PlayBasic Retail Upgrade Announcements

[kevin]

  BETA #15 ROUND UP

  Play Basic V1.63w BETA 15 (Retail Compiler Only Beta) - (Avail for Registered Users ONLY)
    PB V1.63w15 is a re-engineered beta of PBV1.63 retail update.    This version extends the destination blending support.  Allowing 16bit modes to be blended with Alpha50 and Alpha Addition.

   * Supported Texel processing modes

          64 = Fade       
       1024 = Colour Flash
       2048 = Colour Alpha (variable cross fade sprite with colour)
       4096 = Colour Alpha ADD
       8192 = Colour Alpha SUB
      16384 = Colour Replace
      65536 = Colour Mask Logical AND
     131072= Colour Mask Logical OR


   * Supported output modes   
       04 = AlphaMode. (Variable Alpha Blends the sprite image)  (32bit only in this beta)
       08 = AlphaBlend 50/50    (16 + 32bit supported)
      16 = Alpha Addition          (16 + 32bit supported)
      32 = ALpha Subtraction    (32bit only )


   As well as

    * Base Colour (Sprite Tint)
    * optional Filtering
    * Alpha Channel     


  The Following modes are NO longer supported.

   * NOT Supported Texel processing modes
         128 = Gouraud Fade
         256 = RGB Gouraud 50/50 Alpha Blend
         512 = RGB Gouraud Alpha Addition
      32768 = Raster Bar Colour Replace


   This version is about 90% complete,  from here's it's just tweaking the interface then rolling out 16bit / 24bit editions of the output methods..  I strongly recommend testing your programs in this edition.   If your program doesn't work in this, then it won't work in the update..





Play Basic V1.63w BETA 15c (Retail Compiler Only Beta) - (Avail for Registered Users ONLY)
    PB V1.63w15c is a re-engineered beta of PBV1.63 retail update.    This version includes destination blending support for 16bit & 32bit pixel modes.
  Allowing, Alpha Blend Variable,  Alpha50, Alpha ADDition, Alpha Subtraction and of course Solid.


   * Supported Texel processing modes

          64 = Fade       
       1024 = Colour Flash
       2048 = Colour Alpha (variable cross fade sprite with colour)
       4096 = Colour Alpha ADD
       8192 = Colour Alpha SUB
      16384 = Colour Replace
      65536 = Colour Mask Logical AND
     131072= Colour Mask Logical OR


   * Supported output modes   
       04 = Alpha Blend.           (Variable Alpha Blends the sprite image)  (16+ 32bit only in this beta)
       08 = AlphaBlend 50/50     (16 + 32bit supported)
       16 = Alpha Addition         (16 + 32bit supported)
       32 = ALpha Subtraction   (16 +32bit modes supported )


   As well as

    * Base Colour (Sprite Tint)
    * optional Filtering
    * Alpha Channel     


  The Following modes are NO longer supported.

   * NOT Supported Texel processing modes
         128 = Gouraud Fade
         256 = RGB Gouraud 50/50 Alpha Blend
         512 = RGB Gouraud Alpha Addition
      32768 = Raster Bar Colour Replace


   This version is about 90% complete,  from here's it's just tweaking the interface then rolling out 24bit editions of the output methods..  I strongly recommend testing your programs in this edition.   If your program doesn't work in this, then it won't work in the update..



  Download
   DELETED ->  Newer version bellow




WIP Gallery
 PlayBasic V1.63  WIP Gallery

[kevin]

Release Candidate Beta Testing


Play Basic V1.63w BETA 16  Release Candidate #1
    PB V1.63w16rc1 is a re-engineered beta of PBV1.63 retail update.    This version includes all the new functionality.  Now it needs field testing..


