ZX Format #07: Introducing Headball's Second Demo

HEADBALL DEMO

music by COOPER  
(C) ZX-Masters  

Hello, dear readers of ZF! The ZX-Masters group is pleased to present to you the second demo version of HEADBALL. The first demo was released almost a year ago, and no one thought that the work on such a simple game would drag on for a year instead of the planned four months - the study in the 4th and 5th years took up a lot of time. In addition, the simple idea of the game was growing with new features, such as the introduction of a second character and a complete redraw of the first, the appearance of additional graphics, support for TURBO mode on any computer, and the introduction of animation on each level. Our enthusiasm was negatively affected by the complete passivity of potential buyers - in response to our previous demo's call to purchase the program directly from the authors, only 7(!) people responded, for which we thank them separately. Moreover, our group has significantly expanded from two to five people, and naturally, everyone took turns slowing down the work for various reasons.

Nevertheless, the game is almost ready: it remains to voice it under General Sound - it will be just cool, and to implement protection. The essence of the game is to push the projectile with your head and defeat the opponent. The faster and more resourceful player wins. Now let's go into more detail about what the game looks like now:

2 PLAYERS: you can choose a rockabilly or a kolobok - whichever you prefer. You can play alone, with a friend, or against the computer.

4 LEVELS: a city park with a harbor - in the harbor, water splashes, and occasionally a periscope pops up from a lost submarine; a desert - a helicopter flies over it; an eastern square with a mosque - a swarm of butterflies flies around and interferes with the players; a forest edge - all sorts of things crawl on the ground from bugs to spiders.

3 TYPES OF PROJECTILES: BALL - a regular volleyball: if the player who served the ball scores, he gets a point. If the player who didn't serve scores, he doesn't get a point; only the server gets the point. BOMB - the coolest projectile. With it, you can set traps for each other. Here, an additional rule is added: if the bomb explodes on the serving player's field, the serve changes, and if it explodes on the field of the non-serving player, he loses a point. BALLOON - also a fun thing. If the balloon bursts on the net, the serve changes. In addition, each projectile has its own physical characteristics, which affect its flight.

COMPUTER GAME DIFFICULTY: EASY - the computer is a bit drunk, it lazily returns balls, and it's easy to defeat. MEDIUM - the computer is quite sober and plays on equal terms with you. HARD - the computer cheats a bit: its legs move one and a half times faster than yours.

TURBO MODE SUPPORT: If your processor frequency is over 4.7 MHz, then in the forest, in addition to bugs, spiders will also crawl, and in the eastern square, 5 butterflies will frolic instead of one.

SYNCHRONIZATION: The game uses two hardware screens simultaneously, which eliminates the appearance of various asynchronous output elements, which can be observed in many dynamic games - Robocop 3, Gryzor, etc.

SMOOTHNESS: The whole game fits into ONE interrupt, so all animations are fast and smooth, which is not the case in any game on Speccy, even a fast game like ZYNAPS fits into only 3 interrupts.

MUSICAL DESIGN: Not fully completed yet. There will be 5 melodies and 8 effects for AY, 6 melodies and 10 effects for General Sound.

KEMPSTON-MOUSE SUPPORT: You can navigate the menu with the mouse, and use the mouse buttons to play the game itself.

OPTIONS: Provide enormous possibilities for game customization: - control choice; - entering player names; - choosing an opponent; - choosing players; - choosing the number of rounds: from 1 to 99; - choosing the maximum score: from 5 to 65; - choosing the order of levels: - only first, - only second, - only third, - only fourth, - levels go in sequence, - levels are chosen randomly. - choosing a projectile: - ball, - bomb, - balloon, - projectile is chosen randomly from level to level. - setting bomb timer: - from 1 to 99 seconds. - timer is set randomly each round. - setting the probability of balloon popping: a) from hitting the net (mandatory) b) from hitting the wall c) from being hit by a player - from low probability to high, - probability changes randomly each round. - forced on/off animation in levels. This can be useful if the game is lagging on your computer, which shouldn't happen. - musical options for AY: - music and effects simultaneously, - only music, - only effects, - no music and effects. - musical options for AY: - GS music and GS effects simultaneously, - GS music and AY effects simultaneously, - AY music and GS effects simultaneously, - only GS music, - only GS effects, - no music and effects. - volume level for GS music: - from 0 to 64, - volume level for GS effects: - from 0 to 64. - saving settings to disk; - loading settings from disk; - setting standard options. This function will be useful if you have messed up the settings. The function restores most settings.

