Pc Engine Homebrew scene?

Rainbow_Bright · 01/02/2008, 01:48 PM

This forum doesn't seem to be too busy, so I'm assuming if there is a Pc engine homebrew scene, then its quite small. Most old consoles and computers seem to have a homebrew scene. I'm not too familiar with most, but know that the Atari scene (from 2600 up to the Jaguar) is thriving. Do we have any coders here? or anyone making new pc engine games?

ParanoiaDragon · 01/02/2008, 01:56 PM

Well, we have 2 teams that are specifically making games, Mindrec who have released 2 commercial games so far(Implode & Meteor Blaster) with 2 games coming soon(Xymati & PC Gunjin), & Frozen Utopia of which I'm a part of, as 3 commercial games on the way (Mysterious Song, Neutopia 3, & one secret game). Mysterious Song will be our first release, it's currently getting it's cinemas & music overhauled, which ofcoarse also requires some extra coding, so, it's taking forever, but, it's getting done.

I'm also working with a coder & sprite artist of Frozen Utopia (plus with some help with Mindrec's tile/sprite artist) to make Turbo Grafx ports of NES games currently, along with anything elese he needs me for, like tech demo's. There are also a bunch of individual coders, though, it's always nice to have more. They're all cracking the power of the Turbo.

Rainbow_Bright · 01/02/2008, 02:00 PM

Thats cool

Where can I buy these games or see screen shots etc? Are they on hu card or cd?
ps-how difficult is it to get into coding for the pc engine, this coming from someone, who has never even coded a shoe lol

O:)

Nazi NecroPhile · 01/02/2008, 02:03 PM

See the games at http://www.mindrec.com/?main=pce/index.php and http://www.frozenutopia.com/projects.html or search this forum.

Buy Implode and Meteor Blaster at http://mindrec.com/?main=store/index.php

Rainbow_Bright · 01/02/2008, 02:06 PM

Thanks

ParanoiaDragon · 01/03/2008, 12:59 AM

Keep in mind, we (Frozen Utopia) haven't upated the website in about 6 months, the pictures of Mysterious Song on there are old, the game looks better now, & the cinemas look way better now. We got a classic artist to do the cinemas & box art.

I'm not sure about difficulty in coding, I only do music, voice acting, & gameplay concepts, along with general ideas that we as a team all come up with. Someone like Chris Covell, Bonknuts, Nodveidt, or Dave Shadoff would be able to explain what it's like to code.

ccovell · 01/03/2008, 01:48 AM

It's like warm apple pie.

ParanoiaDragon · 01/03/2008, 02:41 AM

MMmmmm, pie!

TurboXray · 01/03/2008, 06:45 AM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon..would be able to explain what it's like to code.

Coding in assembly for the PCE, is like making passionate love to the CPU. Whispering sweet mnemonics...

Rainbow_Bright · 01/03/2008, 08:08 AM

That sounds very pleasurable

How would I go about, learning to code for the pc engine?

peperocket · 01/03/2008, 08:28 AM

You FORGET to talk about Tongueman's Logic who is A COMPLETE GAME for the PC Engine !

And here a nice Phantasy Star Port, write in assembler : http://www.hyakushiki.net/consoles.htm

This guy has write a good PCE tracker

Nazi NecroPhile · 01/03/2008, 10:48 AM

Ahh, shit! How the hell could I forget Tongueman's Logic? It's half the reason why I bought a flash cart, for cripes sake!

Anyways, Tongueman's Logic is tongues of fun (hee-hee) and should be mandatory for anyone who likes a good puzzler. Download the game here and don't forget to check out Mr. Covell's Fractal Engine and other goodies while you're there.

OldRover · 01/03/2008, 04:47 PM

Coding a simple game for the PCE isn't too much work, especially if you can fit everything into the normal 8 megabit ROM space. However, coding a major production can be a real nightmare and requires a high level of dedication to your craft. I've never worked so hard at programming until I started coding the PCE port of Mysterious Song.

Rainbow_Bright · 01/03/2008, 07:55 PM

HMm, well would it be silly of me (as someone who has never programmed anything!) to learn to program on Pc engine, I mean is that jumping in at the deep end?

What resources would I need? I have a lot of time on my hands and would like to make this year as productive as possible, and I'm a creative person too!

TurboXray · 01/03/2008, 08:37 PM

You've never programmed? Don't worry about it. I recommend learning ASM as your first language. The 65xx series and variant CPUs aren't overly complicated and you can find tons of documents/examples too. You don't need much math skill to jump in and start programming. Writing a large program or involved game in any language is going to be difficult, but the benefit of writing in ASM, at least for the PCE, is that you have a debugger that helps you track down or step through your code, one instruction at a time. It's pretty much 1:1 of what you wrote/coded.

