Re: Hi ho
> However I'd argue that the problem with most PC games these days is > that they're either all "me too" products or they're infuriatingly > over-designed to the point that unless you're familiar with the genre, > they're impenetrable. These days games are generally far better put > together and designed than they used to be, but our expectation > levels are similarly higher so we don't really notice it. Without wanting to continue a long debate into the art of PC coding ... I will quickly add my view is that too many games on the PC (and console) look great, and sound great but where's the playability!! Hello? Eyecandy and sonics don't make a hit game! I want something that grabs my attention to keep coming back for more ... although very few do have that spark of ingenuity to really make a hit game in my eyes. Colin Quazar : Hardware, Software, Spares and Repairs for the Sam Website: http://www.quazar.clara.net/sam/ Issue Three of "Sam Revival" Magazine Out Now !
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho Well, that's the thing innit? Pentium processors are bastard-fast so it's the last thing you think of. Obviously coding on the SAM is far more of an artform than anything I do on the PC because every T-state (or multiple of 4, anyway :) ) counts. The only assembler I did on the SAM Coupé scrolled a message and played a e-tune so it wasn't that taxing. :) Graham >-Original Message- >From: Colin Piggot [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >Sent: 03 January 2003 17:07 >To: sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no >Subject: Re: Hi ho > >> I'd rather concentrate on the game design part of it myself, for me >that's >> the interesting bit about making games. :) > >Well, that has to be the main part but on the other hand, saving a few >t-states isn't important when you have some 2GHz + monster to work with! > >Colin > >Quazar : Hardware, Software, Spares and Repairs for the Sam >Website: http://www.quazar.clara.net/sam/ >Issue Three of "Sam Revival" Magazine Out Now !
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho When you don't have the power, you have to limit your options and while that sometimes leads to better design, it mostly leads to arse games. J I mean if you look at most of the SAM Coupé's software it was generally not that great with only a few standout games that showed signs of ingeniousness (such as Water Works which was brilliant - what happened to Martin Bell?). Maybe it was down to a lot of people using stuff like SCADs (which sounded like a disease at the best of times) which produced flawed software (and similarly GamesMaster had some vile limitations) instead of coding their own from scratch, but the fact remains that most SAM games weren't exactly stellar. However I'd argue that the problem with most PC games these days is that they're either all "me too" products or they're infuriatingly over-designed to the point that unless you're familiar with the genre, they're impenetrable. These days games are generally far better put together and designed than they used to be, but our expectation levels are similarly higher so we don't really notice it. Graham -Original Message- From: Adrian Brown [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 03 January 2003 17:04 To: sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no Subject: RE: Hi ho Thats the problem with PC games these days though - most dont have any design :) when you dont have the power you have to have better design to compensate. *Start Flame War* -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Graham Goring Sent: 03 January 2003 17:02 To: 'sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no' Subject: RE: Hi ho >Optimisation is the fun part! Getting down to the nitty gritty in assembler >is a >great way to spend the night ;) I'd rather concentrate on the game design part of it myself, for me that's the interesting bit about making games. :) Graham
RE: Hi ho
Yer, i miss that when im working on other platforms. So few machines you can still do that on :D A. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Colin Piggot Sent: 03 January 2003 17:09 To: sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no Subject: Re: Hi ho > RE: Hi hoDont have to worry about optimising... Now where is the fun in not > optimising, the best bit of programming is watching little coloured timer > bars flicker on the screen, and counting t states :D Ah yes... changing the palette to see how many lines the routines use very psychadelic... I do it myself all the time too! Colin Quazar : Hardware, Software, Spares and Repairs for the Sam Website: http://www.quazar.clara.net/sam/ Issue Three of "Sam Revival" Magazine Out Now !
