Hello my fellow CPC geeks,
Christmas is getting closer.
This time of year always gives my CPC-mood a boost. Every year when Christmas is approaching, my "CPC nostalgia meter" always rises a few notches. The CPC and Christmas has always gone together hand in hand for me. Partly because I used to spend the Christmas holidays back then in front of my CPC464, eagerly creating my own amateur BASIC stuff, and partly because Christmas (to me) is all about looking back and remembering our roots.
The CPC464 was my childhood sanctuary. It was the place I could go to to escape all the annoying things in the world - so I spent most my time in front of the CPC. Here I found all the things I was missing in the real world: Cosiness and peaceful relaxation, intriguing tasks to solve (as opposed to the tedious lame stuff we had to do at school), freedom of creation; create whatever I wanted, in my own pace and in my own way. Exactly as God intended.
And this is how I ended up associating the CPC with a very cosy peaceful relaxing atmosphere in which I could create my own intriguing challenges to solve in my own pace - and also enjoy watching the creations of other creative people - *my people*.
For many many years, the CPC kept its charm like this. Even decades later, playing the old games from back then would keep bringing that awesome atmosphere I remembered from childhood. I have a long list of games that each brings back certain memories of certain people I used to have in my life, and when I played them it was kinda like being in company with these people again.
But recently this effect has begun to wear off. The games I remember doesn't hold the same "power" anymore. They still remind me of certain people, but it's clear that the connection isn't as strong as it used to be. And I wonder why this has happened.
The old CPC-zone, and the CPCwiki also used to bring me a lot of joy. A whole community with other CPC fans, all sharing their enthusiasm with everyone else. Visiting these sites were definitely on my top 5 of favourite things to do.
But this interest has also been dropping recently. I'm not sure what it is, but it's clear that I don't feel part of the community to the same degree as I used to. I try to participate, but it's not really helping.
It's like I only just got to complete 8-bit Memoirs in time. My CPC-mood was extremely high while creating that project. "CPC nostalgia meter" through the roof! It was utterly awesome. But then now, it's like it has dropped lower than ever before. It's getting increasingly difficult to get enthusiastic about anything CPC related. Not even the recent release of all the CPCRetroDev games was particular interesting. And this is despite that Christmas is approaching!
I tend to blame general lack of time. Because I still get a lot of ideas for CPC projects. I just don't have the enthusiasm to do anything about them, and I think it's because I know I don't have the available time such projects require. And I guess that's how you slowly lose touch.
It's not that I'm depressed. I know well how it feels to be depressed, and that's not what this is. But it's clear that the CPC doesn't hold the same "power" anymore for some reason. Currently it feels like my project 8-bit Memoirs was the last "trip" for me.
Is anyone else experiencing anything like this? Is it just me? What's going on? Am I finally just growing up? Argh! I hope not!
Maybe playing games that you are unfamiliar with of the same "vintage" as your favourite games might help?
Maybe you need to explore a different side of the CPC. One of the reasons it could be fading is that it has all become routine and there's very little learning involved? How about trying your hand at assembly, or building yourself some hardware? Something that challenges you again and gets you interested in finding out more?
Bryce.
All loves and relationships go through their ups and downs. Perhaps it's one of those periods, simply and plainly. Who knows how our life works out after all, we only live through it once.
What I can say is, I've seen it happening to me too. Perhaps someone has noticed that there've been periods where I don't post much (or at all) here, and these are periods of great outside pressure. Inevitably my focus slips - if I work from 6am to 9 or 10pm all I can think of is my bed and how warm and nice it feels; the CPC just gathers dust. But I've found myself outside of a job as well and, oh boy, what times those are.
...and these days, ironically, I'm quite busy not with work, but with preparing our home to welcome a new member, and all this excitement has lifted my excitement for the CPC as well; I can't wait for the weekend to come so I can play all the new releases!
