======================================================================================================================================= Project news: ======================================================================================================================================= We've found a very interesting RPG project on the net. It really looks interesting because of the outstanding graphics....professional quality!!! It's called the Endless, nameless RPG, and we're gonna keep a close eye on this one...Visit the site here, and have a look at some screenshots that were send to us here.
We've found another interesting project: A very original game, Penalty shooter (with good graphics!). The website it is on can be found here. We've included the screenshot for you. |
![]() |
Cyber Chick is very complete, though WisdomDude is still working on gun combinations. Boss enemies are going quite well. Right now, he's mostly designing the game's graphics. More info and demo's of the game can be found at Petes QB Site.
The Future.Library is going to include some MMX optimizations, that will allmost double the speed of some of the current routines, one of the routines where the speed will be noticed, will be the Future.CLS routine, a test gave an incresement from 740 FPs to about 1540 FPS using an 320x200 sized EMS map.
Gabasic is a basic compiler. It works under Protected Mode, allowing to use all memory (Xms, Ems, Ram), this means that you can create arrays up to 4gb of size. Gabasic is an open source project, which means you can have the source of it and create things to expand the compiler. Anyways, visit the site here.
On the last moment, when everybody gave it up, there finally was the TCP/IP library from Dmitry Brant. We'll add a review of the program in the next month's issue, but for now, just visit the page and try it out yourself!!! The library uses VB program support, and with the programs included you can FTP/Telnet/HTTP/SMTP and more!!!
======================================================================================================================================= Site news: ======================================================================================================================================= QuickBasic.com was back online....Before actual content was added, the site was thrown off the server though. Stay tuned.
There is a new forum around, called the GDR (Game Developer's Refuge).
As the site says:
"Welcome to the GDR. The point of this WWWBoard is for everyone to be able to meet in one central board, not attached to anyone's homepage, with moderators to keep the useless posts and flaming down so people can discuss programming, art, game design, ideas, etc."
To visit this site, click here.
The Elite top 50 is closed and up for sale. If you wish to purchase it, you can send an email to sales@ampleworks.com. Ampleworks.com will include 1 year of free hosting on our servers with the subdomain it currently resides at. To go to the official page: Click here.
Almost at the same time the Elite top 50 closed, another QB top 50 opened its doors: http://www.qbtop50.com. This site was created by the webmaster of the old SimplyQB. Because the design isn't too special, this site gives the thought "Wow, another one of those unneeded top 50 sites", but we'll see how this one grows. After all, the people who sign up decide how this is gonna develop! Latest news: the site was closed due to illegal use of the topsites-script. The future of the qbtop50.com is uncertain.
You feel you're gonna need a book about a programming-subject? Then you might want to check the Game programming bookstore. This site has a big index of books on several programming subjects, including Graphics & multimedia, Software design, TCP-IP, Web programming, and more. A must-visit for the readers!
![]() | Pete is back! Pete's QBasic Site was maintained by WisdomDude, because Petes computer broke...but now he's back himself. Though, he now got tired of the daily updates. The plans are now that 3 webmasters still update the site occasionally. |
In the previous issue we already noticed that Qbsource.com wasn't updated. After that, the site turned into an essay, for school probably. The site is now being rebuilt so visit it here =)
![]() |
So Neozones.com and Neozones Productions share the same name...you probably know that story, if not, read about it here... Marcade took his own server and domain name, and programmed scripts for his NMP. Tek took a domain himself, and made a clone of the NMP. It basically is exactly thesame idea, a little different but nothing to write home about. His N!system is actually a stolen idea...the original idea was from Marcade. The sites seemed to die, having less visitors than ever in it's history, will this stolen idea help Neozones Productions to stay alive? |
Marcade has left the QB Scene. After some 'fights' with people from the #quickbasic channel on mIRC and on the msgboards, he decided to quit the scene. Marcade still programs in QB, but he doesn't visit the webboards anymore. The neozones.com site, owned by Marcade, now has some other administrators to keep the site up.
The Blazin' 50 is a new topsites-list. It's different than the other topsites because the sites are ranked by ratings that visitors give the site. The site does not have many members yet, so join now!
The qbt50.com became the devdex1.com. The design and content became less attractive to most visitors then. Now, a few weeks ago, the Developers Index changed again, now it's not using a topsites-script anymore. No longer the top-voted sites gets hundreds of hits anymore. We personally think it's not attractive anymore, so we no longer support it.
