To those having trouble running Star Angelic Slugger........

[na_th_an]

I think that the problem of the game not running in Windows 98 at Nek's and Rhiannon's may come from the unusual graphics mode or the sound system. I haven't had the time to download the game itself (plus I don't have W9Xs anymore in any of my computers, well yes, I have it in a partition, but I am too lazy to boot it up... Maybe when I have some spare time to reboot the computer -- o my god, I haven't rebooted it in two weeks ).

I had problems with FJ back then with my 233 MMX with Windows 98SE 'cause of the sound system. For some reason, DS4QBwhatever (can't remember which one was used) ran only for a few minutes and then crashed sending my poor kernel to somewhere between heaven and hell.

My conclusion, AAP, is that I seriously encourage you finding another sound system. I never liked those slaves, they are slow in old computers and can't run on modern ones 'cause of OS and hardware configuration issues. Poor ol'MIDI may suck for many (well, I've always said that it depends on the composer to make his/her MIDI not to suck!) but, believe it or not, I've found that QMIDI is way more compatible than any of those VB slaves. At least it runs quite well under VDMSound emulation, (even in my portable, what I think It's a true success!). I never got to make BWSB to run, maybe 'cause I was too lazy to learn how, but I've seen reasonable good results using it.

About Nek's tale, I've enjoyed it a lot. Blitz (and V1ctor, never forget!) has written the best QB gaming library out there and possibly the best QB gaming library possible, but his enormous ego shaddens its whole existence. I think the same things that Nek's has recalled from the ol' QB community beginnings apply this time...

[Adigun A. Polack]

To Na_th_an:

Right up front, since I have finalized my sound system to DS4QB++ (since it is I believe the most needed critical element for the game “Frantic Journey”), I am sorry. Sadly, I cannot switch sound systems to BWSB (too hard to me so far, took a *LONG* time for me to get used to in the programming), much less QMidi or any other sound system. I have already made some hot, original sounds and music for that game, and I am not about to throw it all away. However, I CAN build a new soundproof (no-sound) version of the new FJ Experience Version, and I *hopefully* plan to develop that. That way, it will be a good start in introducing more and MORE people to the world of FJ, I believe! !

A real good idea, though. Thank you! !



GETTING IN GEAR FOR THE NEWEST YEAR,


Adigun Azikiwe Polack
One of the Founders of “Aura Flow”
Webmaster of the AAP Official Homepage
Official Founder of the “QuickBASIC Caliber Programming Compo”
High King of the AAP Official Forumboard

[na_th_an]

Cool.

When I was coding my Pigs project, I thought on adding a switchable sound system so people could choose to run the full featured DS4QB one with real IT/XMs and those who couldn't afford it could select the more compatible MIDI one. I was planning on designing them using the same interface, so all I had to do was change a BAS module in my project and recompile it without having to change the rest of the code.

ModPlug tracker, with a bit of effort, can convert from module format to MIDI and it sounds OK if you do some edit to clean up things (as long as you make your modules with fully tuned instruments, which I find that many people don't, just make them by ear and then the MIDI version is a mess, as you have completely tuned patches). That was the thing I was gonna make. Too much work, but hey!

[adosorken]

Adigun, I thought you were using DS4QB2 by Aethersoft/Nethergoth?

You don't have to throw "all that work" away to use BWSB. You simply have to convert your modules to S3M format. This is not a tremendously difficult process, and BWSB is probably the easiest sound API ever for QB. Granted there is quite a bit of overhead with using BWSB, but that all comes with the staggering quality of the sound engine it has in it. Until recently, there was nothing else for QB in and of itself which features an inclusive module playback engine like BWSB's. QMIDI and all DS4QB versions all use external programs to play music. Blitz's UGL module player is quite well-done, and I would highly recommend looking into it as he has improved it vastly since my original QBOA review of it.

[rant]
FJ Experience Version? Why not just finish the freakin' game already everyone in the Qmunity's been waiting forever for it! And umm...as stated before, the music's not all that good. Original or no, the music was a real earsore. You should stick to code since that seems to be your forté. Consider letting someone more qualified handle music creation, as the music FJ has in it really hurts its quality. Finally, get out of the "project" frame of mind and start thinking of FJ more as a product and you'll discover a whole new world of development. Seriously, it makes THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.
[/rant]

na_th_an, the upcoming demos of WOS and RGB feature that sort of system. Basically, they work with three options: DS4QB++, BWSB, and CDA. The DS4QB++ option allows it to be played with all the original soundtracks that Cha0s and FRoG32 have developed for the respective games (Cha0s being WOS' composer and FRoG32 being RGB's composer). The BWSB setting allows the games to be played with conversions of the same music. The CDA setting allows the games to run with CD audio (there will be instructions for converting the MO3 files to WAV and then burning to CD for the games). Options are the key, but for the most part, it needs to be transparent enough to where the player isn't fumbling about with EXEs and config files, trying to figure out the best way to play your game. That's why each of our games have an intuitive visual Setup application that walks you through the sound setup procedure, and the game itself can be run from its own little icon that is placed on the desktop...you never ever have to mess with finding the right EXE or anything.

