UltrafontPC V1.0

Today, Arkanix Labs released Ultrafont V1.0.  UltrafontPC is an application for designing hires character sets for the C64. This Windows application is inspired by the C64 native Ultrafont by Charles Brannon.

This version is a follow up to UltrafontPC V0.9b, an application that I coded in PureBasic.

Changes since UltrafontPC V0.9b include:

Added
- Application window no longer limited to 1975x1124 (experimental)
- Status bar shows hex number of char and which charset is being edited
- Two charsets that can be in memory at same time, displayed at bottom of the main editor window
- Import of previously save charset images in PNG/JPG/BMP format
- Simple screen editor to allow typing test of custom charset/font, with various tools
- Screen editor can switch between U.S. and U.K. keymaps
- Slide up, down, left, right of entire charset without individual char wrap
- Preview of 1x2, 2x1, and 2x2 auto-created fonts in preview window
- Preview window of 1x2, 2x1, and 2x2 fonts can now remain open while editing
- If scanline emulation is selected from main menu, this carries over to auto-create preview window
- Brightness of char edit/preview windows selectable (high, medium, low) and state saved
- Flip char vertical / horizontal
- Status bar showing original ROM symbol and number of char being edited
- Dump charset as image to clipboard
- Both x86 and x64 versions available

Changed
- Image dumps now uses name of current file instead of hard-coded filename to avoid overwrites

Fixed
- Random crashes when exporting charset as PNG/JPG/BMP image
- Redo no longer crashes when at end of list
- changelog.txt file decodes and displays correctly in 'About' window change log panel

The application can be downloaded from CSDb here...

It can also be downloaded from this blog directly using the following links:

UltrafontPC V1.0 x86 Installer (.exe)
UltrafontPC V1.0 x64 Installer (.exe)
UltrafontPC V1.0 No-Installer (.zip)

MD201703 - The Bat-Tro

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na, BATMAN!!!

Cosine has released 'MD201703' otherwise know as 'The Bat-Tro'.  This one file C64 demo features my cover of the music from the first level of Batman on the SEGA Megadrive, Gotham City Street.

T.M.R explains the existence of the demo:

"After the Batman Group uploaded to the C64 Scene Database a series of wired images from their productions on other platforms, T.M.R was inspired to spend a little time producing a version of the Batman logo in high resolution bitmap. Once it was finished, the idea of making it into an instalment of the Monthly Demo popped up so a scrolling message was added from a prototype with a newly drawn Art Deco character set and aNdy was unceremoniously dragged into the fray to produce the music."

At my request, on the Cosine website T.M.R goes onto explain the slight rough edges to the music and instruments in the tune... I was given a *very* short period of time to complete it!  I didn't have time to spend my customary fortnight just tweaking waveform settings!

The demo can be downloaded from CSDb here or from the Cosine website here...

By downloading directly from this blog, you'll get the demo itself, along with the music SID file and the SNG file that will load into Goattracker so you can see the rough edges for yourself as the notes fly past.  Grab those files here...

If you are so inclined, you can watch and listen to the demo on YouTube.  Hopefully the player appears below, if not click here...