Jumpman Project FAQ ver 1.2  Dec 15, 2006



Q1)  What version of Jumpman is this, and where did it come from?

A1)  This is the IBM PC/PCjr version of Jumpman, which was licensed to IBM
from EPYX.  A 3rd party software company by the name of Mirror Image software
did the conversion from the original C64/atari version to IBM.

If you were to buy the IBM version of Jumpman, it would come on a 5.25"
bootable diskette.  It would run properly on an old IBM PC, XT or JR, but
would run way too fast for today's systems.  Hence this project.  Convert
the game from being floppy diskette based to a DOS executable and throttle
the speed for fast computers.

The code I'm working with came straight from my floppy diskette that I
purchased way back in 1985 or so.










Q2)  What's up with the (lack of) colors?

A2)  The colors are perfect.  Please understand that this is the IBM version
of Jumpman, not the Atari or C64 version which you are probably remembering.  
Back in 1983/4 the IBM PC used CGA graphics, which was 4 colors.  Boot up an 
original diskette on your PC today and you'll see the same 4 colors as this 
version provides.

However, Included in the code is the PCjr version of the game.  The PCjr had
(at the time) enhanced graphics and sound over the IBM PC, allowing for 3
voice sound and 16 color graphics.  I'm in the process of upgrading jumpman
to display the 16 color version of the game on modern VGA machines.  I have
also sampled the PCjr sound effects and music and utilize the sounds card
to play them back.  There's a beta (rather buggy, but playable) available now.

If you just happen to still have a PCjr (I do!), you should be able to run this 
version of the game and see and hear the enhanced graphics and sound.





Q3) Why doesn't the joystick work?

A3) More than likely, you're running the game from Windows XP, Vista or 2K.  
Let me just put it this way.  Microsoft hates old software. Your only hope is 
to try installing DOSBox, which can act as a middle-man between this old piece
of software and your new operating system.  The joystick should (and does) 
work in older O/Ses like Windows 98, 95, and of course, DOS.
This is an Operating System problem, not a problem in Jumpman.  The Operating
System is literally blocking Jumpman from being able to access your joystick.










Q4)  What language is the source code in?  Why is it so messy?

A4)  The game was originally written in 8086 assembly language.  In order
for me to make modifications to the game, it had to be dis-assembled from
the pure data on the diskette back into 8086 assembly code.  Sourcer did the
work for me, but the output from any disassembly is always going to be a mess.

There are over 10,000 lines of code in the main .ASM file.  All the variables,
procedures and code had to be inspected and analyzed to figure out what they
did.  As I learn more about how the program works, the code gets cleaner.
However, I try not to change too much actual code, for fear of introducing bugs.













Q5)  What other changes to the game will be made or have you made?

A5)  I put a level jump key in (ctrl-O).  I did this for, errr, testing
purposes only.  I also changed the way the remaining bonus timer was
added to the score at the end of a level.  I changed it so that while the 
ending theme song plays, the bonus time remaining rolls down to 0 and the 
score increases.   I believe this a minor, but acceptable improvement to the 
game.  

My goal is to keep the look and feel of the game as close to the original 
as possible, so I will keep any enhancements to a minimum.

However, I do intend on continuing the work of getting the PCjr version
(16 colors and 3voice sound) to work on a modern PC with VGA and sound
card.

For true game enhancements, look to one of the other Jumpman variations out
there such as Jumpman under construction or Jumpman 2049, as mentioned on the
Jumpman Lounge.