CPCtelera v1.4 – Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers

 Amstrad CPC, Development  3 Responses »
Apr 202016
 

A new version of CPCtelera, the Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers, was just released in version 1.4. CPCtelera offers a huge C library for the SDCC C cross-compiler, which makes it easier to create games and applications for the Amstrad CPC. This version features a new license (LGPL), support for the CPCRSLib, a lot of new examples and a huge load of new methods and optimisations (see the changelist below). It is available for Windows, Linux and OS-X. You can get the latest version from GitHub and discuss it in the CPCWiki forums.

Changes in v1.4:

  • Low-level library, scripts, building system and examples moved to LGPL license to suit more developer needs.
  • Added CPCRSLib installer script (cpct_installrslib): automatically installs and configures CPCRSLib to be used along with CPCtelera.
  • Added -c modifier to cpct_mkproject to let the user create CPCRSLib enabled projects.
  • Improved cpct_drawSpriteMaskedAlignedTable to work with un-aligned sprites. Only 256-bytes transparency table shall be aligned now.
  • Added interrupt unsafe functions for keyboard scanning
  • Improved img2cpc sprite generation: explicit array width*height sizes and automatic size constants generation.
  • Added new high-quality random number generators: Marsaglia XORShift 8/16/32 bits and Marsaglia XORShitf+ 40 bits state.
  • Simplified use of random number generators with standard macros cpct_rand and cpct_srand, to work like C functions rand/srand.
  • Added simple user example for random number generation: easy/random.
  • Added macro IMG2SPRITES for automatically converting tilemap TMX files into C arrays on typing “make”.
  • Added macro TMX2C for automatically converting image files into sprites (C-arrays), tiles and tilesets on typing “make”.
  • Added configuration files image_conversion.mk and tilemap_conversion.mk to easily include TMX2C and IMG2SPRITES macros for all user assets in the project.
  • Added new conversion options to cpct_tmx2csv: generation of C/H files, different output folder, and custom c-identifier generation.
  • Added new macros cpctm_createTramsparentMaskTable and cpctm_declareMaskTable to easily define and create 256-bytes aligned transparency tables, greatly simplifying the process.
  • Added Horizontal Sprite flipping functions: for Modes 0, 1 & 2 and normal/masked sprites, working from RAM and ROM, to suit different user needs.
  • Added user examples for horizontal flipping functions. C-examples: flipAnimM2, flipSprites. ASM-examples: hflipSpriteM1, flipMaskSprite.
  • Added macro cpctm_screenPtr to do static calculation of screen memory pointers, saving CPU and binary space when calculating constant locations.
  • Updated old examples to use new macros, especially cpctm_screenPtr.
  • Improved cpct_img2tileset output messages and success status check. Also added an option to output harware converted palette values.
  • Added CPCT_VMEM_START macro defining video memory start: standarizes its uses.
  • Updated hello world template example to use new macros, simplifying its code.
  • Added assembly macros for undocumented Z80 opcodes: used to clarify code.
  • Added ultra-optimized assembly macros for bit and pixel reversing inside bytes: they can reverse pixels inside a byte for modes 0, 1 and 2.
  • Added macros CPCT_ABSOLUTE_LOCATION_AREA and CPCT_RELOCATABLE_AREA to absolutely locate code and data inside binary space and memory.
  • Added example advanced/relocateMemory to show how to use memory relocation macros.
  • Added CPCT_XBITARRAY and CPCT_ENCODEXBITS macros to easily define, declare and populate bitarrays.
  • Added new type of bitarrays: bitarrays of 6-bits per item.
  • Added new example medium/bitarrayMaps1 to clarify the use of bitarrays as tilemaps and other structures.
  • Added sprite blending functions: can blend sprites with background using different modes like XOR, OR, AND, ADD, ADC, SUB, SBC, LDI, NOP.
  • Added sprite blending example medium/blendedSprites.
  • Added colour enumerations to simplify palette definitions and palete colour changes (CPCT_FW_Colour and CPCT_HW_Colour)
  • Added support for cpct_winape script to automatically load debugging symbols on launching DSKs.
  • Updated cpct_winape to download Winape 2.0 beta 2.
  • Added another ASM example with some sprite/text drawing, automatic sprite conversions and animations.
  • Some performance improvements on previous functions.
  • Updated to SDCC 3.5.5. (and fixed libboost 1.6. compilation problem).
  • Fixed a problem with multithreaded compilation on ARM platforms using SD Cards as main storages (mainly Raspberry Pi)
  • Added OBJS2CLEAN variable to makefiles to let the user clean some custom generated objects.
  • Improved documentation
  • Fixed cpct_tmx2csv failing on cygwin
  • Added tilemap_hwscroll example to show hardware scrolling capabilities along with an expanded tilemap.
  • Added latest 1.1.1. version of Retro Game Asset Studio (RGAS)
  • Everything packed with love to give user the best possible set of tools 🙂

