CPCWiki forum

(https://abalore.com/images/alcon_logo.jpg)

https://abalore.com/alcon2020.html (https://abalore.com/alcon2020.html)

Alcon 2020 is a game for the Amstrad / Schneider CPC464, CPC664, CPC6128, Amstrad 464 Plus, 6128 Plus and GX4000 devices. It runs in all models since it requires only 64k of RAM. The PlayCity extension is not required but recommended to hear the full 6 in-game audio channels. A 2-button gamepad or joystick (best) is also a nice addition to enjoy the full arcade experience.

It looks very impresive. Congratulations, Abalore!!!

(https://abalore.com/images/cover.jpg)
Nice Cover !!!  :o :o :o

Can someone explain how to run this in RetroVirtualMachine again please?  I selected XMEM and loaded the install disc and it did some stuffs and loads of random pixels appeared on screen for a while as it loaded then it said Ready and then I dunno what to do.

Quote from: XeNoMoRPH on 11:55, 20 December 20
Nice Cover !!!  :o :o :o

Thanks. Just a thumb version, here. ;)

Quote from: Carnivius on 11:56, 20 December 20
Can someone explain how to run this in RetroVirtualMachine again please?  I selected XMEM and loaded the install disc and it did some stuffs and loads of random pixels appeared on screen for a while as it loaded then it said Ready and then I dunno what to do.

Currently, RVM do not support the X-MEM with SST ROM chip, so the installer fail.

Quote from: TotO on 12:06, 20 December 20
Currently, RVM do not support the X-MEM with SST ROM chip, so the installer fail.

oh damn. and it can't load cpr files yet either?

Quote from: Carnivius on 11:56, 20 December 20
Can someone explain how to run this in RetroVirtualMachine again please?  I selected XMEM and loaded the install disc and it did some stuffs and loads of random pixels appeared on screen for a while as it loaded then it said Ready and then I dunno what to do.

Try this emulator best: http://cngsoft.no-ip.org/cpcec.htm ( supports playcity too )

@Carnivius (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=50) CPCEC or WinAPE in example.

On CPCEC, I recommend to use the bright palette and the X-masking for a better visual.

Quote from: TotO on 12:13, 20 December 20
@Carnivius (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=50) CPCEC or WinAPE in example.

On CPCEC, I recommend to use the bright palette and the X-masking for a better visual.

Nuts. The two emulators that don't work on my PC for some reason (and when WinApe DID run years ago, it wouldn't let me use the d-pad on my controller, had to use analog stick which is crappy and for some reason I had graphic issues with it too). WinApe just sits in the process manager but never actually shows up opening a window to be usable.

And CPCEC opens a window but immediately is unresponsive.  I've tried the most recent version and ten or so of the previous versions too. :/ 
(https://i.ibb.co/crFbMfV/Image5555.png)



I've run out of time now anyways so I'll try sort stuff out later when I'm back home. Enjoy the game. :)

I added a new downloadable file to the web. It's a binary dump of the cartridge for better compatibility with M4. Load it in M4 as cartridge as usual. Remember to have the "Use only 16 slots" option checked and the "Rom number" in other than 1.

Edit: Also patched the CPR to be more compatible with M4

ok cool i updated drivers and CPCEC seems to work now. :)
Like Winape it seems to want me to use analog stick when I wanna use the d-pad.  I will email CNGSoft about that. :)
But yeah the game is great! Plays really well and looks/sounds nice too. :)

Can some good man kindly repeat the installation procedure of a .cpr file on m4? And will this installation conflict with other already installed .cpr files?

P.S. - I also tried the .bin file on m4, but when I start it it says "DIRECT COMMAND FOUND" and it doesn't proceed!

The other thing I don't remember is if the files must be placed in the root of the sd card or can I also copy them into a folder?

Thanks to the availability! :-*

Quote from: Mr. DVG on 13:53, 20 December 20
Can some good man kindly repeat the installation procedure of a .cpr file on m4? And will this installation conflict with other already installed .cpr files?

P.S. - I also tried the .bin file on m4, but when I start it it says "DIRECT COMMAND FOUND" and it doesn't proceed!

The other thing I don't remember is if the files must be placed in the root of the sd card or can I also copy them into a folder?

Thanks to the availability! :-*

Let's go step by step.

