MicroCosm Report Jan 8 1986 - Revision history

Stu: Fixed a broken link to the December 1985 MicroCosm Report.

2023-06-01T15:30:49Z

Fixed a broken link to the December 1985 MicroCosm Report.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:30, 1 June 2023
Line 21:		Line 21:

	With the cel editor finished, Aric has started work on the MicroCosm animation driver. Starting with		With the cel editor finished, Aric has started work on the MicroCosm animation driver. Starting with
	the basic routines created by Charlie Kellner ([[~~MicroCosmReportDec51985~~\|see previous month’s report for details]]), he has begun the		the basic routines created by Charlie Kellner ([[MicroCosm_Report_Dec_5_1985\|see previous month’s report for details]]), he has begun the
	skeleton around which all MicroCosm graphics will hang. We hit one snag in this area, in that the original		skeleton around which all MicroCosm graphics will hang. We hit one snag in this area, in that the original
	method that we intended to use for rendering animation proved to be too slow when a large number of animated characters were placed on the screen at one time. Six to eight avatar-sized figures brought the frame		method that we intended to use for rendering animation proved to be too slow when a large number of animated characters were placed on the screen at one time. Six to eight avatar-sized figures brought the frame

Stu at 20:32, 21 March 2021

2021-03-21T20:32:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:32, 21 March 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''MicroCosm™ Report'''		<div style='text-align: center;'>'''MicroCosm™ Report'''

	'''January 8, 1986'''		'''January 8, 1986'''
Line 6:		Line 6:

	Chip Morningstar		Chip Morningstar
	Lucasfilm Ltd. Games Division		Lucasfilm Ltd. Games Division</div>

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

Stu: Stu moved page MicroCosmReportJan81986 to MicroCosm Report Jan 8 1986 without leaving a redirect

2021-03-19T21:04:37Z

Stu moved page MicroCosmReportJan81986 to MicroCosm Report Jan 8 1986 without leaving a redirect

← Older revision	Revision as of 21:04, 19 March 2021
(No difference)

Stu at 22:04, 17 March 2021

2021-03-17T22:04:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:04, 17 March 2021
Line 21:		Line 21:

	With the cel editor finished, Aric has started work on the MicroCosm animation driver. Starting with		With the cel editor finished, Aric has started work on the MicroCosm animation driver. Starting with
	the basic routines created by Charlie Kellner (see previous month’s report for details), he has begun the		the basic routines created by Charlie Kellner ([[MicroCosmReportDec51985\|see previous month’s report for details]]), he has begun the
	skeleton around which all MicroCosm graphics will hang. We hit one snag in this area, in that the original		skeleton around which all MicroCosm graphics will hang. We hit one snag in this area, in that the original
	method that we intended to use for rendering animation proved to be too slow when a large number of animated characters were placed on the screen at one time. Six to eight avatar-sized figures brought the frame		method that we intended to use for rendering animation proved to be too slow when a large number of animated characters were placed on the screen at one time. Six to eight avatar-sized figures brought the frame

Stu at 22:03, 17 March 2021

2021-03-17T22:03:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:03, 17 March 2021
Line 33:		Line 33:

	Randy Farmer is now working on the communications software. We have received Quantum’s QLink communications protocol software and are now in the process of integrating this with our own system.		Randy Farmer is now working on the communications software. We have received Quantum’s QLink communications protocol software and are now in the process of integrating this with our own system.
	This includes translating the source into the format required by our proprietary assembler, ~~MacrossTM~~, and		This includes translating the source into the format required by our proprietary assembler, Macross™, and
	linking it together with the beginnings of the MicroCosm message handling software. Also, one unexpected problem has developed in this area. We had not realized that the Q-Link software used the Commodore 64’s own ROM kernel to handle the RS232 interface to the modem. Since we wish to bank out the		linking it together with the beginnings of the MicroCosm message handling software. Also, one unexpected problem has developed in this area. We had not realized that the Q-Link software used the Commodore 64’s own ROM kernel to handle the RS232 interface to the modem. Since we wish to bank out the
	Commodore ROM to recover the extra memory space which it occupies, we must now write our own interrupt-driven RS232 routines. Randy has begun work on this and seems to be having few difficulties. In		Commodore ROM to recover the extra memory space which it occupies, we must now write our own interrupt-driven RS232 routines. Randy has begun work on this and seems to be having few difficulties. In

Stu at 22:02, 17 March 2021

2021-03-17T22:02:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:02, 17 March 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''~~MicroCosmTM~~ Report'''		'''MicroCosm™ Report'''

	'''January 8, 1986'''		'''January 8, 1986'''
Line 9:		Line 9:

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==
	This is the second in a series of monthly reports detailing the progress on the MicroCosm project at		This is the second in a series of monthly reports detailing the progress on the '''MicroCosm''' project at
	Lucasfilm. This report describes events and achievements during the month of December, 1985.		Lucasfilm. This report describes events and achievements during the month of December, 1985.

