Trips in Flicker-free Land

[zsolt]

Since the release of the MONOCHROME Issue 2 (many thanks to Yerz) I played with the idea to write a program that uses the flicker-free display mechanism.

There was an interview with Paul (page 5-7: A FEW WORDS ABOUT ZX80), which aroused my interest.
Then I made my first trips in this world (here and here) and born some sketches.

It was not so easy as it seemed (worked fine with EO, but in real environment...)

sketches.zip

(6.16 KiB) Downloaded 171 times

In the ZIP you can find 2 sketches designed for 1K machines.
The "joytris" is a splash screen only, the other would be a pong clone, and shows more "vitality".

The latter uses a mixed-mode display. It has 2 lo-res lines (header/footer), and the board built from 8 type of hi-res lines, which contains:

• 1 - nothing (empty line)
  2 - left bat
  3 - right bat
  4 - two bats
  5..8 - as 1..4 with ball

And finally the Intergalactic Space Rescue.

rescue80beta.zip

(7.12 KiB) Downloaded 171 times

This great game was rewritten in lo-res, using the flicker-free mechanism. Of course this is not entirely true, as there is no display at the time of map generation. There is no audio yet, but (at least theoretically) handles the joystick interfaces (KEMPSTON and ZXPAND too - the latter device I do not have)

Try them please, and let me know if they work well with your HW (is it worth continuing?)

Regards,
ZSolt

[yerzmyey]

Zsolt:

> Since the release of the MONOCHROME Issue 2 (many thanks to Yerz) I played with the idea to write a program that uses the flicker-free display mechanism.
---------------
Well, I'm really glad I could contribute in my small way to ANYTHING on ZX81. And - moreover!! - on ZX80.

> There was an interview with Paul (page 5-7: A FEW WORDS ABOUT ZX80), which aroused my interest.
Then I made my first trips in this world (here and here) and born some sketches.
-----------------
Actually I do hope it's not the last new game for ZX80, hehehehe.

> And finally the Intergalactic Space Rescue.

rescue80beta.zip

------------------
Aaaaaah, I get it! The ZX81 version is for people who have low-res only? You should have say so on the beginning. Yes, a very good idea. I got used to ZXpand so much that I actually forgot only some time ago I had no hi-res at all.
'Cause I gather the game will getting bigger and bigger (up to 16K) due to levels?

> Try them please, and let me know if they work well with your HW (is it worth continuing?)
--------------
Even more - the ZX80 is excellent piece of work.
If the game isn't finished yet, I do hope You'd finish it. True, I don't have ZX80 but who knows - one day......?
And also I'm interested in the platform, so thx a lot for Your work!!!!!!!!!!

> Regards,
ZSolt
-----------------
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeez,
Y

[Moggy]

I cannot get these programs to load or run on EO or real zx80 with or without Zxpand

[yerzmyey]

Hmmm. I tested only on EO (obviously, as I have no ZX80 ), but as You might remember I use only the old EO.

[PokeMon]

Look at the video in the other thread for configuring the EO.
You need ZX80, 4k memory and WRX.

Its working on ZX80 in emulator but not with sound.
Tried with ZON-X in emulator.
Which option for sound or in this version eliminated ???

[zsolt]

Hi,

I cannot get these programs to load or run on EO or real zx80 with or without Zxpand

The programs were tested on my ZX81 and on "the old" EO v1.0a with following settings:

joytris: 1KRAM /no sound /no hi-res
playwme: 1KRAM /no sound /WRX hi-res
rescue80: 4KRAM /no sound (yet) /no hi-res

As in the video, after loading they give back the simple "K" prompt (no listing), then just RUN

Which option for sound or in this version eliminated ???

...is in progress...

Best wishes,
Zsolt

[zsolt]

Dear All,

Finally the sound effects also were completed - they were tested on EO (i don't have sound card).
The program (i hope) handles the ZXPAND- and KEMPSTON type joystick interfaces, and drives a ZONX compatible sound card (ports: CFh/0Fh).
The ZIP contains both versions (ZX80/ZX81) and the source too.

Test it please, any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Zsolt

[yerzmyey]

Again - I tested on the emulator and the ZX80 works OK (and looks great!).
Is it finished now?

[zsolt]

Is it finished now?

As the previous version, this is also complete - but now there are already sound effects too.
Zsolt

(ps:I'm thinking about a little song for the "ship found" screen. What tracker is the best choice? Vortex II?)

[yerzmyey]

The best is ALWAYS Andy's ZX81 SoundTracker.

But You can use the VT2 too.
Export (or save?) song as PT3 and use the ZX81 PT3 player then.