Dig Dug (1983) - Graphic Improvements

[+MrFish]

Alright, time for a color update...

 

Quite a few changes, some which are subtle enough not to be noticed unless you look for them.

 

Some good news is that the game actually already contained separate tables for NTSC and PAL. Subsequently, there are a lot more changes compared to the original when played on a PAL machine.

 

Overall, backgrounds were already done quite well by Atari, but better for the NTSC tables than PAL (as some may already be aware of). So not a whole lot of changes necessary for NTSC on that part.

 

All colors are matched between NTSC and PAL, which isn't too hard to do; although, PAL tends to be a little lighter/brighter on the luminance scale (some minor tweaks may still be done later, if needed). One color that isn't matched, though, is the sky. Unfortunately, they decided to share a value between both version (for what reason, I know not...). What I've done here is picked a value that gives both NTSC and PAL a blue, albeit not the same hue (obviously). So, PAL ends up with the original NTSC color and NTSC ends up with a darker blue that leans towards purple. Interestingly enough, the new NTSC color is now closer to what the arcade uses. They most likely picked this because they wanted the truer blue for Dig Dug's skin. The arcade version is even darker, though, which I don't prefer. Plus, we don't have any dilemma about contrasting to Dig Dug's blue skin, because that's not really an option with a single color P/M.

 

In addition to all the other changes made (which I'm not listing here), I've made a few versions with various colored rocks/stones. This was more just for fun more than anything and somewhat a side effect of doing some real color tweaking. The alternate "Brown" version uses a brown leaning towards green. This version is a realistic option to the standard/stock version color, which is a brown leaning towards red. I personally prefer the standard/stock color, but for one minor problem: the bottom dirt on the first level (and others that use the same scheme) is such in color and luminosity that the stones can hardly be distinguished from it (something that always bothered me). With this brown leaning towards green, there is enough difference that they are easily distinguishable. So, as I say, the only downside, I find, is that the brown leaning red is a more pleasing tone overall.

 

The gray is a pretty viable option, as it has that slate-stone look. I look at the purple like it some type of quartz or gemstone. Either way, they're some interesting variations.

 

Thoughts and comments are welcome.

 

[Note: All screenshots are NTSC.]

 

Standard

 

 

 

 

Alternate Brown

 

 

 

Gray

 

 

 

Purple

 

 

 

Dig Dug (12-9-2017).zip

Edited December 10, 2017 by MrFish

[_The Doctor__]

Good evening Mr. Fish.

 

Why you called yourself Fish ? Any reason why ? I do like your intro arkwork from the original Dig-Dug ...

 

But not in playing mode there ....

 

You did sent upgrade in "playing mode" level 1 , better than photo on XEGS Original Box. I thought you were working on this issue which you did sent an photo of photoshop - Level 1 ?

Could be his name is Mr. Fisher...

logical to shorten a nick to Mr. Fish

Edited December 10, 2017 by _The Doctor__

[SS]

The 'Gray' background most says "Dig Dug" to me.

[pseudografx]

How about changing the whole score line to hi-res? That way it could use the original arcade font.

[+MrFish]

How about changing the whole score line to hi-res? That way it could use the original arcade font.

 

In fact, you could get something like this without too much trouble.

 

Edited December 10, 2017 by MrFish

[+MrFish]

Taking a liking to some of these instruction panels on arcade machines...

 

Here are the ones from Dig Dug.

 

Note that you need to switch back and forth from using the <FIRE> button and <START>

in order to get through them (a side effect of using multiple screens with the Integrator).

 

Dig Dug (1983) 12-16-2018.xex

 

Dig Dug (1983) 12-16-2018 PAL.xex

 

 

 

 

[David Alexander]

Hello, there was no intention to spam this thread. I see that my posts have been removed.

I was only giving thanks for the work and was going to mention the this to the podcast listeners like I did in the past i.e. Pac Man Arcade.

I should have also said that I shared your updates with listeners of both podcasts but since you misunderstood my intentions I came back here to remove my posts.

You may after reading this remove this post as well.

[+MrFish]

I appreciate the thanks, and there's no problem with you mentioning your podcast; but I did't appreciate seeing those 2 large advertisements, especially with no explanation as to why they were being posted; I did ask why they were being posted, before I had them removed.

Edited December 17, 2018 by MrFish