   * Supported Texel processing modes

          64 = Fade       
       1024 = Colour Flash
       2048 = Colour Alpha (variable cross fade sprite with colour)
       4096 = Colour Alpha ADD
       8192 = Colour Alpha SUB
      16384 = Colour Replace
      65536 = Colour Mask Logical AND
     131072= Colour Mask Logical OR


   * Supported output modes   
       04 = Alpha Blend.           (Variable Alpha Blends the sprite image)  (15, 16, 24+ 32bit supported)
       08 = AlphaBlend 50/50     (15, 16, 24 + 32bit supported)
       16 = Alpha Addition         (15, 16, 24 + 32bit supported)
       32 = ALpha Subtraction   (15, 16, 24 +32bit supported )


   As well as

    * Base Colour (Sprite Tint)
    * optional Filtering
    * Alpha Channel     


  The Following modes are NO longer supported.

   * NOT Supported Texel processing modes
         128 = Gouraud Fade
         256 = RGB Gouraud 50/50 Alpha Blend
         512 = RGB Gouraud Alpha Addition
      32768 = Raster Bar Colour Replace




Play Basic V1.63w BETA 16  Release Candidate #2 (Retail Compiler Only Beta) - (Avail for Registered Users ONLY)
    PB V1.63w16rc2 is a re-engineered beta of PBV1.63 retail update.    This update restores the Gouraud combination modes in the sprite texture mapper.   It's been necessary to change how the Gouraud FADE mode works,  but only slightly (See note bellow).   Moreover there's a new pair of commands that allow some extra control over the triangulation of a sprite.  By default the PB1.63 gfx engine render quads, always has.  However with gouraud combination modes Triangles can sometimes look better (since the colours can spill over the quad at certain orientations).  To enable it set, SpriteTriangulated to TRUE.
 
   This version now includes all the new functionality.  Now it needs field testing..


   * Supported Texel processing modes

          64 = Fade       
         128 = Gouraud Fade    (NOTE: Use SpriteImageRGB to control the intensity at each vertex,  SpriteImageIntensity is obsolete)
         256 = RGB Gouraud 50/50 Alpha Blend
         512 = RGB Gouraud Alpha Addition
       1024 = Colour Flash
       2048 = Colour Alpha (variable cross fade sprite with colour)
       4096 = Colour Alpha ADD
       8192 = Colour Alpha SUB
      16384 = Colour Replace
      65536 = Colour Mask Logical AND
     131072= Colour Mask Logical OR


   * Supported output modes   
       04 = Alpha Blend.           (Variable Alpha Blends the sprite image)  (15, 16, 24+ 32bit supported)
       08 = AlphaBlend 50/50     (15, 16, 24 + 32bit supported)
       16 = Alpha Addition         (15, 16, 24 + 32bit supported)
       32 = ALpha Subtraction   (15, 16, 24 +32bit supported )


   As well as

    * Base Colour (Sprite Tint)
    * optional Filtering
    * Alpha Channel     


     The Following modes are NO longer supported.

   * OBSOLETTE Texel processing modes
      32768 = Raster Bar Colour Replace








Play Basic V1.63w BETA 16  Release Candidate #3 (Retail Compiler Only Beta) - (Avail for Registered Users ONLY)
    PB V1.63w16rc3 is a re-engineered beta of PBV1.63 retail update.   This update smooths out the functionality further and removes a bucket load of dead code.   The only changes in behavior are to the TextureTri, TextureQuad and DrawRotatedImage commands which can now respond to some InkMode methods.   Namely AlphaBlend, Alpha50, AlphaADD & AlphaSUB.    You can also enable filtering by setting bit 3 (As you do in PlayBasicFX)..

   Bit0= Mask (1) = MaskColour
   Bit1= Mask (2) = Use Alpha Channel   (PlayBasicFX only..)
   Bit2= Mask (4) = Not Used
   Bit3= Mask ( = Filtering

    To draw a Filtered, solid  rotated image you'd use   a draw mode of 8,  to draw a transparent  filtering image you'd use 1+8 (9)..  You know bit masks.

    If the image you pass the function is an AFX formated image, then the solid pixels (no mask colour pixels) in the surface will be blended using the Alpha Channel.   This can used in combination with filtering also.   Filtering pretty much triples of the cost of every pixels rendered, so use sparingly.
 
    This version now includes all the new functionality.  Now it needs field testing..


