Search found 2275 matches

by Ralf
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:18 am
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: Impossible games...
Replies: 16
Views: 462

Re: Impossible games...

What other well-known Spectrum games are technically possible to complete without cheating but, practically, are actually impossible?
Actually most of them. It would be easier to make a short list of games that are actually possible to complete for an average person :)
by Ralf
Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:08 pm
Forum: Programming
Topic: With Machine Code how much memory to leave basic
Replies: 7
Views: 278

Re: With Machine Code how much memory to leave basic

And what kind of game are you writing if I may ask?

Are you already struggling with little memory left or are you just checking?
If memory is a problem then you need to consider some optimisations.
by Ralf
Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:11 pm
Forum: Programming
Topic: With Machine Code how much memory to leave basic
Replies: 7
Views: 278

Re: With Machine Code how much memory to leave basic

Loading screen shouldn't really be any problem. You load it directly to screen memory while loading and the game later overwrites it. It doesn't occupy any memory when the game is running. Or did you mean something else? A game need some Basic loader. But if you keep it minimal (load loading screen,...
by Ralf
Thu Mar 14, 2024 12:09 pm
Forum: Brand new software!
Topic: My mod of ... Vixen
Replies: 9
Views: 675

Re: My mod of ... Vixen

Thanks for the comments. Yes, there is a problem that enemies sometimes (or maybe quite often) dissappear behind the scenery. It's the problem of the game engine. By default background objects go before the sprites. The exception are white objects which are ORed with sprites. Even if it could be cha...
by Ralf
Wed Mar 13, 2024 7:17 pm
Forum: Brand new software!
Topic: My mod of ... Vixen
Replies: 9
Views: 675

My mod of ... Vixen

Hello everyone ! I succeeded in completing one of my old projects. So there is a game called Vixen. It managed to attract some attention in the past due to that poster stuff, you can read about it if somehow you don't know the story behind it. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5589/ZX-Spectrum/V...
by Ralf
Tue Mar 12, 2024 10:19 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: Ring-O
Replies: 2
Views: 173

Re: Ring-O

It's this one:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... rum/Ring-O

It's almost like Zuma :lol:
by Ralf
Sun Mar 10, 2024 7:21 pm
Forum: Preservation
Topic: 2 demos
Replies: 4
Views: 294

Re: 2 demos

Just in case if someone doesn't know - "unlimited bobs" is a very well known, classic demo effect.
It's actually a clever but simple trick which doesn't require much CPU power:

https://democyclopedia.wordpress.com/20 ... ited-bobs/
by Ralf
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:56 pm
Forum: Sinclair Miscellaneous
Topic: Pirates
Replies: 7
Views: 250

Re: Pirates

Was someone on here not working on converting the Sid Meier one, IIRC?
Yep, it's the thread: viewtopic.php?t=1569

I guess that nothing came out of it.
by Ralf
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:51 am
Forum: ZXDB Discussion
Topic: A request for new tags
Replies: 20
Views: 419

Re: A request for new tags

Interesting idea with "boss" tag. Personally I would just add one global "game boss" tags and didn't go into details. However if you want to go into details then you will have: - endgame bosses (like Draconus) - end level bosses (Renegade) - middle game bosses (Castlevania, game ...
by Ralf
Mon Mar 04, 2024 9:59 pm
Forum: Sinclair Miscellaneous
Topic: Pirates
Replies: 7
Views: 250

Re: Pirates

You should realise that it's not a version of "these" famous Pirates: https://www.mobygames.com/game/214/sid-meiers-pirates/ I've never got deep into it but it seems to be some kind of a turn-based board game where there are two sides, each with its own fleet of ships. But could be interes...
by Ralf
Sat Mar 02, 2024 2:40 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: Game versions 48K vs 128K
Replies: 30
Views: 675

Re: Game versions 48K vs 128K

It was discussed many times here and on WOS but I'll leave searching for these old threads for others :) Here you can can check which +3 disk games have some additional content: https://zx-pk.ru/threads/31635-spisok-igr-s-uluchsheniyami-skonvertirovannykh-i-eshche-net-s-3.html (the forum is in Russi...
by Ralf
Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:36 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: Could Knight Lore have been (a lot) faster?
Replies: 10
Views: 464

Re: Could Knight Lore have been (a lot) faster?

Yes, probably it could be faster. Hard to say how much however, without getting deep into it. I suppose it wouldn't be an easy job. it cannot be done with one or two pokes and would require a serious rewrite. But I guess that with very good programming it could run at similar speed as Batman or Head...
by Ralf
Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:37 pm
Forum: Emulators
Topic: New multi platform emulator - Speculator
Replies: 10
Views: 597

Re: New multi platform emulator - Speculator

I've tried it and it is really promising - nice looking, easy to install and use.

Currenlty it supports only basic 48kB model but I guess it may change in the future.

