MMLL Development Diary

sverx · **Reply #330 on:** September 18, 2009, 07:27:45 am

I insist ...

flash · **Reply #331 on:** September 18, 2009, 08:00:25 am

What a classic film

sverx · **Reply #332 on:** September 18, 2009, 08:16:02 am

EUREKA! ... now the .gz file decompression works with no need for hex edit and the uncompress() function returns OK!

(I had to modify one line of code in zlib port... it works even if I don't know exactly why

lol

)

Flash: going to send you a rar right now

flash · **Reply #333 on:** September 18, 2009, 08:23:56 am

Ok mate... well done!!

We will have a test and see how much it saves and how quick it is!!

sverx · **Reply #334 on:** September 18, 2009, 09:05:15 am

Quote from: Flash on September 18, 2009, 08:23:56 am

We will have a test and see how much it saves and how quick it is!!

There's a formula

- WIth uncompressed XMs the required space in the NDS file and in memory is simply the sum of all XMs sizes. That's easy.
- With gzipped XMs the required space in the NDS file is the sum of all gzipped XMs sizes. That's approx. 65% of the original size.
- With gzipped XMs the required space in RAM it's the sum of the above point and the original size of the bigger XM (the size of the uncopression buffer we need to malloc).

Say we've got 10 XMs, each about 250 KB. That would require 2.5MB on NDS file and the same in RAM.
If we compress them we will need about 1,625MB on NDS file and about 1,875 MB in RAM.
This way it sounds convenient. But it won't be so if we have not so many files and/or if one of them it's really big.

spacefractal · **Reply #335 on:** September 18, 2009, 10:47:31 am

they are now around 80-90kb each now after convertning to 8bit.... One tune need rework to been these 80-90 as well, since that one use to much memory.

Did you got the brief level Lobo? Of course that one need testing using Spectrum graphics and eventuelly tweek that before doing graphics to make sure it all works as it should. For the conveyor all should start been moving to the right as start points and all switches should reserve all conveyor at once (so its a push button).... So the top right key is the first to been collected.

Lobo, Please download the level again (just updated) from the link I have PM you (I is not sure your email), its same link (but have v2 on the picture).

Lobo · **Reply #336 on:** September 18, 2009, 03:21:47 pm

Ok, I did get it. One thing I forgot to add is that you need to specify where the enemies are and their path (horizontal/vertical) and how many of them. This is for Flash, not me as he needs to know where to place them.

example

spacefractal · **Reply #337 on:** September 18, 2009, 03:38:07 pm

I know and was aware of it, but first I want to test it without enemies first to make sure it possible and actuelly how hard it really is.

But I have just updated where the enemy can been (but no speed, that require testing, so up to Flash). Feel free to tweek it.

Lobo · **Reply #338 on:** September 18, 2009, 03:52:13 pm

In order to test it out-send your layout to Flash with enemies position and I'll send him the actual level when it's drawn. That way he can see if they work and changes can be made quickly. As far as I can tell, the level you did works fine.

spacefractal · **Reply #339 on:** September 18, 2009, 03:53:06 pm

flash · **Reply #340 on:** September 18, 2009, 04:04:58 pm

Ok, got it...

I will see what I can do..

What is the level for? Ie.. which movie?

spacefractal · **Reply #341 on:** September 18, 2009, 04:08:50 pm

I guess Terminator or Short Circut (Number 5) I think?

Its really up to you, and also if you choice a third older robot movie.

I do not see so many movies, so I do not have many ideas.

Its should been a indoor level I think (like Back to Work level in style).

Lobo · **Reply #342 on:** September 18, 2009, 04:43:41 pm

It's for terminator, I've already sent the level to Flash so he can check it out and see how it works.
Should be fine methinks.

flash · **Reply #343 on:** September 18, 2009, 05:44:03 pm

Working on Terminator now

Ok, the order of the movie levels and names/theme...

1 - Casablanca
2 - Gremlins
3 - Goonies
4 - Back to the Future
5 - Hellraiser
6 - Ghostbusters
7 - King Kong 1933
8 - Terminator
9 - Young Frankenstien - perhaps the dance number (dancing Hunchback etc) (song 'SF' - 'Puting on the Ritz' with a hint of MM

)
10 - Rock Horror Picture Show

Hope that helps... 10 is enough i believe?

Lobo · **Reply #344 on:** September 18, 2009, 07:00:37 pm

9- Well, dude asked for Young Frankenstein so maybe that. I've seen it so long ago that I cannot remember if there's any specific memorable scene. If not, then he can choose some other movie.

Oh and 10 is enough, not accepting requests anymore, shop closed.

Lobo · **Reply #345 on:** September 18, 2009, 08:40:54 pm

Hmm..was that the one when he asks Igor for the brain and Igor says something like 'It belonged to some Abe Normal'?

flash · **Reply #346 on:** September 18, 2009, 08:54:29 pm

It was FULL of classic lines...

But, the music may be a good idea?

flash · **Reply #347 on:** September 18, 2009, 08:56:03 pm

If these are the level themes we are going with... We need a story continuation...

