[attachimg=1]
After seeing the success of this kind of competitions in other platforms, we would like to announce the first
Amstrad CPC 16KBs ROM Game Development Competition.
The reasons for the size limit are mainly for opening the compo to more participants. Small games are more probable to get finished than big games. We feel that the focus will be in the playability, originality and making fun games. And a nice feature of the size is that we can fill a gap in the CPC catalog, the lack of "rom games"; there is a lot of romboards these days (Megaflash, Symbiface, ...), but no games. We want to change this and hope, it will help to bring new CPC+ cartridges to the public soon.
THE RULES- The competition deadline is 00:00 GMT on the 1st July of 2013.
- All submitted games must be in working in all CPC models in a 16 KBs ROM format. Compression is allowed (and encouraged) but the final file size must not exceed 16 KBs (16.384 bytes).
- You are free to choose your favourite language or game developing tool.
- The games submitted do not necessarily need to be new, but must be your own work and not released previously. Games hacks will obviously not be accepted.
- There is not a maximum number of single entries from a person or group.
- The compo is open to all the CPC community.
- You must add to your entry a text manual.
- The applicant owns their work, so therefore submitted games will *ONLY* be released for sale at an agreed price if the coder expresses a desire to do so.
- The games would be rated by public votes during the next two weeks after the deadline and the results will appear at 00:00 GMT on the 16th July of 2013.
These are the rules, we'll make a minor adjustments with your feedback to clarify them.
PRIZESIn this moment, the only prize is the honor for being the winner, but we hope to announce a big surprise during the competition.
We are open to donations or sponsorship, if somebody want to use donations to encourage to the participants, feel free to make them. And not only for the winners, you can choose your own categories, for example, the best shooter or the best puzzle game; the game with the best graphics or music; the game using more ponies, ...
REGISTERINGIf you are interested in entering the competition, send us a message via email confirming that you'd like to take part and we will be in touch with more details.
SUBMITTING A GAMEYou can send in your game via email and it *MUST* be received by us prior to the deadline.
EXAMPLE ROM CODEThe participants can use the next code for their roms:
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Minimal ROM Project
; (c) You 2013
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ORG $C000
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
; ROM Header
rom_type
DEFB 1 ; Background ROM
rom_version
DEFB 0,0,1 ; Version 0.0.1
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
rsx_names
DEFW rsx_name_table
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
JP initialize_rom ; Called by the firmware during system initialization
JP run_game ; Launch the game
rsx_name_table
DEFB "!" + $80 ; Use a name that basic can not run
DEFB "GAM","E" + $80 ; RSX for launch the game (|GAME)
DEFB 0 ; End of RSXs name table
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Show initialization text and telling the firmware everything OK
; ENTRIES:
; DE: Pointer to the lowest RAM address that we can use.
; HL: Pointer to the highest RAM address that we can use.
; EXITS:
; Carry true.
; DE: Pointer to the new lowest RAM address that we can use.
; HL: Pointer to the new highest RAM address that we can use.
; A, BC and the other flags corrupt.
; All others registers preserved.
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
initialize_rom
PUSH HL
LD HL,initialization_message
CALL show_message
POP HL
SCF ; Signal to the firmware everything was correct
RET
initialization_message
DEFB $0F,2," Project",$0F,3," Alpha",$0F,1," (",$7C,"GAME) ",$A4,'2013'
DEFB $0F,3," You",$0F,1,7,10,13,$FF
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
; RSX '|GAME' launch the game
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
run_game
; Get the ROM number
CALL $B912 ; KL_CURR_SELECTION (A = ROM select address for our rom)
LD ($4000),A ; Save the rom number in a variable in ram
; Add your game code
LD HL,game_message
CALL show_message
RET
game_message
DEFB "Hello CPC World!",10,13,$FF
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Print a string finished in $FF using the firmware
; ENTRIES:
; HL : Pointer to the string
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
show_message
LD A,(HL)
.loop_show_message
CALL $BB5A ; TXT_OUTPUT
INC HL
LD A,(HL)
CP $FF
JR NZ,.loop_show_message
RET
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Pad the rom with zeros until the 16 KBs
DEFS $0-$ ; in pasmo
; ORG $10000 ; in vasm
; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
END
CONTACT INFOYou can reach me the organizer in
real.mml@gmail.com (SyX)
Good Luck and we hope it will be a big success!!!
Happy New Year and Happy CPC coding!!!
UPDATES:
- Code example updated.
- Added the logo for the competition.
- Added the link to the official page in the CPC-Wiki.