Don't pay much attention to it. No reason getting sad over it or trying to force it. Just enjoy what you enjoy :)
All I can tell is that after making Orion Prime, I didn't do CPC for one or two years. I didn't even attend to CPC Meetings. I felt I had reached my goal. Then, some other ideas came, naturally, and now I can't seem to have enough time to realize them.
My suggestion is, don't try too hard, simply do what you want to, do other stuff, and one day you may get some ideas you will want to realize on your good ol' CPC :). Or maybe not!!
Or try have some kids. Your Retro time will become so rare that you will cherish every moment of it.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 14:58, 15 November 18
Or try have some kids. Your Retro time will become so rare that you will cherish every moment of it.
Oh, thanks for the encouragement.
Quote from: Gryzor on 15:15, 15 November 18
Oh, thanks for the encouragement.
Guess what... I can see YOUR future :D
Bryce.
ΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑRGH NOBODY TOLD ME ABOUT THAT!
Ok, back on topic :)
I play Galactic Tomb with my son on my CPC ;D
But to be fair, time for actually coding something is quite scarce.
For me, I got back in to the retro computing thing as my interest waned on newer technology. I was fortunate to grow up through the 80s and experienced numerous different home computers. I moved on to PCs with DOS, OS/2 and then Windows - programming as I went along. I was even an IBM Mainframe developer in the 1990s. Everything was new and exciting and I soaked up knowledge.
It all started to change for me with Windows 8 which I thought was a very poor release. I actually like Windows 10 but the IT world seems to have morphed in to delivering another version of the same thing. For example, how many iPhones does the world need? Especially when each one is basically a bit thinner, lighter and wee bit more speedy. Where is the innovation?
I have been watching MARS on Netflix of late and I think they summed it up well on there. Previous generations dreamed big and put a man on the moon. What have we done since in terms of space exploration? Our dreams have become very limited.
Why am I saying this? Well, for me retro computers hark back to the day when everything seemed possible...
Paddy
Quote from: PaddyC13 on 16:34, 15 November 18
Why am I saying this? Well, for me retro computers hark back to the day when everything seemed possible...
Paddy
Actually, today's computing is total waste of memory and processor power. From dreaming of Mars with <1mhz chip to play Minecraft while waiting for an Uber... using 4096 CUDA processors...
https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/microprocessors_used_in_spacecrafts (https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/microprocessors_used_in_spacecrafts)
Never in the field of computing has so much been used to deliver so little... ;)
Paddy
I was watching a video on YouTube made by a chap who was intending to use an Apple IIGS as his daily machine in 2018. What amazed me was how accomplished and usable the IIGS was. The GUI looked great and worked well. The applications (also GUI) were easy to use and responsive.
Paddy
I would not worry too much about it @mr_lou (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=96) , it happens to me all the time :-)
My interests work in a kind of cyclic way; I may be very interested in CPC stuff for a couple of months, then I slowly move towards Amiga, then other things ... to finally come back to the CPC again; rinse and repeat. I've learnt to accept this as a natural thing: my mind simply works this way.
The only thing I can say to you is, take it easy, enjoy other aspects of your life and don't worry too much about this. It is natural to get tired (or bored) of something after a while. Take all the time you need and you'll be back to shape (and full of energy) in a couple of months.
There's no point on doing CPC stuff if you don't truly enjoy it; this should be all fun :)
Agreed with adolfo.pa I personally find my enthusiasm for stuff goes up and down. Sometimes I need to clear out everything to make a clean start. I have found the same, that my memories for certain games gets softened with revisiting them, maybe its just the time since I played them in my youth and an element of rose tinting from younger more simple times.
Would you enthusiasm increase with more face to face Amstrad interaction with others from the community? I wonder if that would help build your enthusiasm.
I've felt the same, and I think it's pretty much unavoidable, I mean the CPC hardware is 30 years old - it's only nonsense like HDR,4K and VR keeping people excited about PC gaming - so it's only natural to an extent.
