The CPC 'version' of the Japanese PC-Engine game 'DRAGON HALF'

[tastefulmrship]

Ok, this is in GENERAL DISCUSSION because this is NOT a real game for CPC, it's just another JTMS mock-up because I was bored with waiting for downloads to finish! It would be nice if someone was inspired by these images and considered converting this game to our humble machine!

The images are simply re-touched versions of the PC-E originals, which can be found in the link below:
http://www.pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Dragon_Half.htm

(click on thumbnail to view full image)
                   


                   


                   

[mr_lou]

Great work. Looks really nice.

However, I'd just like to say, that I prefer original CPC games any day, over any CPC-version of an existing game.

[TFM]

Great game, but its scrolling is so bad!!! Actually it would be perfect suited for my game engine, but I have to finish enough projects now.

Lou is right, original games are always of bigger interrest as conversions.

[SyX]

I love Mink pixelate bottom!!! 

[tastefulmrship]

However, I'd just like to say, that I prefer original CPC games any day, over any CPC-version of an existing game.

On a personal level, I would prefer to compare the CPC's capabilities against existing software, especially now. BATMAN FOREVER was something that should have been the beginning of an upsurge in CPC productions (demos, games & applications) and increased standing in the eyes of the whole 8-bit community. However, seeing as nothing else was released last year that stood anywhere near this amazing demo, everyone seems to have gone back to seeing the CPC as "just another 8-bit machine".

Last year's top games were all conversions; Edge Grinder (C64), Sub Hunter (C64), Bubble Bobble For CPC (Arcade) & the upcoming R-Type (Arcade) and, for the most of them, they are close to equalling the originals. I'd even dare to say that our version of Edge Grinder is better than the C64; both in looks and gameplay.

Don't get me wrong though, original content is great and it's always welcomed & enjoyed, but I do like to see conversions of games and demos! Desert Dreams, Paradroid'90 & Uridium 2 would look amazing on a CPC+, just like BB4CPC looks amazing on a 464! I feel it would cement the ideal that the CPC+/GX4K machines are under-rated chunky-pixelled Amiga 500s!
There's also no reason why GB(A), (S)NES or MD games can't be ported to CPC/CPC+. All that's needed is time and motivation. (... and in my case, talent of any kind!)

I love Mink pixelate bottom!!!

Yeah, but it needs more work though... the pixellation, I mean, not the bottom! ^_^

[TFM]

As others pointed it out numerous times (Hi MacDeath!) there is ALWAYS a very good reason agins a port. Any kind of port is just a bad compromise. A clean, newly programmed version of a game is levels better! I don't mind to port some GFX (WHEN overworking them then on CPC) or sounds (overwork em too!) or basic mathematics. But there we reach the border! On spectrum and CPC the same mathematical formulas must be implemented slightly different, it does not matter that both have a Z80! Because both computers have different timings!
Now a CPC port of a game is nothing else than an special 'emulator' for that other version, best examples are speccy ports.

If you want to 'Dragon Quarterize' the CPC then you should use GFX, maybe sound, plot, story. BUT do clean new coding of the game, including smooth hardware scrolling (which is really easy!). The result will be even better than the original in some specs.


Now somthing else: All 3 weeks somebody posts about a CPC version of a game, and again and again... But obviously nobody is doing a port / conversion / rewrite. IMHO it would be better to focus on one (small) project and finish it up! Good luck there with!

[mr_lou]

All 3 weeks somebody posts about a CPC version of a game, and again and again... But obviously nobody is doing a port / conversion / rewrite. IMHO it would be better to focus on one (small) project and finish it up!

Agreed! Focus on one project, and work together.

The problem probably is that we all have different ideas and opinions about what projects are the most interesting.
I'd personally love to work on a game that's similar to Knytt and Within a deep forest (by Nifflas). A MODE 1 platformer exploration game with atmospheric background music. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one on this forum who's into games like that though, which is why I'd love to have my sMIDP2lib so I could get started myself. Already have a lot of the music ready.

[TFM]

That looks doable on a CPC.

[mr_lou]

That looks doable on a CPC.

That's exactly what it does. 

[TFM]

However, I'd just like to say, that I prefer original CPC games any day, over any CPC-version of an existing game.

Still sure about that? 

[mr_lou]

Still sure about that? 

Definitely. I don't want to port a game to the CPC. I just want to make a game in the same style. Do you calculate that to be the same? 

[TFM]

Definitely. I don't want to port a game to the CPC. I just want to make a game in the same style. Do you calculate that to be the same? 

Hmmm. Good question. Well, a wonderland for nitpicking people    I want one of these bombs which become a blue ball though.

