The Hobbit ported to CoCo2 and CoCo3 - DW4 - ENDED!

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pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

The Hobbit ported to CoCo2 and CoCo3 - DW4 - ENDED!

Post by pser1 »

Hi,
finally I can share with you the 'probably' final version of the port of the game "The Hobbit" from Spectrum48 to 6809-CoCo2
Fortunately, I have worked out a source file that when compiled, produces a binary file that works in a Dragon and in a CoCo2 as well.

It has been a long project, almost two years with a nine months stop gap, so some 15 working months.
You can find all of the info about the project on this web
http://retrowiki.es/rw30/viewtopic.php? ... 4274#p4274
Note: The web is in spanish language.

The great amount of images uploaded by jltursan has been a nice present, but a pain for this CoCo version too.
The RS-DOS is a bit restrictive and accepts 160k (35 sectors) disk by default.
I have found info that allows patching the RS-DOS versions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.2a so that they work well with 40 tracks allowing for 182k disks as the Dragon DOS.
Despite that, 52 images each 4k requires 208k, so the only way to go is using a compressor. I have chosen Exomizer2 and that way all images fit inside one
disk of that kind (40 tracks)
The program and associated files live in another, standard, disk 160k.

The program has been tested with these Disk Operating Systems (DOS)
RS-DOS1.1, RS-DOS1.2, RS-DOS1.2A

To play, one must use this procedure:
Enter: RUN"PRSD" to make RS-DOS accept 40 tracks
Enter: LOADM"H1":EXEC
And, MOST IMPORTANT, STOP when you get to the Smaug screen. In this moment you have to change the disk in drive 0 and put there the
one with the images (40 tracks disk). The program disk can be used in drive 1 to save games or use another disk.
Only then we should press a key to go on. Obviously, if you want to play text only mode you don't need that disk change procedure.

To see the images collection
Put the program disk in drive 0 and the images disk in drive 1
Enter: RUN"DEMOGFX" and follow instructions

As a reminder, these commands-combinations can make life easier to players
- QUIT and then Break returns to the BASIC Interpreter
- Shift+Left Arrow erases the written command
- the @ sign repeats last command

The program disk has 43 free granules, as each SAVGAM requires 2 granules, we will be able to store TWENTY-ONE snapshots!

cheers
pere serrat

Included:
- DSK with program v16e9 and DSK 40 tracks with the images
Hobbit16e9 - CoCo - PGM and images.zip
(145.91 KiB) Downloaded 210 times
- Memory map, port situation and project evolution
The Hobbit memory map - 2016-08-20.zip
(1.9 KiB) Downloaded 209 times
The Hobbit 'port' situation - 2016-08-20.zip
(1.03 KiB) Downloaded 205 times
The Hobbit project evolution - 2016-08-20.zip
(1.05 KiB) Downloaded 211 times
- Changes History
Last edited by pser1 on Fri Sep 02, 2016 5:17 pm, edited 3 times in total.
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: The Hobbit ported to the CoCo2 64k and CoCo3 too

Post by pser1 »

Hi,
thanks to the pointers and help of people from the maltedmedia group now The Hobbit v16f2 runs nice on a CoCo3 too.

You can find all of the info about the project on this web
http://retrowiki.es/rw30/viewtopic.php? ... 4317#p4317
Note: The web is in spanish language.

The program has been tested with these Disk Operating Systems (DOS) RS-DOS1.1, RS-DOS1.2, RS-DOS1.2A and with VCC for the CoCo3.

To play, just:
Enter: LOADM"H1":EXEC
And, MOST IMPORTANT, STOP when you get to the Smaug screen In this moment you have to change the disk in drive 0 and put there the
one with the images (40 tracks disk)

As a reminder, these commands-combinations can make life easier to players
- QUIT and then Break returns to the BASIC Interpreter
- QUIT and any other key will restart the game
- Shift+Left Arrow erases the written command
- the @ sign repeats last command

The program disk has 43 free granules, as each SAVGAM requires 2 granules, we will be able to store TWENTY-ONE snapshots!

cheers
pere serrat

Include: the disk files, docs, etc...
- ZIP con 2xDSK
HOB0816f2 - CoCo.zip
(148.4 KiB) Downloaded 208 times
- ZIP con Docs
Project Docs.zip
(6.45 KiB) Downloaded 201 times
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: The Hobbit ported to the CoCo2 64k and CoCo3 too!

Post by pser1 »

Hi,
a CoCo3 user has commented that the machine could be run at double speed so that
the images load faster ...
I have done this and have changed the inactivity detection loop so that it takes into account this case
to delay some 24" before issuing the WAIT command, now it is version v16f3

cheers
pere
HOB0816f3 - CoCo.zip
(148.55 KiB) Downloaded 217 times
Hobbit docs v16f3.zip
(4.29 KiB) Downloaded 205 times
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: The Hobbit ported to the CoCo2 64k and CoCo3 - ENDED!

Post by pser1 »

Hi,
this is the DEFINITIVE FINAL version for The Hobbit (v16f4) Runs at double speed on any emulation of a CoCo3 too.
On real hardware with real floppies it is MANDATORY to use it at the normal speed!
Only with CoCo-SDC and other modules like that you can try the double speed:
LOADM"HDS":EXEC

To play at normal speed, just Enter: LOADM"H1":EXEC

You can find all of the info about the project on this web
http://retrowiki.es/rw30/viewtopic.php? ... t=32#p4517
Note: The web is in spanish language.

cheers
pere serrat
Hobbit v16f4 CoCo.zip
(164.15 KiB) Downloaded 223 times
Hobbit v16f4 docs.zip
(4.32 KiB) Downloaded 213 times
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: The Hobbit ported to CoCo2 and CoCo3 - DW4 - ENDED!

