Fletch Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I was going through some of my ST stuff the other day and remembered I used to have a program called M.A.G.E. - Magic Arcade Graphic Engine. I seemed to remember it was a dumbed down version of GFA-Basic. I'm not sure if I still have it or not. Can anyone shed some light on this programming language? Thanks, Fletch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lp060 Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I was going through some of my ST stuff the other day and remembered I used to have a program called M.A.G.E. - Magic Arcade Graphic Engine. I seemed to remember it was a dumbed down version of GFA-Basic. I'm not sure if I still have it or not. Can anyone shed some light on this programming language? Thanks, Fletch MAGE was some add-on for GFA. A bunch of pre-made routines to handle game making and the like. I think it might of shipped with GFA in the box (editor only), but minus the compiler? Not exactly sure, but MAGE itself was not from the same company as GFA. I have it somewhere, box and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted September 13, 2008 Author Share Posted September 13, 2008 Lonny, Yeah, I think you're right. I remember trying to program with it and being completely lost. I never really got past structured basic and anything without line numbers to this day confuses the hell out of me. So I put it back in the box. I think its probably remained in its somewhat pristine condition in my parents attic if they haven't tossed it by now. Next time I'm there I'll look for it. Thanks for refreshing my memory. Fletch I was going through some of my ST stuff the other day and remembered I used to have a program called M.A.G.E. - Magic Arcade Graphic Engine. I seemed to remember it was a dumbed down version of GFA-Basic. I'm not sure if I still have it or not. Can anyone shed some light on this programming language? Thanks, Fletch MAGE was some add-on for GFA. A bunch of pre-made routines to handle game making and the like. I think it might of shipped with GFA in the box (editor only), but minus the compiler? Not exactly sure, but MAGE itself was not from the same company as GFA. I have it somewhere, box and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zap! Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 I made a game with it around 1994 or so. I remember it being very easy, but that was 20 years ago when I had no job nor social life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DarkLord Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 If anyone has a copy they could archive and post, I'd love to have it, just for the sheer fun of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lp060 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 (edited) I suppose one day I might get the disks copied, but the manual is rather thick. I suspect it would be very hard or next to impossible to use without the manual. Edited September 25, 2014 by lp060 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zap! Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 If anyone has a copy they could archive and post, I'd love to have it, just for the sheer fun of it. I found it on my HD with the .st extension. Now, it says 12-10-1999, which is the last time I really used the Atari ST before cleaning it last week. So I have completely forgotten what .st files are. Are they like zip/arc compressed files? If yes, how do we open them? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lp060 Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 (edited) Its a disk image. Hatari can read it or most emulators now days. Edited September 26, 2014 by lp060 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 I have these disks and can image them if helpful. Looks like Zap! may already have them imaged though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zap! Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 OK, bear with me since I haven't used ST emulation in 15 years or so (I used to use Pacifist and Tosbox). Just downloaded Hatari. I didn't read any instrucktions, so I'm just doing guess-work. I set the settings to Atari 1040 STe, 8 mhz, 68000, and left Falcon DSP to None. Under "CPU & system parameters" everything is checked except "Real time clock emulation". Please tell me if that is ok so far. Now, I set the default floppy disk image directory to the path with my .st files and roms. Under Drive A, I click browse, load the .st file, and hit ok. Then back to Main menu and ok once more. Once again, please tell me if you see something I did wrong. Well, I double click Disk A and nothing happens. I even highlighted it and hit Open. Still no contents are shown. Please help, I really want to try this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 OK, bear with me since I haven't used ST emulation in 15 years or so (I used to use Pacifist and Tosbox). Just downloaded Hatari. I didn't read any instrucktions, so I'm just doing guess-work. I set the settings to Atari 1040 STe, 8 mhz, 68000, and left Falcon DSP to None. Under "CPU & system parameters" everything is checked except "Real time clock emulation". Please tell me if that is ok so far. Now, I set the default floppy disk image directory to the path with my .st files and roms. Under Drive A, I click browse, load the .st file, and hit ok. Then back to Main menu and ok once more. Once again, please tell me if you see something I did wrong. Well, I double click Disk A and nothing happens. I even highlighted it and hit Open. Still no contents are shown. Please help, I really want to try this. Try choosing COLD RESET from the EMULATOR menu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zap! Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Try choosing COLD RESET from the EMULATOR menu. I see no option for "Cold" only Reset. It didn't help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 Here's what works for me. Launch Hatari. Choose INSERT DISK A. Select the .ST or .MSA file. Then double click on the A icon in GEM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zap! Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Here's what works for me. Launch Hatari. Choose INSERT DISK A. Select the .ST or .MSA file. Then double click on the A icon in GEM. I don't have that status bar option on top like you do. All I have is the option to press F12, which let's me eject and browse a floppy. Loading the .st file does nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zap! Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) Here's the file, let me know if you have better luck loading it. http://www.zaponline.org/uploads/MAGEDEMO.ST Edited September 27, 2014 by Zap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lp060 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 I had no luck with it and I use Hatari all the time. It appears to look like a disk image in a hex editor, yet it does not work. I assume its corrupted somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zap! Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 I had no luck with it and I use Hatari all the time. It appears to look like a disk image in a hex editor, yet it does not work. I assume its corrupted somehow. I feared that, because I had several others I wanted to load as well. House of the Rising Sun was an old favorite also in .st format that didn't run either. The only one that worked was Dungeon Master on .st format, which I just ran right before you replied. I know I have these all on an old backup DVD. Perhaps I saved it before it got corrupted. I'll look on Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) I zipped up all the disks that were included. Each folder in the archive is from an individual disk. mage.zip Edited September 27, 2014 by Fletch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kjmann Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) Ah MAGE, I remember it well. It was Made by Majicsoft in about 95 or so (Maybe later, I'm not sure) I actually did some music for one of their ST games back then called NERTz. Written by a guy named John Ronnander in my hometown of Medford Oregon. MAGE was Actually a pretty cool little kit. Dave Munsie (Who I think Wrote MAGE, IIRC) did some cool Classic Arcade ports for the ST using the MAGE software. I specifically remember "Kid Kong", a donkey kong clone being pretty decent. Edited September 30, 2014 by Kjmann 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zap! Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 Ah MAGE, I remember it well. It was Made by Majicsoft in about 95 or so (Maybe later, I'm not sure) I actually did some music for one of their ST games back then called NERTz. Written by a guy named John Ronnander in my hometown of Medford Oregon. MAGE was Actually a pretty cool little kit. Dave Munsie (Who I think Wrote MAGE, IIRC) did some cool Classic Arcade ports for the ST using the MAGE software. I specifically remember "Kid Kong", a donkey kong clone being pretty decent. Kid Kong was great. Oh how I can't wait for my Ultrasatan to arrive in the mail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zap! Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 I have found the original "Mage Demo" disk that I downloaded in the mid-90's from a BBS on a floppy disk, with my game included. I created the spites myself, but the music is certainly not from me. I don't remember if I created the background, but probably not. I have attached the files and zipped them up. Click "DEMOGAME.PRG" to play my game, which is circa 1994. I'm sure you will find some of the enemies rather interesting. Of course, this isn't about me and my game, so click "CHARDEMO.PRG" to load "DEMOGAME.SP1" and you will see all of the sprites that I created. Just clear them. It's probably the most simple way to create games that I have ever seen. "ANIMDEMO.PRG" and "MAPDEMO.PRG" also change movements and the direction of the game. It's much, much easier than the full version, and no instructions are necessary, although they are included. Anyway, enjoy! MAGEDEMO.ZIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefffulton Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 Nice! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefffulton Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 Here's the MAGE manual scan if anyone needs it. It's a pretty good product, hampered by the fact that when the yreleased ti they refused to let PD Developers use it. I'm pretty sure they don't care noe. Dave Munsie was involved and made some fo the games abd wrote a lot of the engine. MAGE.pdf 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking272 Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 It's a chatty manual, you don't seem to get that these days! ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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