Sqrxz 4

[phx]

I guess it is about time to release another sequel of Sqrxz, before the Winter ends - as this one plays in a dark and frozen environment.

Programming is completed. Now we are entering the beta testing phase. Here is a beta screen shot from level 1:


Some features:
- 100% 68000 assembler and oldskool. Trackloader.
- Runs on all Amigas. 1MB required.
- 50 fps smooth parallax scrolling.
- More than 60 colours.
- Graphics by Simon Butler.
- 12 songs by Alexander Wiklund.
- Level design by Shahzad Sahaib.
- Options menu with sound-check, level-password, sound/music volume, swap buttons for joypad.
- Saves high scores and options.

The release is planned for April at http://www.sqrxz.de/

[Amigajay]

Looks great! Loving the winter gfx esp the tree!

[s2325]

Yes, graphician improved his skills

[Nibbler]

The Sqrxz Games are So Challenging and Fun

Looking forward to talk to you again at the next Retrobörse in Linz ,Shahzad.

Long live the RETROGURU´s

[funK]

I'd rather have a Solid Gold 2, but this will do.

(Sorry for the lazy effort Gimp job )

What's up with all this awesomeness lately? So many brand new commercial quality Amiga games announced or released, a myth like Dan Scott teasing a glorious comeback, and the best thing is that I've probably missed some other news, too!

Quoting another fitting internet meme here:

[Lazycow]

Parallax scrolling... the mother of all Amiga effects...

[DamienD]

Very good news indeed phx

I only recent discovered the previous 3 and they're very cool

Originally Posted by funK

I'd rather have a Solid Gold 2, but this will do.

Oh another awesome game and a sequel would be most welcomed

[earok]

Originally Posted by phx

I guess it is about time to release another sequel of Sqrxz, before the Winter ends - as this one plays in a dark and frozen environment.

Programming is completed. Now we are entering the beta testing phase. Here is a beta screen shot from level 1:
Attachment 47922

Some features:
- 100% 68000 assembler and oldskool. Trackloader.
- Runs on all Amigas. 1MB required.
- 50 fps smooth parallax scrolling.
- More than 60 colours.
- Graphics by Simon Butler.
- 12 songs by Alexander Wiklund.
- Level design by Shahzad Sahaib.
- Options menu with sound-check, level-password, sound/music volume, swap buttons for joypad.
- Saves high scores and options.

The release is planned for April at http://www.sqrxz.de/

Any chance of a hard drive version..? (Which would be brilliant for SQRXZ 3, too)

[phx]

Originally Posted by funK

I'd rather have a Solid Gold 2, but this will do.

I don't comment potential or ongoing projects until they are done.

Originally Posted by earok

Any chance of a hard drive version..? (Which would be brilliant for SQRXZ 3, too)

Isn't there a WHDLoad version of Sqrxz3, which does that? You will have the same option for Sqrxz4.
I prefer to keep the game in the spirit of 1990.

[earok]

Originally Posted by phx

Isn't there a WHDLoad version of Sqrxz3, which does that?

Is there? where?

I'm updating the CD32 Giana collection, which contains the first two SQRXZ games so the third one would be an awesome bonus

[Galahad/FLT]

Originally Posted by earok

Is there? where?

I'm updating the CD32 Giana collection, which contains the first two SQRXZ games so the third one would be an awesome bonus

If the loading system is the same as Solid Gold, i can tackle it the same.

Would be nice if thid game has native cd32 pad support so everything from password entry to hiscore entry can be done on the pad

[earok]

Originally Posted by Galahad/FLT

If the loading system is the same as Solid Gold, i can tackle it the same.

Would be nice if thid game has native cd32 pad support so everything from password entry to hiscore entry can be done on the pad

That sounds great

Off topic but that was a great interview with the retro games Podcast the other day


@phx will we ever see Giana Returns on OCS miggies..?

[phx]

Originally Posted by Galahad/FLT

If the loading system is the same as Solid Gold, i can tackle it the same.

Yes. It's the same trackdisk.asm from the Solid Gold source in all Sqrxz parts.

Would be nice if thid game has native cd32 pad support so everything from password entry to hiscore entry can be done on the pad

Unfortunately it has not.

Originally Posted by earok

@phx will we ever see Giana Returns on OCS miggies..?

Although this was my original intention when I got in contact with Retroguru, some years ago, I have accepted that it would be too much work. Giana's Return was not designed with the Amiga in mind. The map tiles have 8x8 pixels. Music uses Fasttracker extensions. Multiple parallax layers, rain, etc. Just to name some issues which I remember. And it is a huge project.

[Galahad/FLT]

Any reason for not adding cd32 pad support?

Your game of course

[phx]

Originally Posted by Galahad/FLT

Any reason for not adding cd32 pad support?

Hmmm, yes... a few.

- CD32 rarely has floppy disk drives and the game is designed to work from floppy disk only.
- I don't own the hardware.
- CD32 pad support is quite complicated. I'm not sure where to find the best documentation or routines for it.
- Laziness.

[hipoonios]

Great news

I'm big fan of the Sqrxz games. So can't wait to play this. I just love everything it. Gameplay, music, graphics...

My favorite tune is this one from Sqrxz 3: [ Show youtube player ]

I watched the trailer for Sqrxz 4, and see there is now fruit on the levels. Do i also need to collect all fruit now in order to finish the levels, or is this just for score?

[phx]

Originally Posted by hipoonios

My favorite tune is this one from Sqrxz 3:

I'm also a fan of Alexander Wiklund's tracks. The fourth part includes some nice ones as well (I like "Yeti Dance" and "Ice Marbles").

I watched the trailer for Sqrxz 4, and see there is now fruit on the levels. Do i also need to collect all fruit now in order to finish the levels, or is this just for score?

Each fruit adds 1 to the score and boosts your energy bar a little bit, i.e. you can make the time run slower by eating a lot.

BTW, unfortunately I have to add that a public release in April has become unlikely, as Retroguru plans to offer a boxed version again. But we won't have the money to print all the boxes until June.

[saimon69]

@phx
Well you could still do an half-assed port with no parallax (and i could help for retrack) and call it "Giana passes by to look if she forgot its purse" :P

[earok]

Rain and multiple layers of parallax you say..? http://www.codetapper.com/amiga/sprite-tricks/agony/

Joking aside, IMO I think even a "half-assed" port (as saimon69 put it) with compromises here and there would still be well received in the Miggy community

[phx]

After fixing the last bug with BlizzardPPC/060 last evening I have sent the V1.0 release version to selected magazines and testers now.



The final release will take place at the GamesCon in Cologne, in August.