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The XIII Emperor Gamebook - Updates (edited title)

Started by enteka, 09:52, 31 May 21

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enteka

Two weeks ago, I re-discovered the Amstrad of my early teens, via the RVM emulator and the Profesor Retroman youtube channel.
Anyway, I've began developing on Locomotive Basic, a small gamebook cyoa/ Fighting Fiction style (more like something in between) sort-of engine.
And I'm in a bit of crossroads. Should I make it into a "real" game? That's tons of work, mostly writing and organizing, as the main code is pretty much done. I would love to, however, it will only make sense if there are people who would play it.
So, what do you think about my wee project?

manossg

Quote from: enteka on 09:52, 31 May 21
Two weeks ago, I re-discovered the Amstrad of my early teens, via the RVM emulator and the Profesor Retroman youtube channel.
Anyway, I've began developing on Locomotive Basic, a small gamebook cyoa/ Fighting Fiction style (more like something in between) sort-of engine.
And I'm in a bit of crossroads. Should I make it into a "real" game? That's tons of work, mostly writing and organizing, as the main code is pretty much done. I would love to, however, it will only make sense if there are people who would play it.
So, what do you think about my wee project?


Hello, mate, and welcome again to the beautiful world of the Amstrad.


I am interested in such games and, for one, would definitely like to play your game. Also, if you require any kind of help, feel free to ask, lots of helpful individuals here.


PS. enteka=from greek?

Gryzor

Ah just as I thought another g(r)eek joined us... :)

Welcome mate!

Not sure how a computerised CYOA game would work? I thought CYOA books were the printed equivalent of adventure games? Not sure what "Fighting Fiction" is though...


PS talking about formats, early to mid nineties I played a X-Files CYOA on CD, that was fun!

enteka

#3
Quote from: manossg on 10:25, 31 May 21

Hello, mate, and welcome again to the beautiful world of the Amstrad.


I am interested in such games and, for one, would definitely like to play your game. Also, if you require any kind of help, feel free to ask, lots of helpful individuals here.


PS. enteka=from greek?
Thank you very much. I will need help with my English which tends to fumble when I'm tired, and in a later version I'll probably be adding graphics and or music. And I'm a total loss at music, just I ken nothing about it.

enteka, yes, from Greek.  :) I needed a short url so it was my 11th attempt and thus -> enteka.xyz it's also my Gopher and Gemini pages

enteka

Quote from: Gryzor on 10:36, 31 May 21
Ah just as I thought another g(r)eek joined us... :)

Welcome mate!

Not sure how a computerised CYOA game would work? I thought CYOA books were the printed equivalent of adventure games? Not sure what "Fighting Fiction" is though...


PS talking about formats, early to mid nineties I played a X-Files CYOA on CD, that was fun!
I think CYOA , Adventure Games and Roleplaying games all more or less developed at roughly the same era.
A FF gamebook is ... think CYOA with dice. Whenever it's not in the clear what would happen, you roll and test for some of your character abilities, then if you fail the roll go to section 12 and if you succeed you go to section such and such, or lose hit points, or whateverSome can get way more complex than that, but that's the TLDR version

Gryzor

Ah dice, I played a few such games back in the day - didn't realise they were a different category! Nice!!

Damn, I wish it was summer '89 for a little while.

andycadley

I remember playing the Spectrum version of one of those FF games back in the day (Forest of Doom IIRC) and it was pretty cool. At lot harder to cheat than it was with the book version though.  :laugh:

manossg

#7
Quote from: enteka on 11:10, 31 May 21
Thank you very much. I will need help with my English which tends to fumble when I'm tired, and in a later version I'll probably be adding graphics and or music. And I'm a total loss at music, just I ken nothing about it.

enteka, yes, from Greek.  :) I needed a short url so it was my 11th attempt and thus -> enteka.xyz it's also my Gopher and Gemini pages


Cool, καλώς όρισες, συναμστραντόπληκτε!


I can help with proofreading (although I'd recommend finding a native English speaker) and I can certainly help with music! :D


We released with my mate @skylas a text adventure a few days back, also made in Basic, so you can check it out.


https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/games/budrumi!-new-text-adventure-game!/msg202553/#msg202553

skylas

#8
Quote from: enteka on 09:52, 31 May 21
Two weeks ago, I re-discovered the Amstrad of my early teens, via the RVM emulator and the Profesor Retroman youtube channel.
Anyway, I've began developing on Locomotive Basic, a small gamebook cyoa/ Fighting Fiction style (more like something in between) sort-of engine.
And I'm in a bit of crossroads. Should I make it into a "real" game? That's tons of work, mostly writing and organizing, as the main code is pretty much done. I would love to, however, it will only make sense if there are people who would play it.
So, what do you think about my wee project?
Welcome! Feel free to ask anything you want, and good luck with the project!

