Denial

[orion70]

Thanks to fgasking, I figured out what this game is all about. Looks promising, although I can't use the Commodore 64 version found in the internet to produce a proper VIC conversion, because it's completely different from the listing published in the book. In fact, this C64 game version is a multi-file, and the intro says

[Ghislain]

I've always wanted to see what this game is about. I was a big fan of Usborne Books back in the day.
_________________
"A slave is one who waits for someone to come and free him." -- Ezra Pound

[fgasking]

@Orion - I can only but apologise for the scan quality. I am guessing that you are referring to the blurred lines on most pages (Which is sadly down to my scanner that is close to death.)).

I'm not sure when i'll get a new scanner or when i'd have time to rescan the pages, but if there are a few specific pages which just cannot be read that you'd like me to attempt and rescan, let me know and i'll try to sort this.

A good chunk of the blurred lines I can make out the text, so alternatively if you need "blurriness" translating into the Vic 20 speak, let me know and i'll re-type them here

[orion70]

Thanks fgasking, here are the less readable lines I'd like you to type:

300 page 33
4030 page 35
170 page 36
760 page 37
900 page 37
1010 page 38
1150 page 38
25 (VIC box) page 39
1020 page 39
150 page 40
780 page 41
1010 page 42
2030 page 44
2170 page 44
500 page 46
830 and 840 in the upper right box, page 46

Then, I'll try typing it in. If I encounter other "bad" lines, I'll tell you in this thread. Thank you for you help, and for having revived this book.

[fgasking]

No problem - a pleasure to help preserve another Vic 20 title!

Here are the lines as requested (Under your original references)

300 page 33
300 paper BG:ink FG

4030 page 35
4030 POKE 650,255:RETURN

170 page 36
170 GOSUB 860

760 page 37
760 IF I$="A" AND K>1 THEN LET K=K-1

900 page 37
900 LET BG=3:LET FG=2:LET T=5:LET L=15

1010 page 38
1010 FOR I=1 TO L

1150 page 38
1150 DATA "00011","00011","10011","11111","00011","11011","11011","11111"

25 (VIC box) page 39
25 POKE 36879,8

1020 page 39
1020 PRINT BG$(FG);" ";BG$(BG);LEFT$(B$,W-2);BG$(FG);" ";

150 page 40
150 IF I$="M" THEN LET NX=NX+D(NF,1): LET NY=NY+D(NF,2)

780 page 41
780 LET O(I)=0:LET M$=T$(8)+" "+W$(I):GOSUB430

1010 page 42
1010 IF O(17)>0 THEN PRINT tab(0,2);"FROM NECRONOMICON";

2030 page 44
2030 S=OPENIN "HERO"

2170 page 44
2170 LET TR=ASC(MID$(S$,P+1,1))-AS

500 page 46
500 PRINT BG$(1);

830 and 840 in the upper right box, page 46
830 FOR I=0 TO 95:
840 Add 8 to this number (Book points to C64 line 830)

[orion70]

Perfect. I'm already working on it - will be done by the end of the week .

[Mike]

[fgasking]

Yeah, they are labelled lines though for conversion. So in the book pages at certain points are the conversion lines for the likes of the C64 / Vic 20... these two included.

[carlsson]

While I haven't had a closer look, is the POKE36879,8 on line 25 already converted or would owners of other computers have to convert it to another syntax? From a layman's perspective it seems highly confusing if Usborne would publish listings in a mix of several Basic dialects and have users convert random lines to their own computer. It would be an excellent task in learning programming and understanding different Basics but most readers would just get stuck and throw the book away.
_________________
Anders Carlsson

[orion70]

Exactly. It's not only a matter of typing everything in, but also change some lines and/or commands specific for the VIC, after having typed. This clearly makes it quite time-consuming, and error prone.

BTW, I'm already done with the two smaller modules (Dungeon Creator and Character Creator), and they seem to work properly. Now, on with the huge Game Module!

[orion70]

Here I am with the work done. The game consists of three different modules. Before loading each one, you have to load and run the small "loader" program at the beginning of the disk. This program sets the memory for special characters.

In this ZIP file, you find the disk and the BASIC listings of each module, together with two TAP files containing an hero and a first level created by me as examples.

The D64 disk image contains:
LOADER the small program to be loaded and run prior to anything else
CC the character creator
DG the dungeon generator
GM the main game module

All programs were tested and are apparently free of bugs.

HOW TO PLAY

To play, first set RAM to 16K, then attach the disk image, and

LOAD"*",8
RUN
(the VIC resets)

Now you can either load the game module, or create a new hero or a dungeon. If you want to create heroe(s) and/or dungeon(s), load the respective CC or DG modules.

CC:


DG:


To try the game in the first place, I suggest to load the game module and use the hero and level I already created:

LOAD"GM",8
RUN

Wait approx. 40 seconds (or type ALT+W in VICE), then attach tape image HERO.TAP and follow on-screen instructions. Wait for the hero to load, then attach tape image DUNGEON.TAP. Wait a bit more, then the game starts and you can explore the level 1 dungeon with the hero "Alec" (follow the book instructions: B / N to rotate clockwise/counter-clockwise, M to move).

GAME:


The complete book was also printed into a single 24 MB pdf, downloadable HERE (max. 10 downloads). Sorry for the download limit - if someone could host it somewhere in the web, I'd be grateful.

THINGS TO DO.

IMHO, it's not a bad program. Good things to do to improve it would be to:
- Adapt the hero and dungeon creation to the disk;
- Load / save game from / to disk instead of cassette;
- Somehow include the LOADER program into the other modules;
- Group everything together for a 32K VIC (shrinking the code a little bit?).

See if you like it, and even if you don't - I was happy to save this obscure piece of software .

[fgasking]

Thanks for all your hard work Orion!... You've done a top job and its great to see another Vic 20 title preserved.

These kinds of titles aren't my cup of tea, but i'm always glad to see something vic 20 based backed up and saved from obscurity.

[ral-clan]

I love these types of games - so another thanks for your effort.

[orion70]

You're welcome my friends, I'm always glad to help.
Now, if anyone has other Usborne books - especially the Mystery of Silver Mountain...

[Ghislain]

I like it -- it's Adventure Construction Set for the VIC-20!!
_________________
"A slave is one who waits for someone to come and free him." -- Ezra Pound