lock'n chase for PCE

[touko]

Hi all, BFG a french coleco developper ,is doing a pce conversion of his coleco game lock'n chase ..
Graphs was made by crapahute, a well-known coleco pixel artist.

You can see a preview here :

This guy has already developed two other commercial games for coleco, puzzli, and bomb 'n blast.
The wip of lock'n chase was done only 3 days of dev (without any PCE and huc knowledges) .

BFG is a chinese man, he never sleeps in fact  

[Arkhan Asylum]

**Lock n' Chase


Glad to see the coleco-dude is movin this way.   More PCE development = Happy.

[touko]

**Lock n' Chase

Hoops  , edited

[Arkhan Asylum]

I have this game for the Intellivision.  It's one of the only games for it I don't think sucks.

[touko]

I didn't know until i saw it on coleco .

[TurboXray]

Haha, very cool. Thanks for the link/news.

[touko]

 

[ParanoiaDragon]

Hmm, there's not much paralax in this game, needs more paralax!   Kidding.    Looking good! Is there going to be music & sound effects when all is finished?  Is he going to release it professionally, or only as an iso?

[ccovell]

Aha, I was going to suggest he look into the Gameboy version for better graphics, and it looks like he did!  Copied them straight.   

The colour scheme is awful, tho, but anyway...

[SMF]

Lock N Chase is freaking awesome, I still bust it out on my Gameboy every now and then. Fingers crossed it comes our way...

[esteban]

Nice! 

[Keranu]

Looking great!

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Woohoo, more Turbobs!  Thanks for sharing.

[Arkhan Asylum]

I hope he sees the project through til the end and does some other stuff too.

If he is comfortable on the Coleco and MSX, I am sure he has already discovered that the PCE is easier to work with as far as video is concerned.

[bfg]

Hi, i'm the developper of Lock'n chase. For the moment the dev process goes well. I've just finished coding a PSG librarie to make some sound effect and a little music. The only problem is that i'm not musician  So i have the same problem on Coleco or on any console with a music chip ... But, i'll try to do something acceptable. 

I'm waiting for the maze graphics from Crapahute, the game engine is near finished, just adding score, extra life tuning, welcome screen, next level screen, game over screen, but it's details.

I think i'll add one or two more maze for this PCEngine version, well, i'll see.

Thanks for your comments and appreciation. (And sorry for my bad english, i'm french).

[Arkhan Asylum]

Hi, i'm the developper of Lock'n chase. For the moment the dev process goes well. I've just finished coding a PSG librarie to make some sound effect and a little music. The only problem is that i'm not musician   So i have the same problem on Coleco or on any console with a music chip ... But, i'll try to do something acceptable.  

You should consider checking out Squirrel : http://www.aetherbyte.com/psg.php   It supports MML, which you might be familiar with already with MSX stuff.  (Assuming you've messed with MSX before based off of your YouTube videos)

What kind of stuff did you do for the psg library?   sound related stuff is stuff I am interested in. 

Thanks for your comments and appreciation. (And sorry for my bad english, i'm french).

Glad you're here.  We need more dedicated PCE game developers!   Especially ones from other scenes that have experience completing games.

PS: Touko said you were Chinese!

[bfg]

The soundLib is far from marvelous
Here's the lib

Code Select Expand

#include "huc.h"

#define LOOP 32
#define END 64
#define SILENCE 128


int idx_part_channel[5];
int *partc0;
int *partc1;
int *partc2;
int *partc3;
int *partc4;
int compteur_part_channel[5];
int c_on[5];

/* Initialise la librairie sonore*/
snd_init()
{
int i;
for (i=0;i<5;i++)
{
c_on[i]=0;
compteur_part_channel[i]=0;
idx_part_channel[i]=0;

}

}
/* Se positionne au début de la partition de la voix "c" */
snd_resetPartChannel(c)
int c;
{
idx_part_channel[c] = 0;
compteur_part_channel[c] = 0;
}

/* Affecte une partition "p" à la voix "c" */
snd_setPartChannel(c,p)
int c;
int *p;
{
if (c==0) partc0=p;
else if (c==1) partc1=p;
else if (c==2) partc2=p;
else if (c==3) partc3=p;
else partc4=p;

snd_resetPartChannel(c);
c_on[c]=0;
}

/* Change le volume global */
snd_setGlobalVolume(v)
int v;
{
poke(0x0801,v);
}

/* Sélectionne la voix "c" sur laquelle on va travailler */
snd_selectChannel(c)
int c;
{
poke (0x0800,c);
}

/* Change la balance de la voix courante */
snd_setChannelBalance(v)
int v;
{
poke(0x0805,v);
}

