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MICROMAN

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 2:09 pm
by stefano
This is a game I wrote to demonstrate the capabilities of the z88dk standard monochrome graphics library.
Performances better than BASIC but not so enthusiastic, but don't blame the compiler kit.. the game relies onto portable functions, which may not be (yet) optimized for speed but this permits a lot of flexibility: it can be run on a wide variety of targets, graphics size can be determined at compile time, and so on.

Game keys are Q,A,O,P

I'm attaching it diferent flavours, let's begin with WRX 16K RAM, sorting them by speed it will be:

microman-full-big-wrx.p
microman-full-small-wrx.p
microman-compact-wrx.p
microman-compact-fast-wrx.p

If you are a good videogame player you won't like this port very much, you'll probably prefer "One Little Ghost" ;)

ARX mode

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 2:20 pm
by stefano
The Andy Rea graphics trick is slower and the big sprite versions were far too boring, but here's a couple of compilation attempts with small sprites.

Memotech WRX

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 2:42 pm
by stefano
The Memotech WRX mode has been tested on the real hardware (see here: http://www.z88dk.org/wiki/doku.php?id=l ... _functions), but it is a bit glitchy.. and I never found the reason for it.
EightyOne looks even slower in MTHRG mode than it ARX mode, it could be due to my libs, though.

Well, here's an almost playable version, even if still a bit slow.

Re: MICROMAN

Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 3:44 pm
by sirmorris
Thanks for all the love you're giving our little machine!

Re: ARX mode

Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 6:48 pm
by RWAP
stefano wrote:The Andy Rea graphics trick is slower and the big sprite versions were far too boring, but here's a couple of compilation attempts with small sprites.
For some reason I could not get this to work on ZXSpin.....

There must be a setting I am missing - using the memotech hi-res helps but you just get a 1/3 screen.

Re: MICROMAN

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 4:39 pm
by stefano
For the ARX mode I use EightyOne by disabling WRX and enabling the "RAM" page in low positions (i.e. over the ROM).

One of the original reference pages is here:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/deborah.cl ... x81+2.html

Re: MICROMAN

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 9:01 pm
by RWAP
Excellent - that works fine :D

Re: MICROMAN

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 10:09 pm
by Andy Rea
I am mighty surprised that NTL page still works, haven't had that account for about 8 months when i moved house.

Re: MICROMAN

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 12:06 pm
by stefano
Hope you're proud of what I've done with your ARX trick :roll:
Are you keeping your articles somewhere ? We're risking to loose them, I remember another (more detailed) page about this video mode but I couldn't spot it anymore.

Re: MICROMAN

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:00 am
by yerzmyey
Hmmm, looks **so** cute! I love it.

Will test it when my Amiga album is finished (I must have some place on my desk!! :) And A500 with 2 additional cards - Motorola 020 20Mhz + 132Mb of RAM - takes SOME place! ;) ).