Related posts:

  1. CPCtelera v1.0 – Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers
  2. CPCtelera v1.1 – Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers
  3. CPCtelera v1.2 / v1.2.1 – Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers
  4. CPCtelera v1.3 – Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers
  5. CPCtelera v1.4.2 – Amstrad CPC game framework for C developers

WYZTracker v2.0

 Amstrad CPC, Development, Music  2 Responses »
Mar 202016
 

Augusto Ruiz released a new version of his music tracker, which is written in .NET, so it runs under Windows and systems, which are supported by the Mono .NET runtime. It can be used to write music for Amstrad CPC, Spectrum or MSX systems, so it is a nice tool for cross-development. The assembly source code of the WYZPlayer is included and Augusto is also working on a “port” for SDCC / CPCtelera.

The new version features envelopes for drums, loops to a specific pattern and it is easier to select the drum and sfx channel in the player.

Do not hesitate, download the latest version and test it by yourself!

WYZTracker

Related posts:

  1. Wyztracker 0.2.19
  2. CPCtelera v1.4.2 – Amstrad CPC game framework for C developers
  3. CPCRetroDev 2016 results
  4. CPCRSlib 11/09/2010
  5. CPCtelera v1.4 – Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers

Z88dk v1.99A – Cross-platform development environment

 Amstrad CPC, Development  1 Response »
Dec 242015
 

A new version of the Z88dk development environment for Z80 based computer (e.g. Amstrad CPC, Cambridge Z88, MSX, Sinclair ZX 81, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, etc.) was just released. The release is a transition release on the way to v2.0 which aims on using the SDCC compiler instead of the Small-C compiler, which was used before. This leads to much faster and smaller output binaries. You can choose between using the Small-C compiler with the old and the new C library or use the SDCC compiler with the new C library. The new C library also introduces full C standard compliance to Z88dk.
The newest version can be downloaded from the Z88dk homepage.

(Brief) Changelog:

  • [z80asm] Sections have been introduced for generating memory maps and compiling to bankswitched memory.
  • [z80asm] Modern logical operators have been adopted.
  • [z80asm] New scoping keywords PUBLIC, EXTERN and GLOBAL introduced.
  • [z80asm] Relocate files are generated for output binaries for patching assembled code to a new address at load time.
  • [sccz80] Numerous bugfixes.
  • [sdcc] SDCC is now fully supported as alternate C compiler for the new C library.
  • [sdcc] SDCC’s generated code is improved by a large set of aggressive peephole rules (use -SO3 to enable).
  • [sdcc] SDCC’s calls to its primitive functions are modified to use callee linkage.
  • [new c lib] New C library written in assembly language from scratch aiming for a subset of C11 compliance.  Contains more than 700 functions currently.
  • [new c lib] Stdio made object-oriented so that drivers can inherit library code to implement features with a minimal amount of additional code.
  • [new c lib] Stdio base classes currently include serial character i/o and terminal i/o implementing windows and proportional fonts.  Disk i/o is missing in this release.
  • [new c lib] Unique stdio implementation allows removal of high level buffers without affecting performance.
  • [new c lib] Many functions from GNU and POSIX are present beyond the C11 standard.
  • [new c lib] Many unique libraries including some C++ STL containers, data compression, obstacks, game libraries, sound, fzx proportional fonts, etc.  The new C lib contains libraries not present in the classic C lib and vice versa.  Over time the two libraries will homogenize.
  • [new c lib] CRTs are supplied for three initial targets:  embedded (generic z80), cpm, zx (zx spectrum).  Specialized crts allow immediate compilation without customization by the user.
  • [new c lib] The library and crts are highly configurable at library build time and at compile time.  Options allow easy generation of binaries for ROM or RAM targets.
  • [tools] New tool ticks is a command line z80 emulator able to exactly measure execution time of a code block.
  • [tools] New tool dzx7 is a decompressor counterpart to zx7.
  • [tools] New tool zx7 is an optimal lz77/lzss data compressor with companion decompression subroutines in the z80 library.
  • [appmake] +rom added to manipulate raw binaries; options include code injection, extraction and conversion to intel hex format.