1. Running a CPR in the M4 doesn't replace anything, because it's stored temporary while you run the game only, then the original contents of the M4 are restored.
2. You can run a CPR in the M4 with or without copying it to the SD
3. Without copying to the SD you need to do it using the web interface.
4. Copying to the SD you need to run a couple of commands: |CTRUP,"name_of_the_file" and then |CTR

Quote from: abalore on 14:07, 20 December 20
Let's go step by step.

1. Running a CPR in the M4 doesn't replace anything, because it's stored temporary while you run the game only, then the original contents of the M4 are restored.
2. You can run a CPR in the M4 with or without copying it to the SD
3. Without copying to the SD you need to do it using the web interface.
4. Copying to the SD you need to run a couple of commands: |CTRUP,"name_of_the_file" and then |CTR

Yes, I had already performed this procedure correctly, but unfortunately it does not work, it gives me a blue screen and does not proceed... ::)
I tried installing other .cpr files for testing and they work fine!

Quote from: Mr. DVG on 14:21, 20 December 20
Yes, I had already performed this procedure correctly, but unfortunately it does not work, it gives me a blue screen and does not proceed... ::)
I tried installing other .cpr files for testing and they work fine!

Did you try the .bin file in the website?

Quote from: abalore on 14:22, 20 December 20
Did you try the .bin file in the website?

Yes, I downloaded the files from here: https://abalore.com/alcon2020.html

Quote from: Mr. DVG on 14:30, 20 December 20
Yes, I downloaded the files from here: https://abalore.com/alcon2020.html (https://abalore.com/alcon2020.html)

Did you follow my instructions on a previous post of checking the "Use only 16 slots" option?

Quote from: abalore on 14:31, 20 December 20
Did you follow my instructions on a previous post of checking the "Use only 16 slots" option?

I'd gladly do that, but the .bin file as I start it gives me the message: "DIRECT COMMAND FOUND".

So it doesn't actually start at all!

Quote from: Mr. DVG on 14:44, 20 December 20
I'd gladly do that, but the .bin file as I start it gives me the message: "DIRECT COMMAND FOUND".

So it doesn't actually start at all!

How do you start the bin file? what command?

Quote from: Mr. DVG on 14:44, 20 December 20
I'd gladly do that, but the .bin file as I start it gives me the message: "DIRECT COMMAND FOUND".

So it doesn't actually start at all!

You need to tick that option in the web config. This is to enable 512KB CPR files.
See the picture below (red circle).

As for the .BIN you need to upload it like it was a .CPR files, so |CTRUP,"alcon2020.v1.0.bin"

@abalore: Thanks for a fantastic game.

First of all thank you all for the answers!

To Abalore I reply that I was loading the .bin file with the RUN command ", which is why it didn't work.

Is it possible to activate the 512kb .cpr files only from the web interface?

I don't use it (and I don't even know how to use it ??? ) as I don't have a real internet line at home ... I do everything in tethering with the cell. ::)

Quote from: Mr. DVG on 15:17, 20 December 20
Is it possible to activate the 512kb .cpr files only from the web interface?

You can edit the file /m4/romconfig.bin with a HEX editor (on PC maybe) and change the first byte from 0x20 (32) to 0x10 (16), that should do it.

Very good stuff.. I've played a little of this and think it's great.


When will teh physical version avaliable to buy - thanks.

Quote from: zeropolis79 on 16:22, 20 December 20
Very good stuff.. I've played a little of this and think it's great.
When will teh physical version avaliable to buy - thanks.

There is no date, but I think shortly after xmas.

Thanks!

I gave it a go and it is very good, well done!

(and hard! :D)

Thank you for the game.

Many thanks for this great Xmas release !!!!

Quote from: TotO on 12:06, 20 December 20
Currently, RVM do not support the X-MEM with SST ROM chip, so the installer fail.

The X-MEM installer disk is now compatible with RVM (Retro Virtual Machine) emulator thanks to a patch provided by @jcgamestoy (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1202) . The disk has been updated in the game site.

Quote from: abalore on 20:34, 20 December 20
The X-MEM installer disk is now compatible with RVM (Retro Virtual Machine) emulator thanks to a patch provided by @jcgamestoy (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1202) . The disk has been updated in the game site.

can confirm. :)
(https://i.ibb.co/yRz2T1x/Imagebbb2.jpg)

Quote from: Duke on 15:46, 20 December 20
You can edit the file /m4/romconfig.bin with a HEX editor (on PC maybe) and change the first byte from 0x20 (32) to 0x10 (16), that should do it.

