Omnimaga

Omnimaga => News => Topic started by: DJ Omnimaga on March 07, 2010, 04:20:51 am

Title: Dual-layer ASCII madness and load of file archive additions
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on March 07, 2010, 04:20:51 am
After being dormant for several years, the RPG downloads section of the website have finally seen some activity again recently. Until last week, only the other sections, including obviously our own programs, were updated anymore. After the addition of Ndless (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=483) (redirecting to ticalc.org archives and including a mirror) and Goplat's Emulator (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=485) (due to UTI disabling forum attachments for guests), a few more files were added to the RPG and programming tools section again. First of all, there is WabbitEmu 2 (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=488) stable version with a readme, uploaded with Buckeye permission so it is easier to find for people who couldn't find it on Revsoft, and finally there is a program by our former staff Trevmeister66, who did an unexpected return in the TI scene last month, who released a fast program to work with dual-layer ASCII graphics (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=517) easier.

In addition to this, we added Builderboy recent Java dual-layer ASCII helper (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=516) to our own products section. It lets you find the closest possible combinations of characters for the sprite you would like to have. For those who are not familiar with TI-BASIC, dual-layer ASCII refers to this kind of graphics:
(http://www.omnimaga.org/images/screenshots/duallayer.gif)

Aside from these programs, a new download section has opened up on Omnimaga: Calculator Videos (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=downloads;cat=41)! This section will contains all Omnimaga calculator videos created over the years, ranging from tributes to calc programming to footage of calculator games, such as the Youtube TI-83 Plus BASIC RPG Nostalgia Serie (http://www.youtube.com/user/DJOmnimaga#grid/user/6357F9ABE2FE8D89). This section, however, requires a forum account.

UPDATE (March 9th): Added  {AP}'s xLIB/Celtic III map editor (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=518) in our TI programming tools section. I meant to do this ages ago since it has been avaliable for download since December, but finally forgot. Should be easier to find, now. :)
Title: Re: Dual-layer ASCII madness and load of file archive additions
Post by: trevmeister66 on March 07, 2010, 10:14:43 am
Aside from these programs, a new download section has opened up on Omnimaga: Calculator Videos (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=downloads;cat=41)! This section will contains all Omnimaga calculator videos created over the years, ranging from tributes to calc programming to footage of calculator games, such as the Youtube TI-83 Plus BASIC RPG Nostalgia Serie (http://www.youtube.com/user/DJOmnimaga#grid/user/6357F9ABE2FE8D89). This section, however, requires a forum account.
Now that is awesome. I can't wait for this to expand.
Title: Re: Dual-layer ASCII madness and load of file archive additions
Post by: Galandros on March 07, 2010, 10:54:00 am
Great additions to the site!
Keep growing...
Title: Re: Dual-layer ASCII madness and load of file archive additions
Post by: ztrumpet on March 07, 2010, 11:45:16 am
Great additions to a great site!  Awesome work! :)
Title: Re: Dual-layer ASCII madness and load of file archive additions
Post by: Hot_Dog on March 07, 2010, 12:57:01 pm
Builderboy, two thumbs up and respect +1 for that java ASCII program!
Title: Re: Dual-layer ASCII madness and load of file archive additions
Post by: Builderboy on March 07, 2010, 01:18:50 pm
Heh, thankz :) It was fun to write, and I know that I'll be using it a lot when creating maps for Serenity ;D
Title: Re: Dual-layer ASCII madness and load of file archive additions
Post by: whitevalkery on March 08, 2010, 12:28:47 am
wow... i never knew it was this simple!?  :o
guess i should take "text:( " more seriously :P
Title: Re: Dual-layer ASCII madness and load of file archive additions
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on March 08, 2010, 01:16:42 am
Yeah, it was very simple, yet we discovered this trick only 7 years after the TI-83 Plus came out. Some stuff takes so long to discover sometimes. It's just that people are so used to Line() combined with text and pixels on forums that we get blinded from other tricks. Plus, sometimes, people who want better graphics goes "text... yuck", so they forged a simple combination of two chars can do awesome stuff without the need of libraries

The hard part is more to figure out good combinations, though, because there are so many possible
Title: Re: Dual-layer ASCII madness and load of file archive additions
Post by: trevmeister66 on March 08, 2010, 01:22:44 am
And if you really want to see some magic with dual layer text sprites, check out Serenity. I just revisited that sub forum for the first time in a long time, and I'm still amazed by what Builderboy has done.
Title: Re: Dual-layer ASCII madness and load of file archive additions
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on March 08, 2010, 01:36:14 am
Yeah I hope it comes out x.x
Title: Re: Dual-layer ASCII madness and load of file archive additions
Post by: ztrumpet on March 08, 2010, 03:48:54 pm
Me too.  Serenity will be an awesome game when finished!  Builderboy, remember how many people want Serenity, and let's see some progress! :D

Good luck on it! :)