Time Gal - LaserDisc Anime gets a special Amiga release by ReImagine Games!

[BULI]

Great- thanx

Originally Posted by earok

I've prepared version 1.2 for release - I haven't extensively tested them yet but I'd appreciate any bug reports before publishing to the Reimagine site.

The OCS versions have one bug fix (prevent keyboard/mouse interacting with the background) and one new feature (Watch All Scenes mode). AGA versions have both of those plus higher quality HAM8 animations. Like with Road Avenger, there are four options:

OCS HDD Version 1.2
https://mega.nz/#!Nzp2CS6Z!tA3-Gne_c...k_39U5Jc9aBo7E

OCS-CD32 Disc Version 1.2 (requires 2X Speed CD Drive)
https://mega.nz/#!syp2CYDS!fz7fzON5Q...dhcQfDc2kJX7sY

AGA HDD Version 1.2
https://mega.nz/#!wrg2WCCY!7nX_dkVLT...YKZm04EsWyRqpY

AGA Disc Version 1.2 (requires 4x speed CD Drive)
https://mega.nz/#!Jn4iUQCa!sehZuPCfg...PM2W-q9psbRDhs


AGA Disc version won't work on a CD32 due to the drive speed, but the AGA HDD version could be installed to a hard drive equipped CD32.

HDD versions are recommended to be played from no-startup-sequence mode.

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by earok

I've prepared version 1.2 for release - I haven't extensively tested them yet but I'd appreciate any bug reports before publishing to the Reimagine site.

The OCS versions have one bug fix (prevent keyboard/mouse interacting with the background) and one new feature (Watch All Scenes mode). AGA versions have both of those plus higher quality HAM8 animations. Like with Road Avenger, there are four options:

OCS HDD Version 1.2
https://mega.nz/#!Nzp2CS6Z!tA3-Gne_c...k_39U5Jc9aBo7E

OCS-CD32 Disc Version 1.2 (requires 2X Speed CD Drive)
https://mega.nz/#!syp2CYDS!fz7fzON5Q...dhcQfDc2kJX7sY

AGA HDD Version 1.2
https://mega.nz/#!wrg2WCCY!7nX_dkVLT...YKZm04EsWyRqpY

AGA Disc Version 1.2 (requires 4x speed CD Drive)
https://mega.nz/#!Jn4iUQCa!sehZuPCfg...PM2W-q9psbRDhs


AGA Disc version won't work on a CD32 due to the drive speed, but the AGA HDD version could be installed to a hard drive equipped CD32.

HDD versions are recommended to be played from no-startup-sequence mode.

Thanks for this earok

Going to test very soon

One small thing I noticed in the "ReadMe" when using the AGA version is:

AGA EDITION
- 68020
- AGA
- 2MB of free chipram
- 500MB of free HDD space, OR
- 4X CD-ROM drive (NOT compatible with CD32 drive)

When extracting to hard drive it now actually takes about 640MB in size.

[DamienD]

Ok, just quickly finished the AGA version

On parts where there is a timer, this can be backwards / mirrored:









Also, when I finished the game the "Victory!" text was backwards / mirrored:



I don't think I ever noticed this in the previous 1.0 or 1.1 versions.

[earok]

Originally Posted by DamienD

Ok, just quickly finished the AGA version

On parts where there is a timer, this can be backwards / mirrored:









Also, when I finished the game the "Victory!" text was backwards / mirrored:



I don't think I ever noticed this in the previous 1.0 or 1.1 versions.

Thanks Damien! You're right, I had a script for 'unmirroring' select parts of the level when compiling the animations (eg countdown timer) but I guess it didn't work for the AGA versions! I'll look into it.

[Gaula92]

@earok: I was going to test both Time Gal and Road Avenger on my Minimig, but it seems that Road Avenger is not available for download anymore! What happened? I have also searched certain file server with no luck...
Any clues would be welcome!

[DamienD]

https://pixelglass.org/#roadavenger

...you're right, files are no longer there.

I have them on an external hard drive (well the AGA version anyway), so guess I could reupload but let's wait for earok; maybe there's a reason why they've been removed.

• RoadAvenger1.0-AGA.lha
• RoadAvenger-1.1-Patch.zip
• RoadAvenger-1.2-Patch.zip

[earok]

I'll need to update the site - I removed Road Avenger 1.0 from the web thinking that the site had already been updated to point to Road Avenger 1.2, but that wasn't the case.

Edit: I'll paste the links for Road Avenger here if anyone wants them now. I'll still update the site but it'll be later today

AGA ISO (not for CD32, only for 4X CD drives)
https://mega.nz/#!higDXBBD!kFhIdPv37...gUqp_DI3k66m-k

AGA for HDD
https://mega.nz/#!IuhBTDZD!akhwLeI28...lW-cDZU2Leo6tA

OCS for HDD
https://mega.nz/#!wv5nlDRD!k1TbzLFe6...mPElEnAZz9ed80

OCS and CD32 ISO
https://mega.nz/#!FixlAboS!_6aPPAvvC...ZibbUMbfPQeZEs

[Gaula92]

@Earok: Thanks A LOT! Going to play these two jewels on my MiSTer FPGA board NOW!

[earok]

Originally Posted by Gaula92

@Earok: Thanks A LOT! Going to play these two jewels on my MiSTer FPGA board NOW!

No worries! Hope it all works OK. I'm assuming that it's simulating an OCS/68000 setup..?

[Gaula92]

Originally Posted by earok

No worries! Hope it all works OK. I'm assuming that it's simulating an OCS/68000 setup..?