I've been keeping my passion for retro going by diversifying into other 8 and 16 bit classic systems, learning about those, and whatnot... I still believe the CPC is one of the best 8 bit home computers, if not the best - I know the C64 and MSX people may disagree, but there you go!
if you want to 'rekindle' your CPC passion, I guess you need to start to look at something new - look at a game type you've never played, research a kind of software you've never used... or start writing a new program/game that hasn't been done before - or look into some weird hardware you've not tried before like the lightgun or pen, or hacking games with the multiface 2!
I also go through ups and downs regarding this sort of thing.
I usually do a few months of coding, and I think about the project all the time.
(Probably a bit too much, if you were to ask my wife!) :laugh:
Eventually I will either complete the project (e.g. RUNCPC from 2015, or my line drawing code from 2016), or I will fail to complete the project (my failed entries for cpcretrodev from 2017 and this year), or I will simply burn out.
I will then not feel like coding for some time, but eventually the urge returns.
My irrational "need" to create something for a 34-year-old computer comes back, especially when an idea to try something ambitious pops in to my head. And then the cycle continues...
This happens to most... I used to be a prolific prototype game programmer, it was a hobby, I'd tinker for ages, get so far into it, then start again on something else. Granted I managed to break that habit on occasions, go all the way on a project and get a game out there selling on various stores.
But then, after years, the collapse/stalling of my fave tools and libs, more notably Blitz languages, GLBasic... And the rise of having to install a million things for newer tools to use, just to build for one platform... I got bored, and I havent the time to invest to learn new tools like Unity... I sorta give up programming games, and instead, play golf, fly my drone... Do more outside things, I never touch programming for donkeys.
Though, after a while, I got the itch to start again on a project which is going very well, using B4A, which is a lovely language, its a golf thing, and because I'm playing golf again... Its coming along just fine, obviously because its a related interest! :)
Dabz
What happened to that Cement Factory game you were talking about, or ain't I allowed to ask? ???
It is certainly going in phases, up and down... In my case, I relocated to the US 8 years ago. I had to leave everything behind in Germany (including CPCs), and was too busy "surviving" that I didn't even remember my Z80 op codes anymore! :D Now that life has become more predictable again, I am enjoying the CPC again, and it is fun to see what I have missed in the last 20 years. Partly, because of hardware now being available that wasn't back then (ROM boards, ... , -> FutureOS etc.) - well, it was available, but not affordable 35 years ago - , and other cool extensions which we wouldn't have dreamed of 30 years ago (M4 board). I am slowly recreating my collection of CPC stuff, and even if it is not my original stuff, I am still getting a lot of excitement and enthusiasm out of it. Today, I just got my childhood printer back. So, my advice is - relocate to a different country, and rebuild your collection of retro computers ;) No, but seriously - indeed, old memories wear off the more frequent you are "using them, referring to them". Just use them more rarely, and do something else for 5 years. Then come back, and you will enjoy it again and be as enthusiastic as 30 years ago around Xmas with your CPC :) Maybe try to find a piece of hardware you wanted to own back then but couldn't afford, or a piece of hardware that you have lost and found again (like the printer in my case), and it should be fun again (I hope).
EDIT: Another thing I enjoy is the change in perspective over the years; and that also kind of keeps my enthusiasm and interest alive. There are always new things to learn about the CPC and related stuff. For example, I grew up with the 464 in 1986 believing that Schneider had engineered it. Later I learned that they only relabeled it (how lame!), and that Amstrad made it. Back then I really wanted the NLQ 401 Schneider printer, but it was too expensive. So one day I was extremely lucky and surprised when I found the Brother M1009 for sale, which was the same hardware, just different firmware than the NLQ 401. So I got that one for 100 DM or so; that must have been 1986 or 1987. Back then I thought that Schneider had relabeled the Brother, and that Brother was the original manufacturer. I was completely surprised when I found this "Centronics Great Little Printer (GLP 500)" on Ebay... I couldn't resist not buying it. Now that I have it up and running I am even more surprised that it offers an NLQ mode (selectable via a DIP switch!) I don't think that the Brother M1009 had NLQ... at least I wasn't smart enough to find the DIP switch back then if so :D So, now I believe that Centronics was the original manufacturer of the NLQ 401, and not Brother. It's never too late to learn. Maybe there will be even more revelations in these matters.
