Pole Position modest sprite hack !

[Rybags]

Nice mockup. But how are the tyres being smoothed? It looks like you're relying on road coloured pixels for occlusion which wouldn't work since the tyres can overlay any PF type during the game.

[+MrFish]

Go look at the "playfield only data" for the car, in post #122. The PM's are only interleaved with those lines. No occlusion is being used, or necessary...

Edited November 24, 2018 by MrFish

[+MrFish]

Here's what the PM data by itself would look like (for the shorter version of the car).

 

 

[+MrFish]

Here's the playfield and PM data next to each other.

 

 

[+MrFish]

So, with the player, you're talking about changing the priority every other line in order to keep the PM's behind the enhancement graphics,

but in front of the track graphics? If that's the case, you could just window shade the PM's too (no PM data on the car enhancement playfield

lines) and you would need to change priorities every other line.

 

Correction on this, "you wouldn't need".

[Rybags]

Actually, I was wrong there - the extra detail scanlines are seperate to the road ones though you could still get colour conflicts.

OK - I think I see what you've done there.

Edited November 24, 2018 by Rybags

[TIX]

OK back to business..wow that was a tight fit !

New redrawn sprites ready for inspection,

I think I'm done with the main car and I have achieved a smooth animation cycle

check them out below (remember they appear flatter in-game)

Edited November 24, 2018 by TIX

[Gunstar]

I think you have outdone yourself TIX, they look great. A far cry from the originals, and with the same colors and resolution restrictions! Kudos!

 

I know you aren't even finished yet, and are doing all this to the original rom version, but is there anyway we could get the changes onto one of the hacks with the extra tracks, PP+ or PP X? I'm happy if not, but I'd be ecstatic if it could be implemented on the ones with the extra tracks!

Edited November 24, 2018 by Gunstar

[+MrFish]

...though you could still get colour conflicts.

 

How?

 

The PM's have priority over the road graphics, and the detail graphics are on separate lines from the PM's and road graphics.

 

And, as I said, even the gray areas on the car's body would not be see-through, because those are made from the background

color of the detail lines only, which are separate from the road graphics -- and separate from PM's (since I'm interleaving them

here too).

Edited November 24, 2018 by MrFish

[TIX]

 

BTW, if you want to discuss this further, maybe we should open up a new thread, so we don't overtake this one.

 

yeah thanks

[TIX]

I think you have outdone yourself TIX, they look great. A far cry from the originals, and with the same colors and resolution restrictions! Kudos!

 

I know you aren't even finished yet, and are doing all this to the original rom version, but is there anyway we could get the changes onto one of the hacks with the extra tracks, PP+ or PP X? I'm happy if not, but I'd be ecstatic if it could be implemented on the ones with the extra tracks!

 

thanks man!

 

well I'll take a look into it when I'm finished with this,

there is a big IF the sprites are sorted the same way.. it was brutal the first time round..

What is the absolute best version of Pole Position ?

[+MrFish]

yeah thanks

 

I've started a new thread for any further discussions not directly related to TIX's hack:

 

Atari Pole Position - Car Detail Enhancement Ideas

[+Cafeman]

Is there a ROM of the most recent changes to the car, TIX? I downloaded the OP one with the new explosion. Don't see any subsequent ones.

[TIX]

Is there a ROM of the most recent changes to the car, TIX? I downloaded the OP one with the new explosion. Don't see any subsequent ones.

 

Have you check the first revision of the car at: http://atariage.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_id=605881

 

Second revision (with the sprites 6 posts up) will be ready soon !

Edited November 25, 2018 by TIX

[Gunstar]

 

thanks man!

 

well I'll take a look into it when I'm finished with this,

there is a big IF the sprites are sorted the same way.. it was brutal the first time round..

What is the absolute best version of Pole Position ?

I personally think Pole Position X+ is the best version simply because it offers the most different race tracks. The (1) in the file name is just because I accidentally downloaded it twice and Windows added it. It was the one I found first on my unorganized PC.

Pole Position X+(Atari, Title) (1).xex

Edited November 25, 2018 by Gunstar

[TIX]

Hey ! still working on this !!

 

Revision 3 (revision 2 was a waste of time..) and final for the main car sequence, is ready (including the tire reflections)

I tweak and re tweak them until my head spin.. I end up using the full height of the sprite (24 pixels) ! I'm preeeeety pleased with them.