As I had the same thoughts when I started dealing with Amstrad again, I can assure you that there many that would try your game.
Just needs a bit more time for posting in appropriate groups, forums etc, so that many people get aware of it.

I can also recommend @manossg  for music, as he makes an excellent work in my opinion. You just have to learn to load AKG files from Arkos Tracker.
Web: https://amstradsakis.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmstradSakis
My programs (only BASIC):
RETRO-LOADSHEET ON AMSTRAD CPC!
PENALTY KICKS!
CAPITAL QUIZ!
CAPITAL QUIZ 2! (Reverse edition)
HEADS OR TAILS (ΚΟΡΩΝΑ/ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΑ)
HEART CHASER 1,2,3!
BARBOUTI!
STROOPIE!
BUDRUMI!
ART WAR!
BATTLE OF LENINGRAD!
AMSTABOO!
RODOLFO SKYLARRIENTE 1 and 2!

eto

So, the same happened to me in early 2020. I followed the CPC scene again for some time again and one post on Facebook inspired me to try something in Locomotive Basic. And this caused a whole lot of events to happen, buying a CPC6128, later a 6128 Plus, modifying a broken GT65 with a TFT display and a GBS8200, trying to find "the perfect gamepad/joystick", etc etc. But I think the most important thing was to write my first ever CPC game - fully in Basic.

Crucial (imho) was, that I did it for me. Of course it was great to release it then, but I wanted to do it for myself. It had to be in a way that I want to play it. And I finally even added everything to have my own physical release of it, including a booklet with instructions and a (very very) short story that introduces the game.

And just recently I started to learn Assembler and right now I am replacing the "slow" parts of my game with machine code routines and will eventually release the "plus" or "2.0" edition. Maybe including an online Highscore table if I manage to do that with the M4 or Usifac II... let's see... just an idea, no fixed plan yet...

I don't know if anyone plays it currently or not. Or will play the "plus" edition. I am doing it for myself and then let's see if anyone else also enjoys it.

tl;dr: if you enjoy making this, then just do it.

Animalgril987

Hi @eto.
What's your game? I will try it out. ;D


@enteka. Welcome to the forums. We will all look forward to your game, if yo release it  :D

eto


MiguelSky

Quote from: andycadley on 11:45, 31 May 21
I remember playing the Spectrum version of one of those FF games back in the day (Forest of Doom IIRC) and it was pretty cool. At lot harder to cheat than it was with the book version though.  :laugh:
I loved this on paper. Some years ago, a version for nowaday devices was also released,

enteka

Wow, that was some input. Sorry not to answer, I've been busy kayaking and programing

enteka

Quote from: MiguelSky on 17:59, 31 May 21
I loved this on paper. Some years ago, a version for nowaday devices was also released,
If you are still interested, you might want to check a Spanish YT channel called "librojuegos" revieweng new and classic gamebooks

enteka

Quote from: Animalgril987 on 17:24, 31 May 21
@enteka. Welcome to the forums. We will all look forward to your game, if yo release it  :D
I intend to :), it will take time, and a lot of it, as it's still writing a book in a foreing language and then programming.Still, my idea is to realease it in small chunks

enteka

Quote from: eto on 15:45, 31 May 21
tl;dr: if you enjoy making this, then just do it.
Oh yes, it's that I'm also a paddler, a surfski paddler, and I need waves! and wind! and a paddle! So I have to balance things out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWQIBY8ilc0

enteka

Quote from: skylas on 15:00, 31 May 21
Welcome! Feel free to ask anything you want, and good luck with the project!

As I had the same thoughts when I started dealing with Amstrad again, I can assure you that there many that would try your game.
Just needs a bit more time for posting in appropriate groups, forums etc, so that many people get aware of it.

I can also recommend @manossg  for music, as he makes an excellent work in my opinion. You just have to learn to load AKG files from Arkos Tracker.
Thanks for the advice. and the encouragement


enteka

Quote from: Gryzor on 11:37, 31 May 21
Ah dice, I played a few such games back in the day - didn't realise they were a different category! Nice!!

