Omnimaga
Calculator Community => Other Calc-Related Projects and Ideas => TI Z80 => Topic started by: Hot_Dog on November 23, 2021, 02:21:23 am
-
Here it is! An early release build / test build of my new RPG game "Elimination." If you like Final Fantasy, Earthbound and Pokemon, you'll probably like this game. Download the game here: http://ceme.tech/DL2201 (http://ceme.tech/DL2201)
This is an early release build. That means that this is for testing purposes. If you manage to finish the game, you won't be able to see the final cutscene because it's not ready yet, but your game will be saved, and then you can see the ending simply by loading your saved game once the final cutscene is ready to go.
There are two things I'd like to know:
1. Does the game work? (I've only been testing this on an emulator)
2. Is the game too easy or too hard?
You can send me an email or make a post here if you find a bug or if you think the game is too easy or too hard.
What do I mean by if the game is too easy or too hard?
* The first two levels should be easy. Levels 9,10 and 11 should be hard but not frustrating like NES Battletoads or Atari 2600 E.T.
* Are there any weapons that are overpowered?
* Are there any weapons or projectiles that are too expensive or too cheap?
* Do you find that you have to return to the main hub too often to heal yourself?
* Is money too easy or too hard to come by?
* Is it too easy or too difficult to level up?
* Is there a world where one character gets under-used because he / she can't fight most enemies?
* Are any of these bosses (besides the Alien CIC) too easy or too hard? Firebird, supercomputer, Zebella, Balkstone, Tank Mark X, Cardon Bol, Red Hawk
I'll be able to fix bugs and statistics, such as how much money a robot gives you, how much health you get for leveling up, how much damage a weapon can do, etc. I won't be able to add any more features. For example, I was hoping to add an option so that you could instantly heal all your health at once instead of pressing "heal" over and over, but I won't be able to. I was also hoping to add an option where damaging shields with protons gives you more experience points, but I won't be able to.
-
I cannot send the 8xk file to my 84+. I get an error saying the application file is broken and to redownload it again, and if it doesn't work, to contact TI for help. D:
-
I cannot send the 8xk file to my 84+. I get an error saying the application file is broken and to redownload it again, and if it doesn't work, to contact TI for help. D:
Out of curiosity, can you send it to an emulator?
-
Yes. It's just when trying to send it to a real calc (with TI-Connect and TI-Connect CE) that it fails.
-
Could it be that I used WabbitSign? Should I use something else to sign the app?
-
I believe I saw RabbitSign being mentionned often when it comes to Z80 dev and even Axe apps but I don't know if this is the most up to date method, since I was inactive at some point in 2017-19 and never made apps to begin with.
-
Could it be that I used WabbitSign? Should I use something else to sign the app?
I haven't used wabbitsign in a long time and I'm not sure if that is the issue. I generally use spasm and I've got it configured to automatically sign apps.
I know Wabbitemu is very generous with loading apps (it bypasses the calc's security which is great for streamlining development, but it hides signing issues).
I'm not much help with this stuff these ays XD .__.
-
I didn't end up using spasm to sign the app because I ran into an issue where it wouldn't automatically roll data from the end of one page to the beginning of the next page. So I'm using spasm to build the .bin file and wabbitsign to sign it. I might try rabbitsign next, but the problem is, I didn't back up the source code I used to make the early-release. I've been doing some optimizations to allow the finale to be stored on the app instead of in an appvar, so I might not be ready to give "signing" another go until next week :(
-
I'll try to check the 8xk integrity after work.
It could also be that DJ Omni encountered the infamous bug that prevents more apps to be sent.
-
I just resetted the entire calculator memory and I still get the same error.
-
Rabbitsign did indeed say the file had a poor signature. You can try this newly signed one. However, I'm not 100% sure it will work, because I "resigned" the app rather than starting from a freshly generated .bin file -- again, the new .bin file will have to wait until my reoptimizing is done.
-
Rabbitsign did indeed say the file had a poor signature. You can try this newly signed one. However, I'm not 100% sure it will work, because I "resigned" the app rather than starting from a freshly generated .bin file -- again, the new .bin file will have to wait until my reoptimizing is done.
It appears the resign was properly done.
However, attempting to create a new game causes a RAM clear (TI-84+SE).
Thanks to wabbitemu, it's due to an execution violation on bank 3 (RAM page 0) at address $C0C9.
Not sure if PC is supposed to go there, but if yes, you'll need to expand RAM execution range first.
-
Rabbitsign did indeed say the file had a poor signature. You can try this newly signed one. However, I'm not 100% sure it will work, because I "resigned" the app rather than starting from a freshly generated .bin file -- again, the new .bin file will have to wait until my reoptimizing is done.
It appears the resign was properly done.
However, attempting to create a new game causes a RAM clear (TI-84+SE).
Thanks to wabbitemu, it's due to an execution violation on bank 3 (RAM page 0) at address $C0C9.
Not sure if PC is supposed to go there, but if yes, you'll need to expand RAM execution range first.
:banghead: *facepalm I totally forgot about that! Yes, there is some RAM code there. I put my uncompressed tile data and map data at $9D95, when instead I should have put my RAM code there. Again, sadly, that's a fix I can't quickly implement, but I'm glad you caught that.
A very special thanks for everyone wanted to test this! I'll try as quickly as possible to get this problem fixed in about 5 days!
