Erik_
DOSbox's default CPU cycles are set low.
Mon Dec 27, 2021 3:34pm
68.129.13.241

I'm not sure what speed it tries to mimic on default. It's faster than my XT but much slower than my 486.

You can increase the CPU cycles by tapping Ctrl+F12. Decrease them with Ctrl+F11. I usually just speed them up until things stop lagging. It shouldn't lag after the cycles are adjusted as it runs without slowdown on my 486.


Great points all around and thanks for giving it a try.

The jump is indeed screwy and I'm not happy with it either. Only the X increases with running.

I was thinking the same with starting with the gift. There were so many times I ran to the tree without a gift. In level 2, that's really annoying lol.

I'll see about making some changes tonight and updating the demo with them (I'm not currently at my computer)

    • Latest Demo (V0.28-DEMO) Download Link - Erik_, Fri Jan 07 2022 12:07pm
      There doesn't seem to be a really good way to make the latest easiest to find unless I keep editing the first post or create a new thread... Anyway. Here's the latest demo. Still the same three levels but a bunch of collision detection bugs have been fixed between enemies, items, and the player... more
      • Can't find file XMASCOM.BI - Joe, Tue Jan 11 2022 9:08pm
        Okay help me troubleshoot through this, I'm new to running QB on DOSBOX
        • It should be in the same folder as all the other files. - Erik_, Wed Jan 12 2022 12:01am
          If you "cd" into the extracted folder and then open "qb xmas2021" it should use the ".MAK" file to open the dependencies. If that didn't work, you can use File->Load File to add "helpers.bas" and xmascom.bi". To see the .BI file, you'll need to enter "*.BI" in the file name and hit enter. Then i... more
      • The game engine is done. Wow. - Puckdropper, Sat Jan 08 2022 2:59pm
        Yes, there's a few spots where the 16x16 block touch detection got me, but what can you do? I really like how blend doesn't burn energy when standing, it adds to the strategy. It's also kinda neat how Blend hides Santa when a Snooper passes him, making him MORE invisible. Document it and it's a f... more
        • I like the idea of a default high score table. - Erik_, Wed Jan 12 2022 12:07am
          Something easy but not so easy that getting to level 2 will knock the top record off. Yeah, the "trick"iness of falling in that spot has sort of become a problem I'll need to fix now that I'm creating more levels. It makes falling through a one tile hole hit or miss depending if the player was r... more
          • Have you tried playing level 3 by going down first? - Puckdropper, Wed Jan 12 2022 12:00pm
            Is that even possible, within the limits of Christmas Spirit? At least if the fall doesn't work, the level is still winable. Exactly my thoughts on the high score table. Maybe #10 should be past level 1 and one gift delivered and the top should be about halfway through level 3. A different en... more
            • No, haven't tried that yet. - Erik_, Thu Jan 13 2022 2:36pm
              I can see that way with blending taking most/all of your spirit. I think I might have the fall issue fixed... or better than it was. I'll need more testing. So far, this definitely works fitting from a to z (and the opposite dir) "x"s are the floor sprites. xxxxxxxxx ....x..A. ....x.x... more
    • Updated Demo - Erik_, Wed Dec 29 2021 2:51am
      Link to the update demo below. There's a bug I just found where if you use the "Helper Elf" in level 3, it fails to redraw the foreground level tiles (water). Not a biggie but still needs to be fixed. Here's a run down of what changed: * Santa now starts the level with a present ... more
      • Have you tried the levels with Run enabled? Totally differe - Puckdropper, Thu Dec 30 2021 8:37am
        nt ballgame. That's a good thing. (I think Super Mario 3 needs "walk" to happen when you press 'b', I hold 'b' constantly when playing.) Are the enemies supposed to not see Santa when their back is turned? It just seems like things happen so fast, they see Santa even from a long way away (like ... more
        • I keep run on for all level one. Haha - Erik_, Thu Dec 30 2021 2:43pm
          The other levels I bounce between modes more. Yeah, enemies should only charge at you if they are facing you. I should put some logic in there that they can't see if the view is obstructed. Right now, it's based solely on being on the same Y axis. I could slow their walking down a bit more. Rig... more
          • Just went through it again. Good game, just needs a few twea - Puckdropper, Fri Dec 31 2021 1:46pm
            Run really drains Xmas spirit. Maybe it'll be better with drain while standing disabled. You really learn to be economical with Christmas spirit especially on level 3. What gets me quite often is trying to get around the snoopers without using special abilities. Sometimes they seem to hit befor... more
            • Just about ready to release a follow up... - Erik_, Sat Jan 01 2022 3:26am
