Arcade games that should be ported to the Amiga

[jotd]

Well, at least we have a perfect Bombjack & Rygar now.

I think I could create 100% (or 99%) faithful ports of old arcade games from reverse engineer & original gfx, but not the way the amiga works. Using SDL is way easier. Porting to amiga needs to rethink the whole thing completely. This is not MAME.

(As discussed a thousand times here, SDL isn't practicable for Amiga, so only real Amiga developpers can port games, even an old arcade one like PacMan or Pengo)

[Samurai_Crow]

Have any of you looked into the new Scorpion game engine that's being developed? It can handle tile games quite well and is getting an import to update Backbone games to make them fast and lightweight.

[jotd]

I'm sure this engine is good since it was used to develop great projects and Earok is definitely talented. But well, I prefer writing code in C or C++.

One possibility would be to create OS-compliant framework with bobs, using graphics library underneath but able to load "modern" data (.wav/.png..). And then same thing for sound, controls, etc... that you could cross compile and call from C/C++.

SDL has a nice API but relies too much on 1) create virtual 8-bit chunky screen 2) use c2p to draw on bitplanes. And sound API isn't that great. Avoiding to redraw everything at each frame is harder to code. But that's what achieves the best performance on our machine.

[Samurai_Crow]

Originally Posted by jotd

One possibility would be to create OS-compliant framework with bobs, using graphics library underneath but able to load "modern" data (.wav/.png..). And then same thing for sound, controls, etc... that you could cross compile and call from C/C++.

Another possibility is to rewrite Graphics.library in a more flexible style using ACE as the basis and AROS as the rest of the OS. The Amiga graphics pipeline doesn't expose enough of the underlying capabilities of the chipset.

[lmimmfn]

Originally Posted by jotd

If you notice an arcade port that lacks proper controls (or a great game), please submit a mantis issue (mantis.whdload.de). I've already done a lot of those.

Thanks, yes will do if I spot any

Originally Posted by jotd

I re-checked Dragonninja amiga and I was impressed by the graphics.

Also unimpressed by the fact that the game is too fast. But why is it too fast? maybe to conceal the poor animation? (because slowing it down is not an issue either... like fixing the controls)

Yes, I think they sped it up due to the lack of frames. It is an OK port though and as was said above the parallax on the train section is cool

Originally Posted by jotd

If the port was really awesome (like Marble Madness is) I could add arcade music for a CD32 version... But is that really worth it?

The disk version has music though if you have 1Meg or more and I quite like it.
I don't think it's worth the hassle of full arcade music on the CD32 version tbh, although I do love the arcade music

[jotd]

ah there's music with 1MB. Great. Currently analysing it to improve controls. I don't know if all moves from arcade were ported (there were 3 jump kicks, not even mentionning the useless kick up). Arcade version is really cool with more than 10 different moves with 2 buttons.

Amiga version seems to retain a lot of moves. But jump kicks are near to impossible to perform. I have to check with A500 speed. Probably needs a slowdown.

[Gilbert]

I agree they should redo Dragon Ninja. The arcade version plays so well and the Amiga version has that weird control method.

I want to see Ghouls N Ghosts done properly

[mcgeezer]

Nahhh... a quality port of Rolling Thunder is what is needed.

I feel a poll coming on...

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by mcgeezer

Nahhh... a quality port of Rolling Thunder is what is needed.

I feel a poll coming on...

Oi, I thought you said I got to choose the next game you work on due to running the EAB Competition / blah / blah / blah?

So it has to be an arcade favourite of both yours and mine; Wonder Boy

[mcgeezer]

Originally Posted by DamienD

Oi, I thought you said I got to choose the next game you work on due to running the EAB Competition / blah / blah / blah?

So it has to be an arcade favourite of both yours and mine; Wonder Boy

I'll have to update the fucking poll now man!

[saimon69]

Originally Posted by mcgeezer

Nahhh... a quality port of Rolling Thunder is what is needed.

I feel a poll coming on...

A crossover between Rolling Thunder and the korean clone super ranger/Rough Ranger ^^
of course with A LOT of improvements including ugly colors and PD music...
[ Show youtube player ]

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by mcgeezer

I'll have to update the fucking poll now man!

Already done it for you

[lmimmfn]

Originally Posted by jotd

ah there's music with 1MB. Great. Currently analysing it to improve controls. I don't know if all moves from arcade were ported (there were 3 jump kicks, not even mentionning the useless kick up). Arcade version is really cool with more than 10 different moves with 2 buttons.

Amiga version seems to retain a lot of moves. But jump kicks are near to impossible to perform. I have to check with A500 speed. Probably needs a slowdown.

