DOA

[AaroneusTheGreat]

PROGRESS UPDATE:

I've been spending a ton of time optimizing the game, and so far I've gotten the game engine compiling down to 49816 bytes, and it's faster than ever!

Hopefully when I have the yet again rewritten save and load game features working, I'll be ready to release another alpha for testing. Right now, the save game feature works, but the code to load the game from the save file does not! :O

I'm not really sure what's going wrong right now either.

[Xeda112358]

Well, my initial reaction was Ü and then it went to ö. That is really awesome! I hope you can figure out where stuff got broken!

[Jim Bauwens]

Nice too see progress!
Maybe you could post the saving code, so maybe we can look into it?

[AaroneusTheGreat]

If any of you can spot what I did wrong, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm not sure what's going on with this, but I haven't looked into it too deeply yet. 

This part works, it generates the file, with the correct tag and all that stuff.

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void SaveGame(short type_of_game) { short i,x,y; const char const* filename = type_of_game ? "doasava" : "doasavb"; // size of file: short totalDataSize = sizeof(gameglobals) + 21 + (8 * MAX_LEVEL_SPRITES) + ((14 * NR_SPRITE_TYPE_DEFS) * 2) + (sizeof(FATSPRITE) * MAX_SPRITES) + (sizeof(SpriteStruct) * MAX_SPRITES) + (sizeof(SwitchStruct) * MAX_NR_SWITCHES) + (sizeof(GlassWall) * MAX_GLASS_WALLS) + (sizeof(ExplodingFalseWall) * MAX_NR_DOORS) + (sizeof(PushableWall) * MAX_NR_DOORS) + (sizeof(LockedDoor) * MAX_NR_DOORS) + (4 * TOTAL_NR_WEAPONS) + (4 * gg.nr_doors); HSym hsym = SymAddMain(SYMSTR (filename)); if (hsym.folder == 0) return; SYM_ENTRY *SymPtr = (DerefSym(hsym)); SymPtr->handle = HeapAlloc(totalDataSize); if (SymPtr->handle == H_NULL) return; unsigned char *VarPtr = HLock(SymPtr->handle); if (VarPtr == NULL) return; *(unsigned short*)VarPtr = (totalDataSize - 2); VarPtr+=2; // 2 *(unsigned short*)VarPtr = fc.cam_xpos; VarPtr+=2;  // 4 *(unsigned short*)VarPtr = fc.cam_xpos; VarPtr+=2; // 6 *(unsigned short*)VarPtr = fc.cam_orientation; VarPtr+=2; // 8 *(short*)VarPtr = nr_item_sprites; VarPtr+=2; // 10 *(short*)VarPtr = nr_static_sprites; VarPtr +=2; // 12 *(short*)VarPtr = nr_dynamic_sprites; VarPtr +=2; // 14 memcpy(VarPtr,&gg,sizeof(gameglobals)); VarPtr += sizeof(gameglobals); for (i = 0; i <MAX_LEVEL_SPRITES; i++) { *(short*)VarPtr = item_sprites[i]; VarPtr+=2; *(short*)VarPtr = static_sprites[i]; VarPtr+=2; *(short*)VarPtr = dynamic_sprites[i]; VarPtr+=2; *(short*)VarPtr = sprite_checked[i]; VarPtr+=2; } for (y = 0; y < NR_SPRITE_TYPE_DEFS; y++) { for (x = 0; x < 7; x++) { *(short*)VarPtr = sprite_action_steps[y][x]; VarPtr+=2; *(short*)VarPtr = sprite_action_nr_sprites[y][x]; VarPtr+=2; } } for (i = 0; i < MAX_SPRITES; i++) { memcpy(VarPtr,&sprites[i],sizeof(FATSPRITE)); VarPtr+=sizeof(FATSPRITE); memcpy(VarPtr,&sprt_data[i],sizeof(SpriteStruct)); VarPtr+=sizeof(SpriteStruct); } for (i = 0; i < MAX_NR_SWITCHES; i++) { memcpy(VarPtr,&Switches[i],sizeof(SwitchStruct)); VarPtr+=sizeof(SwitchStruct); } for (i = 0; i < MAX_GLASS_WALLS; i++) { memcpy(VarPtr,&glass_walls[i],sizeof(GlassWall)); VarPtr+=sizeof(GlassWall); } for (i = 0; i < MAX_NR_DOORS; i++) { memcpy(VarPtr,&exploding_false_walls[i],sizeof(ExplodingFalseWall)); VarPtr+=sizeof(ExplodingFalseWall); } for (i = 0; i < MAX_NR_DOORS; i++) { memcpy(VarPtr,&push_walls[i],sizeof(PushableWall)); VarPtr+=sizeof(PushableWall); } for (i = 0; i < MAX_NR_DOORS; i++) { memcpy(VarPtr,&lockedDoors[i],sizeof(LockedDoor)); VarPtr+=sizeof(LockedDoor); } for (i = 0; i < TOTAL_NR_WEAPONS; i++) { *(short*)VarPtr = weapon_array[i]->have_weapon; VarPtr+=2; *(short*)VarPtr = weapon_array[i]->ammo; VarPtr+=2; } FATDOOR *doorsarray = FAT_GetDoorsArray(); for (i = 0; i < gg.nr_doors; i++) { *VarPtr = doorsarray[i].type; VarPtr++; *VarPtr = doorsarray[i].state; VarPtr++; *(unsigned short*)VarPtr = doorsarray[i].position; VarPtr+=2; } *VarPtr = 0;       // 15 VarPtr++; *VarPtr = 'd';     // 16 VarPtr++; *VarPtr = 'o';     // 17 VarPtr++; *VarPtr = 'a';     // 18 VarPtr++; *VarPtr = 's';     // 19 VarPtr++; *VarPtr = 0;       // 20 VarPtr++; *VarPtr = OTH_TAG; // 21 HeapUnlock(SymPtr->handle); }

