itch.io

First of all, thanks for helping me to debug this. You must understand from my point of view, all of my games use the same ways to play, so if the game won't load then it is difficult to discover the reasons. I see you noticed my RTG warning in the installer. I wont move or replace any system files on a users machine, as this is invasive installation and could damage other software. But at least the note in the installer is there to give you some clues. I spent all week trying to diagnose the issue, and that's the one thing I was sure was a culprit.  

Good to know your setpatch seems ok. I tried 43.4 and it failed to load, so maybe a conflict with less than 43.6. CanDo itself wont run without setpatch, so I presumed it was the same for the games, but with KS3.2 it probably has those things patched internally, so no need for setpatch? I'm guessing in the dark here.

Anyway, for some reason I can't fathom, the HDD version of the game is still buggy (boy!), so I've uploaded the normaL EXE and icon as a downloadable file for you to test. It is the exact same game and version as V1.0A HDD, only without the HDD patch tools, and without the CanDo.library built in. As you already copied this library with the installer, there is now no need to use the big old executable anymore.

The normal V1.0A exe should at least fix the help not working.  Sometimes if you gear up too quickly, it can take a second until the voice speaks the gear, before you can gear up again. As you start in 1st, and 2nd gear is perhaps 30 seconds further down the track, you should only be moving up to the suggested gear (in easy mode) when prompted. 

Thanks for this, we are almost there!

I've managed to narrow down the cause of your game not loading.  It turned out to be the user is running a version of setpatch which is non-standard (e.g. not Commodore), and so the game refused to load. On top of that, if you have any non-CBM devs:monitors (e.g. PicassoIV) then this also makes the game freeze on loading.

I've attempted to make a HDD installer for the game, which is now included with the package. I've also made sure all of the proven working/compatible libraries are included, along with the working Setpatch in C, and a spare Narrator.device in Devs:. So the new pack is only really the new installer and a few extra WB files.

I haven't tested it, but fingers crossed my new installer works. Please download the new pack and report back any issues. If you can't run the old setpatch, maybe the game is WB3.0 or 3.1 only??

Hi nujack!
I've just uploaded a HDD.lha for you to test. Does it work?

I've switched on the font and library checker scripts in tools, so the game should auto install itself on first boot, but I havent been able to test this out as I dont have a clean workbench to install it on.

If the game wont load, try copying in the libraries in the pack, and make sure both of the fonts are there.

Is this going to be a game or is it a prototype? 

A blast from the past for sure.

Thanks.  It was just a test to see if I could get some BASIC code to function like a game in CanDo.  I should have worked on it for longer but I ran out of ideas for it.  I should have used the idea to make a civilisation, but I spent way too long on my FMV games this year instead.  Your EV2 definitely needs to be on the podium this year, and only Fast Food 2 comes close to it.

No AGA needed, the requirements are 0.5 chip and 1mb fast. BUT it wont run unless you have Kickstart 3 or higher. So it wont run on a stock A500+.

It is an auto-booting HDF. You have to boot from it.  If you dont boot from it, the  game needs Libs:cando.library to run, and if you dont have this in your libs, currently the game wont load. I'll fix this in the full release package when I get around to making one.

Very happy you thought the game was ok. Yes there is definitely a rhythm to it after a while, as you can ignore the buy and sell options for the most part, and just feed the people and use the rest to plant.  With the updated game, you run the risk of having things destroy the crops, but also the chance of double grain, so you take a gamble.   Playing the 1978 version with the speech can feel retro and educational for the grand kids.  I rushed the game and could have made it better, but the intro is nice as you say.

It's ok, I got someone to send me a working Picasso IV RTG boot hdf. Works like a charm, although AmigaLive reports the key shortcuts are broken in the non CGX version?

The intro is impressive. But the game itself is a bit weak really, based on the BASIC code, so you are way too kind!
My proudest moment was the Speech mode, with no graphics at all, for the game to be played by the blind.

Hello. I would really like to play this game. But my RTG config is broken, and each time I try to run the game, it says illegal instruction. Does this game work on WB 3.0? Could you send me a winuae config maybe, at lifeschool22@gmail.com.  Thanks.

Good to know it is the full game. I've now created a page for your game on Lemon Amiga, and you can expect it to go live at some point this month.

This three world AGA demo/prototype has really nice console quality graphics, and plays fast enough and smooth.  Starts off a bit too easy, but gets tricky due to wandering in to enemies. The music fits perfectly, and with a few more worlds, its easy to imagine this being released for 7.99 back in the day by CordMasters.

Thanks mailman!
Yes, it could have done with some more depth, like a Sim Sumerian game, but this is just the original BASIC game but with a few extra quests. The main game for the jam was meant to be Crysis, but when that wasn't suitable, I broke off from that for a few months to make this.  So it is just a throw away entry for the jam.  But I did have fun playing the game with the speech mode, and making the game playable by the blind. Yes, all coded in Cando! 

Sorry, my bad. The entries for the jam closed on Saturday.

https://itch.io/jam/amigamejam/entries

The jam was based on sequels to existing games, so your flappy bird 2 game would have been suitable. The up-side of the game jam is they will be played by many people, including on Amiga Bill's Twitch stream, so plenty of free coverage.
Is this a full game or just a demo/prototype. If it is the full game, maybe we can add this to Lemon Amiga?

Maybe enter this in the GameJam2024?

Hello. This is basically the whole game, although it feels like a prototype. It is based on the 1978 code, in a little higher res. I recently added a section on my itch page about how to beat the game, and even a cheat mode. There is no depth to the game, it is basically the 1978 experience, that's why I included both game modes.

Is target release now April 2025?

