Putty Squad - The Details

[Mrs Beanbag]

This game is great, the graphics are so colourful! How does it work? And with parallax scrolling as well.

[Sandro]

Originally Posted by Mrs Beanbag

This game is great, the graphics are so colourful! How does it work? And with parallax scrolling as well.

seems the game uses AGA engine created by John Twiddy used also on Aladdin, this engine works at 25 fps, so putty squad is colorful but not really smooth

[Codetapper]

The parallax is simply 64-bit wide sprites sitting behind a 64 colour gameplay area.

[Mrs Beanbag]

aha I thought it must be something like that

[Minuous]

I was going to ask what screen depth the game uses, but Codetapper has already answered this: 64 colours.

The shading on the graphics progresses in large increments, more reminescent of OCS than AGA. Using only 64 colours would explain that. It looks very similar to the SNES version unfortunately, I had hoped for more colours.

[lifeschool]

I was going to ask that as well. Does that mean there are only 64 colours on screen? or is it 64+64 = 128 colours? Still seems console quality.

[Mrs Beanbag]

Originally Posted by Minuous

I was going to ask what screen depth the game uses, but Codetapper has already answered this: 64 colours.

The shading on the graphics progresses in large increments, more reminescent of OCS than AGA. Using only 64 colours would explain that. It looks very similar to the SNES version unfortunately, I had hoped for more colours.

"Only" 64 colours? How many do you want, for a 25fps scrolling game with parallax backgrounds?

I guess it is 80 colours when you include the background layer.

[sokolovic]

For an AGA only game with "only" one parallax at 25fps, 64 cols doesn't seems too much…
But I'm not a coder.
Great game anyway.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Mrs Beanbag

"Only" 64 colours? How many do you want, for a 25fps scrolling game with parallax backgrounds?

I guess it is 80 colours when you include the background layer.

According to the very interesting preview in 'The One' (issue 68) the game uses 64 colours for the foreground layer and 16 colours for the background layer.

http://amr.abime.net/review_19855

Well worth a read. Especially an interesting part about the developers looking at techniques used in old movies to fake a depth of field effect and how this inspired a similar blur-technique effect for the backgrounds in Putty Squad.

[Galahad/FLT]

I suspect that Putty Squad was initially a 64 half brite mode ECS game, and then was expanded upon.

[Bastich]

Amazing work

[Sandro]

Originally Posted by Steve

According to the very interesting preview in 'The One' (issue 68) the game uses 64 colours for the foreground layer and 16 colours for the background layer.

http://amr.abime.net/review_19855

Well worth a read. Especially an interesting part about the developers looking at techniques used in old movies to fake a depth of field effect and how this inspired a similar blur-technique effect for the backgrounds in Putty Squad.

look at this screen, is the level map which show your position before you start each level...was there in 1994
I wonder why is not there now in the full version
maybe such screen is lost ?

hey galahad have you seen this screen inside the archive john twiddy sent you?

[Steve]

Yes that's a good point Sandro. I imagine it was probably dropped late on during development when they realised they had no more space left on the disk for the graphics. Just guessing though. Shame, as it looks like a really lovely screen. I wonder if its in the SNES version?

[Chain]

its from SNES version, level loading screen
http://www.mobygames.com/game/snes/p...ShotId,220748/

[manic23]

There is definitely something funny with these ADF files. I managed to do the WHDLoad install fine, but when it comes to writing the images to a real floppy, I just cant get it to work.

I am following the instructions that came with the files to the letter, I use DiskWiz as it says and use new floppy disks, the actual write process seems to go without problems, but when I insert the floppy it just says DF0:NDOS if I insert disk 2 it says DF0utt if I attempt to open either disk I just get a screen flash.

If I attempt to boot from disk 1 all that happens is a scrolling rainbow effect is seen on screen and the disk activity light is permanently lit. It will not boot the game.

I have an A1200 with 3.1 roms and an 030 card with 64mb ram.

I'm sure I am doing something wrong, but have not worked out what yet. Any ideas?

[mailman]

Do you have an ESCOM floppy drive by any chance?

[manic23]

Originally Posted by mailman

Do you have an ESCOM floppy drive by any chance?

Yes, do you think that is the problem?

[mailman]

If you are certain that your disks on which you transfered the game are OK, then this would be my second guess.

[manic23]

Originally Posted by mailman

If you are certain that your disks on which you transfered the game are OK, then this would be my second guess.

I have tried a few disks old and new, all the same, anyone else having this issue with an Escom Amiga?

[johnim]

hi try tsgui in classic workbench and tick format while copying and verify as mine wouldnt work untill i tried that

now i have bootable disks