Something 3D Maze-y. Perhaps.

[uglifruit]

Thought I'd post this here,

I've been working hard on seeing if I can write an 'engine' to draw a 3D view of a maze, just using the attributes. Hardly groundbreaking, I know, but I'm still pleased with my progress - as it is stretching my assembly skills.



This demo, as you can see, draws the screen, then just uses changes in the paper and ink colours to imply the maze from your viewpoint.

TAP file here:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AmvYCHV8PMQkhGV2tG8K7SkU3D6U?e=zhaylW

Q moves forward.
O turn left, P turn right.

Code: Select all

The 'map'.  You start at 'X' facing to the right:

1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1	
1,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,1,0,1
1,0,0,X,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1
1,0,1,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,1,1,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1
1,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,1,0,1
1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,1,1,0,1,0,1,1,1,1,1,0,1,0,1
1,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1

edit: correct version uploaded.

[+3code]

Nice, and very fast (when using left-right perhaps too much fast).

[uglifruit]

Nice, and very fast (when using left-right perhaps too much fast).

Yes, it's too fast at the moment. I've slowed the main draw loop down with three consecutive 'halt' statements so I've still got some time left to 'do other things' without it slowing down - and yes, the turning is a bit twitchy at the moment.

[FFoulkes]

Having worked on something like this myself in Python/Pygame, I think it's awesome, what you've done.
Were there Spectrum games back then, that used this? I didn't have any, but would have loved one. I know, there's "3D Monster Maze" for the ZX81 (probably the best game for the machine), but I don't remember one for the Spectrum.

[uglifruit]

I assume that Knot In 3D (also by Mr 3D-Monster-Maze, Malcom Evans) uses this kind of technique to draw the screen.

[+3code]

Were there Spectrum games back then, that used this? I didn't have any, but would have loved one.

As 3D labyrints, take a look at these:

1982 – 3D Maze of Gold
1983 – 3D Pacman
1983 – Labyrinth
1983 – Alien Maze
1984 – 3D Bat Attack / Dracman
1984 – Zig Zag
1984 – 3D Monster Chase
1986 – 3D Maze
1989 – Planet 10
1989 – Comecocos 3D

and others.

[uglifruit]

I can now put white 'panels' on the walls. Maybe they are exits. Or doors. Or something.



Updated TAP-FILE, with a few white panels to find.

[FFoulkes]

As 3D labyrints, take a look at these:
...
1984 – Zig Zag
...

Thanks! I remember the name "Zig Zag", didn't have it though.

Question is, what should be in such a maze? An entrance, an exit, doors (of course), something to be found (treasure), something to avoid (traps, monsters) probably.
Bard's Tale also has a clue on a wall or special event fields here and there.
In my maze, for now I just got a ladder (for the exit). Was already quite difficult to program, as I wanted it to be visible from a distance, and then getting bigger when the player approaches it. I may have seen such a ladder somewhere. Could be, the very early Ultimas turned to such a 3D-maze-view when entering dungeons. I didn't really play them though (didn't like the general Ultima look back then).

My ladder :

[+3code]

As 3D labyrints, take a look at these:
...
1984 – Zig Zag
...

I may have seen such a ladder somewhere. Could be, the very early Ultimas turned to such a 3D-maze-view when entering dungeons. I didn't really play them though (didn't like the general Ultima graphics back then).

Wizardry was too 3D and had ladders (iirc).

[Einar Saukas]

3D Monster Maze (ZX81) was an obvious influence for all other 3D maze games for ZX81 and Spectrum.

However does anyone know if the 3D maze concept in 3D Monster Maze was invented from scratch, or influenced by previous 3D maze games? The first 3D maze game was Maze War from almost a decade earlier and influenced several other games apparently...

[uglifruit]

I'd view them as a direct descendent of the Hedge Mazes (such as Hampton Court's) that became popular in the 16th Century.

I don't think Hampton Court has dinosaurs in theirs.

[p13z]

I'd view them as a direct descendent of the Hedge Mazes (such as Hampton Court's) that became popular in the 16th Century.

I don't think Hampton Court has dinosaurs in theirs.

That is because Hampton Court were just following up from The Labyrinth in Crete - which had a Minotaur (at least rhymes with dinosaur).

[rastersoft]

You can try to do a real version of Bandersnatch, the game portrayed in the interactive film with the same title from Netflix

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Mir ... ndersnatch

There are very little pictures of the "game" itself...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bandersnatch/c ... me_on_the/

https://medium.com/@marshan/how-to-play ... f47c6d4b7f

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/49047083428243294/

[uglifruit]

Just faffing a little with this, and I've made the display area slightly larger (now it's a huge 24x24 characters).

Here's the tap-file.

Still Q,A,O,P to move, and the Map is as before.


Not much to do in the maze, other than find the 'special' white panels on the walls.