shanti77 Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 How does the game conversion from C64 to Atari using VBXE look like, the author has little knowledge of the C64 architecture, but is learning;) When I found the described source code for this game on C64, I thought it would be a pity not to use it. By the way, you can learn a bit of C64 architecture and VBXE handling. 17 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 Looks great, and holy hell, that PoKey soundtrack kicks 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5054480 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 Possible for sure. I'd guess he's using the VBXE bitmap to do the sprites though they still look to be in 160 res. Then you have the attribute map which is way more powerful than the attributes a C64 or stock Atari can do - allowing individual colour and palette selection per cell for each pixel value. Rendering a standard C64 sized sprite comes to 504 pixels which should translate to about over 1,030 VBXE cycles (more in case of background merge operations) Running at ~ 14 MHz the VBXE has about 284,000 cycles per frame. About 68,000 would be lost to a 320x200 overlay + attribute map. More cycles are lost if the CPU and Antic need to access VBXE memory though worst case there might be around 35,000 per frame. Assuming you just do an erase/redraw for each object then you should be able to do about 90 sprites which is probably more than the CPU could handle though creative use of blits can help with that also. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5054502 Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanti77 Posted May 7, 2022 Author Share Posted May 7, 2022 It is now possible to play and loop the game. c.zip 7 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5054874 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ZeroPage Homebrew Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 47 minutes ago, shanti77 said: It is now possible to play and loop the game. c.zip 26.88 kB · 8 downloads Thank you so much @shanti77, it looks and plays incredible so far! Unfortunately I'm get screen data corruption on Altirra 4.01 with (NTSC or PAL with VBXE enabled) around the time where the two guards are leading the prisoner off the screen, before that everything looks perfect. What settings should this be played with? - James Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5054905 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Muddyfunster Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 I tried this out on my 130XE with VBXE and it plays really well, very fluid! FYI I did get a constant stripe down the side. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5054945 Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanti77 Posted May 8, 2022 Author Share Posted May 8, 2022 @ZeroPage Homebrew The game is only played on the NTSC version, probably not made during vertical blanking with more sprites. Set the emulator to PAL and everything should work. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5055138 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALEXANDER Posted May 8, 2022 Share Posted May 8, 2022 15 hours ago, shanti77 said: It is now possible to play and loop the game. c.zip 26.88 kB · 98 downloads Great Shanti77 ! All atarians wish you the best success for your project. Go on ! Atari 8 bits and you can !!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vMSIEYxnl4 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5055191 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ZeroPage Homebrew Posted May 8, 2022 Share Posted May 8, 2022 10 hours ago, shanti77 said: @ZeroPage Homebrew The game is only played on the NTSC version, probably not made during vertical blanking with more sprites. Set the emulator to PAL and everything should work. That did it, thank you so much Janusz! Will you also be porting over a POKEY version of Rob Hubbard's incredible C64 music from the game? The Commando music is definitely one of my favourites from the C64 SID chip. - James Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5055350 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALEXANDER Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 15 hours ago, ALEXANDER said: Great Shanti77 ! All atarians wish you the best success for your project. Go on ! Atari 8 bits and you can !!! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5055540 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yautja Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Any plans for the 8 levels version? Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5055675 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+JAC! Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 "I found the described source code for this game" - that is the most surprising part for me - I never thing these things when I search for them :-). Looking forward to see the code how you use the VBXE. 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5055981 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Speaking of source code... source for the 7800 version is available. It's similar to the 8-bit version, in many ways (both developed by Sculptured), but also superior in a lot of ways. I'm not sure the 7800 version has as many levels as the 8-bit version, though. Commando (7800) - Source.zip 3 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057455 Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanti77 Posted May 12, 2022 Author Share Posted May 12, 2022 Latest version + source. Maybe someone wants to mess with themselves, I don't have time yet. Commando110522.zip commando_source.zip 8 4 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057464 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saberman Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Gameplay - final version: 4 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057482 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALEXANDER Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 2 hours ago, shanti77 said: Latest version + source. Maybe someone wants to mess with themselves, I don't have time yet. Commando110522.zip 31.06 kB · 17 downloads commando_source.zip 16.06 MB · 8 downloads Awesome Shanti77 !! I wonder with VBXE could add more colors. Anyway. it´s really good. !! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057534 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrathchild Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 @shanti77 what steps do you use to get from the bmp to the spr files? Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057716 Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanti77 Posted May 13, 2022 Author Share Posted May 13, 2022 (edited) @Wrathchild I scooped up the file with HexEdit, because the VBXE window is 16KB and the image is a little bigger. It should also be remembered that in .bmp lines are written from bottom to top. Of course you have to remove the $436 bytes header first. In total, $36 bytes is the header, and $400 is the color palette in the notation Blue, Green, Red, 00 (Only if it is a .bmp file saved in 256 colors). Edited May 13, 2022 by shanti77 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057722 Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanti77 Posted May 13, 2022 Author Share Posted May 13, 2022 (edited) file sprites256.bmp division: ----------------------- header $436 bytes (remove) ------------------------- sprites3.spr $1f80 bytes ------------------------- sprites2.spr $3f00 bytes ------------------------- sprites1.spr $3f00 bytes ------------------------- sprites0.spr $3f00 bytes ///// Each sprite is 2 pages in VBXE memory (512KB), 24x21 = 504bytes Edited May 13, 2022 by shanti77 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057736 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 (edited) I notice the sprites are still at 160 res. Did you use blit with 2x H-zoom or are the objects still at 320 res which could allow an easy improvement if someone redrew them? (OK, I guess 504 bytes would mean stored at 320h res) Edited May 13, 2022 by Rybags 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057737 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 Game plays nicely, very smooth' but at some point if possible fix the music and add fx (if this isn't possible then it's not a problem, but Commando is as popular for its music as it is for the game.) Not trying to be negative, I love the work involved and truly appreciate it.. Thanks.. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057745 Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanti77 Posted May 13, 2022 Author Share Posted May 13, 2022 @MclaneincIt's very easy to add new music with effects, just need someone to create it. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057761 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 (edited) 8 minutes ago, shanti77 said: @MclaneincIt's very easy to add new music with effects, just need someone to create it. Excellent...Where's Miker when you need him Seriously, any folks out there interested, get in touch with Shanti! Edited May 13, 2022 by Mclaneinc 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057762 Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanti77 Posted May 13, 2022 Author Share Posted May 13, 2022 As for the additional levels (Nostalgia version), you could probably get them from the C64 game. The levels are probably read there, but maybe not all of them. The basic maps are probably the same (possibly some minor corrections), just after firing a given level, track the location of the board appearance data (40x200 = 8000bytes) and a set of characters (2048bytes). All that remains is to track the trigger board (when new enemies are to appear, depending on the map fragment the hero is on), and the terrain mask table (256 bytes describe each character 0 = normal, 1 = no entry, 2 = sprite under the background, 4 = trench or water). Maybe you would need to add some extra actions for your opponents and finish the level. This, however, takes some time. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057767 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 (edited) 26 minutes ago, shanti77 said: This, however, takes some time. Then it takes time, we all should be just happy it's being worked on, no need to rush or to feel like you are being rushed.. Like the old saying, good things come to those that wait.. Thank you for the great work.. Paul.. PS, As a C64 owner I love the work Nostalgia do so would love to see any of their extra work in your port, thanks for thinking about adding it. Edited May 13, 2022 by Mclaneinc Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/335393-commando-from-c64-with-atari-vbxe-sources-is-it-possible-and-how-fast/#findComment-5057770 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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