Hi
I don't know if this topic must go here, on emulators, or on programming :laugh:
Impressed i'm with this, Simon Owen has achieved to emulate de arcade game pac-man on spectrum
The program code is the same on the same memory positions, "only" translate the sound, key code and screen to speccy real hardware...
To my head comes two thoughts:
-the cpc can do the same with better colors
- other games that uses the same arcade pcb, will work too...
anyway impressive:
Pac-Man Emulator for Sinclair Spectrum (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtda3QrukjI#)
http://simonowen.com/spectrum/pacemuzx/ (http://simonowen.com/spectrum/pacemuzx/)
Regards
Joseman
Very very cool!
Pity the ghosts' colours aren't reproduced (even with colour clash), as they do have slightly different behaviours.
Still, absolutely awesome.
Quotehe cpc can do the same with better colors
easy, because as far as I'm looking at this video I see no colours.
Good point there are no clashes too... :P
Well, those early arcade machines were often Z80 based and quite minimalistic too.
But it went better quite fast...
BTW most of those pre-1984 games can be ported "arcade perfect" on even a machine like Amstrad CPC...
Just see Donkey Kong (well it could have been even a bit better perhaps...)
Would it be that fast on a CPC ?
provided the code is mostly unchanged, should it be Mode1 or Mode0 ?
The difference un pixel size may change some stuff...or not.
In theory the Amstrad PLUS may be able to be completely Arcade perfect in mode1.
Provided you can update the Sprites fast enough (those little buggers are quite heavy and slow to upload in ASIC)
What do we have ?
5 sprites only...
Plus the bonuses... which may be a bit more problematic when they stack up (perhaps some multiplexing ?).
Such a PLUS version should then be a bit more than jsut some emulation in order to cheat on those sprites and colours.
Only 5 sprites would need frequent update.
Well, the pacman sprite may be software too to ease the Hardsprites too (needs only 1 color)
Wikipedia on the Namco PacMan machine :
Quote| Arcade system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcade_system_board) | Namco Pac-Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namco_Pac-Man) |
| CPU (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Processing_Unit) | 1x ZiLOG (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZiLOG) Z80 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zilog_Z80) @ 3.072 MHz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megahertz)[4][5] |
[/q][/t] | Sound | 1× Namco WSG (3-channel mono) @ 3.072 MHz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hertz) |
| Display | Vertically oriented, 224 × 288, 16 palette (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palette_%28computing%29) colors |
Specifications
- Main CPU (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_processing_unit): Zilog Z80 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zilog_Z80)[1]
- Sound chip (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_chip): Custom 3-channel 4-bit WSG (Waveform Sound Generator)
- Video resolution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_resolution): 224 x 288[2]
- ROM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read-only_memory): 16 KB (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilobyte)[1]
- Main RAM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_access_memory): 2 KB[1]
- Video RAM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRAM): 2 KB[1]
- Color depth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_depth): 8-bit color (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8-bit_color) (256 colors)[2]
The Z80 seem to run at 3mhz only...
And the PSG seem to be as simple as good old AY.
Resolution may be achived quite well in 256x256 screensize on CPC/PLUS...
This is mighty impressive. Congratulations to the author, it's so faithful! Wish we could see a proper CPC version (of course).
Moving to the proper category :)
Pacman (from MAME) in MODE 1 CPC (fake!)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/th_pacman.jpg) (http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/pacman.jpg)
Quote from: tastefulmrship on 17:46, 10 November 11
Pacman (from MAME) in MODE 1 CPC (fake!)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/th_pacman.jpg) (http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/pacman.jpg)
5 colours?
Also, what are you trying to do, put MacDeath out of business? :D
Quote from: Gryzor on 17:48, 10 November 11
5 colours?
Ahhh! Bloody PSP7! I told it 4 colours and it decided 5 might look nicer!
