which game made the best use of half bright mode? - Page 2

S0ulA55a551n · 03 April 2012, 15:08

Sorry this is probably way off-topic but it reminded me of something.

How did the non aga versions of Universe have 256 colours on screen ?

clauddio · 03 April 2012, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by S0ulA55a551n

Sorry this is probably way off-topic but it reminded me of something.

How did the non aga versions of Universe have 256 colours on screen ?

universe not have 256 colors...both versions cd32 and disk versions are ECS and uses 32 or 64 colors
the pc version yes uses 256 colors also is much better

Predseda · 03 April 2012, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbob

Are the level pictures in Agony EHB? Not in game but pretty spectacular.

I always though they were in HAM?

Galahad/FLT · 03 April 2012, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by clauddio

universe not have 256 colors...both versions cd32 and disk versions are ECS and uses 32 or 64 colors
the pc version yes uses 256 colors also is much better

Actually you're quite wrong.

Universe had a custom engine that did in fact use at times 256 colours on a standard ECS Amiga.

Theres an article about it somewhere

khph_re · 03 April 2012, 20:10

I think it changes the palette entries per scanline, or something like that. There are definitely screens with 200+ colours on it.

Photon · 03 April 2012, 20:50

An editor to clamp to 12-bit palette and adjust to 256 color semi-automatically is actually a good way for a game system to consolidate OCS/AGA differences for the artist. So the pictures will look good enough to not have to make separate versions and the artist draw twice as much. Might not be useful for much more than stills/flip screen games, though.

I keep forgetting the game name, but there's a full on 8-way shooter in HBR made in 1989 or something. Starts with A, something like Amarok or Anathon but it isn't. Slow framerate but very special graphics.

Apart from this, I can't think of a single one that uses HBR. It doesn't leave much time for blitting and CPUing. On AGA it's no problem, of course.

There was an article on the SWIV shadows, they did them like most - flickering or non-flickering 010101010... patterns. (1=black, 0=transparent.)

Jack Burton · 03 April 2012, 20:53

Yes, it's like PCHG technique.
I never played the game Universe, but I watched the longplay on Youtube, it was quite impressing for an OCS/ECS game ! By the way the audio part is very good too.

Photon · 03 April 2012, 21:39

Ah, here it is. Found it! Amnios. -> http://hol.abime.net/3265

Codetapper · 04 April 2012, 00:36

Super Cars 2 uses half-brite mode nicely for the shadows of trees, barriers and tunnels, and maybe the original Super Cars aswell (can't remember!)

pmc · 04 April 2012, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photon

There was an article on the SWIV shadows, they did them like most - flickering or non-flickering 010101010... patterns. (1=black, 0=transparent.)

Ah, OK cool - thanks for clarifying Photon.

I knew I'd read an article on SWIV shadows - just couldn't remember if it related to them doing them with EHB... which, clearly, they didn't.

donnie · 04 April 2012, 19:27

can you use copper background in combination with half bright mode?

Photon · 04 April 2012, 20:18

Codetapper is absolutely right, forgot about that one.

You can use a copper background with every mode and every color depth, even 0 colors, on any Amiga. A copper background with no foreground colors but only graphics in the HBR bitplane will shadow the coppershade just as you would expect.

Predseda · 04 April 2012, 20:26

Like in Agony? Especially the last two levels?

Codetapper · 04 April 2012, 23:55

Agony is dual playfield the entire way. Really tri-playfield by splitting the 2nd playfield into a single colour and 3 colour playfield.

Click the link for an analysis of the copperlist and the use of sprites in the game.

ReadOnlyCat · 03 July 2016, 04:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Codetapper

Super Cars 2 uses half-brite mode nicely for the shadows of trees, barriers and tunnels, and maybe the original Super Cars aswell (can't remember!)

Oh, I would have never suspected that since the game does not look anything special in terms of number of colours.

Do they use the 6th bitplane only to create shadows? If so, this feels like quite a waste given that they could have used it to make the game so much more colourful in general.

Codetapper · 03 July 2016, 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReadOnlyCat

Oh, I would have never suspected that since the game does not look anything special in terms of number of colours.

Do they use the 6th bitplane only to create shadows? If so, this feels like quite a waste given that they could have used it to make the game so much more colourful in general.

