Easier graphics on zx spectrum

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MrPixel
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Easier graphics on zx spectrum

Post by MrPixel »

now, I know the plot and draw commands are sufficient, but as i am using a laptop and thus, the crappy touchpad, I want to know if there are better ways to make graphics for the system, outside utilities, that let you drag and drop and stuff like that.
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PeterJ
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Re: Easier graphics on zx spectrum

Post by PeterJ »

[mention]MrPixel[/mention] try ZXPaint which is available here:

http://www.zx-modules.de
Ralf
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Re: Easier graphics on zx spectrum

Post by Ralf »

Do you want to create vector graphics (as you mentioned plot and draw) or pixel graphics?

Nowadays most people doing actual graphics for games etc. don't draw it on real Spectrum or in Spectrum emulator. They do with PC tools and then convert to desired Spectrum format.
MrPixel
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Re: Easier graphics on zx spectrum

Post by MrPixel »

Ralf wrote: Fri Apr 20, 2018 10:04 am Do you want to create vector graphics (as you mentioned plot and draw) or pixel graphics?

Nowadays most people doing actual graphics for games etc. don't draw it on real Spectrum or in Spectrum emulator. They do with PC tools and then convert to desired Spectrum format.
i believe in the old ways of programming. using what you can in a limited state. if i use new tools, i am betraying that line of thought. i'll use ZX paint but nothing else
Ralf
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Re: Easier graphics on zx spectrum

Post by Ralf »

Sure. Do it your way.

Just remember that people always used the best tools and environments available at the moment.
Amiga, Atari ST, early PCs, even Amstrad machines as they had disk drive and better keyboard.
You could be surprised how many early classic Spectrum games were actually not created on Spectrum ;)

Were they "cheating" or "betraying" some values?
Nomad
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Re: Easier graphics on zx spectrum

Post by Nomad »

Men take only their needs into consideration - never their abilities.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Look there is no square-space for spectrum game development. If there were such a thing people would be churning out fappy bird clones on a daily basis. :lol:

You got to put some effort into this, invest some time to get results. Even the game creator tool you still have to put the time in to learn how to use it. It's all downhill from here on in terms of effort/time. Basic - little bit more control but a bigger learning curve. Then assembly - steep learning curve,
Spoiler
You mention plot and circle commands.. If you are going to do stuff in basic then think about putting the values in an array and using a for loop to build the screen. Will be slow though..

Assembly you create your own data structure through code, define the memory location you want to use - splurge your data all over it and then run the subroutine stepping through the data stored in these memory locations. You can use the routines in Rom to do this, but if you are feeling brave you can write your own plot routines.

At this point though you are saying 'I am writing my own graphics engine...'
Image

Cross platform development was pretty common. Especially if there was money on the line it made sense to develop on the system that gave you the greatest advantage that you had access to. If you are planning to do everything on the spectrum just from basic that is going to suck.

Software on the spectrum .. yea I mean its possible but you are making a rod for your own back.

Stuff like Grafx2,spectrum paintbrush, SevenUP are way ahead of anything you can get to develop on the spectrum. Time/Quality/Features you win big creating this stuff on a modern system.

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LymCezUg7HI[/media]

Listen carefully to Smith is saying, he was worried about if people paid for the game, he had a tight development cycle and used a development process/tools that enabled him to create games in the most efficient way possible. If one of the top developers of that era took this approach and was so focused on the $$$ more than some 'author/artist' expression idea. Imagine what it would have been like for the B/C/D team guys who just wanted to churn out as many titles as possible.
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