I see. The way I got around this issue with one of my games was to speed up the sound samples by 2 octaves, so they squeeze down to just one third of the original size. Then just play those back at 300% slower speed.  Thats how they did it with the Domark Star Wars game, so just an idea.

If this version needs 1MB chip ram, then maybe it can be called Elevator Action A600 ? Or if it needs 2MB then A1200?  I cant run it on an A500 setup.

I'm about to take this game off the Lemon Amiga list of those in development. If you make further progress, please just post an update or feedback, and I'll take care of it.

Thanks!  I'll post the news on Lemon. ;)

Is there any update on this project, as it seems to be frozen?

Maybe post what you wrote above on a new dev update?, so development stays current ;)

Hello Christian.

I spend all of my spare time with the bugs on my games too, so I know exactly where you are coming from. It's a labour of love which gets very complicated, very quickly.  I dont know how I could do it without making a debug panel which comes up by the side of the game area, which refreshes on a timer - once per second - and shows the variables and important calculations and stuff.  This past week I decided to code in a step monitor, so I can see which part of the game is running (the names of the sub routines) so I can see the path of the mess-ups. But doing all of that takes time to code the debugger in the first place!

As long as your game is in development, I'll make sure it stays in the development thread on Lemon Amiga. Thanks a lot. :)

Seems finished now.

Just wondering is this game has been abandoned? Seems so close to being in a finished state?

If you guys were hoping to get your game on the fantastic Lemon Amiga database. All you have to do it finish and release V1.00 of this game. Just sayin.

This game will be added to the next batch of new games on Lemon Amiga. I've made the page and grabbed some screenshots, so you can expect it to appear at some point.

Excellent music!  I love it. Is this taken from an old archive or is it new?  On the module itself it says Nova - ChipHappens. Do you know any more?  Do you have a real name so I can add it to the game page on Lemon Amiga??

I know, but if I cant bring up the mouse pointer over the footage then I cant do it any other way.

Yes. The video stops at the point of interacting, as I cant put graphics or the mouse pointer over the moving videos. So I had to invent a pop-up shooter mini-game, to cover those encounters. At first it was only the one enemy per encounter, and a short pause between the footage, but in the end I added up to 7 guys and commandos on ropes, to the mini game, and it delayed the experience.   Very happy you got it running at least!  Remember to press the right mouse button for the grenades. ;)

If you say the folders are empty, then this is the issue. Perhaps unpack the ZIP on a PC, and copy them some other way.  One of the Fonts in the Fonts directory refused to compress with LHA or LZX, and so I was forced to use Zip.
What happens if you copy all the files from the HDF to your hard drive? Then run the Assign ME First icon, and then try to run the game or the menu from the icons.
Do you know about snoopdos?  Try running that, and see which filed it fails on. They should be in Libs on the HDF, at least.

Sure. Can you describe your setup and which version you downloaded. I'm assuming you picked the LHA HDD install instead of the HDFs, as those have been tested as working. Also try running the Assign Me First app before you run the game, which copies over all of the essentials to your system.  If there are any essential libraries which are missing on your system Libs:, like Workbench.library, or Maths libraries etc, then the app might fail.

Does the Menu App launch? (not the quick menu), and if so, how far does it get?

Welcome to my submission.

This game is based on the original 1978 code, but has some new backdrops and questions.

Hammurabi was released several times on the Amiga!, and under different names, for example:
https://www.lemonamiga.com/games/details.php?id=4994
https://www.lemonamiga.com/games/details.php?id=4996

The game is now finished, or at least, the last of the annoying bugs have now finally gone, so I can release it. If there are any changes necessary after this, they will be small changes. To be honest, I'm done with the game, and unless something is broken, I'm not going to change it any further.

If you look at the dev log, it took 17 sessions to make this, so if each one was at least 3 hours, then I'd say the game was created in 51 hours.  It seems a very long time for a 46 year old type-in game. But I'd say at least 25% of that time was spent trying to implement things, and 75% of that time was spent trying to fix them! Sodding bugs!

I certainly don't expect to win any accolades (presents) or prizes, as I dont own the copyright on this code, so I cant charge money for my game as a result. But the whole idea was to create something suitable for the Jam, and after a few false starts, I created a game for the Jam.

It's not much, but I didn't want to just adapt my Empire Protector code to make a Monopoly clone, or a snake game. So instead I took one part of the Empire Protector (Kingdoms of England) formula, and made a land development game instead, to tend the fields. Of course, the next idea would be to adapt this code to a real Dark Age scenario, and make a Defender of the Crown game, only with King Arthur instead. That would be a big challenge to code in 6 months, and I didn't have that idea when I started this project.  I learn by making things - one little thing at a time.

Hello. Dan from Lemon Amiga. Is this a complete abandoned demo, or will this be a full game?  Also, if you would like more of your games on Lemon Amiga, just post them to my spam email lifeschool22@gmail.com. I will find them and add them for you.

Thank you so much. Yes, better to not show the ending and then players think it is worth a try.  Normal mode has fixed enemies until after the jeep, so the only hard part is at the end. Hopefully you enjoyed a bit of 64bit glory on your channel. :)

Hello jotd. I'm a bit confused as to which games are finished and which are still in development. Would it be possible to click on your View all by jotd button, select edit theme, and choose Layout: grid instead of side bar. Then you can move your games around, and place the completed Released games at the top or at the bottom. :)

Thanks. :) :)

You are basically playing the full game now, I think, with the latest 0.9D patch.  Thank you again for all your help, I could not have bug fixed this game, and got so many ideas, if not for your input.

Thanks. :) :)

There is an update pack for beta 2 on the itch page, but please dont show footage of it, as it is basically almost the final game.  Just a few more bugs to iron out, and it can be released.  So expect an announcement either this month or quite soon, as I want to get this finished and out.