Line 28:		Line 28:

	Randy Farmer has finished the basic components of the player interface. We know have a working		Randy Farmer has finished the basic components of the player interface. We know have a working
	Balloon-O-~~MaticTM~~ text display system, keyboard and joystick input handling routines, and working cursor		Balloon-O-Matic™ text display system, keyboard and joystick input handling routines, and working cursor
	and action-menu sprites. The only component of the player interface now missing are the routines which		and action-menu sprites. The only component of the player interface now missing are the routines which
	determine what object on the screen the cursor is pointing at. For efficiency, these will be part of the animation engine and so must wait until that is further along.		determine what object on the screen the cursor is pointing at. For efficiency, these will be part of the animation engine and so must wait until that is further along.

Stu at 22:01, 17 March 2021

2021-03-17T22:01:43Z

Stu: Created page with "'''MicroCosmTM Report''' '''January 8, 1986''' ''‘‘Because we thought you’d want to know’’'' Chip Morningstar Lucasfilm Ltd. Games Division ==Introduction== This..."

2021-03-17T21:58:16Z

Created page with "'''MicroCosmTM Report''' '''January 8, 1986''' ''‘‘Because we thought you’d want to know’’'' Chip Morningstar Lucasfilm Ltd. Games Division ==Introduction== This..."

New page

'''MicroCosmTM Report'''

'''January 8, 1986'''

''‘‘Because we thought you’d want to know’’''

Chip Morningstar
Lucasfilm Ltd. Games Division

==Introduction==
This is the second in a series of monthly reports detailing the progress on the MicroCosm project at
Lucasfilm. This report describes events and achievements during the month of December, 1985.

==Work In Progress/Tasks Accomplished==
We met our December 15 milestones and delivered as planned.
Aric Wilmunder finished the revisions to GRACE, our animation cel editor. Using this editor, our animator, Gary Winnick, has begun work on the avatar. We jointly arrived at a specification for the required
animation (a list of the motions and postures that will be required). From this he has started designing the
precise set of cels that will, in various combinations, realize the spec. The first look at this indicates that it
may require fewer cels (and therefore less storage) that originally anticipated.
With the cel editor finished, Aric has started work on the MicroCosm animation driver. Starting with
the basic routines created by Charlie Kellner (see previous month’s report for details), he has begun the
skeleton around which all MicroCosm graphics will hang. We hit one snag in this area, in that the original
method that we intended to use for rendering animation proved to be too slow when a large number of animated characters were placed on the screen at one time. Six to eight avatar-sized figures brought the frame
rate down to 2-3 frames per second, which we find unacceptable. After some thought we regrouped and
have started over with a different animation process (though one which results in visually similar animation) that is two to four times faster. This seems to be working well.
Randy Farmer has finished the basic components of the player interface. We know have a working
Balloon-O-MaticTM text display system, keyboard and joystick input handling routines, and working cursor
and action-menu sprites. The only component of the player interface now missing are the routines which
determine what object on the screen the cursor is pointing at. For efficiency, these will be part of the animation engine and so must wait until that is further along.
Randy Farmer is now working on the communications software. We have received Quantum’s QLink communications protocol software and are now in the process of integrating this with our own system.
This includes translating the source into the format required by our proprietary assembler, MacrossTM, and
linking it together with the beginnings of the MicroCosm message handling software. Also, one unexpected problem has developed in this area. We had not realized that the Q-Link software used the Commodore 64’s own ROM kernel to handle the RS232 interface to the modem. Since we wish to bank out the
Commodore ROM to recover the extra memory space which it occupies, we must now write our own interrupt-driven RS232 routines. Randy has begun work on this and seems to be having few difficulties. In
spite of this problem, we anticipate being able to establish data communications between our system-underdevelopment and the Q-Link host in time to meet the January 15 deadline.
I have drafted a preliminary object set design document which lays out the set of basic objects we
will be implementing as part of the MicroCosm fantasy world. We held a full-Division brainstorming
meeting to discuss the object set and the fantasy itself. Lots of good ideas and criticisms were generated at
this meeting and these are now being incorporated into the formal design.

I also drafted a set of guidelines for the design and layout of the world itself, circulated this among
the Division members, and held yet another design meeting in which we generated a very rough preliminary world map. This map is likely to evolve beyond recognition as we develop the world, but it at least
provides us with a starting point for such development.