Yes, OCS/OCS + plain 68000. It's fast enough and both games are playable and ejoyable! There's an incomplete AGA chipset implementation, but I use it in 68K mode.
I have almost finished TimeGal on the MiSTer tonight! Such a nice game to have
I have created an HDF called laserdisc.hdf where I put both games on the SD, and they run great on the MiSTer as I said!

[earok]

Originally Posted by Gaula92

Yes, OCS/OCS + plain 68000. It's fast enough and both games are playable and ejoyable! There's an incomplete AGA chipset implementation, but I use it in 68K mode.
I have almost finished TimeGal on the MiSTer tonight! Such a nice game to have
I have created an HDF called laserdisc.hdf where I put both games on the SD, and they run great on the MiSTer as I said!

Nice! How do you boot them? From Workbench, CLI or a custom launcher etc?


Edit: Argh! I updated the links to Road Avenger on the site half a year ago. Problem is I forgot to upload my local copy of the page to FTP! Whoops. All fixed now.

[MickGyver]

Thanks for this earok! I have to play through this again, now in AGA!

Originally Posted by Gaula92

Yes, OCS/OCS + plain 68000. It's fast enough and both games are playable and ejoyable! There's an incomplete AGA chipset implementation, but I use it in 68K mode.
I have almost finished TimeGal on the MiSTer tonight! Such a nice game to have
I have created an HDF called laserdisc.hdf where I put both games on the SD, and they run great on the MiSTer as I said!

A bit off topic but what is incomplete about the AGA implementation in MiSTer?

[earok]

I'll try to upload a fixed AGA version with mirror stages fixed by the end of the day (latest OCS version is probably fine)

One thing I'll likely do with the next build (unless there's any serious objections?) is disable the increased contrast on the AGA edition. We increased the contrast on OCS to reduce artifacting and bring out some detail in dark areas, but it's not really an issue on AGA - and it should give an image more faithful to the laserdisc original. Any thoughts?

Column 1: OCS+Contrast
Column 2: AGA+Contrast (current uploaded build)
Column 3: AGA with no contrast adjustment (next planned build)

[Solo Kazuki]

IMHO version without contrast is muddy and unsharp. It makes difference in visual, and artifacts are appearing (especially visible on 3rd screenshot). It makes OCS/ECS version looking better than this "new" version.

Edit: After all, videos are converted (downgraded), so some losses should be patched by some gains. Contrast adjustment is this gain, graphics looks better this way.

[zzbylu]

Gameplay - Time Gal AGA edition ver. 1.2:
[ Show youtube player ]

[Gaula92]

Originally Posted by earok

Nice! How do you boot them? From Workbench, CLI or a custom launcher etc?

I boot them from CLI, I never use WB since I love Amiga DOS, so my FPGA Amigas all boot to Amiga DOS, then I navigate to dh1:timegal, and just write "timegal", wich I gave "protect timegal RE" when I copied the games to that HDD.

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by earok

I'll try to upload a fixed AGA version with mirror stages fixed by the end of the day (latest OCS version is probably fine)

Great, I'll test for you afterwards

Don't forget to adjust the "ReadMe" also

Originally Posted by DamienD

Thanks for this earok

Going to test very soon

One small thing I noticed in the "ReadMe" when using the AGA version is:

When extracting to hard drive it now actually takes about 640MB in size.

Originally Posted by earok

One thing I'll likely do with the next build (unless there's any serious objections?) is disable the increased contrast on the AGA edition. We increased the contrast on OCS to reduce artifacting and bring out some detail in dark areas, but it's not really an issue on AGA - and it should give an image more faithful to the laserdisc original. Any thoughts?

Column 1: OCS+Contrast
Column 2: AGA+Contrast (current uploaded build)
Column 3: AGA with no contrast adjustment (next planned build)

Originally Posted by Solo Kazuki

IMHO version without contrast is muddy and unsharp. It makes difference in visual, and artifacts are appearing (especially visible on 3rd screenshot). It makes OCS/ECS version looking better than this "new" version.

Edit: After all, videos are converted (downgraded), so some losses should be patched by some gains. Contrast adjustment is this gain, graphics looks better this way.

I agree with Solo Kazuki.

Maybe it's possible to only adjust contrast 50% of what is currently set on the OCS version; this could look good?

[MickGyver]

Originally Posted by DamienD

Maybe it's possible to only adjust contrast 50% of what is currently set on the OCS version; this could look good?

I was thinking the same, some kind of middle ground. The higher contrast one looks good but some of the lower contrast details disappear.

[AmigaBill]

This is awesome Earok! I will download and test. I really love this game and am very excited. Great testing BTW DamienD

As far as the contrast goes, The low contrast version looks very washed out to me on my monitor that is calibrated with an XRite. I always like to preserve as much detail as possible but without the image looking flat. I like it when the blacks are black, If the low con is showing too much info (the artifacting) I think it is better to crush the blacks until they are minimized.

[earok]

Thanks for the feedback guys

Another quick test:



Column1: Original image in 24bit color, just for comparison (I can't use this in game)
Column2: HAM8 conversion, no adjustment
Column3: HAM8 conversion, 50% contrast/saturation adjustment
Column4: HAM8 conversion, full contrast/saturation adjustment (original)

Row2
Column2: HAM8 conversion, saturation adjustment only
Column3: HAM8 conversion, contrast adjustment only

While this is only one frame, IMO it's a reasonable one to test with - there's a mix of colours and bright/dark areas.

Any thoughts?