Recent posts

#1

Games / Re: Vespertino

Last post by eto - Today at 12:33

Do you realize that the girl in the illustration doesn't exist?

If that would be a valid argument, lots of unacceptable pictures would become acceptable. Actually it's the other way around: If the picture is unacceptable if the person is real it's also unacceptable if the person is AI generated.

It's for no apparent reason the only real(istic) part of the box, therefore it sticks out and dominates the box. I think it's at least questionable and could harm not only the perception of the game but also of the community. "White old men" it is anyway - and producing sexist content does not help that.

But in the end it's the decision of the developers if they think this is the right presentation.

#2

S

Technical support - Hardware related / Re: old model 464 with garbled...

Last post by salvogendut - Today at 12:21

Ok here we go. These are the pics from the diagnostic cartridge. Can you guys help me locate the offending RAM chips?

#3

Games / Re: Vespertino

Last post by Sykobee (Briggsy) - Today at 09:26

Maybe she's the driver.

#4

Programming / Re: Julian's Long List of Idea...

Last post by ervin - Today at 08:52

Tri-sword?
Xusia?

Sounds like the Sword and the Sorcerer.
GREAT movie! 

#5

Programming / Re: Newbie assembler CPC quest...

Last post by McArti0 - Today at 08:04

I tried to do the mixed mode, but it was beyond me at the moment :-/  

Code Select Expand

Start:
Call #bd19 ;wait to vsync
Ld hl,#b8bf ; FW interrupt counter

Ld a,0
Call #bd1c ; set hw video mode in A.

Ld a,5
Ld (hl),a ; set FW interrupt counter

Ld a,3 ; or 2 or 1
To3:
Cp (hl)
Jr nz,To3 ; wait to int number for exp. 3

Ld a,1
Call #bd1c ; set hw video mode in A.

Call #bb1b ; read key

Jr nc,start

; A holds the char.


#6

C

Other retro / Re: Xenomorph - Gameplay Amiga

Last post by cwpab - Today at 07:57

FUN FACT: An alien species capable of building a spaceship more advanced than ours would never look like a giant insect, because evolution makes sure to save the maximum resources, and creatures such as that would never need the brainpower to build those machines, as they would basically kill every other creature they encountered without much philosophy involved. (Big brains use a huge amount of energy!)

A key moment in our evolution was the infamous "dinosaur meteor". Before this, mammals were not really a big thing on Earth. They were small creatures, hiding in caves. Many looked like mice. After this spectacular and deadly event, mammals had a competitive advantage, they were better prepared to survive the new environment.  The golden age of mammals started. And their capable briains evolved more and more and got bigger and bigger.

It's safe to say any planet wihout this disruptive event, that basically favours small creatures over big predators, but wihout killing off all life or totally resetting land life (forcing it to come back from the sea), will never generate advanced intelligence or technology. Evolution in Earth shows that big predators can live for dozens and dozens of millions of years, even hundreds, while feeling pretty cool about it, dominating the planet and without any possibility or hint of advanced intelligence thriving anywhere.

In a sense, we could even call our advanced intelligence "anti natural" due to the unusual and catastrophic circumstances needed for it to flourish, and we now know how fast it takes for it to destroy the ecosystems of one planet.

I partly agree with you, partly disagree. Perhaps you know that even in the Permian, our direct mammalian ancestors were already very large (a few meters) and dominated this period – even above the sauropsids.

The Permian-Triassic catastrophe then significantly decimated the mammalian ancestors and favored the evolution of dinosaurs. They were also quite intelligent, as can be seen in birds, the theropods that have survived until now, the most species-rich class of land vertebrates - today!

I cannot confirm the theory that very large apex predators fundamentally prevent the evolution of intelligent "smaller" creatures, because even in the Mesozoic, there were already very intelligent species like the Troodontidae.

Either way, it is extremely fascinating why it was ultimately the dry-nosed monkeys that were capable of building spaceships and understanding the universe more and more.

Excellent point! I didn't know about that.

Judging by evidence, my understanding is that the "mammal overdose" after the meteor was so intense that basically humans needed that new, safer environment to flourish.

Because otherwise predators were always going to be there. Dinosaurs had been there for 200 years!

Many other mamal and even avian species are very intelligent. Dolphins and chimpanzees have been found to use "words" to communicate, only they sound like noises to us.

