Tales of Gorluth - Development Thread

[leathered]

I wonder; if you can remove the blocks above the solid objects, does the problem still occur? ie. if you can 'zero' the map above the solid blocks it might help determine the cause.

[viddi]

Originally Posted by Lielo

I wonder; if you can remove the blocks above the solid objects, does the problem still occur? ie. if you can 'zero' the map above the solid blocks it might help determine the cause.

Good idea! Checked that already, though.

But I think, I found a solution.
I´ll replace the critical blocks with "foreground" blocks.
The sprite is now able to walk to the edge of the solid resp. overlayed blocks.
It can also walk behind the upper parts of the trees, for example.

This method slows the game down, though.
So I might have to adjust the playfield size...

...and I have to check and edit the other already finished levels (town, crypt)!

[leathered]

Great! I was just reading about blocks in the backbone guide and saw the 'foreground blocks'. I hope it works... Good luck!

If anyone knows how to retrieve the AMOS source as Graham mentioned they should get posting; it could be really useful.

[viddi]

Originally Posted by Lielo

Great! I was just reading about blocks in the backbone guide and saw the 'foreground blocks'. I hope it works... Good luck!

It´s a bit tricky and I guess it wasn´t meant to be used that way.
But it should work...hopefully.

Anyway, thanks for your support.

Originally Posted by Lielo

If anyone knows how to retrieve the AMOS source as Graham mentioned they should get posting; it could be really useful.

Indeed!

[Retro1234]

Originally Posted by Lielo

If anyone knows how to retrieve the AMOS source as Graham mentioned they should get posting; it could be really useful.

iirc you can see there are files in the backbone package in folder code, these are blocks of code that are pasted together when you compile your game - in theory these blocks could be rewritten.

These files are encryted or something but are held temporaily unnencryted in Ram disk when you compile your game so just copy from there :-)

[leathered]

Awesome Boo Boo. I can see you've done a lot with this

It was a bit like trying to catch a greased pig, but it worked and I retrieved the source for the tutorial. Well I'm pleased to say I managed to run it today in AmosPro after installing the AMCAF extension. I put the .AMOS file in the drawer of the tutorial and ran it in amos from there.
The best news is it's also compilable!
Now I can't be completely sure that all games will work without adding other extensions, but it seems likely.
The files in the code drawer seem to be encrypted/compressed ascii files, as you know. But it looks as though we can edit backbone games in Amospro using the created source file

[Retro1234]

@Viddi I think you may have finnaly found what Backbone is for

@Lielo I am sorry to say I have yet to try catching a greased pig maybe one day
All the extensions it uses are also copied to Ram: but renamed silly names
The source is hudge! and probably not of much use
You could in theory fix bugs and rewrite parts(like the scrolling to use wraparound)
still intresting but in general probably better and Easier to write your own game,etc from scratch - sorry

Sorry Viddi going off topic and good luck

[leathered]

Well, that quite nicely concludes my part in that little investigation. And yes, I did wonder where names like 'piss' came from. If I come across anything interesting I may start another thread.

Boo Boo is right about your game Viddi, it's looking very promising.

[viddi]

@ Lielo and Boo Boo:

You guys are awesome!
Backbone PLUS Amos could be an interesting development method.

And don´t worry about being off topic. Your comments are very helpful and topic-related.



BTW, Cammy commented on my YT-Video:

AmigaCammy:
I'm not completely sure, but try blanking out that whole area and re-doing it, sometimes the bug comes from the Backbone map editor I think. Also check your main character's dimensions in the player editor, play around with the numbers and see if it makes a difference. I'm sorry but I've only made platform games so far. Good luck, I can't wait to play!


AMIworx:
Thanks for your input, Cammy. Tried that before and double-checked it once again. The bug still remains...

But I was able to do a workaround which works in 95% of all cases.

I´ll play around with the player editor, though. ;-)





So I managed to improve playability with this workaround (and "added" another control feature ("hiding..."LOL)).
I had to reduce the window size a bit, though.
It´s perfectly playable now on 030! (no slowdowns, sometimes even a bit too fast )

020 + Fast ram will be checked asap.

