Supercars 2 AGA

jotd · 16 May 2021, 00:12

I've been tinkering with the idea of doing something with the original supercars2 source code that someone sent me and that's it

rebuilt & adapted to AGA screens ripped from Supercars International (a 1996 DOS game)

This is a start, not really working properly (some graphics are corrupt in-game because of some memory management error I have to track down) but

most intro screens use AGA modes. Title screen uses 190 colors, other screens use 100 colors. Original uses EHB with a total of 64 colors.

There's still a lot to do. I'm also going to convert all communication screens to use the DOS more colored versions and if possible change grey enemy cars to colored enemy cars (ATM main game is ECS). We'll see if it's doable.

Zoned the pre-alpha game. Uses whdload to start, but planning to create a non-whdload version. Enjoy. Remember: there are gfx bugs in-game. But ATM the point is to demonstrate that the game can be enhanced with AGA screens.

DamienD · 16 May 2021, 03:00

Haven't tried as yet, but sounds very tasty indeed

Always wanted "Super Cars International" with high resolution / colour graphics on the Amiga

Gzegzolka · 16 May 2021, 08:52

Another great initiative. We are living in very interesting times

jotd · 16 May 2021, 09:01

It's high coulour but low resolution. The DOS version was 320x240 max (and I'm wasn"t going to change that either and use interlace!)

The original code was pretty easy to understand. Shaun Soutern is a very talented coder but isn't a demo coder either. Everything is simple yet efficient. I don't think I'm allowed to share the code. If I can, I will.

I'm not sure at all if I can add colours to the main game (colored cars). That will be the next big challenge, game using EHB and all. But surprisingly adding 2 or 3 planes it's not as difficult as I thought at least for static images / car animation

It's really interesting times, yes. Sometimes I regret that those times didn't happen say 10 or 20 years before. Everything existed (except for the superb vasm assembler maybe). But WinUAE has been kicking ass since 2000. I remember installing it on my Pentium 3 in 2001 with RTG and all. Well maybe it's the combination of all free/powerful cross development tools (notepad++/vasm/graphical editors/emulators/Bartman VS plugin) that make all that possible (cfou! did the same kind of rework on Eye Of the Beholder 1 and 2, I think it was at least 10 years ago, I think he used his amiga only)

Also using whdload to develop the game is a pretty good way to catch errors before the machine crashes. It's really very helpful.

modrobert · 16 May 2021, 10:36

Looks promising, runs fine on my stock A1200 with fastram except for some screen glitches here and there.

jurassicman · 16 May 2021, 11:05

I look forward to try this, one of the best games ever!
Keep up the good work and thanks!

rare_j · 16 May 2021, 11:17

This is a great project, thanks!
Is it possible to create a true 60hz version of the game, that is, one that runs at 60hz refresh, but with the same gameplay and music speed as at 50hz?

nelsn68k · 16 May 2021, 11:27

An AGA version would be great.

jotd · 16 May 2021, 16:04

original supercars 2 runs in NTSC so it's possible.

nikosidis · 16 May 2021, 17:34

Great idea and looking forward to try this.
Keep on the great work

Superman · 16 May 2021, 20:04

There doesn't seem to be an icon to click on to run it. I tried making one in directory opus from the slave file but it didnt work.

jotd · 16 May 2021, 20:04

new update in the zone

- no more gfx corruption (address overlap)
- files are RNC packed
- code runs in fast memory. Didn't test on a real amiga but this is probably the first MF game to run from fastmem.
- added icon

(icon must be a project and must have "whdload" as default tool)

more to come

Superman · 16 May 2021, 20:06

whoa that was quick

CFou! · 16 May 2021, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by jotd

new update in the zone

- no more gfx corruption (address overlap)
- files are RNC packed
- code runs in fast memory. Didn't test on a real amiga but this is probably the first MF game to run from fastmem.
- added icon

(icon must be a project and must have "whdload" as default tool)

more to come

great job

ransom1122 · 17 May 2021, 10:45

Nice work jotd

[ Show youtube player ]

Gzegzolka · 17 May 2021, 10:53

Definitely cool work

Neil79 · 17 May 2021, 11:10

earok · 17 May 2021, 14:02

Very cool work as always JOTD

I was actually wondering if the framerate could be boosted so that it's comparably smooth with the DOS version, if this hasn't already been investigated and ruled out?

jotd · 17 May 2021, 14:10

ransom thanks for the video

Yeah about the framerate, I'm going to try to do something, but I suspect that the scrolling uses the blitter and I'm not going to adapt it to "amiga" scrolling (I wonder how hard it would be, specially in 2 player mode!)

The current AGA version has code which runs in fast memory. I didn't test on real hardware but maybe it improved the speed, and maybe framerate can be upped? but if it depends on the blitter, I'm not sure it will do any good (specially because going AGA means that we'll go from 6 EHB bitplanes to 7 or 8 AGA bitplanes, but we can also say "screw AGA" and use the extra power for better framerate. We'll see)

rzookol · 17 May 2021, 14:29

btw. Could similar things be done to add Vikings table to Pinball Illusion?

