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Re: Lo-res/Double lo-res (was: Wacky Game idea)



In article <110917443wnr@klatch.demon.co.uk> John@klatch.demon.co.uk writes:
>In article: <4kk9se$b10@pith.uoregon.edu>  nparker@cie-2.uoregon.edu (Neil Parker) writes:
>[SNIP]
>> >Talking of double lo-res graphics, how well supported is that mode?  I 
>> >know the //c had routines for it in ROM, but does the IIgs?
>> 
>> Yes, it's there in the IIGS too.  The machine-language entry points have
>> never been officially published, but it works quite well from BASIC.  You
>> can turn it on like this:
>> 
>>      10 D$ =  CHR$ (4)
>>      20  PRINT D$;"PR#3": PRINT  CHR$ (12)
>>      30  POKE 49246,0
>>      40  GR
>
>Aaah, I wondered about that.  Is it the CHR$(12) that 'activates' double
>lo-res sensing?

No.  The CHR$(12) is just there make sure the 80-column card actually has
some output to chew on, so it can properly intialize itself before we
try to activate double lores mode.  CHR$(12) is the clear-the-screen control
code, which I chose because it seemed relatively harmless.

In order for double lores drawing to work, two things have to happen before
the GR command.  First, the 80-column display must be turned on (that's
what the PR#3 and CHR$(12) are for).  Second, double-resolution graphics
must be enabled (that's what the POKE 49246,0 is for).

>If this 'Wacky Game Idea' goes any further, how about using de-bugged
>double lo-res routines for the project?  It could even have auto support
>for DLR mode on a suitable //e, //c or IIGS... :)

Writing good double lores routines certainly wouldn't be very difficult.

But I should probably point out that BASIC may not be a good choice of
programming language for the kind of game under consideration.  I have
serious doubts about Applesoft's ability to update the screen with acceptable
speed, even if it is only the lores screen.

               - Neil Parker
-- 
Neil Parker, nparker@{cie-2,cie}.uoregon.edu, http://cie-2.uoregon.edu/~nparker

                     "Bad move, Neil!"  -- The Tick