in excel :D
The robots game workes great with the sounds but I get a runtime error on exit.

but you really think someone would pay for it ???
I mean its, you know.... well... you're on an advanced hardware forum and all that.....

nice job anyhoo

rowett
05-04-03, 01:36 PM
What version of Excel and Windows are you using? I'll see if I can get to the bottom of the exit error.

As for advanced hardware - you'd be surprised at quite how much hardware you need to do these sorts of things in Excel! It wasn't designed for shifting graphics around!

Chris

Philibob
05-04-03, 01:39 PM
Sounds work on the mines but I also get a runtime error:
-2147467259(80004005)
Cannot move focus to the control because it's invisible, no enabled, or a type that does not accept the focus
EDIT - also something about 'command bar' in a 2nd runtime error (occurs straight after the first)

rowett
05-04-03, 01:45 PM
Hmmm.

So can you confirm that these errors are on exit only? And also if you could let me know your Windows version and Excel version that'd help lots!

Many thanks,
Chris

Philibob
05-04-03, 01:49 PM
They only seem to occur on exit, I've not encountered one at any other time.
Excel version: 10.2614.2625 (was part of Office XP)
Windows version: 5.1.2600 (Windows XP) EDIT - no service pack 1

rowett
05-04-03, 01:57 PM
OK thanks - I think it's Office XP.

The games were developed in Excel 2000 and I have to back-port to Excel 97 and then test on Excel XP. There were some major changes recently to do with the window handling that were nasty to back-port to '97. They now work in 97 and 2000 but obviously upset XP somewhat.

It will be fixed in the next version. The games check if there is a later version to download when you first start them so you'll be notified when it's ready.

If you find anything else please let me know!!

Many thanks,
Chris

de><ta
05-04-03, 05:21 PM
nice excel games...:thumbsup:

Yeah, i remeber one of the versions of excel having a flight simulator coded into it back in the win95 days. Only good use for excel.

rowett
05-05-03, 01:47 PM
That was actually one of my motivators for writing the games in the first place. I use Excel a fair amount at work and decided there had to be a more "entertaining" use of the tool... and then remembered the easter egg in Excel 95.

Three months later...

;)

Chris

Pafet
05-05-03, 05:09 PM
Those are the exact same errors i got . must be the OfficeXP then...

rowett
05-06-03, 05:46 AM
The exit problem when using Excel XP has been identified. A fix is in testing. Once it's done I'll post another message here and then if you'd be kind enough to try it out I'd be grateful!

Many thanks,
Chris

stncttr908
05-06-03, 07:04 AM
That sounds pretty cool. I'll try it when you get the office XP fix up.

rowett
05-06-03, 02:15 PM
I've uploaded new versions of MinesXL and RobotsXL to the website. These should have the fix for the exit issue. There are a couple of other minor changes that you can read about on the News page.

If someone with Office XP could give them a try and let me know if they work I'd be grateful!

Many thanks,
Chris