Many species are intelligent enough to "have fun". Even bees have been found "playing" with some balls, interacting with them with no feeding purposes, just to feel the thrill of being rolled a bit with them. And crows are experts on these arts, they even take turns to do crazy shit on leaves an fountains.

But relatively high intelligence does not always evolve in technology making species. For starters, it's safe to assume none of the planets covered by water would have advanced civilizations, only dolphin-like creatures. The reason, of course, being the lack of hands and oxygen to burn stuff.

Same with birds: they can be very intelligent, but they also have a natural protection by flying, so they don't need to build tools.

For technology to appear, you need a creature that lives on the land, has hands, and has a relatively soft body that needs to be protected by more than genetics provide.

For this reason, I think only mammals will ever create technology. And among the mammals, the Permian creatures you mentioned, while really cute and a "hidden gem" for many like me, seemed to be surviving by "adapting, being fast and getting into holes", as this video states at around the 12:25 mark.

Still, it would be cool to see other humanoid species from other planets and who knows, maybe they're not mammals. It's ironic that the series "V", with all its campiness, was more realistic than many others when it comes to alien species depiction: humanoids, but based on a parallel evolution.

#7

Programming / Re: Julian's Long List of Idea...

Last post by zhulien - Today at 04:10

It's cool what a tiny bit of JS can do...

Code Select Expand

Initialising.

Ready.

In the shadow-shrouded realm of Delos, where the moon dipped into darkness and the wind whispered secrets to the trees, Xusia, the evil sorcerer, wove a web of deceit and malice. With a cackle that sent shivers through the land, he snatched Alana, the radiant starlight maiden, destined to be Talon's bride in mere days.

You are Alana.

I lie captive in the darkness of Xusia's lair, the cold stone beneath me a harsh reminder of my fate. You took me, Xusia, but why? What purpose do I serve in your twisted games? The hours tick by, each one a slow crawl of uncertainty. My thoughts are consumed by Talon, the one I'm to marry in just a few short days. Will he come for me? Does he even know I'm trapped here? I scan my prison, searching for any weakness, any chance to escape. The iron bars, the locked door, the guards patrolling outside... but I won't give up. I have to hold on to hope, to the thought of Talon's strong arms and his gentle touch. Maybe, just maybe, he'll find a way to rescue me before our wedding day. Until then, I'll plot, I'll plan, and I'll wait... for Talon, or for my chance to break free.

You are in a room with a red door to the south.

You can see: Xusia

> look

You are in a room with a red door to the south.

You can see: Xusia

> look xusia

Xusia is very scary.

> look door

The door is red.

It is closed.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ back pack
└─ dagger
> take dagger

You have the dagger already.

> look backpack

The back pack is a typical nylon type used by most school students.

It is closed.

> open backpack

You open the back pack.

> look backpack

The back pack is a typical nylon type used by most school students.

It is open.

It contains:

- rock

> get rock

You get the rock.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ back pack
├─ dagger
└─ rock
> look

You are in a room with a red door to the south.

You can see: Xusia

> talon

You are now Talon.

You burst through the door, expecting to be greeted by Alana's warm smile, but instead, you're met with an eerie silence. You call out, 'Honey, I'm home!' but there's no response. That's when you see Alana's little brother, his face frantic with worry, running towards you. 'Help! Help! Alana's been kidnapped by Xusia!' he cries, tugging at your leg.

Without hesitation, you grip your trusty Tri-Sword, its familiar weight a comfort in the face of danger. Our wedding is just a few days away, and you won't let Xusia ruin it. You set off towards Xusia's lair, determination burning within you. As you enter the dark, foreboding caverns, you feel a sudden, searing pain in the back of your neck. Everything goes dark, and you crumple to the ground.

When you come to, your head throbs, and your vision blurs. You're disoriented, but as your senses return, you realize you're in Xusia's lair, and... where's Alana? You struggle against your restraints, a growing sense of urgency and fear driving you. What has Xusia done to her? You need to find out, and fast. You glance around, taking stock of your surroundings, searching for any opportunity to escape and rescue your beloved Alana before it's too late.

You are in a room with a red door to the north.

You can see: black box, sword

> get swword

I don't see that here.

> get sword

You get the sword.

