Messages

16

Software / New Game Release For All Zaurii And Linux Pcs

« on: May 15, 2006, 07:15:49 am »

Hi

I've just finished writing a new game for all Zaurii and Linux PCs called Pipepanic.

It's a pipe connecting game similar in a way to Pipe Mania but more like Pipeman for Qtopia.

It's written for SDL, runs in all resolutions using either low or high resolution images and plays in both landscape and portrait modes.

I haven't got it on elsix yet but I'm going to do that next. I've attached the ipk if you are interested in playing it.

For screenshots visit the project page - http://thunor.org.uk/pipepanic/screenshots.html

[img]http://www.users.waitrose.com/~thunor/pipepanic/images/pipepanic02.png\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]

I have tested it on my SL-5500 extensively but I haven't got a newer model. I have no reason to doubt its compatibility with other models because I ported GNU Robbo a while back and I got that running on everything with the help of you chaps.

Let me know if there's a problem.

Regards,
TheGreenKnight

17

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: December 26, 2005, 11:14:36 am »

Version 0.57.40 now available (for all Zaurii)

ChangeLog:-

2005-12-26 TheGreenKnight
* 0.57.040
* Level sets are now accessible from the intro screen.
* Converted 4 remaining missing levels from the original.
* Converted all 15 rather pyschedelic levels from RobboVII.
* Converted 16 levels from RobboVIII comparable to original.
* Level set codes are stored in resource file and restored.
* 5 additional wall graphics based upon those in Atari Robbo.
* Game area resizing via options for VGA models.

If you've played through all the original 53 levels, there are 4 more available for that set. Just select the Original.dat level set (selected by default) and finish it; very much worth playing through.

Get it via my new website http://thunor.org.uk

Merry Christmas and regards.

P.S. Any problems let me know.

[img]http://www.users.waitrose.com/~thunor/images/ss0.57.040-01.png\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]

[img]http://www.users.waitrose.com/~thunor/images/ss0.57.040-02.png\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]

[img]http://www.users.waitrose.com/~thunor/images/instructions.png\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]

18

For Sale / Wanted / No The 6000 On Ebay Is Not Mine!

« on: December 17, 2005, 02:47:27 pm »

Somebody or some people are selling 6 SL6000s on ebay.co.uk right now. I have read the above posts about this scam. Just wondered if anyone has bothered to contact the people bidding on them as there are currently two bidders and I thought perhaps it might be a good idea to ask them how they get on or warn them/point them to this thread. It's not nice watching people being ripped off if that is what is happening!

http://search.ebay.co.uk//search/search.dl...&satitle=zaurus

There are bidders on the first and third SL6000s listed.

19

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: December 11, 2005, 05:19:05 am »

I've removed older attached ipks from my previous posts.

If there's any problem with the game not starting in the correct resolution for your model then let me know.

The game reads a file called /proc/deviceinfo/product which holds your model number (I got this from reading the Crimson Fields source) so it should start in the correct resolution for your device.

The additional desktop icon (for the SL5xxx) posted by Greg is a good idea as not everyone likes or indeed is familiar with the terminal.

Regards.

20

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: December 06, 2005, 11:26:04 am »

TheGreenKnight: Are your patches available somewhere? I will probably look at GNU Robbo soon (so it can appear in OZ, Familiar etc) so why I have to rediscover bugs etc?

Robbo was nice game on 8bit Ataris - it will be great to have it on Z.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=106156\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Initially I was going to do a simple port but GNU Robbo Linux uses SDL-ttf, so I had to make more changes than I thought necessary. I have passed my source onto the original maintainer of the GNU Robbo project and he has made me admin so at some time I/we will include the work I have done on the original project so that you can build for PC or Zaurus via #define's.

At this moment in time I do not have time to do both especially since I am new to Open Source development and am not yet familiar with CVS or maintaining a Sourceforge account. Perhaps over Christmas I will have the luxury of being able do some research and combine things properly. It will be done because I know that GNU Robbo comes with Mandrake/Mandriva distros and Linspire so there are desktop users who would like to see a new version with extra levels etc.