Only for the shadows but I think it's awesome as the car automatically has the right shadow on it when going under tunnels etc. Compare it to the ST version and you might change your mind about how good it is!

Retro1234 · 03 July 2016, 10:53

probably stupid question does EHB use a lot more CPU than 32 colour?

Codetapper · 03 July 2016, 11:07

A fair bit more, the extra plane to display and then all the blits obviously need an extra plane plus restoring the screen. I guess most (if not all) are 25Hz not 50Hz.

lordofchaos · 04 July 2016, 14:30

Pretty sure Desert Strike does use EHB mode, you can fly behind smoke allowing for transparency along with the shadow of the helicopter being cast on the ground.

Edit: Oh, and what about Banshee?

Belgarath · 04 July 2016, 16:23

Banshee is AGA and so wouldn't have used EHB.

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03 April 2012, 15:08	#21
S0ulA55a551n Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Wales Age: 47 Posts: 937	Sorry this is probably way off-topic but it reminded me of something. How did the non aga versions of Universe have 256 colours on screen ?

03 April 2012, 20:10	#25
khph_re Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Northampton/UK Posts: 528	I think it changes the palette entries per scanline, or something like that. There are definitely screens with 200+ colours on it.

03 April 2012, 20:50	#26
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,642	An editor to clamp to 12-bit palette and adjust to 256 color semi-automatically is actually a good way for a game system to consolidate OCS/AGA differences for the artist. So the pictures will look good enough to not have to make separate versions and the artist draw twice as much. Might not be useful for much more than stills/flip screen games, though. I keep forgetting the game name, but there's a full on 8-way shooter in HBR made in 1989 or something. Starts with A, something like Amarok or Anathon but it isn't. Slow framerate but very special graphics. Apart from this, I can't think of a single one that uses HBR. It doesn't leave much time for blitting and CPUing. On AGA it's no problem, of course. There was an article on the SWIV shadows, they did them like most - flickering or non-flickering 010101010... patterns. (1=black, 0=transparent.)

03 April 2012, 20:53	#27
Jack Burton It's all in the reflexes! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wingkong warehouses Posts: 206	Yes, it's like PCHG technique. I never played the game Universe, but I watched the longplay on Youtube, it was quite impressing for an OCS/ECS game ! By the way the audio part is very good too.

03 April 2012, 21:39	#28
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,642	Ah, here it is. Found it! *Amnios*. -> http://hol.abime.net/3265

04 April 2012, 00:36	#29
Codetapper 2 contact me: email only! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Auckland / New Zealand Posts: 3,187	Super Cars 2 uses half-brite mode nicely for the shadows of trees, barriers and tunnels, and maybe the original Super Cars aswell (can't remember!)

04 April 2012, 19:27	#31
donnie Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: sthlm Posts: 226	can you use copper background in combination with half bright mode?

04 April 2012, 20:18	#32
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,642	Codetapper is absolutely right, forgot about that one. You can use a copper background with every mode and every color depth, even 0 colors, on any Amiga. A copper background with no foreground colors but only graphics in the HBR bitplane will shadow the coppershade just as you would expect.

04 April 2012, 20:26	#33
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,557	Like in Agony? Especially the last two levels?

04 April 2012, 23:55	#34
Codetapper 2 contact me: email only! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Auckland / New Zealand Posts: 3,187	Agony is dual playfield the entire way. Really tri-playfield by splitting the 2nd playfield into a single colour and 3 colour playfield. Click the link for an analysis of the copperlist and the use of sprites in the game.

03 July 2016, 10:53	#37
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,790	probably stupid question does EHB use a lot more CPU than 32 colour?

03 July 2016, 11:07	#38
Codetapper 2 contact me: email only! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Auckland / New Zealand Posts: 3,187	A fair bit more, the extra plane to display and then all the blits obviously need an extra plane plus restoring the screen. I guess most (if not all) are 25Hz not 50Hz.

04 July 2016, 14:30	#39
lordofchaos TinkerTailorContentMaker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bedfordshire Age: 45 Posts: 1,205	Pretty sure Desert Strike does use EHB mode, you can fly behind smoke allowing for transparency along with the shadow of the helicopter being cast on the ground. Edit: Oh, and what about Banshee?

04 July 2016, 16:23	#40
Belgarath HOL Team Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Manchester Posts: 2,529	Banshee is AGA and so wouldn't have used EHB.

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