Check it out and let me know:

 

Next in line are the opponent cars

Pole Position (new sprites).xex

Edited November 27, 2018 by TIX

[Gunstar]

Well, I took your new car for a test drive. A few laps around the track. I am loving it! She looks beautiful, handles wonderfully, and explodes well! On any given frame your perspective angles couldn't be any better with the limited pixel resolution. Aside from GTIA shading (because I used to think they were GTIA graphics 9 sprites and not 4xwide pixel stretch) and actual color changes, this is exactly what I imagined could be accomplished, even within the constraints. It all looks even better in the eyes periphery when you are focused on the road ahead.

 

Both the explosion and car are brilliant. The car actually looks like a Formula 1 or Indy 500 race car instead of an airport luggage hauler. And after playing a while, I have to say the best choice for the wheel high-lights is the see-through gray/green. It is clearly noticeable (pun intended) but not an over whelming blinking like the original, which makes it more "realistic."I love to see the A.I. cars get even with me so they look as good too! So I'm looking forward to new sprites for the A.I., but the game looks so much better now and has me addicted all over again. I love when sometimes you crash with another car and the other car's explodes too and both explosions are moving down the road at different speeds.

Edited November 27, 2018 by Gunstar

[Goochman]

Nice work - looks great! I like this release, back when it came out it was a good conversion. If the enhanced car graphics from Mr. Fish ever sees the light of day that would be incredible.

[TIX]

Well, I took your new car for a test drive. A few laps around the track. I am loving it! She looks beautiful, handles wonderfully, and explodes well! On any given frame your perspective angles couldn't be any better with the limited pixel resolution. Aside from GTIA shading (because I used to think they were GTIA graphics 9 sprites and not 4xwide pixel stretch) and actual color changes, this is exactly what I imagined could be accomplished, even within the constraints. It all looks even better in the eyes periphery when you are focused on the road ahead.

 

Both the explosion and car are brilliant. And after playing a while, I have to say the best choice for the wheel high-lights is the see-through gray/green. It is clearly noticeable (pun intended) but not an over whelming blinking like the original, which makes it more "realistic."I love to see the A.I. cars get even with me so they look as good too! So I'm looking forward to new sprites for the A.I., but the game looks so much better now and has me addicted all over again. I love when sometimes you crash with another car and the other car's explodes too and both explosions are moving down the road at different speeds.

 

thanks for the confidence boost !

yes at times they look (in my eyes at least) higher resolution !

I agree the see-through highlights look better (with the occasional accident here and there)

 

Now the opponent cars.. this is another adventure in the dark.. I will need your help in this !

I think they are 4 sizes, with the largest sharing the frames with our car,

• 8 pixels wide
• 7 pixels wide
• 6 pixels wide
• 5 pixels wide

so we are dealing with the remaining 3,

if they are animated the same as the main car we have 7 frames per size, 21 in total.

I count 29 maybe 30 frames regarding them.. what are the rest ?

[+Cafeman]

(Never mind, I got confused as to what I was seeing)

[Gunstar]

 

thanks for the confidence boost !

yes at times they look (in my eyes at least) higher resolution !

I agree the see-through highlights look better (with the occasional accident here and there)

 

Now the opponent cars.. this is another adventure in the dark.. I will need your help in this !

I think they are 4 sizes, with the largest sharing the frames with our car,

• 8 pixels wide
• 7 pixels wide
• 6 pixels wide
• 5 pixels wide

so we are dealing with the remaining 3,

if they are animated the same as the main car we have 7 frames per size, 21 in total.

I count 29 maybe 30 frames regarding them.. what are the rest ?

Could they be frames for the missiles that make the signs? Or are they located elsewhere?

[TIX]

Could they be frames for the missiles that make the signs? Or are they located elsewhere?

 

I'm sure they are car related..

Am I correct in my assumption of the sizes of the cars and the animation ?

for example the very small cars animate ?? maybe there is another very very small sized car ?

 

I need another pair of eyes on this

Edited November 27, 2018 by TIX

[_The Doctor__]

when I played this during last revision, some competitor cars were already updated as they shared my (player) car data, so we had different cars on the track...at the same time

[+legeek]

 

I did a bunch of screen grabs and I count SEVEN car sizes total? I do not know if any of those animate. It does look like that some of the other large sizes also have turning frames. I'll need to investigate some more.

 

 

I'm sure they are car related..

Am I correct in my assumption of the sizes of the cars and the animation ?

for example the very small cars animate ?? maybe there is another very very small sized car ?

 

I need another pair of eyes on this

 

[+legeek]

BTW, I really like your sprite work on the car!

 

 

Update: It looks like all but the two smallest sizes have turn frames.

 

 

-Ben

Edited November 28, 2018 by legeek