Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!munnari.oz.au!metro!macuni!mqccsunc!ifarqhar From: ifarqhar@mqccsunc.mqcc.mq.oz.au (Ian Farquhar) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games Subject: Re: Question about graphics in Sierra games. Message-ID: <377@macuni.mqcc.mq.oz> Date: 8 Aug 90 11:20:46 GMT References: <22930004@hpmtlx.HP.COM> <367@macuni.mqcc.mq.oz> Sender: news@macuni.mqcc.mq.oz Organization: Macquarie University, Sydney Lines: 46 In article mcuddy@rutabaga.Rational.COM (Mike Cuddy) writes: > >As far as graphics are concerned, admittedly, they are not quite up to >par with say, psygnosis game, but they are designed for a lowest common >denomiator. (part of) the reason they are so slow changing screens >(i expect) is that the graphics are 'object' based (vs. bitmap based) so >each screen is 'drawn' while you're not looking; this saves alot of disk >space. as far as movin larry around, I don't know what there excuse is, >but all of the sierra games are pretty pokey with thier characters (watch >the animation slow down when there is something going on -- like the fountain) I find it highly unlikely that these were object oriented: they are just bitmaps being clipped against other bitmaps in a very inefficient fashion. Object oriented graphics are utilised to produce resolution independent images - LSL's are operating at much lower than the graphic mode's. Besides, it probably would not save disk space at all. Just sit down and work out the data for the Larry character, and you will soon see what I mean. If you read Sierra's blurb, you rather develop the impression that the company thinks very highly of its game programming skills. This view is also strengthenned by the (stunningly corny) conclusion of LSL III. This self-advertised view did not square with the garbage on the screen. Put simply I said this: a) The graphics are poor, even on EGA. I bought an Amiga to use it as an Amiga: not a slow PC clone. The actual artwork itself was also of poor quality, with some of the close-ups (eg. Patti sitting at the piano) being anatomically warped! b) Portability across platforms may be fine, but you program for the top (which folks, I am sad to say, is the Atari Lynx), and work downwards. If your PC versions does not look as good as the Amiga version, then that simply reflects the abilities of the hardware. c) The question system is juvenile and too american-oriented. How should I know what US TV show had the first flushing toilet? Why should I care? -- Ian Farquhar Phone : 61 2 805-7420 Office of Computing Services Fax : 61 2 805-7433 Macquarie University NSW 2109 Also : 61 2 805-7205 Australia EMail : ifarqhar@macuni.mqcc.mq.oz.au