Thanks a lot for all your replies.
Lots of good suggestions here. The thing is, I think I've already done most of them.
I
have been enjoying lots and lots of games that I didn't know from back in the day. Especially when I got my CPC Plus (with lots of hardware expansions) I enjoyed the many Plus games. I've been downloading lots and lots of games from CPC-power just to try them out. And it was great.
I
have been exploring new sides of the CPC; developing two games with C, and made two musicdisks with help from the community. And though none of the 2 games qualifies as amazing games, they definitely fulfilled my curiosity in regards of creating a "machine code game". And it was great.
And I actually also do have a kid; my 7-year old daughter. And yes, having kids does indeed reduce your retrotime. (Not so great, but great having kids). ;)
I know that our interests in the CPC comes in waves. But this is different. The "power" has always remained the same, despite the "interest waves". This time it's the "power" that is fading. Difficult to explain...
Quote from: AMSDOS on 11:30, 16 November 18
What happened to that Cement Factory game you were talking about, or ain't I allowed to ask?
I still get many new ideas. I may share some of them on the forum. Then lose interest again when no one seems to be intrigued by it. Right now I only vaguely remember talking about that Cement Factory game.
Then comes all the ideas I don't share. I've thought about doing a diskmag engine purely in BASIC for example. I've also thought of at least 4 different BASIC games - and even started 3 of them now that I think about it. Wanted to explore BASIC more.
The waves of interest is different. When the interest is low I don't even get ideas - there's no interest. Then when interest returns, I get ideas and I'm productive. Creates musicdisks and games.
This here now is not the wave of interest. The interest is still there, weirdly. It's the enthusiasm that's fading. The way I can tell is that I still get ideas. Ideas for articles for the CPCFanzine, BASIC programs, music, techniques, tools. Lots of ideas. But absolutely no desire to do anything about them.... or well... obviously I must have a desire, otherwise I probably wouldn't get the ideas. But something is missing. The part that is required to be intrigued and get creative is missing. Whatever it's called. It actually looks like depression, except I don't feel depressed. I'm actually in a good place in my life right now. It's weird.
I suppose I could just try taking a break from all things CPC for a while. Doesn't look like I have much of a choice anyway.
Thanks all!
If you simply don't WANT to get involved in a project, then don't :). Take a break, and maybe you'll come back later. And if you don't, well so be it :).
Quote from: Targhan on 12:33, 17 November 18
If you simply don't WANT to get involved in a project, then don't :) . Take a break, and maybe you'll come back later. And if you don't, well so be it :) .
I want to want to. :)
But the lack of enthusiasm stands in the way.
I think part of the root cause is knowing that I don't have enough time available. (Seriously, I still wonder how the hell everyone else here manages to find the time for all their CPC projects. Seems other creators also have kids and jobs and whatnot - so how??).
Quote from: mr_lou on 12:48, 17 November 18
I want to want to. :)
But the lack of enthusiasm stands in the way.
I think part of the root cause is knowing that I don't have enough time available. (Seriously, I still wonder how the hell everyone else here manages to find the time for all their CPC projects. Seems other creators also have kids and jobs and whatnot - so how??).
To find time, I find that something else has to be sacrificed... and that thing is SLEEP!
:laugh:
Mr_Lou, the fading away of our energy for worldly things isn't CPC specific, I'm afraid. It's just that we're getting older...
Over the years we usually learn more and more. So we've to share our time with an increasing number of things. Also by getting older we tend to see through worldly things more and more. At one point their attraction fades away because we know them just too well.
For example, when we were young and played some nice CPC game, its "Artificial Intelligence" (AI) looked like pure magic to us. Today, some decades later, having done own "AI" in video-games or having read about how it works, we can usually only smile at "AI" because it's always the same patterns, made more complex over the years but still there's absolutely no intelligence in it. And so it can't really surprise us anymore.
