The Southsider

I've got an idea for a game that needs some text display, although really only about four lines. I'll take a look at the kernel and see how I can adapt it. I'll be talking more about my game when I get more code done. Thanks!

I haven't looked at your code yet; could you avoid the need for four versions of the kernel by using the two "frames" on alternate lines (so the first line of text starts with sprites to the left; the second line starts with sprites to the right; etc.)? Otherwise, any possibility of pushing things out to 26 characters? Even if your kernel sprawls into two banks that shouldn't be the end of the world.

I've got an idea for a game that needs some text display, although really only about four lines. I'll take a look at the kernel and see how I can adapt it. I'll be talking more about my game when I get more code done. Thanks!

 

You are welcome to use my code, and I'm interested to hear about your new game. The kernel only displays a single line of text (called 13 times from a loop) so it will be easy to display fewer lines. I've attached another kernel above (textkernel_zp.zip) which displays 12 lines from RAM - this is a much smaller and simpler kernel, so it may be more suitable for your needs.

 

Chris

I haven't looked at your code yet; could you avoid the need for four versions of the kernel by using the two "frames" on alternate lines (so the first line of text starts with sprites to the left; the second line starts with sprites to the right; etc.)? Otherwise, any possibility of pushing things out to 26 characters? Even if your kernel sprawls into two banks that shouldn't be the end of the world.

 

This may be possible - I need to look at the code again. I still have no idea how you managed to get 26 sprites on a line - does it require hitting RESPx mid line?

 

Chris

You are welcome to use my code, and I'm interested to hear about your new game. The kernel only displays a single line of text (called 13 times from a loop) so it will be easy to display fewer lines. I've attached another kernel above (textkernel_zp.zip) which displays 12 lines from RAM - this is a much smaller and simpler kernel, so it may be more suitable for your needs.

 

If my game goes as I plan, I'll need to be able to show a couple of lines of text beneath some basic player pictures, plus some more text as horizontal or vertical menu (using a missile or maybe playfield to highlight choices), and finally a couple of lines of rather dynamic text to be used to show the results of actions. I just DLed the code, so I'm reading up to see how much setup I need, plus just how much RAM it will take to store my text.

I noticed you didn't include font.h in your archive. What's the format of this? Can you upload it too, or is it in another post.

This may be possible - I need to look at the code again. I still have no idea how you managed to get 26 sprites on a line - does it require hitting RESPx mid line?

 

There's a four-line pattern; take a break every seven lines if that's your font height. So the first row of text does lines 0-3 and 0-2 of the pattern. The second does lines 3, 0-3, and 0-1. The third does 2-3, 0-3, and 0. The fourth does 3, 0-3, and 0-1. HMP0 and HMP1 should both be zero.

 

On line 0 of the pattern, STA RESP0 on cycle 38 and STA HMOVE on cycle 71.

On line 1, just STA HMOVE at cycle 71.

On line 2, STA RESP1 on cycle 38 and STA HMOVE on cycle 71.

On line 3, just STA HMOVE at cycle 71.

 

Each line pair only requires spending nine cycles moving sprites. I would guess your present code probably spends about 17 cycles (one LDA#imm, two STA HMPx, one STA HMCLR, and two STA HMOVE). Adding an extra column would increase the "prep" time, but would actually save two cycles in the kernel (assuming six cycles to load the shape)

I noticed you didn't include font.h in your archive. What's the format of this? Can you upload it too, or is it in another post.

 

The font file is now attached (in font.zip).

 

Chris