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS: - 128K memory and above, - TR-DOS 5.03 or compatible, - disk drive preferably TEAC or 5313. - disk drive rotation speed 300 +- 4 RPM, - computer performance of at least 680 cycles per interrupt. The program will work normally on SCORPION, PENTAGON, KAY, it has not been tested on others. - synchronization counting must be like on PENTAGON, SCORPION, KAY computers. - turbo mode is desirable. - General Sound board is desirable.

MISCELLANEOUS: - total space occupied including music for GS in packed form: 640 KB; - size of the game without music for GS in uncompressed form: 140 KB.

In the demo version of the game, you can: - select all options, but many settings will not affect the game; - only 1 round and score up to two points; - projectile type - bomb with a 99-second explosion timer; - play only against the computer; - computer intelligence - the lowest; - only koloboks are playing; - no disk operations; - no music effects for AY and GS; - no melodies for GS; - missing some melodies for AY.

DISTRIBUTION: There are 3 options possible: 1. Pre-order the program from the authors at tel. 2620089, Mikhail. 2. From our official distributors. 3. From unofficial distributors.

In the first option, you can call the above phone number, leave your contact details, and as soon as the game is ready, we will arrange delivery to your home (if you live within the city limits of St. Petersburg), check it on your computer, and register you as an official buyer, which will give you the opportunity to use some additional features of the game and the possibility of free replacement with newer versions. In the second case, everything is the same, except that the cost of the game will be 20-30% higher due to trade markups, and there will be no home delivery and checking of the program's operability, but the buyer can register by contacting us by phone. In the third case, the authors are not responsible for any glitches in cracked versions, and registration is not performed.

The game will be recorded on BASF and POLAROID disks. Each copy will have its own individual number, by which we will register you.

So, if you liked the demo, don't hesitate to call, we will be happy to receive your call!