Dang you PSP, dang you to hell! EDIT: No, it wasn't PSPs fault as the original definitely is 4 colours (BLACK, BLUE, RED, YELLOW) it was fecking PHOTOBUCKET who upped the colours (to include WHITE, somehow) when converting to .jpg!
Well, it could have gone the whole mile and upgrade it to 256 colours just as well, so nevermind :D
But, it kinda needs that fifth colour. If not for the dots, at least for the eyes...
Quote from: Gryzor on 17:57, 10 November 11
But, it kinda needs that fifth colour. If not for the dots, at least for the eyes...
Yeah, yellow eyes on a yellow ghost just doesn't work!
MODE 0 sprites it would have to be, then.
He describes how he did the full colour SAM Coupe version here - http://simonowen.com/sam/articles/pacemu/ (http://simonowen.com/sam/articles/pacemu/)
Now all I need to do is learn how to program
I think the Fantoms should use ditherings instead of plain flat colours...
QuoteAlso, what are you trying to do, put MacDeath out of business?
Haha lol NO...
I for example would never use this shitty format called JPG.... NEVER !!!
and should should too be ashamed... pixel art is completely NOT compatible with .JPG...
Pacman... the first pills-addicted video-game-character :laugh:
Quote from: MacDeath on 20:22, 10 November 11
I think the Fantoms should use ditherings instead of plain flat colours...
True. But your mockup use 6 colors too ! ;)
black, blue, red, yellow, white and green...
Quote from: TotO on 22:41, 10 November 11
True. But your mockup use 6 colors too ! ;)
black, blue, red, yellow, white and green...
Ok, you're going interlaced now :-)
Quote from: TotO on 22:41, 10 November 11
True. But your mockup use 6 colors too ! ;)
black, blue, red, yellow, white and green...
Perhaps 6-color MODE 1 is a special feature of the French firmware? :D
Like said Picasso: "Quand je n'ai pas de bleu, je mets du rouge".
Concerning my first mockup, It is a PLUS version, featuring bigger vertical resolution and Hardsprites... lol... :P ;)
Well I must admit i had no time to do a proper mockup, I had to go out to a birthday...
There a more proper mocked ups (sounds as in screwed up).
It is more in 4 colours and 256x272... more CPC friendly resolution I guess (provided the screen warmed up a little bit)
TotO did a nice one... a bit on the "period" side IMO...
But Mode0 would definitly be more than fine for such game.
The fun thing with the original PcMan (FuckMan ? not its PuckMan...) is that there is no hasard in the engine...
you can do a perfect game, with every bonuses gotten and eating every 4 fanthom on each "bigpills" bonus... the famous 3 333 360 points game with no life loss. (which actually takes 6 hours to complete... according to Wikipedia)
Also the engine had a few flaws, enabling to pass through the fantome with a perfect timing.
Said fanthoms had a logic behind their movement and you could cut the angles to go faster than the fanthoms (doing diagonal movement before reching the crossroads).
Perhaps a classic case of "glitching" and abusing the engine (exploits) to win.
the last screwed up level is also fun, perhaps some sort of ending cinematic... "you're too good dude, you broke the machine..."
Anyway, Pacmania was quite a god game, I liked it a lot and was so disapointed the CPC version was a speccy pork of the worst kind...
Hell ... They even got a sluggish thing because they tried too hard to put those damned raster, yet they let those shitty colours clashes artefacts... Arrrgggghhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!
the game actually managed a decent speed when you got the speed-up bonus though...
And the musics were simply delightfull...
(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/imgs/6/6d/Pacmania_title.png)(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/imgs/c/cf/Pac04.png)
But as you can see, you can get Mode1 with 6 colours on screen. ;) ;D :D
So my mockup was right... dear TotO.
ouch, I would even have prefered this :
(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/imgs/0/04/Pacmania_title_redone.png)(http://www.cpcwiki.eu/imgs/6/6f/Recolored_pacmania1.png)
Simple; black and yellow are always set, the 2 other inks may be changed to break monotony between each levels...