It's similar with films and many other things: the more you know about behind-the-scenes stuff (special effects etc), the less a new film manages to capture your imagination. Exceptions confirm the rule.
So far nothing new. That's life.
Since some time I handle retro video games as a piece of art which also fascinates by looking at and thinking about it – and about the artist who created it. This helps to grasp the strength of mind and immortal spirit behind it, like all the love, enthusiasm and handcraft skill which the developer put into his game.
We had the luck to experience the beginning of video gaming, where one man (or two) could form his creation exactly according to his imagination (Chuckie Egg, Elite, Tau Ceti, Head over Heels, Manic Miner, Spindizzy, etc).
By looking at modern video games we see that the area's beginning was absolutely unique and won't ever exist again – except in our memories which continue to live in the emulation of retro things.
To think and read and talk with other retro art lovers about this, and also by teaching the retro treasure to our next generation, can keep this art alive – and inspire our own enthusiasm.
One thing that keeps motivating me is the CPC music. I simply love it so much. Listening to Roland Radio while coding certainly helps motivating me.
I believe that having enthusiasm cannot be an obligation or a must.Cpc is for most of us a hobby (as i suppose that nobody cannot earn money or do it as work). There are many ways for each person to have fun an enjoyment- other watch movies, playing playstation, go for walk, meet friends etc.
These ways of enjoyment vary from time to time- the same happens for cpc.There is no problem to lose enthusiasm for some period - maybe it will come back later - or, at any case, if you find something else more enjoyable, there is no problem. As for cpc gaming, there are many old and new games to try, but, as for every game, maybe you can get bored, but this happens for all games. But for programming, creativity is something that is getting bored more difficult. Because making a program is, although hard, but can give very high degree of satisfaction and enjoyment. I understand that most people dont pay attention on retro games and creating, but thats why the forum exists, and, beyond all, when creating something and you are satisfied with it, you dont need necessarily <applause> from others- you and yourself have the satisfaction of having created something unique for you- and thats all that counts!
I get away with it because I'm single with no family. I work out in the Environment 5 days a week and the past 15 years I'd commit Volunteer time in the Environment, though I've cut some of that out because working for 5 Days in tough terrain takes a toll on the body and with age it's not going to get any easier. Just to add to all that, I've packed up one of the groups I was running for reasons people were too busy with their families, so I've Drafted a Letter which addresses the broader community.
But I've only written simple stuff since I impose the use of CPC Languages and Firmware in my programmes (so I haven't done anything like Fitzroy and the Infestation). The BASIC 10-Liners Compo was a good motivation for me to come up with some stuff and since it set a deadline, it was a way of saying that I'd have to get something done, though I could see where that too would be a problem for busy people. In my case the most enjoyable game I've written is a game which hardly took much time to write and was enjoyable to code it, so sometimes even the Technically challenging game won't necessarily be the most enjoyable.
Quote from: Bryce on 14:58, 15 November 18
Or try have some kids. Your Retro time will become so rare that you will cherish every moment of it.
Bryce.
until they get hooked on "The Teddy Bear game" (Fun School) or "The Ostrich one" (Chucky Egg) and then you need 2 CPC's just to have one for yourself!
My Nathan is a good fella really!
Craig
Quote from: mr_lou on 13:59, 15 November 18
I tend to blame general lack of time. Because I still get a lot of ideas for CPC projects. I just don't have the enthusiasm to do anything about them, and I think it's because I know I don't have the available time such projects require. And I guess that's how you slowly lose touch.
[...]
Is anyone else experiencing anything like this? Is it just me? What's going on? Am I finally just growing up? Argh! I hope not!
Yeah, I can relate to that. Lacking time is a huge factor for me as well. When I started CPCing, I was merely a kid and had - compared to today - zero responsibilities, apart from school. Someone here wrote that you learn and learn more things as you grow older and that's true for me, as well. Apart from the biggest factor, which is family (I want to spend as much spare time as possible with my wife and son), I am interested in much more things than I was in the 80s. And here you start setting priorities. Working on the CPC has lost urgency over the years, but I only sometimes regret that I probably will never realize all the cool ideas I have in my head. You can't do all the things you can think of, anyway. So my way of dealing with it is: let it go. And don't judge. It's not a bad thing, it's life.
