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General Category => News & Events => Topic started by: ronaldo on 20:14, 17 June 15

Title: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: ronaldo on 20:14, 17 June 15
Rules for #CPCRetroDev 2015 (http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/cpcretrodev_rules_2015.pdf) are published and submissions are open! :D . This year we are going to beat records with 900€ in prizes for the best Amstrad CPC games! And the contest is officially open to all the international community!

Deadline:friday, 23th of October, 2015 (CEST timezone, more than 4 months from now)

This year, there are 2 main categories: PRO y BASIC. There are also 2 special awards for technical innovations and originality. Like past year, a physical edition with all presented games will be published. Moreover, this year's physical edition will be distributed by award winning enterprise Devilish Games (http://www.devilishgames.com).

The contest is organized by University of Alicante (http://www.ua.es), ByteRealms (http://www.byterealms.com) and Cheesetea (http://www.cheesetea.com), and has 2 collaborating entities (by now :) ): Devilish Games (http://www.devilishgames.com) and RetroManiac (http://retromaniacmagazine.blogspot.com.es/). We organizers are extremelly grateful to collaborating entities for their extraordinary support :D

Here you are the most important links](http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/cpcretrodev2014_med.gif) (http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com/contest-en/cpcretrodev-2015/)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: EgoTrip on 22:13, 17 June 15
I might try and enter something, so everyone else who enters won't have to fear finishing in last place.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 20:51, 18 June 15
I can't believe in @EgoTrip (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=337) being the only one willing to accept #CPCRetroDev Challenge. Come on! Where are you hidding, CPCWiki's superb developers?  :D
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Trebmint on 08:49, 19 June 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 20:51, 18 June 15
I can't believe in @EgoTrip (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=337) being the only one willing to accept #CPCRetroDev Challenge. Come on! Where are you hidding, CPCWiki's superb developers?  :D
Im sure you'll get quite a few entries, but I guess people dont like to throw their hat into the ring too early :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Ygdrazil on 09:49, 19 June 15

Quote from: Trebmint on 08:49, 19 June 15Im sure you'll get quite a few entries, but I guess people dont like to throw their hat into the ring too early :)


Heh... I think you are right there :-)


/Ygdrazil
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Optimus on 17:08, 21 June 15
That's cool news! It almost made me recompile an old project, although I don't want to promise anything yet (I know I will fail to deliver), just keeping an eye on the compo.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: fgbrain on 19:55, 21 June 15
Too bad it must be 464 only!!! All CPC models are retro machines  :(
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 20:45, 21 June 15
Quote from: fgbrain on 19:55, 21 June 15
Too bad it must be 464 only!!! All CPC models are retro machines  :(
@fgbrain (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=429), that's a decision we did based on several reasons:
These are our reasons for asking for 64K games (not limiting to 464 work, that's the minimum we ask for, not the maximum). Of course, we know that these reasons don't have to be shared by everyone, but no single set of reasons would. If we had selected 6128 as target machines some people with 464 will complain, if we open it to any kind of CPC, some people could reasonably complain that comparisons are unfair, and we'll have problems to create a single physical publication.

I'm sorry for not being able to satisfy everyone's desires: I'd love to have a way to do that. We've picked this contest model and hope you understand us, even if you don't share our view.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: MacDeath on 23:01, 21 June 15
The point being having students doing things, 464 is good, I mean, to get coders handle only 64K (minus the Video buffer) is really a hard exercice.

The point is also to get small fun games I guess while the students (the ones aimed at by this competition) still have enough time for the rest of their studies...  ;)
I mean serious projects like Orion Prime or R-Type remake could take years to be completed...

Really nice to have this running since 3 years.

I really think such experience can really benefit younger coders students.
When you apply for a job in coding, the project manager or any superior would be a 35-40 years old dude that actually started on those 8bit machines and this close to hardware approach is great.
Many jobs in coding are concerning Embedded systems with some very limited hardwares or specifications
My brother is developing some Embedded systems for his job : it has some 32bit cpu but like 128k RAM and 512k Flash only and very very low 1bpp display... basically a 32bit CPC/ZX81... lol... in a 1cm² thing.
he told me he had to take hand on this project after a young dude in professional traineeship... the code was so bad that my brother could reduce the power consumption 10 times because he is an older dude who happened to know the era of the 64k RAM and 4mhz.

youngsters coders would always waste so many CPU because... modern computers have too much of it.

when doing embedded systems, you really can help having experience from those old very limited systems. It also helps them to try and learn "exotic" systems... and it restores the very first vocation of those 8 bit machines : being game cons... er.... being learning machine.  ;)

I mean, a young student who never knew anything beside very powerfull computers and graphic user interface and too many many gigas of anykind (Hz, bytes, colours, pixels...) to waste.
Bad unopmised code can work on new computers... but you may not realise you are using half the power of the computer to run a simple task program for nothing... and that it wouldn't run on somewhat more limited systems (like small tablets, older smartphones or even a computer with only 2 cores and 1go RAM... :D


Also to have the thing interested via prize money and non-students contestants makes sure students would get hard competitors by older dudes like the CPC community. And see what others can do.
Would be great if more universities could do such things.

could be like Robotic competitions between tech-schools.

"European universities Retro-computing coding competition", could be great.
Have you asked to some other universities teachers ? in France perhaps ?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 01:36, 22 June 15
Now that I've got cpctelera running nicely, I'm thinking of entering the comp.
Not sure what I'll do yet... maybe some sort of into-the-screen runner...
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 12:20, 22 June 15
@MacDeath (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=221): all that you say are definitely part of my goals :). I always want my students to be involved in real projects, not simple classroom exercises, and making them face against real consolidated developers is very educative for them. Moreover, having to deal with an Amstrad CPC 464 forces them to go low-level and face their non-optimal coding style against the machine. Then, learning to get the most out of the machine is the next step :).

However, I also love to contribute to the community and continue giving new live to hour beloved Amstrads :D. The contest is a way to offer the best to both worlds: my students get exciting and educative projects, and the community has a great contest to enjoy and to impulse new and existing game projects to become real for our machines :).
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 14:01, 22 June 15
I'm spent some time playing with cpctelera today, and it is AWESOME. Love it.

So I'm going to try writing a game called RUN"CPC".
(Yes, rather pretentiously, the quotes are part of the name).

It will be an into-the-screen auto-runner, and it'll be done completely in cpctelera/SDCC, except perhaps for a fast CLS routine written in asm.
Hopefully I'll find the time to create this game!  8)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Gryzor on 14:24, 23 June 15
I love the title, if nothing else!


So it'll be pseudo-3D?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 15:01, 23 June 15
I'll actually be using proper 3d-to-2d projections, and then mapping the calculated points to character blocks on-screen.
Those points will then be used as the basis for where to draw sprites from tiles.

In fact I've already got some characters (numbers and letters) flying around the screen in proper 3D (though it is very buggy at the moment).
8)

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Gryzor on 15:10, 23 June 15
Ooh sounds exciting! What about the target window size and frame rate?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 15:24, 23 June 15
I'm not sure about the frame rate yet... it won't be amazing but should be perfectly playable.
I'm going for full-screen.  8)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 19:35, 23 June 15
Quote from: ervin on 14:01, 22 June 15
I'm spent some time playing with cpctelera today, and it is AWESOME. Love it.
Comments like this give me much energy to continue doing more things for CPCtelera :) . Hope to make it a little bit better every day :D

Quote from: ervin on 14:01, 22 June 15
So I'm going to try writing a game called RUN"CPC".
(Yes, rather pretentiously, the quotes are part of the name).
It will be an into-the-screen auto-runner, and it'll be done completely in cpctelera/SDCC, except perhaps for a fast CLS routine written in asm.
Curious name :) . I'm looking forward to see it finished :D

Btw, latest commit to CPCtelera at github includes cpct_memset_f8 function, which is a fast version of memset that uses SP / PUSH in chuncks of 8 bytes. That makes it able to set 16000 bytes (the whole screen in standard mode 0) in ~115K cycles, which is a little bit less than 2 VSYNCs, and 3 times faster than a standard memset.

I'm planning on providing another faster version (using 32-bytes chunks) to be able to clean the screen in 1 VSYNC :) .

Hope that is enough for you ;) . If not, you can easily create your own version just by adding a .s file to your project, that will be compiled automatically by CPCtelera :) .
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 01:44, 24 June 15
Thanks for adding cpct_memset_f8. Looks like a very useful function.
Unfortunately I can't seem to get it to work.
:-[

To set 16K, starting from 0xC000, I'm doing this:

u8* const g_SCR_VMEM=(u8*)0xC000; // Pointer to the start of default VRAM
cpct_memset_f8(g_SCR_VMEM,0xAA00,16384);


Am I doing something silly?
(I'm actually learning C as I work with cpctelera, so some things are a bit tricky for me).

When I use 16384 as the 3rd parameter, the program crashes.
When I use 16383, the program works, but leaves 8 bytes unfilled (which of course is because 16383 is not divisible by 8, so I presume the program is using 16376).

[EDIT] That's strange... when I use 16376, it fills the entire screen, which I presume is because there are a few bytes at the end of each raster line which don't get displayed on a default-size CPC screen.

By the way, I'm looking forward to cpct_memset_f32.
;D
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: alex76gr on 09:53, 24 June 15
Programming contests is a real bless for the CPC.
CPC fans have received that way a great deal of quality software.
My appreciation goes to all the participants.
May the force be with you! :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 12:58, 24 June 15
@ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82): you are using cpct_memset_f8 incorrectly. To clean the whole screen (fill it up with PEN 0) you should do this

// memset parameters:
//   1: pointer to the start of the memory area to be filled
//   2: 16-bit colour pattern for filling
//   3: Size (amount of bytes) to be filled
cpct_memset_f8((void*)0xC000, 0x0000, 0x4000)


You can use the colour pattern to fill memory with a different colour (PEN). If you wanted to fill it with PEN 15, you should do this

cpct_memset_f8((void*)0xC000, 0xFFFF, 0x4000)


As for the crashes, there was a bug in the implementation that I've solved this morning. Please, update to the last CPCtelera (http://lronaldo.github.io/cpctelera) version from github.

With this last CPCtelera version, I also include a macro to simplify this. You can now clean up the screen with this simple call:

// Parameter: Colour pattern. 0 = 0x0000
cpct_clearScreen_f8(0);


Hope this helps :) .
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 13:03, 24 June 15
Fantastic - thanks so much for that!

the cpct_clearScreen_f8 function is a great idea.
:)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 20:14, 24 June 15
Well, after the last update things are this way:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|MACRO                | TIME (VSYNCs) | CODE SIZE (bytes) | INTERRUPTS |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|cpct_clearScreen     |    5.17       |       25          |     -      |
|cpct_clearScreen_f8  |    1.77       |       45          |  Disabled  |
|cpct_clearScreen_f64 |    1.33       |       71          |  Disabled  |
------------------------------------------------------------------------


So, depending on the use, you can pick up the memset function you require :).
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Prodatron on 22:32, 24 June 15
I wonder how to clear the screen in 1,33 VSYNC?
Each VSYNC takes 64x312 microseconds = 19968 microseconds.
One PUSH (writing 2 bytes) takes 4 microseconds.
One screen contains 16000 bytes.
16000 x 4 / 2 = 32000 microseconds.

This is still 1,6 VSyncs, and this can only be reached, if you have 8000 PUSH commands one after each other.

Maybe I made a mistake in my calculation?

CU,
Prodatron
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 22:58, 24 June 15
Thank you for your argument, @Prodatron (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13). Most probably my calculations are not good, so let's take this opportunity to understand why :).

I usually make calculations in CPU cycles. 19968 microsecs = 79812 CPU Cycles running at 4Mhz. Gate array takes 1/6 cycles to read memory and feed the monitor. Therefore 79812 * 5/6 = 66560 available CPU processing cycles per VSYNC.

Taking raw CPU cycles required to process each instruction, when processing 0x4000 bytes:
These are my calculations. Could you please tell me where is my mistake(s)?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Prodatron on 23:14, 24 June 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 22:58, 24 June 15
Thank you for your argument, @Prodatron (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13). Most probably my calculations are not good, so let's take this opportunity to understand why :) .

I usually make calculations in CPU cycles. 19968 microsecs = 79812 CPU Cycles running at 4Mhz. Gate array takes 1/6 cycles to read memory and feed the monitor. Therefore 79812 * 5/6 = 66560 available CPU processing cycles per VSYNC.

Taking raw CPU cycles required to process each instruction, when processing 0x4000 bytes:

       
  • cpct_memset: 344172 CPU cycles / 66560 =~ 5.17 VSYNCs
  • cpct_memset_f8: 117491 CPU cycles / 66560 =~ 1.77 VSYNCs
  • cpct_memset_f64: 88819 CPU cycles / 66560 =~ 1.33 VSYNCs
These are my calculations. Could you please tell me where is my mistake(s)?