My current objectives are:-
1. New levels (Robbo VIII, IX and X)
2. Stylus support
3. Merge changes into original project.
Then whatever other enhancements I can think of.

Regards.

21

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: December 05, 2005, 06:03:16 am »

Greg: Cheers. I changed the way the various screens are redrawn and how much of them, so if you run the game and just stare at the intro screen and exit you will get huge fps because it only redraws the arrows and level text; same in options. I think now I shall just record fps in the game proper.

For me the landscape rotation on my 5500 is so much faster I have to use the in-game speed adjustment in options. It must be an SDL thing where it prefers that resolution.

cybersphinx: The issue whereby the intro screen doesn't get redrawn completely when Robbo dies from enemies is fixed now. I'll make a new ipk soon. You only need to show/hide options to refresh it or just enter/exit game.

Only the parts of the game area that have changed get redrawn, so I am not sure why this would cause flicker. I'll look into it though, see if there's anything noticeable. Could be because more stuff gets drawn now like you say.

I spent the weekend writing a tool that rips the levels out of the other Atari Robbo games and saves them in GNU Robbo format. Next release will have the ability to load additional level sets.

Regards.

22

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: December 03, 2005, 12:27:20 pm »

Version that works with the C Series is now available - http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/thegreenknight/

See website for nice screenshots of BIG screen

2005-12-03 TheGreenKnight <thegreenknight1500@hotmail.com>
* 0.57.03
* Now works on the C Series.
* The game area resizes depending on the Zaurus model.
* Alternative SL5X00 landscape orientation available via  command line option -320x240
* Level data no longer uses ' ' as a black_wall (now 'q').

Files attached.

23

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: December 02, 2005, 06:21:12 am »

So it works

At the moment the game is simply centred for larger resolutions. I am working on making the game area bigger.

Basically in 640x480 (default C series resoultion/orientation) the game works as it should.

SDL is adding the white borders. They appear because of selecting a resolution that doesn't exactly fit the current video mode. I bet if you changed the screen to portrait orientation then ran 480x640 the white borders would not exist.

I'll look into the start screen flicker.

Many thanks cybersphinx

24

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: December 01, 2005, 11:34:04 am »

Ok cybersphinx, if you could test this version for me please, I appreciate your help (see attachment).

I followed your links and eventually found the information I needed (on this site) and am confident it is now going to work for the C series

Open a terminal:

Type 'gnurobbo' to run it in it's default 240x320 mode.
Also try 'gnurobbo -640x480' and 'gnurobbo -480x640' please.

Let me know how you get on and post up the debug info from the terminal. The debug info will list all available modes for your model.

Regards.

25

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: November 30, 2005, 04:12:39 pm »

Thanks for that cybersphinx.

I'm going to have to do some research for a while.

Regards.

26

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: November 30, 2005, 06:44:32 am »

Thanks to all who worked on this. I just tried the IPK and used the link to the SDL libraries from your website and both worked fine on my sl5500, running tKc ROM. The game seems to be working. My wife, who is the superior gamer, is testing it. She has never played it before, so is still learning the moves. If we find anything to report we will do so. Can't really afford a contribution, but I figured some feedback from users would be better than nothing.

update;
She is laughing and saying, "I got a key!" Her general concensus is great game, great graphics. She has RSD and limited use of her hands. Some games are hard to do for her, but this one is not a strain.

Observations;

When a KOPI alarm comes up, the game freezes and will not exit (had to do a soft reset).
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I am happy that you your wife finds it fun  I ported it to the Zaurus from a Linux desktop version which is based on an old 80s Atari game.

The version of SDL that I use and linked to has always had some limitations regarding cooperating with Qtopia. Qtopia cuts in and the game loses the focus but still occupies all of the screen which makes it difficult to do anything. On my SL5500 running an SDL game whilst it's in the cradle and then pulling it out is not a good idea, as is not pressing the sync button  Basically, minimising the chances of Qtopia interfering is the key. I play SDL games then quit. I don't leave the device with them running then walk off. If you remember these things then eveything will be fine.

