MrGoober [Lexaloffle Blog Feed]

gb_triangles

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 21:58:02 UTC

gb_triangles

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

Felt like a screensaver.

gb_gemman

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 05:03:34 UTC

gb_gemman

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

See code for changelog.

You can fork this cart here:
https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php?page=submit&respond_to=gb_gemman-4

TileArt

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:06:36 UTC

gb_tileart

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

Chain-Based Programming II

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 01:55:29 UTC

gb_chain

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

I enjoy the idea of lists. I really like how through code we can create pointers to pointers (or in PICO-8's case, reference to reference). I like experimenting with different simple structures in code and seeing how I can produce different kinds of little graphical effects with them.

This is similar to my Procedural Fire cart, as well as its sister cart, the Cool Sonar Effect. These two carts humor the idea of a command queue, where each entry in the queue is a function which should be called.

Anyway, this cart utilizes singly-linked lists to store string data. There are a few commands which were produced to create a tiny linked-list API. The functions are as follows:

-- link node
-- d: data
-- n: next node (if necessary)
function link(d,n)
    local l={
        data=d,
        next=n
    }
    return l
end

-- loop through all nodes
-- in the chain and call f(d)
-- on the data inside.
function loop(l,f)
    while l!=nil do
        f(l)
        l=l.next
    end
end

-- count the size of the list
-- starting with link l
-- (this will hang forever
-- if the list is circular)
function count(l)
    if (l==nil) return 0
    local c=0
    while l do
        c+=1
        l=l.next
    end
    return c
end

-- get the data for the list.
-- if data is provided, also set
-- the data before returning
function data(l,d)
    if d then l.data=d end
    return l.data
end

-- get the next link for the
-- list. if the next link is
-- provided set the next link
-- before returning
function next(l,n)
    if n then l.next=n end
    return l.next
end

The example code of the cart is:

------------------------------
-- example

-- clear to dark blue
cls(0)

-- sample text to use
sss="hello world !! "
-- starting node (nil)
xxx=nil
-- tile x and y
tx,ty=0,0
-- flip flag
fp=false
-- create a new list with
-- each node containing a
-- character of the sample
-- string. we do this backwards.
for i=#sss,1,-1 do
    xxx=link(sub(sss,i,i),xxx)
end

loop(xxx,function(l)
    ?l.data,tx*4,ty*8,rnd()>0.5 and 15 or 2
    if next(l)==nil then
        next(l,xxx)
    end
    tx+=1
    if (tx>=32) tx=0 ty+=1
    if (ty>=16) ty=0
    if btn(❎) or btn(🅾️) then
        fp=not fp
    end
    if (fp==true) then
        flip()
    end
end)

Notice how in the example code, the characters in the string are added backwards. This is similar to stacking paper, or any kind of stack, really. We have access to only the top item in the stack, and if we want to read it from first to last, we have to add the items in backwards. The link command asks for a reference to the previous link, and returns itself. When used like xxx=link(sub(sss,i,i),xxx) we are storing the most recent link in xxx.

Singly-linked lists (stacks) are not quite as flexible as doubly-linked lists. We cannot read backwards from a stack. Once the topmost item has been removed, we don't have any way to reference it. But, sometimes you don't need that ability. In this example, there isn't even a container object keeping track of things.

One of the more interesting commands of this set is loop(). It asks for the first link, and also a function which will work on each link, starting with the one provided. This can allow you to iterate through each link and do whatever you'd like with its data!

for i=1,10 do
  ls=link(10-i,ls)
end

loop(ls,function(l)
  -- prints 9 to 0 on each line
  ?data(ls)
end)

You can even do things like neat mathematical models like the Fibonacci sequence

-- if we go over 23 there
-- will be overflow
for i=1,23 do
  -- fill stack with 23 0's
  lis=link(0,lis)
end

-- fill the sequence
loop(lis,function(l)
  if data(l)==0 then
    data(l,1)
    data(next(l),1)
    data(next(next(l)),2)
  else
    if next(l) and next(next(l)) then
      data(next(next(l)), data(l)+data(next(l)))
    end
  end
end)

-- read the sequence
loop(lis,function(l)
  ?data(l)
end)

Squeeb

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 01:57:35 UTC

gb_squeeb

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

For lack of a better title.
Inspired by Hologram Plasma by cheesemug.