This is all a result of abandoning the project mentality

[SJ Zero]

There hasn't been non emulated EMS in a computer I've owned since my 80286.

Ugly stuff, trying to set up EMS in the BIOS. Almost as ugly as a 286 with 8 MBs of ram(that's right, 8MBS! EAT MY DUST SLOWPOKES, I'VE GOT ME A 7 MEG RAMDRIVE!!!).

[Rhiannon]

There hasn't been non emulated EMS in a computer I've owned since my 80286.

Ugly stuff, trying to set up EMS in the BIOS. Almost as ugly as a 286 with 8 MBs of ram(that's right, 8MBS! EAT MY DUST SLOWPOKES, I'VE GOT ME A 7 MEG RAMDRIVE!!!).

Bill Gates said 640k of RAM should be enough for anyone.

Adigun, I thought you were using DS4QB2 by Aethersoft/Nethergoth?

He is, i'm looking at the demo folder right now.

na_th_an, he's already stated in earlier posts (altho he was a little more polite about it now than back then) that he wasnt going to change from DS4QB2, even if half the community cant run it. :-?

[Fling-master]

I think some people (i.e. Seph) need to learn to grow up. Seph, your post was totally uncalled for and I think a lot of people can agree with that. There is a time and a place for such things and I think you need to learn about that. Now keep this on topic.

[Adigun A. Polack]

To Na_th_an:

Hello there now once again! ;*) !

To Na_th_an:

Right up front, since I have finalized my sound system to DS4QB++ (since it is I believe the most needed critical element for the game “Frantic Journey”), I am sorry.

I incorrectly ( :???: ) specified DS4QB++ as my final choice for sound systems. I meant to write DS4QB2, not DS4QB++. There is a difference. ! When I have tried DS4QB++ in the development of “Frantic Journey” (FJ), then when the sounds were being played at a RAPID-FIRE pace, it caused an “Illegal Operation” error in Windows 98 on the Pionex 450mhz Pentium III computer (the only computer that I regularly use, even now!). And so, I discarded DS4QB++ from the development of FJ and replaced it with DS4QB2. And when I have tested the sounds playing at a RAPID-FIRE pace using this system (DS4QB2), IT IS LIKE A HEAVENLY DREAM COMING TRUE WITHOUT END, because on that computer, absolutely *NO* errors even followed at all!! !!

So to sum it up, my **REAL** final choice for what sound system I will use for FJ is DS4QB2, not DS4QB++. End of the conversation, period. I apologize to you for this little inconvienence.

However, I CAN build a new soundproof (no-sound) version of the new FJ Experience Version, and I *hopefully* plan to develop that.

That is *exactly* what I’m gonna do, too. ! And hopefully, if things turn out well, I can prepare a “FM Sound-FX” only version, also. Who knows, but it could happen. We shall see together, my man. We shall see. !!

I thank you, Na_th_an, for your most deepest, honest sincerity.



PROMISING YOU A LOT OF GREAT NEW HAPPENINGS,


Adigun Azikiwe Polack
One of the Founders of “Aura Flow”
Webmaster of the AAP Official Homepage
Official Founder of the “QuickBASIC Caliber Programming Compo”
High King of the AAP Official Forumboard

[adosorken]

Not a lot of people use FM synth anymore, primarily due to the fact that the frequency modulation synthesizer chips aren't really being used much anymore. I believe some soundcards can emulate them, though. Nowadays, there's always the option of accessing the MPU-401 for an alternative SFX method, and this concept, although it would require some sound font tweaking on the newer soundcards (something a lot of people are STILL unfamiliar with for some goddess-only-knows reason), it's a pretty much universal concept on all the newer soundcards (except the integrated crap of course). Anyways, that's one other idea for y'all to look into.

[relsoft]

AAP: Try to disable any sound system at all cuz StarAngelic Slugger doesn't even run on mine. FJ does. ;*)

;*)