Contents of the publication: ZX Format #07

• From the Authors
  Update on SMUC, distribution issues, and plans for future ZX Format issues. Authors address outdated SMUC info and distribution problems of ZF-6. Upcoming content includes game descriptions and new projects.
• Аторы журнала
  Contact information and editorial team details for ZX-Format No.7. Provides mailing and electronic addresses, as well as contact phone numbers. Information on the availability of their website and specific contact instructions.
• Содержание номера
  The article provides an overview of notable software releases on the St. Petersburg market for autumn. It also includes detailed descriptions of games, programming tips, and hardware projects. Interviews, philosophical tales, and reader letters enrich the issue.
• Игрушки - Welcome
  An overview of software novelties for ZX Spectrum, including games like 'Los Angeles Drugs Bust' and 'Jungle Warfare'. Each game description provides insights into graphics, gameplay, and features. A variety of genres from action to strategy are covered, showcasing the diversity of software offerings.
• Игрушки - Алешкин А.В.
  The article describes the game 'TAI-PAN' as an arcade-economic game set in the 19th-century East, focusing on trading and survival amidst pirates and danger. It details the gameplay mechanics, such as trading goods, managing finances, and navigating seas with different ships. Despite its engaging plot and interface, the game didn't achieve much popularity in Russia.
• Игрушки - Soft
  A whimsical narrative in a fantastical world where colors converse with the Last, a character recounting tales of ancient humans, coders, and a mysterious past. The story explores themes of language, translation, and the creation of 'the Last' amidst fantastical beings like flying hippos and sea giraffes. It serves as a fictional narrative with humorous elements, blending science fiction with satire.
• Игрушки - Alex ASP
  A parody on Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings' named 'Bored of the Rings' by Delta 4 is explored. The text references adaptations, humorous adventures of characters like Fordo and Bimbo, and differing versions from Delta 4 over the years. Anticipated prequels and correspondence excerpts with Delta 4's Fergus McNeill are mentioned.
• Игрушки - Гил-Гелад
  The article provides a detailed guide on navigating the 3D Construction Kit interface for ZX Spectrum. It explains menu options for file management, game setup, and in-game conditions. Additionally, it covers object creation, editing, and logic implementation within the program.
• Программистам - Дмитрий Рудовский
  The article concludes the description of BB commands and provides tips on their usage. It details the usage of the CLOCK command for time and alarm management on ZX Spectrum. Additionally, it explains the SORT command for array sorting and introduces new logical and mathematical functions.
• Программистам - Angel
  Introduction to assembly programming for beginners, covering basic concepts and commands. Detailed explanation of processor registers and flags, with examples. Offers practical advice on transitioning from Basic to assembly language.
• Программистам - GreenFort
  Discussion on fast calculations in assembler for tasks like vector graphics and astronomy. Describes procedures for binary division and multiplication, with examples for different byte sizes. Highlights the adaptability of these methods for increased precision.
• Программистам - TP, Stinger
  Detailed technical description of the Mod file format for music composition on ZX Spectrum, focusing on structure and data offsets for title, instruments, and patterns.
• Программистам - Research
  The article describes the capabilities and limitations of the Convert program, focusing on its use for converting images to the BMC format. It includes technical details about the program's functions, such as dithering methods, sprite and screen format output, and the removal of extraneous dots. Additionally, the article briefly discusses the source code of X-Color and its potential applications.
• Обзор
  The article discusses the ENLiGHT'97 demo-party held in St. Petersburg on August 24, 1997, featuring platforms like Spectrum, Amiga, and PC. The event attracted around 1100 delegates, leading to overcrowding and technical issues, which caused the cancellation of the second day. Despite these issues, the event was generally enjoyable, and there is hope for another event in 1998.
• Обзор
  Review of VideoFAIR exhibition in Manezh with highlights on video and audio equipment. Amiga-service and various companies showcased their technological advancements in video editing and broadcast systems. Notable innovations include 3D laser-scanned displays and professional audio solutions.
• Железо - Nemo
  Discussion of KAY technology export to decentralize Spectrum production. Highlights potential benefits and challenges of local manufacturing. Emphasizes quality assurance and support systems.
• Железо
  The article describes the development of a new Scorpion motherboard, focusing on enhancing graphics, speed, and compatibility with modern peripherals like IBM keyboards and mice. It introduces the GMX (Graphic Memory Extension) board, designed to upgrade existing Scorpion models to match the capabilities of the new motherboard. The GMX board offers significant improvements in memory, graphics, and processing speed, while maintaining compatibility with ZX Spectrum and Pentagon standards.
• Железо
  The article provides a detailed overview of two popular audio amplifiers for ZX Spectrum users in St. Petersburg. It highlights the advantages and specifications of the 2 X 2W low-voltage amplifier and the 2 X 22W car amplifier. The article also includes a price list and ordering instructions through the 'Nemo' company.
• Примьера
  The article describes the improvements and features of the Turbo Assembler version 1.1 for ZX Spectrum. It highlights the differences from version 1.0, such as bug fixes, screen size changes, and added features like line editor and syntax checking. It also details the memory allocation and provides a guide on using the editor and compiler functions.
