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Crawly Crypt Collection 2
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drnecro
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read_me2.txt
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1994-11-12
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5KB
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107 lines
Wow!
I can't believe this code is nearly 4 years old. Scary, eh?
Where Have I Been?
------------------
Somewhere back in Spring of 1993, I succumbed to the maddening urge to
purchase an IBM PC compatible. As much as I loved my MegaSTe, I knew that
I needed to move on. I kept my MSTe around for almost another year (I think),
but the need for PC speed made me sell the ST stuff, and put together a
better, faster PC, the 486dx2/66 that sits on my desk now. Fortunately, I
did buy a GEMulator card, which although often cranky, still lets me use my
ST stuff here and there.
I had pretty much left the ST scene behind, though I occasionally got a letter
about Dr. Necro or some of the other ST thingys that I had written in the
past. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I got, of all the bizarre things, a
Shareware registration for Dr. Necro. As if that were odd enough, it became
apparent that the gentleman was resgistering a very old GFA Basic version
of the game! (Dr. Necro has been a mix of C and 68k assembly since March of
1992!). Along with the check was a short note about how much he had enjoyed
the game, and some of the refinements he'd like to see. I was a bit touched.
I called up Delphi and asked for comments, and although there weren't many,
they were most definately positive.
I looked on GEnie and Delphi to see what the last version I had uploaded was.
Turns out that it was the last GFA Basic version I ever did, GFA 0.62.
Since then, the code had been converted to C, sampled sounds added, some
background music, new graphics, etc., as well as a bunch of "one-of's" to
test some neat ideas, like a high score screen (remember Robotron?).
None of this has ever been released, at least that I can remember, and has
rotted on some floppy backups since mid '93.
I fired up Laser C under the GEMulator today, and put together this latest
incantation. Here it is, hope you like it.
The GEMulator -- good and evil
------------------------------
It's a pretty neat card, you know. Really wild to be able to run an ST
development system on a PC. Just the fact that I was able to edit a new
version, compile, and test it is a pretty cool thing.
Alas, no emulator is ever perfect. The sound is marginal at best, the
background music sounds real strange on my Pro Audio Spectrum 16 sound card.
The digitized effects don't play at all. (bummer)
Laser C has some gripes about it (after I save from the editor, my mouse
goes away to never-never land). However, these obstacles are *not*
insurmountable.
So, Ken, get to the point!
--------------------------
Well, here's what its all about. I'd like to finish this game as I
originally intended. This version is just the newest in my backup
set, with some quick fixes and a pause feature. I had a great idea
to speed up the animation, a cool high score table(the code is actually
written, and in the executable, but turned off since it has some, shall
we say, "growing pains"?), some intermissions, and some animation sequences
for the unused space on the screen (something like the magnifying glass
in the Nintendo(tm) game).
Unfortunately, time is at a premium for me. My real-life job takes 60+
hours a week, and PC programming, which actually does pay some money, eats
up a lot of the rest.
I don't suspect this game will generate a lot of money, in fact, these days,
the only thing I can guarentee in exchange for registration is an executable
without the level limits.
So what do you want?
--------------------
I need to know that finishing this project is *worth it*.
If you'd like to see it happen, let me know.
Drop me some e-mail, send me a postcard or a letter.
Money is always welcome, but communication is the biggy.
What do you like about it?
What do you hate?
What would you like to see?
Would you play it if I finish it?
If there is enough response, I'll keep working at it, if not, well, it will
sit on the hard drive, until I need space for DOOM III or something.
Other random notes
------------------
When I would get stuck on a problem in Dr. Necro, I'd do something else to
get my mind off of it, and usually, the answer would come to me. One of the
"something else's" was a port of the game "Arex" from my old Atari 8-bit.
Depending on how motivated I am, there may or may not be an Arex executable
in this archive (getting files from the GEMulator to DOS is a bear, since
the version of GEMulator I have doesn't recognize my DOS hard drive
partitions). If its on here, its old, very rough, and probably won't
show you much of anything. However, it is also something that could be
completed if there is enough interest. If you remember the game, you know
it was simple, addictive, fun, and guarenteed to soak up your time.
Well, enough rambling.
Stop reading, play the game, and drop me a line!
-Ken Schafer
NecroWare Development
11/11/1994