   * Supported Texel processing modes

          64 = Fade       
         128 = Gouraud Fade    (NOTE: Use SpriteImageRGB to control the intensity at each vertex,  SpriteImageIntensity is obsolete)
         256 = RGB Gouraud 50/50 Alpha Blend
         512 = RGB Gouraud Alpha Addition
       1024 = Colour Flash
       2048 = Colour Alpha (variable cross fade sprite with colour)
       4096 = Colour Alpha ADD
       8192 = Colour Alpha SUB
      16384 = Colour Replace
      65536 = Colour Mask Logical AND
     131072= Colour Mask Logical OR


   * Supported output modes   
       04 = Alpha Blend.           (Variable Alpha Blends the sprite image)  (15, 16, 24+ 32bit supported)
       08 = AlphaBlend 50/50     (15, 16, 24 + 32bit supported)
       16 = Alpha Addition         (15, 16, 24 + 32bit supported)
       32 = ALpha Subtraction   (15, 16, 24 +32bit supported )


   As well as

    * Base Colour (Sprite Tint)
    * optional Filtering
    * Alpha Channel     


     The Following modes are NO longer supported.

   * OBSOLETTE Texel processing modes
      32768 = Raster Bar Colour Replace


 



Play Basic V1.63w BETA 16  Release Candidate #4 (Retail Compiler Only Beta) - (Avail for Registered Users ONLY)
    PB V1.63w16rc4 is a re-engineered beta of PBV1.63 retail update.   This update corrects few more differences as well includes some integer opcode improvements in the VM for faster code execution.  Which make this update the fastest version (built on VM#1) available to date

[kevin]

Play Basic V1.63w BETA 16  Release Candidate #7 (Retail Compiler Only Beta) - (Avail for Registered Users ONLY)

     PB V1.63w16rc7 is a re-engineered beta of PBV1.63 retail update.   This version corrects a number of parser level bugs in the compiler.  Please be aware that such changes can also alter the parsers behavior in unforeseen situations.  So it's possible this version may refuse too compile old source codes.   I highly recommend testing your program is this version.     I won't be updating it post releasing the official patch.


  WIP Gallery
 PlayBasic V1.63  WIP Gallery

[kevin]

 PlayBasic V1.64  Retail Upgrade is Released (2nd, Sep, 2008)

   This release updates the existing PB1.63w2 retail release to the current retail release version of PBV1.64.   Therefore you'll need to install patch PB1.63w2 (at least) prior to this one ! (if you haven't already)

   The PB1.64 package includes updates of PB Compiler, Release / Debug Runtimes &  IDE V1.17.   This update brings a world of new functionality to the graphics engine.   While most of the changes are to give the classic edition of PlayBasic the same basic controls as it's replacement (PBFX), there are some unique features also.   So without further adue, lets pick through the main ones.


  New Features Since Last Release (V1.63w)

  Sprite Engine Features
     * Sprite Tint (colourize a sprite)
     * Bilinear filtering 
     * Alpha Channel
     * Pixel input effects can be combined with output streams.  Allowing combinations of the effects to the processed.
     * New Image & Sprite mapping engine support texture compression and universal surface depth support.  Eg.  Allowing 16bit images to drawn to 32bit and vice versa.
     * Faster 32bit image rendering.


  Graphics Engine
     * Two new INK modes  Inverted subtractive and Multiply modes. 
     * Gouraud/textured polygons respond to all major InkModes. 
     * textured polygons support alpha channel and filtering.
     * Image rendering support rendering between mismatched surface depths.
     * Faster vector & image drawing generally with all fillers being MMX optimized.
 

  Compiler & RunTime

     * Integer Math optimizations for Faster Code Execution. 
     * Various Parser Bug fixes.  (nested typed pointers, etc)
     * Fixed Runtime memory deallocation issues with FX images.
 


   Make sure you read through the update History for the nitty gritty of all the new features/commands and differences.


   For more information about PlayBasic, please visit the Play Basic home page and download the free learning edition and dive in.