There are other versions of SDL available but I have yet to try them:-

[a href=\"http://ipkgfind.handhelds.org/result.phtml?query=SDL&searchtype=package§ion=]http://ipkgfind.handhelds.org/result.phtml...ackage§ion=[/url]

There's libsdl-qpe, opie-libsdl, sdl and zaurus-libsdl!

Regards.

27

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: November 30, 2005, 06:24:31 am »

That's sounds like a libSDL problem... either the wrong version of libSDL for the game, or the wrong rotation?

What version of libSDL do you have?

It sounds like one version of this game will not work on both resolutions?[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=105315\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

It's the version in the Cacko feed, 1.2.5-slzaurus20041025-j. When I start it from the console, it doesn't matter if it's portrait or landscape, and from the launcher, it switches to 240x320 (as every app does when not told to do otherwise), but nothing happens, I guess it's the same error.

I think the resolution shouldn't matter, at least if it's run from the launcher and thus starts in 240x320, this sounds more like it's missing some initialisation.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=105364\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I do not know much about the newer larger screened models but I take it (from your post) that SDL will scale up 240x320 resolutions to fit fullscreen but to which orientation I do not know (640x480 or 480x640?). Also what happens when you reorientate the screen between portrait and landscape? Qtopia apps readjust but does SDL?

Anyway I have specifically created a version now (not complete) that allows 640x480 or 480x640 resolutions. It would be nice if you could download the ipk and install it and let me know what happens. I am working on the screen drawing routines and there is currently a slight flicker so ignore that. Also DEBUG is defined so a lot of debugging info is dumped to the terminal so you can see what's going on with SDL.

Do this:-
1. Install ipk (see attached).
2. Open terminal and type 'gnurobbo -640x480' or 'gnurobbo -480x640' etc. 'gnurobbo' simply runs the game in 240x320.

Tell me what happens and dump the output please.

Also what if any other SDL games have you installed and played? Crimson Fields, Tower Toppler, XRick?

Regards.

28

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: November 28, 2005, 05:31:50 pm »

Many many thanks Greg.

I've added your ipks to my website and credited you - http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/thegreenknight/#s5

Now I'm going to try and create an ipk from your post

I searched for the original author of the Linux port via Google as his email address was dead (2002). He's going to instate me as admin on the gnurobbo.sourceforge.net project.

Thanks

TheGreenKnight

29

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: November 28, 2005, 10:39:10 am »

I've fixed the link.

I'm still getting 404 File Not Found
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Fortunecity is crap that's why. Got a sourceforge account now and am about to setup the project.

Ok so I've attached the source and the binary tarball for the complete game 0.57.02 (see attachments).

[a href=\"http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/thegreenknight/]http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/thegreenknight/[/url] has new screenshots and instructions. I've tested the links and they (currently) work.

Thanks for creating the ipk Greg. Post up how you hacked it together as I'd be interested. Would be nice if you could make a new one for 0.57.02 as this is basically the final complete version.

I wanted to ask what actually happens when you try to run this game on a VGA Zaurus? The screen resolution I request from SDL is 240x320, so do you get a tiny screen with big black borders or does it scale up? Also what about the keys? I want to now focus on getting it working across different Zaurii.

Regards.

30

Software / Gnu Robbo For Slxx00 And C Series

« on: November 25, 2005, 11:11:35 am »

Nice little game... I like it!

If you fix your link to the zaurus_source.tar.gz I will try to make an ipk?

Thanks

Greg
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=104876\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Thanks Greg

I've fixed the link.

Fortunecity (the host of my free web space) is doing wierd things: their ftp wouldn't allow me to upload an ipk (file type not allowed) and when (using Windows) I attempt to download one of the tar.gz files it renames them .tar.tar, or maybe that's Windows!

I think the next step is to get fixed up with a sourceforge account.

Do you use ipkg-build to create ipks? Is there any other way to create them? Maybe somebody has a very simple script.

Cheers and thanks for trying it as yours is my first feedback. Nice to know it actually works on somebody elses Zaurus