This part always generates a protected memory violation.

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short LoadGame(short type_of_game) { short i,x,y; const char const* filename = type_of_game ? "doasava" : "doasavb";         // open file returns the pointer to the actual data in the file, past the size bytes. unsigned char* VarPtr = OpenFile(filename); if (VarPtr == NULL) return 0; fc.cam_xpos = *(unsigned short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2;  // 4 fc.cam_xpos = *(unsigned short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; // 6 fc.cam_orientation = *(unsigned short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; // 8 nr_item_sprites = *(short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; // 10 nr_static_sprites = *(short*)VarPtr; VarPtr +=2; // 12 nr_dynamic_sprites = *(short*)VarPtr; VarPtr +=2; // 14 memcpy(&gg,VarPtr,sizeof(gameglobals)); VarPtr += sizeof(gameglobals); for (i = 0; i <MAX_LEVEL_SPRITES; i++) { item_sprites[i] = *(short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; static_sprites[i] = *(short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; dynamic_sprites[i] = *(short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; sprite_checked[i] = *(short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; } for (y = 0; y < NR_SPRITE_TYPE_DEFS; y++) { for (x = 0; x < 7; x++) { sprite_action_steps[y][x] = *(short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; sprite_action_nr_sprites[y][x] = *(short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; } } for (i = 0; i < MAX_SPRITES; i++) { memcpy(&sprites[i],VarPtr,sizeof(FATSPRITE)); VarPtr+=sizeof(FATSPRITE); memcpy(&sprt_data[i],VarPtr,sizeof(SpriteStruct)); VarPtr+=sizeof(SpriteStruct); } for (i = 0; i < MAX_NR_SWITCHES; i++) { memcpy(&Switches[i],VarPtr,sizeof(SwitchStruct)); VarPtr+=sizeof(SwitchStruct); } for (i = 0; i < MAX_GLASS_WALLS; i++) { memcpy(&glass_walls[i],VarPtr,sizeof(GlassWall)); VarPtr+=sizeof(GlassWall); } for (i = 0; i < MAX_NR_DOORS; i++) { memcpy(&exploding_false_walls[i],VarPtr,sizeof(ExplodingFalseWall)); VarPtr+=sizeof(ExplodingFalseWall); } for (i = 0; i < MAX_NR_DOORS; i++) { memcpy(&push_walls[i],VarPtr,sizeof(PushableWall)); VarPtr+=sizeof(PushableWall); } for (i = 0; i < MAX_NR_DOORS; i++) { memcpy(&lockedDoors[i],VarPtr,sizeof(LockedDoor)); VarPtr+=sizeof(LockedDoor); } for (i = 0; i < TOTAL_NR_WEAPONS; i++) { weapon_array[i]->have_weapon = *(short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; weapon_array[i]->ammo = *(short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; } FATDOOR *doorsarray = FAT_GetDoorsArray(); for (i = 0; i < gg.nr_doors; i++) { doorsarray[i].type = *VarPtr; VarPtr++; doorsarray[i].state= *VarPtr; VarPtr++; doorsarray[i].position = *(unsigned short*)VarPtr; VarPtr+=2; } CloseFile(filename); // the game engine may not have the correct number of sprites to work with, so // set it to what we loaded from the file. fc.nr_sprites = gg.number_total_sprites; // this part here has to be here, because the texconfig pointers for each sprite // may be pointing to some random place in archive memory, that may not correspond // to the textures anymore, so I just use the function I already have to // set the current texture frame for the current animation, to set the // pointers back to what they should be. for (i = 0; i < fc.nr_sprites; i++) { SetSpriteToCurrentAnimationFrame(&sprites[i],&sprt_data[i]); } return 1; }