I tried to load the file with a hex editor, but I have never used this type of program.

What would be the register to modify? ???

zzz

Hi
Good to know that the game is out!!
Toto showed me how thinks were going on Madrid some years ago. i was impressed!

One question, how can i play it on a cpc6128 classic (not plus) wit M4?
Regards
PS. It just worked now reuploading the CPR!

Quote from: Joseman on 23:22, 20 December 20
Hi
Good to know that the game is out!!
Toto showed me how thinks were going on Madrid some years ago. i was impressed!

One question, how can i play it on a cpc6128 classic (not plus) wit M4?
Regards

Hello, in a normal CPC you can still run the cartridge in the M4, the procedure is fully discussed in the first page of this topic.

Good thing to have the PlayCity now.  :) :) :)

Quote from: Mr. DVG on 22:38, 20 December 20
I tried to load the file with a hex editor, but I have never used this type of program.

Load /m4/romconfig.bin into the hex editor as instructed, not the game file!

Quote from: pelrun on 02:20, 21 December 20

Load /m4/romconfig.bin into the hex editor as instructed, not the game file!

Yes, in the end I understood it! :D   

But even after changing the registry in that file, the situation unfortunately does not change.

I restored the modified romconfig.bin file inside the SD card and when I restart the M4 it freezes and does not even boot anymore (luckily I had made a backup copy).

At this point I will wait for the physical edition of the game to try it on the original machine!

Thanks everyone for the technical support!

P.S. - But is there anyone who produces the PlayCity card? Do you know where you can buy it?

I played it on my CPC6128+ with C4CPC and the game is amazing, it's very hard but a lot addictive.


The graphics looked better on CPC +, does this game take advantage of the palette in this series?

How to load game with X-MEM and RVM


https://youtu.be/A4Xq3oscY0Q (https://youtu.be/A4Xq3oscY0Q)

Quote from: XeNoMoRPH on 08:21, 21 December 20
How to load game with X-MEM and RVM

This is a strange process...  :-\
Just add the X-MEM expansion to RVM2, download the ALCON X-MEM installer DSK and RUN"INSTALL"

So it save in c4cpc? . How you made that?. So good :D.

Quote from: DanyPPC on 07:59, 21 December 20
I played it on my CPC6128+ with C4CPC and the game is amazing, it's very hard but a lot addictive.
The graphics looked better on CPC +, does this game take advantage of the palette in this series?

No, it's the standard CPC palette.

Quote from: dragon on 12:20, 21 December 20So it save in c4cpc? . How you made that?. So good :D .

If you mean saving high scores and configuration, it only happens in the physical edition in custom cartridge.

Daaamn why did I only see this on Monday?

I'll just watch the awesome videos again :D

This looks awesome!
I'll be throwing the CPR of it into my GX4000 later and giving it a good run and will write a few words about it as well :)

Well for the moment I am not good at the game but I only played with keyboard and emulator.
I will try it with my CPC+.
Anyway I just saw on your page before the credit the phrase about a physical edition with playcity integrated. It's nice, count me in !
Compatible I suppose with all playcity aware programs ?

@Nich (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=53) was cool enough to give me a platform to write a few words about Alcon 2020.

You can find my brief review here: http://www.cpcgamereviews.com/a/index4.html#alcon_2020 (http://www.cpcgamereviews.com/a/index4.html#alcon_2020)

Awesome game!!! 
(but too hard for me must say)


Thanx for the great xmas present mate...

Quote from: Shaun M. Neary on 21:30, 22 December 20
@Nich (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=53) was cool enough to give me a platform to write a few words about Alcon 2020.

You can find my brief review here: http://www.cpcgamereviews.com/a/index4.html#alcon_2020 (http://www.cpcgamereviews.com/a/index4.html#alcon_2020)

Thank you! But you put a video of Corsair!  :D 
Edit: Fixed now!

Quote from: fgbrain on 22:19, 22 December 20
Awesome game!!! 
(but too hard for me must say)


Thanx for the great xmas present mate...