/* Reset le chargement de sample pour la voix courante */
snd_resetSampleLoad()
{
poke(0x0804,64);
}

/* Commence le chargement de sample pour la voix courante */
snd_beginSampleLoad()
{
poke(0x0804, 0);
}

/* Termine le chargement de sample pour la voix courante */
snd_endSampleLoad()
{
poke(0x0804, 0x8F);
}

/* Charge le sample "sample" pour la voix courante */
snd_loadSample(sample)
int *sample;
{
int temp;
   
for(temp=0 ; temp<32 ; temp++) /* Chargement du sample 32 octets */
         poke(0x0806, sample[temp]);
}

/* Charge un sample "s" dans une voix "c" */
snd_initChannelSample(c,s)
int c;
int *s;
{
   char temp;
   int channel;
   
   channel = c;
   snd_setGlobalVolume(0); /* Met le volume global à 0 */
   snd_selectChannel(channel);    /* On choisit la voix 1 */
   snd_setChannelBalance(0);
   snd_resetSampleLoad();  /* On reset le chargement du sample */
   snd_beginSampleLoad(); /* On va charger le sample */
   snd_loadSample(s);
   snd_endSampleLoad(); /* Fin de chargement */
   /*snd_setChannelBalance(255);*/
}

snd_initChannel(c)
int c;
{
   char temp;
   int channel;
   
   channel=c;   
   snd_setGlobalVolume(0); /* Met le volume global à fond */
   snd_selectChannel(channel);    /* On choisit la voix 1 */
   snd_setChannelBalance(0);   
   snd_setChannelBalance(255);
}

snd_stopChannel(c)
int c;
{
c_on[c]=0;
}

snd_playChannel(c,p)
int c;
int *p;
{
if (c_on[c]==0)
{
snd_setPartChannel(c,p);
compteur_part_channel[c]=0;

if (c==0) partc0=p;
else if (c==1) partc1=p;
else if (c==2) partc2=p;
else if (c==3) partc3=p;
else if (c==4) partc4=p;

snd_resetPartChannel(c);
c_on[c]=1;
}
}
   
/* Joue la partition de la voix "c" */
snd_playsound(c)
int c;
{
int *part;
int channel_select;

if (c==0) {part = partc0;channel_select=0;}
else if (c==1) {part = partc1;}
else if (c==2) {part = partc2;}
else if (c==3) {part = partc3;}
else if (c==4) {part = partc4;}
channel_select = c;

if (c_on[c]==1)
{
snd_setGlobalVolume(255);
/* Loop */
if (part[idx_part_channel[c]]==LOOP)
{
idx_part_channel[c]=0;
}
else
/* End */
if (part[idx_part_channel[c]]==END)
{
idx_part_channel[c]=0;
c_on[c]=0;
compteur_part_channel[c]=0;
poke(0x0800, channel_select); /* On sélectionne le channel qui va bien */
poke(0x0805, 0x00); /* On lui fait ferme sa grande gueule */
}
}

if (c_on[c]==1)
{
poke(0x0800, channel_select); /* Channel 0 sélectionnée */
if (compteur_part_channel[c]<part[idx_part_channel[c]]) /* Durée de la note */
{
poke(0x0805, 0xff); /*Volume à fond --> A paramétrer dans la partition !!*/
poke(0x0803, (part[idx_part_channel[c]+1]>>8)&0xF); /* On joue la note*/
poke(0x0802, (part[idx_part_channel[c]+1])&0xFF);
}
else
{
idx_part_channel[c]+=2; }
}

compteur_part_channel[c]++;

if (compteur_part_channel[c]>part[idx_part_channel[c]])
{
/*poke(0x0805, 0x00);*/ /* Volume à 0 --> Fait tout bugger !!!! */
compteur_part_channel[c]=0;
}
}

   
snd_playAll()
{
snd_playsound(0);
snd_playsound(1);
snd_playsound(2);
snd_playsound(3);
snd_playsound(4);
}

and an example

Code Select Expand


#include "SndLib.c"

