Creating Amiga games can be achieved through various tools such as Amos, Blitz Basic, RedPill, or Backbone. However, one standout engine frequently highlighted on Indie Retro News is Earok’s remarkable Scorpion Engine. This continually updated software empowers developers to craft visually stunning games that maintain solid frame rates, even on lower-spec Amiga models.
If you’re eager to develop the latest titles, like the impressive Castlevania AGA, Maria Renard’s Revenge, and Tiny Pixel Adventure, you’re in the right spot. Earok has announced that Scorpion Engine 2024.2 is now available not just for Amiga but also for the Sega Mega Drive and NEOGEO. Here’s an overview of the latest updates and features for each platform:
AMIGA:
- * “Trackdisk” export for Amiga enables NDOS disks with reduced memory usage and shorter loading times.
- * Enhanced visual editor for parallax effects.
- * CD32 NVRAM saving functionality.
- * Improved scrolling handling, especially with high bitplane counts and wide screens.
- * Better keyboard command support, particularly for multiple keypress/release events within a single frame.
MEGA DRIVE:
- * Significantly improved sprite pattern streaming.
- * New line scrolling options, featuring an “underwater” demo.
NEOGEO:
- * NeoGeo maps and actors can use up to 21 sprites, allowing for more parallax layers on each scanline.
- * Support for NeoGeo’s advanced auto-animation feature for level backgrounds.
- * Save cart functionality, in addition to support for NeoGeo CD’s internal save memory.
UNIVERSAL:
- * New sample games “Brixx” and “Snek” kindly contributed by Zooperdan!
- * Visual editing for platform jump arcs.
- * Enhancements for adding new lines to code blocks.
- * Various stability and performance improvements across all platforms.
- * High Score table sample game.
- * “Look Up Tables” can now be integrated using external text files, allowing real-time referencing of extensive data.
- * Major debugging enhancements, including initial support on Mega Drive and NeoGeo.
PERFORMANCE
- While the Scorpion Engine’s benchmark game isn’t a precise measurement, it provides a general idea of performance improvements across platforms:
- A500: 4%
- A1200: 6%
- A1200+Fast: 3%
- Mega Drive: 6%
- NeoGeo: 1%
For additional information, visit the following link: https://github.com/earok/scorpion-editor-demos
Original article by www.indieretronews.com