And PLUS may get a few patches in Hardsprites for the HUD.
True Fact : every monocolour speccy games with masked sprites done the same on CPC were messy abject deep screwery...
masked sprites are 1bpp+1bpp = 2bpp... sprites could be in 2bpp (actually 3 colours+Transparency) with no additionnal weight but programer time on this.
Dithered ghosts look surprisingly nice, both in red an blue versions. Very interesting.
Concerning the diagonals 'cheat', correct me if I'm wrong, but the original cabinet only had a four-way stick, is it not so? You couldn't pull diagonals... (even now on my cab I switch my joysticks to four-way for my girl to play it, since eight-ways makes it very hard to pull the turns ultimately)
Gryzor: It's true. (4-way locked)
MacDeath: You may use the white color for the score on your mockup, because you get enough time to change the ink.
Else, your screen don't fit on a 16K bank... A 256x256 version does and may look like:
(for the 224x288 version, you just need to rotate the monitor! :D )
@Macdeath
Here's my PACMANIA screens I did a few months ago... and yes, they're in JPG format! PHOTOBUCKET converts pictures into JPG and they're only for casual viewing, not for CPC use! Calm down, fella!
The Original Retouched Version Proper CPC Version
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/th_PacManiaOriginal.jpg) (http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/PacManiaOriginal.jpg) (http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/th_PacManiaRetouched.jpg) (http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/PacManiaRetouched.jpg) (http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/th_PacManiaProper.jpg) (http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/PacManiaProper.jpg)
Here's the .dsk file with the originals on; view with ADVANCED ART STUDIO!
(attached)
Quote from: tastefulmrship on 09:13, 11 November 11Here's my PACMANIA screens I did a few months ago...
Nice work. You "forget" red gloves ? ;D
Quote from: TotO on 09:24, 11 November 11
Nice work. You "forget" red gloves ? ;D
Nope, the original didn't have red-gloves.
LEMONAMIGA doesn't like direct-links to their pictures, so here's the URL;
http://www.lemonamiga.com/games/screenshots/full/pac-mania_01.png (http://www.lemonamiga.com/games/screenshots/full/pac-mania_01.png)
OK. Sorry! :D
The original print AUST instead of AUSTRALIA.
It's may look better for your Mode0 "9", "O", and "©" font aspect ratio too. ;)
Quote from: TotO on 09:33, 11 November 11
The original print AUST instead of AUSTRALIA.
It's may look better for your Mode0 "9", "O", and "©" font aspect ratio too. ;)
I wanted to fit as much 'legal' text as I could in MODE0. It's only a loading-screen, it disappears quickly! ^_^
And sprites...
Then it wasn't "diagonnal" but you could anticipate the new direction before PacMan comes in the middle of the crossroad, hence cutting the angle a bit and going a little bit faster than the ghosts.
it is called cornering...
(http://home.comcast.net/%7Ejpittman2/pacman/Cornering.png)
there, a good link on the matter.
http://home.comcast.net/~jpittman2/pacman/pacmandossier.html (http://home.comcast.net/%7Ejpittman2/pacman/pacmandossier.html)
that's really a complete "dossier".
Quotefor the 224x288 version, you just need to rotate the monitor!
I was thinking about it too...
Let's do a CPC cocktail version then... with rotated display...^^
QuoteCalm down, fella!
Come on it was jsut aplain joke...
but why do you use photobucket while you could simply upload on this forum... ::)
*Also, if I remember correctly, there is a PcMan for SymbOS.
(http://www.symbos.de/gfx/shots/games/symbos-games-pacman1.gif)
Interesting... I don't know that.
