CPCWiki forum

General Category => General Discussion - Introductions => Topic started by: NJean on 21:40, 16 April 20

Title: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 21:40, 16 April 20

Hi everyone !

Do you remember the "SYMBOL" instruction? That was one of my important discoveries when I started learning BASIC with my CPC!(though my user manual was not very explicit about the meaning of this bunch of numbers you had to provide...)

In tribute to the BASIC little games (full of user defined characters) I used to develop (or type in from magazines) on my 464, I have decided to create a small PC video game, which also includes some references to slightly more popular productions...
First level is simple, but, depending on your abilities, some others may be a little more challenging... (https://cpcrulez.fr/forum/images/smilies/sm_winner.gif)

It is now downloadable from http://chr143.itch.io (http://chr143.itch.io) (where you will also find an "official trailer"...)

Comments would be much appreciated!


Nicolas

PS. And thanks to Floyanami too, for the original main menu soundtrack...
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: Gryzor on 08:36, 22 April 20
I wanted to draw people's attention to this - it's really enjoyable and the CPC aesthetics is great! Can't understand why not more people have tried it!
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: Brundij on 16:47, 24 April 20
Quote from: Gryzor on 08:36, 22 April 20
I wanted to draw people's attention to this - it's really enjoyable and the CPC aesthetics is great! Can't understand why not more people have tried it!
Yeah, for those that didn't try it yet, it's a true love letter to the CPC. And I'm enjoying it even if I am a dumb puzzle games player. Text mode graphics are awesome!
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 18:52, 24 April 20

Thanks a lot to you both!
I have spent some time designing it, telling myself such things as "My imaginary player might try this, I could tell him that" and so on.. so I really appreciate that real humans (in addition to my beta-tester, no offense, floyanami!) may finally cope with it... and enjoy ;^)

Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 22:25, 09 May 20


Following feedback from several players - some of whom were afraid their brain might melt - version 1.05 (https://chr143.itch.io/project-chr143) now includes more advice and allows skipping a level...

Level 22 is now within reach! ;)


Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: robcfg on 09:51, 10 May 20
I managed to run it on MacOS by installing Godot and running it from the project folder like this:
/Applications/Godot.app/Contents/MacOS/Godot


After the hilarious intro, I'm stuck on the menu, as it does nothing when I press start game.
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 11:08, 10 May 20

Ah, too bad, such a good try!  :'(
I am really sorry, unfortunately, it can't work that way...

Godot scripts are doing well (as you can see with introduction and menu) but the core of the game relies on an additionnal (C++ binary) library, which I have not compiled for MacOS, because I do not have MacOS...

That's really a pitty, because you seem pretty smart, you would probably be a very good player...  :doh:
PS. Godot Docs says it is possible to compile for macOS in a Linux environment using OSXCross. I could try but it does not sound simple...
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: robcfg on 12:57, 10 May 20
It shouldn't be too difficult as MacOS shares almost all programming tools with Linux.


Can you point me to any instructions on how to do it?


Also, I could open the project on the editor. Can I export or build it from there?
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 13:34, 10 May 20

No, compiling the library requires a bunch of tools and source files...
Could you tell me what your MacOS version is ? And your microprocessor ?
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: robcfg on 15:12, 10 May 20
That would be no problem either, I'm software developer for a life  :)


My machine is a 2.6 Ghz 6-Core core i7 MacBook Pro.
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 15:55, 10 May 20
Sorry, I did not mean you would not be able to (especially given your first move...), but what you've got (editor and script files) is not enough...  ;)
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: robcfg on 16:15, 10 May 20
I see  :D


If I can help you getting it to work on MacOS, send me a PM and I'll be glad to help.
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 21:21, 15 May 20

Thanks to your help, robcfg, a MacOS version is under way!  :D
And you, how far have you been?
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 20:16, 30 May 20

Great News: a macOS version has been officially released (https://chr143.itch.io/project-chr143) today, with awesome help from robcfg!
(try to compile and package a macOS bundle without an iMac and you should understand what I mean...)

Thank you very much Rob!!  :D
(I wonder what proportion of CPC users went to Mac eventually? I personally jumped from 6128 to 80286 in the late 1980s but no one is perfect...)
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: robcfg on 08:36, 31 May 20
I'm just glad I could help!


Regarding Macs, I was a hardcore Windows guy until I went to work as a contractor for Unity in 2014, and was given a desktop Windows machine and a MacBook Pro, to perform my job.