-
For people who can't wait 5 days, i coded a quick fix.
Just run UNLOCK.8xp once, it makes all RAM executable, so the app won't crash when creating a new game anymore.
In case you want the RAM execution permission back to its system default configuration, LOCK.8xp basically cancels what UNLOCK.8xp did.
Happy testing!
-
For people who can't wait 5 days, i coded a quick fix.
Just run UNLOCK.8xp once, it makes all RAM executable, so the app won't crash when creating a new game anymore.
In case you want the RAM execution permission back to its system default configuration, LOCK.8xp basically cancels what UNLOCK.8xp did.
Happy testing!
Hey, thanks!! Speaking of which, once these bugs are fixed and everything optimized, your old saved games will still work, so it's okay to start testing!
-
The new app sends successfully to my calc. I am gonna test now :)
-
I forgot to write in the manual that you can press MATH to run and x-1 to stop running. :)
-
Would it be possible to add the possibility to save anywhere in the first level? The level seems incredibly huge and I get lost easily, running out of bombs and dying eventually before I can finally save, so I had to restart from almost the beginning everytime I wanna test. D:
Also how do you attack the alien? He's immune to everything...
-
Would it be possible to add the possibility to save anywhere in the first level? The level seems incredibly huge and I get lost easily, running out of bombs and dying eventually before I can finally save, so I had to restart from almost the beginning everytime I wanna test. D:
Also how do you attack the alien? He's immune to everything...
Have you tried using Y= and WINDOW to switch between players? The alien can be attacked with Jamie's fire and Collin's ray gun.
Also, do you mean that you run out of "grenades?" If you actually run out of "bombs" instead of "grenades," that's a bug I need to fix, since you're not supposed to have access to bombs until the next save point.
I'm not sure yet I want to add the ability to allow players to save anywhere during the first level, but if that first level is proving too difficult, maybe I should reconsider it. That is what this "balance testing" is meant for, after all :)
EDIT: I was able to gain some extra space for a few more tiles after optimizing everything, so I'll add a couple of "save points" in the map. At least then you can walk up to those points to save your game.
-
Ah yeah I meant grenade. My bad. The issue is not really the enemies being hard to beat, though, but rather that the level is very large to be done in one sitting.
-
Ah yeah I meant grenade. My bad. The issue is not really the enemies being hard to beat, though, but rather that the level is very large to be done in one sitting.
Yeah, good point. I was hoping to have something like the Legend of Zelda for the NES, where you can save your game but have to start from the beginning cave every time you start the game up. Or Shovel Knight, where your game will save only after you complete a level. I stand by that choice for some of the later levels, but maybe I should make an exception for the first level.
-
Oh yeah that's what I did in Mana Force 1/First Fantasy: Mana Force and Illusiat 6/Nemesiat. (although in Illusiat 6/Nemesiat you can't save in the first and last dungeon). I plan to change Nemesiat to let you save anywhere, though.
For the next levels, though, I think not allowing to save (except maybe right before the boss like in Square-Enix games?) or making the player restart at the entrance after game loading is a good challenge. :)
-
@DJ Omnimaga Thank you sooo much for testing the game and sharing your thoughts!
I think I've come up with a good solution that will take into consideration what you said without having to do a lot of reprogramming and / or breaking any saved games you may have created. What I'll do within the next 4 days is make it so that whenever you collect a bomb, mineral, etc. your game data will save but not your location. At least in that case, if you have to start from the beginning of the level, you don't have to go back and recollect everything.
For level 1 in particular, I can make it so that your game will re-save once you walk past the corridor that doesn't let you pass because you don't have enough bombs. Then, if you die, you don't have to start at the very, very beginning of the level. And every time you collect a bomb, you can load your game at this new save point knowing you don't have to collect that same bomb twice.
This should also help address my concern that perhaps levels 9, 10 and 11 are too difficult.
-
Here's a new version of the file! Here's what's changed:
1) You don't need to unlock your RAM to play this, as I've moved the location of the executable RAM Code.
2) Hopefully the signature's correct.
3) The final cutscene is done! You can ignore what the manual says, you do not need a special appvar to view the ending.
4) I've thought over DJ Omnimaga's suggestions and have made it so that the game will save more often. You still can't save anywhere you want, but this should be less of a headache.
5) Some more bug fixes
For all intents and purposes, the game is done except for bug fixes and balance changes.
-
Sorry, I have been busy with a secret personal project in the last two weeks so I didn't get to try the new version yet. I downloaded it, though, so I can try to beat it during breaks. :)
-
Sorry, I have been busy with a secret personal project in the last two weeks so I didn't get to try the new version yet. I downloaded it, though, so I can try to beat it during breaks. :)
Oh, I didn't know that! :o :o Well, now that I know that, no hurry and no worries! Good luck with your secret project!
Since you're doing me a favor -- and again, take your time -- here you are: I've added that extra "courtesy" teleporter to Level 1.
EDIT: Also, I'm going to be doing one last balance run-through from December to January, because there are a couple of things that are still bugging me. Changes might be made to the game while you're testing this, but those changes won't affect your saved games.
-
That's it! The critical bug has been fixed, I'm happy with the changes, and I'm saying that, from my end, It's balanced enough unless other people think differently! But it's still an early release build.