In fact, it's a sort of bug, because the original game came with a 4-ways stick. :-\
With your palette: :)
Quote
- Platform — NAMCO 8-bit PCB
- CPU — Z80A at 3.072 MHz
- ROM — 16K in four, 4K chips
- RAM — Almost 2K
- Display — Raster
- Orientation — Vertical
- Resolution — 224x288
- Colors — 16
- Attributes — Six 16x16 hardware sprites
Update on the specs of the machine...
So, there are 6 Hardsprites, which is like 4 ghosts, PacMan and the scores bonuses...
Fruits, maze and pills are in noram display (tiles) I guess.
The good point is that the game is weighting 16k only, this explain why it can be emulated on a ZX Speccy (and probably on a CPC/PLUS.
On a CPC this may let you 32K in the CPU RAM to play with... (well, there is also a 2K RAM for the score and memorise actual level number.) and a few other stuffs I guess.
As our CPU is running a big faster (3,33mhz ? 4mhz ?) this also let some spare NOPs to run the emulation routines I guess...
But the display is 60Hz on original arcade while it is 50hz on CPC, can this screw something up with timings or speed ??
QuoteWith your palette:
Nice... looks a bit less monochromatic.
Perhaps you should "cheat" a bit with the eyes only eaten ghosts version and give them blue eyes... so the dot don't blend with the background's black.
And also yeah, upper HUD can be reduced into 1 character line only instead of 3 (y=8 pix instead of 24pix) in order to fit good old "ideal arcade port" 256x256 screensize resolution on CPC.
A fun thing is that this game is actually designed to have only 21 levels... and the rustic design from 1980 didn't saw the player pushing this to the limite...
Which they did...
Later games in the same kind of spirit, such as(Bubble Bobble... despite different gameplay, would then have more ROM to fill, but also a proper ending (or even morethan one) and shittons of original levels too...
PacMan is really a milestone in history of gaming.
the 4 way movement is another dimension compared to Space invader, it's like "going 2D instead of 1D" (in gameplay term)...
The numerous cheats and twiks and glitches can still be found in most modern "labyrinth" 3D games...
it is really the ancestor of more modern Wolfenstein 3D games... so even Halflife owns to this game.
look.
Wolfenstein 3D or Halflife or even infiltration or 3D RPG style.
You start with almost no weapons.
You have some objectives (get all the keys to go next level in Doom game per exemple, here you must collect all the pills).
You can collect weapons (Energizer pills are this) to kill opponenets/monsters.
Glitches and tricks in Pacman are unvolontary "secret doors" and hidden warpzones.
All in a "maze".
Also rustic AI for the enemies... (more like automatic patterns, but hey, even nowadays those so called AI are jsut automatic patterns, with some hasard sometimes...)
A funny modern stuff would be multiplayer PacMan, with players to play the ghosts against one PacMan.
Could this be done with Networked CPC/PLUS ?
(they did a modern Jet Set Willy online after all...)
Fantom players would perhaps get less freedom of movement than the pacplayer, but as they would play in team, this may be actually impossible for the pacman player to win too... would need some balancements.
But this would perhaps be better with a PacMania engine, where the Fanthom players would not jump (hence some escape possibilities for the PacPlayer) and a 4th CPU ghost would...
this would make a 4 player game, each player having to play Pacman in cycle and getting points/score collected or whatever...
Not sure it is better with, but updated.
EDIT: CPC+ mockup using Mode 1
- 4 colors "chars" for maze, pac-gums, scores, messages, lives and background.
- 15 colors sprites for pacman, ghosts and multiplexed lives and items.
so the 4 bitmap colours are White/light grey, blue, Black and yellow...
Then can you explain to me why you may need some Multiplexed Hardsprties to indicates Lives ?
Just a normal tile in yellow+black would suffice. :D
Also I would suggest to put different colours for Highscore and playerScore Names and values...
Like white and yellow...
BTW the PLUS mockups looks really arcade perfect. :)
Yes you can, because GAME OVER message is red but no more Pacman live (yellow) are displayed!