              I want to debug the high score table a bit more before I release the next demo but I think I've addressed most of the issues in your post. I updated run so that it only drains when moving. Things are much nicer like this. I also added a small bonus when picking up a present. So far, I haven't run... more
              • Not finished changes made - latest download here... - Erik_, Sun Jan 02 2022 2:46am
                Changes: ========== * Enemies snoop now a bit slower but will charge at the same speed when they see you. * There's a buggy "High Score" system added (not finished) * You now actually have to touch the sleigh or tree to get/deliver a present instead of being a block away * Run only drains... more
                • I like it. It felt pretty responsive, but there were a few - Puckdropper, Mon Jan 03 2022 8:53am
                  times when it felt like the arrow key "stuck" as some other action was happening. With the slower enemies, it's possible to "stalk" one as you work your way through the level. That really saves on Christmas Spirit. I think real Santa would sneak and only use Christmas Magic (Blend, Run) when he... more
                  • This input thing has become a can of worms...(new demo) - Erik_, Tue Jan 04 2022 12:29pm
                    After reading your post, I decided to try and work on the input and try and hunt down those random stuck key spots. I figured it was from combining using "INP(96)" for movement and "INKEY$" for toggles. So, I moved everything to use "INP(96)" and added a "switch debounce" on the toggle keys so they ... more
                • Got stuck on the last level. Delivered 5 out of 1 presents, - Puckdropper, Mon Jan 03 2022 8:28am
                  Can keep on delivering but can't end the level. How I did it: Delivered a few presents to the tree then asked the Elf for help. Gave a couple to snoopers, then tried to end level. Ok, so here's what happened in more detail. With presents to deliver n-1, grab a present and touch the elf. He'll d... more
                  • Good find! Thanks! - Erik_, Tue Jan 04 2022 12:14pm
                    I have it fixed now, but working out the input issues first before posting an updated demo download.
    • I'm not a fan of the initial "get a gift" move - Puckdropper, Mon Dec 27 2021 11:57am
      but I know this is just a rushed demo. When you start a level, I'd kinda expect to have landed, grabbed a gift and be ready to get on my way. "Bender" (The Sprite looks like Bender from Futurama.) mode is useful, but maybe the snoopers should be slowed down a bit? It feels like they just move s... more
      • DOSbox's default CPU cycles are set low.- Erik_, Mon Dec 27 2021 3:34pm
        • I beat level 3 by giving the snoopers 3 presents, then I - Puckdropper, Tue Dec 28 2021 8:03am
          Only had to deliver 2. Pretty efficient, eh? Yeah, I had to turn the cycles up to get it playable. That 1 up on level 3 is hard to get and hard to keep. I'll have to see if there's actually a way to do so.
          • That's sort of how I handle that level too! - Erik_, Tue Dec 28 2021 12:39pm
            I usually grab a present, then head to the left to the helper elf and have him deliver a present. (This sets off the alarm clock along the way, but that's okay.. snoopers are getting the rest anyway). Then, I give the snooper by the tree my present. I hop down, grab the 1up and then jump in the wate... more
          • If you press down, Santa goes through the scenery. If it's j - Puckdropper, Tue Dec 28 2021 8:15am
            Ust a little bit, Santa can climb back up with Up. More than about a block height, though and he can't move. I saved it once with jump, but if you go down a tiny bit more you can't jump. Give all the presents to Snoopers and Santa's just not very stealthy, eh? Got a game over on that. :). I wond... more
            • Ah, yeah that's debug code I forgot to comment out. - Erik_, Tue Dec 28 2021 12:25pm
              Originally when I was testing the collision detection, I had the arrow keys move the sprite 1px at a time so I could see the flags get triggered. Up I think is also still there but the "gravity" logic only lets him pop up a single pixel instead of float away. I had thought of that about the prese... more
              • Realistically, though, how important is score? - Puckdropper, Thu Dec 30 2021 9:48am
                Platformers seem to be more about getting through levels rather than achieving the highest score. Does the new demo give you your points when the level ends? It seemed like it just ended the level when you used up the last life.
                • I sort of like having it just to have. - Erik_, Thu Dec 30 2021 2:30pm
                  Even Mario Bros has a score, even if no one ever checks it. Also, is a good way of ranking attempts where you don't finish the game. The end of the level should pop up with a screen breaking down the point bonuses. I'd you get game over, there's no points added so you just get a view of your last... more
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