> get box

You get the black box.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
└─ black box
> look box

The box is made of wood and painted black, it feels quite strong.

It is closed.

> open box

You open the black box.

> look box

The box is made of wood and painted black, it feels quite strong.

It is open.

It contains:

- red key

> get key

You get the red key.

> look box

The box is made of wood and painted black, it feels quite strong.

It is open.

It is empty.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ black box
└─ red key
> open door

The door is locked.

> unlock door

You unlock the door.

> open door

You open the door.

> go door

You enter the red door.

You are in a room with a red door to the south.

You can see: Alana, Xusia

> look alana

Such a beautiful lass.

> look xusia

Xusia is very scary.

> kiss alana

You put your hands on Alana's hips and give her a long intimate kiss.

> kiss xusia

Yuk! That's gross.

> alana

You are now Alana.

You are in a room with a red door to the south.

You can see: Xusia, Talon

> i

You are carrying:

├─ back pack
├─ dagger
└─ rock
> put dagger into bag

I don't see that here.

> put rock in bag

I don't see that here.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ back pack
├─ dagger
└─ rock
> put dagger into backpack

You put the dagger into the back pack.

> put rock into backpack

You put the rock into the back pack.

> i

You are carrying:

└─ back pack
   ├─ dagger
   └─ rock
> look back pack

The back pack is a typical nylon type used by most school students.

It is open.

It contains:

- dagger

- rock

> close back pack

You close the back pack.

> i

You are carrying:

└─ back pack
> give back pack to talon

You give the back pack to Talon.

> talon

You are now Talon.

You are in a room with a red door to the south.

You can see: Alana, Xusia

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ black box
├─ red key
└─ back pack
> open box

The black box is already open.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ black box
├─ red key
└─ back pack
> open back pack

You open the back pack.

> o

I don't see that here.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ black box
├─ red key
└─ back pack
   ├─ dagger
   └─ rock
> look xusia

Xusia is very scary.

> kill xusia

After a long and hard-fought battle, you kill Xusia with the Tri-Sword.

I hold Alana's hand tight, feeling her warmth and love radiating towards me. The memory of Xusia's defeat still fresh in my mind, I'm grateful to have saved the woman I love. As we walk towards our future, I glance at Alana, her beauty and strength captivating me.

With Xusia's darkness vanquished, our path is clear. Our wedding awaits, and I'm eager to start our life together. Alana's smile lights up the world, and I'm honored to be her partner, her protector, and her love.

I look into her eyes, and she sees the sincerity in mine. 'I'll always protect you, Alana,' I promise, my voice filled with conviction. 'Together, we'll face whatever comes next, side by side.'

With Alana by my side, I know we'll conquer any challenge. Our love will flourish, and our bond will grow stronger with each passing day. As we step into our new life, I'm excited to see what the future holds for us, together.

> look xusia

Xusia is dead.

The following catches your attention:

- gold pouch

> get pouch

I don't see that here.

> get pouch from xusia

You take the gold pouch from the Xusia.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ black box
├─ red key
├─ back pack
│  ├─ dagger
│  └─ rock
└─ gold pouch
   └─ gold pieces
> put pouch into box

You put the gold pouch into the black box.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ black box
│  └─ gold pouch
│     └─ gold pieces
├─ red key
└─ back pack
   ├─ dagger
   └─ rock
> put box into back pack

You put the black box into the back pack.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ red key
└─ back pack
   ├─ dagger
   ├─ rock
   └─ black box
      └─ gold pouch
         └─ gold pieces
> close back pack

You close the back pack.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ red key
└─ back pack
> get gold

You get the gold pieces.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ red key
├─ back pack
└─ gold pieces
> look gold

Oooh, nice and shiny. Now you can afford a fantastic honeymoon!

> kiss alana

You put your hands on Alana's hips and give her a long intimate kiss.

> alana

You are now Alana.

You are in a room with a red door to the south.

You can see: Xusia, Talon

> kiss talon

You put your arms around Talon and give him a long intimate kiss.

> i

You are not carrying anything.

> alana

You are now Alana.

You are in a room with a red door to the south.

You can see: Xusia, Talon

> i

You are not carrying anything.

> take alana

You can't take the Alana.

> i

You are not carrying anything.

> talon

You are now Talon.

