Well, I compiled the most recently placed demo code by TH, and when it attempts to draw the screen, the program throws a windows error. Allegro 420b4, GCC v3.2.3 (Mingw).

I would debug it, but I'm kinda at a lost when it comes to operating GDB... I kinda suck at it.

That, and I can only run it thus far stepping (interestingly enough), not that it is horribly useful. (This debug version is compiled gcc -o AllegroDemoDebug.exe *.c -ggdb3 -lalld):

EDIT:

Well, I forgot about backtracing.

Here is the backtrace and a few lines before the crash (from GDB)

Yes, I realized that after running it. Sorry for the false alarm!

Readme.txt should be copied also in order to make the bottom scroller work.

In OS X Firefox I don't see that, but I do see some weirdness, as shown here. At first you might think if was one of those weirdo Microsoft GDI "not quite redrawn yet" errors, but OS X apps are double buffered so that isn't the case.

Oh dear - sounds like a fault where my code and Miran's meet. So one of the hardest order to fix. I'll do what I can!

Good suggestion, I'll look into it!

We definitely need sound effects for the skater. And one for when the exit door is opened.

EDIT: meant to say - I've just implemented gamepad controls so the thing is very very near complete from a uer's viewpoint now.

After successfully switching resolution, colour depth or update driver or whatever, two functions named unload_data() and load_data() are called so that all data is reloaded. This is required because bitmaps loaded in one colour depth won't work when this changes, or when a video memory double buffering driver is created/destroyed (because all video memory might become invalid). The solution is to put all bitmap and font loading and unloading in those two functions. That is after changing gfx options (when you select "apply" in the menus), all bitmap and font data should be destroyed and reloaded. Another thing that should be done is make sure bitmaps are loaded into video memory when the screen update driver uses video bitmaps (page flipping and triple buffering)...

Btw, that's all in global.h and global.c...

Hmm, you have a point there. Not difficult to change, just move one function call a few lines up....

Yes, in destroy_vcontroller(...) in vcontroller.h/c

Compiler: MS VCPP6, AllegroVersion 4.20 beta 4
I get lots of syntax errors(see below) but the lines that the error messages are referring to are obviously totally correct.
Any ideas? (attached is the project file)

Could that have sth. to do with it?

That's because it's a C99 `feature'.

Move them to the start.

The game itself looks awesome! Cool work, guys! I have some trouble controlling the character, but that's probably just me. Some comments on the game:

• the character looks a bit `jittery', I'm not sure how to explain, but while he's skating he seems to twitch his arm a lot because the game is flipping between two sprites rapidly.

• Am I supposed to fall through the arc over the gate at the end?

• I am unable to setup the controls for my gamepad in the menu, but maybe they aren't working yet?

• Along similar lines, it would be better if there were `default' key bindings so that I don't have to set my own before I can play. Left arrow, right arrow and space should do.

• The following warnings, showing up with gcc -W -Wall, need to be fixed:

• There are some C99-isms and //-style comments in the code. These need to be replaced.

• Find what you will about it, Allegro 4.2 still supports DOS. I know that `true' DOS isn't used much these days and so `long filenames' aren't much of an issue, but nevertheless, filenames should be no more than 8 characters in length (and all lowercase).

EDIT:

The mouse cursor should be hidden by default. Sounds like a bug in the OS X port to me...

It was hidden when I played the game. OSX 10.3.9

Hm, guess should run this through fortify, efence and valgrind I'll try later..

Exact same error I was getting. Put the readme.txt and the thanks.tx_ from the allegro distribution into the games root directory.

Thomas Harte: Here is a .zip with two potential sound effects. One is the door open sound (actually a sort of Zelda-style chime because I don't have a microphone cord long enough to reach my front door ) and another is a "skating" sound. The latter is little more than heavily processed pink noise, but I have no idea how else one would make a skateboard wheel sound without sampling a real-life one (again, my microphone doesn't reach the great outdoors). The skate noise should play, looped, whenever the character is touching the ground and moving, with volume proportional to the speed of the character (and perhaps a slight increase in pitch with speed, I don't know). See if it adds to the game or is just annoying.

BTW, on the topic of sound issues, I liked the "pop" noise for collecting goodies, but the other one seemed out of place. I forget if you're doing some "random pitch" effects with the pop noise (you know, your sound playing function that treats a negative argument for pitch as a random pitch variation), but in my opinion, that would work well for all goodies. Also, the ocean wave sounds were a bit too loud for my tastes, but that could just be me wanting to hear my own music.

[EDIT]
Oh, and -- when finishing a level (jumping to the open door or whatever) I'm often holding down the space bar, having set that to the jump key and having jumped to the door, and this causes the "win" screen to just scroll right on by. Since I'm holding the space bar. That could be fixed.

And... why does credits.c say:

      "Welcome to the Allegro demonstration game, by Miran Amon."
      SPLITTER
      "Race computer controlled drivers around various tracks to win the world championship trophy."

?

Oh, and please change Goodbytes in about_menu.c to Nick Davies.

Sorry for asking so much, I know you must be very busy and stressed to meet the deadline!