Arcade / Console --> Amiga conversion discussions

[sandruzzo]

Originally Posted by nobody

I would redesign the game, make smaller play area (256x192 or so) and redraw smaller sprites (32x32 instead of 48x48), and make it sort of multiload-stop action to load new stuff eg in the middle of level 1. You can't just run like that a CPS1 game on an Amiga 500 or 1200, it's too much. Look at requirements on STE, 32 Mhz and 14 mb for 16 colors.

Gotcha!

[zero]

Fast RAM will really help with these ports, because the blitter can be used at maximum without slowing down the CPU.

[sandruzzo]

I would Like to do somenthig overboard: What about doing games for A1200 with 030 + fast ram at 640*400? We could try it...

[zero]

The thing is, increasing the resolution or the colour depth exponentially increases the amount of work that the system has to do.

>16 colours lores or increasing resolution to hires makes the graphics hardware use more DMA cycles, which are then not available to the blitter or CPU. Of course, the blitter has to do more work as well, copying more bitplanes.

At least on the Amiga you can get 32 colours with 4 bitplanes + sprites, and of course copper palette changes add even more.

I think a better option would be trying for things like full 320x256, or 50 FPS, or more sound channels with blitter mixing or something like that.

[sandruzzo]

Originally Posted by zero

The thing is, increasing the resolution or the colour depth exponentially increases the amount of work that the system has to do.

>16 colours lores or increasing resolution to hires makes the graphics hardware use more DMA cycles, which are then not available to the blitter or CPU. Of course, the blitter has to do more work as well, copying more bitplanes.

At least on the Amiga you can get 32 colours with 4 bitplanes + sprites, and of course copper palette changes add even more.

I think a better option would be trying for things like full 320x256, or 50 FPS, or more sound channels with blitter mixing or something like that.

We should try new things... At least we have 50% of DMA cicles with 8 planes, like 4 plane low res OCS

[aros-sg]

Originally Posted by sandruzzo

We should try new things...

Half the resolution. Either 160x256 or 320x128. Whatever looks less ugly. Maybe use normal res hw sprites to add lost detail to things like faces.

[sandruzzo]

Originally Posted by aros-sg

Half the resolution. Either 160x256 or 320x128. Whatever looks less ugly. Maybe use normal res hw sprites to add lost detail to things like faces.

Even resolutiom like Rygar would be great, and will give us a lot of dma cycles

[ross]

Originally Posted by sandruzzo

We should try new things... At least we have 50% of DMA cicles with 8 planes, like 4 plane low res OCS

The point here is not the free DMA but the same speed from the blitter.. and the memory slowness.
Yes, you have 32bit (CPU) access but 640x480 is 4x the data.
And remember, you are forced (luckily!) at 25fps: the display is interlaced and not progressive.

Ciao
ross

[idrougge]

Make a game in Productivity mode?

[ross]

Originally Posted by idrougge

Make a game in Productivity mode?

Then take preceding number (that is even 8X the data if you consider a 320x240x4bpl versus a 640x480x8bpl) in half the DMA slot available

I think that for a enjoyable game in AGA 320x240x8 (or 4+4) suffices.

Bye,
ross

[sandruzzo]

Originally Posted by ross

Then take preceding number (that is even 8X the data if you consider a 320x240x4bpl versus a 640x480x8bpl) in half the DMA slot available

I think that for a enjoyable game in AGA 320x240x8 (or 4+4) suffices.

Bye,
ross

Yes, But we a good viewport, like 600*400, or less, and maybe less "true" color we can do it! Why don't try?

[ross]

Originally Posted by sandruzzo

Yes, But we a good viewport, like 600*400, or less, and maybe less "true" color we can do it! Why don't try?

No intention of demotivate you!

I only think that skills and energies for an AGA games is better spent in a 320x240x8 game.

[idrougge]

Pinball Braindamage is the only game I can think of that doesn't run in lowres.

[kovacm]

Originally Posted by idrougge

Pinball Braindamage is the only game I can think of that doesn't run in lowres.

This Pinball Braindamage looks like Obsession... Ball movement is almost same

[idrougge]

That's because Obsession is a Pinball Dreams clone.

[kovacm]

Originally Posted by idrougge

That's because Obsession is a Pinball Dreams clone.

I was talking about Pinball Braindamage, not Pinball Dreams.

Obsession predates Pinball Braindamage.

[zero]

It's usually better to have more stuff moving on screen than to have more colours or resolution. Use the copper and sprites to get more colours, and keep everything moving at 50 fps.

[idrougge]

Originally Posted by kovacm

I was talking about Pinball Braindamage, not Pinball Dreams.

Obsession predates Pinball Braindamage.

They are both Pinball Dreams clones. Obsession is slightly more fun to play than Braindamage, though.

[Samurai_Crow]

Total Chaos runs at 25 FPS in 640x512 interlaced. It needs to CPU blit to get enough speed on 030+32 megs fast RAM. It is a turns based strategy game too.

[kovacm]

Originally Posted by idrougge

They are both Pinball Dreams clones. Obsession is slightly more fun to play than Braindamage, though.

Pinball Dreams is quite different while Braindamage, as far as I can tell from video on youtube, is almost identical to Obsession (and I played Obsession quite a lot; I even made fanpage: http://milan.kovac.cc/atari/obsession/ )

I will try Braindamage. I wonder if same people was involved in developing Braindamage and Obsession...

btw
why do you call Braindamage and Obsession "clone" of Pinball Dreams? I mean they are all pinball games... is Slam Tilt also "clone" of Pinball Dreams in your book?