It's a little bit more than just adding 1/6 from the Gate Array. In the CPC most single cycles within a command of the Z80 are "rounded up" to one microsecond. This results in the fact, that on the Amstrad all Z80 commands take an exact multiple of 1 microsec (="NOP").
Currently I don't find an english website about it, but here are the timings listed on a german site:

Das Schneider CPC Systembuch: Anhang: Die Z80: Ausführungszeiten für die (http://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Schneider%20CPC/Das%20Schneider%20CPC%20Systembuch/z180.htm#A)
column "Zeit" = microsecs

Hope this already helps. I wonder, if there is also information in english or spanish available in the internet.

CU,
Prodatron
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 14:06, 25 June 15
Thank you, @Prodatron (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13). I wan't aware of the exact way in which Z80 is managed by the CPC. I still have a lot to learn, but I'm on the way :D .

I had a look into cpctech and found this link with similar infomation about intruction cycle rounding to microseconds (http://cpctech.cpc-live.com/docs/instrtim.html), in english.

I'll have to do an indepth review of all the functions implemented for CPCtelera, but this will help me to optimize them better and give better explanation in the documentation :) .

Thank you, @Prodatron (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13) :) .
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 14:15, 25 June 15
This thread might be very useful as well.
Craving for speed ? A visual cheat sheet to help optimizing your code to death. (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/programming/craving-for-speed-a-visual-cheat-sheet-to-help-optimizing-your-code-to-death/msg56309/#msg56309)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 16:23, 25 June 15
Yes, it is :). The Z80_CPC_Timings_cheat_sheet (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/programming/craving-for-speed-a-visual-cheat-sheet-to-help-optimizing-your-code-to-death/?action=dlattach;attach=10666)  made by @cpcitor (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=531) is much clearer and well structured than most websites (Thanks, @cpcitor (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=531) :D)

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Prodatron on 20:33, 25 June 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 14:06, 25 June 15
Thank you, @Prodatron (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13). I wan't aware of the exact way in which Z80 is managed by the CPC. I still have a lot to learn, but I'm on the way :D .
You are welcome, Ronaldo! :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 20:29, 26 June 15
Ok, then. I have recalculated times for the memset functions included in latest version of CPCtelera (http://lronaldo.github.io/cpctelera), and this are the results:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|MACRO                | TIME(us) | TIME (VSYNCs) | CODE SIZE (bytes) | INTERRUPTS |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|cpct_clearScreen     |  98331   |    4.924      |       20          |     -      |
|cpct_clearScreen_f8  |  41036   |    2.086      |       45          |  Disabled  |
|cpct_clearScreen_f64 |  33843   |    1.721      |       71          |  Disabled  |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Timings have been checked with WinAPE and results are the same :) .
Title: #CPCRetroDev 2015 members of the jury
Post by: ronaldo on 16:48, 10 August 15
Time is running, deadline's approaching and #CPCRetroDev 2015 (http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com/contest-en/cpcretrodev-2015/) awards ceremony is waiting for you to show the best Amstrad CPC games to the world, and win up to 900€  8)

This year, we will have the honour of counting on very experienced members as jury (http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com/2015/08/jury-is-ready-for-cpcretrodev-2015/), comming from famous podcasts, magazines and game development enterprises. All of the members have had close contact with Amstrads and other 8-bit machines since their childhood  :)

You still have more than 2 months to develop your games and participate. Join us and show Amstrad's real potential to the world!  :D
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 22:39, 10 August 15
Hi!


I did take a look at the rules... they say a 464 without expansions. So this means the game has to load from tape, since a drive is an expansion. Right?
On the other hand it must also run on emulators _with_ DOS. Now that's confusing! Can you clarify?

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: MacDeath on 22:44, 10 August 15
I guess some MP3 could be used as well to load, lol, this would show those student that old tech can be compatible with newer technologies to great effects (aka faster loading).


Curious to see this year's results.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 09:14, 11 August 15
Quote from: TFM on 22:39, 10 August 15
I did take a look at the rules... they say a 464 without expansions. So this means the game has to load from tape, since a drive is an expansion. Right?
On the other hand it must also run on emulators _with_ DOS. Now that's confusing! Can you clarify?

I'll try to clarify the point. What rules say exactly is this:

Quote from: #CPCRetroDev rules
Games submitted must work on a  real  Amstrad  CPC   464, without expansions. Games must also work on at least one of these emulators:

       
  • WinAPE 2.0. Alpha 18, profile CPC 464 with PARADOS
  • JavaCPC 2.9 with system CPC 464 (AMSDOS)

This is telling you that your game must work on the real machine and, at least, one emulator. The details from emulators are about configuration: they are telling you to test your game with a concrete configuration for the emulator, as different configurations may show different behaviours. They are not telling you that the game must run _with_ DOS.

So, your game doesn't have to relate to a specific DOS, necessarily.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 22:21, 11 August 15
Ok, so does it need to be a tape game? Or is a disc version accepted?

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 22:26, 11 August 15
It does need to be a tape game (a CDT file) because all games submitted to the contest will be included in the tape we will produce, like the tape produced with #CPCRetroDev 2014 games (http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com/games/buy/).

You can also submit a DSK along with the CDT if you like, mainly for convenience when evaluating the game on emulators. However, the CDT is the valid one, as it must work on real hardware (otherwise, it couldn't be included in the tape production).
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 23:30, 11 August 15
Thanks for clarifying this. Now even I got it.  :) :) :)


@Devilmarkus (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=93) : Do you still have that tape loader you made for Cyber Chicken?

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2014 Awards Ceremony (full video)
Post by: ronaldo on 12:37, 25 August 15
Here you are a post and the  (http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com/2015/08/cpcretrodev-2014-awards-ceremony-video/)full video of the #CPCRetroDev 2014 Awards Ceremony. (http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com/2015/08/cpcretrodev-2014-awards-ceremony-video/)

Will you be there this year? :D


Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 13:29, 25 August 15
Fantastic!!!
Thanks for uploading that ronaldo!

I'm hoping to see my game in this year's presentation!
Fingers crossed!
:)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: MacDeath on 21:53, 25 August 15
As I already told : auto-translation is quite... erratic and strange.

Spoken spanish seems to be quite some hard language for computers to understand and translate.  ;D
Could somewhat understands bits via auto-translation in French and in english and natural Latin as a french.

Would be cool if someone could get to put a proper subbed translation in english.
Anyway can't wait for this years edition results.

Great to see those young students trying hard on such old system from another age.

Today you can barely address something with only 64k... :laugh:
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: EgoTrip on 19:43, 20 September 15
Anybody who enters is guaranteed to not finish in last place, as I have submitted my entry. I know its got a snowball's chance in hell of winning but I don't care. I just want my game on the tape.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Optimus on 22:06, 20 September 15
Quote from: EgoTrip on 19:43, 20 September 15
Anybody who enters is guaranteed to not finish in last place, as I have submitted my entry. I know its got a snowball's chance in hell of winning but I don't care. I just want my game on the tape.


Hmm,. maybe then I should finish and submit mine, which I know I won't be able to complete properly in time and so it will be bad, so that you have a chance for the 2nd last place :)


p.s. I am not even sure yet about how to test with a tape or how to make CDT file. I managed to squish some 128k project to work on 64ks but DSK so far.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 00:15, 21 September 15
Quote from: EgoTrip on 19:43, 20 September 15
Anybody who enters is guaranteed to not finish in last place, as I have submitted my entry. I know its got a snowball's chance in hell of winning but I don't care. I just want my game on the tape.

Excellent - really looking forward to seeing your entry!
What was it developed in?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 00:20, 21 September 15
Quote from: Optimus on 22:06, 20 September 15

Hmm,. maybe then I should finish and submit mine, which I know I won't be able to complete properly in time and so it will be bad, so that you have a chance for the 2nd last place :)


p.s. I am not even sure yet about how to test with a tape or how to make CDT file. I managed to squish some 128k project to work on 64ks but DSK so far.

CPCTelera creates a CDT for you at compilation, and I think it uses an external tool for that.
Not sure what the tool is, but it might be helpful.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 07:49, 21 September 15
@ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82), @Optimus (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=39): CPCtelera (http://lronaldo.github.io/cpctelera) uses 2CDT by @arnoldemu (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=122) with some minimal changes. Having one or several binary files, it's quite easy to create a working CDT. Even having the DSK, you may extract files with iDSK and then insert them into CDT with 2CDT :).
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Singaja on 09:33, 21 September 15
WinAPE also does the job of extracting from DSK files.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Optimus on 10:08, 21 September 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 07:49, 21 September 15
@ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82), @Optimus (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=39): CPCtelera (http://lronaldo.github.io/cpctelera) uses 2CDT by @arnoldemu (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=122) with some minimal changes. Having one or several binary files, it's quite easy to create a working CDT. Even having the DSK, you may extract files with iDSK and then insert them into CDT with 2CDT :) .


Then it might be easy. I can extract with ManageDSK and learn to use the 2CDT tool.
I am developing on SDCC and Pasmo for z80, among other tools.


p.s. I have an engine for the game fairly ready, but no enemy rendering/AI or gameplay yet. I'd wish I have something for the compo, but If I don't make it, at least this compo motivated me to work on some old project, and maybe finish it later next year.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 12:30, 21 September 15
This last weekend I gave a mini workshop to introduce people to CPCtelera (http://lronaldo.github.io/cpctelera), on jdjuanje's youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUsHxttmxg56rA-ceIa4tNA). It is in spanish, but it may be useful for some of you, so here you are :) .

I start programming at 1:45h. First part is an introduction to the CPC and to the tools CPCtelera (http://lronaldo.github.io/cpctelera) has. The idea was to show how to start coding a simple Manic Miner. It finally went up to drawing and moving a character and having a simple menu.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: EgoTrip on 17:34, 21 September 15
Any chance of an English version? And maybe a web version instead of a video?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 07:59, 23 September 15
I'm afraid there is no chance, @EgoTrip (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=337), unless someone is willing to invest part of his time in translating / subtitling the video. I'd love to do it, but my task list is already larger than my available time. Sorry, man.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 21:04, 04 October 15
I have a question regarding that 1-minute video that is reguired for us to make.

I can't seem to make WinAPE behave. I've tried 3 different codecs to far, and they all result in very slow jerky useless videos.

Would it be ok to simply record the monitor with a cellphone or something?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 21:21, 04 October 15
@mr_lou (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=96): When dealing with WinAPE to save video, for me is always easier to use any screencast software or similar. Camtasia, Fraps, or any software that lets you save video from a part of the screen would be okay.

Take into account that this video will be uploaded to youtube and used as a way to present and promote your game. Also, if you happen to be selected, your video may be shown at the projection screen. I think these are good reasons to try to create the nicest possible video. That's also the reason why we ask you to do it: we prefer you to create what you think is a nice video. We may create the videos, but we think your criteria is important in this sense.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 05:50, 05 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 21:21, 04 October 15
@mr_lou (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=96): When dealing with WinAPE to save video, for me is always easier to use any screencast software or similar. Camtasia, Fraps, or any software that lets you save video from a part of the screen would be okay.

The irony is that I wanted to use WinAPE's own video-save function precisely to get the best possible video (i.e. no lost frames).
Using capture software often results in lost frames because there's no sync between the capture software and the emulator.

Anyway, I have to record a lot of videos for my project 8bit Stories too. I'm wondering what it'll cost to buy equipment that'll let me record from the real machine.....
Obviously I won't be able to buy this in time though, so I'll probably just use the screen capture thingy as you suggest.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 15:07, 05 October 15
Wait the programmer must provides such a video? So without having a camera or a PC with emulator I can't participate? That's a bummer!
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: EgoTrip on 16:37, 05 October 15
Quote from: mr_lou on 21:04, 04 October 15
I have a question regarding that 1-minute video that is reguired for us to make.

I can't seem to make WinAPE behave. I've tried 3 different codecs to far, and they all result in very slow jerky useless videos.

Would it be ok to simply record the monitor with a cellphone or something?

I just used WinAPE to record my video, as its only a minute I used uncompressed format and converted it to an MP4 (although the quality of the MP4 was crap in order to fit in with the 12mb limitation)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 16:49, 05 October 15
Quote from: TFM on 15:07, 05 October 15
Wait the programmer must provides such a video? So without having a camera or a PC with emulator I can't participate? That's a bummer!

Or you could ask someone to do it for you, which is probably what I have to do in the end....

Quote from: EgoTrip on 16:37, 05 October 15
I just used WinAPE to record my video, as its only a minute I used uncompressed format and converted it to an MP4 (although the quality of the MP4 was crap in order to fit in with the 12mb limitation)

Doing that here (on my girlfriend's PC) just doesn't work at all. It's very unstable regarding framerate.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: EgoTrip on 18:38, 05 October 15
I understand you want a good quality video but really, its not going to be authored to Blu Ray or anything, its just going to be shown on Youtube, and will be heavily compressed to be less than 12mb too. As long as its watchable I don't think it matters.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 18:49, 05 October 15
Quote from: EgoTrip on 18:38, 05 October 15
I understand you want a good quality video but really, its not going to be authored to Blu Ray or anything, its just going to be shown on Youtube, and will be heavily compressed to be less than 12mb too. As long as its watchable I don't think it matters.

I just want a steady 50 fps throughout the whole recording, instead of 21 fps one second and 48 fps the next - and it skips frames, meaning the speed of the game on the video is just a mess.