You can choose the "easy" mode...  :laugh:

24 hours after the game release one guy uploaded a video finishing the game in HARD difficulty level, without picking the speed power-up.
Is the game easy? hard? It depends on the player, I guess  :D

Quote from: abalore on 22:38, 22 December 20
24 hours after the game release one guy uploaded a video finishing the game in HARD difficulty level, without picking the speed power-up.
Is the game easy? hard? It depends on the player, I guess  :D

Also depends on how you look at it. It's pretty close to the arcade so the arcade tactics will also work.
I know for example, R-Type, a lot of the tactics I used in the arcade I was able to use on both CPC versions and they work for the most part. :)

Great accomplishment though. Be proud of this, sir! :)

Quote from: abalore on 22:38, 22 December 20
24 hours after the game release one guy uploaded a video finishing the game in HARD difficulty level, without picking the speed power-up.
Is the game easy? hard? It depends on the player, I guess  :D

Where's that vid? Tried looking but nothing came up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl4pelWVnhI

*grabs popcorn*

There is a way to do an installation with M4 Board in a Z-MEM as in an X-MEM?  :blank:

Quote from: Livingstone on 12:51, 23 December 20
There is a way to do an installation with M4 Board in a Z-MEM as in an X-MEM?  :blank:

The game do not require additional RAM. Only your M4 Board is required by loading the CPR.
May be I misunderstand your question. By the way, the Z-MEM is useless here.

Good effort to recreate the arcade, although I notice (from videos tbh)... that's too low a framerate! Perhaps slower than 25 frames even?
Regardless, it would be interesting to take a look and discuss the technical sides of the three latest released vertical shmups; the different priorities and design choices made, compromises etc. Maybe a bit academic on one hand, but, hey why not!?

Quote from: rexbeng on 16:04, 23 December 20
Good effort to recreate the arcade, although I notice (from videos tbh)... that's too low a framerate! Perhaps slower than 25 frames even?
Regardless, it would be interesting to take a look and discuss the technical sides of the three latest released vertical shmups; the different priorities and design choices made, compromises etc. Maybe a bit academic on one hand, but, hey why not!?

The game draws 1 of each 3 frames, so framerate is 50/3. This is locked to be constant during all the gameplay. When unlocked, the game runs about 80% of the time at 25Hz (some areas at 50Hz). The reason for the lock is that I hate when games slow down. The priority in this game was the accuracy respect to the arcade. All enemies are the same size than the arcade and do the same movements and attacks, and also your own ship can be 5 modules width, all shooting at the same time. You can do whatever you want in the game and you hardly will see it slow down.
This is my decision for this game, in other future games maybe the priority is the frame rate, and I'll adjust enemy sizes or game mechanics to keep the frame rate over the target value. It's very easy to have constant 50hz when you have a maximum of 3 enemies of 16x16 on screen. In Alcon we have sometimes 3 enemies of 48x64 pixels plus a lot of other smaller ones, a myriad of bullets, 16 homing missiles flying around and your own ship upgraded to the max.

Thanks for the response! So, then, that is indeed a 17Hz game; but that sounds like the realistic option since you wanted to include as much content possible from the arcade. Still, good job on keeping everything tied to constant frame-rate and animation pacing. I personally am no fan of random-ish slow-downs or speed-ups either; or inconsistent animations.
I admit I regretfully didnt pay the needed attention (despite the coder had pointed it out) to how things moved faster in X (because of double-pixel resolution, heh) in one of my own games and am actually quite surprised by how not so many people noticed that!
Anyway, what is interesting is to get some insight on how going the cartridge way has assisted in making the game the way you did. What otherwise impossible hazards has it helped overcome. For example, would making the game for disk just mean that you'd have to 'split' it in three separately loading levels and that's it, or is there even more data being streamed while the game is running?

Quote from: rexbeng on 16:45, 09 January 21
Thanks for the response! So, then, that is indeed a 17Hz game; but that sounds like the realistic option since you wanted to include as much content possible from the arcade. Still, good job on keeping everything tied to constant frame-rate and animation pacing. I personally am no fan of random-ish slow-downs or speed-ups either; or inconsistent animations.
I admit I regretfully didnt pay the needed attention (despite the coder had pointed it out) to how things moved faster in X (because of double-pixel resolution, heh) in one of my own games and am actually quite surprised by how not so many people noticed that!
Anyway, what is interesting is to get some insight on how going the cartridge way has assisted in making the game the way you did. What otherwise impossible hazards has it helped overcome. For example, would making the game for disk just mean that you'd have to 'split' it in three separately loading levels and that's it, or is there even more data being streamed while the game is running?

