Games with character graphics

Any discussions related to the creation of new hardware or software for the ZX80 or ZX81
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mrtinb
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Games with character graphics

Post by mrtinb »

Looking at the thread about the game Dark Star, we see that the game is character based but supports many different hardwares.

Standard char
G007
Memotech graphics
ARX
WRX

Some are UDG and some are hires graphics.

I haven't looked at the source how much is changed from version to version.

With such a character based game I was hoping you could just have some code in the beginning like this, and all other output would be to the display file directly or through a routine.

INPUT GRAPHIC
IF GRAPHIC=STANDARD CALL NOTHING
IF GRAPHIC=G007 CALL INIT-G007
IF GRAPHIC=QS CALL INIT-QS
IF GRAPHIC=ARX CALL INIT-ARX
IF GRAPHIC=WRX CALL INIT-WRX

This could be a simple routine in the beginning of the source, and all other code would just output characters.

ARX and WRX are true hires. They don't use the display file but uses a hires file.

Can ARX and WRX be initialized to use the real display file for data, so it is possible to write to the hires screen with the ROM font or some custom characters?
Martin
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ZX81, Lambda 8300, Commodore 64, Mac G4 Cube
dr beep
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Re: Games with character graphics

Post by dr beep »

I did something like that in SHOGUN.

Specail printroutine in CHR-set to print normal or UDG.

http://minigamecompo.weebly.com/2k-page.html
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mrtinb
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Re: Games with character graphics

Post by mrtinb »

Great :)

Is the source available for this?
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XavSnap
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Re: Games with character graphics

Post by XavSnap »

Xavier ...on the Facebook groupe : "Zx81 France"(fr)
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mrtinb
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Re: Games with character graphics

Post by mrtinb »

XavSnap wrote: Tue Jun 20, 2017 4:14 am Direct download:http://www.hebdogiciel.free.fr/hd-roms/ ... [ZX81].zip
Thank you XavSnap. Unfortunately this program does not print to the display file, but pokes into a hires file. This will require to edit the the software everywhere it prints to the screen.

My idea was an INIT-routine for the hardware, which would use the display file and not a new hires file. Then the software would only need call to the selected INIT-routine. The rest of the calls would be to PRINT or RST 10h.
Martin
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dr beep
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Re: Games with character graphics

Post by dr beep »

Well,

My SHOGUN also pokes to the screen, but is is done with a special CALL PRINT.
Just set A to a value and it prints on next free position. Further you can set printposition with chr 222 and value in BC

Source:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2218&p=22791&hilit= ... rce#p22791
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