[mr_lou]

Well, I don't want to make a game for the CPC where you control a ball, or a creature like Knytt.
I want my own character, and the plot is different. The only thing I want from those two games, when I say "the same style", is the atmosphere and mood. The many incredible great tracks in Within a deep forest just carries the game all the way through. You rarely hear such great atmospheric ambient tracks in a game, and especially not in a CPC game.
Knytt is also very atmospheric, although it doesn't have the same kind of ambient music.

Would be utterly cool to have a CPC MODE 1 game in that style. Music should (just like in Within a deep forest) come from many different CPC musicians in order to give the game variation.
The graphics could also come from different artists.

Anyway, a project like that should have its own thread. If any coder (because it would probably be best if there's only one coder, despite being many musicians and many graphicians) feels like doing a project like this, I encourage him to start a thread about it. Then I'll try to make a graphics mockup of an example screen to show what I have in mind. (But you can just look at screenshots from Within a deep forest and/or Knytt really).

[TFM]

Ok, but just one hint. All these GFX mockups have absolutely no value! What you need is a tile set 

Further I'm scared here a bit, the CPC has a great sound chip, but it's not MP3. Please don't overestimate 

[mr_lou]

Ok, but just one hint. All these GFX mockups have absolutely no value! What you need is a tile set 

Graphics mockups are intended for inspiration. That's the purpose of mockups. Tilesets comes later if any actual development starts. 

Further I'm scared here a bit, the CPC has a great sound chip, but it's not MP3. Please don't overestimate 

That's the interesting challenge, isn't it? I believe we can still create ambient atmospheric music. Obviously it'll be the 8bit kind, but I believe using the right chords and effects will do the trick.

Those of you who hasn't played the game, download Within a deep forest and check out the music and graphics.

Also download Knytt and check it out. (Both games are for Windoze).

I'm claiming that it's quite possible to create the same kind of atmosphere on the CPC, using MODE 1 simplistic graphics and standard CPC music (i.e. no Digiblaster). I also think it would be very cool to make a game like that where lots of people contribute with a track or graphics. Might even become the one project in CPC history that was done by the most people.

[ralferoo]

BATMAN FOREVER was something that should have been the beginning of an upsurge in CPC productions (demos, games & applications) and increased standing in the eyes of the whole 8-bit community. However, seeing as nothing else was released last year that stood anywhere near this amazing demo, everyone seems to have gone back to seeing the CPC as "just another 8-bit machine".

These things take time. If you read the interview of the lead guy from the Batman Forever team, he says it took 3 years to write this demo. Obviously not full time and it's a "bit slow", but just pointing that out that these things don't happen overnight.

For me, seeing Batman Forever made me dust off the CPC in my loft, write some code and buy a whole load more CPCs when I realised it didn't work on a different CRTC. So, I have a "demo" but it's not finished and not worth releasing yet because at the moment it looks frankly awful.

It's true the C64 and ZX scene are a lot bigger, but equally so was the user base back in the day and so there are more democoders  who are comfortable with those machines. But certainly, having been to a few demo parties last year (again, something that started since seeing Batman Forever), I've noticed that people are definitely talking about the CPC more each time, perhaps helped in part by my lugging a 464 and monitor around with me...

I've got slightly sidetracked recently with FPGAs, although again that is focussed on CPC development really, but it's wrong to think the CPC scene is idle just because there aren't many productions coming out right now.

[tastefulmrship]

These things take time. If you read the interview of the lead guy from the Batman Forever team, he says it took 3 years to write this demo. Obviously not full time and it's a "bit slow", but just pointing that out that these things don't happen overnight.

Remember, Rhino was also teaching himself how to program the CPC/CRTC over those years, with help from CPC coders. Yet, our scene has had 30 years to learn the CPC/CRTC, what it can do and its limits, yet no-one has ever come close to denting this production; even just releasing individual routines to show that BF wasn't a fluke. Past demos like FACE HUGGER ULTIMATE, MIDLINE PROCESS & DEMOIZART should have been the demos that inspired the scene to prove the CPC is a viable 8-bit machine to the rest of the demo community, not BF.
Hopefully, 2012 will prove me wrong.

Anyway, I'm not a coder, so I guess I can't really say anything. This is just my opinion; so I'll shut-up, now.




I guess the original topic's pretty much dead... can a mod/admin please close this thread?

[mr_lou]

Remember, Rhino was also teaching himself how to program the CPC/CRTC over those years, with help from CPC coders. Yet, our scene has had 30 years to learn the CPC/CRTC, what it can do and its limits, yet no-one has ever come close to denting this production

The best stuff will always come from those who dares to think outside the box, and ignores everyone telling him it can't be done.