CPCWiki forum

General Category => Applications (CPC and CPC-related) => Topic started by: XeNoMoRPH on 18:47, 11 September 19

Title: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: XeNoMoRPH on 18:47, 11 September 19
https://vimeo.com/359356361 (https://vimeo.com/359356361)

QuoteBeverly Hills Cop trailer converted for Amstrad CPC with M4 board, with music by David Whittaker adapted for CHIPNSFX by CNGSOFT (thanks again for permission). A very simple player on early-stage. Some improvements coming.
Author: Roland Rząsa (https://www.facebook.com/roland.rzasa?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdC-R-R&eid=ARCZPRGlGz3sKA7-k2tkrGxFGV_93Zuwmh7LFKrNFda9cfVQQjPjMW9d95IjJzfqMtMNbx9pOQy4OkrH&hc_ref=ARQAK41eyKUjBHPkLLSDO1SQHqziM4XnxaTJDepVRCwmyPutZnEaC95m3G7viW-05iI&dti=134352550519973&hc_location=group)
source:  [ Amstradiens facebook group ]
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: Duke on 19:50, 11 September 19
Looks too good to be real ... (imo.  :o )
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: LTronic on 20:14, 11 September 19
OMG.
If that's true that means we could bring FMV games to Amstrad CPC like Laserdic arcade based games (were using Z80) or even Mega CD stuff like Night Trap  :laugh:
How does this demo work ? Does it stream through Wifi or read the FMV through mass storage hooked to M4 ?
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: Gryzor on 20:46, 11 September 19
Damn! How many colours is that?
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: Token on 21:26, 11 September 19
It's really CPC or PLUS?
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: TotO on 21:34, 11 September 19
It is 16 colours mode 0 with dithering. Probably with palette update for each frame.
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: Ast on 20:11, 12 September 19
you could also do these kinds of things on an xMass, using iMPdos!  :P
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: GUNHED on 14:17, 13 September 19

Great software at all!!! Well done!!! :) The conversion of the video to CPC format is awesome! Which program was used?
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: rolek on 23:47, 14 September 19
The clip was converted to mode 0 and played on real CPC, I'm using my own program - CPiC which I wrote a years ago to convert images for Symbos format.
The whole project is a 'side effect' - I'm working on a puzzle game
(which will be finished very soon, finally) - and in tests time on a real machine, I found how fast is M4 SD card reader.
Hope to (re)start my website soon, where updates will come.

YT original video -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfz7_K-y4fE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfz7_K-y4fE)
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: XeNoMoRPH on 07:33, 15 September 19
Quote from: rolek on 23:47, 14 September 19
The clip was converted to mode 0 and played on real CPC, I'm using my own program - CPiC which I wrote a years ago to convert images for Symbos format.
The whole project is a 'side effect' - I'm working on a puzzle game
(which will be finished very soon, finally) - and in tests time on a real machine, I found how fast is M4 SD card reader.
Hope to (re)start my website soon, where updates will come.

Thanks for writing in the forum, I will be aware when you will have the website  :)
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: XeNoMoRPH on 20:02, 18 September 19
it's another emulator by @Devilmarkus (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=93) but it's cool  :P
https://youtu.be/T9rpqYTZlE4
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: GUNHED on 20:22, 18 September 19
Now, I'm thinking of using such videos in combination with PlayCity and LS3 (PCM sample mode f.e).  :o
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: rolek on 20:11, 16 April 20
Hi,

One more conversion test - this time Cyberpunk2077 trailer.
In upcoming days I'll publish standalone player to use on CPC, version without GUI is already done.
Enjoy watching!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdQvxUKn7Wg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdQvxUKn7Wg)



Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: XeNoMoRPH on 06:31, 17 April 20
Waiting Release  :o :o :o
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: m_dr_m on 21:34, 18 April 20
Pretty nice color conversion! I'd like to see the result on my CPC.


Seems to refresh at around 7 Hz, so ~111 Kib / sec?

Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: rolek on 23:20, 18 April 20
Quote from: XeNoMoRPH on 06:31, 17 April 20
Waiting Release  :o :o :o
[size=78%]I hope to upload my website in the coming days. The player will be available from the very first moment, but it'll be a super simple version,  just playing one certain file - still, anyone having CPC with M4 card will have the opportunity to watch converted movies.[/size]

Next on the list is the more advanced player - some GUI giving the possibility to search for video files, displaying directories, file information, etc.
The converter is unfortunately last, cause I'll probably need rewrite whole app, at the moment source code is in Delphi which working correctly only under Windows XP.
If I'll be able to make the current version usable ( now it's hard to identify button purpose even for me ), something like "alpha" version will be available in the next 2-3 months.

Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: rolek on 23:21, 18 April 20
Quote from: m_dr_m on 21:34, 18 April 20
Pretty nice color conversion! I'd like to see the result on my CPC.


Seems to refresh at around 7 Hz, so ~111 Kib / sec?




More or less, I'm not sure how accurate timing has this video, I'm using weird hardware set - RGB2All converter and USB EasyCap grabber.
Converter was set to make 9FPS in output file which was probably little bit too optimistic.
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: zhulien on 07:14, 20 April 20
what does green screen mode look like when you use the 16 colours as shades of green?
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: SkulleateR on 21:21, 20 April 20
Nice  8)


This looks like one of those Amiga CDXL Videos back in the days but this time on 8Bit  ;D
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: rolek on 21:31, 20 April 20
Quote from: zhulien on 07:14, 20 April 20
what does green screen mode look like when you use the 16 colours as shades of green?

Very good question, never even thought about it.
The player works only on a real computer ( don't know if any emulator handling M4 card ).
I think you just developed new option in converter :)
Conversion at the moment is the only partially based on pixels' brightness,  I'll add the possibility to set the target color scheme.
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: genesis8 on 19:22, 21 April 20
Quote from: rolek on 23:20, 18 April 20
The converter is unfortunately last, cause I'll probably need rewrite whole app, at the moment source code is in Delphi which working correctly only under Windows XP.
As you use Delphi, you may be able to use freepascal to have an executable under more modern os ?
Also do you know about the PC demo for PC XT/CGA 8088 corruption which has a part with a video like yours (http://www.oldskool.org/pc/8088_Corruption (http://www.oldskool.org/pc/8088_Corruption)) and its "update" 8088 Domination (see video example https://youtu.be/cK703qMFb0M (https://youtu.be/cK703qMFb0M)) ?
As it also uses 160x200x16 its code could be useful to you ?
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: rolek on 21:27, 21 April 20
Quote from: genesis8 on 19:22, 21 April 20
As you use Delphi, you may be able to use freepascal to have an executable under more modern os ?...

I thought about freepascal before but stuck with the video library which I'm using to extracting frames - but maybe it's a good idea to google it again.
Happily final program working under newer Windows versions, only my Delphi not even trying to start what causing some limitation - can't use modern Windows dialog boxes etc, what is more annoying than a big problem.
Never seen this demo before, looks great.  I'll look it closer, definitely - maybe can use some ideas or part of code[/size][size=78%].[/size]
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: zhulien on 19:10, 22 April 20
Quote from: rolek on 21:31, 20 April 20
Very good question, never even thought about it.
The player works only on a real computer ( don't know if any emulator handling M4 card ).
I think you just developed new option in converter :)
Conversion at the moment is the only partially based on pixels' brightness,  I'll add the possibility to set the target color scheme.


Although I cannot find an online copy, CPCOxygen wrote an article on Green Screen graphics that I had done which used 16 shades of green spread evenly across the 27 brightness levels - you end up with a very photo realistic (greenish) image - but if animated it likely will be the closest to tv-type (like a black and white tv but only green) animation.  Your animation speed is fantastic and if you can use green scale it will look a lot better (on a green screen) and worst (on a colour screen).