Arcade scores are all in white and there is enough colors on screen. So it's just for a mockup arcade fidelity.
Slightly humourous Pac-mania loading screen from the X68000...
(http://mahlemiut.marpirc.net/x68k_pac.png)
Quote from: tastefulmrship on 09:29, 11 November 11Nope, the original didn't have red-gloves.
Amiga version is not the original and on others pictures done by Namco, Pac-Man got red or orange glove, but not skin color.
(the Amiga version have a fill mistake)Done by Google for the 30th birthday:
http://www.google.com/pacman/ (http://www.google.com/pacman/)
Quote from: TotO on 08:42, 12 November 11
Amiga version is not the original and on others pictures done by Namco, Pac-Man got red or orange glove, but not skin color. (the Amiga version have a fill mistake)
No, no, I meant the Amiga loading-screen .png was the source I was working from. I fed it into PSP7 and then spent a few weeks retouching and palette changing in ADVANCED ART STUDIO. The original is, as you've mentioned, whatever Namco decided for their advertisement artwork!
(I actually prefer PacMan with yellow gloves, it sets him apart from the Ghosts.)
If you want me to change them to RED, that shouldn't be too difficult, I might have to stipple some of the orange-->red which will take time.
EDIT: (click thumbnail for full image... a .jpg image!)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/th_PacManiaProperRetouched.jpg) (http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/PacManiaProperRetouched.jpg)
EDIT2: Green Ghost deosn't have red gloves, either! ^_^
Hehe. Look better now. Nice! :)
By watching Pac-Man longplay and arcade settings, I can see that:
- "fruits" and "items" are displayed on the same 7 (not 8 ) entries FILO. But we may cut it to 6!
- 6 lives is a maximum. (1/2/3/5 when starting and 1 bonus life at 10K/15K/20K/none, depending dip-switches)
- If 2 players games, you see both scores at the same time.
So, I have updated the last mock-up:
Yeah the "fruits" and bonus are stacked up to 8, new ones chasing out the older one.
So there even may be no need to give it a multiplexing.
8 sprites for the HUD stacked bonus.
4 sprites for the fantoms.
1 sprite For PuckMan.
1 sprite for the bonus that may appear in the playfield.
This even let us 2 spare sprites so even the score bonus when eating a ghost or fruit) can be achieved in Hardsprite.
let's just know if it is fast enough to get those 6 sprites updated often.But I suppose it is.
They don't change frames at 50Hz nor 60Hz and a large part of the screen simply don't move nor change a lot as there is no scrolling.
If you guys are REALLY going to get this conversion done, here's a possible loading-screen! ^_^
It's 384x272x4 (ie. MODE 1 overscan), it's NOT for CPC use at present!
(Click thumbnail to view .JPG image)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/th_pacman_screen.jpg) (http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g385/tastefulmrship/pacman_screen.jpg)
EDIT: And here it is on a .dsk! (attached)
Quote from: MacDeath on 13:56, 12 November 11
Yeah the "fruits" and bonus are stacked up to 8, new ones chasing out the older one.
In fact, it's stacked up to 7. I'm wrong... To difficult to count up to 5 for me. :D
And for a CPC port, it will be nice to reduce the stack to 6 items, to save one more sprite and "looking" better.
Quote from: tastefulmrship on 14:06, 12 November 11
If you guys are REALLY going to get this conversion done, here's a possible loading-screen! ^_^
Look nice. Thank you. :)
"Amstrad CPC conversion by CPCWiki 2012"? Someone's ahead of themselves :D
Quote from: Gryzor on 12:40, 13 November 11
"Amstrad CPC conversion by CPCWiki 2012"? Someone's ahead of themselves :D
I guessed it wouldn't be completed this year.
Did I miss the post where someone said they'd do it? :)
Quote from: Gryzor on 15:40, 13 November 11
Did I miss the post where someone said they'd do it? :)
Which is why I put 'IF' in the post with the screenie.
