Spectrum Computing

Hi, this is a work in progress platformer.

Gameplay-wise I'm trying to keep things simple for now while I get used to the limitations of the Speccy and MPAGD, but the focus is on exploration. I'm open to any tips for MPAGD, particularly on avoiding any pitfalls later on in development.

I want to cram in as much variety in the graphics as possible while leaving room for some music and a title screen. I have several sprites and tilesets for 5 areas finished.

This is just a test area I made.

I was gonna say, superb graphics! but then I checked again the username and we could not expect less

Looks good! Arcade and platforms, right? That will be your first game as programmer?

Looks sexy and rexy. It looks like you know your way around MPAGD really well, and you're safe from the design risks that AGD has, as it's easy to backtrack without losing so much effort. Hope to be playing this one before too long.

Ivanzx wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2023 6:34 am I was gonna say, superb graphics! but then I checked again the username and we could not expect less

Looks good! Arcade and platforms, right? That will be your first game as programmer?

Thanks man! It's my first game for Speccy but I've been doing game dev/programming for several years only as a hobby.

R-Tape wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:29 am Looks sexy and rexy. It looks like you know your way around MPAGD really well, and you're safe from the design risks that AGD has, as it's easy to backtrack without losing so much effort. Hope to be playing this one before too long.

Thanks! That's good to hear. MPAGD is a great tool, and there seems to be plenty of tutorials and tips around.

That's looking great!

Good looking! I get some Rex vibe here

Looks. stunning. Rex/Myth = Mex or Ryth

Just lost about 10 days work as project no longer loads. It seems like a the project file became corrupt and removed all my map and sprite positions

Posted here by others: https://arcadegamedesigner.proboards.co ... ed-1-month

I might come back to this, not sure yet.

helpcomputer0 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 9:09 am Just lost about 10 days work as project no longer loads.

Oh that’s heartbreaking, I’m so sorry to hear that. Hopefully you’ll find the inspiration to pick it up again.

helpcomputer0 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 9:09 am Just lost about 10 days work as project no longer loads. It seems like a the project file became corrupt and removed all my map and sprite positions

Posted here by others: https://arcadegamedesigner.proboards.co ... ed-1-month

I might come back to this, not sure yet.

I know this pain.

If you have a tap file you may be able to import it.

Also, I think recovery is possible from the files that are created when you last test played the game - if you still have them.

Reach out to Jonathan on his forum, he will help.

My advice is don't add music or ASM until the end.

I had to abandon the Spectrum version due to corrupted profile file. Decided to convert what I had to PC and build on it. I hope its still OK to post here.

I'm no coder, as will become glaring apparent with my next question, but can the PC version be converted to the Seccy?

stupidget wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 3:27 pm I'm no coder, as will become glaring apparent with my next question, but can the PC version be converted to the Seccy?

Not directly/easily but converting it should be possible.

I'm designing it to use Spectrum colour restrictions and will be using Spectrum music, but I'll probably use more particles and sprites on screen than real hardware could handle, but those are just effects mostly and could be removed from a conversion.

I mentioned on Twitter but I'd be open to converting it to ZX Spectrum afterward if any programmer wanted to do it.

That looks fantastic! Love the particle effects on the water and the explosions. Out of interest, may I ask what you're writing it with?

helpcomputer0 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 4:12 pm Not directly/easily but converting it should be possible.

I'm designing it to use Spectrum colour restrictions and will be using Spectrum music, but I'll probably use more particles and sprites on screen than real hardware could handle, but those are just effects mostly and could be removed from a conversion.

I mentioned on Twitter but I'd be open to converting it to ZX Spectrum afterward if any programmer wanted to do it.

It would be such a shame if we couldn't play such a good game with the Spectrum look&feel on the Spectrum itself.
Please make a native Spectrum version if possible.
Until then, I'm going to play Rex and Myth, to relieve the frustration.

PROSM wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 4:16 pm That looks fantastic! Love the particle effects on the water and the explosions. Out of interest, may I ask what you're writing it with?

Thanks! I'm using Construct 3 with addons that apply the Spectrum colour restrictions.

Pegaz wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 4:27 pm It would be such a shame if we couldn't play such a good game with the Spectrum look&feel on the Spectrum itself.
Please make a native Spectrum version if possible.
Until then, I'm going to play Rex and Myth, to relieve the frustration.

I would love to see a Spectrum version too!

helpcomputer0 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 5:34 pm I would love to see a Spectrum version too!

That's a relief, thanks.

Working on the upgrade screen today.

Some more work on this, added a simple grappling hook upgrade.

I've nearly finished the player mechanics now, trying to keep them relatively simple.

Continuing work on this. This previews the different "suits" you can wear, here the grapple and then the lava/hazard suit.

Loading screen for the game, I changed the name too. Please can a mod change the thread title if possible? - Thank you to the mod who changed this so quickly.

Were you able to recover any of your game for Speccy deployment? It looks superb!

worcestersource wrote: ↑Fri Sep 01, 2023 1:33 pm Were you able to recover any of your game for Speccy deployment? It looks superb!

Thanks! Yea, I recovered all the sprites thankfully!

But I won't restart Speccy development until this is finished. Mainly because the design might change and it's easier to prototype outside of Speccy and then make a version after.

Messing around with a loader.