AmiSC 68K v0.2.1 - minimap fixed on big maps

Fixes the minimap on big maps.

A map larger than 128 tiles drew its minimap at full size — a 256×256 map
overhung the console by 64 pixels on every side, covering part of the view.
It is now reduced to fit. 14 of the 45 standard maps were affected.

Everything else is as in v0.2.0: costs on the command buttons, progress and
CANCEL for research and upgrades, red messages when an order is refused.

Still open: weak computer opponent, no sound, no campaign, no multiplayer,
units occasionally crossing terrain they should not.

Start SC_universal. No game data included — see
HOW_TO_LOAD_PC_FILES.txt. No FPU required.

AmiSC 68K v0.2.0 - the interface stops being silent

The interface stops being silent.

Costs on the buttons. Hover over a build, train, research or upgrade button
and it shows minerals, gas and supply. Red when you cannot afford that one.

Research and upgrades now have a progress bar and a CANCEL button. The
command card used to go blank for the whole duration.

Refused orders now say why — red text above the minimap: not enough
minerals or gas, build more supply, queue full, cannot build there.

Still open: weak computer opponent, oversized minimap on big maps, no sound,
no campaign, no multiplayer.

Start SC_universal. No game data included — see
HOW_TO_LOAD_PC_FILES.txt. No FPU required.

AmiSC 68K v0.1.1 - command card icons fixed

Bug-fix release. Replaces v0.1.0 — use this one.

Fixed: the command card was blank when the data came from the modern free
re-release. The icon set moved between releases (unit\cmdbtns\cmdicons.grp
in the original, unit\cmdicons\cmdicons.grp in the modern one) and the port
only looked for the old name, so every button fell back to plain text. It now
accepts both.

Clearer program names. SC → SC_RTG, SC_lores → SC_RTG_lores,
SC_MENU → SC_universal. Start with SC_universal: it detects the
display itself and lets you switch between all four modes (RTG or AGA, 640×480
or 320×240) from the menu while it runs. The other four have the display nailed
down, for comparing modes.

Everything else is as in v0.1.0 — including the alpha-state list: unfinished
computer opponent, no unit costs on the buttons, units occasionally crossing
terrain they should not, oversized minimap on large maps, no sound, no
campaign, no multiplayer. You bring your own copy of the game's data; both the
original and the modern free release work.

AmiSC 68K v0.1.0 - total alpha, and it plays

First release. It is a total alpha — and it already plays.

You can start a match against the computer, build a base, fight and win it, on
a real Amiga 68k with no PC emulation anywhere. That is the good news. The rest
of this text is the honest version, because an alpha that pretends otherwise
wastes your evening.

Download

• AmiSC68K-v0.1.0.lha — for the Amiga.
• AmiSC68K-v0.1.0.zip — same contents, if you prefer to unpack on a PC.

No game data is included. You supply it from your own copy — see
HOW_TO_LOAD_PC_FILES.txt in the archive, or the README here. Both releases of
the original work: the old one (up to 1.16.1) is copied straight across, and
the modern free re-release is converted by the tool included in pc-tools,
which runs on your PC and only ever reads the installation.

What works

Skirmish against computer opponents, all three races, fog of war, the command
card and unit abilities, minimap, production queues, all game speeds, victory
and defeat.

What does not

• The computer opponent is unfinished. It builds and bunkers up quite
  nicely, but it attacks badly, so it is far easier to beat than it should be.
  The first race still beats the other two every time — that is a bug in
  the opponent, not a balance statement.
• Unit and building costs are not displayed on the command buttons.
• Units sometimes walk over terrain they should not be able to cross.
• On large maps the minimap is drawn too large and covers part of the
  playfield.
• No sound at all — the Amiga audio side is not written yet.
• No campaign, no briefings.
• No multiplayer — matches against the computer only, one or several
  opponents.

Hardware

The original ran on a Pentium 90, so treat these as real requirements, not
formalities:

• AGA: 68060 or faster recommended.
• RTG: a fast 68040 as the floor.
• Best: 68060 or 080 together with a graphics card.
• 68020 is the minimum the binary runs on — use the lores variants there,
  they draw 320×240 and push four times fewer pixels.

No FPU is required anywhere. The binary contains not one FPU instruction.

Source

Not published yet: the comments are still in Polish and need translating before
the code is any use to anyone else. Binaries only for now.

The bundled converter links CascLib and StormLib by Ladislav Zezula, both MIT;
their notice travels in pc-tools/NOTICE.txt.

Legal

The game and its data belong to their publisher. Nothing here contains their
data or circumvents any protection — this reads the copy you already own, on
hardware that was never supported. A hobby port, made for fun.