16 May 2021, 00:12	#1
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,142	Supercars 2 AGA I've been tinkering with the idea of doing something with the original supercars2 source code that someone sent me and that's it rebuilt & adapted to AGA screens ripped from Supercars International (a 1996 DOS game) This is a start, not really working properly (some graphics are corrupt in-game because of some memory management error I have to track down) but most intro screens use AGA modes. Title screen uses 190 colors, other screens use 100 colors. Original uses EHB with a total of 64 colors. There's still a lot to do. I'm also going to convert all communication screens to use the DOS more colored versions and if possible change grey enemy cars to colored enemy cars (ATM main game is ECS). We'll see if it's doable. Zoned the pre-alpha game. Uses whdload to start, but planning to create a non-whdload version. Enjoy. Remember: there are gfx bugs in-game. But ATM the point is to demonstrate that the game can be enhanced with AGA screens. Last edited by jotd; 16 May 2021 at 09:10.

16 May 2021, 09:01	#4
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,142	It's high coulour but low resolution. The DOS version was 320x240 max (and I'm wasn"t going to change that either and use interlace!) The original code was pretty easy to understand. Shaun Soutern is a very talented coder but isn't a demo coder either. Everything is simple yet efficient. I don't think I'm allowed to share the code. If I can, I will. I'm not sure at all if I can add colours to the main game (colored cars). That will be the next big challenge, game using EHB and all. But surprisingly adding 2 or 3 planes it's not as difficult as I thought at least for static images / car animation It's really interesting times, yes. Sometimes I regret that those times didn't happen say 10 or 20 years before. Everything existed (except for the superb vasm assembler maybe). But WinUAE has been kicking ass since 2000. I remember installing it on my Pentium 3 in 2001 with RTG and all. Well maybe it's the combination of all free/powerful cross development tools (notepad++/vasm/graphical editors/emulators/Bartman VS plugin) that make all that possible (cfou! did the same kind of rework on Eye Of the Beholder 1 and 2, I think it was at least 10 years ago, I think he used his amiga only) Also using whdload to develop the game is a pretty good way to catch errors before the machine crashes. It's really very helpful. Last edited by jotd; 16 May 2021 at 09:10.

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16 May 2021, 03:00	#2
DamienD Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London / Sydney Age: 47 Posts: 20,420	Haven't tried as yet, but sounds very tasty indeed Always wanted "Super Cars International" with high resolution / colour graphics on the Amiga

16 May 2021, 08:52	#3
Gzegzolka Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Warszawa / Polska Posts: 1,858	Another great initiative. We are living in very interesting times

16 May 2021, 10:36	#5
modrobert old bearded fool Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bangkok Age: 56 Posts: 775	Looks promising, runs fine on my stock A1200 with fastram except for some screen glitches here and there.

16 May 2021, 11:05	#6
jurassicman Registered User Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Sassari/Italy Posts: 866	I look forward to try this, one of the best games ever! Keep up the good work and thanks!

16 May 2021, 11:17	#7
rare_j Zone Friend Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 1,176	This is a great project, thanks! Is it possible to create a true 60hz version of the game, that is, one that runs at 60hz refresh, but with the same gameplay and music speed as at 50hz?

16 May 2021, 11:27	#8
nelsn68k Registered User Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Rostock Posts: 12	An AGA version would be great.

16 May 2021, 16:04	#9
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,142	original supercars 2 runs in NTSC so it's possible.

16 May 2021, 17:34	#10
nikosidis Registered User Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: oslo/norway Posts: 1,607	Great idea and looking forward to try this. Keep on the great work

16 May 2021, 20:04	#11
Superman Super Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Wakefield Age: 48 Posts: 1,333	There doesn't seem to be an icon to click on to run it. I tried making one in directory opus from the slave file but it didnt work.

16 May 2021, 20:06	#13
Superman Super Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Wakefield Age: 48 Posts: 1,333	whoa that was quick

17 May 2021, 10:45	#15
ransom1122 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Omnicorp Age: 45 Posts: 5,810	Nice work jotd [ Show youtube player ]

17 May 2021, 10:53	#16
Gzegzolka Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Warszawa / Polska Posts: 1,858	Definitely cool work

17 May 2021, 11:10	#17
Neil79 Autistic 'n IRN! Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: - Posts: 2,978

17 May 2021, 14:02	#18
earok Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Auckland Posts: 3,539	Very cool work as always JOTD I was actually wondering if the framerate could be boosted so that it's comparably smooth with the DOS version, if this hasn't already been investigated and ruled out?

17 May 2021, 14:10	#19
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,142	ransom thanks for the video Yeah about the framerate, I'm going to try to do something, but I suspect that the scrolling uses the blitter and I'm not going to adapt it to "amiga" scrolling (I wonder how hard it would be, specially in 2 player mode!) The current AGA version has code which runs in fast memory. I didn't test on real hardware but maybe it improved the speed, and maybe framerate can be upped? but if it depends on the blitter, I'm not sure it will do any good (specially because going AGA means that we'll go from 6 EHB bitplanes to 7 or 8 AGA bitplanes, but we can also say "screw AGA" and use the extra power for better framerate. We'll see)

17 May 2021, 14:29	#20
rzookol Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Stasin/Poland Posts: 46	btw. Could similar things be done to add Vikings table to Pinball Illusion?

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