I know where your coming from but dont give up, mix it up because variety is the spice of life. There are always new things in life I'm learning to cook healthy foods after realising how comfortable elasticated trouser braces are! ;D and there is loads of stuff on you tube to see, I watch the 8 bit guy, The Spectrum show and techmoan! all groovy stuff :P
I'm also in the same boat. I have found I have not touched my collection in months as been playing around with other stuff. I check the forum each day for latest news etc but that's it. I have a very large collection in the spare room, over 1850 pieces of software, 6 boxed Amstrads, hardware mags etc and I keep thinking of how I could make use of that room that it is taking up :). Really don't know what to do as it would take me ages to sell this off so that defeats the object of freeing up room anytime soon for other projects. Also the worrying factor is the life span of all them game cassettes.
[quo
So I took a break from the forum too. Only back now because of a PM I had to reply.
Still no real interest in the CPC... :-X (only tried RetroPie for the first time on my old Rasberry Pi v1 - but Amstrad emulation was way too slow).
But I do have another interest: Blu-Play development (http://www.blu-play.com).
Currently making a game inspired by an old Philips Videopac G7000 game (https://www.psxhax.com/threads/new-blu-play-homebrew-game-in-development-the-ufo-game.6889/). And previously ported another old game of ours to Blu-Play (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/off-topic/blu-ray-disc-java-(bd-j)-game-%27ukko%27s-journey%27-preview-video/).
For some reason this platform is extremely intriguing to me: Code in (old) Java => run on PS3 + PS4 + XB1 + the new PS5 + the new Xbox Scarlett. What's not to like?
It comes with lots of limitations too, which only adds more fun to the challenge.
We all have our puzzles to pass time with. This is mine apparently. (for the moment anyway)
(anyone got suggestions for other weird retro'ish extremely niche platforms?)
Quote from: WiltshireWizard on 23:14, 21 May 19Maybe writing that book was your catharsis. Maybe all those emotions that were invested in those memories, which you had clearly deliberately and lovingly preserved, finally had a release in a more physical and tangible form, i.e the writing of the book and the laying down, in physical form, of those memories and feelings. They finally had somewhere to go and then were let loose upon the world. And now, afterwards, they no longer have that hold and power over you as they once did...
That does sound about right. I thought about this too.
I've also considered, maybe the lack of interest in the CPC is because I miss(ed) someone to work with. I.e. do projects with.
But that can't be it, because I'm pretty much alone with my Blu-Play interest too, and that doesn't change the interest. But maybe I'll lose interest for this platform again as soon as I've achieved my goals with it. :) I suspect that'll be a while though.
Quote from: ervin on 01:33, 16 November 18
I also go through ups and downs regarding this sort of thing.
I usually do a few months of coding, and I think about the project all the time.
(Probably a bit too much, if you were to ask my wife!) :laugh:
......
Mmmmm..... I just showed this statement to my better half, and got that look from her... Lol
Put it this way, my house is currently littered with random amstrad firmware printings, twelve months ago it was carburetor rebuilding and tuning :)
Like others have stated, I think you need to embrace the idea of walking away for indefinite periods of time.
I use to let it bother me once, that I'd spend all this money and time doing something, only to walk away for months or years at a time. I could list off half a dozen different interests I have, and how I haven't attended to some for years. But I now embrace this as a positive thing.
I didn't even think about the cpc for 4 years, then recently returned to find all these awesome new developments. I find it mentally stimulating and refreshing to return to something after a long break.
Cheers,
Rob
Quote from: mr_lou on 08:08, 30 June 19
So I took a break from the forum too. Only back now because of a PM I had to reply.
Still no real interest in the CPC... :-X (only tried RetroPie for the first time on my old Rasberry Pi v1 - but Amstrad emulation was way too slow).