A disk version of the game is not doable with the current level of detail. The game requires many memory blocks to be accessible simultaneously. In case of doing a disk version, it would run only in 128K machines and it would need to be severely downgraded.

Dear all,

well, my question is ALCON related but actually addresses the X-MEM usage. I have ported the Caprice32 emulator to the Odroid-Go (OG) handheld. Now I am interested to play also ALCON on the OG. I am searching for a software reference how the X-MEM needs to be implemented in the emulator.

Any help welcome!
millim

Nice :D

Quote from: Duke on 14:56, 20 December 20
You need to tick that option in the web config. This is to enable 512KB CPR files.
See the picture below (red circle).

As for the .BIN you need to upload it like it was a .CPR files, so |CTRUP,"alcon2020.v1.0.bin"

@abalore: Thanks for a fantastic game.

Hi
I cant find that binary dump for m4 boards on the website, and the cpr uploaded there doesnt works for me, even following the instructions activating the "use only 16 slots" :-/
Also,I'm having problems with the last version of ghost and goblins, so I supose its a problem with my config.


Any idea about this?

Quote from: makinavaja on 18:41, 11 March 21
I cant find that binary dump for m4 boards on the website, and the cpr uploaded there doesnt works for me, even following the instructions activating the "use only 16 slots" :-/

To make the Alcon 2020 CPR work with M4 board, you need to remove 8 bytes from the header (which is not part of the documentation I have seen for the CPR format).
See the attached picture and use a hexeditor to remove those 8 bytes.
-  I have made @abalore (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2595) aware of this issue, but apparently wants to keep the 8 unused bytes (maybe some emulator depends on the fmt\0x20\0\0\0\0 tag).

Quote from: Duke on 06:11, 12 March 21
To make the Alcon 2020 CPR work with M4 board, you need to remove 8 bytes from the header (which is not part of the documentation I have seen for the CPR format).
See the attached picture and use a hexeditor to remove those 8 bytes.
-  I have made @abalore (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2595) aware of this issue, but apparently wants to keep the 8 unused bytes (maybe some emulator depends on the fmt\0x20\0\0\0\0 tag).

Nice! Thanks for the info :)
Now the game boots, but only can play it several seconds until it freezes.  Also, it shows a few glitches on screen during while playing. :-/

Quote from: makinavaja on 21:45, 12 March 21
Nice! Thanks for the info :)
Now the game boots, but only can play it several seconds until it freezes.  Also, it shows a few glitches on screen during while playing. :-/

Then it sounds like you have not ticked "use 16 slots only", to support 512KB CPR's.

Quote from: Duke on 06:11, 12 March 21To make the Alcon 2020 CPR work with M4 board, you need to remove 8 bytes from the header (which is not part of the documentation I have seen for the CPR format).

Hi Duke. Do we just change them to &0x00 or delete them, making the file 8 bytes shorter?

Alan.

remove

Quote from: Duke on 06:11, 12 March 21
To make the Alcon 2020 CPR work with M4 board, you need to remove 8 bytes from the header (which is not part of the documentation I have seen for the CPR format).
See the attached picture and use a hexeditor to remove those 8 bytes.
-  I have made @abalore (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2595) aware of this issue, but apparently wants to keep the 8 unused bytes (maybe some emulator depends on the fmt\0x20\0\0\0\0 tag).

hello DUKE,

in fact for me it's ok for a RIFF format like CPR...

this is only a dummy chunk 0x666D7420 = "fmt " with 0x00000000 length

so your code should treat like that :
after "RIFF" analisys, etc...

currentChunk=readU32();

switch(currentChunk) {

case 0x414D5321: // "AMS!" - CPR Idetc.breakcase // cbxx ?
etc.break

default : unkown chunk ? skip length of data

the RIFF format is very open and you can add others chunk values in the future version... Skipping unknown chunk, will ensure your code compatibility with all versions ;-) !

Well, my idea would be to post the binary (512 KB EPROM content), so everybody can use it.

Hi
I post again only to say how great great great game it is.
I play several days a week and never get tired of it. The speed, the enemy IA, the graphics, music... the little things that are on all levels...
For me one of the best games on CPC, it is like being in front of an arcade machine or console.
Any news about the physical release? Is the game still being tweaked?

Regards

It is great, indeed it's a gem - really love playing it.