/* Pour info
 Non utilisé dans cet exemple */
const int Mus_Notes[]= {
/*    C      C#      D     D#    E      F      F#     G        G#       A      A#     B        */
                                                   0x0fe4,0x0f00,0x0e28,/*0*/
   0x0d5d,0x0c9d,0x0be7,0x0b3d,0x0a9b,0x0a03,0x0973,0x08eb,0x086a,0x07f2,0x0780,0x0714,/*1*/
   0x06af,0x064f,0x05f4,0x059e,0x054e,0x0502,0x04b9,0x0476,0x0435,0x03f9,0x03c0,0x038a,/*2*/
   0x0357,0x0327,0x02fa,0x02cf,0x02a7,0x0281,0x025d,0x023b,0x021b,0x01fc,0x01e0,0x01c5,/*3*/
   0x01ac,0x0193,0x017d,0x0168,0x0153,0x0140,0x012e,0x011d,0x010d,0x00fe,0x00f0,0x00e3,/*4*/
   0x00d6,0x00ca,0x00be,0x00b4,0x00aa,0x00a0,0x0097,0x008f,0x0087,0x007f,0x0078,0x0071,/*5*/
   0x006b,0x0065,0x005f,0x005a,0x0055,0x0050,0x004b,0x0046,0x0043,0x0040,0x003c,0x0039,/*6*/
   0x0035,0x0032,0x0030,0x002d,0x002a,0x0028,0x0026,0x0024,0x0022,0x0020,0x001e,0x001c,/*7*/
   0x001b
};

/*
Commande,Note
<31 = temps pour jouer une note, Note
END -> Fin de partition
LOOP -> Boucle au début de la partition
SILENCE,durée --> A CODER
VOLUME,valeur --> A CODER !
*/
const int part_channel0[] =
{
   
   1,0x01ac,1,0x017d,1,0x0153,1,0x0140,1,0x011d,1,0x00fe,1,0x00e3,END

};

const int part_channel1[] =
{
   
   30,0x01ac,30,0x017d,END
};


const char sin_sample[]=
{
18,22,24,26,28,30,30,
30,30,28,28,26,24,22,18
,12,8,6,4,2,2,0,0,
0,0,2,2,4,6,8,12
};

main()
{

disp_off();
cls();

disp_on();
vsync(1);

snd_init();

/* initialisation du sample sur la voix 0*/
snd_initChannelSample(0,sin_sample);
snd_initChannelSample(1,sin_sample);
snd_initChannelSample(2,sin_sample);
snd_initChannelSample(3,sin_sample);
/* Demande à jouer la voix 0 avec la partition*/



   for (;;)
   {

/* A lancer dans la boucle de jeu */

if (joy(0)&JOY_LEFT) {snd_playChannel(0,part_channel1);}
if (joy(0)&JOY_RGHT) {snd_playChannel(1,part_channel1);}
if (joy(0)&JOY_UP) {snd_playChannel(2,part_channel0);}
if (joy(0)&JOY_DOWN) {snd_playChannel(3,part_channel0);}


      snd_playAll();
      vsync(1);satb_update();

   }

}

And no i'm french, they called me "the Chinese" because it tooks me generally less than 2/3 months to make a game from scratch to the end on Colecovision 

I've look at Squirell, but it seems it's only assembly langage, and i don't really know well assembly ...

[Arkhan Asylum]

Your current stuff looks like how Squirrel was when it first started.

I've look at Squirell, but it seems it's only assembly langage, and i don't really know well assembly ...

You don't need to look at Squirrel very in depth though!  It's all set to go.  We made it so that you just need to include the library and call the play function.  Don't sweat the details.

You just compile a .MML song, get the output, include it along with the library, and listen to the music.

I could help if you'd like.  Using MML makes it a bit easier to get music going, since you can convert from MIDI to MML really easily.

Or you can stick to your library, if it works for you.

You may find that a lot of array accessing in HuC will start to cause severe slowdown though.  Arrays in HuC are terrible.  Avoid them as much as possible.  It's hard to avoid them though, seeing as they're the most basic of data structures.

[bfg]

Thanks for the advices ! On Coleco arrays are a pain too. And array of structure more a pain ! (We use pointers to array and structure to speed up.)

I'll look closer at Squirell so, but if squirell make the music, how can i made SFX ? (Don't want for the moment to use CDROM or ADCPM fonctionnality.)

[Arkhan Asylum]

Thanks for the advices ! On Coleco arrays are a pain too. And array of structure more a pain ! (We use pointers to array and structure to speed up.)

Good to know.  I do some MSX1 and MSX2 programming on the side (PCE is my main thing).  I thought about trying some Coleco stuff.

Pointers/Arrays in HuC are pretty messed up.  You'll find yourself requiring assembly and making up your own structs to get the speed you need for games that are more complex. 

I'll look closer at Squirell so, but if squirell make the music, how can i made SFX ? (Don't want for the moment to use CDROM or ADCPM fonctionnality.)

Unfortunately Squirrel only makes music in the version we released to the public.

There is an internal "Aetherbyte only" one that does SFX too, but it's still having all of the kinks worked out before it ever gets released to everyone.  The Retrocade project we're working on is the testing setup for it.  No sense releasing a tool for everyone if it doesn't work right and introduces problems for everyone!

