PCEngineFans.com - The PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16 Community Forum
Tech and Homebrew => Turbo/PCE Game/Tool Development => Topic started by: BigusSchmuck on November 27, 2011, 05:34:52 PM
Title: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on November 27, 2011, 05:34:52 PM
So I got to thinking, there are so many open sourced projects out there today of a lot of our favorite dos games and seeing how we saw some pretty good ports to the Turbo like Might and Magic, Prince of Persia, Lemmings, Loom, Wizardry and a few others, I thought to get other people's opinion on where to begin with on porting some other games over. I'm not exactly an expert in any way, I have only used HuC lightly a few years back and about the furthest I got was a scrolling demo, but I'm more than willing to learn more of the ins and outs of the program in order to get some decent dos games on our beloved system. So without further ado what do you guys think?
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: nat on November 27, 2011, 06:43:48 PM
Keen, hands down.
And while I'm a huge fan of episodes 5 and 6, I think Dreams would benefit the most from the Turbo treatment. Mainly because the game was originally released without the intended music, simply so it would fit on a single 5.25" disk.
Now I just did a rant on the other board about how much I dislike tampering with someone else's vision, but Dreams was actually meant to have a soundtrack.
A 1:1 graphical port of Keen Dreams, with an original soundtrack would be awesome.
Of course, beggars can't be choosers.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: CGQuarterly on November 27, 2011, 06:57:28 PM
I agree with Nat. Keen all the way.
Chris
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Mishran on November 27, 2011, 10:59:34 PM
While I had enjoyed playing the keen games when they were first released, I still give the Ultimas a run through on occasion since it's one of my favorite series. My vote goes to Ultima. Civilization would be a great candidate for a port as well.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on November 28, 2011, 12:27:33 AM
If you focused on a type of engine you might be able to port multiple games with minimal effort. A platform engine might get you more than one Keen game. Making a Gold Box engine port would get you several D&D games more easily.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on November 28, 2011, 12:28:19 AM
While I had enjoyed playing the keen games when they were first released, I still give the Ultimas a run through on occasion since it's one of my favorite series. My vote goes to Ultima. Civilization would be a great candidate for a port as well.
I already called dibs on Ultima ][.
My vote is Keen Dreams also.
I can help with the soundtrack.
and the vegetables.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Keranu on November 28, 2011, 11:08:40 AM
Other: Mysterious Song!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on November 28, 2011, 11:23:37 AM
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on November 28, 2011, 03:38:41 PM
You know I thought that was the name of a game, but upon googling it came up with some interesting results. ^^ I'm quite surprised no one voted for Monkey Island, I guess people are adventured out. Or even stranger yet: Zork. Or perhaps something more obscure in the mid nineties: Dominus. Too bad Dominus isn't open sourced though.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on November 28, 2011, 05:21:11 PM
Zork, eh? With what keyboard, exactly?
I'm still surprised there isn't more love for the D&D Gold Box games. I think they'd be rockin' on the PCE.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Mishran on November 28, 2011, 09:17:45 PM
Elder Scrolls: Arena =P~
That would be better suited as a CD game. Would likely be very hard, if not impossible, to port that massive game over though.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on November 28, 2011, 10:57:41 PM
That would be better suited as a CD game. Would likely be very hard, if not impossible, to port that massive game over though.
It's not really possible to do that game on PCE CD. It doesn't support the resolution needed, or the lighting/crap.
and it would have to load constantly. It'd be rough.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: roflmao on November 29, 2011, 01:47:10 AM
I almost voted for Keen. I have a lot of fond memories playing those games bitd. There are a lot of good options listed. I had to go with Civilization though. The first time I pulled an all-nighter playing a game was with Civilization. I bet it would have a HUGE save file, though.
...now I want to go play Civ4.
EDIT: Kind of off the subject, but I would LOVE to see some sort of Tower Defense game on the PCE/TG16 (Like Gemcraft or Defense Grid).
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: incrediblehark on November 29, 2011, 02:00:04 AM
I voted for Ultima, (Ultima VI with the voiceovers from the fm towns version would be awesome) but would be happy with any of these games really. I've been thinking for a while now someone should make a compilation of old abandonware games for newer consoles but hey if they're on the pc engine thats fine with me
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Senshi on November 29, 2011, 03:34:46 AM
I'm still surprised there isn't more love for the D&D Gold Box games. I think they'd be rockin' on the PCE.
Heck yes!
Sorry, Commander was fine in the early PC days, but D&D will always be where my heart is. I love the "gold box" games. So divine!
This is law.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Keranu on November 29, 2011, 02:12:55 PM
How about Bouncing Babies?
Not sure how well the PCE could handle this one though...
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arjak on November 29, 2011, 03:21:37 PM
I voted for D&D so that we can get a remake of one of the greatest RPGs of all time...
That's right! Heroes of the Lance!
Seriously though, I'm of course referring to the Gold Box games. I've become interested in playing them recently, so it would be nice to see them get an update!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on November 29, 2011, 03:23:50 PM
Why an update? They'd be fine as is.
I'd put the Goldbox games at the bottom of the list. OotG is good enough. Commander Keen is more important
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on November 29, 2011, 05:05:07 PM
well, doing a raycast engine on PCE is pretty ambitious.
Even commercial raycast games on consoles from this era were not so good. Look at DOOM on SNES...
Faceball on PCE...
The PCE doesn't have the resources necessary to do a free roaming game like Arena. Anyone who says the PCE can do it should get punched in the teeth.
It could do Wolfenstein, but not Doom. If it did do Doom, it would not be anywhere near as good as it should be.
Wolfenstein has single level/no lighting, so it's worlds simpler. Doom has slopes/multi levels/lighting. Arena has that and more.
there are just too many reasons why it can't be done and shouldn't even be attempted.
You really think it could do Wolfenstein?? Part of me would like to see that, just to see it done, but another part of me wouldn't really care about it. If I wanted to play Wolfenstein, I already have the definitive version on 3DO....not to mention the Jag version. It's not the greatest game ever, though, I consider it an important part of gaming history.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on November 29, 2011, 05:09:18 PM
You really think it could do Wolfenstein?? Part of me would like to see that, just to see it done, but another part of me wouldn't really care about it. If I wanted to play Wolfenstein, I already have the definitive version on 3DO....not to mention the Jag version. It's not the greatest game ever, though, I consider it an important part of gaming history.
yeah, there's a nice homebrew Z80 MSX2 game showing a wolfenstein like engine, with no slowdowns. They put a janky port of Doom on the ZX Spectrum, and there are some other demos showing that it could be done.
Wolfenstein is a much simpler engine than Doom. No lighting, no multiple levels.. it's just raycasting and stupid enemies. :)
OotG may be poor mans GoldBox, but it beats no goldbox.
and, I'd love to see Curse of the Azure Bonds redoned.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Black Tiger on November 30, 2011, 04:55:29 AM
I voted for Ultimas, but I'm not familiar with too many computer games.
As for Zork, isn't its gameplay similar to the 100+ digital comic/adventure/dating games already on PCE? I'm guessing that Return to Zork for PC-FX doesn't require a keyboard. Wouldn't straight ports of Ultima require text input? No matter what, even if faithful non-upgraded ports are what some people have in mind, I'm guessing that some sort of compromising will have to be made.