Just crashed my 464 straight away. The screen looks like a call to MC_SET_MODE without SCR_SET_MODE, (hardware and software not in agreement about screen mode), and no keyboard response.


I have a 464 with M4. Normally with OS 1.1 in slot 31 and BASIC 1.1 in slot 0.
So I remove the 8 bytes that @Duke (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1624) mentioned, in the Alcon file.
Set the M4 to 16 slots only and removed OS 1.1 and BASIC 1.1 ROM images. Reset M4 and CPC, and type |CTR. I just get the above crash.


2nd time, I couldnt even properly reinstall the ROM images via the web interface and had to delete romslots.bin and romconfig.bin from the SD card.

I tried several times to get this game to work on my 464, and it just crashed the system, with a flashing red screen and no keyboard response. :(

Same here, also some of my friends with M4.

Hi!!!
I was experiencing the same issues with the .cpr file from the website (system crash), but I knew it could work as I was playing it last christmas using the .bin file that has been removed from @abalore (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2595) 's website.
I could find the .bin file in one of my PC's, you can find it attached to this post. I can confirm it works with a M4 and a regular 6128.
Great game!! After completing this version I became a fan of the original arcade.

https://youtu.be/0jASWd75jZA

This is just amazing... With this improvement, Alcon2020 will be (by far) the best shooter ever created for the CPC.

"The CPC can't scroll and is slow for sprites"
"one second, let me show you something"

I hope the logic behind it will be explained and shared at some point so we can see more of such awesome quality in the future. 

Quote from: eto on 07:38, 08 July 21


This is just amazing... With this improvement, Alcon2020 will be (by far) the best shooter ever created for the CPC.

"The CPC can't scroll and is slow for sprites"
"one second, let me show you something"

I hope the logic behind it will be explained and shared at some point so we can see more of such awesome quality in the future.

Hello, the logic behind can be explained in a simple sentence: it's a cartridge game.
The fact of being a cartridge game leads to two important things:
- Having 512K to store highly optimized compiled sprites and uncompressed backgrounds.
- Having all RAM free for other optimization techniques, like a triple video buffer.
As the number of (true) cartridge games increase, we'll see a number of marvels in our CPCs that we could only dream of before. By my side, I'll keep working in that way in both software and hardware, letting my cartridge adapter reach the maximum number of people.

It looks up to the graphical level of the games I played in the Arcades in the 80's :)

A very, very, very welcomed updated @abalore (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2595) .

This 25hz version is going to change EVERYTHING: the original version was too slow to be very enjoyable (only my opinion).
And to be honest, as a programmer, I always wondered why 25hz could not be reached... now I get my answer  8)

Finally, thanks for all the hard work on this. It's a really solid game conversion.
I really look forward having some blast with the update of the game :)

ps. @Xyphoe (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=109) did amazing work as usual with his Youtube videos ; he really knows how to communicate and share his passion!

Yeah that was a nice vid!

It's been a while now, has there been any progress on the 25hz version? Kinda waiting on that to give this a try 🙂

The game has good look, it looks a modern Xenon 1.

Hi @TotO (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=290) !!!  8) 8)  , we are waiting for Updated 25Hz/FPS Version Of "Alcon 2020"  !!!!

Hey @XeNoMoRPH (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1952) !

Alcon 2020 at 25Hz is fully working but some boss display left to update. @abalore (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2595) did a hard rework to reach the desired 16-bit quality.
It is a really outstanding shoot'm up with an improved and dynamic gameplay and impressive pixel accuraty of enemies moves!

ok, thanks, then we can try it soon hehe  :)

Alcon 2020 25hz is finished, here is the prototype cartridge working, tested and ready for mass production.

Champagne !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :) :) ;) ;) :) :) ;) ;) :-* :-* :-*

Great news. No electronic components shortage ?

Quote from: abalore on 22:58, 13 October 21
Alcon 2020 25hz is finished, here is the prototype cartridge working, tested and ready for mass production.

will this also be available for download or only as a physical release?

how do i know if i have the 25hz or an older version on cartridge?

Quote from: zhulien on 15:53, 11 October 22how do i know if i have the 25hz or an older version on cartridge?

All the cartridges are 25Hz. You can know because it is smooth. ;D (25HZ displayed into the service menu)

Quote from: TotO on 16:40, 11 October 22

Quote from: zhulien on 15:53, 11 October 22how do i know if i have the 25hz or an older version on cartridge?