Maybe stick to what you have for now and use Squirrel next time!  You plan to stick around after Lock n' Chase, right ?  

[touko]

Thanks for your comments and appreciation. (And sorry for my bad english, i'm french).

Don't worry they are used with me  

And i have done my job to link squirrel to BFG, but yes unfortunately it does not allow the creation of sounds fx for now.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Thanks for your comments and appreciation. (And sorry for my bad english, i'm french).

Don't worry they are used with me 

Yeah, trust me, you two make perfect sense compared to Geralds and RegalSin!

=3

[touko]

Yeah, trust me, you two make perfect sense compared to Geralds and RegalSin!

=3

Lol awesome reference arkhan  

 

[2X4]

Does/will Squirrell have the ability to include your own sounds?  I think that would be very neat.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Does/will Squirrell have the ability to include your own sounds?  I think that would be very neat.

You can make your own 32-byte waveforms for it.  They can be used for instruments, sound effects, and even for modulation/envelopes.  there's preset instrument/envelope waveforms though.  They're pretty versatile.

In the coming weeks, I will be finally making a tutorial on it.  Ill start a new thread now so we don't hijack this one any further.

[bfg]

So, my sound librairie is 95% done (need to fix the PAUSE command for the sound, and change some action handle to more easily synchronise 2 channels to play at the same time).

Here's the game in action with some jingle :

[touko]

Wahou, excellent really  

[Arkhan Asylum]

I dig it.  The sound effects sound nice.

Do you plan on music too, or just sound effects?

[jlued686]

One of my favorite games on my favorite console? This is great news!

Are you releasing this on CD, or will it just be a download? If it gets a physical release, count me in for a sale.

[bfg]

One of my favorite games on my favorite console? This is great news!

Are you releasing this on CD, or will it just be a download? If it gets a physical release, count me in for a sale.

I'd love to release a physical version. But first, i must finish it. Then i'll look at the solution to make the game on cd.

PCEngine Homebrew on CD are they on burnable CD with lightscribe for example or professionally pressed ?

[jlued686]

Talk to Arkhan. He got Insanity professionally pressed and packaged, and I believe The Old Rover is using the same company for Mysterious Song.

[OldRover]

Professional pressing is always preferred.

[jlued686]

Additionally, and I know this subject is disputed back and forth to eternity on these forums, but I'll just say that some people aren't comfortable playing burned CDRs on their fragile, 20 year-old Turbo Duos.

[Arkhan Asylum]

One of my favorite games on my favorite console? This is great news!

Are you releasing this on CD, or will it just be a download? If it gets a physical release, count me in for a sale.

I'd love to release a physical version. But first, i must finish it. Then i'll look at the solution to make the game on cd.

PCEngine Homebrew on CD are they on burnable CD with lightscribe for example or professionally pressed ?

professionally pressed is possible:

see: www.aetherbyte.com/insanity.php

That's a pressed disc in the photographs. 

[bfg]

One of my favorite games on my favorite console? This is great news!

Are you releasing this on CD, or will it just be a download? If it gets a physical release, count me in for a sale.

I'd love to release a physical version. But first, i must finish it. Then i'll look at the solution to make the game on cd.

PCEngine Homebrew on CD are they on burnable CD with lightscribe for example or professionally pressed ?

professionally pressed is possible:

see: www.aetherbyte.com/insanity.php

That's a pressed disc in the photographs. 

Wow ! That looks great !! I must look in France how much it cost for a bunch of 10 or 20 exemplary of pressed CD, i think that the front and back cover can be made at home for gaining cost. (Sorry again for my bad english).

[Arkhan Asylum]

You typically won't find a place that will replicate only 10-20 discs.  Usually they have a minimum run of 300 or so. 

These aren't CD-Rs.  They are silver bottomed replicas made from a glass master of the original copy of the game.

[incrediblehark]

Lock and chase is a pretty fun game, and i would definitely be interested in buying a pressed cd from you if you go that route.

[Arkhan Asylum]

agreed.

Or maybe we can put it on the AbCards soon, assuming they turn out good.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Yeah, I'd deffinitely buy it!!

[spenoza]

AbCards makes it sound like Seen on TV exercise equipment. I like NuCards.

[touko]

1 week to make the game !!!

you still a year for polishing   ,that's comfortable.

[Arkhan Asylum]

AbCards makes it sound like Seen on TV exercise equipment. I like NuCards.

NuCards makes it sound like some NuMetal crap.  I like seen on TV ab crunchers!

[incrediblehark]

ArKhards

[ParanoiaDragon]

Any new news on this?