Hired Guns for CD32?? - Page 3

Mad-Matt · 29 July 2021, 23:32

I tried it and couldn't see anything that looks like a cdxl intro. The Intro is just a series of still frames (ilbm files) with credits fading in that you click through until the game loads. I didn't have much luck with the gamepad but mouse is fine.

turrican3 · 29 July 2021, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by chocolate_boy

https://archive.org/details/hired-guns-cd-32-dev-files

thank you, didn't saw it.

turrican3 · 30 July 2021, 00:46

What makes the game unplayable ?
Because i gave it a fast test and i can launch it...
launch a campagn and it launched, but i didn't go further.

Predseda · 30 July 2021, 06:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by turrican3

What makes the game unplayable ?
Because i gave it a fast test and i can launch it...
launch a campagn and it launched, but i didn't go further.

I wonder how would you save it to 1kB nonvolatile ram of CD32. The game needs to store a lot of data.

Solo Kazuki · 30 July 2021, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predseda

I wonder how would you save it to 1kB nonvolatile ram of CD32. The game needs to store a lot of data.

Mind that NVSave may be redirected anywhere. I have it redirected to Games:Storage/NVSaves where they are keeped. Even some "not NV" games i've redirected to save here (via assigns).

Solo Kazuki · 30 July 2021, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by chocolate_boy

https://archive.org/details/hired-guns-cd-32-dev-files

So now we need The Hero(es?) who finish this game (B.Tyler hit in background).

Predseda · 30 July 2021, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solo Kazuki

Mind that NVSave may be redirected anywhere. I have it redirected to Games:Storage/NVSaves where they are keeped. Even some "not NV" games i've redirected to save here (via assigns).

I meant on real pure CD32. This version just doesn't make much sense to me.

Solo Kazuki · 30 July 2021, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predseda

I meant on real pure CD32.

Maybe it's not for "pure CD32" and that may be one of reasons why game was not finished and released?

zzbylu · 30 July 2021, 20:22

and small gameplay: [ Show youtube player ]

Solo Kazuki · 30 July 2021, 22:22

It's not too different to OCS/ECS version except some minor enhancements. It would be looking better with some resources from PC VGA version.

turrican3 · 31 July 2021, 07:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solo Kazuki

It's not too different to OCS/ECS version except some minor enhancements. It would be looking better with some resources from PC VGA version.

A team could work on it, but it won't be a tiny job.
It's a montruous project.

Doomer · 31 July 2021, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predseda

I wonder how would you save it to 1kB nonvolatile ram of CD32. The game needs to store a lot of data.

Maybe save after/before mission. Progress + inventory is small enought to fit in 1kB one or two times.

UnnamedCourier · 11 September 2021, 23:58

This didn't seem to get much traction on here, but if anyone is interested I've done some major digging into what was released, including finding older builds, a patched/bugfixed version of the original OCS game that was never released, info on the AGA/CD32 version, unreleased maps, and the original Map Editor complete package including manual and surrounding tools that seems to have never been actually released.

https://tcrf.net/Hired_Guns
https://tcrf.net/Development:Hired_Guns
https://tcrf.net/Proto:Hired_Guns

Cherno · 12 September 2021, 01:06

Very interesting information!

I hope someone finds the time to dig through all those files, I'd love to know more about how things like character stats work.

UnnamedCourier · 12 September 2021, 01:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cherno

Very interesting information!

I hop someone fidns the time to dig through all those files, I'd love to know more about how things like character stats work.

This is explained in the document "Controls" in the development files:

Quote:

Fitness
This is the main indication on how well your character is. As he takes hits this value will fall. Once it reaches 0% then it's death. Note that the green/red bar at the top right of each panel gives a quick reading of the fitness value.
Physique
A general measurement of how big and strong a character is. With a high physique a character can withstand more damage and carry more items, however the general bulk and weight will be greater - which can be a disadvantage when trying to survive falls (hint: drop as much of your inventory as possible to save weight)
Experience
This reflects the wisdom and skills that a character accumulates throughout life. It is used in the game as a sort of 'score'
Carrying
This is a measurement in kilograms of the items that a character is carrying. Each character can carry up to a certain weight limit (dictated by their physique).

Cherno · 12 September 2021, 03:05

Oh, now I'm disappointed. From the description of the file, I expected some detailed information, even formula for calculating fall damage or carried weight limit

Solo Kazuki · 13 September 2021, 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomer

Maybe save after/before mission. Progress + inventory is small enought to fit in 1kB one or two times.

It seems no. Game save option is only available after installing on HDD. Moreover, since some people begin call it CD32 version this misunderstood begins. Nowhere in game CD32 is mentioned. Game is named "Hired Guns CD" or "Hired Guns CD AGA", so this should be corrected and accepted to knowledge, because it explains problem of saving on CD32.

Edit: Also when booting on CD32 game does not work and back to AmigaDOS.

Predseda · 13 September 2021, 10:37

So it is all about installation files carrier.