[viddi]

=========================================================

UPDATE 1:


- Slightly reduced playfield size (it´s even faster now)

- new panel (had to remove unusable weapon display)

- solid block problem solved (fluid gameplay)

- already finished levels checked and edited

- new monsters, additional weapons and more items added

- now working on level 5 (the story evolves )



New sample video:

[ Show youtube player ]

New ingame screenshots:

[leathered]

Looking brilliant and much improved. Hows it going on 020? Looking forward

[viddi]

Originally Posted by Lielo

Looking brilliant and much improved. Hows it going on 020? Looking forward

Thanks! Didn´t check the 020 so far...


__________________________________________________________


Advice needed (once again):

Until now, I only used one condition in all of my BB games.
It is the condition "Get to..." which represents the end of the respective level.


Now I need three conditions.
In my opinion, my settings are correct:

Condition 1: Kill ONE baddy

Condition 2: Collect item (object 35 "baddy" changes into an item (object 36) after death)

Condition 3: leave / complete level (go to a certain area) "END AT"



Take a look at these screenhots:





MY PROBLEM:

Backbone doesn´t recognize my condition settings.
I can complete the level (like using "GET TO") directly by walking over the defined END AREA.

Any hints, pretty please?!

This is very important for the progress of this project.
Thank you.

[Lord Aga]

Awesome work viddi ! Keep it up
You are an inspiration to the rest of us !

[viddi]

Originally Posted by Lord Aga

Awesome work viddi ! Keep it up
You are an inspiration to the rest of us !

Thanks a lot.


=============================

Damn it!

It seems that I was using a corrupt version of BB all the time.

I checked the download archives and the tutorial games.
They work fine and can be edited without a problem.

So I reinstalled BB and it finally accepts my level conditions.
I had to remove the last level, though.

HOORAY!

[viddi]

Some more info:

The marvellous tilesets and sprites were pixeled by EAB member JudasEZT!
Thanks a lot Mr Judas!






I successfully created a map screen "without" the main sprite.
A "chasing enemy" sprite (in this case some kind of a hand lens) overlays and scrolls with it constantly.

To disable weapons in this section the hidden main sprite collects a "not defined" weapon shot right after the level has been loaded.

Backbone trickery, WTF.

[amiman99]

I have noticed during creation of my game that the conditions do not have to be made in order. for example, when you have 2 conditions: 1. collect # of items, Condition 2. Get to an area.
I found out that if you do not complete the first objective and you go to the Condition 2 area, then the Condition 2 is satisfied. You have to go back and complete the first objective, before the level ends, but the level will end at the moment you complete the first objective and you do not have to get to the designated area.
I kinda don't like that and I wonder if there is a fix for that.

[viddi]

Originally Posted by amiman99

I have noticed during creation of my game that the conditions do not have to be made in order. for example, when you have 2 conditions: 1. collect # of items, Condition 2. Get to an area.
I found out that if you do not complete the first objective and you go to the Condition 2 area, then the Condition 2 is satisfied. You have to go back and complete the first objective, before the level ends, but the level will end at the moment you complete the first objective and you do not have to get to the designated area.
I kinda don't like that and I wonder if there is a fix for that.

Mhhh...it works without a problem here....wonder of wonders.
Firstly collect the item then go to the defined end of the level.

Try "End at" instead of "Get to"...

[Cammy]

Sometimes there are problems with Backbone's GUI. It might look like you have set it to "Kill 1 Baddy" or "Collect 1 Object" but it still thinks it's 0. I think it's fixed by scrolling the slider back and forth, then leaving it on the number you want. But if you don't touch the slider, even though it says 1, it might still think it's 0. In which case the game thinks you don't need any of those conditions and skips them.

[amiman99]

Originally Posted by viddi

Mhhh...it works without a problem here....wonder of wonders.
Firstly collect the item then go to the defined end of the level.

Try "End at" instead of "Get to"...

Thanks, I'll try that right now.

[viddi]

UPDATE 2:

- working on level 13

- the soundtrack is going to be enormous! 12 tracks so far.

- www.talesofgorluth.de registered

- online manual added

- game logo finished

- main menu structured and implemented

Stay tuned!