Problem with JCS94

[Doubble Dutch]

Specifically the levels.

Even if I don't alter the level, saving it makes it bigger, rewrites some code with slightly longer code, and most importantly results in the sound not playing in my levels.

Has anyone else had this problem, and does anyone know what causes it?

[Violet CLM]

From what I can tell, JJ1 levels seem to be compressed in a variety of ways... some have weird text at the end, others don't, etc. J1CS is a rather incomplete program anyway, so results may not be perfect. Lack of sound is a new one by me.

[Bliss AKA Blink]

I think the only way to solve this is get rid of anything Jazz Jackrabbit related in your life. I know its hard but its the only way man

[Newspaz]

We never figured out all there was to the file format.

So, lots of stuff that might or may not be usefull can get lost. We were planning on doing a new version for last summer. But Ice M A N and Feline are too busy. And I still should learn to program properly ;)

[Violet CLM]

All I've really noticed is that any and all enemy bullets get lost when you save a level. That does get kind of annoying.

[Ice M A N]

I figure this summer I'll try to redo it.. (3 weeks and counting until I'm home)

Things I'll do differently:

a) document everything so when I fail someone else can give it a shot without reinventing the wheel
b) finish that tileset compiler first..
c) start the level editer as STRICTLY an editer of existing (working) levels and start with abilities I know I can get 100% right like tiles.. then events.. working my way to figuring out the sections which could cause problems like missing sounds??
d) ask more people if they want to help out? or take it over if they're so inclined?

Personally, I have no idea about the sound problem.. never heard of it before either, but whatever. But the opening and resaving screwing around with things doesn't surprise me. Some sections are probably hardcoded into the editor and overwrote the real data.. it's a very stupid way to do it, but I wasn't really involved in that (so I'm not actually sure that's what happens, but whatever)

[Doubble Dutch]

Maybe the problem has to do with my [interesting] soundcard settings, and I have noticed it only occurs in some levels, other problems are dissapearing enemy sprites, music going wonky and nonexistent events being marked as enemies or items. {I've located a simalar problem in tubeletric 2 which makes it appear that you can only collect 98% of the items.] Boss levels are a problem too, but by creative pasting of small parts of the level, almost complete editability is possible

think the only way to solve this is get rid of anything Jazz Jackrabbit related in your life. I know its hard but its the only way man

No! Tell me there's another way! Maybe you could amputate something!

[Violet CLM]

Boss levels are a problem too, but by creative pasting of small parts of the level, almost complete editability is possible
Oh, yeah, I forgot that detail. Boss levels use a somewhat different format from normal levels because they don't use the same BLOCKS.### as their LEVEL0.###. However, JCS'94 doesn't understand this and tries to save them as using the incorrect BLOCKS.### file. The only exception to this is the Megairbase boss, LEVEL0.020, which actually uses BLOCKS.020 and thus is editable, but if you edit the level you'll just mess the boss up.

[Feline]

The sound problem is actually quite a simple one. Sounds are referenced by keywords within the file format itself. Because we don't know how sounds are referenced, they are cut out when recompiling the level.

[Doubble Dutch]

Ah. I see. I will have to research this then. Any info you can give me?

[Feline]

Very little, I'm afraid. The original level files have actual blocks of "text" written in them towards the bottom (use a hex editor to find them). These blocks of text somehow reference the sounds and music.

[Doubble Dutch]

Hmmm, intersting. I can see some patterns here, but not eough to make anything work. I'll have to do more research into this.

BTW; the secret levels, they appear to be referenced from inside the normal levels, that is, when playing say diamondus 2, there is a variable in the level that says 'load level1.002 when going to secret level.' I found this when I somehow got it to make tubelectric 1 the 'secret' level, but can't seem to find it again.