It has helped to change some settings in WinAPE, but there are still some hickups.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 18:56, 05 October 15
Well, it's not fair to have a great game and then suffer from poor recording. I understand Mr. Lou's POV. But I'm afraid a the end referees will judge rather the youtube video instead of the real game on real machine.

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: EgoTrip on 19:50, 05 October 15
I am pretty sure the judges will be playing them on real hardware. That's the impression I've got anyway.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Dubliner on 20:12, 05 October 15
Quote from: TFM on 18:56, 05 October 15
But I'm afraid a the end referees will judge rather the youtube video instead of the real game on real machine.

Totally nope.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ||C|-|E|| on 20:32, 05 October 15
Good luck to the participants! The next year, if we have finished it, we will present our adventure!  :D We are working hard but at the end something that started like a simple project is a gargantuan game now  :picard:
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Prodatron on 20:34, 05 October 15
OBS (https://obsproject.com/download) (Open Broadcaster Software) is working fine for recording videos with full quality from WinApe.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 20:38, 05 October 15
Quote from: Dubliner on 20:12, 05 October 15
Totally nope.


Prove me wrong.

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Dubliner on 21:17, 05 October 15
Quote from: TFM on 20:38, 05 October 15
Prove me wrong.

Why should I?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 21:23, 05 October 15
Well, I can ensure you that jury won't judge based on videos. I act as chairman and won't handle them the videos. Moreover, judges have great knowledge of the machine, their limitations, existing games and software and some of them even have collaborated on homebrew projects. As humans, they'll always be subject to their own preferences, but will have clear criteria to evaluate.

Anyways, I'm pretty sure that no single possible result will be agreed by everybody. That's live! It's tough! ;)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: reidrac on 22:05, 05 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 21:23, 05 October 15
Well, I can ensure you that jury won't judge based on videos. I act as chairman and won't handle them the videos. Moreover, judges have great knowledge of the machine, their limitations, existing games and software and some of them even have collaborated on homebrew projects. As humans, they'll always be subject to their own preferences, but will have clear criteria to evaluate.

Anyways, I'm pretty sure that no single possible result will be agreed by everybody. That's live! It's tough! ;)

I'm sure the jury will do the best they can,  but that "judges have great knowledge of the machine" made me chuckle ("El mundo del Spectrum" are part of the jury, and that's a podcast focusing on the Spectrum; no doubt they're experts on the Amstrad CPC too ;D).

Anyway, whoever is joining the compo should do it for fun and to release a new homebrew to the community. At least that's what I think :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Bryce on 22:11, 05 October 15
Why can't a Spectrum fan have a great knowledge of the Amstrad too? I happen to be quite a Spectrum fan, I own every version except for the QL and I like to think I know quite a bit about Amstrads too.

Bryce.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 22:12, 05 October 15
Well, if Ronaldo  tells that they will watch on the real machine first then I'm fine with that. Else it would be about who can afford the most quickest PC and software for recording. Sadly I saw the negative impact of money before (in the German CPC scene). So being concerned is imho just understandable. But I'm settled down now. :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: reidrac on 22:20, 05 October 15
Quote from: Bryce on 22:11, 05 October 15
Why can't a Spectrum fan have a great knowledge of the Amstrad too? I happen to be quite a Spectrum fan, I own every version except for the QL and I like to think I know quite a bit about Amstrads too.

Bryce.

There's no reason to not know both systems, I agree. However I find interesting their selection as members of the jury, as they're well known for their coverage of a different system and not the Amstrad CPC.

As I said, I'm sure every member of the jury will do their best!
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: AMSDOS on 03:08, 06 October 15
Quote from: Bryce on 22:11, 05 October 15
Why can't a Spectrum fan have a great knowledge of the Amstrad too? I happen to be quite a Spectrum fan, I own every version except for the QL and I like to think I know quite a bit about Amstrads too.

Bryce.


If WorldofSpectrum didn't exist, I would of had less knowledge regarding Multi-Platform Magazines, which in turn would of resulted in fewer programs.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 15:46, 06 October 15
Or maybe just fewer for Speccy and more for the CPC (in other cases). That's all a discussion about the prophets beard.  ;)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 23:08, 06 October 15
A bunch of screenshots from this year's entries are appearing on twitter (#cpcretrodev).
There are some games I'm really looking forward to trying!
I'm very excited to be joining them (assuming I can finish my game in time)!
Title: Still 53h for #CPCRetroDev 2015 deadline! Come on! :)
Post by: ronaldo on 17:29, 21 October 15
9 entries already submitted, and many to come. Hope your last ~53 hours are profitable :D

[attachimg=1]
(https://twitter.com/byterealms/status/656867797201473536)
Enjoy #CPCRetroDev (https://twitter.com/search?src=typd&q=%23cpcretrodev) 2015!
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 17:56, 21 October 15
We're having a little bit of trouble getting our zip down to 12 mb. It's currently 15.7mb.
Are you very strict about that?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 18:00, 21 October 15
Well, I think the system will not let you send more than 12MB exaclty. Technically, the only big things are PDF manual and video file. If you are in trouble with the size, convert your PDF or video file to a lower quality one. There is always the possiblity of changing the video afterwards (once contest is finished) for a better quality one if you wanted. That's only for self-promotion purposes of your game as contestant.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 18:10, 21 October 15
Yes, it is the PDF.
We will try reducing the quality.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 19:25, 21 October 15
Use Acrobat to compress it without loosing quality. If you don't have it. Emal it to me, I will email it back asap.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 17:17, 22 October 15
Entry "Space Rivals" submitted!  :)

It's a 4-player game, which can only have 4 players if you have the MultiPlay device developed by @TotO (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=290), which you obviously can't have at this time though, because afaik there's only a prototype available at this point (and we have that).
But it can also be played with 3 players using 2-player adapter and keyboard. As long as you make sure you get a 2-player adapter with diodes to avoid clashes.
Or even just 2 players if you want. But 4 players is of course the most fun.

Yay! Now to celebrate completing this project!  :)

Good luck to everyone!
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 17:25, 22 October 15
Why not sitting two players on the keyboard:

P3: Cursor keys and little Enter

P4:QWAZ and Space

Keyboard to plenty keys. Or offer an option to enter keys?!  :) :) :)


Good luck with the game!  :) :) :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 17:30, 22 October 15
Quote from: TFM on 17:25, 22 October 15
Why not sitting two players on the keyboard:

P3: Cursor keys and little Enter

P4:QWAZ and Space

Keyboard to plenty keys. Or offer an option to enter keys?!  :) :) :)

I've been told horror stories about keyboard clashes, so I didn't dare try any of that.
Certainly not allowing people to define their own keys. That would definitely result in clashes.
But as far as I can gather from listening to the experts, using QAOP+space and 2 joysticks at the same time should be safe, so that's what we did.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Singaja on 17:58, 22 October 15
I never thought the actual "default" key schemes (Fruitty Frank pops to my mind) were used to avoid mechanical/electrical key clashes  :o
It's so strongly written in my brain I thought it seemed a natural choice for pc games. Eventually "WSAD" and cursor keys become the more natural choice in Quake era.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: cngsoft on 20:06, 22 October 15
In the nick of time, here's my entry: "Frogalot"

Frogalot (preview 20151022) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzQNfnBHqWw)

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 23:57, 22 October 15
Quote from: mr_lou on 17:17, 22 October 15
Entry "Space Rivals" submitted!  :)

It's a 4-player game, which can only have 4 players if you have the MultiPlay device developed by @TotO (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=290), which you obviously can't have at this time though, because afaik there's only a prototype available at this point (and we have that).
But it can also be played with 3 players using 2-player adapter and keyboard. As long as you make sure you get a 2-player adapter with diodes to avoid clashes.
Or even just 2 players if you want. But 4 players is of course the most fun.

Yay! Now to celebrate completing this project!  :)

Good luck to everyone!

Excellent! Congratulations!
Can't wait to try it!
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 23:58, 22 October 15
Quote from: cngsoft on 20:06, 22 October 15
In the nick of time, here's my entry: "Frogalot"

WOW, that looks absolutely stunning!
I'm sure you'll do VERY well in the competition.

Can I ask what it is written in?

I love all this activity in the CPC community lately.
It's been a GREAT year for the scene.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 04:45, 23 October 15
Quote from: ervin on 23:58, 22 October 15
I love all this activity in the CPC community lately.
It's been a GREAT year for the scene.

A lot of new CPC games coming out, and a new Star Wars movie....
2015 will be the best Christmas since childhood.  ;)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: reidrac on 09:31, 23 October 15
Congratulations for submitting a game!

I'm still finishing my submission, I suspect I'll have to use up to the last minute :picard:

(that assuming I don't find any really bad bug)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Carnivius on 10:17, 23 October 15
Quote from: cngsoft on 20:06, 22 October 15
In the nick of time, here's my entry: "Frogalot"

Frogalot (preview 20151022) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzQNfnBHqWw)



Aw. :)
There have been a lot of frogs in indie games this year.  My mobile game is similar (though without the cool Nebulus style tower rotation you got going on).   Looking forward to playing this one.  Looks fantastic. :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: AmstradGamer on 11:17, 23 October 15
Quote from: mr_lou on 17:17, 22 October 15
Entry "Space Rivals" submitted!  :)

It's a 4-player game, which can only have 4 players if you have the MultiPlay device developed by @TotO (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=290), which you obviously can't have at this time though, because afaik there's only a prototype available at this point (and we have that).
But it can also be played with 3 players using 2-player adapter and keyboard. As long as you make sure you get a 2-player adapter with diodes to avoid clashes.
Or even just 2 players if you want. But 4 players is of course the most fun.

Yay! Now to celebrate completing this project!  :)

Good luck to everyone!

Take into account that contest rules state that the game must run on a real 464 without (hardware) expansions. ¿Only 2 players then?

Regards.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 12:22, 23 October 15
Quote from: AmstradGamer on 11:17, 23 October 15
Take into account that contest rules state that the game must run on a real 464 without (hardware) expansions. ¿Only 2 players then?

The word "expansions" makes me think of things like more memory or a harddisk or HxC or MegaFlash etc.

A simple 2-player cable doesn't fall into the "expansion" category to me. If you categorize a 2-player cable as an "expansion" then a joystick must also have to fall into this category... in which case you can't actually play our game at all, because it requires at least 2 players - i.e. one on keyboard + one on joystick, or two on joysticks.

I can understand the MegaPlay being categorized as an expansion though, because it's a more rare piece of hardware withsomewhat advanced components, and it (kinda) gives the CPC new inputs it wasn't born with.
But a 2-player cable (and joysticks for that matter) should fall into the standard accessories category in a game-development contest in my opinion.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what the judges say, but I'll definitely be disappointed if they complain about needing a 2-player cable in order to be 3 players.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: AmstradGamer on 13:09, 23 October 15
I think that should not be a problem, but I would have asked first to avoid the risk.

Anyway, good luck in the contest!
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: arnoldemu on 13:11, 23 October 15
Quote from: ervin on 23:58, 22 October 15
WOW, that looks absolutely stunning!
I'm sure you'll do VERY well in the competition.

Can I ask what it is written in?
I'm guessing that it's pure asm.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 13:16, 23 October 15
@mr_lou (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=96): Certainly, anything to be considered as "expansion" is something that's not the CPC and a joystick/pad. However, I understand that your game is playable without any expansion (no matter considerations), and It also adds the possiblity of playing 4 players with an expansion. That's not the same as requiring 4 joysticks and a connector to play the game.

The spirit of the rule is twofold: as a constraint for contestants to be on equal conditions when being evaluated, and as a way to ensure the game will be playable for the maximum quantity of people. If your game was impossible to play without extra hardware, that would certainly be a problem. But your game provides extra functionality if you have the hardware, being playable without it. That should be fine most of the time.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 13:30, 23 October 15
As the deadline for the competition looms, I'd just like to say a few words if I may...

I've IMMENSELY enjoyed creating my game.
It has been a heck of an experience. Very stressful, but very satisfying and hugely enjoyable at the same time.
(Just like a game of Dark Souls)!

BEST WISHES to everyone everywhere that has taken part!
I can't wait to see all the entries!
It looks like there may be some real gems in there!

This will be the best year for the CPC in a long time!
:) :) :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 13:34, 23 October 15
@ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82): I would give an arm for seeing all the community being as happy as you. Hope that this year is only the first of many enjoyable years to come :D
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 13:57, 23 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 13:34, 23 October 15
@ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82): I would give an arm for seeing all the community being as happy as you. Hope that this year is only the first of many enjoyable years to come :D

Thanks @ronaldo (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1227) for the things you've given to the community this year!
Looking forward to next year's competition already, and watching cpctelera get better and better.
;D
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: reidrac on 14:05, 23 October 15
Quote from: ervin on 13:57, 23 October 15
Thanks @ronaldo (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1227) for the things you've given to the community this year!
Looking forward to next year's competition already, and watching cpctelera get better and better.
;D

Yes, I agree. The competition is a great incentive to get people making new games, and that alone is great; but besides the cpctelera it'll be a complete game changer (no pun intended).

