popmilo Posted September 3, 2021 Share Posted September 3, 2021 Time to publish some details about my entry in this year "Abbuc Software contest 2021." Logic/arcade game inspired by an old arcade game called "Block Hole" ("Quarth" in Japan). Game was later ported to some consoles like Nes, Gameboy and unofficial releases exist for MSX and Colorcomputer. Since the first time I've played this in local arcade back in 90s I was puzzled by "find the largest rectangle algorithm". So when I got back into coding on Atari in early 2000s I thought A8 deserves a version of its own Years passed as I've coded initial block drawing routine, procedural generated levels, and tested couple approaches to make this recognition routine working. Let's just say they all failed So this year when time came to choose something to code for Abbuc compo, I knew there wasn't going to be lot of time during summer, so said to myself - it's now or never I'm proud to present this labour of love and many sleepless nights as I tried to make this work... Algorithm started working only maybe a week before deadline, so rest of time was spent making it look pretty, adding proper game maps and adding sound fx and adjusting it all to make it have that arcade feel, make player want more, and make dying fair, so you always get back for more. I've also tried adding music couple hours before deadline, but that didn't work as I planned so expect proper title tune to be added after compo is over and I can release updated version. Hope you like it. ps .I'll release source code after compo is done of course pps. If you find any bugs while playing the game, please let me know so it can be fixed in updated versions. Big thanks to the entire Atari community ! Cheers! Vladimir 37 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmilo Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 Well, Abbuc results are out, Blokz got 4th place so here it is Download: blokz_2021_popmilo_final_version.zip Please test, report bugs etc. Thank you all for voting and making Atari scene better ! Cheers! Vladimir 16 4 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4945440 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNameOfTheGame Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Congratulations! Glad to see the game out now. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4945457 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gury Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Great work, popmilo. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4945461 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sikor Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 Nice game. Thanks for sharing. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4945704 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cRc_atari Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 Nice game, but i found a bug 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4945879 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGHMW Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 On 9/3/2021 at 8:30 AM, popmilo said: Time to publish some details about my entry in this year "Abbuc Software contest 2021." Logic/arcade game inspired by an old arcade game called "Block Hole" ("Quarth" in Japan). Game was later ported to some consoles like Nes, Gameboy and unofficial releases exist for MSX and Colorcomputer. Since the first time I've played this in local arcade back in 90s I was puzzled by "find the largest rectangle algorithm". So when I got back into coding on Atari in early 2000s I thought A8 deserves a version of its own Years passed as I've coded initial block drawing routine, procedural generated levels, and tested couple approaches to make this recognition routine working. Let's just say they all failed So this year when time came to choose something to code for Abbuc compo, I knew there wasn't going to be lot of time during summer, so said to myself - it's now or never I'm proud to present this labour of love and many sleepless nights as I tried to make this work... Algorithm started working only maybe a week before deadline, so rest of time was spent making it look pretty, adding proper game maps and adding sound fx and adjusting it all to make it have that arcade feel, make player want more, and make dying fair, so you always get back for more. I've also tried adding music couple hours before deadline, but that didn't work as I planned so expect proper title tune to be added after compo is over and I can release updated version. Hope you like it. ps .I'll release source code after compo is done of course pps. If you find any bugs while playing the game, please let me know so it can be fixed in updated versions. Big thanks to the entire Atari community ! Cheers! Vladimir Nice! Is it possible to get a 5200 version of this as well? 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4946270 Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmilo Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 12 hours ago, cRc_atari said: Nice game, but i found a bug That's stuff I'm looking for Now just how to repeat it ? I recognize that part of level, I can move start of game close to it and then just try dozen of times to make that shape... Thanks ! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4946328 Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmilo Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 2 hours ago, BIGHMW said: Nice! Is it possible to get a 5200 version of this as well? There's no reason it wouldn't be possible. I'll ask @Wrathchild about 5200 specifics. Game isn't using lot of ram I think, and making a cart version should be easy as all code is one block if I remember correctly. Remind me in a month or two if you don't see any news about it 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4946329 Share on other sites More sharing options...