  Url: www.PlayBasic.UnderwareDesign.com



Download
    Download PB1.64 Retail Upgrade



  WIP Gallery
 PlayBasic V1.63 -> V1.64  WIP Gallery

[kevin]

 PlayBasic V1.64c  Retail Upgrade is Released (30th, Sep, 2008)

   This release updates the existing PB1.63w2 retail release to the current retail release version of PBV1.63w.   Therefore you'll need to install patch PB1.63w2 (at least) prior to this one ! (if you haven't already)

   The PB1.64c package includes updates of PB Compiler, Release / Debug Runtimes &  IDE V1.17.   The upgrade includes a few minor bugs.

 
   For more information about PlayBasic, please visit the Play Basic home page and download the free learning edition and dive in.

  Url: www.PlayBasic.UnderwareDesign.com



Download

    Download PB1.64c Retail Upgrade

[kevin]

 PlayBasic V1.64h _Retail Upgrade_ is Now Available (12th, Jan, 2009)

   This release updates the existing PB1.63w2 retail release to the current retail release version of PlayBasic V1.64h.   Therefore you'll need to install patch PB1.63w2 (at least) prior to this one ! (if you haven't already)

   The PB1.64h package includes updates of PB Compiler, Release / Debug Runtimes, IDE V1.17 & DOCS.    The main changes to this release (apart from bug fixes) would be the new image loading library.  This library allows you to Load BMP,TGA,PNG (with alpha channels) directly into PB.  Moreover this library is also used behind LoadMapGFX command, making it a lot less picky on the image format.     Other changes are to the internal rendering routines. Which should now universally support rendering of the AFX images in any pixel format.   AFX images are of course FX images with Alpha Channel.

   For example, you can load a PNG/TGA or even BMP (32bit) and have PB handle everything for you using the new LoadAFXimage and loadNewAFXimage commands.  These commands ensure the surface is kept 32bit, regardless of the users display depth.  So it'll just work.   Previously you could use the PrepareAFXimage command to convert a loaded (or created) surface.   But this process would fail if the users system was running the program in a 16 or 24bit display mode, due to their video hardware hardware.   Why ? - Those formats have no Alpha bits.     So creating a AFX surface from them is useless.

   One short coming that comes to mind, is that if you use GETIMAGE to cut frames from a larger AFX image,  this might not work correctly when the users display depth is not equal to 32bit.   So for the time being, it might be better to previously split those animations into a series of files.  Not ideal, but at least you don't have to use external libraries anymore.  Although you can if you need to.


   For more information about PlayBasic, please visit the Play Basic home page and download the FREE learning edition and dive in.

   Url: www.PlayBasic.UnderwareDesign.com



Download Upgrade
    Download PB1.64h Retail Upgrade

[kevin]

 PlayBasic V1.64i _Retail Upgrade_ is Now Available (5th, Mar, 2009)

   This release updates the existing PB1.63w2 retail release to the current retail release version of PlayBasic V1.64i.   Therefore you'll need to install patch PB1.63w2 (at least) prior to this one ! (if you haven't already)

   The PB1.64i package includes updates of PB Compiler, Release / Debug Runtimes, SLIBS,  DOCS & IDE V1.17.    The main new additions in this editions would the introduction of PlayBasic's new  Compressed Raster Font engine (CRF for short), which includes not only faster rendering, but Alpha Channel and Tint support, but Compressed Raster font's can be drawn to any PB surface.   Speaking of  Alpha Channel support, you can now use AFX images with Maps also.  Beyond that,  speed wise 1.64I has a number of MMX machine code optimizations in the rendering engine and almost completely new revision of the scene buffer capturing code.   

   Note: Compressed Raster Fonts can't currently be created within a PB program (at least not easily), so in order to convert a Windows TrueType or a custom bitmap font, you'll have to do this manually.  At least for the time being.   See->   How to Create Compressed Raster Fonts  for how


   For more information about PlayBasic, please visit the Play Basic home page and download the FREE learning edition and dive in.

   Url: www.PlayBasic.UnderwareDesign.com



Gallery

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PlayBasic V1.63 -> PlayBasic V1.64 Gallery

Download Upgrade
    Download PB1.64i Retail Upgrade (requires log in)

[kevin]

 PlayBasic V1.64j _Retail Upgrade_ is Now Available (1st,June, 2009)

   This release updates the existing PB1.63w2 - PB V1.64i retail release to the current retail release version of PlayBasic V1.64i. If your version if older, you'll need to install patch PB1.63w2 (at least) prior to this one ! (if you haven't already)

   The PB1.64j package includes updates of PB Compiler, Release / Debug Runtimes, SLIBS,  DOCS & IDE V1.17.    The main new additions in this editions are lots of new optimizations.  Faster filtering, polygons , binding etc etc


   For more information about PlayBasic, please visit the Play Basic home page and download the FREE learning edition and dive in.