I'm new here, but I'm having a blast programming for the CPC so I guess I'll stay ;)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 16:48, 23 October 15
Apologies if this is already described somewhere.

Is there a link published already to the online stream?

(Asking in order to give a heads up to our own little private forum members).
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 16:57, 23 October 15
@mr_lou (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=96): Yes, there is, but it is not published yet on the #CPCRetroDev main website. It is published only on our complete retro event, Retroconsolas Alicante 2015 (#RCA2015)
It will be on twitter as well as on #CPCRetroDev frontpage (http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com) next week :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: reidrac on 19:49, 23 October 15
I did it! Just submitted Space Pest Control CPC Reto Dev edition! :)

I plays really nice on the CPC!

Juan op Twitter: "yes! Space Pest Control is GOLD! #amstrad cpc #cpcretrodev (https://twitter.com/reidrac/status/657625948284723201)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: cngsoft on 21:05, 23 October 15
Quote from: reidrac on 19:49, 23 October 15
I did it! Just submitted Space Pest Control CPC Reto Dev edition! :)

I plays really nice on the CPC!

Juan op Twitter: "yes! Space Pest Control is GOLD! #amstrad cpc #cpcretrodev (https://twitter.com/reidrac/status/657625948284723201)
It can play nice, but does it have cool box art?

(http://cngsoft.no-ip.org/FROGALOT-RC1-WEB-8BIT.PNG)

/friendly_banter_mode off
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Optimus on 21:25, 23 October 15
Well, maybe I should post this preview video of unfinished game for the compo, even if we never even have been close to start coding some actual gameplay.
Also, this is not what we have now, there are some new graphics, few improvements in the engine, but still no sprite routine for enemies/items. This video must be an unpublished private video from July. We worked a bit more since then and I have a graphic artist for it so far.
At least the compo motivated me to work on the old engine code after five years. I am thinking of finishing the RPG version of the planned game hopefully inside 2016.


Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Carnivius on 21:36, 23 October 15
Quote from: cngsoft on 21:05, 23 October 15
It can play nice, but does it have cool box art?

(http://cngsoft.no-ip.org/FROGALOT-RC1-WEB-8BIT.PNG)

/friendly_banter_mode off

You, sir, are one of my favourite game developers and that includes all the non-CPC developers too.  I already love Frogalot and I haven't even played it yet.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 21:41, 23 October 15
Quote from: reidrac on 19:49, 23 October 15
I did it! Just submitted Space Pest Control CPC Reto Dev edition! :)

I plays really nice on the CPC!

Juan op Twitter: "yes! Space Pest Control is GOLD! #amstrad cpc #cpcretrodev (https://twitter.com/reidrac/status/657625948284723201)

Excellent! You did it!!!
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 21:50, 23 October 15
Looks like this time we all can look forward to a lot of great game!  :) :) :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 02:11, 24 October 15
Submissions closed! Jury is now evaluating the impressive amount of 35 entries! This is a new huge record of participants!

#CPCRetroDev 2015: new record of contestants (http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com/2015/10/cpcretrodev-2015-new-record-of-contestants/)

Thanks a million
to all for participating and contributing to this event, and good luck to all! :D
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 05:01, 24 October 15
35 entries. How many tapes will that require?  :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Gryzor on 16:40, 24 October 15
Whoa man, how much eye candy... Gotta have them all!
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 17:02, 24 October 15
Considering how pressed for time everyone is because of fulltime jobs and family etc, everone might as well get started on their entry for next year now.  ;)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 17:48, 24 October 15
Quote from: mr_lou on 05:01, 24 October 15
35 entries. How many tapes will that require?  :)
Hope that 2 tapes are enough for all the games, but I haven't done calculations yet  ::)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: cngsoft on 22:00, 24 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 17:48, 24 October 15
Hope that 2 tapes are enough for all the games, but I haven't done calculations yet  ::)
They should ask me to make compactages of those games, I already have some experience on the field. I'd record the tapes with giant blocks without pauses, too.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: EgoTrip on 22:52, 24 October 15
Quote from: cngsoft on 22:00, 24 October 15
They should ask me to make compactages of those games, I already have some experience on the field. I'd record the tapes with giant blocks without pauses, too.

Mine already was done like that, I used a custom loader with lots of pretty colours on the border (forget its name).
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 23:07, 24 October 15
Quote from: cngsoft on 22:00, 24 October 15
They should ask me to make compactages of those games, I already have some experience on the field. I'd record the tapes with giant blocks without pauses, too.
Thank you for your offer, @cngsoft (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=191) :). It's, in fact, a great idea. I need to take a look at rules and organization, because I'm not sure if it will be correct to do it this year (need to check it first), but it's definitely worth considering.

I'll speak to you when starting to prepare the master and see what we can do with it, if you don't mind :).
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: cngsoft on 12:55, 25 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 23:07, 24 October 15
Thank you for your offer, @cngsoft (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=191) :) . It's, in fact, a great idea. I need to take a look at rules and organization, because I'm not sure if it will be correct to do it this year (need to check it first), but it's definitely worth considering.

I'll speak to you when starting to prepare the master and see what we can do with it, if you don't mind :) .
Excellent. As a matter of fact, the binary of "Frogalot" is compressed: 22448 bytes became 11251. The tape version also abused a quirk from the CPC standard tape system: only the first block cannot exceed 2k. In this case, the game was recorded in two blocks, 2k first and 9k next, thus removing the need to store four headers and four inter-block pauses. The recording rate (1600 baud) was also higher than usual, although it may be too much for a typical tape.

By the way, I sent two binaries, the old one has several bugs that were fixed in the new one; the new binary also added a starfield; please discard the old, starfield-less binary. This is how the new binary looks like:

(http://cngsoft.no-ip.org/FROGALOT-STARFIELD_1.PNG)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 13:13, 25 October 15
@cngsoft (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=191): Don't worry, man. We always use the last version received unless it was sent out-of-time. Yours was sent on-time, so no problem :).

Will see how well does your baud rate when producing the tape. Hope it doesn't give any problem.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 13:35, 25 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 13:13, 25 October 15
@cngsoft (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=191): Don't worry, man. We always use the last version received unless it was sent out-of-time. Yours was sent on-time, so no problem :) .

Will see how well does your baud rate when producing the tape. Hope it doesn't give any problem.

Oh... I think I used 2000 baud when creating my CDT.  :doh:
Please let me know if it causes problems for the tape.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 13:37, 25 October 15
Well, shouldn't be any problem, as SPEED WRITE 1 is 2000 baud and it normally works well (unless you use a really bad quality tape).
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Ygdrazil on 16:59, 25 October 15
Really nice with so many interesting entries...  :P 


Hope there will be a compo next year also... I might be tempted to submit something then, if time permits!


Regards,
/Ygdrazil
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: reidrac on 17:39, 25 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 13:37, 25 October 15
Well, shouldn't be any problem, as SPEED WRITE 1 is 2000 baud and it normally works well (unless you use a really bad quality tape).

Because I wasn't completely sure of what I was doing I went for the safest option (2KB blocks) and the game loads in 3m 30s :(

I just tried CAS READ and it went down to 2m 10s; I'm yet to test it in my CPC, but if it's reliable I guess 3.30 is a total waste. Sorry!
Title: Nominations to the #CPCRetroDev 2015 awards
Post by: ronaldo on 10:49, 28 October 15
Jury has decided and nominations are now public!
If any of you is part of the nominees and you haven't received an email with details, please do contact cpcretrodev@byterealms.com.
Congratulations to the nominees!  :D
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 12:55, 28 October 15
Best of luck to all the nominees!

I'm very excited to be amongst the nominess in the PRO category.
I don't fancy my chances of winning, especially against competition like Frogalot, but that's ok.
I'm really honoured that the jury likes my game enough to nominate it!
;D

Title: Re: Nominations to the #CPCRetroDev 2015 awards
Post by: TFM on 16:27, 28 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 10:49, 28 October 15
Jury has decided and nominations are now public!

       
  • Nominations to the #CPCRetroDev 2015 awards
If any of you is part of the nominees and you haven't received an email with details, please do contact cpcretrodev@byterealms.com.
Congratulations to the nominees!  :D

Hi! I see no reason for Ervins RUNCPC not to be nominated in the "Special mention to the Best Technical Achievement:" category. (IMHO he should win there anyway).

I don't know all the other games yet, but he uses 3D calculations, to skip him is imho really wrong!


Don't want to talk to loud here, but I got some experience in making games in 2D and 3D. And everybody ever using a 3D space for a game or demo knows why I bring that up here. So no offense, but it would be just fait to add him. Maybe you can rely this to the jury (I don't know them, some of them are obviously from spectrum... ).  :) :) :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 19:45, 28 October 15
@TFM (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=179): Well, as you may imagine, asking judges to change their decision after having announced it is completely illegal and also quite unfair. Moreover, doing it on the opinion of a third person, it's even much more questionable. That's something I wouldn't do in any case.

I understand your opinion, and I'm sure that lot of people will share it. However, that's not inherently good or bad: it's just an opinion. I respect it completely, but I'm sure you'll understand that it's impossible to take a decission compatible with everyone's opinion. Judges have made a decision, and if it is based on different criteria, that doesn't make it wrong: it only makes it different. As comparing relative values of technical developments has a high degree of subjectiveness, there is no way to find universally valid criteria. Then, only one has to be used amongst all the possible criteria, and that corresponds to the jury, not to your opinion or my opinion.

I know you have experience on making 2D and 3D games. I also have more than 20 years of experience on that: I've created 2D and 3D engines from scratch and I know the cost. But that doesn't change the point. My criteria counts the same as yours: 0. The only valid criteria in this contest is jury's. Every participant sending their game to the contest accepts the rules, and the rules state clearly that jury's decision is final.

Also, I'd like to ask you not to make assumptions on 1 out of 5 members of the jury being related to a podcast about Spectrum. That seems like an unfair way of discrediting the jury, and seems inappropriate to me. Being related to Spectrum doesn't mean anything about their knowledge on Amstrad: I also like Spectrum, have some of them and have developed things for them myself. That doesn't discredit my Amstrad knowledge and experience.

My personal opinion on the work done by @ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82) is that it's incredible in many ways. I've had the opportunity to test it, as I've got to prepare the master for producing the tape, and I really love it. It moves really fast and produces a nice sensation of speed and 3D movement. I'm really happy to see such a great development coming from @ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82) and I'm impatient for seeing people's reaction on playing it. However, I reckon that I woldn't be fair if I was to judge it against other productions, as I've followed @ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82)'s development process and have much more information and relation with him than with others. I'm not able to fairly state that he actually deserves nomination more than others, because I'd be biased. And, like me, I think most of us in this forum would also be biased to favoring @ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82) against unknown people.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: reidrac on 20:24, 28 October 15
Based on my experience, being member of a jury is tough as your decision will be exposed to everyone's else scrutiny. You know, because "everyone knows best".

Looks like CPC Retro Dev is maturing, some controversy is part of the fun. I'm looking forward to the next edition and hopefully the judges job will be even tougher with even more amazing entries! :)

(from my humble point of view it is quite simple: like it or not, the judges' decision is final. Is part of the rules when you submit a game to the contest!)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 21:44, 28 October 15
Dunno when they finally end their decision process. If they are a bit relaxed, then they may take some more time to get to a more profound result.  :)

Nobody's discrediting the jury. But one of them does know more about Spectrum than CPC - I assume - that's all I stated. The composition is TBH a bit unexpected, but they of course can do it the way they want.  :-\

Well, I didn't say he deserves a nomination more than other, since I haven't seen the other people's prods. But I do think that skipping him for "Tech achievement" is wrong, because there was no other game on CPC ever showing this technique. Therefore I got really surprised and maybe they just forgot to mention him.  :)

However, and that's the point right here. Right here this is a discussion forum and I guess if I can't discuss here any longer it's not a discussion forum any longer. May well be that the judgement of the judges can not be questioned, but I didn't sign that with my blood (even if Helloween come close!), so I share my opinion. I know few people like to give me shit for that, but that's how I am. Thanks for you long answer, you made your POV clear and one can understand it.  :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Dubliner on 22:29, 28 October 15
Quote from: TFM on 21:44, 28 October 15
(even if Helloween come close!)

A german mistaking Halloween with Helloween. That's interesting  :P
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 22:56, 28 October 15
Quote from: Dubliner on 22:29, 28 October 15
A german mistaking Halloween with Helloween. That's interesting  :P


Look here:


Keeper of the seven keys Helloween (full) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUzpf3mMsxA)
Title: Re: Nominations to the #CPCRetroDev 2015 awards
Post by: ervin on 23:31, 28 October 15
Quote from: TFM on 16:27, 28 October 15
Hi! I see no reason for Ervins RUNCPC not to be nominated in the "Special mention to the Best Technical Achievement:" category. (IMHO he should win there anyway).

Thanks TFM.  :)
I have to admit that I was hopeful of getting a technical achievement nomination, but it's ok.
My main goal with entering the competition was always to actually *finish* a game; hopefully one that would be enjoyed by other people.
I think I've achieved that, so I'm happy.