Lobo, i tip my hat... LOL

(bet he is so regretting getting involved now)

spacefractal · **Reply #348 on:** September 18, 2009, 08:59:33 pm

Not all themes not been good using with MM, but its a unlock bonus, so....

Howover I got the Terminator theme mixed in with MM theme rather than use the orginale melody in the studio version (due it its minor chords)

.

For some other movies I might use MM use MM theme in the verse rather than original movie theme....

Lobo · **Reply #349 on:** September 18, 2009, 09:00:34 pm

Quote from: Flash on September 18, 2009, 08:56:03 pm

(bet he is so regretting getting involved now)

Sooo.....ooo.....

flash · **Reply #350 on:** September 18, 2009, 09:07:57 pm

Quote from: Lobo on September 18, 2009, 09:00:34 pm

Sooo.....ooo.....

See, told ya!!!

flash · **Reply #351 on:** September 18, 2009, 09:10:59 pm

Quote from: spacefractal on September 18, 2009, 08:59:33 pm

Not all themes not been good using with MM, but its a unlock bonus, so....

Howover I got the Terminator theme mixed in with MM theme rather than use the orginale melody in the studio version (due it its minor chords) .

For some other movies I might use MM use MM theme in the verse rather than original movie theme....

I do think that the 10 movie levels each need a special theme really.. That would make them really special I believe mate...

Take Terminator for a starter.. The level is great and I nice thumping tune would be wonderful (based on the title music with a hint of MM?)

I think that would really make the level special... Took me ages to complete it btw.. ha ha...

ps. we have room for some more music - so - let's use it (if you want to SF....)

oh, demo in the mail for you...

spacefractal · **Reply #352 on:** September 18, 2009, 09:21:06 pm

I think it should not auto reserve each sec (should do that ONCE or wait about 5 second), which can the level a bit harder than excepted. for the 3th key (the middle key to right) I think it should been added a solid block right for the key or much that switch a tile down? Nice graphics :-D.

Terminator: Just sent a xm of 16 and 8 bit versions and only use 4 samples.

Hellraiser: I found a midi theme of it, its look I have done that one as a The Detective ingame tune? I could use simular patches, but I think should slowdown version of this one (using a piano, string and a MMLL theme)?

Back to the Future: I gonna think not use the main theme, but a version of the song "Power of Love" which also used in the movie as well. I have fun idea how mix that one with MM theme in mind.

flash · **Reply #353 on:** September 18, 2009, 11:47:36 pm

Look forward to the tunes SF..

Will work on the switches tomorrow.

spacefractal · **Reply #354 on:** September 19, 2009, 06:09:33 am

I just thinking here to morning:

How about 2 levels for each movie (for better use of tunes and extend the levels a bit)? Some levels could been original spectrum levels as surprice).

I think on that way I would get better use of the tunes and the game would got around 35-40 levels which is fine and nice length for this game.

then 10 movies might not been needed, but around 6-7 movies?

So I need to do another level for my movie (Terminator) so (the current level, only that switch I think have that problem in middle right which is too hard).

flash · **Reply #355 on:** September 19, 2009, 10:03:14 am

No, I think we will stick with 10 films over 10 levels...

Poor lobo has enought on his plate.

BTW.. The Terminator level is quite easy the way it is (except the top left key) and there is a trick to get the one in the middle right - I like that

We just need 10 tunes for the movie levels like you did with Terminator, mixed with the manic miner tune - sweet!!

spacefractal · **Reply #356 on:** September 19, 2009, 10:57:25 am

not all movie main themes choiced can been mixed with MM..... Hovover some songs using in scenes in movie might been used?

I doing that for verse in Power of Love (first song using 8 channels, due 4 of them using for organ chords) and it works like well in Terminator (6 channels).

headkaze · **Reply #357 on:** September 19, 2009, 12:00:57 pm

Just added support for zlib compressed xm's based on sverx's work. It has taken the final binary size from 2.05 MB to 1.42 MB which currently saves a cool 0.63 MB. The problem is some of the modules are corrupted and don't play back properly. I'm not sure why yet, but it could be because I gzipped the files using 7zip so they may need to be re-compressed using the official gzip tool.

flash · **Reply #358 on:** September 19, 2009, 12:25:36 pm

Thanks HK....

I will have a play later and see if I can use the other zip proggy to do it...

spacefractal · **Reply #359 on:** September 19, 2009, 12:43:23 pm

In the credits screen, would been fine who made who (lobo = graphics, I = graphics) and I think Xm7Play should been in as well?

Third movie song sent to Flash. Hope corrupted songs got fixed in the compression.

Egyptian is still the biggest song filesize (and I still working on the another reggae song as second main MM song).

Nice work HeadKaze and Sverx (even it still some thing sort out).

He-he I got the trick on my own level :-D, actually not hard when first found it.

Found a control issue:

If conveyor moving to left and you going off it, he would still stay on that and turn right/left contantly without falling off, but if conveyor moving to the right, willy would fall. That cause the third key insanly hard to get and I only got it one times out of 10, due the bug. If hey stayed on the conveyor like when moving to the left, there would not been any issues in that level.