   Url: www.PlayBasic.UnderwareDesign.com



Gallery

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PlayBasic V1.63 -> PlayBasic V1.64 Gallery

Download Upgrade
    Download PB1.64j Retail Upgrade (requires log in)

[kevin]

 PlayBasic V1.64j2 _Retail Upgrade_ is Now Available (14th, Sep, 2009)

   This release updates  PlayBasic V1.63w2 to V1.64j retail editions to the current retail release version of PlayBasic V1.64j2.   If your version is older than PB V1.63W, then you'll need to install patch PB1.63w2 (at least) prior to this one ! (if you haven't already)

    The PB1.64j2 package includes updates of PB Compiler, Release / Debug Runtimes, SLIBS, DOCS & IDE V1.17. The main changes are various SLIB updates and a very healthy 180K reduction in the runtime sizes.


   For more information about PlayBasic, please visit the Play Basic home page and download the FREE learning edition and dive in.

   Url: www.PlayBasic.com



Gallery

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PlayBasic V1.63 -> PlayBasic V1.64 Gallery

Download Upgrade
    Download PB1.64j2 Retail Upgrade (requires log in)

[kevin]

 PlayBASIC V1.64k _Retail Upgrade_ is Now Available (15th, Dec, 2009)

   This release updates the PlayBasic  V1.63w2 to PB V1.64i retail upgrades to the current retail release version of PlayBasic V1.64k.   If your version is older than PB1.63W, then you'll need to install patch PB1.63w2 prior to this one ! (if you haven't already)


   The PB1.64k package includes updates of PB Compiler, Release / Debug Runtimes, SLIBS,  DOCS & IDE V1.17.  

   This upgrade focuses upon adding a number of new flexibilities to the core language, ranging from expansions to User Defined Types, Seven new Math operators, Optional Parameters Support in not only built in functions but users defined functions, Dynamic Function Calling (Call a function by name at runtime), Limited Array operators, Dynamic Array Creation (return arrays from functions) as well as Passing/Returning Individual Types from Functions/Psubs. All in All, there's a lot of new toys for you play with !


   To learn more about the titty gritty of these changes check out the  V1.64 WIP thread, which includes some examples and some theory stuff about this upgrade.

 
   For more information about PlayBasic, please visit www.PlayBasic.com, download the free learning edition and dive in.

  
Download Upgrade
   Download PB1.64k Retail Upgrade  (requires log in)

[kevin]

 PlayBASIC V1.64k Rev#2 _Retail Upgrade_ is Now Available (2nd, Jan, 2010)

   This release updates the PlayBasic  V1.63w2 to PB V1.64k retail upgrades to the current retail release version of PlayBasic V1.64k Revision #2.   However, If your version is older than PB1.63W, then you'll need to install patch PB1.63w2 prior to this one ! (if you haven't already)

    This upgrade is mainly to correct some issues detected in previous release of V1.64k after release. These issues mostly concern internal and user defined function parameters.  Correcting issues with optional parameters and with long hand declarations.

    The only new functionality (that comes to mind) would be VSYNC support in windowed modes.    It's important to understand that you can't control the ends users displays refresh rate.   So therefore you shouldn't assume that everybody playing your game has their windows desktop refresh set to the same as yours.  So if your system has a refresh rate of 60 say, and your friends system has a refresh of 75.   Then your game will run faster on your friends system than yours.   Mind you, the same applies in full screen exclusives modes also !   So Vsync should be used to smooth out display refresh, not as a speed limiter!
 
 
 
   For more information about PlayBasic, please visit www.PlayBasic.com, download the free learning edition and dive in.


  
Download Upgrade
   Download PB1.64k Revision #2 Retail Upgrade  (requires log in)