Into Oblivion!

[Border_7]

Stephen is here? How did you find him??

This is just epic, wow, solid gold!

I'm giddy!

well Mr Curtis, welcome! Your ears must be burning lately re: Into Oblivion.
Thanks for ruining my childhood! Just kidding.
This is just awesome.

[Border_7]

And we should probably get some wiki articles added/updated.

Look forward to the interview details.

I feel pressure now re: that sloppy map I'm tinkering with..

[Spartan]

Hi ,
we fixed the link , next time just ask we provide ,
we can't check any link in the middle of 400 posts .

However the only weird thing is that Ovine didn't add this file over its site ,
or forgot to add it .

Btw,
nice forum we shall get in ;P

[Gryzor]

I guess the interview will go on the wiki once it's done (will try to send him the questions today if I find the time! If you want to ask anything in particular, please PM me!)


@Spartan: thanks - and welcome!

[redbox]

I'd like to know how you compress the data for 2500 rooms into a 64kb game.

Unless it's done using some kind of seed algorithm such as with Elite (and maybe Exile or some similar game...)?

[Stephen N Curtis]

Hi everyone,
When I wrote this game back in the Eighties I didn't dream people would still have an interest in it 27 years later ! Thanks all!
I remember defining the map on large sheets of graph paper, I recall doing the spiral and the dead-ends too. The graph paper was divided into squares, each square representing a screen, and then it was a simple 1 bit == exit per byte if I remember, and maybe some other bits representing other info.Unfortunately I've no longer the map or source code, it took me ages to code the maze into bytes.
Cheers all,
Stephen

[arnoldemu]

Welcome Stephen!

[robcfg]

Welcome!


Thank you for joining our forum and shed some light on your game.


Have fun!

[Gryzor]

I should say it's always a great honour when an old CPC dev stops by

[Border_7]

Hi everyone,
When I wrote this game back in the Eighties I didn't dream people would still have an interest in it 27 years later ! Thanks all!
I remember defining the map on large sheets of graph paper, I recall doing the spiral and the dead-ends too. The graph paper was divided into squares, each square representing a screen, and then it was a simple 1 bit == exit per byte if I remember, and maybe some other bits representing other info.Unfortunately I've no longer the map or source code, it took me ages to code the maze into bytes.
Cheers all,
Stephen

Stephen,


Many welcomes and thanks for dropping by.


Firstly, (ahem) apologies for any harsh remarks about any of your games or you (that I or anyone has made) - absolutely nothing personal!    You created some tough games!


Secondly, yes - it must be an interesting feeling all these years later people still talking / playing your games (trying to finish them etc).


Thirdly, thanks for the killer spiral and all those dead-end in IO. The one-way screens make mapping VERY HARD! By the way - any game hints? I haven't figured out the Transporter screen. Is it safe to say there is just enough extra lives to get you to the safe planet with one left? I thought for sure you would have had to map it our first on paper.... what drove you to choose 2500 screens? And lastly, I haven't been on 'Noral' yet - special trick to finding that planet? Probably really testing you now

Also feel free to check these out and modify at will:

Into Oblivion - CPCWiki (this is where my crude map is)


Nonterraqueous - CPCWiki


Terra Cognita - CPCWiki


Look forward to hearing more!

[dcdrac]

hello I remember playing it and almost completing it, but the day before I decided to finish it I got Elite and that consumed me for a lonnnnggg time

[Border_7]

hello I remember playing it and almost completing it, but the day before I decided to finish it I got Elite and that consumed me for a lonnnnggg time

You came close to completing? wow. You must have made a map. How much Psyche did you get too?

[dcdrac]

ohh almost 30 years ago will have to play it all over again......

[Cholo]

I'd like to know how you compress the data for 2500 rooms into a 64kb game.

Unless it's done using some kind of seed algorithm such as with Elite (and maybe Exile or some similar game...)?