As an aside, I'll just mention that the game is actually quite a bit faster (and a lot nicer to look at) than the last version I posted in the RUNCPC thread. I'm really REALLY *REALLY* looking forward to having all of you try the game and let me know what you think.

Perhaps the high difficulty level has worked against the game... but I *did* deliberately choose to make it very difficult.
One thing I am disappointed with though is that the level design isn't very tight. I didn't have much time left to really tweak that aspect of the game. I still think it's very playable and a lot of fun, but I'm sure other developers will understand... things can always be improved.  :P

Also, some obstacles are harder than others to navigate around/through.
One in particular (the "Z") is a bit unfair. I can make it through that level, but of course I playtested it a heck of a lot. Others may not have the same level of patience with it.
I made the "Z" a bit thinner in an attempt to make it easier to handle, but it's still the hardest obstacle in the game...

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 23:39, 28 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 19:45, 28 October 15
My personal opinion on the work done by @ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82) is that it's incredible in many ways. I've had the opportunity to test it, as I've got to prepare the master for producing the tape, and I really love it. It moves really fast and produces a nice sensation of speed and 3D movement. I'm really happy to see such a great development coming from @ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82) and I'm impatient for seeing people's reaction on playing it.

Thanks for your kind words @ronaldo (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1227).
Now I know that at least one person likes my game, and that has made me very happy.
:)

I am also very impatient to see other's reactions to it... only a few days to go now!
I'm wondering, which obstacle do you think is the most difficult?
As I mentioned just above, I think it's the "Z".

Also, thanks for taking the time to discuss your thoughts on the nomination process.
Much appreciated.
:)

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ||C|-|E|| on 00:39, 29 October 15
I wonder if next year it will be possible to present something that does not run in all the CPCs  :) . I mean, I love technical achievements and it is great that these games run in all the computers, it is just that some games like the adventure we are making really need a disc drive and 128 KB of RAM, at least with the tools I have available. At the beginning I hoped to be able to make a version without graphics that could run in a 464, but it seems clear now that it is going to be impossible  :'( .
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 09:03, 29 October 15
Well, @||C|-|E|| (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1447), we discuss about that every year. We always think of a including other CPC machines, either directly or in different categories. However, the main problem is always there: producing the games on disc is extremely complicated as 3'' discs are hard to find.

I've even though of the possibility of producing our own discs, but it's kind of "utopic" idea today. May be we can think of it again for next year, or there are other alternatives. Without a valid alternative, this is the main problem stopping us. Technical achievements can also be done using a 6128 and splitting into 2 categories is not too difficult ;).
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: AMSDOS on 09:42, 29 October 15


Quote from: ervin on 13:35, 25 October 15
Oh... I think I used 2000 baud when creating my CDT. 
Please let me know if it causes problems for the tape.


Earlier in the year, I was able to load Jet-Boot Jack at 3968 Baud from CDT using Turbo Load. Alternatively OTLA quickly loads things from Tape, though I think these formats were more reliable when reading it through a Digital Media. Don't know how a Tape Recorder would go.


The idea with Jet-Boot Jack was to use an emulator to write a CSW file for the Tape Image with Turbo Load setting the Speed Write. I was rewriting the Loader to make it Headerless and I even Compressed the files using a Screen Compressor to uncompress the Files as I was loading it in, just to make it load faster!
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 10:07, 29 October 15
I too thought that there ought to be (maybe just a single year) a 128kb contest, and/or one that allowed multi-loading (disc). But to be honest it's not really something I find crucial.

I'd rather that other game-related accessories were allowed, like something as simple as a Y-cable for connecting 2 joysticks. I mean, come on. It's a game-development contest!
It's not like we're talking some major expensive expansion set. It's just a Y-cable that gives the CPC the same 2 ports as all other machines also have.
You should definitely talk about that for next year's contest in my opinion. I was honestly surprised that it wasn't already "allowed". I would never refer to a Y-cable as an expansion. It's a bloody joystick accessory.  :)

And it would be nice with more 2-player games. And more multiplayer-games.
Hm... maybe make the contest an actual 2-player game contest some time?
Some variation in the contests shouldn't hurt.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Singaja on 10:27, 29 October 15
It's so nice to see the competition grow. Anyway imho the best categories would be simply 64k & 128k.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: villain on 10:29, 29 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 09:03, 29 October 15
Well, @||C|-|E|| (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1447), we discuss about that every year. We always think of a including other CPC machines, either directly or in different categories. However, the main problem is always there: producing the games on disc is extremely complicated as 3'' discs are hard to find.

I've even though of the possibility of producing our own discs, but it's kind of "utopic" idea today. May be we can think of it again for next year, or there are other alternatives. Without a valid alternative, this is the main problem stopping us. Technical achievements can also be done using a 6128 and splitting into 2 categories is not too difficult ;) .
If you split it up in different categories you will probably get only a few entries per category. This would mean less competition, I guess... So I like the limitation to one category.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Dubliner on 10:33, 29 October 15
Quote from: TFM on 22:56, 28 October 15

Look here:


Keeper of the seven keys Helloween (full) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUzpf3mMsxA)

I am not only a big fan of Helloween, i also keep contact in real life with some of it's members. And since they are a german band who have sold millions of copies of their albums, i found funny a german mistaking the season "halloween" with the band name "helloween". Anyways, sorry for the offtopic.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Dubliner on 10:36, 29 October 15
Quote from: mr_lou on 10:07, 29 October 15

And it would be nice with more 2-player games. And more multiplayer-games.
Hm... maybe make the contest an actual 2-player game contest some time?
Some variation in the contests shouldn't hurt.

There's no limitation in the rules of CPCRetroDev regarding the number of players of a game. Nobody should be affraid of submiting a multiplayer game to the contest. In this same board you can find at least one example of multiplayer game submited to the contest, even for 4 players.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ||C|-|E|| on 15:05, 29 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 09:03, 29 October 15
Well, @||C|-|E|| (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1447), we discuss about that every year. We always think of a including other CPC machines, either directly or in different categories. However, the main problem is always there: producing the games on disc is extremely complicated as 3'' discs are hard to find.

I've even though of the possibility of producing our own discs, but it's kind of "utopic" idea today. May be we can think of it again for next year, or there are other alternatives. Without a valid alternative, this is the main problem stopping us. Technical achievements can also be done using a 6128 and splitting into 2 categories is not too difficult ;) .

Your concern about 3" discs is something that keeps me worried as well. For example, our game will require a 6128 with a 3.5" drive to run (720KB). This is not a standard Amstrad anymore, but we really need it if we want to include lots of very detailed graphics (each one is around 8KB). Ideally, you would have the adventure running from a HXC, a GOTEK or something like X-MASS. We will have to consider this if we want to produce a physical release and, at the moment, it is not clear at all which one would be the best format, but probably a 3.5 floppy plus a pen-drive or SD card. I realize that this is less than ideal for a contest because it is not fair to compare games that can be stored on a tape and games that need a big disc and more RAM to run. You could always split and make different categories, like 64KB, 128KB and Amstrads with expansions, but this would reduce the number of games per category as well. It is not easy  :(
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TotO on 16:12, 29 October 15
Rules are rules, but a good game is not a story about a big dick. Remember the 16K ROM contest...  8)
The limitations pushed peoples to do their best an we got amazing entries!!!

I'm sure that is not required to split categories, except for dividing peoples with a same hobby originaly made to unify them!  :-\

By the way, it is more easy to acheive a little game than a big project into the same elapsed time. So, all productions must deserve developpers doing their best. It is not the fact that you use tape, floppy, expansion RAM or anything else that will made your production better... It is just a technical choice to reach a goal.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 16:55, 29 October 15
Yeah, but this 'runs on all CPCs' usually ends up (like in 2014) in the production of a tape for CPC464. Sorry, got no tape on CPC664, CPC6128, 6128Plus (and no, I got no 464Plus either). So why not make it a bit more relaxed. let's say all CPCs and Plus; memory and mass media (3.5" f.e.) just what you like. And of course you can keep it all in one category.


So if a great game runs on a spanish 472 and and on the 464 from tape then it get's extra points for efficiency maybe, a good judge will take this in account. [nb]I already disagree with this years judges, so maybe next year it will be more equalized. But ok, it's a spanish thing, entries for other countries have if harder, starts with the language barrier f.e. [/nb]
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 17:01, 29 October 15
Quote from: villain on 10:29, 29 October 15
If you split it up in different categories you will probably get only a few entries per category. This would mean less competition, I guess... So I like the limitation to one category.


It's definitely a good thing to keep it all in one category (sure, a own category for BASIC stuff makes sense, else it wouldn't be too fair. Where to put BASIC with RSX then anyway?). In that category one could allow the borders to be a bit more far out. Thinking about free choice of tape or disc; 64 KB or 128 KB; 3" or 3.5" 700 KB format. I mean different games need different resources (some need more RAM, some need more disc space and so on).  :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ||C|-|E|| on 17:20, 29 October 15
I think that you all have strong points, guys, to be honest if I was the organizer I do not know what I would do. I mean, I think that it is an awesome technical achievement that somebody is able to make a superb game in 16KB, and I also think that it is a great achievement to make a big great production like Orion Prime although it needs one big disk or multiple small disks. Should they compete in the same category? Maybe, I do not know  :)

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 17:24, 29 October 15
These are well words for closing a discussion before it gets out of control.


Now I want to play this games!!!!!
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TotO on 17:37, 29 October 15
Big games like Orion Prime are a false problem, as you can see one every 10 years...  :-\
So, if a new game like it is released, it must won: that all.  ;D
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ||C|-|E|| on 17:54, 29 October 15
Sadly, our adventure cannot even approach Orion Prime but it will have around 600KB of graphics...  :D :picard:
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: arnoldemu on 18:38, 29 October 15
Quote from: ||C|-|E|| on 17:54, 29 October 15
Sadly, our adventure cannot even approach Orion Prime but it will have around 600KB of graphics...  :D :picard:
It will still be good :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Arnaud on 18:56, 29 October 15
Just by curiosity, how many entries are coded with Cpctelera ?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 20:44, 29 October 15
Out of 35 entries:
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: EgoTrip on 21:28, 29 October 15
Not surprised I'm the only one who used AGD.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 22:06, 29 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 20:44, 29 October 15
Out of 35 entries:

       
  • 3 are coded in BASIC
  • 1 in BASIC+ASM
  • 2 in ASM
  • 1 uses AGD
  • 1 uses its own engine (C+ASM)
  • 27 use CPCtelera (http://lronaldo.github.io/cpctelera) (some of them adding some asm functions, like @ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82)'s or @mr_lou (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=96)'s)


WoW! CPCtelera won the OS wars then!  :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Ast on 23:01, 29 October 15
Quote from: Optimus on 21:25, 23 October 15
Well, maybe I should post this preview video of unfinished game for the compo, even if we never even have been close to start coding some actual gameplay.
Also, this is not what we have now, there are some new graphics, few improvements in the engine, but still no sprite routine for enemies/items. This video must be an unpublished private video from July. We worked a bit more since then and I have a graphic artist for it so far.
At least the compo motivated me to work on the old engine code after five years. I am thinking of finishing the RPG version of the planned game hopefully inside 2016.



i applause Optimus. But i have a question as your preview is running on a C4Cpc card on Gx4000, why don't you use any Amstad Plus/Gx4000 extra colours ?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 23:03, 29 October 15
That's a good idea, could add some atmosphere.  :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 23:26, 29 October 15
Quote from: TFM on 22:06, 29 October 15
WoW! CPCtelera won the OS wars then!  :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

That's because cpctelera is completely brilliant!
:D

Seriously, I think it will change the future of CPC homebrew.
Maybe it already has...
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Optimus on 01:09, 30 October 15
Quote from: Ast on 23:01, 29 October 15
i applause Optimus. But i have a question as your preview is running on a C4Cpc card on Gx4000, why don't you use any Amstad Plus/Gx4000 extra colours ?