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho thank you, ill take that as a compliment :D -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Graham GoringSent: 03 January 2003 17:05To: 'sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no'Subject: RE: Hi ho Right, you're clearly ALL mad. ;) -Original Message-From: Adrian Brown [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 03 January 2003 17:03To: sam-users@nvg.ntnu.noSubject: RE: Hi ho Dont have to worry about optimising... Now where is the fun in not optimising, the best bit of programming is watching little coloured timer bars flicker on the screen, and counting t states :D
Re: Hi ho
> RE: Hi hoDont have to worry about optimising... Now where is the fun in not > optimising, the best bit of programming is watching little coloured timer > bars flicker on the screen, and counting t states :D Ah yes... changing the palette to see how many lines the routines use very psychadelic... I do it myself all the time too! Colin Quazar : Hardware, Software, Spares and Repairs for the Sam Website: http://www.quazar.clara.net/sam/ Issue Three of "Sam Revival" Magazine Out Now !
Re: Hi ho
> Right, you're clearly ALL mad. ;) Ah, is it really that obvious? :) Colin Quazar : Hardware, Software, Spares and Repairs for the Sam Website: http://www.quazar.clara.net/sam/ Issue Three of "Sam Revival" Magazine Out Now !
Re: Hi ho
> I'd rather concentrate on the game design part of it myself, for me that's > the interesting bit about making games. :) Well, that has to be the main part but on the other hand, saving a few t-states isn't important when you have some 2GHz + monster to work with! Colin Quazar : Hardware, Software, Spares and Repairs for the Sam Website: http://www.quazar.clara.net/sam/ Issue Three of "Sam Revival" Magazine Out Now !
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho But lets not get into the PC game war on the sam mailing list :D - I still spend a good few hours playing stratosphere, bugs me that i cant get very far, it just keeps calling me back, to try and get a little further :D A. -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Adrian BrownSent: 03 January 2003 17:04To: sam-users@nvg.ntnu.noSubject: RE: Hi ho Thats the problem with PC games these days though - most dont have any design :) when you dont have the power you have to have better design to compensate. *Start Flame War* -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Graham GoringSent: 03 January 2003 17:02To: 'sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no'Subject: RE: Hi ho >Optimisation is the fun part! Getting down to the nitty gritty in assembler >is a >great way to spend the night ;) I'd rather concentrate on the game design part of it myself, for me that's the interesting bit about making games. :) Graham
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho Right, you're clearly ALL mad. ;) -Original Message- From: Adrian Brown [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 03 January 2003 17:03 To: sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no Subject: RE: Hi ho Dont have to worry about optimising... Now where is the fun in not optimising, the best bit of programming is watching little coloured timer bars flicker on the screen, and counting t states :D
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho Thats the problem with PC games these days though - most dont have any design :) when you dont have the power you have to have better design to compensate. *Start Flame War* -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Graham GoringSent: 03 January 2003 17:02To: 'sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no'Subject: RE: Hi ho >Optimisation is the fun part! Getting down to the nitty gritty in assembler >is a >great way to spend the night ;) I'd rather concentrate on the game design part of it myself, for me that's the interesting bit about making games. :) Graham
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho Dont have to worry about optimising... Now where is the fun in not optimising, the best bit of programming is watching little coloured timer bars flicker on the screen, and counting t states :D -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Graham GoringSent: 03 January 2003 16:57To: 'sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no'Subject: RE: Hi ho >Well disk drives can be easily replaced I'll stick with my PC for now I think... Far more fun writing games on the PC than the SAM (I don't have to worry about optimising ;) ). >Oh don't sound so pessemistic :) > >There is still life in the Sam world! In fact, over the last 2 years I've >been >busier and busier things have really been on the up. Judging by all the >correspondance i receive more and more people are coming back to the Sam >scene , >and there is certainly still demand for software and hardware - if there >wasn't >I could hardly see myself working on more and more new stuff - especially a >magazine and new hardware (of which there are one or two new bits of >hardware to >be released later this month..!) I must admit I'm surprised, the last Quedgely show I went to (are they still going?) seemed to be populated by about 30 people with the remainder of the space filled by tumbleweeds rolling forlornly in the desert breeze. ;) >Although, on the otherhand, I was described as being quite insane in an >email >to the list a few days ago - to quote: "The man's quite clearly insane! I >think >his SAM in a can project is really fantastic and is clearly the work of a >madman. It's well worth getting this issue to read the article" Nowt wrong with being made. The idea of a SAM in a nice case is a good one. It's one of those things that will always seem like a great idea, like a portable Speccy with games on FlashRAM. Graham
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho >Optimisation is the fun part! Getting down to the nitty gritty in assembler >is a >great way to spend the night ;) I'd rather concentrate on the game design part of it myself, for me that's the interesting bit about making games. :) Graham
Re: Hi ho
> I'll stick with my PC for now I think... Far more fun writing games on the > PC than the SAM (I don't have to worry about optimising ;) ). Optimisation is the fun part! Getting down to the nitty gritty in assembler is a great way to spend the night ;) Colin Quazar : Hardware, Software, Spares and Repairs for the Sam Website: http://www.quazar.clara.net/sam/ Issue Three of "Sam Revival" Magazine Out Now !