Doesn't Wolfenstein 3D for SNES run without any special chips? A perfect port might not be possible for PCE, but a custom version should be possible for any hardware. It just depends on how much needs to be altered vs how worthwhile the endcresult would be. The Genesis did a decent job pulling off a few real time fps games.
Maybe if you upgraded the gameplay, menus, music, battle bgs, rest of the tiles and sprites, extended the game and piled on a bunch of special features... But that would be a lot of work. :wink:
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arjak on November 30, 2011, 05:43:03 AM
It's good to see spenoza and Arjak know that the D&D games crush poor little Keen.
This is law.
Now wait just a minute! I LOVE Commander Keen! It's one of my favorite DOS game series! However, Keen is easily playable through DOSBox, and easily downloadable from almost every old game website.
The Gold Box games, are a little more hard to play, especially when you consider that they require a lot of pack-in materials that came with the game to play, much less appreciate them. I think that there is a lot that could be done to update them.
BTW, how hard would it be to make it so that if you beat Pools of Radiance for PCE, that it would save a file to memory that could be read by Curse of the Azure Bonds for PCE to import your characters? :wink:
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on November 30, 2011, 05:45:08 AM
I don't think the TG memory scheme uses any sort of security rules for saves, so I don't know that this would be a problem.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on November 30, 2011, 05:57:43 AM
I voted for Ultimas, but I'm not familiar with too many computer games.
As for Zork, isn't its gameplay similar to the 100+ digital comic/adventure/dating games already on PCE? I'm guessing that Return to Zork for PC-FX doesn't require a keyboard. Wouldn't straight ports of Ultima require text input? No matter what, even if faithful non-upgraded ports are what some people have in mind, I'm guessing that some sort of compromising will have to be made.
Ultima 1, 2 and 3 can be done with no text input, and as it stands, Ultima IV, V, VI, and VII were all ported to NES/SNES and had no text input required. They simplified the communication for console releases.
Ultima 3 and 4 for NES are pretty awesome ports of the game. They got the Dragon Quest treatment to them. They are worth the time.
Quote
Doesn't Wolfenstein 3D for SNES run without any special chips? A perfect port might not be possible for PCE, but a custom version should be possible for any hardware. It just depends on how much needs to be altered vs how worthwhile the endcresult would be. The Genesis did a decent job pulling off a few real time fps games.
Yeah Wolfenstein doesn't require special hardware. It would be fairly doable on the PCE. Look at faceball. It's practically Faceball. I'd say it's doable ,but highly ambitious/time consuming.
Now wait just a minute! I LOVE Commander Keen! It's one of my favorite DOS game series! However, Keen is easily playable through DOSBox, and easily downloadable from almost every old game website.
The Gold Box games, are a little more hard to play, especially when you consider that they require a lot of pack-in materials that came with the game to play, much less appreciate them. I think that there is a lot that could be done to update them.
BTW, how hard would it be to make it so that if you beat Pools of Radiance for PCE, that it would save a file to memory that could be read by Curse of the Azure Bonds for PCE to import your characters? :wink:
It would be perfectly doable. The games share an engine anyways, and have identical character data. That's why you can just use a character disk for Curse, that you used in Pool. :)
That would be an interesting setup
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on November 30, 2011, 06:38:34 AM
Considering you can do this with the Wizardry games, I don't see much of a problem there. The biggest hurdle to any of this is finding the source for some of these games especially those gold boxed D&D games. Keen, Ultima, Civilization (Freeciv) however, are open sourced and shouldn't be too much of an issue.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on November 30, 2011, 06:53:44 AM
The problem with Ultima is that the open source stuff uses the original data files, so you still have that issue to deal with.
But, like I said, Ultima ][ is a plan of mine for some day. So maybe we can scratch that off the list for now :)
The goldbox games have Unlimited Adventures engine, that could be screwed around with maybe.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on November 30, 2011, 08:06:33 AM
The goldbox games have Unlimited Adventures engine, that could be screwed around with maybe.
By the time Unlimited Adventures had been released the engine had been upgraded somewhat. It would probably need to be stripped back down a little to work on the PCE, especially given that UA was a slightly larger game and might need to hold a bit much in RAM. I think if you work from the original Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance games (3 each) you've got a robust enough engine for basically 6 games.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Keranu on November 30, 2011, 04:38:04 PM
Maybe if you upgraded the gameplay, menus, music, battle bgs, rest of the tiles and sprites, extended the game and piled on a bunch of special features... But that would be a lot of work. :wink:
Pfft, sounds like 5+ year project. Like anyone would go through that sort of effort!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: HercTNT on November 30, 2011, 05:09:37 PM
I voted for other. Personally i would love to see the original simcity or even better simcity done up Bonk style. Instead of a giant lizard stopping through your city it could be bonk. I dont think it would be to ambitious of a project, and the Pce could handle it nicely with better graphics and sound. Would love for it to support save game and mouse as well. Just my two cents.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: nat on November 30, 2011, 05:15:47 PM
I voted for other. Personally i would love to see the original simcity or even better simcity done up Bonk style.
SimCity has been done and done. The SNES has a perfectly fine version of SimCity already. But a BONK SimCity isn't a half-bad idea. I'd remake the entire game to take place in the Bonk universe. Bonk creatures, Bonk buildings, Bonk economics. As the game progressed into the future, the buildings/technology would evolve into the Zonk era.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Mishran on November 30, 2011, 05:32:50 PM
Hmm... Maniac Mansion?
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on November 30, 2011, 06:28:06 PM
I voted for other. Personally i would love to see the original simcity or even better simcity done up Bonk style. Instead of a giant lizard stopping through your city it could be bonk. I dont think it would be to ambitious of a project, and the Pce could handle it nicely with better graphics and sound. Would love for it to support save game and mouse as well. Just my two cents.
How bout' instead of a giant lizard, it be King Drool? :) And yeah, Maniac Mansion would be cool!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Edmond Dantes on November 30, 2011, 11:37:14 PM
Ultima 1, 2 and 3 can be done with no text input, and as it stands, Ultima IV, V, VI, and VII were all ported to NES/SNES and had no text input required. They simplified the communication for console releases.
And by "simplified the communication" you mean "turned VI and VII into freaking Zelda games."
Although, a port of Ultima Eight would be interesting (that was practically a Zelda game anyway...)
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: HercTNT on November 30, 2011, 11:40:24 PM
Nat you have my vote on that. I know simcity has been done and done, but i'm a fool for the game. Redo it the way you said would be outstanding. Having king drool stomping through bonkville like down town tokyo would seal the deal for me as well. If i can't have that though, I will take a Halloween harry remake featuring Zonk characters.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 01, 2011, 12:30:00 AM
Ultima 1, 2 and 3 can be done with no text input, and as it stands, Ultima IV, V, VI, and VII were all ported to NES/SNES and had no text input required. They simplified the communication for console releases.
And by "simplified the communication" you mean "turned VI and VII into freaking Zelda games."
Although, a port of Ultima Eight would be interesting (that was practically a Zelda game anyway...)