What do you know... i found CPCOxygen yearbook here (http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?contributorId=695693) and it is free if you want the PDF version.  Unfortunately the yearbook doesn't have the specific article.
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: rolek on 12:50, 04 May 20

If you want to watch the Cyberpunk or Beverly Hills  trailer on real CPC (M4 Board required) you can download it from https://www.dolmainsoftware.com/downloads.php (https://www.dolmainsoftware.com/downloads.php)
I also sent my new (first) CPC game - MoveIt! - XeNoMoRPH has already written about it (thank you!) in a separate thread.
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: HAL6128 on 15:49, 04 May 20
Hi Rolek,
nice program and cool speed of the movies! Also the colors a very good converted for mode 0.
Is there any chance to have a look a the file format of the movies (the *.vvv?) to create a own one?
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: GUNHED on 17:41, 04 May 20
Yes, would be great to be able to use such movies in own productions too.  :)
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: rolek on 18:55, 04 May 20
Quote from: HAL 6128 on 15:49, 04 May 20
Hi Rolek,
nice program and cool speed of the movies! Also the colors a very good converted for mode 0.
Is there any chance to have a look a the file format of the movies (the *.vvv?) to create a own one?

I'll publish format specs, but I'm testing some improvements at the moment (probably will change the extension for something else, also).
All tested changes will change file structure, I'll add a double palette (mono/color), the possibility of changing mode during playing, and probably some information used by M4Player like miniature, etc.
New version of CPiC will be able to convert video files into this new format.

Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: rolek on 19:00, 04 May 20
Quote from: GUNHED on 17:41, 04 May 20
Yes, would be great to be able to use such movies in own productions too.  :)
Would be great if somebody will use it :) In this case, probably two format version will exists.
Full, with all informations needed by M4Player, and simple one with video frames only.

Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: GUNHED on 20:27, 04 May 20
Thanks! I'm just thinking of that kind of games where you choose a direction and each time the player sees a small game. We have the hardware for that - and with your player the software too.  :)
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: rolek on 20:53, 05 May 20
Quote from: GUNHED on 20:27, 04 May 20
Thanks! I'm just thinking of that kind of games where you choose a direction and each time the player sees a small game. We have the hardware for that - and with your player the software too.  :)



I didn't want to say about it too early, but I'm already testing "interactive movies", even bought https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creature_Shock for reference.
I'm still not sure about the final result but will share testing effects (when done).
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: XeNoMoRPH on 06:24, 02 June 20
https://youtu.be/xjUyx8Dam_s
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: zhulien on 11:25, 04 June 20
This is really good.  Please provide a playback routine that can be added to a ROM and other tools so it's easy for inclusion in games etc...


Any chance to try a green scale version?  As noted the CPC pallet is already 0 to 26 in levels from light to dark.  Such an option for people to create 2 versions of a video given we have massive storage now on CPC.


If you ask me, the full screen one even though only 7fps, is very close to a lot of MegaCD titles - I am imagining a port of Dragon's Lair or Road Avenger.
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: GUNHED on 14:09, 04 June 20
Quote from: zhulien on 11:25, 04 June 20
Any chance to try a green scale version?  As noted the CPC pallet is already 0 to 26 in levels from light to dark.  Such an option for people to create 2 versions of a video given we have massive storage now on CPC.
Good ideas, also usable for the monochrome scale of the Plus machines.
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: zhulien on 23:48, 04 June 20
I am thinking we can sync it to mp3 files played with the uart mp3 player. This means we can have full dragons lair audio too.
Title: Re: M4 Player - Alpha [WIP]
Post by: genesis8 on 22:42, 14 July 20
Rolek check this pascal source of the XDC encoder : https://x86dc.wordpress.com/ (https://x86dc.wordpress.com/)
It's the upgraded version of the encoder used in the 8088 Domination demo (http://trixter.oldskool.org/2014/06/19/8088-domination-post-mortem-part-1/ (http://trixter.oldskool.org/2014/06/19/8088-domination-post-mortem-part-1/))
Post by Trixter : https://trixter.oldskool.org/2014/06/19/8088-domination-post-mortem-part-1/ (https://trixter.oldskool.org/2014/06/19/8088-domination-post-mortem-part-1/)
Powered by SMFPacks Menu Editor Mod