There is a C compiler for PCE and it doesn't require a lot of intimate knowledge of the system/hardware to get something up and running. While it's pretty decent IMO, it lacks a proper C debugger. Trying to debug a C program with an ASM debugger is a chore and a half, though it can be done and requires you to know quite a bit of ASM and the hardware that you would already know if you coded in ASM in the first place.

If you got the spare time, pick up on ASM. Feel free to pester me on questions and such. Plus you can always ask some questions over at efnet - we don't bite... (PM me for the channel). We need more ASM coders ;)

Rainbow_Bright · 01/03/2008, 08:41 PM

I have a lot of time on my hands, why not I say?

I will Pm you in a minute!

ParanoiaDragon · 01/03/2008, 09:18 PM

Having alot of time on your hands, is one key ingrediant to coding

Rainbow_Bright · 01/03/2008, 09:46 PM

Believe me, I got the time! Do I have the skill? only time will tell.

Retrocool · 12/18/2011, 03:24 AM

New to he forum and just found this link... two things, 1) the game frozen utopia looks really good, but I have noticed the forum has slowed down a bit in the past few years which brings me to 2) any new news about frozen utopia, when it is coming or didi i miss my window of opportunity.

_Paul · 12/18/2011, 06:35 AM

Quote from: Retrocool on 12/18/2011, 03:24 AMNew to he forum and just found this link... two things, 1) the game frozen utopia looks really good, but I have noticed the forum has slowed down a bit in the past few years which brings me to 2) any new news about frozen utopia, when it is coming or didi i miss my window of opportunity.

https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=10201.0
https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=10666.0

Frozen Utopia is the group who are making the game Mysterious Song, not the name of the game itself.

Arkhan Asylum · 12/18/2011, 12:45 PM

Quote from: Retrocool on 12/18/2011, 03:24 AMNew to he forum and just found this link... two things, 1) the game frozen utopia looks really good, but I have noticed the forum has slowed down a bit in the past few years which brings me to 2) any new news about frozen utopia, when it is coming or didi i miss my window of opportunity.

www.aetherbyte.com

don't forget me

Shrapnoid · 01/26/2012, 05:26 PM

ASM. Hmmm... Maybe that's where I should start too. Is it easier to learn than TI-Basic? I have a an old 99/4a home computer with a load of magazines and a couple of TI-Basic guides that my brother gave to me years ago.
I wanted to learn that language but, never got around to it.
I remember that it was considered -at the time- to be pretty easy to learn but, all I ever did was play with the voice modulator which did require typing in a string of miscellaneous characters, followed by what you wanted it to say.
So, is ASM anything like that or is it tougher?

BigusSchmuck · 01/26/2012, 06:47 PM

Quote from: Shrapnoid on 01/26/2012, 05:26 PMASM. Hmmm... Maybe that's where I should start too. Is it easier to learn than TI-Basic? I have a an old 99/4a home computer with a load of magazines and a couple of TI-Basic guides that my brother gave to me years ago.
I wanted to learn that language but, never got around to it.
I remember that it was considered -at the time- to be pretty easy to learn but, all I ever did was play with the voice modulator which did require typing in a string of miscellaneous characters, followed by what you wanted it to say.
So, is ASM anything like that or is it tougher?

Its like learning Japanese.

I suggest starting with C or HuC if you really want to start things flowing.

Arkhan Asylum · 01/26/2012, 07:53 PM

HuC is a good starting point. you can put assembly into HuC as you get more comfortable.

cabbage · 01/26/2012, 10:26 PM

/funwithhuc.pce
/funwithhuccabbage.png

Arkhan Asylum · 01/26/2012, 11:07 PM

Quote from: cabbage on 01/26/2012, 10:26 PM/funwithhuc.pce
/funwithhuccabbage.png

<3

This games so cute and full of =3

it needs =3 faces somewhere in it.

RegalSin · 01/27/2012, 11:00 AM

That is not fare

Bernie · 01/27/2012, 11:01 AM

Quote from: RegalSin on 01/27/2012, 11:00 AMThat is not fare

Why is it not fair?

Arkhan Asylum · 01/27/2012, 11:04 AM

Quote from: Bernie on 01/27/2012, 11:01 AM
Quote from: RegalSin on 01/27/2012, 11:00 AMThat is not fare
Why is it not fair?

because he can't get sprites to work and doesn't want to figure out why.

OldRover · 01/27/2012, 04:46 PM

Having the right tool to make your sprites helps a lot. I use Paint Shop Pro 7, as it's way easier to make sprites work than with Photoshop or Gimp. I might one day make a tool specifically for PC Engine sprite making, but don't count on it happening any time soon.