Maniac Mansion?

[arnoldemu]

Well we all know there exist "Doom" for CPC+, don't we?

Next, Macdeath will be asking how he can clean his keyboard

[MiguelSky]

it is a mock up.

I think this type of games could be possible in CPC (same DevilMarkus's Elvira) but the scroll need be optimized (or even supressed) to leave the enough ram free for the rest of code. Even this game is harder than Elvira as it needs the animation of the player...

[MacDeath]

Of course it is a mockup... never said otherwise...

and ok this is zakMacKracken and not Maniac Mansion... I think (is it ? can't remember...)


Fun thing with those old Scummgames...
They ysed 160x200x16 special PC modes...
CGA on TV (NTSC ?) or TandyGA or even bad EGA...

This mean those can be directly ported graphically on a good old CPC...
the only problem may be the CPC's lack of grey (only one while even CGA16/EGA palette has 2...)

But this is not a real problem.

[robcfg]

Wasn't the cga 320x200?

In any case it shouldn't be a difficult conversion...

[TFM]

Wasn't the cga 320x200?

In any case it shouldn't be a difficult conversion...

Right, CGA has three modes:
   

     
• 320 × 200 pixel, 4 colors, one can be choosen free, three are fixed

     
• 640 × 200 pixel, 2 colors, one chooseable, one not

     
• 160 x 200 pixel, 16 colors, only for composite monitors (no BIOS support)

So CPC is a bit superior! 27 colors instrad of 16! And nothing fixed 

[MacDeath]

Plus the various custom CGA...
Amstrad PC1512 could get a kool 640x200x16 (fixed CGA palette)
Tandy could also into a 16 coloured CGA.
EGA could do 320x200x16 (fixed CGA palette) but the awesome 640x350x16/64 was never used...

Some of those custom pseudo CGA could then get a 160x200x16 mode, like CPC... (Tandy...)



But yeah, most of time the only colour you could change on CGA was the black... WTF ?
CGA could have been far better with a real choice of 4 colours amongst 16...
But hey, it was almost the very first colour display...
Just too bad its flawn sticked so long.

Because IBM set the standard...not Amstrad (grrrrr)

We all see Amstrad CPC as a 16colours computer but it is actually what CGA should have been...


IBM was such a bunch of douches.

http://members.chello.at/theodor.lauppert/computer/cga.htm
http://members.chello.at/theodor.lauppert/games/ega.htm

There a very cool site with very good explanations on CGA, EGA...

Also some 8 bit stuffs...
http://members.chello.at/theodor.lauppert/games/pf-cpc.htm
http://members.chello.at/theodor.lauppert/games/pf-c64.htm
http://members.chello.at/theodor.lauppert/games/pf-zx.htm

A very interesting site... as I said.

Think CPC+, first person shooter.....

Actualy a good Xybots port could be that awesome...

Anèyway, games like King's quest, maniac mansion, zakmackracken or leisure suit larry were in 160x200x16 composite-CGA modes...
So even the EGA version uses 160x200x16 graphics...
so they may be ported graphically directly (and of course upgraded... good palette good...)... for CPC.








But other things could be good to port...


Look, a Mode1 Populous...

[redbox]

So even the EGA version uses 160x200x16 graphics...

That explains why I always thought it was so CPC-like...!

[fano]

Amagad , blasphemy !
That shows how CPC+ is powerfull as an Amiga is not able to run it without a lot of ram and additional hardware 

[TFM]

That explains why I always thought it was so CPC-like...!

Right, and in addition the CPC always had extra signals for R, G and B. So it's picture is brilliant (compare it to c64  ). And EGA was indeed the first gfx adapter that also had separated R, G and B signals. But CPC was still better, because it uses analogue signals and not TTL (that is a difference). Hardware freaks would agree 

[redbox]

But CPC was still better, because it uses analogue signals and not TTL (that is a difference). Hardware freaks would agree 

Is this because the analogue signals create a 'warmer' picture?

[steve]

TTL signals only have two states, on and off so TTL RGB can only display 8 fixed colours, Analogue signals range from 0v to 1volt (I think) and can display a much larger range of colours.

[MacDeath]

Right, and in addition the CPC always had extra signals for R, G and B. So it's picture is brilliant (compare it to c64     ). And EGA was indeed the first gfx adapter that also had separated R, G   and B signals. But CPC was still better, because it uses analogue   signals and not TTL (that is a difference). Hardware freaks would agree   

Yes but no...
EGA could technically display 640x350x16/64  while CPC was 160x200x16/27...EGA with 512K ram easily...

EGA superior, no contest...
                                                                                                                                                               

[TFM]

Yes but no...
EGA could technically display 640x350x16/64  while CPC was 160x200x16/27...EGA with 512K ram easily...

EGA superior, no contest...
                                                                                                                                                           

Yes, but no...

CPC can use 208 * 288 (16), or if I go to the limits, even: 832 * 288 (2), using interlace, it will be even 832 * 572 (2). Which is not that bad..

But you missed the point here a bit, the CPC has analogue R,G,B signals (wires) while EGA is still just TTL (lesser quality).

Further the CPC monitor has this fabolous hardware antializing function 

[Gryzor]

 
Further the CPC monitor has this fabolous hardware antializing function 

I never stop enjoying this - both as an argument and as a fact

[TFM]

I never stop enjoying this - both as an argument and as a fact

  ... and for people who don't like it, there are still greeny screenies 

[sigh]

  ... and for people who don't like it, there are still greeny screenies 

I've never actually seen a green screen monitor. There was a guy at school who had one and he wasn't to pleased.

[Devilmarkus]

I have 3 greenies! *proud* 

[MacDeath]

I have 3 greenies! *proud*

Then you're a strange person...
I have one and I am ashamed...

[jbaudrand]

  so for concluding this amazing thread:
"maniac mansion" is do able on CPC but with a serious re-work/more suitable version  of scumm engine, the interface based on word will be not easily readable, and some people got green tubes, and that's pretty strange: they are proud of it.

[MacDeath]

Later SCUMM engines did have far less words...

Monkey island do have like 9 action words...I guess sort of.

This is actually a simplification.


LOOM even have only a few spells and not many real varied actions.

[Devilmarkus]

Then you're a strange person...
I have one and I am ashamed...

The phenomene is: When you visit ebay Germany, you'll find many CPC with greenies.
They are sold much cheaper than CPC's without a monitor.... (Really funny!)

So I bought once 3 CPC incl. greenies on ebay.
Thats it

(I bought 2 more, too, but I told the seller he can throw the greenies into northern sea... )

[MacDeath]

but I told the seller he can throw the greenies into northern sea...

Oh no you didn't !!!

There is no thing as polluting for the environment as a monitor... don't throw them into mother nature !!!

[Devilmarkus]

Oh no you didn't !!!

There is no thing as polluting for the environment as a monitor... don't throw them into mother nature !!!

Well they build a CPC-reef now... Full of life!

[TFM]

Wonderfull !!! First you guys are going to use up all ressources and then you come crawling back and beg for an old monitor... Pfff!!!

[Devilmarkus]

Wonderfull !!! First you guys are going to use up all ressources and then you come crawling back and beg for an old monitor... Pfff!!!

Green screen is not a resource! It's more like ebola.