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New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2017 10:12 pm
by Alessandro
Hi everybody! Here is my New Year's gift to you: the new version of my first Spectrum game ever, Lost In My Spectrum.

The objective is simple - help Alessandro escape from his Spectrum by collecting all the objects in each screen and reaching the exit (although a couple of screens don't have any!) before time reaches zero.

Full instructions will be available as soon as possible :-) Controls: Keyboard (redefinable), Kempston, Sinclair. Default keys are: Q = left, W = right, M = jump, H = hold.

48K (multiload) and 128K versions available.

Six languages: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/Nc_VXS7Y1R4[/youtube]

What's new in version 2.0

The game is now divided into three sections of 10 screens each. All of the previous 20 screens, including those from the Extended Version, have been included, together with the Epilogue final screen which was absent from the Extended Version. Starting points can be recalled later by entering a code, which is given at the end of the previous section; to play the first section again, just press ENTER at the code insertion screen. The section loaded last can be played after the game is over, unless the player chooses another section or the game is loaded again.

The 10 brand new screens are (English version names):
- Ancient Ruins (B-1)
- The Pink Inferno (B-2)
- The Mages’ Guild (B-3)
- Pirates, Ahoy! (B-4)
- Egg Heads (B-5)
- Back With The U.F.O.’s (B-6)
Is There Life On Mars? (B-7)
Fearful Symmetry (C-7)
If The Poop Hits The Fan (C-8)
Tape Loading Error (C-9)

Almost all of the previous 20 screens have been modified to make the game less difficult and more enjoyable. Some examples:
- Objects in “Homage To Mondrian” are now visible and there is no exit, the game moves on when the last object has been collected.
- No more “move or die” at the start of “Revenge Of The Joysticks”.
- Platform blocks on the Maneki Neko are now visible.

Other new features:
- New sprite types: moving platforms, cannonball, bouncing enemy.
- Many new sprite images, including the main character’s.
- The main character now has a death animation.
- Sprites are now not always of the same color in each screen.
- Objects now glow.
- Custom sound effects for jump, object collection and level exit.
- The melody of F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s “Lerchengesang” is heard between sections (48K only) and at the end of the game.
- High scores table.
- New key redefinition routine, which allows all keys to be selected.
- End-of-game congratulations message.
- “The 155 Blue Bubbles” had its name changed to “The 160 Blue Bubbles”.
- “Nekollection” had its name changed to “Jack-in-the-boxes”.
- The “stage completed” message has been omitted.

The 128K version plays background AY music – a medley of background tunes from several Spectrum games –, loads all the sections together, and displays a short animation at the end.

Download it!

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:15 am
by Wall_Axe
nice game,
on FUSE when i press enter it doesnt work and the enter name screen just stays as it is

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:03 pm
by R-Tape
Superb Alessandro. You don't do things by halves!

It will incur your displeasure, but I will be playing with infinite lives, and when I manage to hack it, infinite time :-p

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:11 pm
by Alessandro
Wall_Axe wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:15 am nice game,
Thank you!
Wall_Axe wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:15 amon FUSE when i press enter it doesnt work and the enter name screen just stays as it is
Which OS and FUSE version are you using? On my configuration - Windows 10 Home, FUSE 1.5.0 at default settings - both 48K and 128K versions start without any problem, and the name in the high score table can be entered as expected.

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:15 pm
by Alessandro
R-Tape wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:03 pm Superb Alessandro. You don't do things by halves!
Thanks Dave!
R-Tape wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:03 pmIt will incur your displeasure, but I will be playing with infinite lives, and when I manage to hack it, infinite time :-p
Of course I would not employ such dirty tricks :P

But as long as you are enjoying this creature of mine, never mind :)

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:44 pm
by R-Tape
Bug report - 128k English version, ZXSPIN 0.666.

Everything works first time, but if you die and restart the game it crashes (more accurately it hangs).

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:58 pm
by R-Tape
It doesn't happen if you use default keys, but defining the keys causes the crash.

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 2:19 pm
by Alessandro
Sorry Dave but I cannot confirm the existence of this bug. Here's what I did:

- load 128K English version
- redefine the keys
- start the game
- lose all lives
- start again

I did this in Spectaculator 8.0, FUSE 1.5.0 and Spin 0.7s, and nothing strange happened.

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 2:37 pm
by R-Tape
Ah it seems to be when I press keys (maybe the game action keys) during the black screen pause before the game starts. I'll have to try on a different emulator, no time now.

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 2:43 pm
by Alessandro
R-Tape wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2018 2:37 pm Ah it seems to be when I press keys (maybe the game action keys) during the black screen pause before the game starts. I'll have to try on a different emulator, no time now.
It seems to be a problem with the Exomizer Z80 decompression routine. I needed to preserve the registers before activating it, and restore them after, in order to make everything work correctly. Maybe we should ask Jaime (Metalbrain) about it.

As soon as I can I'll see if that happens on real hardware as well.

Update: It was a problem with the Exomizer decompression routine, in fact. I solved it by disabling interrupts before calling it and re-enabling them before exiting from it. Please download the ZIP file again.

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 6:29 am
by Wall_Axe
i'll try the new one just in case it fixes my problem

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 7:49 pm
by Seven.FFF
Wall_Axe wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2018 6:29 am i'll try the new one just in case it fixes my problem
If you can still reproduce it, record an RZX and verify that still has the crash when it's played back. Alessandro should be able to reproduce it too, then, if you tell him the exact version number of your emulator.

