MSXdev’20: #18 – Freedom Fighter

There appears to be some problem with the ROM. I am not able to run it with openmsx trying different machines.

In the BlueMsx I have not gotten it to work either.

The v1.1 works on which MSX?

Are You using OPFXSD or other?

No problems here on my Philips NMS 8245 MSX2 using MegaFlash ROM SCC+ 2 slots SD. Freedom Fighter v1.1.

You used the ASCII16 (/A16) option, but did you disabled the subslot (/U) also? So;
OPFXSD FILENAME.ROM /A16 /U

Replace the byte 20h by 18h at 00065h and Freedom Fighter will work. (v1.1 and v1.2 ok)

No need to be a programmer to do this. Open the Rom file with a hexa-editor, replace the byte and save it with a new name.

Hey Gdx thanks for your contribute! It helps me to find the real bug! I forgot to upate a label after a code modify. Your fix simply force to set a game variable to play music every frame (so music will be accelerated on ntsc machines) skipping the "set variable to ntsc" part and subsequent relative jump (where the fault was). The bug itself caused to skip a (little) part of code (just the screen2 setting) BUT the real problem was that it didn't set bank 6 of megarom (necessary to play the intro sequence) crashing the game.
Just fixed it and soon I'll upload to File Hunter.
Thank a lot again (I couldn't noticed without your fast fix) because I haven't a ntsc machines and I tested the game on ntsc machines time ago (when I implement the pal/ntsc music fix) and haven't do it again after some code changes (all my fault).

Anyway, If possible try to set your machines on pal because there is more time to do stuff in a frame (and Freedom Fighter does a lot of stuff). On Ntsc machines it runs a little slower than on Pal ones. And due to the fact that the bios is still there and it uses the original ISR msx2 and higher machines have (in addition) more stuff to do in ISR too.

Play Freedom Fighter v1.3
Download Freedom Fighter v1.3

I use only 2 sprites, so cockpit has to be red. I did it red in the title screen too so it is coherent with sprite's colors. Ship's shape too follow the same direction: sprite design is the guideline to ship draw on title screen. And it is inclined, not exactly front view. I still have to check if your ship fit the room available (I'm really busy on my real job, and pre-vacation days are always fullest ones). I prefere to focus on playability (and eventually on bugs) at this moment. But you are free to show me your tries. If one of them will merge my work you will be obviously credited. I'm not against other gfx (a lot of people are better than me doing gfx). It was all about way and cause...

Nope

Admin, why my image is erased?

Now is here, if you don't see, someone has erased:

Even if my image is modified, it is understood that it is that.
The real satisfaction and not sarcastic instead there is, because you are hypothesizing its use and since my drawing is free you can do what you want, so everyone knows who the original author is. ;)
But in any case, if my drawing, even an elaborate one, could replace the current one, it would be better. The fact that you are working on it is an objective fact and not my whim. ;)

ok sir

Answering to a previous discussion (in the thread that is temporarily blocked) about the number of tiles involved. Gdx was showing me that number of tiles can be lowered modifying the pic. Nothing more. Not related to this specific image

Read again: your tries. Not this one. Several. gdx can draw and show me a lot of images. Then, if one of them will satisfy my taste and it will be doable, it will merge my work.

And now focus on this:
I'll never use something that could be related to you. Your efforts in this direction are useless...
I hope it is clear enough

If you say so...! :)
It is always a derivative of my work. So thank you. :)
Something original about your hands? :)

If you read some previous comments, I said that I am very happy if my idea is used, that the drawing is free and can be used as you wish. You say I don't understand then, you say you removed my work.
It is you, who did not understand that I am happy that my idea is taken into consideration and make the project better, even if my help is not appreciated.

I am tired.

The previous thread is re opened.
https://www.msx.org/forum/msx-talk/development/freedom-fight...

Play Freedom Fighter v1.4
Download Freedom Fighter v1.4

Great game. Congratulations!
One of the best ever!

With v1.4, on the second try, it still crashes at the 3rd stage boss.

Can you explain how it crashes? Game freezes? Are you using cheats or it happens in normal mode? Anyway I'll check it later

Yes, everything freezes but the music.
Using an in-game cheat code for invincibility.

and please, let me know if you used also some other codes before cheats (music test and/or ship select)

First time was without using the cheat code, cheating my way with openMSX.
Second time, it was through WebMSX on tfh's (fantastic) site, using an in-game cheat code.
On both occasions, the boss is about to do some stuff, but the game will hang.
And yes, I shot down some enemies here and there during the stage.

Found it and fixed! It was an error on pattern execution timing. If you don't kill boss before the first "pattern lap" is ended than on "second lap" the game freezes...
This happens because patterns are treated as temporized events (like enemies ordes are). I put a one unit lesser value on last pattern movement (the one that bring up again the horizontal laser sources immediately under the Tank). So the second lap they start one row down and at the end of the pattern that has to bring them to the bottom they are pushed one row out of the screen. Well the drawing routine put values on a buffer in ram and after that buffer starts my variable area. So they mess up first byte of first variable (just the low byte address of the origin of scrolling data...) and 32th byte of variable area... just because I wrote 170 instead of 171! (I didn't noticed because when testing in cheatmode I've always killed the boss BEFORE the pattern lap ended. Again, my fault).
I sent new version (1.6) as usual to File-Hunter, so you can try it soon. Have fun!

version 1.7 is ready (tfh will update it in few minutes)
added:
player spaceship explosion before respawn
a "stop right there" pattern to mid level 2 boss (so no more surprise attack as soon as appeared) and lowered its HP
fixed playability (I was able to reach level3 without using cheats, so...)

have fun!

Freedom Fighter v1.8 is available:

* Explosions for the end-level bosses
* Fixed keyword scan routine
* GDX Request: Fire Button Release required to skip demo parts

Play Freedom Fighter v1.8
Download Freedom Fighter v1.8 (and other MSXDev Entries)

Freedom Fighter is now updated to V1.9

Added:
New sprites and patterns (level 5 ones, it used level4 ones until now)
New 5th midlevel boss attack/movememt pattern (it uses first midlevel boss one, until now)
Fixed 4th midlevel boss attack/movement pattern (no sudden jerky left move once per pattern in the middle of the screen)

Fixed:
Until now, when skipping intro, if music was already started it restart from the beginning (ugly). Now if music is already started it continue smoothly...
Fixed a stack related bug on epilogue and a small music freeze when skipping epilogue by pressing fire...
Faster (and better) plotting/deleting routine for 4th endlevel boss (yes, each endlevel boss has its own plotting routine)

Stay tuned!

Play it here:

https://www.file-hunter.com/MSXdev/index.php?id=freedomfighter

Download it here:
https://download.file-hunter.com/Games/MSXdev/