Indeed, especially as a good amount of the 64k is already taken. Like the top 16k is the screen & then there is all the system areas .. so its actually closer to 38-40k. And that is without temporary work space and all those other things ive probably forgotten.

Always been wondering about the "algorithm" games how they managed to pull it off. Barely space in there for a complex algorithm too. Did think of making a longplay of Explorer .. untill i read the back of the game about the 40 billion locations in the game 

... it took me ages to code the maze into bytes...
Stephen

Ah yes. Sometime i forget about that a byte is still 8 bit worth of storage locations. Anyways, thanks for taking the time to code all those screens into bits (quite a big efford there) 

[dcdrac]

I would love to see the Cholo game redone and Catch 23

[ervin]

If by "redone" you mean "remade", here you go:
http://cholo.ovine.net/terminal/cholo-remake.php

[Border_7]

ohh almost 30 years ago will have to play it all over again......

Cool - please do and keep us posted 

[Border_7]

Stephen - quick question. Was this intentional:


http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/File:Nonterra_Crash.png


I was perhaps expecting another planet below Nonterra. Instead I get a crash (is this me crash landing? or something else)


cheers

[Stephen N Curtis]

Stephen - quick question. Was this intentional:


http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/File:Nonterra_Crash.png


I was perhaps expecting another planet below Nonterra. Instead I get a crash (is this me crash landing? or something else)


cheers

Hi,
No it's not intentional, I think you may have found a defect. Looks like its gone in another graphic mode and so it looks all skewed up.
Stephen

[dcdrac]

I wander if we could tempt someone to make a modern redo the game.......

[Stephen N Curtis]

Stephen,


Many welcomes and thanks for dropping by.


Firstly, (ahem) apologies for any harsh remarks about any of your games or you (that I or anyone has made) - absolutely nothing personal!    You created some tough games!

No problem

Secondly, yes - it must be an interesting feeling all these years later people still talking / playing your games (trying to finish them etc).

Yes, very surprised, 27 years is a long time, wish I'd kept the source code and map now.

Thirdly, thanks for the killer spiral and all those dead-end in IO. The one-way screens make mapping VERY HARD! By the way - any game hints? I haven't figured out the Transporter screen. Is it safe to say there is just enough extra lives to get you to the safe planet with one left? I thought for sure you would have had to map it our first on paper.... what drove you to choose 2500 screens? And lastly, I haven't been on 'Noral' yet - special trick to finding that planet? Probably really testing you now

Also feel free to check these out and modify at will:

Into Oblivion - CPCWiki (this is where my crude map is)


Nonterraqueous - CPCWiki


Terra Cognita - CPCWiki


Look forward to hearing more!

I wish I could remember so I could answer your questions on the map and lives, but to be honest I can't recall a lot. Sorry. Wiki pages look good though!
Thanks.
Stephen

[Border_7]

Hi,
No it's not intentional, I think you may have found a defect. Looks like its gone in another graphic mode and so it looks all skewed up.
Stephen

Stephen, thanks for getting back to me. There are actually seven places on Nonterra where this happens:


http://cpcwiki.eu/imgs/7/73/IO_Map.jpg


A couple of times you can just make out a spaceship sometimes... but I'm guessing its not really another planet (or was it meant to be?) because I've been to all 42 now.

[Gryzor]

Ok guys, the interview is up!


Forgive me any naffness, never taken an interview from anyone before!!


Stephen Curtis - CPCWiki

[redbox]

Ok guys, the interview is up!

That was nice read, thanks to both of you.

I knew he would have used a seed algorithm

[Puresox]

Thanks for interesting interview, I am sorry that I was  disparaging about Into Oblivion,it Just wasn't my type of game, I think Soul, Nonterra and Terra Cognita were great purchases in the budget range and I was really impressed with those two loading screens on Nonterra, back in the day.  I personally think that Nonterraqueous and Terra Cognita, were Stephen's best games. But I remember being disappointed that the (Trilogies?)final title Into Oblivion was not as exciting as the previous two. Thanks for the memories!