That's our loss and I hope it's not a permanent thing, though for the Community we may just have to accept it unfortunately :(
Going back and reading what you wrote earlier, I could understand the frustration of having ideas for games and then having other ideas flood in, for myself it's having an idea for a game as well as having a couple of other ideas, the trouble is the one I find promising I'm unsure if I can code it in 10-Lines of BASIC (which is next year now), though it may seem to simple for the other Amstrad Compo later this year and in the meantime I'm playing around with BBC BASIC for the CPC and playing around with some other Type-Ins and I still haven't got around to improving the Kinky Kong game from Sensational Games For the Amstrad which was just doing some stuff I thought could be improved on and I was working on that back in April! ???
QuoteStill no real interest in the CPC...
In case you're interested, there are many people who're looking for musicians. I get many proposals, from various platforms. Can't accept them all. Maybe it would be a way back?
Quote from: Targhan on 23:00, 01 July 19
In case you're interested, there are many people who're looking for musicians. I get many proposals, from various platforms. Can't accept them all. Maybe it would be a way back?
Thanks for the offer.
I had to think long and hard about why doing CPC music doesn't spark the interest, and found a mix of various reasons.
I created IndieGameMusic.com partly because I got tired of doing project work for projects that got cancelled, or the author didn't like the track I made.
With IGM I can create any style I want, when I'm in the mood and have time, in my own pace, and the track can then be offered as it is - take it or leave it.
I can feel that time is also a big factor. Me and my better half are currently trying to start up our own business. This requires a lot of time, and it's clear that this is a big part of the reason why I give up on sparetime projects right away. Knowing it's impossible upfront simply prevents the interest.
One still has to have some enjoyment of course, so small slow-paced projects shouldn't be killed. My current Blu-ray game project is a very small and slow-paced one. Just enough to keep the mood up. :)
Though I admit, when I'm stuck with a code issue, I feel it's taking too long.
What I
could do for CPC stuff though, is to add one or two CPC music filetypes on IndieGameMusic.com, and put some of my tracks there. Or... Arkos Tracker files are supported on several platforms, right? So.... maybe it just belongs among the tracker files, rather than be a CPC specific format.
This might also be interesting for other CPC musicians, in that there might be some pocket money to be earned. Tracks on IGM are typically free for freeware games, and cheap for commercial games - and the CPC does have commercial games, so...
And if you render mp3/ogg versions of the track, then gamedevs on other platform could also use them. (And chip music is popular).
(Many gamedevs have shown interest for the MIDI files I made for the JavaME platform, for example. Because I rendered them to mp3).
But doing this still wouldn't change my own CPC productivity
drastically. I do think though, that it might result in more CPC music from me. But all is relative of course, and I would need to not be the only one adding these CPC tracks to IGM then.
These days though, Amiga MOD files have had a bigger interest. Just today I've had yet another payed request for several of my older Amiga MOD files. For some reason gamedevs on various platforms like these files. So obviously I've uploaded all of my MOD files now. :) Turns out that was a good idea.
I actually
have been thinking about a CPC music project lately - but a BASIC one. Mainly an idea for an effect that can only be done programmatically (which in my book means BASIC, because ASM/C is too tricky for me). But again, lack of time + knowing the amount of interest in the community won't be high = no go.
Thoughts about adding Arkos Tracker files to IndieGameMusic.com?
QuoteThoughts about adding Arkos Tracker files to IndieGameMusic.com?
The idea is good, but this is not for me, sorry! I only compose when asked to, or when I have projects on my own. I guess people know me as a musician, and as the Arkos Tracker author, so I got offers quite often, I personally don't need (and don't have time) to post music for not-yet-existing projects.
Quote from: mr_lou on 05:43, 02 July 19
I actually have been thinking about a CPC music project lately - but a BASIC one. Mainly an idea for an effect that can only be done programmatically (which in my book means BASIC, because ASM/C is too tricky for me). But again, lack of time + knowing the amount of interest in the community won't be high = no go.