I started originally this project for 64k CPC because of the competition, then decided with few changes to make it gx4000 because it was slightly faster to copy the CDT to the console and try it directly and more fun to try this on my telly in a console, so it's my main testing unit at the moment. I wasn't originally planning to support plus so I have used the plain CPC colors so far from the older code. At some point I did tried testing some plus palette but of course it was just a test and it looked bad, but I will find with the artist some proper palette soon since I decided that I will also be working on this game for the GX4000 too (and eventually the plus computers too).


p.s. In fact, now I am thinking it, some line irq code could automatically make some darkening of the floor/ceiling by the distance easier. While I am working on some pseudo-dithering/fading of walls by distance, but that wouldn't match horizontal ceiling/floor darkening since I draw now the ceiling/floor among the walls all at one pass vertically. That would work very nicely on plus, but I am wondering if I can still have it on plain CPC or think of other means.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: AMSDOS on 08:41, 30 October 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 20:44, 29 October 15
Out of 35 entries:

       
  • 3 are coded in BASIC (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Locomotive_BASIC)
  • 1 in BASIC (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Locomotive_BASIC)+ASM (http://www.cpctech.org.uk/source.html)
  • 2 in ASM (http://www.cpctech.org.uk/source.html)
  • 1 uses AGD (http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=10018)
  • 1 uses its own engine (C+ASM)
  • 27 use CPCtelera (http://lronaldo.github.io/cpctelera) (some of them adding some asm functions, like @ervin (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=82)'s or @mr_lou (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=96)'s)


No SDCC (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/SDCC)?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ervin on 08:50, 30 October 15
Quote from: AMSDOS on 08:41, 30 October 15
No SDCC (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/SDCC)?

cpctelera uses SDCC.
So yes, lots of SDCC.
;)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: AMSDOS on 09:03, 30 October 15
Quote from: ervin on 08:50, 30 October 15
cpctelera uses SDCC.
So yes, lots of SDCC.
;)


But that would mean CPCTelera (http://lronaldo.github.io/cpctelera) was a Library rather than a Language?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: arnoldemu on 09:10, 30 October 15
I am using c4cpc the same. I am developing a cpc game, but using c4cpc it is quick to test and debug on real hardware :)

EDIT: more so, because the drives and keyboards on my cpcs seem to fail often :(
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TotO on 09:12, 30 October 15
Quote from: Optimus on 01:09, 30 October 15In fact, now I am thinking it, some line irq code could automatically make some darkening of the floor/ceiling by the distance easier. While I am working on some pseudo-dithering/fading of walls by distance, but that wouldn't match horizontal ceiling/floor darkening since I draw now the ceiling/floor among the walls all at one pass vertically. That would work very nicely on plus, but I am wondering if I can still have it on plain CPC or think of other means.
I'm sure that many users will be happy to see a new cartridge game for PLUS/GX, since the C4CPC exist.
Using ROM should allow you to store more data that can directly accessed to optimize your content.
PLUS sprites with a second palette should help for the visual too. But it is a long way to go over the demo!

Except the engine (technical side), have you any idea about what should be the game type?
It should be used inside dungeons (Dungeon Master) ; best with a 2D gameplay for external adventure like Phantasy Star... That should be more enjoyable than a hopelessly empty FPS.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: reidrac on 10:08, 30 October 15
I haven't thought about it but is a shame there's no new stock of 3" disks; cassettes are an outdated medium and floppies are the future, isn't' it? :)

(to be complete fair I'm not sure how long will last the "hipster powered comeback" of the cassettes, but most 8-bit computer owners should be delighted)

So, there's no "standard" peripheral to load software that works across all models. Could it be the upcoming Albireo from PulkoTronics perhaps?

IMHO 64KB for a competition is just fine: it levels the field and gives everybody enough to make a nice game that will work in most (all?) models (you can easily produce both a  CDT and a DSK); and is convenient because making a cassette release is cheap and easy.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TotO on 10:53, 30 October 15
You can already load things from the PC to all CPC using the CPC/Mini Booster.
In all cases, you will require a ROM board to handle not standard hardware plugged on the CPC.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: AMSDOS on 10:56, 30 October 15
Quote from: reidrac on 10:08, 30 October 15
I haven't thought about it but is a shame there's no new stock of 3" disks; cassettes are an outdated medium and floppies are the future, isn't' it? :)

(to be complete fair I'm not sure how long will last the "hipster powered comeback" of the cassettes, but most 8-bit computer owners should be delighted)

So, there's no "standard" peripheral to load software that works across all models. Could it be the upcoming Albireo from PulkoTronics perhaps?

IMHO 64KB for a competition is just fine: it levels the field and gives everybody enough to make a nice game that will work in most (all?) models (you can easily produce both a  CDT and a DSK); and is convenient because making a cassette release is cheap and easy.


Converting CDT back to WAV is straightforward with Tape2WAV, and using Modern Media it might outlast Disc Technology? Though things might be a little bit trickier for the poor old 464.  :'(
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 15:20, 30 October 15
Quote from: ervin on 23:26, 29 October 15
That's because cpctelera is completely brilliant!
:D

Seriously, I think it will change the future of CPC homebrew.
Maybe it already has...

You are right. I guess is already did.  :)  However I don't speak C and even CPCtelera doesn't teach C, never found a good manual for C. So I stick with ASM. One can do a lot in C, but not all one can do in assembler of course. So I'm fine anyway. But it seems to have us brought a great boost of development. And that's of course great. Well, I'm not too excited before I didn't see the results of the game compo.  ;) :)


EDIT: Guess we all completely derailed the thread. So... when can we download the games of the competition? And where? Please tell as you know.  :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: AMSDOS on 20:57, 30 October 15
Quote from: TFM on 15:20, 30 October 15
You are right. I guess is already did.  :)  However I don't speak C and even CPCtelera doesn't teach C, never found a good manual for C. So I stick with ASM. One can do a lot in C, but not all one can do in assembler of course. So I'm fine anyway. But it seems to have us brought a great boost of development. And that's of course great. Well, I'm not too excited before I didn't see the results of the game compo.  ;) :)


My earlier comments regarding CPCTelera being a Library maybe misleading. The problem is I don't know what SDCC represents, and people have told me you can plug various languages into it, but it sounds like the whole thing creates a standard output from whatever language module you throw at it. So a language module maybe something like CPCTelera, which I guess is a simplifying C language, perhaps as a means to streamline people if they decide to code in C. SDCC can also be used by coders to code in Oberon, though I'm unsure if this is available for CPC, since SDCC also targets other computer platforms.


So perhaps SDCC has to be through of as a device for translating code from numerous language dialects & produce the appropriate system output?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: reidrac on 21:13, 30 October 15
Quote from: AMSDOS on 20:57, 30 October 15

My earlier comments regarding CPCTelera being a Library maybe misleading. The problem is I don't know what SDCC represents, and people have told me you can plug various languages into it, but it sounds like the whole thing creates a standard output from whatever language module you throw at it. So a language module maybe something like CPCTelera, which I guess is a simplifying C language, perhaps as a means to streamline people if they decide to code in C. SDCC can also be used by coders to code in Oberon, though I'm unsure if this is available for CPC, since SDCC also targets other computer platforms.


So perhaps SDCC has to be through of as a device for translating code from numerous language dialects & produce the appropriate system output?

I can try to explain my take on SDCC, based on my experience (and your mileage may vary etc).

SDCC is a compiler "old style", meaning that it generates ASM from C that is then assembled into a binary. Not that a modern compiler is too different, but in this case the intermediate ASM code is there for you to read and see what's happening behind the scenes.

That said, I write C for all the high level logic of the game, and anything that needs to be fast and optimized is written in ASM (by me or in case of a cpctelera user, part of the library -- the cpctelera IS a library).

Obviously the C code adds overhead (the generated code is usually slower and uses more space), but from my point of view it makes things simpler.

After some time you start writing C code knowing what the compiler will do with it, so you know what to avoid or which structures are easier to deal with by SDCC; and of course you'll start rewriting critical parts in ASM.

Basically that's what I do, and is not too different of my usual process with Z88DK when targeting the ZX Spectrum.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TFM on 21:44, 30 October 15
So CPCtelera is an "environment with libraries" for SDCC? Well, sorry, I'm not into PC stuff.  :-X
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Optimus on 11:11, 31 October 15
Quote from: TotO on 09:12, 30 October 15
I'm sure that many users will be happy to see a new cartridge game for PLUS/GX, since the C4CPC exist.
Using ROM should allow you to store more data that can directly accessed to optimize your content.
PLUS sprites with a second palette should help for the visual too. But it is a long way to go over the demo!


In fact, I now realize the power of the cartidge space in consoles. Even if it's static data and originally I didn't think much about it, that's why many consoles had much lower RAM than computers. When I moved from 128k to 64k for the competition, I had to drop double buffering. Now the weapon in foreground is kinda flickering although not as bad as I thought, but soon with the zooming sprites it could be a flickerfest. I was dissapoint at first when I also read the GX4000 stayed at 64k. But I am thinking now a way to reorganize my memory and move at least a 16k block in the cartidge and thus giving me another free page for double buffering. So, the CPC 64k version might flicker (unless I kill my massive unroll codes for wall rendering, so it will be slower), the 128k will be fine, but also the GX4000 or a 464 plus with cartidge will be free of flickering. And of course you can have more levels and enemies in the cartidge, more massive data to preload, although if I make a version for 64k, 128k and the GX4000, I would prefer to keep the content all the same.


I haven't thought of ways to use the hw sprites with the engine, but it's good to brainstorm on this.

Quote from: TotO on 09:12, 30 October 15
Except the engine (technical side), have you any idea about what should be the game type?
It should be used inside dungeons (Dungeon Master) ; best with a 2D gameplay for external adventure like Phantasy Star... That should be more enjoyable than a hopelessly empty FPS.


We decided to go first for the RPG dungeon crawler (moving like the second part of the video), with smooth movement like legend of grimrock. It was the plan for the compo, easier to code gameplay and AI with enemies moving in restricting block than if we went for the true wolfenstein FPS. Also, I like these kind of RPGs way more than I would have liked an FPS on CPC which might have not worked as a game (and I will also have to optimize the engine more for a fast paced action FPS on CPC). I have seen Mood in C64 or some other FPS attempts on Speccy, but they are mostly tech demos and not as fun to play than say wolfenstein 3d on a 286 PC. An RPG with smooth movement will be like a glorified Bloodwych which despite the static animation was very interesting to play. As long as I also don't focus too much on tech and forget the gameplay. I never coded a full game before, so it will be a challenge to get the gameplay right.


So, yeah I think we will still continue with the RPG style game, while improving the engine, adding new graphics and hopefully start coding the gameplay mechanics.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: arnoldemu on 11:14, 31 October 15
sdcc is a c compiler that makes binaries. you can tell it which cpu to build for.
sdcc doesnt accept other languages.

cpctelera is a library of code, a tool which makes putting your code and data together easily, it contains tools for data and graphics conversion and underneath it uses sdcc.

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: arnoldemu on 11:16, 31 October 15
Quote from: TFM on 21:44, 30 October 15
So CPCtelera is an "environment with libraries" for SDCC? Well, sorry, I'm not into PC stuff.  :-X
correct.

on cpc hisoft-c is similar, but it has less library functions.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: AMSDOS on 11:38, 31 October 15
Quote from: arnoldemu on 11:14, 31 October 15
sdcc doesnt accept other languages.


I was advised Oberon was being used as a Front-end for SDCC, was that ill-advised?  ???
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: TotO on 12:06, 31 October 15
Quote from: Optimus on 11:11, 31 October 15In fact, I now realize the power of the cartidge space in consoles. Even if it's static data and originally I didn't think much about it, that's why many consoles had much lower RAM than computers.
Exactly! Only variables need RAM, all statics data can leave in ROM without problem.
With ROM or Cartridge games, the CPC/PLUS/GX can use 32K to 48K for a double buffer display and the free RAM for other things. It is "huge".


Quote from: Optimus on 11:11, 31 October 15We decided to go first for the RPG dungeon crawler (moving like the second part of the video), with smooth movement like legend of grimrock. [...] So, yeah I think we will still continue with the RPG style game, while improving the engine, adding new graphics and hopefully start coding the gameplay mechanics.
Great to ear that! :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: reidrac on 14:08, 31 October 15
Quote from: AMSDOS on 11:38, 31 October 15

I was advised Oberon was being used as a Front-end for SDCC, was that ill-advised?  ???

I'm not sure, but after a quick search, looks like there's an Oberon compiler using SDCC (it generates C code that can be compiled with SDCC).

I may be wrong though :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: cngsoft on 20:52, 31 October 15
The jury has spoken!

RetroManiac | Revista de videojuegos retro |Videogames Magazine | Indie | Games (http://retromaniacmagazine.blogspot.com.es/2015/10/y-el-jurado-emitio-su-veredicto-estos.html)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Arnaud on 20:58, 31 October 15
Quote from: cngsoft on 20:52, 31 October 15
The jury has spoken!

RetroManiac | Revista de videojuegos retro |Videogames Magazine | Indie | Games (http://retromaniacmagazine.blogspot.com.es/2015/10/y-el-jurado-emitio-su-veredicto-estos.html)
Congratulation !
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: reidrac on 21:01, 31 October 15
Congratulations to the winners!

(I could only watch the video of the streaming, with no audio, but it was very exciting!)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Carnivius on 21:06, 31 October 15
Congratulations to everyone who entered proving themselves all better than me at actually producing a CPC runnable game.   Extra special congrats to the prize winners.  And I really want Frogalot cos it just looks so slick & awesome.  A great update of the Nebulus gimmick.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ||C|-|E|| on 21:28, 31 October 15
Congratulations to everyone! Really really great games this year! I will for sure play with all of the in the Plus  :D :D
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: mr_lou on 06:59, 01 November 15
Ah crap!
I'm embarrassed to say that I missed the streaming. Too damn much going on around me.

I don't suppose it'll be on YouTube any time soon?
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: arnoldemu on 10:02, 01 November 15
a great selection of games!

I look forward to trying them all.

Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Neil79 on 16:54, 01 November 15
Just like last CPCRetroDev, all these games get listed and you can't find a bloody link to download them from and the winning announcements isn't even in Enligsh, which need to be translated. Will we waiting bit by bit as these games get dribbled out? At least with the C64 compos ALL the games are available to download


And yes I'm in a bad mood today, hurt my back  :(
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 17:03, 01 November 15
Quote from: Neil79 on 16:54, 01 November 15
Just like last CPCRetroDev, all these games get listed and you can't find a bloody link to download them from and the winning announcements isn't even in Enligsh, which need to be translated. Will we waiting bit by bit as these games get dribbled out? At least with the C64 compos ALL the games are available to download
And yes I'm in a bad mood today, hurt my back  :(
You haven't searched too much before being so nice to the people who invest hours and money in organizing this for the CPC community, @Neil79 (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1097). You could even have asked: you already know me.
You can download DSKs, CDTs and even source code (all that submitted source code) for all the games we have the rights to share.

Also, you should take into account that #CPCRetroDev 2013 and 2014 where tagged as national awards (technically not internationally organized, as this kind of organization is harder). Only #CPCRetroDev 2015 is international and we have been posting either on english or in spanish.

Hope next time you ask me before revealing yourself in public.

Edit: I saw your post before your last edit. I prefer you not to hidden your real thoughts on this matter.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Neil79 on 17:26, 01 November 15
Oh and thankfully I can search this forum for specific games, it's a lot easier to manage for specific gaming articles  :)
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 17:32, 01 November 15
Yes, I sent you a PM, like you could have done now asking me about download links.

If you want, we can make our PMs public. I have no problem. I told you in the PM that if you were going to publish something about CPCRetroDev before the awards ceremony, that will spoil it. And I used a conditional also, because I didn't know if you were going to do that or no. Then you told me that you weren't going to do that and I apologized. I also explaint you why I was telling you that.

I was never unkind and I apologized.

Of course, I see clearly that you are now being unkind on purpose and you have no intention of giving apologises. I don't understand what you expect from causing pain to me. It's plainly ununderstandable.

I have no intention to continue a battle. There is no single reason to cause pain to others inside a hobbist community. We are here to enjoy our common hobby, not to battle.
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: ronaldo on 17:52, 01 November 15
Now that @Neil79 (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1097) asked for it, I want to clarify next steps about #CPCRetroDev 2015:
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Neil79 on 17:55, 01 November 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 17:52, 01 November 15
Now that @Neil79 (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1097) asked for it, I want to clarify next steps about #CPCRetroDev 2015:

       
  • The contest finished yesterday, toghether with our local event Retroconsolas Alicante (http://www.retroconsolas.es).
  • Today is sunday, I should be going somewhere with my wife instead of doing CPC related things.
  • I've been all this morning preparing all 35 games to publish complete results along with CDTs and DSKs. Hope to have them soon published. Source code, youtube videos, and extra content will be published later on, game by game, on a schedule we still have to decide. Like the last year, we want to publicise games individually, to give developers the best publicity we can.
  • Next week we will contact winners for documentation, to be able to send them their awards and give them their prizes.


You got completely the wrong end of the stick, communication loss. However I'm grateful this post, at least now it's easier to make sense of, because writing up the last dev comp was a pain in the rear.


QuoteI see clearly that you are now being unkind on purpose and you have no intention of giving apologises


As for this, that's complete balls and it's NOT how I work. Being unkind on purpose serves no merit to myself. I think we shall leave this here as this is going nowhere  >:(
Title: Re: CPCRetroDev 2015 has started! 900€ in prizes!
Post by: Dublinerr on 18:34, 01 November 15
Quote from: Neil79 on 16:54, 01 November 15
Just like last CPCRetroDev, all and the winning announcements isn't even in Enligsh, which need to be translated.

I AM sorry to say that you are misunderstanding things. Official announcements where done in Spanish and English as it was streamed online. I have heard complains about the streaming failing for some people, but it was as I say: taking consideration of all of you, @ronaldo made the ceremony in English and Spanish, an even I as a member of the jury said some words in German.

What you have found online, sir, is an article in a Spanish magazine, not an official statement from the organization, which Ronaldo already said is on it.

Regards.
Title: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: ronaldo on 21:31, 01 November 15
There you go!
Big big thanks to all participants and supporters. The success of this year's edition is your success, as you are the ones who have created the games. Without your excitement, work and support, this would have never been possible. Thank you!

And, hopefully, see you next year :D
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: AMSDOS on 22:34, 01 November 15
Interesting the last game was disqualified, so now I'm tempted to check it out.  :D


But with all the games from this competition, this will definitely build my 2015 folder.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Neil79 on 22:37, 01 November 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 21:31, 01 November 15
There you go!


Now that's what I'm talking about! Thanks
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: dodogildo on 23:09, 01 November 15

Quote from: ronaldo on 21:31, 01 November 15
There you go!


Thanks!! And congrats all participants!!

I missed the streaming sadly. Looking fw to watch it on youtube anytime soon.. Any chance?

Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: ervin on 23:21, 01 November 15
Quote from: ronaldo on 21:31, 01 November 15
There you go!

       
  • #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games (http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com/2015/11/cpcretrodev-2015-final-results-and-games/)
Big big thanks to all participants and supporters. The success of this year's edition is your success, as you are the ones who have created the games. Without your excitement, work and support, this would have never been possible. Thank you!

And, hopefully, see you next year :D

AWESOME!!!

@ronaldo (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1227) - thank you *so* very much for all of your hard work organising this competition.
The competition is a big success thanks to you!

Thanks also to everyone that participated.
Many of the games looks absolutely fantastic - thanks so much for your hard work.

Now I'm off to download the games!
JOY!!!

Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: ||C|-|E|| on 23:53, 01 November 15
Thanks! I already downloaded all of them!  ;D
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: CraigsBar on 23:58, 01 November 15
So when can we order 2015 tapes ;)
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: ervin on 00:14, 02 November 15
Quote from: AMSDOS on 22:34, 01 November 15
Interesting the last game was disqualified, so now I'm tempted to check it out.  :D

Interesting... the last game has a slightly disturbing game over screen.
It's not that bad, but perhaps that's why?
(The competition rules stated that the games must be suitable for all ages).

@ronaldo (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1227) - are we allowed to find out why it was disqualified?

Other than that, it's not a bad game actually!
Having said that, it is very short, and takes less than a minute to beat...
With more dev time and polish this could have been really good.

Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: ervin on 00:30, 02 November 15
Just tried Frogalot... WOW.
Wow wow wow.
Absolutely gorgeous, and really fun to play.
I love the way objects are obscured by the rotating tower before they come into full view (hard to explain what I mean). Also, the way the frog appears on the screen at the start of a level - clearly inspired by Knightlore & Alien 8 - is beautiful.

I strangely have the urge now to try and code a rotating tower engine!
Just for fun...

I also played Space Moves... it's *very* nice, but it's just as hard as the old Dinamic games!
Now, I have no problem with very difficult games.  ;)
But when it looks like you should land on a platform after a jump, and you miss it... feels a bit unfair.
Having said that, I still think it is fantastic, and will be playing lots more of it.

(Anyway, it seems a bit hypocritical of me to complain about another game's difficulty)!
:P

Looking forward to having some time to play Top Top. That game looks wonderful.
It has a bit of a Fireboy & Watergirl vibe going on.

Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: AMSDOS on 01:26, 02 November 15
Quote from: ervin on 00:14, 02 November 15
Interesting... the last game has a slightly disturbing game over screen.
It's not that bad, but perhaps that's why?
(The competition rules stated that the games must be suitable for all ages).

@ronaldo (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1227) - are we allowed to find out why it was disqualified?

Other than that, it's not a bad game actually!
Having said that, it is very short, and takes less than a minute to beat...
With more dev time and polish this could have been really good.


I checked out the other CDT file after easily completing the 1st CDT file and sure enough it's another screen and a little bit harder with DIE, DIE, DIE, etc onscreen. Funny thing was I was able to complete that screen too!  :D
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: AMSDOS on 01:38, 02 November 15
Quote from: ervin on 00:30, 02 November 15
Just tried Frogalot... WOW.
Wow wow wow.
Absolutely gorgeous, and really fun to play.
I love the way objects are obscured by the rotating tower before they come into full view (hard to explain what I mean). Also, the way the frog appears on the screen at the start of a level - clearly inspired by Knightlore & Alien 8 - is beautiful.


It's got Nebulus written all over it.  :D

QuoteI also played Space Moves... it's *very* nice, but it's just as hard as the old Dinamic games!
Now, I have no problem with very difficult games.  ;)
But when it looks like you should land on a platform after a jump, and you miss it... feels a bit unfair.
Having said that, I still think it is fantastic, and will be playing lots more of it.

(Anyway, it seems a bit hypocritical of me to complain about another game's difficulty)!
:P


I played that 1st stage till I got to the end of it, but seriously died when I was zapping the ships.  ???  I also had some trouble falling off the corner of them platforms, better off heading for the solid centre of the islands.

QuoteLooking forward to having some time to play Top Top. That game looks wonderful.
It has a bit of a Fireboy & Watergirl vibe going on.


I didn't play much of Top Top as it seems to be a Two Player Game with Different controls for the Two Players. Would of had more appeal for me, if had played like Biggles, where you're moving the 2 characters along the Rooftop.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: MacDeath on 02:12, 02 November 15
Well done everyone involved.

I hope Homebrew.AmstradToday will make a big huge Report/dossier as they did for BollaWare or Black system...




I fail to understand the "polemic" that just happened here... organizers have many things to do so I guess a proper webpage will come next.

Now that some Veterans and even non spanish can enter the competition, it really push the CPCscene a lot as well as being a really nice working&study matter for students.

Really hope ths event will stick in time and continue in the future.
And CPC is the perfect machine for that... can display nice graphics, has sounds, need to stick to 64k despite the odds... really great learning value.

I was quite astonished by some of the graphics too.
Will check all those at the Alchimie2015 demoparty (in France) in less than 2 weeks.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Carnivius on 08:46, 02 November 15
Space Moves plays well and has great music (I'm typing this right after playing the game and just noticed McKlain's name on the title screen so that's the reason for the superb tunes then  :) ) .  Not so keen on the colour reduced stock-photographs.  Also the collision detection on the platforms is cruel, you have to get pretty much the whole vehicle onto the next one when jumping (I would have thought the front tyre would have been strong enough to pull you on but no) or maybe I was just getting distracted by the mountains being quite obviously ripped from Astro Marine Corps.

Gonna play some more games later.   Currently though Frogalot is my fave as I felt it would be.  It feels like a game I would have happily have given my pocket money for all those years ago.   It's got great graphics, a nice tune, feels great to play and has plenty of charm.   Gonna run the CDT file on my real CPC later hoping it'll load through Tapdancer. 
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: toms on 13:23, 02 November 15
Don't miss the interview of Ronaldo (http://pushnpop.net/articles-83.html) (#CPCRetroDev organizer) on Push'n'Pop!


And thank you Ronaldo for having answered to our questions  8)
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Carnivius on 14:09, 02 November 15
I think I need to learn some spanish or something cos some games are lacking english.  I can get by in some menus but when it comes to redefining keys I always seem to pick the wrong ones. :P


Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Neil79 on 15:49, 02 November 15
Quote from: Carnivac on 14:09, 02 November 15
I think I need to learn some spanish or something cos some games are lacking english.  I can get by in some menus but when it comes to redefining keys I always seem to pick the wrong ones. :P


Hah yes,  same here
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: robcfg on 16:04, 02 November 15
Any doubt just post it here and I'll provide the translation you need
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: TFM on 16:06, 02 November 15
Please excuse the question. Are there .DSKs of the games somewhere? That would be *really* helpful.  :) :) :)
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Neil79 on 16:11, 02 November 15
Quote from: TFM on 16:06, 02 November 15
Please excuse the question. Are there .DSKs of the games somewhere? That would be *really* helpful.  :) :) :)


Although we did write it at the bottom of our article, you can download them here - #CPCRetrodev 2015 final results and games (http://cpcretrodev.byterealms.com/2015/11/cpcretrodev-2015-final-results-and-games/)


Just click the pictures, it will download a zip, open the zip and it should have a CDT/DSK


8)
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Gryzor on 16:20, 02 November 15
Strange - even as a child I don't remember ever having trouble with Spanish games, I learned the relevant terms pretty quick!
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Carnivius on 16:21, 02 November 15
My fave thing about this contest?   A whole bunch of new games that will run on a standard 464. Here's Frogalot running on my 464 connected to HDTV via SCART.   :)

(http://i.imgur.com/BIph9lg.jpg)
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Gryzor on 16:22, 02 November 15
Huge pixels are the best pixels.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Carnivius on 16:22, 02 November 15
Quote from: Gryzor on 16:20, 02 November 15
Strange - even as a child I don't remember ever having trouble with Spanish games, I learned the relevant terms pretty quick!

