Good explanation why half-brite is too slow for game engines?

[paraj]

Originally Posted by TCD

Yes, I meant EHB I don't have time to play the game right now, but maybe somebody else could provide said files?

Just gave it a quick spin. Loading screens and menus seem to be 5bpls, but ingame is indeed EHB. (Zoned USS file if anybody wants to second guess me )

[TCD]

Interesting. I only checked the color count of some of the in-game screenshots we have on HOL and they have less than 32 colors.

[Amigajay]

Originally Posted by TCD

Interesting. I only checked the color count of some of the in-game screenshots we have on HOL and they have less than 32 colors.

Are we talking Desert Strike here? If so in the manual states they used EHB mode to bring shadows, smoke and shading.

So i guess if colour count a screenshot with an explosion or smoke over something more than just the desert.

Btw the manual states the cut scenes were drawn in 32 colours.

[TCD]

Originally Posted by Amigajay

So i guess if colour count a screenshot with an explosion or smoke over something more than just the desert.

That's what I tried. As an example:


That screenshot uses 31 unique colors.

I didn't analyze every screen the game produces, so there might be some that have more than 32 colors.

[Aardvark]

Originally Posted by TCD

Interesting. I only checked the color count of some of the in-game screenshots we have on HOL and they have less than 32 colors.

The shadow of the helicopter is EHB effect.
In WinUAE, the "No-EHB Denise" option under Adv. Chipset can be toggled on/off while emulation is running.

Without EHB, there is only about 21 on-screen colors.

[TCD]

Okay, that is interesting So EHB is used, but not for the full 64 colors. Would be great if somebody could explain why it is used.

[Dunny]

Originally Posted by TCD

Okay, that is interesting So EHB is used, but not for the full 64 colors. Would be great if somebody could explain why it is used.

I'm guessing so that the shadow could be transparent over any colour.

[Amigajay]

Originally Posted by Dunny

I'm guessing so that the shadow could be transparent over any colour.

Exactly, even if there is only 21 colours, shadow of the helicopter/smoke will need to double that to 42, plus any additional colours for the big screen flash explosion.

As i say above, the manual says why they used EHB mode. I’m sure the tradeoff of a couple of fps was worth it for the extra colours, i know coming from the Mega Drive version, the intro, menu and explosions along with much better sound makes for an all round better game, even if it is slightly slower, not so much of a problem compared to John Madden or Road Rash (still playable of course!).

[TCD]

The manual is clearly written by a person from the marketing department. I meant an explanation why they *didn't* use 64 colors, but only used 32 while EHB is used would be interesting.

[Dunny]

Originally Posted by TCD

The manual is clearly written by a person from the marketing department. I meant an explanation why they *didn't* use 64 colors, but only used 32 while EHB is used would be interesting.

It was for the shadows, I thought. If you use more than 32 colours then you end up the shadow not being effective on some of your colours.

[Karlos]

It's interesting that the helicopter shadow is bitplane 6 but so much else seems to rely on a either with black.