I try to ignore the SNES releases of Ultima games. They're tarded.
:D
Spenoza: The only real upgrade to the engine over time was the graphics. the rest of the engine stayed the same. Pools of Darkness plays just like Pool of Radiance, except VGA is all over that motherbitch.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: incrediblehark on December 01, 2011, 12:30:13 AM
Nat you have my vote on that. I know simcity has been done and done, but i'm a fool for the game. Redo it the way you said would be outstanding. Having king drool stomping through bonkville like down town tokyo would seal the deal for me as well. If i can't have that though, I will take a Halloween harry remake featuring Zonk characters.
What? Hell no, Nat is spewing crazy talk.
What he intended to say is that we need to take the existing PCE version of SimEarth and update all the sprites/landscapes with their analogues from the Bonk universe.
And to this idea—putting the Bonk in SimEarth—I heartily say, "Hell yes!"
Typographical corrections (as Nat intended) in bold:
SimCity has been done and done. The SNES has a perfectly fine version of SimCity already. But a BONK SimCity SimEarth isn't a half-bad idea. I'd remake the entire game to take place in the Bonk universe. Bonk creatures, Bonk buildings, Bonk economics. As the game progressed into the future, the buildings/technology would evolve into the Zonk era.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on December 01, 2011, 02:16:32 AM
Like I said before, I'll go for open sourced projects first. Hacking Sim Earth, however is yet another can of beans I don't think I want to tackle anytime soon. Baby steps here ^^
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 01, 2011, 02:17:31 AM
If you want baby steps, Keen is your answer. It's a simple platformer.
Ultima introduces the concept of first person dungeons and space-shooterthingy (Star Raiders ripoff).
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on December 01, 2011, 03:51:28 AM
As indicated in the poll, thats probably what I'm going to attempt. Once I feel comfortable with that, will move on to bigger projects.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 01, 2011, 03:57:42 AM
As indicated in the poll, thats probably what I'm going to attempt. Once I feel comfortable with that, will move on to bigger projects.
Even if you were to start smaller, with like a single LEVEL of Keen, I'm sure people would get erect from it.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: KingDrool on December 01, 2011, 04:41:40 AM
Sim-Whatever starring the Bonk/Zonk cast would be great! Hell, modding an RPG to give us the Bonk RPG I've been waiting for since '92 would be amazing.
But yes, Keen seems to be the way to go.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: snickersbar on December 01, 2011, 10:01:35 AM
I voted for other, street rod is one of the best car racing games
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Edmond Dantes on December 01, 2011, 01:43:32 PM
If you want baby steps, Keen is your answer. It's a simple platformer.
Ultima introduces the concept of first person dungeons and space-shooterthingy (Star Raiders ripoff).
That doesn't mean its gonna be more complicated.
Dude, Ultima: The First Age of Darkness was programmed in 1980 (that's almost a whole decade before Keen). In BASIC. By a single man. I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to crack.
I just voted for Keen because I'm in the mood for platformers lately.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Keranu on December 01, 2011, 02:29:10 PM
If you want baby steps, Keen is your answer. It's a simple platformer.
Ultima introduces the concept of first person dungeons and space-shooterthingy (Star Raiders ripoff).
That doesn't mean its gonna be more complicated.
Dude, Ultima: The First Age of Darkness was programmed in 1980 (that's almost a whole decade before Keen). In BASIC. By a single man. I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to crack.
I just voted for Keen because I'm in the mood for platformers lately.
The problem from all of the Ultima games comes from the first person dungeon perspective. That's a bit of an advanced concept, especially on a machine that doesn't have a bitmapped screen mode. The dungeons are all drawn with lines on the PC. You can't do that well on the PCE. It's all tile based. This complicates things severely.
and lets not even get into the into-screen spaceship portion. That's a whole second beast to deal with.
BASIC doesn't always mean it's easy.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Edmond Dantes on December 01, 2011, 05:00:42 PM
I'm sure that if it could be done on a freaking Apple IIe, then it can be done on a PC Engine. I mean, the system has flight sims and first-person dungeon crawlers already so we know its doable.
(Actually... does the PC-Engine have a flight sim? I assume it does but I've never heard of one...)
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on December 01, 2011, 05:34:22 PM
It has Falcon. Don't know what that's worth, though.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 01, 2011, 05:43:02 PM
I'm sure that if it could be done on a freaking Apple IIe, then it can be done on a PC Engine. I mean, the system has flight sims and first-person dungeon crawlers already so we know its doable.
(Actually... does the PC-Engine have a flight sim? I assume it does but I've never heard of one...)
It's not a question of whether its possible or not. It's a question of: Is this feasible as a first project for a newcomer?
The answer to that is no.
Lord British wrote many, many games for the Apple II before Ultima 1. Akalabeth wasn't his first game.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on December 01, 2011, 05:54:15 PM
I kinda agree with Arky (yes, it does happen). Given the lack of a bitmap mode on the PCE, a platformer (or shooter, or other simple, sprite-blitty game) might be an easier start. That said, if you do the first-person dungeon in chunks, un-animated, it probably wouldn't be so bad at all. What I mean by that is instead of walking forward smoothly, you walk forward one square and your perspective on the dungeon jumps forward.
Has anyone managed to determine how Double Dungeons does its animated step-forward bit? There are other systems from that era which surely do the same.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Keranu on December 01, 2011, 09:00:51 PM
I kinda agree with Arky (yes, it does happen). Given the lack of a bitmap mode on the PCE, a platformer (or shooter, or other simple, sprite-blitty game) might be an easier start. That said, if you do the first-person dungeon in chunks, un-animated, it probably wouldn't be so bad at all. What I mean by that is instead of walking forward smoothly, you walk forward one square and your perspective on the dungeon jumps forward.
Chunk moving is way easier to do, but it's still a pretty difficult task overall. It's not the keeping track of position in dungeon part.. it's the drawing of tiles that look well, then managing them in VRAM with your other stuff... and then putting them on screen properly. Not to mention it's a pain to test that kinda crap out. You have to make sure you can redraw the screen quick enough so the transition from block to block isn't a boring, laggy process. Some old games fall victim to that crap. Every step you get to watch the screen slowly appear again. Sucks.
Quote
Has anyone managed to determine how Double Dungeons does its animated step-forward bit? There are other systems from that era which surely do the same.
It's doing raycasting, IIRC. Raycasting without floating point nonsense is doable on systems of this era (There was a recent MSX2 homebrew game doing it all Wolf3D style), but you will note the playfield is frikkin small... and lacks variety. You can practically see each repeated 8x8 tile every time you turn in that game.
The biggest culprit of that is Phantasy Star. The dungeons have no variety to them! Games that do block-based dungeons usually have more variety. Look at Pool of Radiance.
Don't worry too much about Ultima. :) I already said I'd do it, and I usually do what I say. :)
Besides, the people want KEEN. Truthfully, I'd love to see an Ultima VI port to PCE, that uses the PCE mouse. that would be wicked.
it'd also be a giant pain in the cock. That game did some amazing nonsense with memory management/resources/lack of load times. Seamless transitions! W T F
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Mishran on December 02, 2011, 02:16:05 AM
Truthfully, I'd love to see an Ultima VI port to PCE, that uses the PCE mouse. that would be wicked.