UnnamedCourier · 13 September 2021, 11:20

I recommend reading what I put here:
https://tcrf.net/Proto:Hired_Guns
(and also here: https://tcrf.net/Development:Hired_Guns)

Short version is the AGA version was planned straight after the retail OCS release, with new maps and additional graphical work started around November. The OCS release had a bugfix version created (version 39.26) which was finished at the end of November. This never saw the light of day.
After this was done it seems the coding on the AGA version started in earnest until the end of January.
First discussions in the correspondence shows the intention was to just make a two floppy disk expansion version for AGA with new graphics. Somewhere over the time from November to January this changed into a full blown CD32 version. If that was intention it's a total mess though because a lot more time has been spent making a version suited for souped up AGA computers with a CD drive than an actual CD32.

There is NO way to save to CD32 NVRAM, no way to play the game properly without a keyboard, and the CD32 pad support is totally FUBAR and doesn't work at all in game. Most of this stuff wasn't even started, checking the source it seems like these were worked on in a desperate rush in late January 1994 until inevitably Johnston gave up on the project or was told to abandon it.
That said the AGA version is the definitive way to play the game in single player, the only defect this way is the between level screens are corrupt and are missing the text. Multiplayer is a different story, however..

Predseda · 13 September 2021, 12:32

Version shown in the video above has some graphic enhancement over ECS retail Hired guns. It has a new tiles with lighter colours for outside environment (simulating overhead light source and shades), also some ceiling textures are different. And the gunfire from enemies is completely different. I also have a feeling that player sprites are slightly more colourful, not as much as VGA ones though.

29 July 2021, 23:32	#41
Mad-Matt Longplayer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln / UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,846	I tried it and couldn't see anything that looks like a cdxl intro. The Intro is just a series of still frames (ilbm files) with credits fading in that you click through until the game loads. I didn't have much luck with the gamepad but mouse is fine. Last edited by Mad-Matt; 29 July 2021 at 23:46.

12 September 2021, 01:06	#54
Cherno Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dortmund, Germany Posts: 1,054	Very interesting information! I hope someone finds the time to dig through all those files, I'd love to know more about how things like character stats work. Last edited by Cherno; 12 September 2021 at 03:03.

13 September 2021, 11:20	#59
UnnamedCourier Registered User Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: UK Posts: 76	I recommend reading what I put here: https://tcrf.net/Proto:Hired_Guns (and also here: https://tcrf.net/Development:Hired_Guns) Short version is the AGA version was planned straight after the retail OCS release, with new maps and additional graphical work started around November. The OCS release had a bugfix version created (version 39.26) which was finished at the end of November. This never saw the light of day. After this was done it seems the coding on the AGA version started in earnest until the end of January. First discussions in the correspondence shows the intention was to just make a two floppy disk expansion version for AGA with new graphics. Somewhere over the time from November to January this changed into a full blown CD32 version. If that was intention it's a total mess though because a lot more time has been spent making a version suited for souped up AGA computers with a CD drive than an actual CD32. There is NO way to save to CD32 NVRAM, no way to play the game properly without a keyboard, and the CD32 pad support is totally FUBAR and doesn't work at all in game. Most of this stuff wasn't even started, checking the source it seems like these were worked on in a desperate rush in late January 1994 until inevitably Johnston gave up on the project or was told to abandon it. That said the AGA version is the definitive way to play the game in single player, the only defect this way is the between level screens are corrupt and are missing the text. Multiplayer is a different story, however.. Last edited by UnnamedCourier; 13 September 2021 at 11:20. Reason: Tidy up

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30 July 2021, 00:46	#43
turrican3 Moon 1969 = amiga 1985 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: belgium Age: 48 Posts: 3,913	What makes the game unplayable ? Because i gave it a fast test and i can launch it... launch a campagn and it launched, but i didn't go further.

30 July 2021, 20:22	#49
zzbylu Saberman Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Kielce/Poland Posts: 327	and small gameplay: [ Show youtube player ]

30 July 2021, 22:22	#50
Solo Kazuki Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Poland Posts: 1,301	It's not too different to OCS/ECS version except some minor enhancements. It would be looking better with some resources from PC VGA version.

11 September 2021, 23:58	#53
UnnamedCourier Registered User Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: UK Posts: 76	This didn't seem to get much traction on here, but if anyone is interested I've done some major digging into what was released, including finding older builds, a patched/bugfixed version of the original OCS game that was never released, info on the AGA/CD32 version, unreleased maps, and the original Map Editor complete package including manual and surrounding tools that seems to have never been actually released. https://tcrf.net/Hired_Guns https://tcrf.net/Development:Hired_Guns https://tcrf.net/Proto:Hired_Guns

12 September 2021, 03:05	#56
Cherno Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dortmund, Germany Posts: 1,054	Oh, now I'm disappointed. From the description of the file, I expected some detailed information, even formula for calculating fall damage or carried weight limit

13 September 2021, 10:37	#58
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,539	So it is all about installation files carrier.

13 September 2021, 12:32	#60
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,539	Version shown in the video above has some graphic enhancement over ECS retail Hired guns. It has a new tiles with lighter colours for outside environment (simulating overhead light source and shades), also some ceiling textures are different. And the gunfire from enemies is completely different. I also have a feeling that player sprites are slightly more colourful, not as much as VGA ones though.

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