Elite Planet Browser Files

https://sourceforge.net/projects/elitepb/

"Elite Planet Browser" for Z80-based computers
Author: RobertK (RetroBertie@outlook.com)
Version 2024-11-17

First of all: this program is totally useless. But those of you who know and love the classic computer game "Elite" will maybe like it.
The "Elite Planet Browser" is a little program for various classic Z80-based computers, written in C using the z88dk compiler (www.z88dk.org). It allows you to browse through the planet data of the Elite game on many old Z80-based computers.

When the original game came out in 1984, many people wondered how it is possible to have detailed data of so many planets in the 16K RAM memory of the BBC Micro. The trick behind this is a clever algorithm based on a pseudo-random number sequence, and this algorithm is reproduced here in this program.

Note: the "Distance" shown on the details page is always the distance to Lave, the starting planet of Galaxy 1. In Galaxies 2 through 8, the Distance is not available.

The compiled program is a little under 16K in size, so it usually requires the target machine to have at least 16K RAM.

The following systems are currently supported:

ABC 80
Amstrad CPC
Amstrad PCW
Bandai RX-78
Bit-90
Bondwell 12/14
Bondwell 2
Casio FP-1100
Casio PV-1000
Casio PV-2000
CCE MC-1000
ColecoVision
Dick Smith Super-80 (e/m and r/v models)
EACA EG2000 Colour Genie
Epson QX-10 / QC-10
Excalibur 64
Exidy Sorcerer
Galaksija [1] and Galaksija Plus
Genius Leader 6000SL
Homelab 2
Homelab 3/4
Hübler/Evert-MC
Hübler Grafik-MC
Jupiter Ace
Kaypro II (2/83)
Kramer-MC
Lviv/Lvov PK-01
Mattel Aquarius
MicroBee 128k Standard / Premium / Premium Plus
Micronique Hector 2 HR
Mikro-80
MSX [2]
Nascom
NCR Decision Mate V
NEC PC-6001 mkII
NEC PC-8001
Nichibutsu My Vision
Osborne 1
Otrona Attaché
Philips P2000
Philips VG5000
Primo [3]
Regnecentralen RC 700
Robotron A5105 (BIC)
Robotron KC 85/2-5 and HC 900
Robotron Z 1013
Robotron Z 9001 (KC 85/1, KC 87)
SAM Coup 
Samsung SPC-1000 [4]
Sega SC-3000
Sega Master System
Sharp MZ-700
Sharp MZ-2500
Sharp X1
Sinclair ZX80
Sinclair ZX81
Sinclair ZX Spectrum
SOL-20
Sony SMC-777 and SMC-70 (CP/M and native version)
Sord M5
Tandy TRS-80
Tatung Einstein (separate TK02 80-column version)
Tesla Ondra
Tesla PMD 85
Toshiba Pasopia 7
Triumph Adler Alphatronic PC
Vector-06C
VTech Laser 210 / 310 / VZ 200 [5]
VTech Laser 500 / 700

Notes:

[1] The "Galaksija version" uses only functionality of the standard Galaksija model, but you will still need a Plus model to run it because the program will not fit into the standard model's 6K RAM. The "Galaksija Plus version" uses 256x208 Hi-Res graphics of the Plus model to display the galactic chart.

[2] The MSX version has some minor glitches on the startup screen.

[3] Primo model with at least 32K RAM required (A-48 or better). For some reason, in the M.A.M.E. emulator you need to quickload the .pp file two or three times until it finally works.

[4] Galactic Chart is currently deactivated on the SPC-1000 because switching back from graphics to text mode does not work yet properly on that system.

[5] 16K RAM required on the Laser 210 and VZ 200.


NOT YET supported systems due to technical problems:

Camputers Lynx
Hanimex Pencil II
Memotech MTX
Mitsubishi Multi 8
Spectravideo SVI
Tiki-100 (also known as "Kontiki-100")


=== Controls ===

Use the controls shown on the startup screen.

Up and Down moves the cursor through the planet list.
Left and Right moves one page up or down.
The trigger button shows the planet details. Pressing the trigger again returns you to the list.
On systems that support high-res graphics, you can press Right on the details page to show the galactic chart with the current planet highlighted. From there, press either Left to return to the details page, or the trigger to return to the list.
The Select Galaxy option (G button on computers, "Select" button on most consoles) allows you to move directly to any of the eight Galaxies of the Elite universe.