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho >And remember, not every one is doing stuff for Sam for a financial gain. Well, I never did anything for FRED for money, it was all for the love of the machine on the SAM. Same thing with PC games, I only write 'em for fun and to remake Speccy classics. Graham
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho >Well disk drives can be easily replaced I'll stick with my PC for now I think... Far more fun writing games on the PC than the SAM (I don't have to worry about optimising ;) ). >Oh don't sound so pessemistic :) > >There is still life in the Sam world! In fact, over the last 2 years I've >been >busier and busier things have really been on the up. Judging by all the >correspondance i receive more and more people are coming back to the Sam >scene , >and there is certainly still demand for software and hardware - if there >wasn't >I could hardly see myself working on more and more new stuff - especially a >magazine and new hardware (of which there are one or two new bits of >hardware to >be released later this month..!) I must admit I'm surprised, the last Quedgely show I went to (are they still going?) seemed to be populated by about 30 people with the remainder of the space filled by tumbleweeds rolling forlornly in the desert breeze. ;) >Although, on the otherhand, I was described as being quite insane in an >email >to the list a few days ago - to quote: "The man's quite clearly insane! I >think >his SAM in a can project is really fantastic and is clearly the work of a >madman. It's well worth getting this issue to read the article" Nowt wrong with being made. The idea of a SAM in a nice case is a good one. It's one of those things that will always seem like a great idea, like a portable Speccy with games on FlashRAM. Graham
RE: Hi ho
And remember, not every one is doing stuff for Sam for a financial gain. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Colin Piggot Sent: 03 January 2003 16:50 To: sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no Subject: Re: Hi ho > Ta'. I think my actual SAM is in Stratford Upon Avon at the moment > (I'm in Manchester) and I'm not even sure if it works any more. Certainly > the disc drive made odd whining sounds last time I tried using it... Well disk drives can be easily replaced > I'm surprised that Colin's working on a FPS game for the SAM, though, > as I'd have thought it was impossible to recoup the costs on it? Oh don't sound so pessemistic :) There is still life in the Sam world! In fact, over the last 2 years I've been busier and busier things have really been on the up. Judging by all the correspondance i receive more and more people are coming back to the Sam scene , and there is certainly still demand for software and hardware - if there wasn't I could hardly see myself working on more and more new stuff - especially a magazine and new hardware (of which there are one or two new bits of hardware to be released later this month..!) Although, on the otherhand, I was described as being quite insane in an email to the list a few days ago - to quote: "The man's quite clearly insane! I think his SAM in a can project is really fantastic and is clearly the work of a madman. It's well worth getting this issue to read the article" Colin Quazar : Hardware, Software, Spares and Repairs for the Sam Website: http://www.quazar.clara.net/sam/ Issue Three of "Sam Revival" Magazine Out Now !