Damn, I wish it was summer '89 for a little while.
Ah, well, sometimes I think there are mone categories than gamebooks :)

Animalgril987

Quote from: enteka on 22:22, 31 May 21I've been busy kayaking and programing
At the same time?! :D

enteka


enteka

#22
Progress report
OK, so I have setted it up for a very simple Engine.
It first creates the character. It asks for your character name and age, with age working as a dificulty level, the younger the harder... usually
Then it generates the STATS, aka the attributes These are
KNWOLEDGE, PERCEPTION, GRACE, SKILL, STRENGTH, HIT POINTS

Each to be used to test the character ability to accomplish a given task

Once the game starts, the basic loop would go as follows

1. Check for ENDGAME
2. if ENDGAME load "you are dead" text and so on ELSE go on
3. load next "paragraph" aka section
4. Each "paragraph" file has the following structure
i) a one line code for any "special consequences" or "effect" (like, let's say your character loses this many hit points)
ii) the text of the paragraph, divided into lines
iii) the choices available for the player, one per line, using a very simple comma separated values structure
stat to be tested , target number or difficulty , new paragraph if successful, new paragraph if fail

5. The computer will process any special effects (maybe check for endgame here)
6. Display the text
7. Wait for player commands
8. process that command



10 ' The XIII Emperor a gamebook for the Amstrad CPC
20 ' By Miguel de Luis Espinosa
30 ' See README.TXT for license and notes
40 DEF FNdice(x) = ROUND(RND(1)*(x-1))+1
50 DEF FNustr$(x%) = MID$(STR$(x%),2) 'unsigned str$
60 DIM scores%(6,2) : DIM flags%(20)
70 DIM p$(20)
80 filename$ = "1.txt"  ' starting paragraph filename
90 FOR i = 1 TO 6 : scores%(i,1) = FNdice(3) + FNdice(3) : NEXT
100 DIM scoreNames$(6)
110 FOR i=1 TO 6 : READ scoreNames$(i) : NEXT : DATA KNWOLEDGE, PERCEPTION, GRACE, SKILL, STRENGTH, HIT POINTS
120 GOSUB 240
130 scores%(1,1) = scores%(1,1) + (age%-12)\3 ' KNW
140 scores%(2,1) = scores%(2,1) + FNdice(3) ' PER
150 scores%(3,1) = scores%(3,1) + (21-age%)\2 'GRACE
160 scores%(4,1) = scores%(4,1) + FNdice(3) 'SKL
170 scores%(5,1) = scores%(5,1) + (age%-18)\3 'STR
180 scores%(6,1) = scores%(6,1) + scores%(5,1) + (age%\2) ' HP = dice + str + age\2
190 FOR i% = 1 TO 6 : IF scores%(i%,1) < 4 THEN scores%(i%,1) = 4 : NEXT i%
200 FOR i% = 1 TO 6 : scores%(i%,2) = scores%(i%,1) : NEXT ' Current score=Initial
210 GOSUB 320
220 END
230 ' SUBRUTINES ---------------------------------------------
240 ' START GAME
250 CLS : MODE 2
260 PRINT "Choose your name"
270 INPUT "> ", name$
280 PRINT "Your age, 13 to 21"
290 INPUT "> ", age%
300 IF age% < 13 OR age% > 21 THEN LOCATE 1, VPOS(#0) : GOTO 290
310 RETURN
320 ' DISPLAY CHARACTER SHEET ------------------------------------
330 CLS: PRINT name$
340 PRINT FNustr$(age%) " years old." : PRINT
350 FOR ik=1 TO 6
360 PRINT scoreNames$(ik);
370 PRINT , FNustr$(scores%(ik,1)) "/" FNustr$(scores%(ik,2))
380 NEXT ik
390 PRINT : PRINT ">>> Any key to continue <<<
400 akey$ = INKEY$ : IF akey$ = "" GOTO 400
410 RETURN
420 ' read file
430 CLS
440 DIM p$(20)
450 FOR i%=1 TO 20 : p$(i%) = "" : NEXT ' resets paragraph
460 OPENIN "1.txt" 'filename$
470 INPUT #9, effect%
480 REM call effect process subrutine
490 wi% = 1 : WHILE a$ <> "---" AND NOT EOF
500 INPUT #9, a$
510 IF a$ = "---" THEN p$(wi%) = "" ELSE p$(wi%) = a$
520 wi% = wi% + 1
530 WEND
540 ' read choices
550 CLOSEIN  'filename$
560 Return

And this a "paragraph aka section" file, just a stab really

1
"The XIII Emperor"
""
"The children of Samar have this story: it wasn't the XIII Emperor who"
"saved the city from the Red Horde, but one of their own, a slave boy."
"Yet, who could believe such a thing?"
"---"
0,0,2,2
"---"

Code 0,0,2,2 means 0 test nothing, 0 difficuty 0, 2 go to section 2 if succesful go  to section 2 if fail

Animalgril987

Quote from: enteka on 23:25, 03 June 21level, the younger the harder... usually
Should be on super-easy for me, then :D :D

enteka

Quote from: Animalgril987 on 16:50, 04 June 21
Should be on super-easy for me, then :D :D
We shall see, we shall see :)

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