Post by pser1 »

Hi,
A user from the CoCo maltedmedia group said that the program didn't work via Drivewire, so I have made some small changes
in the code for the CoCo machine.

To play the game:
- on CoCo2, issue: LOADM"H1X":EXEC
- on CoCo3 you can use the exe versions
H1X for normal speed (0,89MHz)
H2X for double speed (1,78MHz)
HIMG for normal speed, but loading locatios at 2x

Besides, to make things easier to CoCo users with twin floppies or with CoCo-SDC, I have added some code so that the program
detects if there is a disk on the 'other' drive and if it is the case, it will use that drive to search for the images.
That way we avoid the annoying change of disks on the Smaug screen.
Of course if you have only one drive, you can still work as with previous versions.

As a short help to load/save games:
Once entered the command (LOAD / SAVE), we will see on screen and this is a 'visual' change for dragon users:
LOAD SAVGAM00.BIN:0+ or SAVE SAVGAM00.BIN:0+
In both cases, the 00 will be replaced by the last numbers we used in this game session, the same with the drive unit, that NOW appears
at the end of the filename (Drivewire needs it that way)
If you press one of the letters A-B-C-D the drive number will change to 0-1-2-3
Else, if you press a number, then the units digit will be sent to the tens digit and the keyed in appears as units digit.
Pressing 3 we will see LOAD SAVGAM03.BIN:0+
Pressing now 2, we would get: LOAD SAVGAM32.BIN:0+
Using backspace or left arrow, the units digit disappears and its place is occupied by the old tens digit, that now is zero.
Finally Intro sends the command to the program

You can find all of the info about the project on this web
http://retrowiki.es/rw30/viewtopic.php? ... t=32#p4670
Note: The web is in spanish language.

cheers
pere serrat
Hobbit v16f8 - CoCo.zip
(185.9 KiB) Downloaded 208 times
Hobbit v16f8 Docs.zip
(4.43 KiB) Downloaded 199 times
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: The Hobbit ported to CoCo2 and CoCo3 - DW4 - ENDED!

Post by pser1 »

Hi,
here I am attaching a zip file containing:
- The source code for the Hobbit v16f8
- Two include files with the data structures
Altogether some 15000 lines

cheers
pere
The Hobbit v16f8.zip
(238.74 KiB) Downloaded 207 times
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: The Hobbit ported to CoCo2 and CoCo3 - DW4 - ENDED!

Post by pser1 »

Hi,
Since I uploaded last version (v16f8) I have been figthing against Drivewire. CoCoFPGA Users said it doesn't work and that's true!

The process has been awful to say the less.
Cannot trace nor debug a program that uses the whole 64k Maybe in the future with the GODIL project things will change!
By using old/dirty debug-trace techiques I could finally reduce the problem to a small section and found that $76-77, that I
use to save the pseudo register-IY, is used by drivewire too. Once I have moved regIY to another place ... everything works flawlessly!

You can find all of the info about the project on this web
http://rw30.retrowiki.es/viewtopic.php? ... 5571#p5571
Note: The web is in spanish language.

cheers
pere serrat
Hobbit 16f9DW CoCo.zip
(186.38 KiB) Downloaded 202 times
HOBBIT16f9dw Source code.zip
(190.39 KiB) Downloaded 199 times
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: The Hobbit ported to CoCo2 and CoCo3 - DW4 - ENDED!

Post by pser1 »

Hello,
I found a hidden bug in the Hobbit that only 'arises' if you want to play in a machine using a D.O.S. different from the one you had started the CoCo with.

I have a CoCo3 with floppies and CoCo-SDC on an MPI. If I select the floppies (slot 4) the CoCo starts with RS-DOS, then I load from a floppy the file "HDBDW3C3.BIN"
that once executed starts HDB-DOS to access drivewire, great!
If I run the Hobbit (LOADM"H1X":EXEC") it crashes when trying to load files.
The reason is that the Hobbit issued a POKE&HFFDE,0 to detach de SuperExtended Basic because that area is going to be filled
with Hobbit data structures. Unfortunately that poke causes the system to revert to the 'original' ROM so activating again RS-DOS and loosing access to drivewire!

I have solved this problem and have been testing the new 'last version' on 15 different hardware-software combinations and all of them work well.
I attach here the 2xDSK for the CoCo and the VDK for Dragon as well as the special DSK for Dragon with HDBDOS (DW), together with the updated source file "v16g3"

cheers
pere
HOBV16G3 - CoCo.zip
(185.82 KiB) Downloaded 212 times
HOBBIT16g3 (source).zip
(190.67 KiB) Downloaded 202 times
HOBV16G3 - Dragon.zip
(146.43 KiB) Downloaded 217 times
HOBV16G3 - Dragon-DW4.zip
(135.92 KiB) Downloaded 218 times
EDIT:
Sorry, I uploaded 'work' versions of the disks, so containig wrong files.
The program will show "v16g2" instead of the correct "v16g3"
No problem using old ones, just to update working files properly
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