Most game programmers are familiar with the distance (magnitude) equation and how inefficient it is. Using a square root is a costly function that usually can't be afforded many times per frame. Here is a much more efficient distance equation for situations in which you want to check the distance against a threshold (such as determining if two bounding spheres collide).

In Actionscript 3 there are usually different coding methods to achieve the same output (this can be said of any programming language). Variables can be declared in different ways, math equations can be performed in different ways, you can move code into functions, perform things on single lines or multiple lines, and so on and so forth. While different methods may achieve the same output, certain methods are often faster than others. This post is dedicated to finding as many performance tweaks and enhancements as I can, and I will update it as I find more.

In case you aren't acquainted with these new features, here is a brief rundown on them. Skip to the bottom to just read how to disable them.

Functions are useful tools that allow you to reuse code, reducing file size and keeping your application better organized. There is a trade-off however, and that is function overhead. An Actionscript 3 application will take a small hit in performance when moving a section of code out of the normal flow of the program and into a function.

Unsigned integers are integers that can be positive values only. They are useful to have in programming languages because they can hold a higher maximum positive value than a signed integer, without using additional memory. For example, int in Actionscript 3 is a 32-bit signed integer and can hold a range from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647, while uint is a 32-bit unsigned integer and can hold a range from 0 to 4,294,967,295. It is useful to use unsigned when dealing with large counters that will never be negative, as it gives you a higher maximum.

"Why is my Facebook information being displayed on other web sites?" That's the question I asked myself after visiting Rotten Tomatoes recently. It turns out there's a new Facebook feature I didn't know about that is sharing my information. The best part, it's been out for several months and I didn't know about it.

Looking for some good Starcraft 2 casts to watch? Want to improve your gameplay by watching pro level players? Try these:

Having a code block allows you to display code without it being interpreted as HTML. Code blocks are used extensively on programming-related forums and websites so users can show other users the code they use, like this:

This is a comparison of desktop computer 7200RPM 3.5" SATA hard drives. Prices were obtained at Newegg and include shipping and discounts where applicable (mail-in rebates not included). All drives have a 70% or greater 5/5 egg rating. The Ratio is the number of gigabytes each dollar purchases, so the higher the better.

With CS3, Adobe incorporated features from ImageReady into Photoshop, so you can now create animated gifs completely inside Photoshop. Here's how:

Starcraft II offers a very refined and lengthy campaign mode with wholly unique and fun to play missions. For those upset about only having a Terran campaign (with the Zerg and Protoss campaigns saved for future expansions), let me quell your distress by saying that the campaign mode is easily more in-depth and lengthy than all 3 campaigns from the original combined. Each and every mission feels as though it was given individual attention, and most missions will take you between 20 minutes to an hour to complete, depending on your skill level.

Please note that products and prices reflect what was available in early 2011 and may not be up to date with current offerings.

This is a price and feature comparison to determine the value of building your own PC versus purchasing a Dell. Dell's generally offer a good value in the low to mid range and represent the most common OEM-bought PCs.

This is a comparison of desktop computer 7200RPM 3.5" SATA hard drives. Prices were obtained at Newegg and include shipping and discounts where applicable (mail-in rebates not included). All drives have a 70% or greater 5/5 egg rating. The Ratio is the number of gigabytes each dollar purchases, so the higher the better.

This Runes of Magic guide is designed to explain transmutation to beginners and show you how to create some basic equipment. Transmutation allows you to imbue a piece of equipment with stats and increase its tier level (each increase in tier level increases defense or damage). It is the key to creating good equipment. It's also confusing for many players, and I think that confusion stems from a lack of good documentation for it.