TV Static

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 03:07:39 UTC

gb_static

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

O/X = select random palette

Made in like 20 minutes because I wasn't sure if Pico-8 was fast enough to handle a lot of PSETs. Turns out it's more than capable :).

Serial (To/From Strings)

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 00:24:47 UTC

-- serial
-------------------------------
srl={}srl.sts={open="o",key="k",
value="v"}srl.tok={open="{",
close="}",ass="=",st1=",",
st2=";",quote="\"",sp=" ",nl=
"\n"}srl.strisnum=function(a)
local b=tonum(a)local c=tostr(b)
return a==c,b end;srl.strisbool=
function(a)if a=="true"then
return true,true elseif a==
"false"then return true,false
end;return false,nil end;
srl.trim=function(a)local d=0;
local e=0;local f;for g=1,#a do
f=sub(a,g,g)if not(f==" "or f==
"\n")then if d==0 then d=g;e=g
else e=g end end end;return sub
(a,d,e)end;srl.tostr=function(h)
local a="{"local i=""for g,j in
pairs(h)do a=a..tostr(g).."="i=
type(j)if i=="number"then a=a..
tostr(j)elseif i=="string"then
a=a..j elseif i=="boolean"then
a=a..(j and"true"or"false")
elseif i=="table"then a=a..srl.
tostr(j)elseif i=="function"then
a=a.."(f)"else a=a.."(r)"end;a=a
..";"end;a=a.."}"return a end;
srl.fromstr=function(a,k)k=k or
1;local l={}local m=""local n=""
local o=false;local p=""local q=
""local r=srl.sts.open;local
g=1;while g<=#a do m=sub(a,g,g)
if r==srl.sts.open then if m==
srl.tok.open then r=srl.sts.key
end elseif r==srl.sts.key then
if m==srl.tok.close then return
l,g+k-1 elseif m==srl.tok.ass
then if#n>0 then n=srl.trim(n)
p=n;n=""r=srl.sts.value end
elseif m==srl.tok.st1 or m==srl.
tok.st2 then if#n>0 then n=n..m
end elseif m==" " or m==
"\n" or m=="\t" then if#n>0 then n=n
..m end else n=n..m end elseif
r==srl.sts.value then if m==srl.
tok.open then if#n==0 then l[p],
g=srl.fromstr(sub(a,g),g)end
elseif m==srl.tok.close then n=n
..m elseif m==srl.tok.ass then n
=n..m elseif m==srl.tok.st1 or m
==srl.tok.st2 then if#n>0 then q
=srl.trim(n)local s,t=srl.
strisnum(q)local u,v=srl.
strisbool(q)if s then q=t
elseif u then q=v end;n=""l[p]=
q end;r=srl.sts.key elseif m==
srl.tok.sp or m==srl.tok.nl then
if#n>0 then n=n..m end else n=n..
m end end;g=g+1 end;return l end
--------------------------------

Usage:
s = srl.tostr(t) :: Converts a table to a string
t = srl.fromstr(s) :: Converts a string back to a table.

Formatting and Differences:

Strings aren't quoted. The parser will trim any whitespace before and after.
Strings that look like numbers will always be turned to numbers.
Strings that look like booleans will always be turned to booleans.
The input string must have an opening and closing curly bracket.
You must include a comma or semicolon after every entry, including the last one.
- The exception to the rule is the very last closing bracket.
nil will be the string "nil" and not actual nil.
Keys are always strings.

Example:

{
  a = 10;
  b = 20;
  c = {
    d = 12.34;
    e = some string;
    f = false;
    g = { 
      h = true;
    };
  };
}

It's roughly 600 tokens, and could use further optimization.
But, it works! Now you can store game data in a string, which
costs only one token!

gb_fountain

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 02:08:09 UTC

gb_fountain

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

This is a little example of using layered sprites to create the illusion of liquids which adhere to each other.