• Примьера - STS
  Description of the Riff Tracker MOD-editor for General Sound, its features, and functionalities. Provides detailed instructions on using editing and sample management. Notes on the current version limitations and expected improvements.
• Примьера - Paul Atrides, Alex Noman
  Presentation of Oberon Creative Pack, consisting of ZX-WinWord and Sprite Cutter. ZX-WinWord is a text editor combining text and graphics with advanced features. Sprite Cutter allows sprite creation and manipulation in various formats.
• Примьера
  Presentation of the second demo version of the game Headball by ZX-Masters, discussing its features and improvements since the first demo. The game offers two-player mode, four levels, three types of projectiles, various options, and computer difficulty settings. Availability of Turbo mode and enhanced synchronization and animation make it unique among other Spectrum games.
• Интервью - Ruster
  Interview with Digital Reality about ongoing projects like DOOM and Paradise Lost. Discussion of challenges and progress in game development. Preview of their submissions for the ENLiGHT event.
• Интервью - Ruster
  Interview with members of the newly formed group EXTREME. They work on demos for Spectrum and Amiga platforms and discuss their team members and activities. The interview also touches upon the state of the Amiga scene in Moscow.
• Интервью - Борис Прытков
  Interview with Samara-based Spectrum enthusiasts discussing their achievements and challenges. Emphasis on community building and publication of Oberon magazine. Efforts to establish a Spectrum network and convert the game WALKER.
• Интервью - Борис Прытков
  The article is an interview with members of the group Flash inc. discussing their projects for ZX Spectrum and PC, including a music editor with an innovative interface and a new multicolor graphic editor.
• Интервью - Михаил Акимов
  Interview with Moscow-based group Progress discussing their current work on Spectrum demos, plans for future projects on Amiga, and opinions on the Russian demoscene.
• Интервью - Михаил Акимов
  Interview with Felix about changes in the tech landscape, the enduring appeal of Amiga despite PC dominance, and his work on 'Winnie the Pooh - 2' for Spectrum.
• Интервью - Ruster
  Interview with Slash about the ENLiGHT event, including sponsorship issues, attendee behavior, and the quality of music and demos. Discussion of the current state of the Spectrum and Amiga markets. Commentary on music trackers and the future of hardware development.
• Интервью - Ruster
  Interview with V. Mednonogov after ENLiGHT'97 discussing impressions of the event, future of Spectrum, and his current project 'Black Raven'. Mednonogov shares his views on new hardware and software development and the importance of copyright. He also discusses his plans for upcoming projects and the challenges faced in game development.
• Здесь был ты
  A satirical guide to gaining power and invisibility using magical rituals and Orbit gum.
• Здесь был ты - Saggitarius
  A contemplative novella about a man's existential journey after encountering a mysterious individual offering a device called the Stop Crane. Through flashbacks, the protagonist reflects on his life, uniqueness, and his desire to break free from societal constraints. Ultimately, he faces the moral dilemma of using the Stop Crane to transcend time and existence.
• Почта - Eagle Soft
  Critique of ZX-Spectrum software, highlighting the limitations of current programs and recommending the removal of outdated tools. Discussion on the limitations of assembly programs and the need for more efficient assemblers like M80. Evaluation of current music and graphic editors, with a focus on the redundancy of certain applications.
• Почта
  Discussion of reader inquiries on ZX Format distribution and content. Responses include details on acquiring issues and technical insights on the KAY-256 computer. The magazine also addresses criticism of its market outlook article.
• Почта
  This advertisement highlights XL Design Inc.'s software distribution campaign, offering games like 'Plutonia' and upcoming releases such as 'Mortal Kombat'. Mouse controllers are promoted with humorous selling points and pricing details. Studio LOGROS provides a wide range of software and peripherals, with options for local and remote purchases.
• Разное - Александр Сысоев
  The article discusses the creation of an RPG game by the OBERON GROUP, inspired by 'Eye of Beholder'. It describes the game's humorous plot set in a distant galaxy and the battle against invaders on a planet named Agima. The team invites musicians, artists, coders, and scriptwriters for collaboration.
• Разное - Viator
  The article describes the development of a new graphics editor called STATE OF THE ART for ZX Spectrum, aiming to improve upon existing editors like ART-STUDIO and ARTIST-2. The team AVALON, inspired by feedback from the SPECCY artist community, incorporates features from editors on Amiga and PC, while also addressing specific user requests. Key features include a user-friendly interface, enhanced magnify mode, advanced shape and window manipulation, and optimized performance.
• Разное
  Discussion on enhancing consumer quality of Spectrum computers without altering their technical specifications. Suggestions include improving existing support, developing platform ideology, and structural changes. The article also touches on the potential of electronic books and their commercial viability.
• Amiga Club - Максим Петров
  The article describes the author's admiration for the Amiga computer, emphasizing its aesthetic and technical merits compared to other platforms. It explores the author's programming experiences on Amiga, highlighting its efficiency and the impressive capabilities of its new hardware upgrades. The article concludes by reflecting on the unique community and passion of Amiga enthusiasts.