There are some homebrew U6 engines on the net. If someone could figure a way to turbobify the code, it could be done I'm sure. I know jack about coding, so I'm just assuming. A version similer to the FM Towns U6 would be a dream come true. :pray:
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 02, 2011, 02:26:31 AM
Truthfully, I'd love to see an Ultima VI port to PCE, that uses the PCE mouse. that would be wicked.
There are some homebrew U6 engines on the net. If someone could figure a way to turbobify the code, it could be done I'm sure. I know jack about coding, so I'm just assuming. A version similer to the FM Towns U6 would be a dream come true. :pray:
We lack bitmapped goodness. The game would be awful to deal with. Lotsssssssss of loading would have to happen. Off the CD. It would suck a big ol' peter.
It's doable, but easily? no. It would mostly have to be redone from the ground up, as any code from any computer is going to do alot of bitmapped nonsense. The logic/battle/conversation/storage stuff would probably translate decently, but all of the visuals... would be from scratch. and it would hurt.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 02, 2011, 04:59:01 AM
It's the sequel to Maniac Mansion... and it's awesome! :)
And it's got a version of Maniac Mansion built into the game! Doubly awesome!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: nodtveidt on December 08, 2011, 12:24:39 PM
I went against the grain and voted Old D&D games. I'd love to see a PCE port of Pool Of Radiance... been considering it myself, in fact. But I already have enough on my plate.
Btw Arkhan, not to nitpick but... the original DOOM didn't have slopes. Those weren't added to DOOM gameplay until the ZDOOM engine and people exploited the feature for custom PWADs. The original DOOM code is pretty basic, really... though it was coded rather retardedly. Carmack was on pills when he coded it; C wasn't his thing and it shows (he was an Obj-C whore then and still is now). The original DOOM is little more than a heightmapping sector renderer that uses a pitifully simple double-scan raycaster core and the most ridiculously simplistic lightmapping scheme ever invented. :D
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 08, 2011, 01:24:38 PM
DOOM has slopes. It always has. Slopes meaning, various heights. Wolfenstein has 1 height for the whole game. Doom has many. It has elevators, stairs, pitfalls, balconies, and all of that.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on December 08, 2011, 05:12:47 PM
DOOM has slopes. It always has. Slopes meaning, various heights. Wolfenstein has 1 height for the whole game. Doom has many. It has elevators, stairs, pitfalls, balconies, and all of that.
You have an interesting definition of the word slope. A slope isn't a difference in height. It is an inclined surface. Doom has height differences. I'm sure there's a good term for that, but slope ain't it.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: nodtveidt on December 08, 2011, 06:32:06 PM
Those ain't slopes, Arkhan... those are just height variations. By your definition, a staircase is a slope (that's all DOOM has that is slope-like). You could, in theory, create a number of tiny sectors that are 4 units apart and 1 or 2 units tall and call it a "slope", though this wouldn't work too hot on the original DOOM engine as it would crash pretty damn quick. Again, slopes were not added until ZDOOM. My own PWAD (which is based on Heretic) uses slopes here and there, my favorite GZDOOM PWAD (The Ultimate Torment And Torture) uses them extensively. Neither of these will even load in the original engine, let alone run.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 09, 2011, 12:31:37 AM
slope/slant/angle/whatever
There are places where you run down spiraled staircases and the height changes so rapidly its just as good as a slope. There are also angular hallways/rooms/corridors. Riemanns Sum! Use a buncha squares to figure out a slope.
All of these kinds of things are not doable on the PC Engine. Wolfenstein on the other hand, with it's lack of stairs/heights/platforms/elevators/angles/shit thats easier to explain just by saying "slopes", would be much more doable.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on December 09, 2011, 05:33:43 AM
There are so many f*cking ports of Wolfenstein, and it's not even that great a shooter. It was historically important, but it wasn't all that fun. Yes, Wolf is a much easier to do FPS. I concur. But why would we want it on the PCE? So we can have yet another version? No, I say go for the stuff that's hard to get outside of DOS.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 09, 2011, 05:37:57 AM
There are so many f*cking ports of Wolfenstein, and it's not even that great a shooter. It was historically important, but it wasn't all that fun. Yes, Wolf is a much easier to do FPS. I concur. But why would we want it on the PCE? So we can have yet another version? No, I say go for the stuff that's hard to get outside of DOS.
Oh, I wasn't saying hey lets port Wolfenstein., I was just saying a game LIKE wolfenstein would be possible.
But no, I don't want Wolf3DPCE. Screw that. :D
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Necromancer on December 09, 2011, 05:39:38 AM
China Warrior 3D!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 09, 2011, 06:01:54 AM
Ho. ly. Shiat.
With Bluce Ree sound fx?
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on December 09, 2011, 07:28:37 AM
Or Heretic. ^^ I find it hard to believe we could port over the quake engine unless of course we include the arcade card into the equation, then maybe...
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 09, 2011, 10:25:12 AM
The arcade card isn't going to help much. It's the CPU processing speed that is the problem here.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: nat on December 09, 2011, 01:12:46 PM
There are so many f*cking ports of Wolfenstein, and it's not even that great a shooter. It was historically important, but it wasn't all that fun.
I don't know, Wolf3D is one of my favorite games of all time and among 3 or 4 FPS games I can even tolerate. That may have a lot to do with nostalgia, but it also might have to do with the beautifully simplistic design. Doom is another great one, but I like it slightly less than Wolf3D. (Don't mistake this as lobbying for a Wolf3D port on the Turbo.)
Wolf3D shouldn't be as historically lauded as it is, though. id Software created the Catacomb 3D games a number of years before Wolfenstein. They were the REAL grandfathers of that genre, Wolf just got more widespread exposure for some reason. Subject matter, maybe? The self-imposed "PC-13" rating? Who knows. The Catacomb 3D games (there are four of them) are my favorite 3D FPS games of all time. Wolfenstein 3D used the same engine (more or less) as those games, but they ran in EGA as opposed to VGA.
If I had to pick any early FPS game to port to the Turbo, it'd be one of the Catacombs. Either The Descent or The Abyss.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Keranu on December 09, 2011, 03:19:25 PM
I don't know, Wolf3D is one of my favorite games of all time and among 3 or 4 FPS games I can even tolerate. That may have a lot to do with nostalgia, but it also might have to do with the beautifully simplistic design. Doom is another great one, but I like it slightly less than Wolf3D. (Don't mistake this as lobbying for a Wolf3D port on the Turbo.)
You might find this shocking, but I agree with this entire paragraph 120% [BURNING Fest].
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: shubibiman on December 09, 2011, 08:45:25 PM
I voted Monkey island. Loom and Beyond Shadowgate showed how well the PCE could handle point&click games and this one is on of the best.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 10, 2011, 04:21:14 AM
man, the Catacomb games were awesome. We had those on my old ass computer. I think Wolf3D did better because of the shareware thing. Isn't it supposedly the most successful shareware game ever?