 

Related posts:

  1. SDCC 2.9.0 RC1
  2. CPCRSlib 10/24/2012 for SDCC
  3. Z88dk v1.7
  4. SDCC 2.9.0 released
  5. Z88dk v1.9

Retro Game Asset Studio (RGAS) v1.1 / v1.1.1

 Amstrad CPC, Development  No Responses »
Nov 132015
 

RGASLachlan Keown released a new version of his Retro Game Asset Studio (RGAS). With RGAS you can design various asset types (sprites, sound / music, levels) for different retro computers (Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum). It is a cross-development tool, which runs on the .NET runtime under Windows and with Mono it can be used under Linux, too. It is also one component which is included in the CPCtelera game development framework.

The latest version can be downloaded from the RGAS CPCWiki page.

Changes v1.1:

  • Upgraded to .Net Framework 4.0 from 3.5
  • Copying pixels from sprite stores both text(JSON) and bitmap data on clipboard
  • Sprite list now maintains position on refresh
  • Sprite list allows multi-select drag re-order
  • Level designer allows editing of level parameters
  • Level designer has gridlines option
  • Level designer image quality improved
  • Level designer allows duplicating of levels
  • Amstrad font samples available when creating new project
  • Change output format from drop-down menu on toolbar
  • Add tooltip to tiles on level designer for sprite name
  • Single portable .exe rather than a collection of .dlls

Changes v1.1.1:

  • Performance improvements under Linux

Related posts:

  1. CPCtelera v1.2 / v1.2.1 – Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers
  2. CPCtelera v1.0 – Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers
  3. AMSprite v1.3
  4. AMSprite v1.2
  5. CPCtelera v1.3 – Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers

#CPCRetroDev 2015 awards nominees

 Amstrad CPC, Development, Game  1 Response »
Oct 282015
 

The deadline for the #CPCRetroDev 2015 is already met and in only a few days, there will be the big price ceremony where the winners of the Amstrad CPC retro game development contest will be announced. This year the #CPCRetroDev is already a very big success with about 35(!!!) submissions to the competition and so it was hard to decide the final nominees for the different categories. Thanks to all the contributors for your work on your submissions!
Well, I don’t want to put your on the rack, so here they are:

BASIC category

  • Junior / Miguel Sky
  • Regreso al CPC / Antonio Corpas
  • Super Thordercam / CARLIO

PRO category

Special mention to the Best Technical Achievement

Devilish Games special mention to the Most Original Game

  • 4 to 4 Back To the future / CPC-Power
  • Mas To The Past / Antrax CPC
  • Top Top / Rantan Games

The price ceremony will take place on Saturday, 31st of October, 2015, 19:00h CET (UTC+1) at the Museum of the University of Alicante. A live stream of the event can be found here: http://vertice.cpd.ua.es/mua.

Related posts:

  1. #CPCRetroDev 2015 final results (35 new games)
  2. CPCRetroDev 2016 nominees
  3. CPCRetroDev 2015 – 900 EUR in prices!
  4. CPCRetroDev 2016 – over 1000 EUR in prices!
  5. CPCRetroDev 2016 – The Oliver Twins join the jury
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