And also why the logo/pac-man look pretty ragged! Though the 'orange' colour took me ages to pixel... manually! R.S.I.
Then it'd be a terrible shame, if it went unused...
come on you coders !!!
Come on people!!! :D I know that there are people working in it, but they prefer to work in secret to give us a surprise and not making vaporware ;)
You ?
Well, we have Frogger on amstradPLUS, and it is also quite arcade perfect I guess...(not sure, but looks like)
And donkey knog could certainly be even better I guess too (but hey, it is not bad...)
Arkanoid too could really be even better on plus as the Hardsprites would really ease some stuff perhaps so not as erratic behaviours and slow downs perhaps (and even better graphics then...)
all those 1978-1982 arcade games can really be ported quite perfectly... on PLUS and those with Z80 (or even AY sound ? some had) may actually need quite a few job to be really ported/emulated well.
Seriously, this could even be a good excuse for a sweet Cartridge compilation with all thos classics, cloned of course, to avoid legal issues... but hey, japanese do'nt even know the amstrad PLUS do exist... ;)
Quote from: MacDeath on 23:35, 13 November 11
Seriously, this could even be a good excuse for a sweet Cartridge compilation with all thos classics, cloned of course, to avoid legal issues... but hey, japanese do'nt even know the amstrad PLUS do exist... ;)
This would make a sweeeeet Xmas present (even for next Xmas)!
The big problem I would have with doing this conversion is converting the sound from the original Pac-man to the AY, the chip is completely different. The graphics for it are not a problem on the Plus, but I'd tend to go for MODE 0 for a CPC standard version.
Executioner, you don't have the time either. You're busy implementing MODE 2 video-recordnig in WinApe, remember? ;)
(Yes, I'm still waiting).
Quote from: Executioner on 00:02, 15 November 11
The big problem I would have with doing this conversion is converting the sound from the original Pac-man to the AY, the chip is completely different. The graphics for it are not a problem on the Plus, but I'd tend to go for MODE 0 for a CPC standard version.
Like you can ear on the Spectrum version, there is no problem for sound.
Then, CPC Old or CPC Plus port have to be in Mode 1. Using Mode 0 will be no sens.
Finally, don't spend time for it, because I know that a people is already in contact with the autor for a CPC version.
(he ask me to use GFx, since I realeased mock-ups)Sorry if it was a secret, but it's better to know... Than 10 guys doing the same work separately. :D
Ooh, it'll be great! Can't wait to see some results!!!
And, I agree - mode 1 is the way to go for this one. If an original title uses so few colours then why bother using more - and dropping the resolution?
Quote from: Executioner on 00:02, 15 November 11
The big problem I would have with doing this conversion is converting the sound from the original Pac-man to the AY, the chip is completely different.
At first glance it's quite different, especially since the original uses custom waveforms. Though ultimately it's just 3 voices, 16 volume levels per voice, and frequency selection for each. An 8K look-up table to map between native and AY note numbers is enough to sound close, for very little effort.
It's good to see the CPC version progressing well already, especially using the original graphics (with colour changes). It does add a certain extra magic that's missing from the SAM version.
Why not simply get an englishman to do a speccy port from the Arcade port on speccy ?
This will only take 3 weeks... perhaps less if you don't put some copyprotection...
:D
Quote from: MacDeath on 17:06, 10 November 11
easy, because as far as I'm looking at this video I see no colours.
Good point there are no clashes too... :P
There's a test version with colour clash too, just to see what it'd look like: Pac-Man for Sinclair Spectrum (colour) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69J3D-XGdlg#)
Quote5 sprites only...
Plus the bonuses... which may be a bit more problematic when they stack up (perhaps some multiplexing ?).