I'm with nat in this one. I don't like many FPS games past Doom 2. Quake is about it, really lol.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: nodtveidt on December 10, 2011, 05:47:40 AM
My thing for FPS games dies at Quake II. Shit just got stupid after that.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 10, 2011, 06:47:02 AM
Yeah Quake II is probably the last FPS game I gave two flying f*cks about.
oh wait, Quake 3 arena and Outtrigger on Dreamcast were fun!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on December 10, 2011, 10:58:50 AM
It's funny, bitd, I hated FPS's, they actually kind of made me sick, like some kind of motion sickness. But as the years have gone by, I've gotten into a few of them. I enjoyed the first 2 Red Factions(the 3rd & 4th games are 3rd person), the Half Life games seem fun but I haven't played all the way thru either of them. Oh, I did really enjoy Golden Eye & Perfect Dark bitd. I have XIII but haven't played it much, I do love that it's a cell shaded FPS. I do like Alien vs. Predator for Jag, but haven't gotten into the newer PS3 game. Skyhammer is pretty cool. Tried to get into the Resistance games, but, just couldn't for some reason. I have Jedi Outcast on the GC, it's dope, though, I've gotten distracted from finishing it. Metroid Prime Hunters can eat me, the regular Metroid Prime games(FPA's really) are....kinda cool, but, I still haven't gotten into them. I just want my old 2D stuff, so Other M was a step in the right direction. Cyberdillo is cool just for the cheese factor. I kinda like PO'd, but wish there was music or more ambiance or something. And I did find the Unreal games to be fun, though, the last one didn't do anything for me. One of these days I'll try playing Robotech Invasion & Warhammer Fire Warrior.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: roflmao on December 10, 2011, 11:15:56 AM
FPS's have been hit or miss for me. I loved the original Half-life (PC). And the first Halo (X-box). And both of the Left 4 Dead games (PC). I also spent a fair amount of time bitd playing Perfect Dark, though I never liked the N64 controller. Wolf3D and Doom were pretty awesome also.
But as much as I wanted to like them, Morrowind and Oblivion never really held my interest. I tried them both on the PC and their current consoles but none of them stuck.
Oh yeah, Quake III Arena on the Dreamcast was a hoot, but I recently dug it out again and it wasn't as much fun as I remembered. (Same with Perfect Dark - story-wise it's still awesome, but that damn controller... ugh.)
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on December 10, 2011, 11:18:47 AM
FPS's have been hit or miss for me. I loved the original Half-life (PC). And the first Halo (X-box). And both of the Left 4 Dead games (PC). I also spent a fair amount of time bitd playing Perfect Dark, though I never liked the N64 controller. Wolf3D and Doom were pretty awesome also.
But as much as I wanted to like them, Morrowind and Oblivion never really held my interest. I tried them both on the PC and their current consoles but none of them stuck.
Oh yeah, Quake III Arena on the Dreamcast was a hoot, but I recently dug it out again and it wasn't as much fun as I remembered. (Same with Perfect Dark - story-wise it's still awesome, but that damn controller... ugh.)
Yeah, the N64 controller can go to Hades. Oh, & I'm getting Borderlands, sounds like an FPS mixed with Trigun & Cowboy Bebop!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 10, 2011, 02:26:20 PM
Well Morrowind and Oblivious weren't FPS games. They're RPGs. Its an FPS for people who suck at reflexes.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: incrediblehark on December 10, 2011, 03:18:06 PM
I got some replacement thumbsticks closer to the GC controller and its not as much of a chore for me to play n64 anymore. Quake 3 dc was a lot of fun, goldeneye and perfect dark were great in the day but don't hold up well for me now with the framerate. I am not a fan of FPS games but when I do have people over those are the games they want to play :( Although I am working some bomberman into the mix and its growing on them.
As a side note, I find it interesting that the kids who play first person shooters call themselves "Hardcore" gamers when its the most popular genre today, they are more like the mainstream gamer than hardcore
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Keranu on December 10, 2011, 03:44:11 PM
I must admit, I have played a ton of hours of Jedi Knight online though (in third person perspective). Won't be building any hopes for a Turbo port though lol.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on December 10, 2011, 04:03:56 PM
I must admit, I have played a ton of hours of Jedi Knight online though (in third person perspective). Won't be building any hopes for a Turbo port though lol.
Well considering someone took the time to port over Halo to the Atari 2600, http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/02/halo-2600-halo-redone-for-the-atari-2600/ I think anything at this point in the game is possible.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: saturndual32 on December 11, 2011, 05:18:34 PM
Not on the list but i would love to see a port of the great DOS Turrican 2 on the PC Engine. The system need more jump and run action!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on December 11, 2011, 06:42:38 PM
I'd rather see a homebrew Contra than a port of Turrican 2. You've seen what the "pros" did to Turrican, not that I really care for the original all that much.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 12, 2011, 12:22:32 AM
If anyone ports a Turrican game to the PCE, I will personally delete them from Earth.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: HercTNT on December 12, 2011, 02:09:05 AM
Since we are all throwing out our opinions here. Personally i don't get peoples fascination with the quake games. Quake 1 and 2, doom 1 and 2 all use the same basic weapons and concept as wolf 3d did. For me, i would rather play wolf 3d any day as it did it better, and first. Morrowind is an excellent game that requires alot of patience. The depth of the game is mind numbing and is not for the button mashing weekend warrior. If any body does port over turrican i will wrestle arkhan for the right to hit that delete button. And for my final rant, the catacomb games were great and i believe would look good on the turbo.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 12, 2011, 02:11:29 AM
Quake 1 and 2 are basically the real sequels to Doom, since Doom 3 sucked.
The difference with the Doom/Quake games is they present a darker atmosphere due to lighting effects, and varied heights...
and take place in space/hell/awesome.
Catacomb would be an excellent game to port to the PCE, but it is one that would require effort. Raycasting is srs bidnis.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Mishran on December 12, 2011, 02:30:16 AM
I actually like the idea of a Contra port. I still think a good "point & click" game would be a worthy candidate. Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tenticle, Monkey Island, etc.
I also like how Ultima is staying hot on the heels of Keen in the poll. I think they were even tied for a couple days. Awesome.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: HercTNT on December 12, 2011, 02:58:50 AM
Games like gunstar heroes, metal slug, and contra are definately some of my favorites. I would prefer to see a turbo original along these same lines that we could call our own, than a port. the turbos sprite capabilities would make for some crazy action in such a game i would think.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 12, 2011, 04:47:07 AM
Bug Fragmare about PC Gunjin then.
Its a Contra game.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Edmond Dantes on December 12, 2011, 06:14:10 AM
Btw Arkhan, not to nitpick but... the original DOOM didn't have slopes.
Uhh, what? I'm pretty sure I've seen Slopes in Doom, and not just staircases, and not just in the source ports.
Otherwise what you said about the engine is pretty accurate.
You see slopes in the logical, obvious, mathematical sense (lots of steep stairs = slope).
but from a goony technical hoojoo level building/environment standpoint, there are no actual slopes.
It has slopes in the textbook mathematical sense with Riemann sums, and with player travel. Otherwise, when you walk off a platform, you'd fall straight down.