Just the name is unfortunate, easy to confuse with Spectaculator.
by Ralf
Thu Feb 29, 2024 2:03 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: ZX Gaming Survey
Replies: 25
Views: 4617

Re: ZX Gaming Survey

I do play recent RPG games for Spectrum if that matters :) I played and completed: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/30064/ZX-Spectrum/Los_Amores_de_Brunilda https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/17203/ZX-Spectrum/Viking_Quest_2_Heart_of_Town https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/20749/ZX-Spectr...
by Ralf
Wed Feb 28, 2024 6:20 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: Devfinitive Edition (Keith Burkhill): discussion
Replies: 11
Views: 309

Re: Devfinitive Edition (Keith Burkhill): discussion

I have mixed opinions of Keith Burkhill works. His version of Commando is simply great. On the other hand I dislike his Ghosts'n'Goblins and could never understand why some people like it. It's smooth but that's all. It is difficult, has bad graphics (small, simplistic and limited) and is only about...
by Ralf
Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:10 am
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: The 20 games with a <= 10% rating from all three major ZX Spectrum magazines
Replies: 16
Views: 463

Re: The 20 games with a <= 10% rating from all three major ZX Spectrum magazines

Well, I don't know many of them but judging by the screenshots maybe that's better. An interesting case is SAS Operation Thunderflash which is actually an all right looking isometric game. But try to play it and you'll discover very quickly why it got so low notes. It's simply impossible. Some reall...
by Ralf
Sun Feb 25, 2024 2:02 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: The best Speccy game by Infogrames: discussion
Replies: 12
Views: 205

Re: The best Speccy game by Infogrames: discussion

They still exist and some time ago they changed name to Atari but they aren't Atari, my feeling is that they hadn't "moral right" to do it :) But they made good games in the past. My favourite would be North&South. Actually I played it more on PC and Amiga than on Spectrum but the Spec...
by Ralf
Fri Feb 23, 2024 7:14 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: Games that made good use of FLASH
Replies: 26
Views: 1562

Re: Games that made good use of FLASH

Neons in Renegade level 3 (Big Bertha level) use flash and it looks quite nice. Maybe it's a cheap trick but it adds a real value to the game. You know, in the 80s I really aprreciated animated background. Leaves on the trees moved by the wind, moving clouds in the sky, flowing and sparkling water, ...
by Ralf
Wed Feb 21, 2024 2:23 pm
Forum: Other Retro Stuff
Topic: Did actual game code get bigger as game machines evolved? (Excluding graphics and audio)
Replies: 19
Views: 717

Re: Did actual game code get bigger as game machines evolved? (Excluding graphics and audio)

As a non-coder, I'm still trying to get some idea of how much code is "enough" for most games? What is a comfortable amount to work with? Let me give you some estimate, how much space is needed for different things in a game: graphics: 5 - 20kB level data: 5 - 20 kB music: 5 kB screen buf...
by Ralf
Mon Feb 19, 2024 12:20 pm
Forum: Other Retro Stuff
Topic: Did actual game code get bigger as game machines evolved? (Excluding graphics and audio)
Replies: 19
Views: 717

Re: Did actual game code get bigger as game machines evolved? (Excluding graphics and audio)

The code got bigger because the games got bigger. If a game has more content then it requires more code to deal with that content. Another thing is a shift from games written in pure assembler to games written in higher languages or a mix of a higher language like C and assembler. It raises an inter...
by Ralf
Thu Feb 15, 2024 12:59 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: How big should new Speccy games be? 48k? Bigger? Release 2 versions?
Replies: 66
Views: 1585

Re: How big should new Speccy games be? 48k? Bigger? Release 2 versions?

Speaking of the cooperation between a coder and an artist... Doing a hobby, not-profit project in a team of several people bears extra challenges. First of all someone may quit. Get bored or occupied with real life. It happens. Or maybe he doesn't quit totally but will promise some stuff and never d...
by Ralf
Wed Feb 14, 2024 11:24 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: How big should new Speccy games be? 48k? Bigger? Release 2 versions?
Replies: 66
Views: 1585

Re: How big should new Speccy games be? 48k? Bigger? Release 2 versions?

It's up to the developer. In my own games I do them for 48kB model but also include AY music :) It's possible to play AY music on 48kB model. You don't need to modify the hardware and solder anything. You just need to connect a proper interface. And on emulators, you usually also have some option li...
by Ralf
Wed Feb 14, 2024 4:05 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: "Alfa Een" Afrikaans adventure game
Replies: 8
Views: 347

Re: "Alfa Een" Afrikaans adventure game

Well, good luck with your quest! I've checked it now and actually Google returns some possibly useful links about retro stuff in South Africa (not necessarily Spectrum). Maybe you'll find something useful there??? https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=south+africa+retro+computers#ip=1
by Ralf
Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:00 pm
Forum: Games/Software
Topic: "Alfa Een" Afrikaans adventure game
Replies: 8
Views: 347

Re: "Alfa Een" Afrikaans adventure game

South Africa, you say? Well, you put the difficulty bar really high :) I guess it could never reach other parts of the world.

Is there any retro community in South Africa? I've never heard about it. But you should probably start with them if they exist.