You are in a room with a red door to the south.

You can see: Alana, Xusia

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ red key
├─ back pack
└─ gold pieces
> l

You are in a room with a red door to the south.

You can see: Alana, Xusia

> take xusia

You can't take the Xusia.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ red key
├─ back pack
└─ gold pieces
> open back pack

You open the back pack.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ red key
├─ back pack
│  ├─ dagger
│  ├─ rock
│  └─ black box
│     └─ gold pouch
└─ gold pieces
> put the key into the backpack

You put the red key into the back pack.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ back pack
│  ├─ dagger
│  ├─ rock
│  ├─ black box
│  │  └─ gold pouch
│  └─ red key
└─ gold pieces
> put the key into the black box

You're not carrying that.

> get the key

You get the red key.

> put the key into the black box

You put the red key into the black box.

> i

You are carrying:

├─ sword
├─ back pack
│  ├─ dagger
│  ├─ rock
│  └─ black box
│     ├─ gold pouch
│     └─ red key
└─ gold pieces


#8

Games / Re: Vespertino

Last post by abalore - Yesterday at 23:06

Pretty girls added as a decorative element is basically turning them into objects.

As a visibly masculine heterosexual guy, I can understand that. But that's because I have an ancient mystical quality called empathy... Think about it as a superpower. I know it's hard to understand at first... Give it some time. 

Do you realize that the girl in the illustration doesn't exist? So nobody has been turned into an object. And even if the model was real and she agrees, what's the problem? Neo puritanism alert!

#9

Programming / Re: Julian's Long List of Idea...

Last post by zhulien - Yesterday at 22:55

For all you adventuring "Text Adventure" (that's Interactive Fiction for all you newbies) fanatics, I have released Potent JS Adventure Creation Framework which lets you create some pretty cool Text Adventure games in JavaScript.  It is available for download at the Cyborg Unicorn website or if you follow the links from https://potentjs.com where you can also play a sample game created with it. You can create text adventure games with multiple playable characters. Think a RPG adventure game where you can be every member of the party which interesting puzzles they each can contibute to solve.

Now on github:

https://github.com/PrimalNinja/cyborgwiki
https://github.com/PrimalNinja/potentjsacf

#10

Other retro / Re: Xenomorph - Gameplay Amiga

Last post by Prodatron - Yesterday at 21:50

FUN FACT: An alien species capable of building a spaceship more advanced than ours would never look like a giant insect, because evolution makes sure to save the maximum resources, and creatures such as that would never need the brainpower to build those machines, as they would basically kill every other creature they encountered without much philosophy involved. (Big brains use a huge amount of energy!)

A key moment in our evolution was the infamous "dinosaur meteor". Before this, mammals were not really a big thing on Earth. They were small creatures, hiding in caves. Many looked like mice. After this spectacular and deadly event, mammals had a competitive advantage, they were better prepared to survive the new environment.  The golden age of mammals started. And their capable briains evolved more and more and got bigger and bigger.

It's safe to say any planet wihout this disruptive event, that basically favours small creatures over big predators, but wihout killing off all life or totally resetting land life (forcing it to come back from the sea), will never generate advanced intelligence or technology. Evolution in Earth shows that big predators can live for dozens and dozens of millions of years, even hundreds, while feeling pretty cool about it, dominating the planet and without any possibility or hint of advanced intelligence thriving anywhere.

In a sense, we could even call our advanced intelligence "anti natural" due to the unusual and catastrophic circumstances needed for it to flourish, and we now know how fast it takes for it to destroy the ecosystems of one planet.

I partly agree with you, partly disagree. Perhaps you know that even in the Permian, our direct mammalian ancestors were already very large (a few meters) and dominated this period – even above the sauropsids.

The Permian-Triassic catastrophe then significantly decimated the mammalian ancestors and favored the evolution of dinosaurs. They were also quite intelligent, as can be seen in birds, the theropods that have survived until now, the most species-rich class of land vertebrates - today!

I cannot confirm the theory that very large apex predators fundamentally prevent the evolution of intelligent "smaller" creatures, because even in the Mesozoic, there were already very intelligent species like the Troodontidae.

Either way, it is extremely fascinating why it was ultimately the dry-nosed monkeys that were capable of building spaceships and understanding the universe more and more.