kayvenm’s blog

It seems most errors are occurring because of the lack of memory so I’ve add some code to check that and flush some cache memory when it occurs, so there maybe some more slow downs when cache is emptied/refilled but hopefully less crashes as a result. Also, this build is more optimized compiler-wise, so frame rate should be steadier.

DScent v. alpha 4.2

This is just a quick bug fix that should hopefully prevent the media corruption people have been reporting. It should also fix the bug reported by Brian (thanks for the crash dump).

DScent v. alpha 4.1

Well, it’s been a while since the last release, almost 2 months. Various real life stuff happened but here we are, alpha 4 !

New features :

• Music ! (make sure to put the midi.nfs file with your other descent files)
• Press start + select to switch between the hud and keyboard while in-game, can be used to enter cheats. (Switching is a bit tricky, I know)
• You can now move all the games files to the dscent directory (this is optional)

Bug fixes :

• Fixed a crash that happened on the automap
• Fixed the exception screen, now it will display text properly instead of just a red and white screen
• Not tested, but I rewrote the save game writing code for those who were having corrupted save games, please post feed back

There’s probably other stuff I’ve forgotten to write down in my notes

DScent v. alpha 4 Binaries
Sources will be forth coming when I’m done cleaning it up a bit

New version. Been working on new features but it’s taking longer than expected so here’s a bug fix release in the mean time :

• Picking up a vulcan canon ammo auto-switched the primary weapon to the vulcan cannon even with auto select disabled
• Brightness setting changes in menus without being asked
• Wrong aspect ratio on death/escape sequence (see pictures below)
• Robot animation
• ambient sounds not working properly
• static in some sounds
• master volume is saved properly

New :

• Part of the work for rendering robots has been moved to hardware and should help improve speed when multiple robots are on screen.
• New sound engine

Original Descent Screen Shot :

Old DScent Perspective :

New DScent Perspective :

dscent-bin.zip
dscent-src.zip

Here’s a new release, alpha 2a. Mostly a bug fix release, and 1 new feature.

Fixed :

• user created level selection behaves erratically
• on briefing screen, robot spins too fast when text is written
• *maybe fixed, couldn’t test* loading a savedgame crashes on certain cards
• homing missile warning doesn’t show
• buffer overflow possibly causing crash on briefing screen
• select button unusable
• invisible enemies still too visible
• text overflow in briefing screens
• remove quit option in main menu

New features :

• option to disable weapon autoselection

Need more info :

2d objects half-stuck in walls

There’s probably nothing I can do about this because Descent didn’t use a zbuffer so anything that was drawn overwrote everything under it, and so by drawing 2d objects last one could ensure that they wouldn’t get clipped through walls. This is not possible on the DS as one cannot disable the zbuffer (do correct me if I’m wrong). Still, if someone can provide an exact location that this occurs, I’ll check if there’s something to be done.

dscent-bin2.zip

Have fun!

Fixed (thanks to Caydr for reporting alot of those) :

• Animated 2D objects were inverted
• Animated 2D objects had artifacts
• infinite turning when not using touchscreen (be sure to select ‘DS Pad only’)
• invisible robots are now see-through
• fixed loadgame menu not displaying all games (removed the savegame’s image)
• fixed end level sequence not using the proper texture for the planet’s surface.
• fixed end level sequence displaying cross hair.
• fixed ‘misaligned twin grate’ problem.

New stuff :

• New menu navigation scheme :
  • A - accepts
  • B - cancel
• Customized menus for DS (removed joystick options, etc.)
• New in-game menu
  • Allows access to options menu, load/save game and abort game
  • Enter using Start, freeing Select to be used
• Can now use touchscreen keyboard to name savegames (oops)
• Fully customizable HUD including user defined softkeys (see readme.txt)
• Removed the multiplayer submenu (for now…)
• Substantial speed increase in more visually complex levels.

dscent-bin1.zip

Have fun!

I’ve also added a donation page for those interested. All donations will be used to improve the game (ie. to add multiplayer, I need a second DS and card).

Edit : Yes, I’ve removed the minimap to further increase the framerate. However, it is easily reactived by adding a section similar to this in you .csk file :

[automap]
x=50
y=240
w=150
h=100
type=automap


Here’s a new release :

• Includes the fix for the palette.256 error
• Touchscreen keyboard
• Various little tweaks

dscent-bin.zip

I’ve also cleaned up my blog, I removed old test releases links to prevent confusion.

Ok, here’s a new dscent binary with the filetst1.nds fix applied.

Edit : link removed, file tests are done.

Edit : It is apparently working now Thanks to “Ivan” and “navI” for testing.

It seems I didn’t upload the right version, sorry about that. Made a new zipped with a few different files to test this time.

Edit : link removed, file tests are done.

Again, please post results.

Ok so the last test wasn’t so good but a step in the right direction. Here’s a new one :

Edit : link removed, file tests are done.

Post results, thanks.