[Lionel Debroux]

Protected Memory Violation is triggered when writing to NULL or nearby addresses (where the vector table is)...
I cannot see any mistakes that are all too obvious here. Check that all structs you save and restore through memcpy do not contain pointers, which must be reinitialized to match the new runtime conditions in a different run of DOA.

[DJ Omnimaga]

I'm glad this was still progressing. Hopefully the coding issue is resolved without too much hassle.

[AaroneusTheGreat]

PROGRESS FINALLY:

I now have the save/load feature working as long as you save/load while the game is already running. Now the task is to get it working for when you start the game up and want to continue from where you left off. It's proving difficult due to the large amount of data that has to be stored/recalled and not have any of it screw up a sequence in the loading. To give you an idea of the amount of data that needs to be stored:

Saving the game on the first level generates a save file of 15295 bytes.

That's a bit more than half of the entire ram of a ti-82. This game has a ton going on internally.

EDIT:

Turns out, the loading is pretty quirky. It works in certain situations, but there are problems in other situations. I  have some ideas on how to fix it though, so I may have a solution before too long. We'll see.

[DJ Omnimaga]

Glad to see you (and some progress) again

Yeah saving can be annoying, plus you have to be careful about dependencies on variables and stuff. X.x

[AaroneusTheGreat]

Good to see you as always too DJ.

Progress update:

Well I made a little progress. I've got the story mode game saving/loading working 100% now, but in the process I decided it was best to take away the ability to save during the mini-game. It kind of defeats the purpose of the mini-game to be able to save, the object is to stay alive as long as possible.

I'm also working on fixing a little feature that got broken during the major rewrite. When you kill a robotic enemy, they are supposed to drop items, but it's not working quite right. When they do drop the items, you can't pick them up for whatever reason. I'm probably missing some minute detail, but haven't figured out what that could be yet.

Next on the list is more levels and tasks. I'm open to suggestions as to different types of tasks to accomplish to make the game more dynamic.

Hopefully there will be more to come soon! I am trying to focus on getting something significant done each week with this, we'll see how well it goes. :p I'll let you all know when I do though.

[DJ Omnimaga]

Yeah I still visit the chat and sometimes the forums, although not as much as a few years ago and often take breaks. I'm glad more progress was done. Hopefully you can fix the bugs without too much hassle.


New screenshot soon?

[Lionel Debroux]

Good to see more progress

[AaroneusTheGreat]

Thanks guys, here's a screenshot of the current little detail I added. When you die in the minigame, there is now a screen telling you how many rounds you survived.

I can't really do animated screenshots right now, I've had trouble with CalcCapture lately.

I'm working on a few other details right now, but they're not really visible things at the moment. Mostly internal bug fixes. As it is there's not really any major bugs. I haven't been able to make the code crash, but there's some quirks here and there I'm working out. I'll keep you posted if I make any more progress.

[Xeda112358]

Nice o.o I like the fonts, by the way

[AaroneusTheGreat]

The credit for the font goes to David Randall. He designed them and wrote the function for drawing them to the screen. I was focusing on gameplay stuff at the time and he volunteered to do the font stuff. Several people's hands have been at this game besides my own. All of which will be mentioned in the credits/readme when it comes time to release the game.

[Xeda112358]

Oh, cool