Moon Patrol for the beeb (New port, just starting)

[tricky]

I've been thinking about doing moon patrol, I wasn't a big fan and the beeb version really put me off, but I'm coming around to the idea.
The ground is a bit boring at the mo' and this isn't a beebem version
I also need to improve my music converter.

[RobC]

Looking good

[AndyF]

I concur that is a very promising start.

[tricky]

Thanks.
I had to tweak my VGM converter as the VGM for the music that I had found seemed to have been converted from ~60Hz to ~50Hz and back to ~60Hz and my converter was finding a 61.75Hz pattern! Anyway, reduced from 1K to 400 bytes and now plays at a speed much closer to the original (now a bit too fast). The "drums" repeat the same pattern, so I could reduce that to 200 bytes!
I have a few minor compromises in mind, but the result should feel very close.
I'm trying to think of a good encoding for the map between exactly the same ground/aliens vs random whilst still making it possible and predictable.
Memory is looking OK, but there won't be much to spare and I doubt that I will have room for the buildings or any extras, but I am open to suggestions.

[Arcadian]

Tried both demos. Impressed! Eagerly looking forward to the next (and the next and the next and the next! ).

[tricky]

Stalled a bit, just can't seem to stay awake!
I'll try to get a new demo by the end of the weekend.

[tricky]

Managed to get a couple of hours to add a longer tune and the buggy - can't be controlled but does have suspension

with_buggy.png (3.89 KiB) Viewed 11331 times

4.5K free

PS If you have an old beebem, the sound will be awful due to a beebem bug - I will try to remember to work-a-round it for the next demo!

[tricky]

URL:https://youtu.be/ISyFwWREmjM View at 720p+ for 50hz.
BeebEm version attached - sound is correct in some versions but way off in others!

[FourthStone]

Looking good Tricky

One of my favorite arcade games that I'd play at the local milk bar.

I'd collect soft drink bottles to collect the deposit, buy some lollies and then have a few plays on moon patrol, good times.

[tricky]

I've been having trouble sleeping and waking up!
Added moving SHIFT/RETURN and shooting up Z.
Debug output says 7K left.

[jms2]

That suspension is mesmerising....

[tricky]

I've eventually managed to get back to MoonPatrol and got slightly sidetracked with why beebem's timing is off and it took about one second to "fix" it in the version I have!

Code: Select all

void VideoDoScanLine(void) {
...
VideoState.VSyncState=(CRTC_SyncWidth>>4)+1;

I removed the +1 in the line above as the vsync ends one scan line too late.
I don't think this is the correct solution, and that it is more a case of two wrongs making a right as the colour changes are still one scan line off compared to b-em and real hardware.

[tricky]

Added shots up and forward and alien bombs (but no aliens), so there is a bit of a game there.
I still need to tidy things up and order them correctly, but is should start to feel like MoonPatrol.
I might have to make it easier to dodge the bombs.

bomb_screen_shot.png (4.09 KiB) Viewed 10885 times

Z/X slower/faster
RETURN shoot up
SHIFT shoot forward (can't hit anything with this gun).

[tricky]

Not getting very far very fast, so thought I would do something quick to get me going, so here is the VideoNuLA comparison screenshot.

Left: native beeb, Centre: Arcade, Right: beeb+NuLA
The beeb version currently has a slightly wider and taller play area but I have skimped a bit on the scenery and UI.
I moved the UI to the bottom so that the warning !!! are close to where you are looking for holes and not because it was easier to code
I will probably tweak the UI area a bit more, but it should be OK for now.

[Dethmunk]

Looks awesome Tricky.
I personally prefer the native BBC version for colour options. LOL Great stuff though loving it.

[tricky]

Sorry it has stalled, I've been trying to get over a cold for a fortnight and am still having trouble breathing.

[Dethmunk]

Get well soon Tricky. Moon Patrol is looking awesome.

[tricky]

Minor progress update:

URL:https://youtu.be/nZaieTuQ4bg View at 720p+ for 50hz.

[lurkio]

Minor progress update:
URL:https://youtu.be/nZaieTuQ4bg View at 720p+ for 50hz.

Absolutely ridiculous!

[Muddyfunster]

This is looking great!

[simonm]

Love it. So smooth and the colours are great! Plus I'm a big fan of how you use the arcade fonts too.

[JudgeBeeb]

Marvellous

[mlouka]

Excellent stuff -- great to see the progress you are making!

[tricky]

Thanks for all the kind words.
I got a bit bogged down writing different sprite routines for every object, most of them have multiple routines!
Now I have plenty of frame time, but not much memory and will have to combine a few of them to get the memory back!
I'm currently prepping for Revival and discovering that most of my "spare" beebs have developed faults, but I think I have enough now and will be able to get back to this after Revival.

[0xC0DE]

Great work! Very smooth scrolling indeed.

[Rich Talbot-Watkins]

I know I say it every time, but I think this is probably your best conversion yet! Absolutely amazing bit of work!

[rmbrowngr]

Very impressive. Very well done.

[Muddyfunster]

Thanks for all the kind words.
I got a bit bogged down writing different sprite routines for every object, most of them have multiple routines!
Now I have plenty of frame time, but not much memory and will have to combine a few of them to get the memory back!
I'm currently prepping for Revival and discovering that most of my "spare" beebs have developed faults, but I think I have enough now and will be able to get back to this after Revival.

Thanks for the reminder on Revival!

[tricky]

Sorry, another minor progress update:

URL:https://youtu.be/Iq_jZaJs_8w View at 720p+ for 50hz.

[lurkio]

Sorry, another minor progress update: URL:https://youtu.be/Iq_jZaJs_8w View at 720p+ for 50hz.

This simply cannot be a Beeb! It just can't. It's bananas!

Fantastic!