BassAceGold's Blog

As mentioned in my previous post, I have acquired the Supercard DS Two SDK which I have been working with to create my own library. This library so far includes input support, backgrounds and sprite like objects with a few effects (alpha blending, grey scale, rotation), text (via freetype2 library), and screen capturing. Here are a few screen caps of my library in action:

And here is one with everything running in grey scale (older picture than the first one hence the lack of top screen stuff)

I have also started porting Etch to the DS Two to help debug my library and to add features that I may have missed….. Speaking of Etch, I have entered a build of it into the neoflash competition. So for those who aren’t in the google wave group and want to give a build a try, you can find it here. It is essentially the same build as the one in the google wave group, but has the neoflash splash screen incorporated into.

I will not be continuing this project as explained in my previous post so here is The Legend of Zelda: The Shards of Light. Only one boss is partially coded, the graphics are incomplete and inconsistent, the music is unfinished, there are missing sounds, and plenty of bugs with debug menus and buttons intact. So really you can’t complete the game. You can walk around and explore levels and collect most of the items but that is about it. Just a really big demo.

To run, make sure you have a nitroFS compatible flash card card. The save file will be created on the root of your card.

I will not be working on this game anymore so please do not email me about bugs. The source code will also not be released as currently it is in no shape to be released as it spans a few years of me learning coding techniques  etc.

Download Here

Mirror Here

Finally managed to get the SDK for the Supercard DS Two. Due to the nature of the SDK, it won’t be as easy as adding support for the hardware in already created homebrew, it will have to be re-written to be executed as a plugin in the Supercards EOS. With that said, I hope to rewrite Etch as a Supercard plugin along with maintaining an nds version.

With the current situation of Zelda TSOL, I’m probably just going to just ditch the project altogether. Why? Well simply put, the lack of motivation to finish it. The programming aspect of the project has become much of a chore rather then a fun challenge like it started at the beginning thus becoming rather boring. Also the lack of help from people who have volunteered is becoming discouraging (not that it is their fault, I know those people have lives). In the end, I just have no feelings toward the project anymore which started out as a test of my coding abilities to see how far I could get, but rather ended up being defeated by my exponential growth as a programmer.

But who knows, maybe a new Zelda project shall arise on the DS Two?

Wow it has been a while since I last touched this project. At the time I ended, I thought I had finished, but there were just a few things I wanted to fix for this one so don’t expect much.

Here is the change log:

–Bullet Bill Release July 28 2010

-Compiled with latest libraries, may fix card compatibilities
-Uses NitroFS for argv support, results in much faster startup time
-can now change the song directory via mpcds.ini file which must be in the same directory as the rom
-removed outdated splash screens
-removed wifi news feature
-fixed scrolling issue in the filebrowser using the bottom right arrows
-updated keyboard
-updated installation instructions and controls. Also added error faq to readme.

Nothing much really new here, just a fix or two.

Download Here

Wow it’s been a while since my last post here. Has been a busy last few months for me with exams and such, but finally I have settled into summer vacation. So here’s a short status update on each project.

-Zelda TSOL-

I have started coding bosses now! The first boss is almost complete, basically just have to add collisions and it should be good.

Unfortunately, as you can see, the graphics still have not received an update. I have the Zelda Dev wave group still limping along, however it seems to have lost steam, not that it got very far to begin with. So if anyone has any art abilities and is capable of doing good pixel art that would like to help me, feel free to give me a shout!

-Etch-

This program has made major strides with over 70 different changes and fixes since the first initial beta build uploaded on the beta wave group. Such changes now include a much better file browser with deletion and gzip capabilities and general improvements towards the feel and speed of the program.

The Etch beta wave is still open for anyone who wishes to join. To join, just create a google wave account and send me a wave at bassacegold@googlewave.com

Managed to get the blog up and running on the new server. Unfortunately I couldn’t get a recent backup due to a server fuckup where my old blog was hosted, so a couple of comments are missing.

Thanks to all who offered advice and web space, I truly appreciate the generosity out there

Etch news has been pretty sparse lately, but it’s getting to the point where it needs some testing by others for feedback to make improvements before the first release is rolled out. So if you’d like to join,  create a google wave account (no need for invites anymore!) and add me – bassacegold@googlewave.com

Due to the long break I’ve been taking from working on Zelda TSOL, I have come up with a list of problems as to why the project is not progressing. The root of all these problems is basically my bad organization. Previously I’ve tried organizing jobs to people through email, but that has been getting cluttered and limits people and possible opportunities.  So I’ve come to the conclusion to set up a Google Wave group.  With this, the project will be open to more people who are willing to help, all in one place and to keep more organized between said people. This group is targeted mainly for graphics artists, music and sound people and translators. If you can’t offer any of the above you are free to join anyway but may not make it in right away.

So if you have Google wave and would like to join this group, just add me – bassacegold@googlewave.com – and shoot me a message.

For all those who have previously contacted me for helping, please join =)

If you don’t have a Google wave account and would like to join, leave a comment below with your email (in the email field of the message) and I shall email an invite to you. Beware though I only have 15 invites available.

If this group doesn’t work out, ei. No people join, then it’s back to the drawing board for me I guess.

And now for a new screenshot!

My friend Adam at http://www.r4revolutionds.co.uk/ has started a campaign to raise money for under-developed nations for clean water. The aim is to raise enough money to supply 250 people with clean drinking water, a goal which seems to cost around $278. So if your feeling nice and are willing to donate a dollar or two please do. Those who do donate are entered into a draw to win 1 of three R4 or R4i flashcards.

The campaign can be found at

http://www.r4revolutionds.co.uk/wateraid/

I’ve finally pre-ordered the Supercard DS Two from shoptemp. Still not sure when its release date is but it is within the month I think.  I’ll finally be able to continue developing, and depending if the Supercard team releases an sdk for the card, may be able to make use of the cards internal processor for various things.