800XLNZ Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Thx for a great Atari 8 bit game 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4946372 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjlazer Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Very nice game thanks for releasing it! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4946620 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmp Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 On 11/13/2021 at 11:42 PM, popmilo said: blokz_2021_popmilo_final_version.zip 31.92 kB · 137 downloads Please test, report bugs etc. Thank you all for voting and making Atari scene better ! there seems to be an extra byte at the end of xex file Analyzing "blokz.xex"... -: 65535 [$FFFF] BINHEAD 1: 8192-37503 [$2000-$927F] (29312) <- CODE/DATA ERROR - Corrupt file: Incomplete address 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4947359 Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam242 Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 I'm enjoying this one a lot.. should have placed higher than 4th! 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4947760 Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmilo Posted November 17, 2021 Author Share Posted November 17, 2021 15 hours ago, tmp said: there seems to be an extra byte at the end of xex file Analyzing "blokz.xex"... -: 65535 [$FFFF] BINHEAD 1: 8192-37503 [$2000-$927F] (29312) <- CODE/DATA ERROR - Corrupt file: Incomplete address Please test this, looks like I left one ".byte 0" at the end of file, that didn't bother Altirra much ps. I'm using Kickassembler which started as c64 compiler, so had to do some experimenting before I was able to produce proper xex binary. pps. Which tool did you use for that analysis ? blockhole_new.xex Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4947886 Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmilo Posted November 17, 2021 Author Share Posted November 17, 2021 7 hours ago, adam242 said: I'm enjoying this one a lot.. should have placed higher than 4th! Can't argue with that Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4947887 Share on other sites More sharing options...
800XLNZ Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Thx for the update and I enjoyed the original game. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4947906 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNameOfTheGame Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 10 hours ago, adam242 said: I'm enjoying this one a lot.. should have placed higher than 4th! Yeah, I agree, it's really got a "fun" factor and that "one more go" vibe. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4948005 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yautja Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 (edited) The bug is still there. Totally agree that the game is quite addictive. Also, noticed that the ship "turns" when moving to the right; but not when turning left. Maybe it could be fixed. blozk01.mp4 Edited November 17, 2021 by Yautja Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4948086 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmp Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 8 hours ago, popmilo said: Please test this, looks like I left one ".byte 0" at the end of file, that didn't bother Altirra much ps. I'm using Kickassembler which started as c64 compiler, so had to do some experimenting before I was able to produce proper xex binary. pps. Which tool did you use for that analysis ? blockhole_new.xex 28.63 kB · 7 downloads looks ok, thanks 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4948224 Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 7 hours ago, Yautja said: The bug is still there. Totally agree that the game is quite addictive. Also, noticed that the ship "turns" when moving to the right; but not when turning left. Maybe it could be fixed. blozk01.mp4 2.8 MB · 0 downloads I see it turn/tilt to the left and turn/tilt to the right... are you having an issue seeing shading change due to monitor issues? the video shows the tilt/turn as does the game in real life... look a little closer or adjust your gear and you will see it's fine. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4948418 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yautja Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 3 hours ago, _The Doctor__ said: I see it turn/tilt to the left and turn/tilt to the right... are you having an issue seeing shading change due to monitor issues? the video shows the tilt/turn as does the game in real life... look a little closer or adjust your gear and you will see it's fine. Yes, you are right. BTW, I thought you considered the thin green and purple lines above the ship as a "bug". My bad... Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4948539 Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmilo Posted November 18, 2021 Author Share Posted November 18, 2021 17 hours ago, Yautja said: The bug is still there. Totally agree that the game is quite addictive. Also, noticed that the ship "turns" when moving to the right; but not when turning left. Maybe it could be fixed. blozk01.mp4 2.8 MB · 0 downloads Aha, that just because I've drawn three ship sprite frames in 5min I can make it more visible. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4948661 Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmilo Posted November 18, 2021 Author Share Posted November 18, 2021 20 hours ago, TheNameOfTheGame said: Yeah, I agree, it's really got a "fun" factor and that "one more go" vibe. That's what I was aiming at. Wanted to do two player mode, but was too late when I realized I spent all 4 players and missiles on one player For sure it can be done with more char mode usage. Need first to find that bug in filled rectangle detection... Can't pinpoint it... happens when you shoot many bullets at some shapes, and it could be tied with routine for erasing filled regions and scrolling so it's a big mess... Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4948663 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIX Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 (edited) Hey Vlad @popmilo, Great port of a great game !! I remember playing this with the "Renaissance" ship, I don't know if you deliberately stayed away from the arcade design, but just in case, here is my take on the Quarth ship, cherubs and all (they can be animated of course). feel free to use it or not ! Edited November 18, 2021 by TIX 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4948679 Share on other sites More sharing options...
popmilo Posted November 18, 2021 Author Share Posted November 18, 2021 2 hours ago, TIX said: Hey Vlad @popmilo, Great port of a great game !! I remember playing this with the "Renaissance" ship, I don't know if you deliberately stayed away from the arcade design, but just in case, here is my take on the Quarth ship, cherubs and all (they can be animated of course). feel free to use it or not ! I like it and sure can use it Can you just make both left right moving frames too ? First I tried converting arcade and gameboy quarth gfx, but it couldn't look good in a8 pixels... Then drew that ship sprite in gimp in 5min Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/324563-blokz-abbuc-2021-software-compo-game/#findComment-4948716 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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