======================================================================================================================================= Site reviews: =======================================================================================================================================
# Rating (1-100) | Description | |
Content | 28/30 | Loads of files (800+) in the tutorials-section, info on projects that are submitted by visitors (they can update the projects themselves, so they are always up2date), a list of programmers with info about them, NeoNews which is sometimes updated, an okay links list, and more. |
Program count | 18/20 | 800+ files, but lot's of the programs are a waste of diskspace. A positive thing is the files-section that is made by the visitors, with their own projects and files!!! |
Links count | 14/20 | The size of the list is okay, but not THAT big...also, I don't think it has ever updated... |
Quality of design | 19/20 | A lot better than before! Really, the overall design is better than most other sites I've seen...congrats =) |
Unique | 10/10 | The complete CGI system is very unique, Marcade proves to be a fine Perl-master!!! |
Additional comments:
The board is becoming pretty active, programs are often updated by the visitors, so check this page back often!
1. How long have you been programming in QB?
It started with Apple-2C's Basic-OS, a long time ago, and soon moved to GWBasic on my first
XT, later, it was QBasic that came with DOS, and eventually, QuickBasic-4.5 - My favorite.
I guess I have known Basic for a VERY long time, but its been "Only" about 6 maybe 7 years
since I have programmed my first QB.. err... thing.
Don't worry though, I have been programming on and off, and after a very long break, I have
returned for my probably last game in QuickBasic...
2. Which other programming languages, besides QB, do you know?
While GWBasic is my very first language, I have learned several others, either in school, or by
myself:
3. Which programming languages do you tend to learn in the future?
I guess I will get into C++, it shouldn't be difficult since I already know Java and C...
But I'm not sure I'll use it for fun programming... who knows...
4. How did you learn programming?
I learned Basic from a book, but mostly from the wonderfull help that comes with QB45;
You don't care about the rest... do you?
5. How long have you been programming on SuperStack?
It took me over three LONG weeks to complete the first SuperStack...
I did it from scratch, since I have reinstalled my computer, and all my previous QB programs
have gone for good (DOH!)
After I saw that people liked that game, I decided to make another one, with all the things that
bothered me and the other people removed, and several new cool things that I wanted to add...
Took me two weeks to make those changes, most of the time was spent on photoshop, and
finding wavs... But I hope you like the outcome!
6. Are you happy that you've finished SuperStack, or are you affraid to get bored now...?
You have no idea!
I couldn't sleep or eat without thinking what I will put in the game, what was left to be done... I
even made a checklist (Ieeeeuu!!) to help me remember what is left to be done!
But after it was over, it was worth it! All the positive comments about it made it worthwhile...
Now I am resting... But things will come... Don't you worry about that...
7. What are your plans for new projects?
Lets see... umm... wait, wait, its coming... errr..... Nop. Can't see that far ahead; sorry...
8. What is the best site for getting programming info, in your opinion?
QB45.com ofcourse! :)
Actually, I don't know... I don't scout the internet to get QB45 programming info... the inside
help is just what I need!
9. Which projects are YOU looking forward to? Anything that really interests you?
Warcraft 3... Diablo 2...
... I know that someone will popup with an amazing QB game; remember that what makes a
game great, is the idea; sure, graphics and sound counts, but if the gameplay sucks...
10. What is the best QB game you know?
Hey... You can't ask me that...!
11. What do you think about the future of Qbasic/QuickBasic???
I wish I knew... Now with Win2K taking over, DOS based applications are fading out - and I'm
affraid that soon you will need a dos emulator to even try to run some of the things that are dos
based... Microsoft has created this wonder, and slowly it is killing it...
Anyways, I think that Basic will remain THE programming language for people who want to create cool stuff - fast and easy.
12. Anything you would like to say to other programmers?
RUN!!! RUN AND DON'T LOOK BACK!!!
=======================================================================================================================================
Program download of the month
=======================================================================================================================================
Welcome to MultiLib. Ever wanted to combine 2 or more libraries, or leave certain parts out of the library you are using? Now you can do that easily using the MultiLib program. This program has a ton of options, so be sure to check it out!!! Here's a screenshot:
Since this issue of the QB Times is a double-issue, we also have 2 program-downloads of the month! Here is the second:
Fox is probably already quite famous. Fox is a platform game that is very fast, has beautiful graphics, kick-ass control, and more stuff. Take a look at the screenshot below and then download it here.
======================================================================================================================================= Interview with Fox-authors =======================================================================================================================================