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ChinnyVision - Paperboy

Started by chinnyhill10, 13:11, 20 March 15

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chinnyhill10

A look at Paperboy including both CPC versions and a look into if the Sega Master System version reuses the CPC's graphics as rumoured.



www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ORN47bCD80
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ChinnyVision - Reviews Of Classic Games Using Original Hardware
chinnyhill10 - YouTube

sigh

I remember when Xyphoe reviewed the two CPC versions, I was undecided on which of the two I prefered. I'm too lazy to rewrite my thoughts, so I'll just copy and paste it here from the Xyphoe review.



Just my thoughts on the Paperboy game even though I was never really a fan of the original.

To be honest - I'm undecided in which of the two versions are better. The lack of screen space and sound was the main reason I could never get on with the CPC version and also due to the isometric view not being as acute as the arcade original, it made things difficult to see incoming objects. Having never played the unfinished spanish version, it does have a much better isometric angle and screen space which looks more forgiving and true to the arcade. I also like the fact that the unfinished version does have sound, which for me is very important whether it's just the music, sound effects or both. I remember playing a demo Shinobi on my CPC 64k and the lack of any sound killed it for me. When I did finally bought my 64K ram expansion and played the demo again, my jaw dropped in disbelief at what the programmer managed to achieve with the audio.

I just don't know - the released version has lovely graphics and looks to have smoother scrolling, but the Spanish version feels more like a paperboy game and more enjoyable....



I do remember not liking the the released CPC version, but enjoyed the C64. I need to play this CPC unreleased version to put my conflict to rest. :)

chinnyhill10

Quote from: sigh on 01:38, 21 March 15I do remember not liking the the released CPC version, but enjoyed the C64. I need to play this CPC unreleased version to put my conflict to rest. :)


The Spanish game is basically just the Spectrum version with a really awful colour scheme. Yes it has a wide field of view and yes it has sound but you might has well load up the Spectrum version as its faster and has less headache inducing colours.
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ChinnyVision - Reviews Of Classic Games Using Original Hardware
chinnyhill10 - YouTube

Nich

Quote from: chinnyhill10 on 10:58, 21 March 15
The Spanish game is basically just the Spectrum version with a really awful colour scheme. Yes it has a wide field of view and yes it has sound but you might has well load up the Spectrum version as its faster and has less headache inducing colours.
You state that the Spanish version came from a compilation that was only released in Spain and it was included by mistake. Do you know which compilation it was? I've never been able to resolve the mystery of why this version is called the 'Spanish' version when all the game text is in English. (Here's a link to my thoughts on the origin of this version.)

MacDeath

#4
Master System version doesn't have CPC graphics, it's jsut that the colour palettes are sometimes quite close because SMS palette is a 4x4x4 RGB cube and CPC a 3x3x3 RGB cube, so basic colours look quite close, just you have more greys on Sega...  but you cannot really use large pixels on square pixel machines.

otherwise despite being good, this CPc version has a lot of issues : very very reduced screen, vertically... and no sounds of course.

But quite playable, yet the very reduced vertical resolution is not good on play-efficiency.

actual playfield is "256x128" sized...which is almost half what an Arkanoid shows... but this may explain why the game seems smooth and can fit 64K RAM as well.

would be nice to see if to remove the raster mode change (for the score/HUD zone) would enable more speed for the game.

Puresox

My prob with the Amstrad version , is that the BMX course doesn't alter, if I remember correctly. It's not too bad a version , just no flair to it. IMO

chinnyhill10

Quote from: Nich on 13:48, 21 March 15
You state that the Spanish version came from a compilation that was only released in Spain and it was included by mistake. Do you know which compilation it was? I've never been able to resolve the mystery of why this version is called the 'Spanish' version when all the game text is in English. (Here's a link to my thoughts on the origin of this version.)


The Spanish compilation theory came up a couple of times in my research although no names mentioned.
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ChinnyVision - Reviews Of Classic Games Using Original Hardware
chinnyhill10 - YouTube

chinnyhill10

Quote from: MacDeath on 14:35, 21 March 15
Master System version doesn't have CPC graphics, it's jsut that the colour palettes are sometimes quite close


There was a theory that's been mentioned by people such as Larry Bundy that the same programmer did the Master System version and reused the CPC's graphics. But running them side by side in my video you can see that isn't the case.
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ChinnyVision - Reviews Of Classic Games Using Original Hardware
chinnyhill10 - YouTube

Carnivius

Not a fan of the game even in the arcade but kinda liked how 'normal' it was as a setting.  Though I had enough trouble and 'excitement' being a real paperboy where I used to live back then.

I like the bright Mode 0 graphics of the regular CPC version.  Much better than the horrible palette of the C64 one where it feels like it's missing raindrops with all that grey atmosphere.    That Mode 1 CPC version though, I truly hope those weren't the intended final colours or else I have to wonder whether the developer(s) of it were colourblind.
Favorite CPC games: Count Duckula 3, Oh Mummy Returns, RoboCop Resurrection, Tankbusters Afterlife

MacDeath

Red-Blue-Yellow-Black was often a default palette... perhaps like BBC computer or some other computers...


But such palette is often bad, too basic and poorely used.

Amstrad CPC - Archives (palettes usées - rouge, jaune, bleu)

EgoTrip

Quote from: Carnivac on 12:09, 22 March 15
Not a fan of the game even in the arcade but kinda liked how 'normal' it was as a setting.  Though I had enough trouble and 'excitement' being a real paperboy where I used to live back then.

I like the bright Mode 0 graphics of the regular CPC version.  Much better than the horrible palette of the C64 one where it feels like it's missing raindrops with all that grey atmosphere.    That Mode 1 CPC version though, I truly hope those weren't the intended final colours or else I have to wonder whether the developer(s) of it were colourblind.

The CPC may be more colourful, but the dull greyness of the C64 is definitely more realistic, at least in the UK. I too have memories of delivering papers in horrible weather, it was not fun. I also didn't think much to this game back in the day, and don't particularly like it now.

chinnyhill10

Quote from: EgoTrip on 23:53, 22 March 15
The CPC may be more colourful, but the dull greyness of the C64 is definitely more realistic, at least in the UK.


Surely the most realistic is the closet depiction to the arcade, which the CPC version colour scheme does well with.
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ChinnyVision - Reviews Of Classic Games Using Original Hardware
chinnyhill10 - YouTube

TFM

Quote from: EgoTrip on 23:53, 22 March 15
The CPC may be more colourful, but the dull greyness of the C64 is definitely more realistic, at least in the UK. I too have memories of delivering papers in horrible weather, it was not fun. I also didn't think much to this game back in the day, and don't particularly like it now.


Looking at the sidewalks, they are US made. Really! Looks like here - and the sun always shines. Already way to hot.

TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

Shaun M. Neary

I liked this. But I also remember it taking an age for it to load on tape. Typical Elite basic loaders, so easy to transfer to disc though.  :laugh:


The lack of sound sucked the life out of the game. This was a typical, play an album in the background and pretend it drowned out the sound ala the arcades effort.
Graphically and colour wise, it was there, but it's scrolling was lacking. Very rippley, for want of a better term.
Currently playing on: 2xCPC464, 1xCPC6128, 1x464Plus, 1x6128Plus, 2xGX4000. M4 board, ZMem 1MB and still forever playing Bruce Lee.
No cheats, snapshots or emulation. I play my games as they're intended to be played. What about you?

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