That sounds interesting - at least to me! And if it's interesting enough, I could even help with doing it in Z80.
So, if you don't mind, I would like to hear more about it.
Quote from: mr_lou on 08:08, 30 June 19
But that can't be it, because I'm pretty much alone with my Blu-Play interest too, and that doesn't change the interest. But maybe I'll lose interest for this platform again as soon as I've achieved my goals with it. I suspect that'll be a while though.
No, you are not :) This Blu-Play thing sounds very interesting, I think I'll have a closer look in autumn (when I am naturally more inclined to spend my evenings at home).
Quote from: Targhan on 10:09, 02 July 19
The idea is good, but this is not for me, sorry! I only compose when asked to, or when I have projects on my own. I guess people know me as a musician, and as the Arkos Tracker author, so I got offers quite often, I personally don't need (and don't have time) to post music for not-yet-existing projects.
mkay, I think I'm gonna go ahead and do this though.
And then I'm gonna load all of my StarKos files into Arkos Tracker 2 and export as AKG to get things started.
As far as I understand AKG is "the" format that can be used on all supported platforms, right?
I need
one format to offer for all, before it's interesting.
Isn't that the way to go about it?
EDIT: After chatting here and there on IRC, I've learned that the assembler source that Arkos Tracker 2 exports doesn't work on all platforms.
So I'm just gonna use the AKS format instead, and let gamedevs do their own conversions / exports.
It's quite normal to have a burnout phase, especially when you have been involved in something for very long. It probably varies from person to person but for me these are cyclical - I got periods of being totally into this or that while ignoring something else, then going back to it and so on and on.
My pure-retro phase has been on for nearly 2 years now, but before that I spent over a year tweaking a modern PC rig and catching up with the latest games. It probably also helps that despite my strong ZX/Amiga background I also enjoy exploring all the other micros. Who'd've thunk all these years ago there would be couple of Ataris on my shelf and that I will enjoy them greatly? ;)
So, don't worry about it too much and come back when you feel like it.
QuoteEDIT: After chatting here and there on IRC, I've learned that the assembler source that Arkos Tracker 2 exports doesn't work on all platforms
@mr_lou (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=96) Sorry, I missed that post. It is wiser to spread the AKS file, but exported AKG file should sound the same. However, even an AKS may sound different when you change the target platform. As the PSG frequency change, pitch effects aren't exactly the same, and the hardware envelope too. So a bit of tweaking may be necessary.
Plus, it is indeed wiser to spread the AKS and not an AKG because users may want to use another format (AKY, LW, AKM).
Quote from: Targhan on 22:06, 30 September 19
@mr_lou (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=96) Sorry, I missed that post. It is wiser to spread the AKS file, but exported AKG file should sound the same. However, even an AKS may sound different when you change the target platform. As the PSG frequency change, pitch effects aren't exactly the same, and the hardware envelope too. So a bit of tweaking may be necessary.
Plus, it is indeed wiser to spread the AKS and not an AKG because users may want to use another format (AKY, LW, AKM).
I don't know exactly what the problem was, according to this dude. I just know he wrote his own converter, and then it was a simple matter of just releasing the AKS instead of the AKG. Not a problem for me.
He said he'd been in contact with you though. Sorry I can't remember who it was, but the platform was Atari ST. I've been chatting with a million people about various audio stuff on many different platforms these past few days.
end it
I was also losing interest in this hobby...
wife, job, Archery, passing time...
then a freaking huge RetroParty such as Alchimie13 happened and here it goes again.
It is important to actually meet in real life other peopels with same hobby, but who are also genuinely interesting on many other topics.
Having at least a Pair of big reunions per year is helping to motivate creation and involvement.
@mr_lou (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=96) , I recently read your book (on my Kindle, worked perfect). It got really interesting for me because I could see the processes that went into writing it and I could really relate with lots of stuff in there.
What I wanted to say, however, is this: that was an exhaustive dump of memories and thoughts, and -I guess- quite cathartic. So it's not unusual to feel the way you did/do; I'd say it's to be expected, rather.