The Southsider

I suggest dropping the slash in the zero - it's very hard to read.

 

(3 initials + 3 bytes for score) X top 10 = 60 - so I gather a page is 64 bytes?

 

Converting the score to a 2 byte value would give you 1 byte to store the level.

 

Another option would be to use the top 2 bits of each initial, though that would limit you to 32 levels. If the score's last digit is always 0 then you have another 4 bits available in the last nybble.

You could also pack the three initials into two bytes by storing the letters as 5 bits, which allows for upper-case letters, space, and dot, and maybe a few extra.

It looks like positions 1-9 would fit in 13 chars, and possible even 10 if you slide the 1 and the . over.

 

Given this, I'm wondering if a flickering 16-char routine is really that much better than a flicker-free 13-char routine? I don't know the details of the 13-char routine but I have seen a demo of it.

Given this, I'm wondering if a flickering 16-char routine is really that much better than a flicker-free 13-char routine? I don't know the details of the 13-char routine but I have seen a demo of it.

 

"10 CDW 123456"

 

Yup, fits into 13!

Thanks for the suggestions. Having thought about it some more, it wouldn't actually be necessary to use a 13 char routine as the kernel for the scores could be done with sprites like this:

 

0--101-10  or
0---01-101

 

However, I think I will go the 16 character route and pack in the wave number. If each initial is restricted to 32 chars (alphabet + punctuation), then I can pack three initials into two bytes and use the remaining byte for the wave number. This would then be displayed as 10-CDW-99-000000 using the full 16 char width. I'm only planning to have 32 or 64 waves in the game so this would work nicely, and the flicker isn't a big issue given the main game

 

Chris

However, I think I will go the 16 character route and pack in the wave number. If each initial is restricted to 32 chars (alphabet + punctuation), then I can pack three initials into two bytes and use the remaining byte for the wave number. This would then be displayed as 10-CDW-99-000000 using the full 16 char width. I'm only planning to have 32 or 64 waves in the game so this would work nicely, and the flicker isn't a big issue given the main game

 

How about using 13 characters but dropping the rank? If you display 10 scores, in order from highest to lowest, do you really need to label them 1-10?

But if you do that, you don't get the satisfaction of seeing your name next to #1.

But if you do that, you don't get the satisfaction of seeing your name next to #1.

 

How about using the Playfield and Ball to draw a nice big digit behind the score table showing the player's rank from the last game (if applicable)? A 7-segment-style digit could be done without requiring any CPU cycles during the score-digit-display kernel.

Hm... Anyone remember Paul Slocums flicker free 13+2 demo? Maybe it can even be tweaked to 2+13?

 

It's here: http://www.qotile.net/minidig/tricks.html