Moonstone AGA...Possible???

[Stevo2k]

With all these AGA conversion projects around...I think Moonstone would be a great new candidate for a face lift...some of the backgrounds could do with a nice touchup...How difficult would this be... Anyone up for the task?

[TCD]

That would be something Maybe the PC version's graphics could be used.

[Torti-the-Smurf]

Originally Posted by TCD

Maybe the PC version's graphics could be used.

What would be the point in that ? They are more or less identical

[TCD]

Originally Posted by Torti-the-Smurf

What would be the point in that ? They are more or less identical

That's why I said maybe

[Torti-the-Smurf]

lol

[Stevo2k]

New AGA scenery would look amazing...The amiga scene has some amazing gfx talent that could do wonders with this game and the backgrounds are static too so maybe its possible?

[lesta_smsc]

Not sure if AGA is needed really. Games like Lionheart really pushed graphical aesthetics on standard hardware and even to this day it is a marvel when I boot up the game on CRT TV.

[van_dammesque]

Could fix the bugs too, is there a version without bugs (i.e. ending)?
There was a shader AI thing posted recently, could be used and scaled back for AGA. Would be nice if a base of a 030 50 MHz to have a 'hi-res' version.

[jotd]

Without the source code, it's really harder to create a conversion

- we don't have any AGA assets, we'd have to create them
- no source => heavy reverse engineering

Cfou made EOB/EOB2 AGA but

- he had AGA assets (DOS version)
- it's a relatively "simple" game, means that there are pics and that's it. Also using the system, much easier to reverse.
- it probably wasn't a piece of cake even with that

I converted Supercars 2 to AGA but:

- I had the original source code
- I had the assets from the DOS version for the static images
- it wasn't a piece of cake to understand how objects are rendered/encoded in data files (with shadows and all)

Increasing the number of planes is not like adding infinite lives, etc... It changes a lot of dimensions and all. Possible, but (even more) a labor of love.

Now Moonstone is non-DOS but still comes as an executable, which is a good point, since it can be disassembled & rebuilt, without too many issues like hidden tables/relocs (another issue when reversing a statically assembled code). Plus no need to reverse everything. "Just" figure out the original format of the assets (to add more bitplanes), change original copperlists (easy to find) and add bitplanes to blits (easy to find too).

I was considering doing that for Cadaver. The fact that there are no 256 colors assets stopped me for starting the work.

[Torti-the-Smurf]

Originally Posted by lesta_smsc

Not sure if AGA is needed really. Games like Lionheart really pushed graphical aesthetics on standard hardware and even to this day it is a marvel when I boot up the game on CRT TV.

YES Lionheart is the best I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Commodore even thought it was a AGA game

Quote:"The managers of Commodore actually believed that Lionheart was made specifically for the Amiga 1200" and its AGA graphic chipset.

According to Nieborg: "Lionheart really shines because it benefits from all of the Amiga’s graphical and technical features"


About Moonstone "AGA": I personally think that Moonstones colour palette and graphics give that game its Dark and Eerie Atmosphere.

Change that and you change the Atmosphere of that game.

It would be a ton of work too (like JODT explained)
and i am not sure if that would be really worth it.
The amount of time to get all the new Bugs would be immense.

The only thing i personally would change is the movement;
so it would be more smooth and not so much "grid" like;
but even that would be a pain in the butt and could break alot of things

Better would be a "Music HACK" imho ; so that Music would play in Fights
and on the Map and even that would be not trivial; well, at least for me

Thats just my opinion of course.

I actually i though about Music hacks for some of the LucasArts Adventures
where the music stops for no reason. (but thats off topic)

Maybe you just wait for this....
[ Show youtube player ]

[Torti-the-Smurf]

RTG ? Why ? What would be the point in doing that ?

Amiga (at least for me) is OCS/ECS/AGA.

PS:Your "Avatar picture" irritates me. Sorry

PPS: Edit: Oh, i see you have changed your Avatar. Thats way better.

[TCD]

Originally Posted by Ras Voja

No its DOS, and its awful. Sound even more.

*it's

[Stevo2k]

Its just that the scenery in Moonstone is so scrappy and I know it adds to the charm but even if the backgrounds were cleaned up and improved for non AGA machines it would be nice.....just sayin!

[stevelord]

Originally Posted by TCD

That would be something Maybe the PC version's graphics could be used.

Maybe I'm getting old but I can't see any major differences between the DOS and Amiga versions. Are there significant differences?

[gimbal]

Originally Posted by Ras Voja

No its DOS, and its awful. Sound even more.

If you want to see awful, look at the DOS version of Horror Zombies from the Crypt. That is awful. Moonstone DOS is just shy of the Amiga version, they actually made an effort.

Originally Posted by stevelord

Maybe I'm getting old but I can't see any major differences between the DOS and Amiga versions. Are there significant differences?

The usual square pixels deal. And the Amiga kills it in the sound department, the DOS version seems to have less sounds and the dragon... find a video of the DOS version, you have to hear it for yourself.

[Pyromania]

Moonstone AGA or SAGA would be awesome. The playability on the classic Amiga version is top notch and really fun in my opinion.

[Nobby_UK]

Just tried the DOS version and it was like a button/key
was being pressed all the time ???

ie Down on first menu and right on knight select
and madness on the map + fight screens

[stevelord]

Originally Posted by gimbal

The usual square pixels deal. And the Amiga kills it in the sound department, the DOS version seems to have less sounds and the dragon... find a video of the DOS version, you have to hear it for yourself.

Oh my god, that dragon is hilariously bad.

[gimbal]

Like a dude being toweled in the showers.