All the cartridges are 25Hz. You can know because it is smooth. ;D (25HZ displayed into the service menu)

That's the oddity, it is only smooth for me every 2nd life or such - perhaps a TV incompatability?  (I'm using a fairly old LCD with Scart connection)

Quote from: zhulien on 17:20, 12 October 22That's the oddity, it is only smooth for me every 2nd life or such - perhaps a TV incompatability?  (I'm using a fairly old LCD with Scart connection)

Are you speaking about the scrolling or the player moves?

Quote from: TotO on 17:33, 12 October 22

Quote from: zhulien on 17:20, 12 October 22That's the oddity, it is only smooth for me every 2nd life or such - perhaps a TV incompatability?  (I'm using a fairly old LCD with Scart connection)

Are you speaking about the scrolling or the player moves?

the scrolling, it is very jerky usually the first ship before dieing, then the second ship is silky smooth

Quote from: zhulien on 17:36, 12 October 22the scrolling, it is very jerky usually the first ship before dieing, then the second ship is silky smooth

It is strange. I suggest to test on another monitor if possible.

i have made a video which i am temporarily uploading to youtube - says about 10 mins remaining for it's processing at the youtube end.

Yes, for sure - if i can find one :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIWN8_XNwL8

Jerky on the TV comes out wobbly in the recording

I have never seen that. Very nice effect for a watter demo! :o

the randomness is the oddity, like a register isn't being setup sometimes (if it is a software issue) - but I will try find another scart CRT tv to try on

I was just playing Tiger Heli after so many years - and I thought having played Alcon recently they seem to look almost identical.  Anyway, I checked who developed both and bingo, both developed by Toaplan - and just like Psikyo makes Gunbird, strikers Series and a host of other shooters using the same engine, it looks like Toaplan did the same with Tiger Heli and Alcon.

@abalore Any chance you'd want to make a CPC version of Tiger Heli with the fantastic quality of your Alcon 2020 game?  The game mechanics are very similar (not exact), the graphics of course totally different as are the level layouts - but Tiger Heli is also an awesome game from the same era but for some reason absent from the CPC library.

You may try Twin Cobra so! ;)

Quote from: zhulien on 13:58, 23 February 23I was just playing Tiger Heli after so many years - and I thought having played Alcon recently they seem to look almost identical.  Anyway, I checked who developed both and bingo, both developed by Toaplan - and just like Psikyo makes Gunbird, strikers Series and a host of other shooters using the same engine, it looks like Toaplan did the same with Tiger Heli and Alcon.

@abalore Any chance you'd want to make a CPC version of Tiger Heli with the fantastic quality of your Alcon 2020 game?  The game mechanics are very similar (not exact), the graphics of course totally different as are the level layouts - but Tiger Heli is also an awesome game from the same era but for some reason absent from the CPC library.

Yes, it's basically the same game with other skin. With a small adition of very few air to air enemies. I don't plan to make it by now but I hope when I release AbaloreOS anyone will be able to do it by himself. It has all the Alcon engine features.

Quote from: zhulien on 13:58, 23 February 23but Tiger Heli is also an awesome game from the same era but for some reason absent from the CPC library.

I agree, it is a great game - some years ago I planned to do this for CPC as this is kind of the perfect game for CPC, just like ALCON.
- I only got around to arranging some borrowed graphics and set it with tile mapping etc and did a PC player.
You can download the PC player here for fun, it might inspire someone to do this game for CPC aswell.
https://www.spinpoint.org/test.zip (windoze)
Unzip the directory and run tiger.exe, then you can control the heli with arrow keys and pause/unpause with space (no fire and no enemies). The side scroll might be challenge on CPC.

Sorry for OT.

Quote from: abalore on 16:31, 23 February 23Yes, it's basically the same game with other skin. With a small adition of very few air to air enemies. I don't plan to make it by now but I hope when I release AbaloreOS anyone will be able to do it by himself. It has all the Alcon engine features.

I agree, it is a nice "tutorial" project for programmers using the Alcon engine.

Oh yes! Tiger Heli would be brilliant on the Alcon engine. Its feature set is largely identical, almost a reskin as Abalore says. There's no horizontal scrolling.

Twin Cobra is another matter, that's probably exceeding the CPC's ability to do it proper justice. But Tiger Heli would be great! If this can be done with AbaloreOS then I expect we will see many more interesting shmup projects on the CPC.