After using the Mac for several months, I decided I liked it way more than Windows boxes and so far, I haven't turned back  :D
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 15:56, 06 July 20
Hi back!
I have just released an ultimate version (https://chr143.itch.io/project-chr143):(very simple at the beginning, including new features as you reach higher levels...)

This should ease the learning curve... and, last but not least, Robcfg is officially credited for his precious help when porting to macOS!

I guess this is the final one, as I have to move on to something else  ;)
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: Gryzor on 14:24, 15 July 20
Please make your next effort CPC-themed as well :D
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 18:10, 19 July 20
For sure, Gryzor! When your (child's) brain has been shaped by a 464, there will always be a taste of CPC in your creations...  :D
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: Gryzor on 13:04, 03 September 20
Waiting!

(j/k :D )
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 11:29, 11 November 20

Because money should not be an obstacle, latest full version is now downloadable (https://chr143.itch.io/project-chr143) for free :)

Countless thanks to all early contributors, including the amazing Gryzor & robcfg.


All the best, everyone...
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: Gryzor on 11:51, 11 November 20
The pleasure was all mine. A real pity that I don't have the time to spend on an excellent little game!!!
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 15:23, 01 May 21
Stuck by devious levels?

Try the editor (https://chr143.itch.io/project-chr143/devlog/248413/project-chr143-editor-unleashed)...
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: Gryzor on 16:23, 01 May 21
Surely that's cheating? 🤭
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 18:02, 01 May 21
It's not really cheating: you cannot edit built in levels this way...  ;)
...but you can edit your own levels in order to make experiments...  :D
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: Gryzor on 18:51, 01 May 21
Ahh ok, misunderstood🙂
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 21:21, 14 June 21
Hi everyone!
With a remarkable irregularity, a new version of Projet CHR$(143) has just been released, still free of charge (except if you really insist...)
Version 1.14 enters the communication era by allowing you to compare your achievements with other players around the world and (...tada!...) to share with them - very - short messages (Internet bandwidth was not so abundant in the early 80's...)
Help each other! Break World Records! Join The Great 143 (https://chr143.itch.io/project-chr143)!!
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: Gryzor on 13:22, 15 June 21
Oh yeah, let's get ridiculed online.
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 21:26, 07 July 21

Among other things, latest (1.20) version (https://chr143.itch.io/project-chr143) unlocks the first 20 levels when you solve #3!  :D

One of the many suggestions from the exceptional Garzahd (currently struggling at #71...) that should make the game much more accessible... and allow you to reach the highest levels!  8)
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: Gryzor on 09:53, 08 July 21
Ah that's a godsend :) Thanks!
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 11:15, 08 July 21

The pleasure is all mine!

I will thank Garzahd for you...  :)

Have a nice day.
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 19:22, 09 August 21
Hi fellows!

Contributing more and more to make the CPC known to the world, CHR$(143) is now published on Steam, so much so that even PC Gamer now refers to the Amstrad 464 (https://www.pcgamer.com/five-new-steam-games-you-probably-missed-august-9-2021/)!!
:D
(of course, early supporters continue to have free access under itch...)

Nicolas
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: Gryzor on 07:21, 10 August 21
Ha, yesterday I read an article about hidden gems or something on Steam and it covered it, and I thought when did this happen? Congrats😊
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: Gryzor on 07:24, 10 August 21
Ah here it is: https://www.pcgamer.com/five-new-steam-games-you-probably-missed-august-9-2021/
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 17:49, 10 August 21
I see that this little magazine is read by good people!  8)
Pride, of course...  ;D
It should widen the circle of players, I hope some will appreciate it (and if they read the credits, they might even connect to cpcwiki, Gryzor...)  :D
Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: NJean on 16:54, 12 February 23
Hello to all!
It's been a while since I posted my only topic in this forum...
I'll never forget that it's the place where I met the first people who gave me nice feedbacks :)

A lot of time has passed, and, although it is a tribute to the CPC464 ;) , CHR$(143) is still a very modest little game lost in a sea of more spectacular productions, but let me share my amusement to have recently read an unexpected tweet...

The author is so controversial that it's hard to know what to make of it, but when it comes to video games, it's hard to pretend you don't care!  :laugh: 

https://twitter.com/notch/status/1620104976180867073 (https://twitter.com/notch/status/1620104976180867073)




Title: Re: Project CHR$(143) : a CPC tribute
Post by: ervin on 02:50, 13 February 23
Hopefully the increased visibility gives the game some well-deserved attention.
I just purchased it due to the bump from notch.
Looking forward to playing it!
Powered by SMFPacks Menu Editor Mod