As you know, I did say I had retired and TX-1696 was my last project, however it’s boring being retired, my parents would have been happy watching ‘Cash in the Attic’ or other mind numbing programs, that’s just not me, so here is an update of what I have been up-to.
I have been adding to my level editor called Sprite Path which has become quite a project in its self, and I am in the middle of writing the z80 engine for the Spectrum Next and the c++ engine for the PC (SDL), so I have been quite busy.
I have uploaded the editor to the GIT as I want it to be free and open source so other can add to it if they wish, however it’s already quite awesome, it has a built in map editor that exports huge 96k tile maps (z80 done, C uses blocks done), it has a sprite animation and object creation (object orientated) which enables you create stationary key framed or Bezier path controlled sprites (z80 90%, C 99%) , it has a built in palette editor that will remap to spectrum next 9 bit palettes and much, much more.
Anyhow I thought the best way to make sure it does everything you may need to make a game was to make a game with it.
Hoshi and the Dragon
The game I am making is Hoshi and the dragon, it’s something very different for the next, it’s more of an adventure like Monkey Island but at the same time it’s nothing like it. As the name suggest Hoshi is based on early Japanese mythology and traditions.
I have bought a new drawing tablet and I am doing some pixel art for this game, and it is going quite well, I think I am using the Next in an unexpected way.
I will try and post more about the game and get some time to finish the documentation for Sprite Path over the next month or so, then I can let you guys play with it and the existing z80.
Anyhow let me know your thoughts below.