The ghosts on the attract sequence, the line of fruit at the bottom, and the lives indicators are all drawn as regular background tiles. The arcade hardware supports 8 sprites, but only 6 are used (Pac-Man, 4 ghosts, and the fruit in the centre of the maze). The sprites aren't always used for the same objects either, so ghosts are drawn over Pac-Man when he's being chased, and he's drawn over them when they can be eaten.
I don't know enough about the CPC hardware to know how best to approach implementing it. The sprite drawing is definitely the most time-consuming task in the SAM version, and when all 6 sprites are visible it's a struggle to finish everything (plus the ROM's own processing) within the time for a single frame. Any help the CPC hardware can give to draw the sprites will help ensure it runs at full speed.
Thank you for sharing this nice video and the technicals informations. :)
Actually the above Color clash version is totally hypnotic and fascinating, surreal and I just can't get my eyes off the Red one. ... Skyline...(it was blue light there though).
Well to be fair, in this special case the colour clashes almost look like some lighting effect in dark corridors... Fanthoms emiting a ghostly light... sort of.
So true. And nobody needs acid any longer :laugh:
Quote from: TotO on 08:44, 15 November 11
Like you can ear on the Spectrum version, there is no problem for sound.
Yes, but are the sounds on the Spectrum version the same as the arcade? The frequencies would also have to be adjusted to suit the CPC.
QuoteThen, CPC Old or CPC Plus port have to be in Mode 1. Using Mode 0 will be no sens.
The Plus version would definitely be MODE 1, but the normal CPC version may be better in MODE 0 since there are many more than 4 colours on the screen at any time. Perhaps an option like that old ball/tank puzzle game from years back.
Quote
Finally, don't spend time for it, because I know that a people is already in contact with the autor for a CPC version.
(he ask me to use GFx, since I realeased mock-ups)
Sorry if it was a secret, but it's better to know... Than 10 guys doing the same work separately. :D
If he needs any help with the Plus sprites, I have a routine I've developed to do 4 colour Plus compiled sprites which will easily do all 6 sprites in a frame.
If you like to convert Mode 0 graphics to CPC Plus sprites, then have a look at this:
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/GMSK (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/GMSK)
Quote from: Executioner on 23:51, 16 November 11Yes, but are the sounds on the Spectrum version the same as the arcade? The frequencies would also have to be adjusted to suit the CPC.
It sound near and better than common arcade ports.
And yes, the frequency have to be adusted
. (a look-up table was used for the sound, said the autor)Quote from: Executioner on 23:51, 16 November 11The Plus version would definitely be MODE 1, but the normal CPC version may be better in MODE 0 since there are many more than 4 colours on the screen at any time. Perhaps an option like that old ball/tank puzzle game from years back.
No doubt about the CPC+ version.
About CPC version, there are no "many more colors on the screen", but few useless colors on the screen.
When you port a game, you don't have to cut the resolution for matching colors but thinking about gameplay elements for make a choice, because in both case you done a compromise.
The gameplay of Pac-Man is not based on colors (like columns, tetris, Puzzle Bubble...) but on speed, skill and timing.
So you need accuracy on the maze design and player moves.
Watching color use (w/o background), you can see:
- Score: 2 colors
- Maze & gums: 2 colors
- Player & live: 1 color
- Fruits: 7 colors (up to 5 each)
- Ghosts: 6 colors (3 each)
- Analysing the fruits place in the gameplay, you can see that it's only a level indicator... Displayed as a bonus too.
So this element is not important for the gamer and not justify to cut the resolution.
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Analysing ghosts place in the gameplay, only the red one has de different moving comportement, so you have to identify it. Others may have the same color... (or not). Afraids ghosts have the same comportement, so you have to identify them by using the same color. (like the arcade do).
In conclusion, it's better to use Mode 1 for a Pac-Man conversion.
Quote from: Executioner on 23:51, 16 November 11If he needs any help with the Plus sprites, I have a routine I've developed to do 4 colour Plus compiled sprites which will easily do all 6 sprites in a frame.
