Month: December 2008

TeenAgent Thoughts, Status and TODO

TeenAgent Status:

Currently the following is possible:

  • Viewing room images
  • Viewing first static image resource in UNLOGIC.RES
  • Viewing the Polish versions CD PROJEKT image from CDLOGO.RES
  • Viewing main characters sprites
  • Viewing room overlay images
  • Viewing inventory item images
  • Viewing and using Cursor images (PC or Amiga)
  • Listening to music

TeenAgent TODO:

The following needs to be implemented before all the resource files are fully handled :

  • Implement support for animated inventory sprites
  • The inventory images are mainly static, however Metropolis decided to animate six of them.
  • The inventory images are stored as sprites inside VARIA.RES, specifically in resource number 4.
  • The frame numbers for the animated inventory images are as follows:
    • 7(fan)
    • 14(drunken chainsaw)
    • 47(mouse)
    • 49(nugget)
    • 67(burning paper)
    • 91(bird).
  • Implement support for animated Union Logic Logo
    • The Union Logic Logo is stored in UNLOGIC.RES, which contains 11 resources.
    • The first resource in UNLOGIC.RES is a static image which fills the screen.
    • The animated section of this introduction relies on support for resources 2-11.
    • The code required is simple as it just cycles through the other resources.
  • Implement support for the animated Metropolis/TeenAgent Logo
    • This logo requires resource numbers 6,5,9 from VARIA.RES.
  • Implement support for the image resources in ONS.RES
    • These are apparently sprites.
  • Implement support for LAN_000.RES and LAN_500.RES
    • These are apparently animations.
  • Implement support for sound effects from SAM_SAM.RES
    • These form the PC speaker sound effects heard throughout the game.
  • Figure out where the font data is, and how to implement this in ScummVM
    • I would like to be able to display a few strings in the correct font/font palette
  • Figure out how to handle loading of text strings/item descriptions/conversations etc..
    • These are stored in the executable which is unfortunately packed with LZEXE 0.91
    • This will most likely require an external data file such as with the other engines
    • TEEN.DAT will contain strings, cursor image, font etc
    • The conversations should not be too hard to handle, however the room items have some extra
      data with them.
    • I’ll need to get benjamin to explain those a little more, perhaps he has some ideas of how to handle these static resources in a better manner.
  • Begin to implement gameplay code
    • I would like to fully support all the English PC resources before I attempt to create a room.
    • This will mean that I can then show a full room off.
  • Figure out how to how to handle Czech, Polish and English demo version strings.
    • Im not entierly sure if they are in the same order or not.
    • In the demo there is a string to tell you that you have reached the end of the demo.
    • This demo string does not appear in the other versions.
  • Figure out how to handle the Polish VOICES.RES
    • This resource file is in the Polish PC version and the Amiga CD version.
    • I plan to support PC Polish before I look at Amiga version.
  • Figure out how to correctly load the Amiga version in IDA
    • This will allow me to figure out inventory differences.
  • Begin to add support for Amiga versions if feasible.
    • This will require me to attempt to understand how the Amiga disk dumps work.
    • Basic support should be possible since the resources are likely to match in size so I can at least try.
    • It may not be worth the extra effort since the ability to dump the disks will be required.

Thats all for now, I hope the formatting doesnt die.