I'm having to push myself to do some retro programming, otherwise, I just stare at the TV, flicking through Netflix and not really in the mood to watch anything. It's almost like I feel I'm not supposed to enjoy anything... They say time is a great healer; I hope so...

Update for Spectrum Next Delphian: it runs a bit faster now, so I'm adding an object system for handling drawing different sprites. Sprites also need to be Z-sorted as currently they are not (I cheated on the last video). Once I have the next update working, I'll post another video.

It has been suggested I do Space Harrier for Spectrum Next... and I'm seriously considering it... or at least a game like it. Personally, I'd also want to give Soul Star a try... I have ideas...

A little update of my Spectrum Next project...

I did think about porting my C64 Briley Witch Chronicles games to Spectrum Next...

So went to my partner's funeral yesterday... Was a bit of a rough day, but I had family and friends with me for most of the day. Spectrum Next is a good mental distraction for me.

I think I'm okay with my Spectrum Next textured floor draw. It's currently running between 15-20 fps, and I can live with that. There's a few more things I can do to speed it up a bit, but the bulk of the code is already optimised, and it's using the DMA where it can. Another video coming soon...

What I have working on Spectrum Next. 🤔Hmm... I think this might just be running a bit too slow, but at least I gave it a try.

I've been busy on Spectrum Next, working on a mode 7 style floor for Delphian. By my recent tests, it isn't going to be fast, but might be fast enough (for me at least). My strategy of prototyping first on PC in C++ is helping no end.

For Delphian on the Spectrum Next, since the maths code could be tricky, I'm implementing some C++ code on the PC first. Means I can optimise the PC code to work better on the Z80, trying to keep numbers in 8 or no more than 16 bits.

Sold my 2nd car today as I didn't need it. One more step along the journey of living alone. Still have a house full of stuff and memories, and I don't know what to do with most of it.

Spectrum Next: added full clipping for my scaling sprite drawer and optimised the draw loop as much as I can. Is it fast enough? Time will tell, but I'm feeling optimistic. For the game, I'm going for visuals over speed, but I would be happy with this game running at 20fps if it looks pretty.🥰

This won't be the most exciting video ever... but here's what I have for Spectrum Next doing some sprite scaling. Please excuse the graphics as they are all very temporary. Code still needs tidying up, but it works.

I'm still emotionally up and down, and this house feels so empty at times with just me here. I have my 3 cats to look after, and working on my retro projects keeps the mind occupied. Eventually I will need to get rid of some things, but not yet. Hurts too much right now.

So thanks to Spectrum Next I've been learning Z80, and it's a strange beast. The extra opcodes are coming in handy, especially the LDIX instruction as I'm using that for my Layer2 (byte per pixel screen) resizing sprite routine. Might make a video soon as I have something running...

Back in the 80s I wrote a C64 space trader game named Delphian. It used software resizing sprites. You could land on planets and walk around. The game was finished but not released... So, for Spectrum Next I'm coding Delphian, using 256 colour resizing sprites etc. Might even try a Mode 7 floor...

I feel like I need a change of coding scenery, so I'm going to make something for the Spectrum Next. I don't know Z80, so should be nice to learn something new on a new machine. My build system can already do SpecNext, so it's time to find out what I can do.

I've backed Spectrum Next KS3 this morning so I can make a few games (just for a change of scenery). I'm tempted by a 28mhz Z80 with a byte per pixel screen. Not many hours left on the Kickstarter... www.kickstarter.com/projects/spe...

My life needs to make a massive readjustment, but I'll get back to retro coding when I feel ready. A little voice is suggesting I give Mega-CD another go (as I wrote 3 well-known games in the past).

Feeling lots of emotions as my partner of 28 years passed away on Monday.

When working on my retro games, here's a list of all the AI tools I use: There, that's a long list! 😉

I seem to feel so much better when I ignore the news.🙂

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: It's been a while since I posted a video clip, so here's a WIP of the desert town, with interiors working. Still needs to be populated fully, but I've started doing that.

Okay, so I just placed my order for a new Commodore 64 Ultimate: Founders Edition!😀 www.commodore.net/product-page...

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: I've been a bit quiet on this... Had an issue with the feel of the underground sections - I didn't like them. So, played a bit more NMS... But I've resolved my issue and the game feels good now. Still totally out of balance, but I'll sort that once the whole game is in.

