Re: LemminGS?

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article joko@crl.com (Joe Kohn) writes...

> >    It is a port (by Brutal Deluxe) of the popular game Lemmings, from
> >Psygnosis.
> 
>Nit-pick Alert:
> 
>I don't think the word "port" is quite accurate. To my way of thinking, a
>port is when source code is transfered from one platform to another and
>tweaked to run on the second platform. As an example, Burger Bill created
>Out Of This World for the Super Nintendo using the C language. To create
>the IIGS version, he transfered his C code onto the IIGS, made whatever
>changes were needed in order to address the GS video, and then re-complied
>it as GS code. That's a "port."

    Well strictly and technically speaking, your right. A "port" is 
generally a 1:1 translation of code, moving it from one platform to
run on another. Though I personally feel, and probably others would 
agree, that an adaption can be considered a port as well. Perhaps I
did use the term too loosely though.

>On the other hand, Brutal Deluxe wrote from scratch all 26,000 lines of
>assembly code that comprise Brutal Deluxe's LemminGS. 

    That is quite a feat, to code something from scratch just by
having a look at another version! Still, all the graphics in the
Apple IIgs version were ported, the animation frames/sprites were 
ported, the sound effects and music were ported. Even the first 90 
levels were ported (I know from playing the SuperNintendo and PC 
ports). The programming code was _not_ ported though, which is 
important to point out and consider. Yet granted there are minor 
differences within the game due to the way the IIgs works, LemminGS 
is still the game Lemmings. 

    Brutal Deluxe didn't conceive the game-play, levels, graphics
or music, they were all "borrowed" from Lemmings, weren't they?
This doesn't change anything however, it is still a _fantastic_
game, probably the most entertaining I've played in years! I also
think it is remarkable that BD was able to code it from scratch,
rather than translate code. I just think it's a little misleading
to say LemminGS and Lemmings are two entirely different (or even 
just similar) games. I'm glad you did point out it was hand
crafted code, and Olivier and Antoine should be applauded for
for this (not just for their talent, but for bringing this game
to Apple IIgs users! :) 

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca