2006-08-07

The Neglected Art of Fixed Point Arithmetic (2006)

Even if floating point is nowadays the typical way to do your math, there is still situations where fixed point math is still relevant. I held a seminar about this topic at the Assembly‘2006 event.

Note that the link below points now to a revised version of the slides. I noticed that in slide 26 I had inadvertently written “b > 0” and “b < 0” when it should read “|b| > 1.0” and “|b| < 1.0”, respectively.

I have also been asked why there’s rounding when converting fixed point numbers from real numbers, but not when converting to integer numbers. Conversion to and from integers is typically best left at simple shift operation, as then the operation is lossless so you can freely convert them back and forth. Convert from a real number typically loses accuracy, so in typical case you probably want to minimize the error. The need to round also varies case by case, so you should think if you want to do it or not.

Note also that the included square root code is actually the version from the Graphics Gems V, not the one from the mentioned Apple Technical Report (there’s minor difference). If you didn’t notice, the quoted form of code copes with 2.30 fixed point numbers, so you probably need to adjust the FRACBITS value to match with your code.

Revised PDF slides

Update 2019-08:
Please fill out this form if you’re potentially interested in a new resource about fixed-point math:

2006-07-21

Skinflake launched – Indie Superstar mentions Stair Dismount

Skinflake.com has finally been launched. It’s the official indie developer brand for most of my games, now having a proper site as well!

Update: I noticed that the Episode 2 of Indie Superstar mentions Stair Dismount as an innovative example of indie games. Indie Superstar is a web-based videocast about independent video games.

Update 2019-08:
The above mentioned website is nowadays owned by someone else for a different purpose. I ceased using “Skinflake” as a label for some of my games after its website was merged as part of Secret Exit Ltd (which apparently let the domain expire at some point).

2006-07-20

Truck Dismount featured – Also RSS added

Truck Dismount is featured in Game/Play art exhibition touring in United Kingdom.

Finally, RSS for this blog is available, at last.

2006-07-12

Assembly 2006 and seminar coming

Assembly’06 will be held from 3rd to 6th August. Continuing with my yearly tradition, I’ll be there once again. This year I will be giving a seminar speech on The Neglected Art of Fixed Point Arithmetic. Feel free to come and say hi to me if you will be at the event! I’ll probably also try to create a game for the game development competition, although my work on that is still in its early stages.