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 9:08 pm
by Alessandro
Update: The multi-language game manual, containing detailed information about each screen, tools used etc., plus a map showing all the screens, has been added to the ZIP file.

Also, the game will from now on not be downloadable from Google Drive anymore. A "dummy" file with a reminder will be provided there instead.

Lost In My Spectrum is now downloadable from my website.

The entry in the ZXDB should also be updated accordingly.

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 9:57 am
by Alessandro
Update:

Added:
- Turbo 128K tape image files
- .TRD multi-language disk image files
- 'Addenda' text file with some technical information

Changed:
The level code box design for the English and Portuguese versions has been made a character shorter in order to look more regular.

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 2:06 pm
by Einar Saukas
Alessandro wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2018 9:08 pmThe entry in the ZXDB should also be updated accordingly.
It was already updated! Although it doesn't include the files you added this morning, those will have to wait until the next ZXDB update.

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 3:20 pm
by Alessandro
All right Einar, but the English and Portuguese TAP version files, both for 48K and 128K, should be replaced by those present in the latest downloadable file due to the modified code box design.

Also:
  • the Comments section should now read as follows: Originally made for Firenze Vintage Bit in 2012. Latest version: 2.0 (31.12.2017)
  • "Language" should list the six languages the game (and its documentation) is available in.
  • The walkthrough video refers to the old (1.3) version and should be removed. Please replace it with the rolling demo video in the first post, or wait until someone provides a RZX recording of version 2.0.
  • Maps of the old versions should be renamed with an indication that they too refer v1.3, so that confusion would not arise.
  • Finally, I created a new loading screen, alternate loading screen (128K) and in-game screen for the entry. To whom do I have to send them?
Thanks for your understanding :)

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 4:33 pm
by Einar Saukas
The list of RZX recordings is provided by the RZX Archive. You will have to contact Daren about it.

Everything else you mentioned will be updated in the next ZXDB release. Please send screenshots to R-Tape in SCR format. Thank you!

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 4:50 pm
by R-Tape
I've sent you a PM Alessandro.

Your games are severe ZXDB collation training, they must contain every idiom and file type known to man!

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:15 pm
by Alessandro
R-Tape wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2018 4:50 pmYour games are severe ZXDB collation training, they must contain every idiom and file type known to man!
I like to cater for (almost) everybody's needs! :lol:

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 5:27 pm
by R-Tape
Some POKEs:

EDIT - Damn you Alessandro! They only work for the first section of the game and are specific to the 128k version! Will update another time. Probably.
Spoiler
32028,x lives
32031,x time
53798,0 infy lives
54363,0 infy time
47594,255 visible platform on Mondrian level (sorry Ale :-p)
I think some levels are better for the time limit, but spoils others.

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 7:28 pm
by R-Tape
One word about the level 'Coincidentia Oppositorum'.

Ouch!

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 9:37 pm
by R-Tape
Heh, I lost about 50 lives (not that I'm cheating) and decided to record my gameplay farce, then I completed it during the recording...

Image

Ale - can you complete this* while playing 'on bread and water'? And do you really expect anyone else to be able to?!

*(the whole game).

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:07 pm
by R-Tape
Completed, nice ending sequence.

I think I've been a little bit harsh on the difficulty, the collision is very fair and you've split the game into 3 with codes. This would have been pampering the player BITD. I still think 9 lives is too few and the time limit stops the player fully appreciating the fact that each screen is a little masterpiece.

And we'll never agree on hidden platforms :mrgreen:
Spoiler
Speaking of which were the hidden platforms on the last level a red herring?
What were the AY tracks btw? I spotted Brian Bloodaxe and JSW.

Thanks for a great game, I really enjoyed it.

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:31 pm
by Alessandro
R-Tape wrote: Sun Jan 07, 2018 9:37 pm Ale - can you complete this* while playing 'on bread and water'? And do you really expect anyone else to be able to?!
50 lives? You cheater! :P :lol:

Hint: The Coincidentia Oppositorum screen can be completed (rather) easily if you start from the right (black) half and then put the right side Alessandro back where you found him at the start before tackling the left (white) half.
R-Tape wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:07 pm Completed, nice ending sequence.

I think I've been a little bit harsh on the difficulty, the collision is very fair and you've split the game into 3 with codes. This would have been pampering the player BITD. I still think 9 lives is too few and the time limit stops the player fully appreciating the fact that each screen is a little masterpiece.
Thanks a lot :D Feedback from previous games, especially Seto Taisho Vs Yokai, finally convinced me that people do not have so much time nowadays to stick at a game before completing it, and being able to leave the game to continue it from a certain point later is better than the credits system I employed there. Codes are a way to achieve this without resorting to cheating.

And for admiring the screens, there is the Pause key after all ;)
R-Tape wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:07 pm What were the AY tracks btw? I spotted Brian Bloodaxe and JSW.
Two were taken from Tapper, and the Radetzky march is taken from Technician Ted, but the beginning of the medley? Didn't you really remember it? :(
R-Tape wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:07 pm Thanks for a great game, I really enjoyed it.
Thank you for playing and appreciating it! :D

Re: New version: LOST IN MY SPECTRUM v2.0

Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:07 am
by R-Tape
Alessandro wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:31 pm Two were taken from Tapper, and the Radetzky march is taken from Technician Ted, but the beginning of the medley? Didn't you really remember it? :(
For shame! I forgot to say Manic Miner.