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Updated Colour Dizzy Sprites for Older Fan Games

Started by Mataeus on 20 September 2022 • 1,510 views

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#90252

Hi everyone!

Some of the older DizzyAge games (like Jamie Douglas' first few games, for example) use the traditional 8-bit Dizzy sprite, with just two colours (black and white). A lot of the later ones were updated to use the colour version of the sprites: The ones which match exactly the 8-bit style, but where Dizzy has his proper red boots and gloves, as seen in - for example - Lord Dizzy's games such as Swampland Dizzy.

As a PERSONAL PREFERENCE to continuity I've just unpacked Railroad Dizzy (Jamie Douglas, 2007/2008), replaced the black and white Dizzy sprites with the coloured ones, and repacked it.

I haven't changed ANYTHING ELSE within the game files. It's literally the same game, but now it has aesthetic continuity with his later ones when it comes to Dizzy's sprites.

I haven't removed anything from the game, either: The original game's PAK file has been renamed dizzy.BAK.pak, so the change can be easily reverted by deleting my new version and removing the ".BAK" part of the name of the old one.

I could do the same with the other Yolkfolk / character tiles, but I haven't as of yet; just Dizzy.

Bearing all of this in mind, I have a few questions:

To save like-minded people from doing the same thing, would it be possible to upload these to the site somehow?

Speaking morally, can we get permission from the game authors if the above is a possibility? (I wouldn't want to do it without, of course)

Am I the only person interested in this?

How do game authors feel about this? I'm not trying to tread on anyone's toes!

Games repacked so far:

Jamie Douglas:
Diamond Mine Dizzy
Dreamworld Dizzy
Magic Star Dizzy
Railroad Dizzy
Treasure Tomb Dizzy

Screenshot comparison, using Railroad Dizzy:

 

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#90253

Hi.

I think it was Peter who introduced the coloured sprites for his remakes.

It's an interesting idea you have, but you will most definitely need the authors' consent first before going ahead with a minor mod like coloured sprites.
But the only problem with that is that most of the games authors haven't been on here for years, especially since we switched forums again last year.

Looking through the list, besides Jamie (now @paperballpark ), you'll also need consent from people like @xelanoimis , @colin , @meph , @humbert , @huckleberry and @inkyno - (This new forum has a feature where anyone you @ on a new post may receive a E-mail notification about this post - my apologies to those I've tagged {yolkfolk}:redfaced: - assuming the E-mail addresses their accounts are linked to still exist.)

But the bottom line is though, if anybody I've mentioned says 'yes its OK', then you can send them to my E-mail.
Otherwise, I'd respect any thoughts or opinions they may have and leave the games in question as they are.

Personally, I can't fully imagine this would go down too well, whether with attracting attention or none at all.

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#90254

Hi both. Yes, tagging someone sends them an email! Hence me getting this :)

The games I remember playing when young are the Spectrum games, which had the white gloves and boots.

My games were therefore a conscious decision to recreate the white boots and gloves. Had I wanted my games to have red gloves and boots, I could have quite easily made them so.

Therefore I'm afraid I don't consent to modified versions of my games being put into circulation. Clearly you can change your copies of my games for your own enjoyment, but I don't wish these to be circulated as they're not how I intended the games to be. Thanks! :)

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#90258

I doubt the games i put together are good enough to worry about,  i can't even remember which version of Dizzy used but i always prefer the red boots and gloves (proper Dizzy) 

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#90260

Don't put yourself down Phil, I always liked your games, especially The Evil Wizard Zaks ... still waiting for The Crystal Maze :lol: .

Likewise Jamie being too busy (or too old {eggs2}:granddizzy: ) to produce the final chapter of The Lord of Darkness.

I always thought that Colin produced a set of coloured Sprites of all the Yolkfolk characters for anyone to use. so that's what I originally used, but then again I didn't start making yolkfolk games until 2009.

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#90261

Hey, for me, I used the b&w sprites in the first short games Dizzy and the Mushrooms Pie (Alex), Dizzy and the Healing Potion (Cristina). In Dizzy and the Other Side (Alex) I used the colored ones since they become "standard"/people's choice at one point.

However I don't think it's a good idea for someone to edit someone else's games and re-upload them, as it may be a matter of preference, staying true to the original release, but also a risk of breaking things in their game. It's best to have the author do it, if they are interested in the change.

It's good that you have asked for permission, since some of these authors are not around, and it wouldn't be fair to change their games without them being involved, confirming the game's full functionality, etc.

Personally I wouldn't update my 2 games that use b&w. 

