[Ohrrpgce] mouse graphics cursor idea

[Bob the Hamster]

On Fri, May 27, 2005 at 11:10:53PM -0400, Mike Caron wrote:
> I'm not sure if you got my other email, but I included it here:
> 
> > Now that the mouse commands are implemented, everyone's happy, wars
> > have ended, etc. However, they are a bit lacking in a couple ways.
> > (Note: I am not criticising without base, as I am also proposing
> > solutions)
> > 
> > First off, the mouse can only be used on the main map. That's all well
> > and good, except it can't be used with any built in menus, as it
> > requires an NPC for a cursor:
> > 
> > "The main downside I see is that it cannot be used on game and battle
> > menus. Maybe for the next version you could do something about that?"
> > (Fernurion, http://castleparadox.com/ohr/viewtopic.php?t=3491&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30)
> > 
> > So, I was thinking that we (or, likely I) should implement a feature
> > to set a walkabout (or some such graphic, maybe a new type that's
> > smaller, or something) as the cursor, and have an optional mode to
> > have Game.exe draw the cursor. Then the menu code could be
> > retro-fitted to recognize mouse commands.
> > 
> > I'm just throwing out ideas on the table, and if anyone has anything
> > to add, please say it!
> 
> I'm not sure how useful it would be to use a character from the font
> as the cursor. On the one hand, it's approximately the right size for
> a small cursor, on the other, it's inherently monocromatic.
> Personally, I still think a new sprite type would be in order. Maybe a
> 10x10 sprite, which would require 50 bytes of video memory. I don't
> know if we can spare that (James?), but I suspect it'll fit. Or else,
> we could use 8x8, and only use 32 bytes of memory. :)

There are a few small chunks of video memory that are free. The OHR's 
Mode-X is divided into four screen pages: 0,1,2,3 And they all get used 
pretty thouroughly. However, there is actually a little bit of space 
*between* them. Imagine that the four screens are layed out one above 
the other, with 0 at the top and 3 at the bottom. There are a few lines 
after each one, which you can access by using storeset and loadset to a 
line >= 200

I do not remember exactly how many spare lines are available after each 
screen page, but it would not be hard to find out

I also do not remember if I already use that extra space already 
anywhere... I might have hacked it in somewhere.

---
Bob the Hamster