Virus gladiatorial arena

pastebin get emphec23 arena

(thanks bomb bloke for the gif)


One thing I have learned from these forums is CC users love viruses and pranks. Sadly malicious code is not allowed on here ;)/> nor is it really that possible in a sandboxed environment like this one. So now I present to you the next best thing! A game which lets you harmlessly vent your frustrations as you crush other programs in a virtual arena!

The gladiatorial arena features a semi sandboxed environment with an arbitrary file system. Instead of having file names all programs are stored in "blocks" which are numbered 1 to the size of the arena. Not even a program by default knows what its own location is. The functions for competing are simple and the goal even simpler. Be the last virus standing amongst the digital blood bath

fs.open(block,type)

block must always be a number and less than the size of the arena. the type is either "w" for write or "r" for read. However, this wouldn't be a game without a few catches

catches

• if you try to write to an existing file your program will crash
• if you try to open a file which has been deleted your program will crash
• will sleep for 2 ticks to read and 4 ticks to write (remember speed is key in this)

fs.check(block)

returns -1 if a block has been deleted. 0 if a block is empty. and 1 if the block has a file in it currently (can't make this return something easy can I?

catches

• block cant be larger than the arena size
• sleeps for 2 ticks

fs.delete(block)

deletes a block. pretty straight forward

catches

• if the file is already deleted will error
• sleeps for 2 ticks if the file was empty
• sleeps for 4 ticks if there was a file in that block

fs.create(block)

creates a new block within the size of the arena

catches

• if the block already exists will error
• will sleep for 4 ticks

fs.size()

returns the size of the arena. No catches and no sleeps.

fs.resetTimer(string)

Your most important function! A program must call this at least once every 10 seconds or they lose. to call it simply pass your programs original file name as a string no sleep in this either so if you can call it you may as well



USAGE:

arena size virus1 virus2

example

arena 1000 limbo abyss

Thanks for reading!

So we kind of create our own scripts that have to terminate other scripts.

This sounds awesome! Finally something with strategy.

Exactly :3 I might hold a contest using this program sometime soon

I like this idea quite a bit. So, I felt inclined to make it a bit more fun to watch. :P/>

It sort of reminds me of ye olde defrag display, only I've got no idea what's going on… Still, it's got the same "lava lamp" quality that keeps you watching.

That's actually really cool. I might just tweak the code to display the battle in a similar fashion thank you for the idea!

I mostly left the screen boring because I figured viruses would want to have some fun with the screen while they attacked each other :P/> but could be a fun optional setting

I'm glad you liked it! I thought it was fairly interesting to watch.
Though, I've been working on some nicer displays for it. Perhaps I'll show it sometime when it's done. :P/>

Out of curiosity how do you handle varied sizes of arenas which don't perfectly fit the screen?

I don't have the most optimized implementation, but essentially, it's something like this:

local screen_width, screen_height = term.getSize()
local screen_y_max = math.floor(arena_size / 51)


local index = 1
for y = 1, screen_y_max do
	term.setCursorPos(1, y)
	for x = 1, screen_width do
		local b = blocks[index]; if not b then break end
		-- Draw code here based on b, which is the state of the current block
		index = index + 1
	end
end

I love this concept! maybe there can be diffrent types of chalenges. Also you should implement an api that is accessable in the sandbox, to prevent people from damaging their systems. maybe something like this:

if not vga then exit() end -- or whatever the exit function is
if vga.version() == "1.1" then
    -- new features in 1.1, now its compatible with both 1.0 and 1.1!
end

maybe i can help out a bit here and there, send me a pm if intrested

wilcomega, on 06 March 2016 - 04:01 PM said:

I love this concept! maybe there can be diffrent types of chalenges. Also you should implement an api that is accessable in the sandbox, to prevent people from damaging their systems. maybe something like this:

if not vga then exit() end -- or whatever the exit function is
if vga.version() == "1.1" then
	-- new features in 1.1, now its compatible with both 1.0 and 1.1!
end

maybe i can help out a bit here and there, send me a pm if intrested

Could just do

assert(fs.check, "This program should not be run outside of Virus Gladiatorial Arena!")

apemanzilla, on 06 March 2016 - 05:19 PM said:

wilcomega, on 06 March 2016 - 04:01 PM said:

…

Could just do

assert(fs.check, "This program should not be run outside of Virus Gladiatorial Arena!")