If this preference is a thing for many players, a better choice would be the option to select this in the game's menus. Also this can be extended to a much larger scale, like an option to select preferred graphics platform specific (Z80, Amiga, etc.) like some remakes of old adventure games did. Again, an author choice for implementing this.

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#90262

I've had a quick check on the engine, and unfortunately it doesn't support another pak as a patch/upgrade to make it available easy.  It's just the dizzy.pak. Repacking as you did (with the changed tiles) is the best solution for now, if someone wants to switch to the colored version.

So, if you like the colored version more, and do some pak versions for you, these may be made available somewhere and eventually linked on the games pages for other players that would prefer them. Or if the authors get to check them, and feel they are good upgrades, they may chose to go for it and upgrade the official version.

For consistency, keep in mind that there may be other custom characters in the game, beside dizzy and the standard yolkfolk guys, and the authors may feel like they all should be upgraded to match the looks.

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#90263

[quote data-userid="17" data-postid="90261"]

Hey, for me, I used the b&w sprites in the first short games Dizzy and the Mushrooms Pie (Alex), Dizzy and the Healing Potion (Cristina). In Dizzy and the Other Side (Alex) I used the colored ones since they become “standard”/people’s choice at one point.

However I don’t think it’s a good idea for someone to edit someone else’s games and re-upload them, as it may be a matter of preference, staying true to the original release, but also a risk of breaking things in their game. It’s best to have the author do it, if they are interested in the change.

It’s good that you have asked for permission, since some of these authors are not around, and it wouldn’t be fair to change their games without them being involved, confirming the game’s full functionality, etc.

Personally I wouldn’t update my 2 games that use b&w. 

If this preference is a thing for many players, a better choice would be the option to select this in the game’s menus. Also this can be extended to a much larger scale, like an option to select preferred graphics platform specific (Z80, Amiga, etc.) like some remakes of old adventure games did. Again, an author choice for implementing this.

[/quote]

Hi Alex!
 
Thank you for the feedback. It seems like most people are against the changes, and authors would prefer to keep their games as their original vision - and rightly so, which is why I spent the time putting together my original post.
 
I have no intention of uploading the 'modded' versions anywhere if the authors aren't into them :smile:  

[quote data-userid="3363" data-postid="90254"]

Hi both. Yes, tagging someone sends them an email! Hence me getting this 🙂

The games I remember playing when young are the Spectrum games, which had the white gloves and boots.

My games were therefore a conscious decision to recreate the white boots and gloves. Had I wanted my games to have red gloves and boots, I could have quite easily made them so.

Therefore I’m afraid I don’t consent to modified versions of my games being put into circulation. Clearly you can change your copies of my games for your own enjoyment, but I don’t wish these to be circulated as they’re not how I intended the games to be. Thanks! 🙂

[/quote]

Hi Jamie!

Of course, I understand completely. I grew up playing them all on the C64 which used the same sprite, but I prefer the coloured one is all.

As an aside, I'd just like to say you were a HUGE inspiration for me when it comes to Dizzy. I love the games you made so much, and still play them now. I feel rather overwhelmed with affection to see you checking in on here :cool:  

[quote data-userid="3" data-postid="90253"]

Hi.

I think it was Peter who introduced the coloured sprites for his remakes.

It’s an interesting idea you have, but you will most definitely need the authors’ consent first before going ahead with a minor mod like coloured sprites.

Personally, I can’t fully imagine this would go down too well, whether with attracting attention or none at all.

[/quote]

Hi Adam!

Thank you for the response. I only made the modded /pak files for myself - it was mostly curiosity to see if it was something which other people may have been interested in.

It seems that, by and large, they're not - so that's understood loud and clear :tup:

It's so nice to hear from you all, by the way. I'm currently developing an RPG, so if anyone is interesting in playing an early demo, let me know and I'll send you the link.

Cheers all!

~Mat

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#90265

@grandad im afraid all the Crystal Maze code is on my old computer,  it's possible to hook it all up and retrieve it all, i had spent so much time on what little i had done,   even today ideas for rooms pop into my head and i write them down.. just in case.

Always wanted to make one last game, maybe putting those crystal maze puzzles into a different game, sadly i don't have the time, wished i had done something during those lockdowns.   All i do these days is work and sleep while dealing with home life s**t.    Anyway Dizzy is still cool. 


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#90266

Cheers Phil, maybe one day then {eggs2}:pcgame:  

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#90269

[quote data-userid="94" data-postid="90263"]

It’s so nice to hear from you all, by the way. I’m currently developing an RPG, so if anyone is interesting in playing an early demo, let me know and I’ll send you the link.

[/quote]

Likewise! {eggs2}:cuppa:  

I'm certainly interested in this RPG game you're working on, I'm guessing its Dizzy related? :yes:  

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