If you happen to keep particles close to each other, the illusion becomes much more convincing. Below, I'm only setting the initial velocity of each new particle close together:

gb_fountain

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

Hellmod - A mod for Four Giga Boss Fights

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 15:36:51 UTC

gb_hellmod

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

This is "Hellmod" which is a heavily modified version of the cartridge Four Giga Boss Fights by Guerragames. This was just something I tinkered around with in my spare time. It's not 100% polished. The original game doesn't have a license, so I don't mind taking this down if he has a problem with it.

There's some notable changes from the original:

You can hold your angle by holding the Z button (O on consoles). Your speed is reduced significantly if your power meter is empty.
The power meter is now hidden and is instead indicated with the color of the bullets fired from your weapon.
You can 'overcharge' your power by not using any super bullets (holding X) in which your bullets will turn red and do additional damage for being patient.
"Ripping the wings" off of a boss by destroying all of its bullet/laser nodes before killing it will fill your power meter to max (not overcharged). This will also cause the angel to lose its will to live, and you can purge it in a single shot afterwards. This is more difficult with later stages.
The ships in the original game were replaced with fantasy weapons, and your hitbox has been changed to look like a little player character.
The music was removed and replaced with an eerie drone like sound to hammer in that feeling that you're fighting solo with a giant demonic angel.
The lives were changed to look like heart icons.
The bosses (angels) only have one set of colors now: red and black.
Bosses have way more health now, but now hitting their wings does a small amount of damage to them. They are stronger, but so are you.
Death is punishing, and you will lose all of your power when you die. So, try not to.

GB_CURLYGAME

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 08:25:38 UTC

gb_curlygame

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

Based on Rainbow Curve by Adekto

v5:

pressing down will only work once per item get
added sfx for safety turning (pressing down)

v4:

created speed option in menu (1x or 2x speed)

v3:

added palette swapping (O or X)
changed player sprite

v2:

changed number font
changed item got sprite

v1:

up key now toggles direction
down key cannot be repeated if held down

v0:

initial release

Father's Day 2022

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 12:56:09 UTC

gb_dadday_2022

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

edit 1: topleft cards were incorrect (changed to 8-7 pair)

music is Startropics (NES) - Town Theme

2022-05-08-MomDay2022

Sun, 08 May 2022 21:57:27 UTC

gb_momday_22

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

VER 0: Initial release
VER 1: Fixed shading under left M
VER 2: Date said 2020, changed to 2022

'A' Key No Longer Releases Playback Sample

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 16:02:06 UTC

It seems that I am no longer able to release a sustained note in playback in the SFX editor using the 'A' key. A colleague on the Discord server mentioned:

Packbat:
"Checking old versions on my hard drive, it releases the sample in 0.2.0i and doesn't in 0.2.4"

The functionality stopped for me a couple versions ago, personally.

Operating System: Linux Mint 19.3
PICO-8 Version: 0.2.4b

Is this a bug, or a revoked feature?
Thanks in advance.

Goober

Vampire Killer Theme

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 08:34:56 UTC

gb_vampkill

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

zelda1-dungeon-2021-10-17

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 12:03:20 UTC

zelda1_dungeon_2021_10_17

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

Zelda 1 Dungeon Theme

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 01:24:47 UTC

gb_zelda1_dng

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

Press X to add/remove the low health beeping sound which layers on top of one of the music channels. I have many memories of hearing it that way, so I added it in, haha.

Edit - This was created with respect to this post from earlier:
https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=98525#p

Cool Sonar Effect

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 13:55:43 UTC

Cool Sonar Effect

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

Procedural Fire Demo

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:13:47 UTC

procedural_fire

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

Chaining Functions Demo

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 13:48:05 UTC

ch_func_demo

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]

I was thinking of ways to decouple code flow from a standard procedural design and more towards what I call a chaining queue. Basically, the queue starts off with a single function. This function would then add itself with some modified parameters to the call queue via a table {func, args...}. This would closely resemble JavaScript's setTimeout() function.

This demo only uses a 1:1 call (it calls itself once, and that's it), meaning that the queue will never overfill.

I ended up making some really cool-looking color demo accidentally!

Sonic 2: Emerald Hill Zone

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 07:32:37 UTC

sonic2_emeraldhillzone_2

by MrGoober

[Click to Play]