=== Compiling ===

Download the latest nightly build from www.z88dk.org and extract it to any location on your computer.
Edit the compile_epb_....bat batch file and modify the z88root path (make sure that there is a backslash at the end).
Run the batch file and the compiler will hopefully run without errors and create the compiled program file.

The entire source is contained in one single file (epb.c).

Note that the Tesla PMD 85 and Vector-06C targets do not yet support the standard -lm math library, so we use the non-free original Microsoft mbf32 library which is not included in the z88dk package.


=== Known Bugs / Limitations / TODOs ===

- The planet description string on the planet details page is still missing - that is the only reason why the program is still WIP.
Reproducing the planet description string will require further investigation of the source of Oolite 1.80 (later versions use pre-generated data): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0ByCxD7Tzau-ccXNfYTJyOHAxLTQ

- Further improvement of the galactic chart display:

	- Show the text "GALACTIC CHART 1" at the top (which will probably require reducing the overall screen height)

	Provided that there will be a way to position text on the graphics screen using pixel coordinates:

	- Maybe show the name of the highlighted planet (or maybe not, since the BBC version did not show it on the Galactic Chart)

	- Implement "Short Range Chart" (64x64 coordinates). Here all planet names should be displayed.


=== Thanks ===

Thanks to the z88dk team for creating this wonderful compiler and for their continuous work in order to further improve it. And thanks to the Oolite team (www.oolite.org) for their support and for creating their wonderful modern-PC version of Elite. A description of the algorithm to create the planet data can be found on the Oolite Wiki: http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Random_number_generator


=== Release Version History ===

2024-11-17:
- New target supported: Micronique Hector 2 HR

2024-09-08:
- New target supported: Amstrad CPC

2022-05-11:
- New target supported: SOL-20
- Galaksija and Galaksija Plus: .WAV tape files replaced with ones created with the galaksija.net online emulator, so that they can be loaded on real hardware.

2022-03-11:
- Galaksija Plus Highres version fixed. Previously it was only working on the emulators, but not on real hardware.

2021-04-17:
- New target supported: Genius Leader 6000SL
- SAM Coup  version can now display the Galactic Chart, .mgt floppy disk image added.

2021-03-26:
- New target supported: Amstrad PCW

2021-03-11:
- New target supported: Sega Master System
- Sony SMC-777 and SMC-70: native boot disk version added.
- Bondwell 2 version improved. The previous version using the standard system font is still available as the "Standard Console" version.
- NEC PC-8001: Boot disk version added.

2021-02-16:
- New target supported: Bondwell 2

2021-02-13:
- New target supported: Bondwell 12/14

2021-02-08:
- New target supported: Lviv/Lvov PK-01

2020-10-25:
- New target supported: Tesla Ondra

2020-05-03: 
- New targets supported:
	Mikro-80
	Primo (model with at least 32K RAM required)

2020-03-10:
- New target supported: Homelab 2
- Homelab 3/4 version now runs on all RAM configurations between 16K and 64K (previously it ran only on 64K)

2020-02-23:
- New target supported: Homelab 3/4

2020-02-18:
- Vector-06C: Floppy disk image added.

2020-02-17:
- New target supported: Vector-06C

2020-01-17: 
- New targets supported:
	Bit-90
	Tesla PMD 85

2019-12-25: 
- New targets supported:
	Hübler/Evert-MC
	Hübler-Grafik-MC
	Kramer-MC
	Nichibutsu My Vision
	Robotron A5105 (BIC)
- The Casio FP-1100, Sharp X1 and Sony SMC-777 versions can now display the Galactic Chart
- Casio FP-1100: the annyoing keypress beep has been removed by the z88dk team
- The ZX Spectrum is now using the 32 column mode because the 64 column mode was barely readable on a CRT TV. The Galactic Chart is now displayed in White-on-Black.

2019-10-13: 
- New target supported: Regnecentralen RC 700

2019-05-22: 
- New target supported: Sinclair ZX Spectrum

2019-05-18: 
- Initial WIP release