Remade: The Apprentice for PC
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 12:28 pm
Throughout the years I've had a pet project going on a slow pace. Sometime during 2010-2011 I started working on it.
As with most hobby projects, they either take a long time to get anywhere, or simply never see completion.
I've hinted at having most of the CLUT images, but wanting to get every sprite too here (2012).
And here (2016) once again.
I've shown extensive knowledge on the composition of the level data here (2017).
And (for the first time) stated my goal (2017) here.
As you can see, there've been gaps of several years in which I did nothing or very little.
Early 2017 I got a major breakthrough when the core engine finally became stable enough (and bug-free) that I could actually continue.
The core engine is the part where the level data is read and processed to a list of platforms (and slopes, walls, ceilings) and where Marvin (then just a white square with a black outline) can walk along and jump on.
I've rebuilt this particular section several times before I got it to work the way I needed it to.
Weeks later an unfortunate event happened and I couldn't do much the next half a year.
In august I continued once again (hence the audio decoding thread). Over the course of half a year (then until now) I've been adding, expanding, debugging (a LOT of it) lots of functionality.
Just in case it wasn't clear: me making this post means I have an operational build ready to show the world.
It's not the complete game, but the framework is there.
The game has no menu and jumps straight into the loading screen of The Medieval Tower, Stage 1.
It can be played up until entering the bonus stage.
There is no 'game over' screen, so you won't have to be too careful with lives.
There's also no audio.
This means that:
- The loading screen (overworld map) is implemented
- Stages 1, 2, and 3 can be fully played
- The treasure screen (after each stage) is implemented (yay bonus points!)
- The Medieval Knight (first boss) is fully implemented
Once you enter the bonus stage (Marvin's dream), you can walk and jump. There's no animation or any functionality beyond basic platforms.
Attacking will result in being stuck.
Regarding copyright, I'm quite certain I'm breaking some rules.. but:
Game: The Apprentice is from 1994 (24 years ago)
Developers: The Vision Factory/SPC/SPC Vision went bankrupt in 2002 (16 years ago)
Publisher: Philips Interactive Media International... might exist? Not much info could be easily found. Have they released anything since 1996?
Console: The CD-i has been discontinued in 1998 (20 years ago)
So.. I'd assume there's no-one thinking of suing me (in which case I'll probably cease and desist) or planning to still make a profit from SPC's The Apprentice.
If it's okay with the mods and admins of the forum, I'd like to post the link to the game and upgrade this thread to a dev's log.
As with most hobby projects, they either take a long time to get anywhere, or simply never see completion.
I've hinted at having most of the CLUT images, but wanting to get every sprite too here (2012).
And here (2016) once again.
I've shown extensive knowledge on the composition of the level data here (2017).
And (for the first time) stated my goal (2017) here.
As you can see, there've been gaps of several years in which I did nothing or very little.
Early 2017 I got a major breakthrough when the core engine finally became stable enough (and bug-free) that I could actually continue.
The core engine is the part where the level data is read and processed to a list of platforms (and slopes, walls, ceilings) and where Marvin (then just a white square with a black outline) can walk along and jump on.
I've rebuilt this particular section several times before I got it to work the way I needed it to.
Weeks later an unfortunate event happened and I couldn't do much the next half a year.
In august I continued once again (hence the audio decoding thread). Over the course of half a year (then until now) I've been adding, expanding, debugging (a LOT of it) lots of functionality.
Just in case it wasn't clear: me making this post means I have an operational build ready to show the world.
It's not the complete game, but the framework is there.
The game has no menu and jumps straight into the loading screen of The Medieval Tower, Stage 1.
It can be played up until entering the bonus stage.
There is no 'game over' screen, so you won't have to be too careful with lives.
There's also no audio.
This means that:
- The loading screen (overworld map) is implemented
- Stages 1, 2, and 3 can be fully played
- The treasure screen (after each stage) is implemented (yay bonus points!)
- The Medieval Knight (first boss) is fully implemented
Once you enter the bonus stage (Marvin's dream), you can walk and jump. There's no animation or any functionality beyond basic platforms.
Attacking will result in being stuck.
Regarding copyright, I'm quite certain I'm breaking some rules.. but:
Game: The Apprentice is from 1994 (24 years ago)
Developers: The Vision Factory/SPC/SPC Vision went bankrupt in 2002 (16 years ago)
Publisher: Philips Interactive Media International... might exist? Not much info could be easily found. Have they released anything since 1996?
Console: The CD-i has been discontinued in 1998 (20 years ago)
So.. I'd assume there's no-one thinking of suing me (in which case I'll probably cease and desist) or planning to still make a profit from SPC's The Apprentice.
If it's okay with the mods and admins of the forum, I'd like to post the link to the game and upgrade this thread to a dev's log.