I think the CPC programmer have seen your post, like he seen my screens. ;)
I also think MODE 1 would be the better choice over MODE 0..... but I can change my mind, if Executioner makes that MODE 2 video recording in WinApe. :)
Quote from: TotO on 09:46, 17 November 11
- Analysing ghosts place in the gameplay, only the red one has de different moving comportement, so you have to identify it. Others may have the same color... (or not).
According to http://home.comcast.net/~jpittman2/pacman/pacmandossier.html#Chapter_4, (http://home.comcast.net/~jpittman2/pacman/pacmandossier.html#Chapter_4,) all four ghosts have distinctly different movement patterns.
I have read "The Basics" part of this dossier, and it said that only the red ghost is different. :D
So, I don't read more about ghosts. Thank you to notice that!
Quote from: TotO on 11:45, 17 November 11
I have read "The Basics" part of this dossier, and it said that only the red ghost is different. :D
So, I don't read more about ghosts. Thank you to notice that!
The red one is probably the most important, as it's the only one to always target Pac-Man directly (unless in scatter mode). So in the mono Spectrum version I gave it a mouth to make it stand out.
A refined version of the Pac-Man dossier gives some nice detail for the individual ghost behaviour: http://gameinternals.com/post/2072558330/understanding-pac-man-ghost-behavior (http://gameinternals.com/post/2072558330/understanding-pac-man-ghost-behavior)
Haha! Whatever happened to the good-olde ghost movement code;
IF ghostx<manx THEN ghostx=ghostx-1
IF ghostx>manx THEN ghostx=ghostx+1
IF ghosty<many THEN ghosty=ghosty-1
IF ghosty>many THEN ghosty=ghosty+1
Made any Pac-Man clone seriously impossible... ah, those were the days! ^_^
(Like the CWTA type-in in 1985 that I recently typed-in for the fun of it!)
Quote from: tastefulmrship on 12:25, 17 November 11
Haha! Whatever happened to the good-olde ghost movement code;
IF ghostx<manx THEN ghostx=ghostx-1
IF ghostx>manx THEN ghostx=ghostx+1
IF ghosty<many THEN ghosty=ghosty-1
IF ghosty>many THEN ghosty=ghosty+1
Made any Pac-Man clone seriously impossible... ah, those were the days! ^_^
(Like the CWTA type-in in 1985 that I recently typed-in for the fun of it!)
Wouldn't that make the ghosts move away from the man? :laugh:
Quote from: TotO on 11:45, 17 November 11
I have read "The Basics" part of this dossier, and it said that only the red ghost is different. :D
It is different in the sense that is has the most aggressive movement pattern (directly targeting Pac-Man) and gains speed as you gobble up the last few pellet thingies on a level.
The red one is the most dangerous one...
The 3 others have slightly different "AI" patterns though.
I also vote for Mode1 as the square pxiels would make the movements smoother in horizontal trajectories.
Smoothness and speed are the keys to a good PacMan.
Quote from: CanonMan on 14:02, 17 November 11
Wouldn't that make the ghosts move away from the man? :laugh:
And I thought I just needed more coffee... :D
Quote from: mr_lou on 09:49, 17 November 11
I also think MODE 1 would be the better choice over MODE 0..... but I can change my mind, if Executioner makes that MODE 2 video recording in WinApe. :)
You do realise that A18 does this already? (Just tick
Full Size Video when you select the file). Your best bet is to record an SNR of the whole game, then record compressed video during playback of the SNR with no frame skipping (ie. Display every 1 frame), although a very fast HDD/SSD may be sufficient for recording real-time.
Well, in Version A18 Mode 2 is recorded a bit better, but still not perfect. But I'm sure you'll get it right. :-)
Ok, I resurrect this topic because... the final product has finally been released...
(http://cpcrulez.fr/forum/download/file.php?id=1097&mode=view)
Yes. Thank you! :)