A 'diskmag' for the Turbo/PCE: "COURAGE"

ccovell · 04/01/2013, 09:52 AM

Hi, everyone. Happy April Fool's Day!

No tricks or pranks this year. I've released a new demo for the PCE that I've been working on in my meagre free time since August. It's an oldskool "diskmag" type of demo I've named Courage.

Try it out on your flashcard or on a CDR and let me know what you think!

Download: https://www.chrismcovell.com/data/CMC_Courage_Diskmag.zip

_Paul · 04/01/2013, 10:38 AM

I'll take a better look when there aren't children running around the house but OMG the music sounds SIDdly awesome!

_Paul · 04/01/2013, 12:15 PM

I've run through this completely now.

I LOVE IT.

Also, I'd love to hear more SIDs on the PCE.

roflmao · 04/01/2013, 12:29 PM

I have one of the Gameofyou flashcards and unfortunately it wouldn't boot. I'll burn the iso later and give it a test run! Can't wait!

Nazi NecroPhile · 04/01/2013, 12:53 PM

Downloading now for flashcarting later. Woot!

Arkhan Asylum · 04/01/2013, 01:50 PM

Very excellent. The second that tune started I was like BAM. Terra Cresta!

This demo bleeds Commodore 64. It's pretty sweet.

How much CPU time does the SID player eat up? I'm sure some people would like to slap it into their games.

I think I still have a 5.25" disk laying around with some SIDs, but they might be too long and elaborate. At least 2 of them were 2x SID tunes.

peperocket · 04/01/2013, 03:10 PM

Great work !! Thank you for his diskmag !

esteban · 04/01/2013, 03:55 PM

STATUS: I am happy, even though I don't know when: (1) I will figure out how to use my flashcard/t (2) have a PC that functions

VERY HAPPY INDEED

mac · 04/01/2013, 04:32 PM

Very interesting read. Thank you

ccovell · 04/01/2013, 08:17 PM

Quote from: guest on 04/01/2013, 12:29 PMI have one of the Gameofyou flashcards and unfortunately it wouldn't boot. I'll burn the iso later and give it a test run! Can't wait!

Hmm, that's odd. Perhaps that flashcard wants ROMs padded to 1M, 2M, etc...? Try this version that I padded to 2 Megabits: https://www.chrismcovell.com/data/CMC_Courage_2M.zip

See if that works.

Arkhan: The SID player uses 13 raster bars on-screen, which translates to... 4.5% CPU use or so. The hard part of getting a SID to work on the PCE is simply memory management. (Well, the tech details page in my demo explains it...)

Arkhan Asylum · 04/01/2013, 11:03 PM

Sweet. It's not a CPU-whore.

Do you plan on releasing the SID-Thing as a standalone deal? I wouldn't mind busting out my 2xSID nonsense and making some tunes with it that I can put on the PCE.

touko · 04/02/2013, 03:21 AM

Wahou excellent, this sid player is

..

_Paul · 04/02/2013, 01:36 PM

Someone needs to post this on C64 forums. *points at Arkhan*

ccovell · 04/02/2013, 09:57 PM

Quote from: guest on 04/01/2013, 11:03 PMDo you plan on releasing the SID-Thing as a standalone deal? I wouldn't mind busting out my 2xSID nonsense and making some tunes with it that I can put on the PCE.

Sure, I'll release the SID code. You'll have a bit of work doubling up the engine to play 6-channel SIDs, but go ahead.

Arkhan Asylum · 04/02/2013, 11:09 PM

Quote from: ccovell on 04/02/2013, 09:57 PM
Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 04/01/2013, 11:03 PMDo you plan on releasing the SID-Thing as a standalone deal? I wouldn't mind busting out my 2xSID nonsense and making some tunes with it that I can put on the PCE.
Sure, I'll release the SID code. You'll have a bit of work doubling up the engine to play 6-channel SIDs, but go ahead.

Sweet.

Quote from: guest on 04/02/2013, 01:36 PMSomeone needs to post this on C64 forums. *points at Arkhan*

Mwahahahah

I'll do it soon, on Lemon64.com

Arkhan Asylum · 04/03/2013, 04:44 PM

I posted on Lemon64.com

Noone seems to care right now.

They're probably still trying to figure out how to install a PCE Emulator.

Right after they are done googling what a PC Engine is.

esteban · 04/03/2013, 06:37 PM

Quote from: guest on 04/03/2013, 04:44 PMThey're probably still trying to figure out how to install a PCE Emulator.

Right after they are done googling what a PC Engine is.

Indubitably.

Arkhan Asylum · 04/03/2013, 07:05 PM

Its the one thing that the C64 scene has going against it.

They're all pretty smart, but are a bit willfully ignorant/doofy about anything that doesn't have a big stupid C= or Amiga boingyball slapped on it.

ccovell · 04/03/2013, 07:24 PM

<Ahem!>

Arkhan Asylum · 04/03/2013, 07:37 PM

Quote from: ccovell on 04/03/2013, 07:24 PM<Ahem!>

yeah but you have to know what a PC Engine is to get that fired up.

I've actually had a few C= dudes tell me the C64 is superior to the PCE because of various nonsense details.

Crazed, blind loyalty!

cabbage · 04/03/2013, 10:25 PM

Yay, a diskmag for PCE! Do you plan for future issues? This one is full of great information; I certainly hope for more

The special effects are perfect. That title sequence is so cool! And I love the copper bars overlap--nice touch. Not to mention the, ah, "Courageous" easter egg, which made me grin like a kid again when I finally figured out what I was seeing on my tiny TV screen. Hehe

Fine quality, as usual, Mr. Covell

Well done, indeed!

SuperPlay · 04/04/2013, 01:57 PM

Hi Chris

Great work on the diskmag :-) Just having a look at it now and I like what I see so far.

Brings back some memories of diskmags on the Amiga, especially Grapevine.

ccovell · 04/05/2013, 02:11 AM

Can anyone tell me if they got my demo running on Gameofyou's flash card, either my 1st release ROM, or the one padded to 2M ( https://www.chrismcovell.com/data/CMC_Courage_2M.zip )?

Cabbage, Superplay: thanks for your comments!

Tatsujin · 04/05/2013, 04:41 AM

Oh damn i'll so fire up that tonite on the ME.
True SID on le PCE? How did you do this, Chris

_Paul · 04/05/2013, 01:08 PM

I got the initial ROM working on gameofyou's flashcard fine.
Second time I started it up I had to switch off and on a couple of times, but no issues beyond that.

roflmao · 04/09/2013, 04:24 PM

Hey Chris, I downloaded the 2M version and at first I couldn't get it to work, but I checked the "bit swap" box in the Flashcard app and played it in my region-modded TG16 with the switch set to "Japan" and it started right up. I don't have the time to tinker with it, but maybe the issue I'm running into has to do with the card or the software or the gremlin in my console.

Regardless, I was able to get it to run and it's awesome! The rotating-looking graphics along the top are sweet, as is the hidden Keith Courage level.

The font is kind of hard to read, but some color combinations definitely make it easier. I can't wait for the next episode!