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1987-04-21
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SOMETHING TO DO ( Part 2 )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By Tony Greenwood
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last month i ( Hopefully ) gave you a few project ideas, well
since then ive had a couple more. At the exact time of writing
this article we havent had any ideas from you lot!, but theres
time yet i suppose, so come on send in your ideas. Just in case
you didn't read last months article i will tell you what this
section is about, but i am not repeating the ideas, if you dont
know them then you should have read last months shouldn't you!.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am in a very lucky position at the moment whereas i am kept
busy all the time making the shell for STOSSER Diskzine. But
before STOSSER was born i was always trying to figure out what
to make next. Its a difficult job trying to come up with an idea
for your next program. Theres very little left that could be
thought of as a NEW idea, so its usually a case of making a
variation of a game or program allready released. Or indeed
making the same game or program but an enhanced version. This
section of STOSSER will hopefully give you a few ideas for your
next project, they may be new ideas or as i say they may be ideas
for programs that are already around but could do with upgrading
or enhancing, or we could have ideas for extra bits added onto
existing programs and games. If you do find any of these ideas
useful then please return the favour by sending us at STOSSER a
copy of the finished Program/Game etc for review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first idea for this month should be useful for everyone.
But especially useful for people like myself who cannot afford a
printer. Theres only one real reason why i want a printer and
thats to print out the sometimes massive doc files that come with
such things as extensions. For example the Missing Link or the
Extra extensions have great big files that cannot possibly be
memorised. When working with extensions you need to be constantly
be refering to the accompanying doc file. So the idea is for an
ACB that will load any number of doc files you want, then keep
them in memory for instant access. It would load itself like any
other ACB, but not load any doc files on boot up. Then you run
the ACB and by way of a file selector load your desired doc.
Hopefully you will be able to load more than one doc file, Then
on all subsequent visits to your ACB you will have the option of
loading more docs, erasing docs allready loaded, or of course
reading a doc on memory. It doesent have to have all the normal
functions found on a doc displayer, but it must have a page
forward and a page back. The only other function that would be
useful would be the search option enabling you to go straight
to the command you are looking for. The main thing is not having
to load the doc file every time you want to view it.
All in all the program would be as useful as the ACB given away
on last months STOSSER that showed you the Missing Link commands
but would be more versatile in the fact that you could load any
doc you like. We could then have a copy of all our doc files,
manuals etc on the one disk ready for reading. As i say, I havent
a printer so i would find this ACB very very useful, So if you
do make one then please send it to me A.S.A.P.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are wondering how to keep a file in memory as asked for
above then the obvious answer would be to have a DATA BANK in
your acb then Poke the Doc file into it. If you dont know how to
do this then i suggest you take up our offer of problem solving
in the form of our STOS problem section run By Martin Cubitt. His
address is on the address screen. This also goes for any other
problems you may have with any programs you are making either
from these ideas or projects of your own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The only other idea i have at the moment is a SHOOT'EM UP GAME
MAKER. Yes i know similar has been done in the past, but thats
exactly why i think its a good idea because it was in the past.
I dont know when the original shoot'em up kit was made but i am
sure that as STOS has since been upgraded ( Extensions etc ) it
must be possible to make a more enhanced version. Let me first
say that i am in no way knocking the original as it was a well
made program, but like i say with new extensions etc then surely
a newer version could be made. The P.D. world is littered with
shootem ups made with S.E.U.C.K. As STOS is renowned for its
sprite handling and screen manipulations then why not a better
version. The missing link gives us better bank handling routines
with packing and de packing options, plus the use of BOBS instead
of sprites, Bobs are by far easier to use and more versatile than
sprites. Theyre quicker and you can have more of them on the
screen without slowing the program down. As ninety percent of
shootem up games seem to involve space ships ( why? ) then surely
the STARS extension could be put to some use in this project. I
cannot go into much detail on this particular idea due to its
size. But the idea is there and the new upgraded tools to make it
are there (Extensions that is) , So go on give it a go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyone using the above ideas and thinking of releasing them into
the Public Domain then please can you give a mention to STOSSER
Diskzine in the Credits, Cheers!.
I know that when a programmer gets an idea he likes to keep it
to himself, but you may be like me who has the ideas and is quite
capable of making the program, but is just too busy to do it. Or
you may have the idea but are unable to impliment it. Whatever
the reason please send your ideas to Keefy at the usual address.
We dont for the above reasons expect a great response to this so
if anyone does send any ideas in then i can practically guarantee
they will be printed.
STOS ON STOSSERS!