Certainly possible, but i think my version might be a little more userfriendly

wilcomega, on 06 March 2016 - 04:01 PM said:

maybe i can help out a bit here and there, send me a pm if intrested

honestly the most help anyone can be is making suggestions for new features. :3 just because of how simple the version check is I have already added that thanks for the suggestion

If i think of more game modes / arena's i will definatly suggest them or make them myself :D/>

I am getting confused. From what I understand you have created an API that overrides the default fs API (file system). Maybe you should change that….? Or is it meant to be like that but then add fs functions?

Sorry this might sound a bit derpy but I don't quite understand how this works.

The fs for these programs is overwritten. Not the entire fs.

Dave-ee Jones, on 15 March 2016 - 10:51 AM said:

I am getting confused. From what I understand you have created an API that overrides the default fs API (file system). Maybe you should change that….? Or is it meant to be like that but then add fs functions?

Sorry this might sound a bit derpy but I don't quite understand how this works.

Creator, on 15 March 2016 - 10:56 AM said:

The fs for these programs is overwritten. Not the entire fs.

What Creator probably means, and my educated guess, is that when the virus arena is ran it creates a virtual file system with dummy files (called blocks). The true file system is completely hidden and inaccessible from within the arena.

This method is more secure than conventional sandboxes as the programs within the arena can't even see the real file system. In a conventional sandbox you are moderating the interactions to the real file system. Where as this sandbox creates it's own (fake) file system, and gives programs within the arena free range on the fake files. It should be noted that if you want to be able to interact with stuff outside of the sand box then this is not the way to do it.

As lupus described it is exactly right. From the environment I place the programs in I tell it if they request the fs table to return my fake fs instead. This programs in the game from accessing the real file system as that would kind of break the game then.

I thought of some gamemodes / ways to implement them

every contestant fights over control over the turtle, every contestant has to send the turtle back to the programs goal position ( this can be a virtual or a physical turtle ). Programs are scored by the closest distance they got the turtle to their goal position ( max - closest = score ).

There are several possible interfaces to implement (or all of them to see who can interface the best with their favorite interface)

So the first way to interface is the most simple, the programs give direct turtle commands and the turtle will do its thing, but of course it comes with a sleep cost.

Another way is to make a date sim where you convice the turtle to come to your house.

Another way is for the arena to generate a turtle program with its flaws and the programs literaly have to hack it and try to take control of it through rednet (like sql injection or buffer overflow like).

And you could probably think of way more cool ways to control a turtle. on the other hand here is another gamemode

The programs need to supply the king who runs the arena with the message from the Master of Coin (or another medieval imporant subject) by intercepting rednet messages and searching through files. The programs need to find the clues provided by the arena/king and return the correct message back to him. Every clue found must be reported back for points and the most points are awarded for brining back the original message.

Also maybe you could expand this to not only be focussed on Virusses but more on AI. So for example, games could be running on turtles and battle. Or leading a small army of turtles. And much more is possible with AI in general. Because really, this is more about AI than malicious code.

Umm…
So this sandboxes sandboxed computers (CC) in sandboxed world (MC).

Konlab, on 09 April 2016 - 11:22 AM said:

Umm…
So this sandboxes sandboxed computers (CC) in sandboxed world (MC).

So this sandboxes sandboxed computers (CC) in sandboxed world (MC) in a sandboxed OS

bauen1, on 12 April 2016 - 08:16 PM said:

Konlab, on 09 April 2016 - 11:22 AM said:

Umm…
So this sandboxes sandboxed computers (CC) in sandboxed world (MC).

So this sandboxes sandboxed computers (CC) in sandboxed world (MC) in a sandboxed OS

FTFY

In sandboxed Java in a sandboxed OS.

but guess what, the sandboxed OS irl runs in the sand boxed world that is real life, known by some as the matrix, which is a sandboxed program on a sandboxed server
who is going to end the vinda loop??

wilcomega, on 13 April 2016 - 04:50 PM said:

but guess what, the sandboxed OS irl runs in the sand boxed world that is real life, known by some as the matrix, which is a sandboxed program on a sandboxed server
who is going to end the vinda loop??

What about recursive sandboxing?

Konlab, on 09 April 2016 - 11:22 AM said:

Umm…
So this sandboxes sandboxed computers (CC) in sandboxed world (MC).

yeah pretty much :D/> but youre already playing a game inside of a game mod inside of a game so who is keeping track anymore?