It's nitpicking and depends how you are looking at it.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Edmond Dantes on December 12, 2011, 06:33:21 AM
Nonono, I mean, I could swear I've seen slope-slopes. Like ramps and stuff. I'm sure its not limited to just stairs.
As soon as I get home I'll look.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 12, 2011, 06:52:40 AM
Nope, the ramps are just a buncha stairs jammed together.
The closest thing youll get to slopes is angular non square rooms.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on December 12, 2011, 09:13:59 AM
If I'm going to port a FPS, it will be Descent (even though its not a FPS in a traditional sense). Enough said.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 12, 2011, 10:21:04 AM
good luck porting descent, lol. youre crazy.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on December 12, 2011, 11:36:18 AM
I know I am ^^ Thats way down the road though and I'm almost positive it can only be done with the arcade card. At this point, if I can get a title screen for Commander Keen, I'll be very happy indeed. ^^
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: saturndual32 on December 12, 2011, 12:27:18 PM
Ports of the arcade Contra and Super Contra on the PC Engine would be a dream come true...that i know cant happen, something about licensing issues i hear...
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on December 12, 2011, 01:49:32 PM
Ports of the arcade Contra and Super Contra on the PC Engine would be a dream come true...that i know cant happen, something about licensing issues i hear...
Well, I wouldn't say licensing is a problem, anyone can make them in the privacy of their own home. However, AFAIK, no one has done either of these yet, but those are high on my list. I want to see them be like the NES versions, but with the arcade gfx.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 12, 2011, 01:55:03 PM
The arcade card adds more ram, not more power.
You need a faster CPU to perform Descent power.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on December 12, 2011, 02:22:06 PM
It ran on a 386, it could be possible to port it. Once I get this porting thing down, I may attempt it. All in due time of course...
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 12, 2011, 03:15:41 PM
yes but a 386 is a 12ish mhz 32bit cpu
whereas the PCE is a 7ish mhz 8 bit cpu.
Its like bringing a gun to a tactical nuke fight.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on December 12, 2011, 06:28:03 PM
Descent required an 80386 running at 33 mhz or faster and a minimum of 4 MB of RAM. If you think of a PC Engine as a really fast, really memory constrained Apple II with great graphics, you can see why porting Descent is not going to be an option. Descent was technically more advanced than Doom and used proper polygons and everything. We've seen how well the PCE handles polygons...
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 13, 2011, 12:20:18 AM
Man I thought descent could run on a lower end 386. Guess not. (Checked the box instead of guessing).
It'd be nice, but yeah, it isn't happening.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: sunteam_paul on December 13, 2011, 04:53:00 AM
Hmm, if the Spectrum can do it...
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 13, 2011, 05:23:15 AM
yeah but the spectrum doesn't need to rely on tiles..
AND that game is atrocious. I've played it. It lacks the things that make Doom Doom. Its more like Wolf3D w/ Doom graphics to me...
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on December 13, 2011, 05:35:39 AM
yeah but the spectrum doesn't need to rely on tiles..
AND that game is atrocious. I've played it. It lacks the things that make Doom Doom. Its more like Wolf3D w/ Doom graphics to me...
I was more on the lines of thinking if it could be done, we could use the game engine. After all, it is yet another open sourced project and we have seen crazier things ported (N64 emulator on Dreamcast?) to other consoles. I played it too on a old 486 with 4 megs of RAM, floppy disc version mind you ^^ so yeah I thought it may be done, only time will tell...
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 13, 2011, 05:45:53 AM
N64 on a dreamcast makes sense though because you are going from lower harder onto higher hardware.
We're going backwards here. It's hard to emulate 32bit computation on an 8bit CPU. It'll be hilarious to try, and awful to watch the finished result, :)
lol.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on December 13, 2011, 07:08:16 AM
N64 on a dreamcast makes sense though because you are going from lower harder onto higher hardware.
We're going backwards here. It's hard to emulate 32bit computation on an 8bit CPU. It'll be hilarious to try, and awful to watch the finished result, :)
lol.
Like those Halo and Doom ports on the 2600? Heh. A bit off topic, I may need some help getting HUC to work in windows 7 64-bit, might have to dig up my old XP machine..
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 13, 2011, 07:38:59 AM
Those aren't really ports though... they're completely different games with a similar theme, lol.
use HuC Win32 version off Zeograd for 64bit winderps. =3
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on December 13, 2011, 02:36:36 PM
A strange thought popped into my head, what if we did a Kings Bounty (the original 1990 version) port? I think its completely feasible vs trying to do a Heroes of Might and Magic port (unless we did the gameboy version lolz), however neither one is open sourced so it could be difficult, but the reward would be great. ^^ I dunno, just another idea I had instead of wasting time with doing a Descent port.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 13, 2011, 02:46:50 PM
Look dude, the public says they want keen!
:D
not that I don't want to see Kings Bounty too.
I just want to see Keen.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: nat on December 13, 2011, 03:27:58 PM
Those aren't really ports though... they're completely different games with a similar theme, lol.
Agreed.
I watched the video of the Halo "port" thinking it was going to be some hilariously blocky (24x24 or something ludicrous like that) 3D thing in 4 colors.... In actuality, it's a top-down view of a stick figure running around a sparse field of trees.
It's no more a "port" of Halo than it is a "port" of the RPG mode of Final Lap Twin. Actually calling it a "port" of anything is being knowingly deceitful.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Mishran on December 13, 2011, 03:38:05 PM
Mortal Kombat... :twisted:
Yeah right! How about a real beat'em up like double dragon or bad dudes. :dance:
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: arromdee on December 13, 2011, 07:07:17 PM
Would it be feasible to port a simplified version of ScummVM, enough to run some older games (considering that Loom actually exists for the system anyway)?
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on December 14, 2011, 12:39:25 AM
Would it be feasible to port a simplified version of ScummVM, enough to run some older games (considering that Loom actually exists for the system anyway)?
yeah. probably. :)
Those games aren't exactly action oriented .. so wasting CPU processing Scummcrap wont really hurt.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Mishran on December 14, 2011, 02:36:06 AM
Has anyone tried examining Loom? Perhaps it's just a port of scumm itself? Just talking out my ass here.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on December 14, 2011, 03:52:13 AM
Has anyone tried examining Loom? Perhaps it's just a port of scumm itself? Just talking out my ass here.
The problem is, I don't think its open sourced, but I do believe scumm is open sourced. No you are not, at this point in the game I'm up for any feasible projects so long as it is open sourced that is until I get good at doing this. ^^
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: arromdee on December 14, 2011, 11:31:27 AM
The problem with ScummVM, I think, is that it's meant for modern systems. It's probably too big to compile for or run on a Turbografx. Porting it would mean more than just using the existing source code--you'd have to rewrite big parts of it and only use the bits and pieces of it that were meant for the simpler games. Of course it depends on what you mean by a port. I doubt that Mysterious Song uses any significant amount of code from the original Mysterious Song, rather than being rewritten from scratch.
Also, any game I'd want to see a port of is probably one I've played to death, and therefore wouldn't care about a port of, unless it's something like ScummVM that runs many different games. Maybe you could try porting Frotz? (Which is an interpreter for text adventure games such as Zork). It's been ported to the GBA so the system requirements probably aren't too bad (though you'd have to think about how to support a keyboard).