==Tasks For January==
During January we plan to finish the communications software and polish the object set design. Both
of these will be done by the middle of the month in order to meet our January deliverables requirements. In
addition, we intend to continue work on the avatar animation and begin artwork for the objects themselves.
We will also start work on the home-system object database software.
We are on target for our January 15 milestones. We expect to deliver as planned.

==Quantum Comments==
Mid-month we received the Q-Link communications software source code as we had requested. We
are about at the point where we will need access to the Quantum host development system to work on the
object definitions that will go in the host database. During early January we will meet with Marc Seriff and
Janet Hunter to discuss the technical specifics of the host database processor so that they can begin work on
it.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:01, 17 March 2021
Line 14:		Line 14:
	==Work In Progress/Tasks Accomplished==		==Work In Progress/Tasks Accomplished==
	We met our December 15 milestones and delivered as planned.		We met our December 15 milestones and delivered as planned.

	Aric Wilmunder finished the revisions to GRACE, our animation cel editor. Using this editor, our animator, Gary Winnick, has begun work on the avatar. We jointly arrived at a specification for the required		Aric Wilmunder finished the revisions to GRACE, our animation cel editor. Using this editor, our animator, Gary Winnick, has begun work on the avatar. We jointly arrived at a specification for the required
	animation (a list of the motions and postures that will be required). From this he has started designing the		animation (a list of the motions and postures that will be required). From this he has started designing the
	precise set of cels that will, in various combinations, realize the spec. The first look at this indicates that it		precise set of cels that will, in various combinations, realize the spec. The first look at this indicates that it
	may require fewer cels (and therefore less storage) that originally anticipated.		may require fewer cels (and therefore less storage) that originally anticipated.

	With the cel editor finished, Aric has started work on the MicroCosm animation driver. Starting with		With the cel editor finished, Aric has started work on the MicroCosm animation driver. Starting with
	the basic routines created by Charlie Kellner (see previous month’s report for details), he has begun the		the basic routines created by Charlie Kellner (see previous month’s report for details), he has begun the
Line 24:		Line 26:
	rate down to 2-3 frames per second, which we find unacceptable. After some thought we regrouped and		rate down to 2-3 frames per second, which we find unacceptable. After some thought we regrouped and
	have started over with a different animation process (though one which results in visually similar animation) that is two to four times faster. This seems to be working well.		have started over with a different animation process (though one which results in visually similar animation) that is two to four times faster. This seems to be working well.

	Randy Farmer has finished the basic components of the player interface. We know have a working		Randy Farmer has finished the basic components of the player interface. We know have a working
	Balloon-O-MaticTM text display system, keyboard and joystick input handling routines, and working cursor		Balloon-O-MaticTM text display system, keyboard and joystick input handling routines, and working cursor
	and action-menu sprites. The only component of the player interface now missing are the routines which		and action-menu sprites. The only component of the player interface now missing are the routines which
	determine what object on the screen the cursor is pointing at. For efficiency, these will be part of the animation engine and so must wait until that is further along.		determine what object on the screen the cursor is pointing at. For efficiency, these will be part of the animation engine and so must wait until that is further along.

	Randy Farmer is now working on the communications software. We have received Quantum’s QLink communications protocol software and are now in the process of integrating this with our own system.		Randy Farmer is now working on the communications software. We have received Quantum’s QLink communications protocol software and are now in the process of integrating this with our own system.
	This includes translating the source into the format required by our proprietary assembler, MacrossTM, and		This includes translating the source into the format required by our proprietary assembler, MacrossTM, and
Line 33:		Line 37:
	Commodore ROM to recover the extra memory space which it occupies, we must now write our own interrupt-driven RS232 routines. Randy has begun work on this and seems to be having few difficulties. In		Commodore ROM to recover the extra memory space which it occupies, we must now write our own interrupt-driven RS232 routines. Randy has begun work on this and seems to be having few difficulties. In
	spite of this problem, we anticipate being able to establish data communications between our system-underdevelopment and the Q-Link host in time to meet the January 15 deadline.		spite of this problem, we anticipate being able to establish data communications between our system-underdevelopment and the Q-Link host in time to meet the January 15 deadline.

	I have drafted a preliminary object set design document which lays out the set of basic objects we		I have drafted a preliminary object set design document which lays out the set of basic objects we
	will be implementing as part of the MicroCosm fantasy world. We held a full-Division brainstorming		will be implementing as part of the MicroCosm fantasy world. We held a full-Division brainstorming
Line 47:		Line 52:
	addition, we intend to continue work on the avatar animation and begin artwork for the objects themselves.		addition, we intend to continue work on the avatar animation and begin artwork for the objects themselves.
	We will also start work on the home-system object database software.		We will also start work on the home-system object database software.

	We are on target for our January 15 milestones. We expect to deliver as planned.		We are on target for our January 15 milestones. We expect to deliver as planned.