When it's ported to lower level calcs, will it still have grayscale? If you're saying that the LCD display won't allow it, you should notice that the ZCasino entry for Detacheds' contest did implement it.

I'm not really sure what the grayscale method used in ZCasino is, or whether it is practical for a program like Phoenix III. However, true grayscale in action games on the TI-82 was first accomplished quite a while ago; the beta version of Subhunt 2 by Sam Heald does this.

Unfortunately, due to the display controller, a large amount of CPU time must be used copying data to the display for grayscale to work on the TI-83+ and below. I have nonetheless been working on a version for the TI-83+ which does feature grayscale, and it seems to work, although there is some flicker. I will probably release it in about a day or two, after doing some more testing of it. The significantly higher CPU clock rate on the TI-83+ is able (somewhat) to make up for the lost CPU time, and right now it runs about the same speed as the TI-86 version.

Pat, is Phoenix III the same as Phoenix II for the TI-89?? Just wondering cause I'm confused.

Although Phoenix is a good game, Solar Striker 89 is better! It has more weapons and enemies than Phoenix and gfx is much more superior.
(please, don't say i'm trashing Phoenix, i'm not)

Maybe so, but Phoenix has more variety. It has more levels, more weapons.... I could go on.

Phoenix is a high-quality game and one of the best calculator games of all time.

I look forward to new games from Patrick Davidson. Just something for you to think about

i totally agree. until phoenix gets grayscale, solarstriker is the best space shoot em' up in grayscale for the 89.

Huh, I can not find the Phoenix II website anymore. Anyways, when it was up, I downloaded it and the graphics were much better than Phoenix, and I think even better than the now released Phoenix III, but the gameplay was almost exactly like Phoenix! The enemies did diddly squat, and the bosses did not even fire! New weapons were free, and running into enemies did not even hurt. I realize that this was just version 0.01, but it seems that Phoenix III has much more strategy in it, and even better upgrades, although all the graphics seem smaller than on the 89. This would seem to turn out to be a much better game than Phoenix II, but I would like to see both being updated so the 89 will have a grayscale Phoenix also.

The current situation also confuses me sometimes, but I will try to explain it.

First, there is "Phoenix II: Brutality" which was made by "NiZZy" which is based on a fairly recent version of Phoenix for the TI-89. The version of it on ticalc.org is essentially the same as my version of Phoenix except with the images replaced (much like Polux, Quest, PhxHappy, Star Wars, and Starfighter). However, the author has stated that he will make very large changes to the code and add lots of new stuff, and change the name to "Quantum: Brutality" (or somethink like that).

Then there is the other "Phoenix II" which is being programmed by me, with graphics by Jeff Chai. This is (more or less) the 68K equivalent of Phoenix III, and I had planned to release it quite a while ago. This program is completely rewritten in TI-GCC and is designed to be quite different from the original Phoenix. However, for a variety of reasons (none of which make any sense) the release of this has been delayed repeatedly.

At one point, a very early test version of the program was made available, and mentioned on TI-Net and TI-FR. This version did have grayscale, but its gameplay was similar to Phoenix, except with no shop and only half of the enemies implemented. Since then, the game has been changed quite a bit; the gameplay was completely redesigned (it is now much like Phoenix III) and a background was added.

None of the recent version have been distributed publicly, but some people have seen versions with the changes mentioned above. I can't really give any reasonable estimate on when it will be released.

Not to get off the subject or anything. But partick do you think you could make a really good Mario for TI-83+ There aren't any good ones.

(name it Phoenix 5556)

I certainly could some such game, though whether or not it is good is certainly a matter of opinion. There are several platform games alreay there (such as Sqrxz and Penguins) which many people think are good as they are now. When it comes to things specifically designed after Mario, Sam Heald has already released (at void.calc.org) a beta version of Super Mario 82 that seems good to me, which might at some time have an 83+ version also.

On the other hand, I actually have started working on a platform game for the Z80 calculators a while ago, although it is not being designed to closely resemble Mario or any other existing game. The name I'm currently using for it is "Volcano" although I am considering changing this. I can't really predict when it will be released.

The first sentence should say:

I certainly could make some such game, though whether or not it would be good is certainly a matter of opinion.

I have just now released the TI-83+ version of this game. It is now available on my web page, http://pad.calc.org/, and has been uploaded to the ticalc.org archive.

It does now have grayscale, though unfortunately it is not as steady as on the TI-86. The game functions essentially the same as the TI-86 version, except that less area is shown (for the obvious reason) and (at the request of several users) the speed of the player's ship has been doubled.

Theres only one thing about this kickass program I have a problem with... is the speed going to be increased or is it going to stay that slow? Otherwise, I cant wait to see the future versions of this program and cant wait to help it make it the #1 download :)

I second the motion... MAKE IT FASTER!!!!!! kickass game, but slow as nuts... I can't wait til it's updated. I would also like to state here and now that i am a total and complete Phoenix addict.

The current version of Phoenix III runs (on the TI-86) about 29 frames per second, which is the same as the regular Phoenix on the TI-86 in the intermediate speed option. Right now the CPU is idle enough that it could run up to about 45 frames per second, but I want to have it exactly sychronized with the grayscale frames, which prevents increasing the speed that high.

Of course, I suppose you were probably referring not to the frame rate, but instead to speed as the rate at which objects move across the screen. In the current TI-83+ version, I already doubled the ship's speed (so it is now the same as the horizontal speed in the original Phoenix), and I'll make the same change for the next release of the TI-86 version (which only requires changing the number 1 to 2 in 4 places in the player control code). Other things could be sped up as well, but this would might cause them to blur too much.

Wupptie Shit...

Crap you!

Will Phoenix III work for the TI-85 and will I see a playable demo for it soon???

does it work for the TI-89??? huh??

This is the z80 version

will it work on the TI-83+?!?!

The TI-86 version will not work on the TI-83+. However, the TI-83+ version, which I plan to release very soon, should work on the TI-83+.

It should, shouldn't it?

one would hope so