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: felt a bit retro coding burned out, so took a break to play No Man's Sky for a bit... But after a month I feel refreshed now, so back to working on Kouyate!🙂 Continuing to work on a new location named Corrupt Citadel. Rumour is, a foul daemon lives there...🤔

Took a break from retro coding over the weekend (just finished a conversation system update for Kouyate), so I played No Man's Sky, starting from a fresh new game. Had lots of fun seeing some new additions and QoL improvements.

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: so I forgot combat needs full joystick support too! Well, just finished the targeting code changes. Now has both Auto and Manual targeting modes. Auto (the default) uses L/R to select a target, and U/D to go to Manual mode, while Manual uses UDLR to move the cursor.😎

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: and now the whole game can be played via joystick!😀Tested it on my TheC64 mini and it works really well!🙂So now I'd better get on with the rest of the game.

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: now the game runs on joystick. I dropped in the input system from Briley Witch and it works fine.😎 Still a few bits to fix in the shops (like specifying amounts), but at least combat is working today.😃 Should be back to adding new content soon... I hope.🙂

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: the game currently runs Ultima style in terms of it being keyboard only.🤔 So I'm changing it to use Briley Witch style controls so it'll support joystick and keyboard.🙂 Means a bit of refactoring, but should make it a better game (and TheC64 mini owners won't hate me 😉).

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: busy adding new content, working on a story line revolving around The Tree of Life. Added the interiors for the Elven villages, so used cartridge is now 289k out of 960k.🙂This is feeling like a very large game, but it's fun to work on too!😀

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: here's a WIP video clip of an Elven village. Still needs all the people adding, but I'm happy with the way it looks.🙂

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: been busy adding more locations, and recently added the tile sets for shrines and Elven villages. Number of working locations on the world map is 24, with 1000+ tiles being used. Still a long way to go, but feels like a lot's been added already. Onwards and upwards!😊

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: it's been a while, but I've been busy working on this, adding new locations and items. Recently added a castle with a library. You can browse books and read them, and some will have important info...

So DOGE stands for Department Of Great Evil, right?

Discrimination, harassment and violence will increase if trans people lose access to toilets and other spaces. Many will feel driven from public life. That's what's at stake here. There's no benefit to women. Just harm to trans people and anyone who doesn’t fit gendered stereotypes.

Settling down to this as part of the @theretroasylum.bsky.social High Score Challenge. Zeta Wing II is right now the best game I played all year. Huge fan @sarahjaneavory.bsky.social ☺️

Tired of reading about boy wizards and the like? Try reading a series about witches and talking cats! Also available as a #retro Commodore 64 Japanese-style #RPG. mybook.to/BrileyWitchC...

Being part of the roleplaying project "Kouyate" by @sarahjaneavory.bsky.social has been an absolute dream come true for me. I honestly can't think of anything more amazing than working on a real, full-fledged roleplaying game.

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: had a problem with the new ferries yesterday... Turned out the game had run out of RAM. Did a fix over lunch, but it's something I'll have to keep an eye on.

So one day, the US will get rid of all those states and change them to, say, around 14 districts. Then, every so many years, they'll round up some kids and make them fight to the death in something called The Starving Games. And the president will change his name to President Snowman 'cos of Xmas...

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: so how am I doing? Well, I have a 1Mb cart to play with and currently using 247k after getting the initial island working. Still a long way to go, but I feel I'm making good progress. Added a new village yesterday, and I'm happy with the way it's looking.😊

Just got a leaflet from Reform UK... and it goes straight to the recycle bin.

Not sure what's going on today, but I seem to be selling a few copies of Zeta Wing 2 (not that I'm complaining). sarahjaneavory.itch.io/zeta-wing-2

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: WIP of the Ruins of Nerington, but who is that strange old man?

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: added the ferry that takes the player from the start island to the mainland (and back again). But I need to finish off the start island, so that's a ruined town to add, a new village, more underground areas, plus all the new people and items needed to make it all work.

#C64 #Kouyate #RPG progress: I'm busy coding the game now, adding in new locations, creating new town and village maps for new locations, adding primary characters. This is where creating a game could be considered a bit of a grind, adding lots of new scripts and graphics etc...