MSXdev'21 #1 - Tool Blocks | MSX Resource Center

By Pencioner

Scribe (1565)

04-02-2021, 17:54

By the way, it is addicting. It is fun, and puzzles (levels) are of great fun.

Thanks for the game!

P.S. Any plans to remake it with assembler to make it more smooth? I would buy the remake for sure

By ray2day

Paladin (743)

04-02-2021, 19:44

Thanks for the great response! Yes, indeed the game triggers some edges and limits of MSX-BASIC. But hey, keep in mind it IS BASIC. In the near future hopefully it will be possible to increase my knowledge about assembly more quickly (if possible in with my new MSXVR (cross development) / I can not wait to receive it) and then I will surely make a game in the same style of it with more stages. With these kind reactions and support I definately have new goals to achief. Thankx!

By Uninteresting

Champion (352)

04-02-2021, 19:40

Good start for MSXdev this year.

By JohnHassink

Ambassador (5672)

04-02-2021, 21:31

ray2day, did you ever try to run your code in something like NestorBASIC?
Ofcourse, it would go beyond (this year's) MSXdev rules (as I think X-BASIC and its derivations require MSX2), but you might be pleasantly surprised how it speeds up everything (I know I was, when running my BASIC programs with it).
It even comes with a built-in Moonblaster replayer and support for sound effects.

By ray2day

Paladin (743)

04-02-2021, 22:06

@JohnHassink Never tried or even looked at something Nextor- or Kun BASIC. Maybe I have to do that. To be honest I hope I can make a smooth and quicker transition to assembly by using MSXVR so that I can actually (directly) see back- and forth what’s going on when coding.

By Manuel

Ascended (19469)

04-02-2021, 23:22

Just curious, but how will MSXVR help with it? (I don't know much about MSXVR... so please fill me in on this one.)

By albs_br

Champion (473)

05-02-2021, 00:14

Very cool game! It's interesting how the screen loads this fast in Basic.

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3659)

05-02-2021, 03:41

JohnHassink wrote:

(as I think X-BASIC and its derivations require MSX2)

X-BASIC (aka MSX Basic-Kun) runs just fine on an MSX1 computer, even its last 2.1 version.

By ray2day

Paladin (743)

05-02-2021, 08:10

Quote:

Just curious, but how will MSXVR help with it? (I don't know much about MSXVR... so please fill me in on this one.)

From what I have seen I hope MSXVR gives me a more easier way of cross development. Code, try, see what’s happening...

I know these things are also possible with OpenMSX and I tried on my iMac, but I just didn’t find a way to start (can get it to work properly).

By gdx

Enlighted (6219)

05-02-2021, 10:39

MSX Basic-Kun is not a good solution to make games because the memory becomes quickly insufficient. DM-System2 is better. Time should be found to complete the documentation. The advantage of this programming kit is that we can use just what is needed to improve our program.

By Latok

msx guru (3938)

05-02-2021, 22:43

Ah yes, DM-System2. I remember some Japanese bringing some copies of this tool to a Dutch MSX fair for sale somewhere in the early 00s and they were very surprised we didn't give it any attention at all. In Japan, it apparently was very well received, so they expected similar responses in Europe. At that time, though, there weren't any at all.....

Anyhow, on topic, well done ray2day!!

By Manuel

Ascended (19469)

06-02-2021, 10:00

ray2day wrote:

Quote:

Just curious, but how will MSXVR help with it? (I don't know much about MSXVR... so please fill me in on this one.)

From what I have seen I hope MSXVR gives me a more easier way of cross development. Code, try, see what’s happening...

I know these things are also possible with OpenMSX and I tried on my iMac, but I just didn’t find a way to start (can get it to work properly).

Please contact me and let me know how I can help.

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3659)

06-02-2021, 15:22

gdx wrote:

MSX Basic-Kun is not a good solution to make games because the memory becomes quickly insufficient. DM-System2 is better. Time should be found to complete the documentation. The advantage of this programming kit is that we can use just what is needed to improve our program.

Indeed. But, sadly, the MSX2 and higher have this long going prejudice against them, and as a consequence DM-System2 is ruled out too.

By shalafi

Master (138)

11-02-2021, 14:48

ray2day wrote:

Thanks for the great response! Yes, indeed the game triggers some edges and limits of MSX-BASIC. But hey, keep in mind it IS BASIC. In the near future hopefully it will be possible to increase my knowledge about assembly more quickly (if possible in with my new MSXVR (cross development) / I can not wait to receive it) and then I will surely make a game in the same style of it with more stages. With these kind reactions and support I definately have new goals to achief. Thankx!

As an MSX-Basic fan myself, I encourage you to look at MSX-Basic-Kun or X-Basic. It's what I used on my submission past year (Raftoid) and on my other game (LOGIC). It has a few limitations, but pushes Basic to a complete different level.

This game could be smooth compiled with X-Basic, and the design and gameplay is very nice already.

By Daemos

Prophet (2069)

11-02-2021, 19:12

Offer still stands @ray2day. After this summer I may have a lot of free coding time so if you need a engine for this game or other basic project you like to have in asm let me know.

By JohnHassink

Ambassador (5672)

11-02-2021, 22:37

Never even heard of DM-System2. You learn something new every day. :)

@ ray2day: Forget to mention, cool entry! As with your previous MSXdev offering, it shows that you have an eye for graphic design!
I just think it could do with a teenie weenie bit more speed. You mentioned to be considering picking up Assembly. Now, there's a path I do not dare to thread. ;)
I would like to imagine the things you'd be able to create, or also with some help like Daemos offered. Looking forward to your future endeavours.

sd_snatcher wrote:

X-BASIC (aka MSX Basic-Kun) runs just fine on an MSX1 computer, even its last 2.1 version.

Okay, I see. Really didn't know that! How much RAM is required for it to run? This could open perspectives...

By shalafi

Master (138)

12-02-2021, 11:59

X-Basic does not take much memory, you do need a loader to get it to work properly thou.
Once X-Basic runs, it moves itself to the right place of memory, so, if you load it within your game, it might initially overwrite something.
A small loader that loads X-Basic and then your game is enough to get through this

Some examples of games running with X-Basic:

https://webmsx.org/?DISK=https://github.com/plattysoft/MSX/r...

https://webmsx.org/?DISK=https://github.com/plattysoft/MSX/r...
The last one is my entry for past year's dev contest.

By ray2day

Paladin (743)

12-02-2021, 16:38

@Deamos:
Thanks for the offer. Hope you can help me when I start learning assembly more.
-

@JohnHassink:

Quote:

Forget to mention, cool entry! As with your previous MSXdev offering, it shows that you have an eye for graphic design!

Thanks for the great response! About the graphic design; graphic design is my profession...

By Uninteresting

Champion (352)

20-08-2021, 22:48

I may have stumbled upon an "endless lives" cheat, which is the only way I got to field 8. When my last life ends on spikes and the Game Over text is displayed, pressing F5 while that text is still on will restart the level and I can keep on playing without a game over scren again. Maybe my lives now are -2 and game over condition checks only for lives = -1, but whatever.

Yeah -- without that, I would've never got to field 8. Definitely a challenging game.

MSXdev'21 #1 - Tool Blocks

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