Re: Hi ho
> Ta'. I think my actual SAM is in Stratford Upon Avon at the moment > (I'm in Manchester) and I'm not even sure if it works any more. Certainly > the disc drive made odd whining sounds last time I tried using it... Well disk drives can be easily replaced > I'm surprised that Colin's working on a FPS game for the SAM, though, > as I'd have thought it was impossible to recoup the costs on it? Oh don't sound so pessemistic :) There is still life in the Sam world! In fact, over the last 2 years I've been busier and busier things have really been on the up. Judging by all the correspondance i receive more and more people are coming back to the Sam scene , and there is certainly still demand for software and hardware - if there wasn't I could hardly see myself working on more and more new stuff - especially a magazine and new hardware (of which there are one or two new bits of hardware to be released later this month..!) Although, on the otherhand, I was described as being quite insane in an email to the list a few days ago - to quote: "The man's quite clearly insane! I think his SAM in a can project is really fantastic and is clearly the work of a madman. It's well worth getting this issue to read the article" Colin Quazar : Hardware, Software, Spares and Repairs for the Sam Website: http://www.quazar.clara.net/sam/ Issue Three of "Sam Revival" Magazine Out Now !
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho Ta'. I think my actual SAM is in Stratford Upon Avon at the moment (I'm in Manchester) and I'm not even sure if it works any more. Certainly the disc drive made odd whining sounds last time I tried using it... I'm surprised that Colin's working on a FPS game for the SAM, though, as I'd have thought it was impossible to recoup the costs on it? Graham -Original Message- From: Adrian Brown [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 03 January 2003 16:25 To: sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no Subject: RE: Hi ho His site can be found at http://www.quazar.clara.net/sam/ If you have an actual Sam its worth digging it out and supporting it :)
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho His site can be found at http://www.quazar.clara.net/sam/ If you have an actual Sam its worth digging it out and supporting it :) Adrian -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Graham GoringSent: 03 January 2003 16:23To: 'sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no'Subject: RE: Hi ho I've not, but I did hear that Colin was still producing hardware for the SAM. Are there many active users still? The only time I look at SAM stuff is via emulation. I'm thinking of compiling a disc of all the best e-tunes in one lump... What's his website addy then? Graham -Original Message- From: Frans v. Egmond [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 03 January 2003 16:25 To: sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no Subject: Re: Hi ho Welcome back! Colin has launched a new paper Sam Coupe magazine, you could check that out, as well as several interesting new hardware bits... Have you looked at his site yet? Frans
RE: Hi ho
Title: RE: Hi ho I've not, but I did hear that Colin was still producing hardware for the SAM. Are there many active users still? The only time I look at SAM stuff is via emulation. I'm thinking of compiling a disc of all the best e-tunes in one lump... What's his website addy then? Graham -Original Message- From: Frans v. Egmond [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 03 January 2003 16:25 To: sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no Subject: Re: Hi ho Welcome back! Colin has launched a new paper Sam Coupe magazine, you could check that out, as well as several interesting new hardware bits... Have you looked at his site yet? Frans
Re: Hi ho
Welcome back! Colin has launched a new paper Sam Coupe magazine, you could check that out, as well as several interesting new hardware bits... Have you looked at his site yet? Frans Graham Goring wrote: Hi ho Blimey, I was looking around for old Sam Coupé sites and I suddenly remembered the mailing list. So I just thought I'd drop in and see how/what everyone was doing? Obviously me and James Curry are still in contact but I've not heard hide nor hair from most ex Spam Soufflé owners in ages! Graham
Hi ho
Title: Hi ho Blimey, I was looking around for old Sam Coupé sites and I suddenly remembered the mailing list. So I just thought I'd drop in and see how/what everyone was doing? Obviously me and James Curry are still in contact but I've not heard hide nor hair from most ex Spam Soufflé owners in ages! Graham