If you can, add/fix the music to the whdload version, pretty please

On the Amiga it's been a long time but I don't think I ever performed a jump kick, only the roundhouse jump/kick which is fire + diagonal up/right or up/left. It's also the only way to jump easily between trailers on the truck on level 2 without falling.

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by lmimmfn

It's also the only way to jump easily between trailers on the truck on level 2 without falling.

Yeah, jumping between trailers on the truck level is sooooo difficult on the Amiga version due to rubbish controls

[jotd]

Music already added with 1MB chip slave after adapting code from Mick/Codetapper.

This game needs in-deep reverse engineering to figure out which combination of controls triggers the moves so it's possible to change it.

A simple jump while moving left or right seems indeed impossible. And I could not do the roundhouse jump/kick while moving either...

I guess I'll have to watch an amiga longplay too: watching it, seems that the game is too fast in whdload, needs slowdown. Also: character can jump all right.

Fun fact: level 5, when reaching the end of the train, you can read "HACEN CF" which is a reference to a "Les Nuls" show and french rail company (SNCF). I guess the graphist is french

[lmimmfn]

Originally Posted by jotd

Music already added with 1MB chip slave after adapting code from Mick/Codetapper.

This game needs in-deep reverse engineering to figure out which combination of controls triggers the moves so it's possible to change it.

A simple jump while moving left or right seems indeed impossible. And I could not do the roundhouse jump/kick while moving either...

I guess I'll have to watch an amiga longplay too.

Fantastic, thanks very much, I can't wait to try it with music when I get back from holidays.

Im going from memory but thought the roundhouse could be done while walking by holding fire then up right quickly because you can't do like the arcade and charge up the punch while walking( I had assumed it was because of the timing for holding fire to roundhouse).

Yes, it jump works some of the time but I couldn't jump the trailers in level 2 with it whereas the roundhouse seems to cover more distance.

[Shatterhand]

Well, since we seem to be discussing stuff that could actually be made... there are 2 Konami games from the 90s which I like a lot and I think could work on Amiga:

Surprise Attack:
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This game was never ported to any home system and thus its kinda obscure. Gameplay wise it plays a bit like so many arcade platform games (Stuff like Rolling Thunder or Shinobi), but each level has some kind of nice touch or gimmick, and I find the game to be very fun and enjoyable.

Sunset Riders
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This game is just FREAKING AWESOME.

I really think both could be done on ECS machines with the right cuts, but I guess AGA would be a no brainer.

[vulture]

Midnight Resistance happened on the Amiga and it was pretty good (could be better), I'm pretty sure a good Rastan conversion could happen as well, no need for 1:1 port.

[jotd]

put a small beta of 2-button + music Dragonninja in the zone. Not perfect, but up is now 2nd button and it's easier to jump+move.

Only works with 1 version of the game ATM, and a lot of speed issues in the menu to fix too.. Currently reverse-engineering the game (controls). Possibly the game only misses 1 move: the kick when jumping. Great job.

[Aladin]

Capcom:

The Speed Rumbler (1986)
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Avengers (1987)
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Magic Sword (1990)
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Captain Commando (1991)
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The King of Dragons (1991)
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Knights of the Round (1991)
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Three wonders: Midnight Wanderers (1991)
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Warriors of Fate (1992)
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Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom (1993)
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Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (1993)
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The Punisher (1993)
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Armored Warriors (1994)
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Aliens Vs Predator (1994)
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Slipstream (1995)
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Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara (1996)
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Battle Circuit (1997)
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Konami:

Mikie (1984)
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Pandora's palace (1984)
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Road Fighter (1984)
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Green Beret (1985)
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Kicker (1985)
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Konami GT (1985)
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Iron Horse (1986)
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Vs the Goonies (1986)
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Jackal (1986)
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Jail Break (1986)
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WEC Le Mans 24 (1986)
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Battlantis (1987)
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Black Panther (1987)
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City Bomber (1987)
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Contra (1987)
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Vs Castlevania (1987)
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Hyper Crash (1987)
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Trick Trap (1987)
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Chequered Flag (1988)
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Devastators (1988)
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Gang Busters (1988)
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Haunted Castle (1988)
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Super Contra (1988)
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Crime Fighters (1989)
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Missing In Action (1989)
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Special Proyect Y (1989)
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Aliens (1990)
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Punk Shot (1990)
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Surprise attack (1990)
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Sunset Riders (1991)
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The Simpsons (1991)
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Vendetta (1991)
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Asterix (1992)
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Bucky O Hare (1992)
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GI Joe (1992)
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Wild West Cow Boyes (1992)
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X men (1992)
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Metamorphic Force (1993)
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Mystic Warriors (1993)
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Hyper Bishi Bashi Champ (1998)
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