Vectorising an arcade game: VectorKong is Completed

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10yard:

--- Quote from: bobbyb13 on April 15, 2022, 01:30:47 pm ---This is rad.
I remember hearing commentary from a developer of games back in the day in regard to limit of how many lines they could draw without blowing up the chassis.
So I suppose you don't have that limitation!
Will the software eventually max out when you hit a specific line number?
It occurred to me that in a standard game of DK there is far more going on than in even an upper level of Tempest.

Awesome project. Look forward to seeing your progress!

--- End quote ---

Fortunately, my limitations are all with software! Yes there will be a maximum amount of computation and drawing that can be done per frame before emulation is compromised but this will vary based on the machine, resolution and MAME version. I’ll keep a check on things as I go. I’m reminded of the book “Racing the Beam” about Atari VCS programmers generating graphics literally in real time, drawing on the screen as the TV’s electron gun was passing over the tube.
Yes theres a lot going on in DK. I’m not even thinking about the other stages yet.

Thanks man!

10yard:

--- Quote from: meyer980 on April 15, 2022, 02:01:28 pm ---Talk about a new challenge! Very interesting

--- End quote ---

Hey, thanks! Loving your DK and Felix projects.

meyer980:
Racing the beam is fantastic, I enjoyed it a lot.

With your skills/interest, you should consider writing an original game. Something I've always wanted to do (but don't have the knowledge) is create a new Nintendo Vs. game that could run on actual hardware- similar to this project: http://vs.frombelowgame.com/

The boards are well documented and with swappable ROMs, it's theoretically an easy-ish system to create a new game for. I would love it if someone created a new two-sided game lol

I did in my own way, making a game called Vs. Moon Melee but I only know how to make games for modern hardware.

10yard:

--- Quote from: meyer980 on April 15, 2022, 08:12:27 pm ---Racing the beam is fantastic, I enjoyed it a lot.

With your skills/interest, you should consider writing an original game. Something I've always wanted to do (but don't have the knowledge) is create a new Nintendo Vs. game that could run on actual hardware- similar to this project: http://vs.frombelowgame.com/

The boards are well documented and with swappable ROMs, it's theoretically an easy-ish system to create a new game for. I would love it if someone created a new two-sided game lol

I did in my own way, making a game called Vs. Moon Melee but I only know how to make games for modern hardware.

--- End quote ---

One of my long term goals is to develop a game for arcade hardware. I really don't know anything about the Vs system so i will have to take a look when I get chance. Man, there is so much to learn and do and just not enough time.
Your Vs Moon Melee looks great.

Xiaou2:
Pretty cool stuff

But just an FYI about Vector drawing, with real hardware:

Due to how a vector monitor draws (like a "Plotter", OR CNC cutter), and due to the limits on how much it can draw..
the programmers would probably highly Optimize how things were drawn.

A vector, is drawn by a single electron beam... from one point to another. When moving from one object
to another... the electron beam voltage is reduced so that there is no visible line between them. BUT..
if you Crank a vector monitors voltage up... you can actually see that all of the picture is a Continuous line.

Visible Lines: A----B----C D--E---------F
Actual Drawing: A----B----C-----D--E---------F

As such... your Oil Barrel, would probably be drawn as a single line object.. instead of several boxes stacked
on top of each other. This would also eliminate the issue that you are seeing.. where two edge lines do not
match up.

Maybe something like this:

eA--------B
F--------G
- -
- -
I--------H
D--------C

That said.. Im just guessing about the way they would have drawn it. They may have
had to test a few different versions to see which were faster, and most optimal.

Also, Vectors can have different brightness levels. Part of this is probably programmed..
but part of it may be due to them utilizing Time-Delays as well as drawing certain things
a few more times in the same area, to create much greater brightness effects.

I believe you can turn up the values in mame, to see the entire vector path, including the
"Invisible" lines. That should help in figuring out how the programmers drew them.

As for the Vector Kong art.. Its cool, but a bit basic. Id suggest adding Zig-Zags in
the Girders, to give it that same familiar raster look. (At very least, close the ends of
each Girder)

Id Personally LOVE to see an Updated version of Star Wars... where the Trench Run is a
drawn a bit more complex. Instead of just having simple boxes to dodge... imagine
if the entire trench itself, was at different levels.. going up, down.. and side to side.

And even better... would be a Stereoscopic version. Red/Blue glasses could be used
to see the depth. And or displaying it in stereo with some adapted shutter glasses, or VR glasses.

I also had an idea for a Vector level, where one could fly on a Speeder-Bike.
The raster Jedi game was OK.. but It would be cool to see an all Vector version instead.

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