Maybe you can try porting the Palm version of Jumpman Zero (http://www.jumpmanzero.com/) which does have source available, supposedly, although it's not in an obvious spot on the website.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on December 14, 2011, 02:00:06 PM
The Game Boy Advance is actually a rather powerful little system. It certainly trounces any of the 16-bit generation machines. I would be more worried about the memory overhead of the SCUMM VM engine. It is a virtual machine, so you have both game data, game code, and the interpreter in memory. It might be better to go back to the old King's Quest games as a starting point, since they are generally simpler.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: saturndual32 on January 07, 2012, 05:44:05 PM
Ports of the arcade Contra and Super Contra on the PC Engine would be a dream come true...that i know cant happen, something about licensing issues i hear...
Well, I wouldn't say licensing is a problem, anyone can make them in the privacy of their own home. However, AFAIK, no one has done either of these yet, but those are high on my list. I want to see them be like the NES versions, but with the arcade gfx.
Actually i would kill just to hear PCE PSG renditions of the classic Contra tracks. And great idea, ParanoiaDragon, the NES games but with arcade quality graphics would make for a killer combination. We could call the PCE Contra version: Contra X or Gryzor X, hehe. Ah, its so beautiful to daydream...
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on January 15, 2012, 06:13:40 AM
Added the Oregon Trail as a possible port as a new Oregon Trail game came out for the Wii not to long ago. From what I understand, the cpu of the pce is very similar to that of the Apple II?
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on January 15, 2012, 01:18:34 PM
Its better than the Apple ][!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on January 16, 2012, 06:10:00 PM
Better, but very similar. The PCE CPU is basically the same CPU with some minor reworking, some new functions thrown in, some audio circuitry bolted on, and a better process allowing for a faster CPU clock. That's the short version, anyway.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on January 16, 2012, 06:18:51 PM
Well it depends which Apple ][ you look at.
The original Apple ][ uses the original piece of f*ck 6502. The ][C uses essentially the same CPU as the PCE (65C02). The difference between the two is pretty great. A lot of features were added to the CPU that would make doing an original Apple ][ game a complete joke on the PCE. The PCE just has it's extra little doodads that make it a PCE CPU.
but they're all still shitty 6502's, so all annoyances are still present. :)
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on January 16, 2012, 06:32:38 PM
Maybe that's the direction we need to go... Pick an old Apple II game and go from there. Limited work RAM on the PCE might be a problem, though.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on January 17, 2012, 12:37:50 AM
Maybe that's the direction we need to go... Pick an old Apple II game and go from there. Limited work RAM on the PCE might be a problem, though.
Screw that. There's like 7 good Apple ][ games, and 5 of them are Ultimas
Don't forget the wizardry games too ^^ But yeah, Oregon Trail could be interesting..
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on January 17, 2012, 08:35:58 AM
The D&D gold box games were good on Apple ][ also. Basically, I can't help but wonder if ports of games from native CPU architectures would be easier, that is, assuming source can be found somewhere on-line. Coding from scratch? Doesn't matter which CPU instruction set the original was in, really.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on January 17, 2012, 09:19:32 AM
because the things all address video chips/sound/etc differently, there's not that much gained from having same CPU stuff
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on January 17, 2012, 06:27:37 PM
Having source is better than not, IMO.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on January 18, 2012, 12:16:19 AM
What source? Lol, I hope you don't mean disassembling a game and using that to port it. That would be like giving someone all the ingredients to make chicken cordon blueruerueru without giving them the recipe.
un-commented disassembled code is a trainwreck. Anyone who says otherwise is being an arrogant cockface
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on January 18, 2012, 04:13:19 AM
disassembled code is not source
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on January 18, 2012, 04:35:05 AM
how are we going to get the source for an apple ][ game? lol
break into MECC and steal the oregon trail archives?
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on January 18, 2012, 06:15:06 AM
how are we going to get the source for an apple ][ game? lol
break into MECC and steal the oregon trail archives?
If it was made in basic, then its not a problem although I doubt it was.
Ultima I was originally in BASIC. We could steal that and make Amitlu
Could be interesting, but we should give it a graphical upgrade for sure like your Ultima II port. ^^
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on January 18, 2012, 06:37:01 AM
Yeah. Who knows when I will actually get to that . lol
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on January 18, 2012, 07:24:15 AM
You've said you are long enough that you'd better!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on January 18, 2012, 07:31:16 AM
yeah theres more important stuff to finish first. :)
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Mishran on January 18, 2012, 10:14:48 AM
More important than Ultima??? *gasp* :shock:
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: nat on January 24, 2012, 06:42:14 PM
As was sort of mentioned earlier, while the Apple // and TurboGrafx share an extremely similar CPU, the graphical and audio hardware is not even close. The Turbo is lightyears beyond everything up through the Apple //c+ graphically. Even if you had the Apple // source code to a bunch of games, you'd probably have to rewrite most of the shit anyway. At the very least you'd have to create all new pixel art.
As was sort of mentioned earlier, while the Apple // and TurboGrafx share an extremely similar CPU, the graphical and audio hardware is not even close. The Turbo is lightyears beyond everything up through the Apple //c+ graphically. Even if you had the Apple // source code to a bunch of games, you'd probably have to rewrite most of the shit anyway. At the very least you'd have to create all new pixel art.
not to mention the Apple II has bitmapped screen modes, so doing shit like Ultima is alot easier to manage on screen.
Quote
If the game in question was written in BASIC, then the former point is rendered moot since BASIC is BASIC and is platform (CPU) independent.
Almost. You'd have to update memory addresses and crap for the hardware you're currently on.. assuming you are doing obnoxious things...
which you most likely are, if you're writing a game.
then, you'd have to hope it still works right. Which it won't, because BASIC is lame like that. It would still be a nice start. Assuming they put comments in...
otherwise figuring out wtf is going on would be harder than just starting over
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on February 07, 2012, 05:37:18 PM
I thought of another great game that came out on PCs. It also happens to have come out in the Arcade as well, and on Apple and C64 to boot! Rampage! The PCE could probably do an excellent Hu version of Rampage.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on February 13, 2012, 10:57:28 AM
I thought of another great game that came out on PCs. It also happens to have come out in the Arcade as well, and on Apple and C64 to boot! Rampage! The PCE could probably do an excellent Hu version of Rampage.
Problem is, I don't think its open sourced. Its definitely something worth looking at though.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on February 13, 2012, 12:43:32 PM
No, I'm pretty sure it isn't open sourced, but it would be pretty easy to knock off with different graphics. Heck, if you want to make it more interesting, you could play some of the rubber-suit monsters the various sentai show characters (ala Power Rangers) go up against. Normally it is just you against the city, but boss fights could occur against the various sentai team characters. See? Rampage with a twist!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on February 13, 2012, 11:16:08 PM
I thought of another great game that came out on PCs. It also happens to have come out in the Arcade as well, and on Apple and C64 to boot! Rampage! The PCE could probably do an excellent Hu version of Rampage.
my girlfriend brought that game up over the weekend and said "how hard would that game be to put on the turbothing". lol
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: touko on February 13, 2012, 11:22:44 PM
I thought of another great game that came out on PCs. It also happens to have come out in the Arcade as well, and on Apple and C64 to boot! Rampage! The PCE could probably do an excellent Hu version of Rampage.
my girlfriend brought that game up over the weekend and said "how hard would that game be to put on the turbothing". lol
At first (a few days ago, when I initially read this), I was like, "Bah, Rampage hasn't held up well."
