Very nice work, Ross… really elegant solution.

I’ve not seen the SYMBOL via control code #19 trick used like that for a long time… nice bit of CPC nostalgia there.

Originally, the program used text and DRAW commands, which kept it compatible across all CPC models. I later switched to DRAWR-based graphics for the final version.

The knight itself came from an SVG of a chess piece… I wrote a small Python tool to convert the SVG into DRAWR statements, using a Douglas–Peucker simplification to reduce the number of points. In hindsight, graph paper might have been quicker… but the plan is to release the Python tool at some point in case it’s useful to others in the retro community.

One downside of the drawn version is that it does slow things down slightly… particularly if someone were following along move-by-move on a real board (admittedly unlikely!).

I did consider using embedded control characters for PAPER/INK/LOCATE, but deliberately avoided them for readability… especially when sharing plain text listings. Tools like JavaCPC don’t always handle control codes cleanly (LIST #8 works, but not perfectly), and I wanted the source to remain accessible even outside a CPC environment.

Your approach strikes a really nice balance… compact, compatible with both BASIC 1.0 and 1.1, and as a bonus it’s noticeably quicker to run.

Really nice work 👍

Hi Ross, just received an email from Gunnar, no problem at all with the request 👍🏻

Some really strong and awesome entries, absolutely well done to everyone who entered this year!

Thanks @bazzargh, your algorithm has taken a life of its own in the CPC groups, it's very impressive.  And thank you for your permission too.  How did you come up with the algorithm to generate this?

Thank you Marco

A video of the program in action 

Thank you

A video of the game in action 

A video of the game in motion... 

Absolutely love this, so much so, I took your original program and converted it to the Amstrad CPC (well within the constraints of the screen).

Here's the code for Amstrad CPC users if they wish to recreate it, sticking to 80 characters per line.

1 MODE 1:S=SIN(0.03):C=COS(0.03):X=260:Y=0:U=0:V=1::INK 0,0:INK 1,6:INK 2,24

2 INK 3,26:FOR A=80 TO 1200:X=X+U:Y=Y+V:K=SGN(COS(A/45)*COS(A*0.0138))

3 T=U:U=U*C-K*V*S:V=V*C+K*T*S:Z=24-A MOD 10:FOR B=-Z TO Z:R=1-80/A

4 P=1+(INT(3*ABS(COS(B*0.3+((A\4) MOD 2)*PI/2+0.4)))=A MOD 4)-(ABS(B)>16)

5 PLOT 2*INT(X+R*B*V),2*INT(Y-R*B*U),P AND 3:NEXT B:NEXT A:ORIGIN 320,253:K=190

6 FOR J=0 TO K:R=(200-80*COS(J*3*PI/K))*(0.8+0.5*COS(J*13*PI/K)*COS(J*13*PI/K))

7 FOR I=0 TO R STEP 5.8

8 P=INT(1.3+(I/R)-((J\20)=4)*(2*((I\15)=3)+1)-((J\12)=14)*((I\30)=3))

9 S=SIN(J*PI/K):C=COS(J*PI/K):V=8*SIN(I/16):PLOT(I*S+V*C)/2,(I*C+V*S)/2,P AND 3

10 PLOT (-I*S-V*C)/2,(I*C+V*S)/2,P AND 3:NEXT I:NEXT J

damn, that's impressive, 10 levels and in 10 lines of code too... 

V1.8 Has been uploaded to Windows, Fixing the Boss Key and some other minor bugs.  The Engine Manual has been updated with the latest info if you're building your own game.

Windows released today, macOS and Linux to follow later this week.

Thank you :)

Ah, the infamous Boss Key… I went with the old-school late-80s PC trick of making it look like you were working instead of playing. I’ll be adding an option in the config to change or disable it in the next update.

Once I’ve compiled the new version across the different systems, ESC will be back to its usual role for quitting or restarting the level.

And thanks for the heads-up on Andy’s website, I’ll fix that link in the next release too!

Loved the game, Though I went a different direction and provided a quick tutorial on finding infinite lives, and hopefully the first cheat of the release ;)

Create a .POK file with the following :-

NInfinite Lives

Z 8 31137 0 145

Y

Manic Miner Engine V1.7a Released

Released on ITCH.IO my Manic Miner Engine, a configurable 2D Platform System allowing you to edit level config files to create your own levels, or even change out the sprites.

Manic Miner Engine

Available for

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux
• RaspberryPi 4

This is perfection in a TZX.  Well done, as near perfect conversion as I've ever seen and love the V1.1 update. 

Who is benefiting from the £10 fee?