Jump to content
IGNORED

Fighter pilots needed in sector wars...


PacManPlus

Recommended Posts

I just wanted to highlight, that even though the 'limited color' 320 mode is being utilized, if you are playing your 7800 on a CRT there is the bonus of NTSC artifacts (PAL users have artifacts too, but I believe not as pronounced). An effect of such is the illusion at times of multiple colors when only one is being used as well as twinkling stars. There is also something known as phosphorescence which adds that 'trailing' effect you may notice on a CRT.

 

MESS contains CRT emulation with a proper aspect ratio which helps to better demonstrate how this game will appear on a typical CRT. Granted settings are not 'perfect' and there may be some slowdown due to the video performance of CRT emulation on top of recording the video, but to give you a better idea of how awesome Bob has incredibly developed the look of this arcade game on the 7800, here's ~45 seconds of the 'attract mode' running...

 

http://youtu.be/xEkUPnSpcvg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, I'll keep trying. I haven't been able to get it to trigger yet.

 

I have a suggestion for the difficulty switches. Difficulty A is exactly how things are right now. Difficulty B changes the Game Over events (running out of fuel, crashing while docking) into just a loss of a single ship.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just thought most games with difficulty switch functionality were made in the 80s

ANd a ton of 2600s made and launched in the 80s had them jr is the best example. Of course the 77 h6er was the first.

Tons of handheld vid game systems had difficulty switches in the 80s that I remember.

Edited by Jinks
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Guys:

Well, I've got good news and bad news.

I have speech in the game, but it basically can only fit the initial attract mode sentence (I can also fit '1', '2', and 'ships', but not 'remaining' or 'play over' - so it doesn't make sense to keep 1/2 a sentence).

I've added sounds to this game, although the player shot and enemy shot were more difficult that I anticipated. I got them as close as I could.

The only sound I have to add is the enemy ship 'buzzing' sound. Enemy buzzing sound added.

I will try and optimize ROM and see what else I can squeeze in, but it's not looking too promising. :(

Bob

AstBlstr.A78

AstBlstr.bin

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

oops - left my 'test mode' in. sorry :ponder:

 

I also added the enemy buzzing, as well as fixing the game to start at level 1

Please re-download the game in the above post.

 

To answer the question, I believe it's straight PCM encoding. The sample playing code I got from Schmutzpuppe. To be brutally honest, I'm not sure how to compress the sample (voice) data. Let me see if I can make some more room.

 

Thanks,

Bob

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Almost bliss.. only thing I would change would be the attract greeting "Pilots needed in sector wars"... just AFTER the title screen loads. Hate to have the only sound off once.

 

Sounds are great! Not really sure what to recommend about the voice - it doesn't FEEL like it's missing, really, but it would be a nice addition if at all possible.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Guys:

 

Thank you again :)

 

@Trebor - Thank you :) I actually took the wave file from the 'secret bonus sound' and the 'fuel refill' and went sound by sound to try and get it as close as possible. The refuel is a bit off because of notes that were missing in the 2600. But I figured as long as it had a rising slope it would serve the purpose.

 

@Jaynz - I originally had it there, but I was afraid it would get too repetitive and annoying. I put the voice back to the splash page, and what I did now was make each page of the Attract Mode last longer. Hopefully that helps.

 

I found that the 'fuel meteors' weren't triggering the explosion sound, so I fixed that as well.

Also, sector 8 as an Easter Egg has been added, although I don't think many of you will find it (aside from looking at the code). :twisted:

 

Thanks!

Bob

 

EDIT - to make the first few sentences more legible. :ponder:

AstBlstr.A78

AstBlstr.bin

Edited by PacManPlus
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In all reality, you could call this one 'done' at this point. Anything from here on out is just going to be gravy.

 

As for the voices, you might be able to shave off a fraction of a second after "Astro Blaster" before the wav's final 'pop'. The other alternative is to see how badly lowering the sample rate of the wavs would effect the output. Right now it's perfect sound, which isn't small as we all know. It's a balancing game, though, would 1/2ing the sample rate still work and also allow you to get some of the other voice in, or would it sound too choppy for the 7800? It could go either way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The refuel is a bit off because of notes that were missing in the 2600. But I figured as long as it had a rising slope it would serve the purpose.

The missing notes are not a focus as the rising slope is where the attention is drawn.

Quite honestly, you nailed it...Bravo. :)

 

I'm still awe-struck at the speed of development; seriously floored by how fast we have another amazing arcade port from PacManPlus!

 

To echo Jaynz, anything more is gravy at this point.

 

You've done it again...WOW!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

To answer the question, I believe it's straight PCM encoding. The sample playing code I got from Schmutzpuppe. To be brutally honest, I'm not sure how to compress the sample (voice) data.

How about cutting the volume resolution from 4 bits to 2? For lo-fi digital audio, it might provide acceptable quality. Or it might sound godawful.

 

 

It seems that getting game over while warp is active breaks the attract mode. When it goes to the gameplay demo, it just shows a blank screen for a few seconds then goes back to the title screen.

Edited by ZylonBane
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...