I am useless with languages.  Even my native english escapes me sometimes.  :(
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: TotO on 16:30, 02 November 15
I personaly love the Space Move design and the promising Space Pest Control.   8)

Quote from: Carnivac on 16:21, 02 November 15
My fave thing about this contest?   A whole bunch of new games that will run on a standard 464. Here's Frogalot running on my 464 connected to HDTV via SCART.   :)
A standard 464 is the keyboard unit and its monitor... Here, it just look like an emulator.  ;D
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Carnivius on 16:38, 02 November 15
Quote from: TotO on 16:30, 02 November 15
I personaly love the Space Move design and the promising Space Pest Control.   8)
A standard 464 is the keyboard unit and its monitor... Here, it just look like an emulator.  ;D

Why's everyone gotta be so picky?   It's a CPC 464 with no extra memory or disc drive or whatever.  I don't use the monitor anymore cos there's nowhere to comfortably display that fat little thing so it's in storage.   I like my CPC games on the big screen in front of the comfy with my other most played game systems (the PlayStations & the Amiga).  So nyah!
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: TotO on 16:52, 02 November 15
Quote from: Carnivac on 16:38, 02 November 15Why's everyone gotta be so picky?
Ask to you first!?  ;D
I'm joking because I was surprised that you was not more picky that I expected.  ;)
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Carnivius on 16:54, 02 November 15

More photos of the games running on my 464.  The top two photos came out a bit blurry but it shows they work fine and I haven't time to reload the games and take more pics.  All good stuff though. :)

(http://i.imgur.com/mOCvjRZ.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/8B80frl.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/HbgwFr5.jpg)
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Carnivius on 16:58, 02 November 15
When converting the CDT's to WAVE files (since Tapdancer failed and kept getting Read Error B) I noticed the filesizes seem quite interesting. 

Frogalot: 3.48MB
Space Pest Control: 5.75MB
RUNCPC: 7.51MB
Space Moves: 13.6MB
Most big commercial CPC games result between 20 and 30MB.  The small size of Frogalot meant I was quite surprised it loaded so fast before I looked at the filesize.  It packs in a fair bit of game, music and nice graphics into that filesize compared to other games.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: reidrac on 17:45, 02 November 15
Quote from: Carnivac on 16:58, 02 November 15
When converting the CDT's to WAVE files (since Tapdancer failed and kept getting Read Error B) I noticed the filesizes seem quite interesting.  Frogalot: 3.48MB
Space Pest Control: 5.75MB
RUNCPC: 7.51MB
Space Moves: 13.6MB
Most big commercial CPC games result between 20 and 30MB.  The small size of Frogalot meant I was quite surprised it loaded so fast before I looked at the filesize.  It packs in a fair bit of game, music and nice graphics into that filesize compared to other games.

I use compression where I can, but the loader I wrote relies on the firmware so I suspect there's still room for improvement. I tried to port one of the turbo loaders I use in the speccy, but after a quick go I think I'll wait a little but bit until I'm more confident with the CPC  :laugh:
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Targhan on 21:34, 02 November 15
Well done everybody. Here my personal top of the games!
1 - Frogalot: very well coded, excellent gameplay and level design. Could have been a Nebulus 2 without any problem.
2 - Top top: I didn't go very far, but the idea is nice and the gfx well made. One drawback: who picked the keys to play with??
3 - Space pest control: nice gfxs, nice gameplay.
3 - Space moves: A great Army Moves feeling, the gfx and music are very good. But the part two is however too hard, yet I am considered a good player :). The collision tests is too random.
4 - Run CPC: Good technical achievement, but only one life, not enough considering those big pixels are often hard to avoid (or to recognize!).
5 - Znax: Best gfx of the lot, funny game. However Pulko, I thought you knew how to display sprites without having a music slowing down?? :).
6 - Concave: Liked it, but a bit buggy (I got stuck on a wall).
7 - Paranormal outbreak: Loved the "fog of war" concept, nicely done.


2Legends crashed on my CPC 6128, is it normal?


All in all, it was great to play all these games, thanks to the guys who organized this event.





Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: MacDeath on 22:26, 02 November 15
QuoteWhen converting the CDT's to WAVE files (since Tapdancer failed and kept getting Read Error B) I noticed the filesizes seem quite interesting. 

Frogalot: 3.48MB
Space Pest Control: 5.75MB
RUNCPC: 7.51MB
Space Moves: 13.6MB
Most big commercial CPC games result between 20 and 30MB.  The small size of Frogalot meant I was quite surprised it loaded so fast before I looked at the filesize.  It packs in a fair bit of game, music and nice graphics into that filesize compared to other games.

I guess that as those games are done in the modern age, there may be some improvement on the sound "signal" (now purely Digital while real tapes were somewhat analogic) or just compression.
This can greatly optimize the use as MP3.

Also got to remember the rules are "no multiloading", "no extra than the 64k" this means the game uses less (like... 48k if whole Video 16k are used ?) while many commercial games would use extra to load a loading screen during the load of the rest... or multiloadings.



I sometimes definitaly think English and Spanish are not compatible... we even have a saying in France : "to speak english like a spanish cow..."
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Targhan on 22:59, 02 November 15
Yes, but remember commercial games involved people full-time to fill their 128k, whereas the RetroDev competition is done on people's spare-time... So I think the 64k limitation is actually a good one.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Fessor on 23:07, 02 November 15
And now, familar with the limits of 64kb one can go to the NASA Why NASA Needs a Programmer Fluent In 60-Year-Old Languages (http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/a17991/voyager-1-voyager-2-retiring-engineer/)
Ok... Loading time of 17h is a little bad... ;)

Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: MacDeath on 03:44, 03 November 15
haha nice one...  ;D
basically many embedded systems or hightly miniaturised things can pull some limitations closer to 8-16 biters than to those big modern powerhouses.

And old machines that were included in so important things that they still run today... or are too far from hearth to be "upgraded" hardware wise.

QuoteYes, but remember commercial games involved people full-time to fill their 128k, whereas the RetroDev competition is done on people's spare-time... So I think the 64k limitation is actually a good one.
oops forgot to quote the thing I was trying to respound to.

I never said the 64k limit is bad, because of the context of the competition.
Wouldn't be the same if the students had 512k of RAM to play with : they would probably "waste it" as if working on a modern system.
:laugh:

I quite liked the fact that some contestants from previous edition did present things this year too. (according to interview)
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: dodogildo on 04:42, 03 November 15
Quote from: toms on 13:23, 02 November 15
Don't miss the interview of Ronaldo (http://pushnpop.net/articles-83.html) (#CPCRetroDev organizer) on Push'n'Pop!


And thank you Ronaldo for having answered to our questions  8)
Awesome article.
What an amazing person, Ronaldo.
Great achivement.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: AMSDOS on 10:33, 03 November 15

Quote from: reidrac on 17:45, 02 November 15
I use compression where I can, but the loader I wrote relies on the firmware so I suspect there's still room for improvement. I tried to port one of the turbo loaders I use in the speccy, but after a quick go I think I'll wait a little but bit until I'm more confident with the CPC


Perhaps this is of some interest. I used Compression, High Baud Rate (3968) & Headerless Loader (mostly firmware), to load that game quickly.


I also posted the wav version of that file on this forum, but no-one said boo!
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: reidrac on 10:49, 03 November 15
Quote from: AMSDOS on 10:33, 03 November 15

Perhaps this is of some interest. I used Compression, High Baud Rate (3968) & Headerless Loader (mostly firmware), to load that game quickly.


I also posted the wav version of that file on this forum, but no-one said boo!

I spent some time last night playing with the topo soft loader disassembly that @arnoldemu (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=122) posted to the forums some time ago and got it to work after some struggle. It is really cute, but slower than using CAS READ (headerless loader using the firmware).

I'll try to port the turbo loader I use on the speccy, if I manage to get the timing right I think I can improve the firmware speed and still look nice :)

But we probably should move this conversation to a different thread.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Optimus on 11:08, 03 November 15
Best CPC gamedev compo ever!
I still have 36 minus some entries to see. This will take time :)
It's a pitty I couldn't do something and improve the epicness, although it would have been a tech demo rather than a game so it's better to wait, maybe next year.


It's positively surprising that this is a competition for students at the university and the professor is teaching them z80 and all that. More young programmers will have the experience how computers work below most of the API layers.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: alex76gr on 11:16, 03 November 15
Santa arrived early for us CPC fans! :D
I feel respect and gratitude for all the developers that participated in the competition regardless the results. :-*
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: AMSDOS on 11:18, 03 November 15

Quote from: reidrac on 10:49, 03 November 15
I spent some time last night playing with the topo soft loader disassembly that @arnoldemu (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=122) posted to the forums some time ago and got it to work after some struggle. It is really cute, but slower than using CAS READ (headerless loader using the firmware).


I'll try to port the turbo loader I use on the speccy, if I manage to get the timing right I think I can improve the firmware speed and still look nice


But we probably should move this conversation to a different thread.


I used this program Turbo Load to set the Baud Rate up to 3968, and the Information is on that Page. Kukulcan has added these Digits (220 x 48) which I haven't tested yet. I was using CPCE and using the Tape File Format to get that result, it should be clear in that emulator if "|TURBO,220,48" would work or not.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Dubliner on 12:22, 03 November 15
Quote from: Optimus on 11:08, 03 November 15
It's positively surprising that this is a competition for students at the university and the professor is teaching them z80 and all that. More young programmers will have the experience how computers work below most of the API layers.

Actually, that's really funny. Most of the students sent with their games a memo about the developing process of these games. All of them stated that the most dificult part of the project was the limits in memory of the Amstrad  :)

One of the most funny things i have read in these memos was "thanks to this we have learned how difficult was doing games back in the day". As if the programmers back then had tools like CPCtelera or emulators to try their code quickly  :P

I am pretty sure this will teach them very good lessons in their future career  :)
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: MacDeath on 21:39, 03 November 15
It made more and better than the 30 (now 32?) years anniversary Mega Demo... in far less time...
:picard2: :picard:


;D
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: TFM on 21:04, 06 November 15
Out of curiosity... Is the coder of the winning game a former member of dynamic? (Just asking because this game uses the classic Dinamic character set (see Game Over and others) and also some GFX from Dinamic games).
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: cngsoft on 00:11, 07 November 15
Sure, the contest is over, but I had to do this:

(http://cngsoft.no-ip.org/FROGALOT-20151106.PNG)

Towers are no longer infinite: they have roofs and grounds.

Quote from: TFM on 21:04, 06 November 15
Out of curiosity... Is the coder of the winning game a former member of dynamic? (Just asking because this game uses the classic Dinamic character set (see Game Over and others) and also some GFX from Dinamic games).
Two words: GFX rips.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: VincentGR on 00:21, 07 November 15
Quote from: cngsoft on 00:11, 07 November 15
Sure, the contest is over, but I had to do this:

(http://cngsoft.no-ip.org/FROGALOT-20151106.PNG)

Towers are no longer infinite: they have roofs and grounds.
Two words: GFX rips.


Holy s^*t!!!   :o

Cross my fingers for toki too  ;D

PS4CPC, port of "Parasol Stars" for the CPC
IN DEVELOPMENT!


Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: ervin on 01:01, 07 November 15
Quote from: cngsoft on 00:11, 07 November 15
Sure, the contest is over, but I had to do this:

Towers are no longer infinite: they have roofs and grounds.
Two words: GFX rips.

Looking great CNG!

I don't know why you didn't get first place.
Space Moves was pretty good, but Frogalot is so much better...
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Joseman on 02:28, 07 November 15

For me frogalot is the best game of the compo hands down.

Maybe Space moves is calling some nostalgia with the graphics, character set and music...

But Frogalot is technically far better than any other game of the compo...

I'ts my opinion... but you know that it's true!!  :P

Good work @cngsoft (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=191)!


Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Singaja on 13:26, 07 November 15
Frogalot has a really interesting loader too. Both run" and load" of the fake .BAS will run the game. Are there more "secret" files/data on the dsk? Is it really only 11kb?
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: Gryzor on 14:45, 20 January 16
Hey guys, @ronaldo (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1227) have I missed something? Can the tape with all the titles be ordered somewhere?
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: TFM on 22:21, 20 January 16
Quote from: ervin on 01:01, 07 November 15
Looking great CNG!

I don't know why you didn't get first place.
Space Moves was pretty good, but Frogalot is so much better...


I would have elected CPC and Frogalot first place. Space Moves is imho just stolen from Army moves, the controls are poor, loading is love-less. Could have been a great game (rip off or not), but it seems they run out of time.

Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: dodogildo on 00:17, 21 January 16
Frogalot is awesome.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: PulkoMandy on 09:40, 21 January 16
Quote from: Targhan on 21:34, 02 November 15
5 - Znax: Best gfx of the lot, funny game. However Pulko, I thought you knew how to display sprites without having a music slowing down?? :) .


I ran out of time to optimize things, and out of memory space. I'm fitting the 4 screens (menu, game, how to play, high scores - 2 of which are fullscreen) in 64K of RAM, there is few space left for the code and music.
Remember that I wrote the initial code back in 2008 and it was my first try at z80 assembler.
I would have put the music under interrupts, but that was not possible in the menu (because interrupts are cut at several places to have stable raster effects), and I didn't have space for a different playroutine call specially for the game screen.
Maybe I can try to free a few spare bytes and make this work.
Title: Re: #CPCRetroDev 2015: Complete Results and Games
Post by: TFM on 18:22, 21 January 16
The GFX are really absolutely great and in addition I like how the different screen formats get used. It's dynamic and that's just very beautiful! Great job!!!  :)
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