BUT, then I got to thinking about how much fun my brothers and I had playing it in the arcade (I think it was a 3-player cab?) and even 2-player on NES was OK (not amazing, but OK).
I WANT 5-PLAYER RAMPAGE. YES, IT WILL FEATURE ORIGINAL CAST + PLAYABLE CHARACTERS (& environments) FROM TURBO UNIVERSE. OMG, I WANT THIS SO BADLY!!!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on February 17, 2012, 01:21:54 PM
We could include Larry the Rat from the Lynx version.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on February 17, 2012, 01:37:14 PM
If I'm going to port Rampage, its going to include Daleks. Enough said.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: spenoza on February 17, 2012, 02:46:06 PM
I don't think, as this is straight side-scrolling, that more than 3 characters would do well on the screen together, but that doesn't mean a couple players couldn't play elements of the environment, like a little helicopter or a tank or something. That would get it up to 5 players.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: esteban on February 18, 2012, 12:45:56 AM
I don't think, as this is straight side-scrolling, that more than 3 characters would do well on the screen together, but that doesn't mean a couple players couldn't play elements of the environment, like a little helicopter or a tank or something. That would get it up to 5 players.
5-players would result in shorter rounds (5 players destroy the buildings faster than 2 players). As a result, folks would have to adjust their strategy accordingly.
I'm not saying it would be without its flaws, but the cosmos needs 5-player Rampage. There's no point porting Rampage to TG-16/PCE if you didn't throw that option in (no matter how much it may break the original formula of the game).
I have spoken truth. (http://junk.tg-16.com/images/pcgs.html)
If I'm going to port Rampage, its going to include Daleks. Enough said.
HELL YES. (http://junk.tg-16.com/images/pcgs.html). And why not spice up the settings with time travel! Instead of simply destroying different cities, we could destroy different cities across the history of the universe.
I would love to see Larry the Rat take down the Coliseum! Or colonies on Mars! Or the OBELISK thing from 2001! Or Boston 2012! Or Berlin Wall!
I can't believe more folks do not share the passion.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: sunteam_paul on February 18, 2012, 01:59:57 AM
HELL YES. (http://junk.tg-16.com/images/pcgs.html). And why not spice up the settings with time travel! Instead of simply destroying different cities, we could destroy different cities across the history of the universe.
I would love to see Larry the Rat take down the Coliseum! Or colonies on Mars! Or the OBELISK thing from 2001! Or Boston 2012! Or Berlin Wall!
I can't believe more folks do not share the passion.
Oh hell. You went and did it. You opened the can. THERE ARE WORMS EVERYWHERE!!!
Also, awesome. I love this idea.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: esteban on February 22, 2012, 10:16:44 AM
HELL YES. (http://junk.tg-16.com/images/pcgs.html). And why not spice up the settings with time travel! Instead of simply destroying different cities, we could destroy different cities across the history of the universe.
I would love to see Larry the Rat take down the Coliseum! Or colonies on Mars! Or the OBELISK thing from 2001! Or Boston 2012! Or Berlin Wall!
I can't believe more folks do not share the passion.
Oh hell. You went and did it. You opened the can. THERE ARE WORMS EVERYWHERE!!!
16 colors & NO paralax.....that simply WON'T do! [-X
f*ck parallax. Keen don't need it.
The maps wouldn't really work with parallax anyway
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on February 28, 2012, 06:31:06 PM
I was partially kidding. Actually though, I was watching a speedrun of it, as I've never played it, & you're probably right. It'd look nice with some extra chunky style updated tiles though!
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on February 29, 2012, 12:26:42 AM
youre an extra chunky updated tile.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on February 29, 2012, 10:47:45 AM
I better get cracking on Keen then. ^^ and then do Ultima ][ as per Arkhan.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on February 29, 2012, 01:07:31 PM
Oh ,yeah, if Bigus has fun with the DOS shit, I offered to pass the Ultima II ball onto him (helping when needed, :) )
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on February 29, 2012, 02:35:01 PM
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: esteban on March 03, 2012, 11:11:22 AM
Larry the Rat takes Commander Keen and crushes him with his mighty paw.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Keith Courage on October 07, 2012, 01:06:34 PM
I know this is an old thread but I'd like to see Street Rod 2 ported as a TGCD game. I'd be willing to re-make/record all the music for the game if someone would be willing to work on the programming.
I have no idea how difficult it is to port a DOS game to the PCE so maybe this is a pretty tall order. Also there is an Amiga port as well so maybe it would be easier to port that one over.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: BigusSchmuck on October 07, 2012, 01:24:25 PM
I know this is an old thread but I'd like to see Street Rod 2 ported as a TGCD game. I'd be willing to re-make/record all the music for the game if someone would be willing to work on the programming.
I have no idea how difficult it is to port a DOS game to the PCE so maybe this is a pretty tall order.
Its not all that difficult considering we saw Loom and a few others ported over. I'll probably be doing some more messing about with this stuff this winter time as my work is starting to slow down...
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Keranu on October 07, 2012, 05:02:55 PM
I would LOVE to play a consolized Street Rod! We could do a sweet 9-bit recoloring job on it to make it look like a real console game.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Bardoly on October 07, 2012, 05:18:25 PM
I voted for Commander Keen, although I believe that it already won the popular vote. 8)
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Keith Courage on October 07, 2012, 05:46:41 PM
Commander Keen has a pretty cool soundtrack as well. If that ever happens I'd be happy to modernize the music for that as well with real guitar.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: hoobs88 on October 08, 2012, 12:32:48 AM
(http://pic.photobucket.com/bwe.png)
Legacy of the Ancients
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Tatsujin on October 08, 2012, 12:38:39 AM
Alley cat & Captain cosmic
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Marll on October 09, 2012, 06:29:46 AM
Old topic, and not sure how viable, but Might and Magic 4 and 5...though I suppose it may loose something since there's probably no way you could combine both games into World of Xeen...or could you? With some changes maybe it would fit on 1 CD?
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on October 09, 2012, 10:09:43 AM
It wouldn't fit on 1 CD. It's too large.
Graphically/everything elseally, it could be done. Isles of Terra isn't really any different. Almost exactly the same really.
Legacy of the Ancients would rule.
ULTIMA 2
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: vestcoat on October 09, 2012, 10:27:50 AM
Thanks, I hope I can get some more time to mess around with this a bit. Does HUC work better in Windows XP than Windows 7? If I have to, I'll fire up an old XP machine.
Title: Re: Possible Dos game port project
Post by: Arkhan on October 10, 2012, 07:07:59 AM
It works like shit in both of them.
lol.
Just make sure you get the Win32 version and not the DOS one.