System X (Preview 7k) C64 - Level 3 'tech level' background animation test..

Welcome to Preview 7k of System X for the Commodore 64.
This is a work in progress of my C64 game System X originally from 1989. A game which was sadly unfinished by myself (Robert Wilson) due to various reasons at the time.
This is another small update from the previous video, before Preview 8.
This preview is just a test of some ideas for Level 3 or what I've dubbed the 'tech level'.
Since the last preview, I've added more background tiles into the map and I've started to add animation. The main animation are the rotating fans. These take up a bit of raster time so far (the grey bar). They are dynamic characters and the raster time used could be reduced somewhat, it is unoptimised at the moment, but the optimised version would use more RAM. I'm quite pleased with the animation on the fans. You may notice that some of the blades of the fan are rotating at a different position from one another, however, it may be too fast to notice and you would have to slow down the youtube video to see this in action.
The 'tech level', is turning a little more 'industrial', but still it looks promising as it is. What is shown in this preview is only around 40% of the level.
Other background animations are the beacon lights flashing on and off, which are representing more of a hazzard in the area.
I have plenty of characters and tiles left for this level so far and not even used half of which are available.
The sprites rotating are just for the multiplexor testing and won't feature like this in the final game. The next preview may feature some aliens instead and I'm looking to add some player fire routines into the game.
The Game..
The game will probably be reminiscent of past C64 games like Zybex, Forgotten Worlds, Phobia, Delta etc. I have no idea on number of levels at this stage. Other things to be added, will be the weaponary, enemies and attack patterns and all the usual stuff you will probably find in a C64 shoot'em-up.
I am hoping to get this game completed at some point in 2026, but with all projects and timescales things change in life.
Please subscribe and like for further updates.
Video was uploaded in HD*.
All code and graphics by Robert Wilson.
© 1989 - 2024 Robert Wilson rwx designs.
Follow me on X/Twitter: / rwxdesigns
Follow me and download my games from itch.io: rwxdesigns.itch.io
*Note: video quality may be reduced by KZbin or your personal settings.

[@maxmirni2768]

looks mintox - great work

[@gepposmsxadventure]

Nicer and better each time you publish a new preview! Keep it up, it's very promising!!

[@rwxdesigns]

Thanks, It's improving slowly.

[@adru001]

How good it looks!!! congratulations!!

[@rwxdesigns]

Thank you. Still more work to do.

[@IapetusRetroStuff]

the gfx look amazing and the animation brings the level to life.

[@rwxdesigns]

Thanks - it is helping it a bit. I wanted more in places, but I'm now waiting until after all the player and enemy routines are in and working.

[@IapetusRetroStuff]

@@rwxdesigns yes, every cycle counts so it is a good idea to incrementally add extra stuff to make it more polished and see how it goes.

[@radius75_]

It is wonderful.

[@rwxdesigns]

Thank you. Still a lot of work to be done though.

[@Asphodellife]

Very nice. Background suits the main sprite very well here. Any chance of ECM mode (or plain hi-res) being used in places? That would compliment the brilliant hi-res sprite even more I think.

[@rwxdesigns]

Cheers, I don't think I will be able to use ECM during the level stages. Severly limited to 64 characters. I had thought of and tried some hires in the background for a while, but it didn't look quite right. I may revisit it another time. However, I may be able to use EBCM in an inbetween level stage.

[@Asphodellife]

@@rwxdesigns What about CRT use, I always wondered if one could 'stream' extra characters on the go from cartridge to bypass the limitation of ECM. The combination of lo-res and hi-res characters in the background in Katakis for example made the game look sharper overall. Whatever the case, looking good and looking forward to this!

[@rwxdesigns]

@@Asphodellife Yes, in multicolour mode, you can place hires characters in the background like Katakis, R-Type, Phobia etc. You are just limited in terms of the colours. Red and Blue are about the best there is - all the other colours are too bright. I will look at it again, I think though it would have to be in blue if anything.

[@dbug64]

@@rwxdesigns I wonder if a system could be made so the 64 chars are mostly like a buffer? Yeah, indirection costs, hmmm.

[@paolosixtyforeverdipace4416]

Wow, Katakis vibes in these backgrounds, cool.