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4gentE
Registered: Mar 2021
Posts: 285 |
What is PETSCII - A guide for compo orgas
Lately, We've seen several cases of releases that don't adhere to PETSCII standard being entered into compos. Examples are: 11th place at Revision 2024 Textmode Graphics compo called "U-MOD3L", 4th place at Deadline 2024 Textmode Graphics compo called "Depth Logo with Obligatory Skull & Blood" and 2nd place at Xenium 2024 ASCII/ANSI/PETSCII compo called "Fantastic 4 Cracking Group logo".
The first mentioned example uses a custom character set instead of standard PETSCII. The second and third mentioned examples use multiple background colors and a custom combination of both "upper" and "lower" PETSCII character sets which is not possible in standard PETSCII.
Several PETSCII editors/paint programs out there allow for this faux/"fantasy" modes by untying the newcomer authors from original hardware restrictions. Some of them churn out C64 executables that utilize either normal character mode but with custom character set defined and written along with the displayer, ECM mode again with custom character set being written in the prg file, or downright hires bitmap mode (which is way out of even most lenient definition of "textmode graphics"). This furtherly confuses both newcomer authors and compo orgas because it leaves them under false impression that the file is compliant with standard PETSCII.
The shortest possible definition of PETSCII would be: if a picture can be recreated by using BASIC to print it on the screen (thx Groepaz) then it's a PETSCII. Or, if you can recreate it with no commands whatsoever (other than 2 POKEs for border/paper colors), by physically using cursor keys and the rest of the C64 keyboard Raquel Meyers style then it's a PETSCII for sure. I know compo orgas can't go writing BASIC programs or playing around with a real C64. Therefore I've attached a precise PETSCII specification at the bottom of this text. The origin of this specification is Shine's PETSCII World Discord server and the author is wbochar (a PETSCII artist and coder/maintainer of Petmate). Now, I'm aware that orgas can't reprint all this text when organizing a compo, but if they read and understand it, I'm sure they can distill the gist of it into something shorter that fits their needs. As long as they themselves are aware of the precise definition. Additionally, if future orgas are not sure about a specific entry, they can always contact Shine's PETSCII World on Discord or X, as the place is inhabited by nice people ready to help.
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Single Frame 'standard' PETSCII in PRG format
1. Uses built in character rom, UPPER or LOWER case (no mixing or flipping between cases).
2. No relocating ROM's, soft/custom roms, or copied ROM's.
3. petscii/data in standard (for that machine) screen and color memory area (if there is a color area)
4. Frame size is the default character editor dimensions for that platform (c64: 40x25 chars)
5. static background and border color (if that machine has that)
6. loops showing the picture (ie "jmp *")
7. No sprites, music, splits. rasterbars or other code manipulating the system. If you have to clarify something else thats legal, then assume No.
8. Auto starts from basic
So basically the PRG (program) on c64 just loads the screen chars and colors, sets the background, border and "pauses/loops" showing the pic.
Most of the time, I mean 99% we are talking about a c64 showing the petscii.
But technically, there are few platforms out there with their own distinct PETSCII/Colors/Frame implementations.
examples:
c64: 40x25 chars, 16 colors, background and border color.
PetX032: 40x25 or 80x25 chars, Mono Color (green/White), black background and no border color. There are multiple Char roms available for various pet versions..
vic20: 22x23 chars, Color is Fluid.., border 8 colors, background can have 16. The char roms are closer to the Pet than the c64
c128, c16... all have different color, screen size and rom differences..
So when you enter a compo or post a 'PETSCII' online.. we are usually talking about c64 40x25 chars.
If the compo has specific rules like "C64 Micro PETSCII 16x16 Mono Color" then override the values in the list above with the compo values.
Which means I can put 16 x 16 anywhere on the 40x25 screen with one color and choose another color for the Background, Border.
Any messing with the underlying char ROM's makes this a highres image that resembles a PETSCII, but is not a PETSCII.
The whole fun of this, is to work within the confines of PETSCII.
It's great to make art however you want to do it.. but if you want to call it a PETSCII image.. then those are the rules/guidelines.
There are many other formats that are PETSCII.. Wide and Long that scroll, animations, gfx demos. They all use the default charset/colors for that platform. |
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4gentE
Registered: Mar 2021
Posts: 285 |
…and before you came people were starting to come up with actual solutions. Thanks again, it will be remembered. |
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MagerValp
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 1078 |
Why does it necessarily have to be ignorant compo organizers? For a mixed platform text mode compo, it may very well be fine with custom fonts and enhanced color schemes, that's really up to the organizers. PETSCII is just a strict subset of that, and as we've seen not all C64 entries will qualify as been PETSCII graphics — causing some hilarious comment threads.
For a pure C64 compo it's easy enough to define PETSCII, but for a mixed platform compo it's a lot trickier but you can at least have rules like "rom font only, text mode only" which would lock it down somewhat. |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11386 |
Mixed compos are a tricky case - i can see how certain loose interpretation of "what should be" produces outrage.
At Breakpoint/Revision we used to apply a pretty strict definition for that matter (no idea of that is still the case) |
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4gentE
Registered: Mar 2021
Posts: 285 |
Quote:it may very well be fine with custom fonts and enhanced color schemes
Then we’re back to tile based gfx, as I described earlier. Text mode “with custom fonts and enhanced color schemes” is is not text mode at all, it’s “tile based gfx”. And it’s fine. But I have this feeling that if you entered with a screen from Super Mario Bros, you’d be disqualified. Yet it’s perfectly legit according to your description above. Plus, if it didn’t get disqualified (which I claim is impossible) then all those ASCII / ANSI artists would be “delighted” by your winning “textmode” entry.
See, I thought long and hard about this. Had some conversations with PETSCII artists. Tried to go about it from all ends. I still think it should be “real PETSCII” or nothing. Nobody said they must support PETSCII. They can also go with either ASCII/ANSI only having PETSCII in a separate compo, or without PETSCII whatsoever if PETSCII specs pose a too tall a hurdle for them. Just don’t go with “almost-PETSCII” specs because it’s lame. |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11386 |
You could also look at it from a different angle: talk to some ANSI artists and let them tell you how strict they take it(*). You'd be surprised :)
(*) very |
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4gentE
Registered: Mar 2021
Posts: 285 |
@ChatGPZ:
Exactly. ANSI is a “serious art”. ASCII is a “serious art”. That’s why they have strict rules which no one in his/her right mind would go against. But PETSCII by not having strict rules is never going to be “serious”. And the only one to blame is us. So if this is OK with existing PETSCII artists and other C64 enthusiasts, if they are OK with disrespect PETSCII gets, being treated as a retarded child of the textmode family, then I’m alone in seeing its potential. To me, the worst thing about this all is that what we’ve witnessed this year with faux PETSCII is new to me. Rules seemed to have been respected until recently, so PETSCII was also “serious art” until recently. And we all should do what about this relatively new transgression? Just let it go? Pretend rules never existed? Why exactly should we do that? |
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MagerValp
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 1078 |
Whereas in the Amiga ASCII scene the use of custom fonts seem to be encouraged. Different platforms, different traditions.
But even if we standardize PETSCII as text mode and rom font only (aka can be printed from BASIC (which, again, I can do a shit ton of tricks in BASIC if that's your definition... :)), is that upper case or lower case? ECM allowed? What about scrolling? What about animation? And if you allow scrolling or animation, is it only BBS style printing or do you allow smooth scroll and animation frames or multiple pages? All of the above have been used in "proper" PETSCII compos. |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11386 |
Quote:Whereas in the Amiga ASCII scene the use of custom fonts seem to be encouraged.
Not really - the default is "Topaz" (Or an alternative one that is very similar). Nothing custom though.
Revision:
Quote:
Amiga ASCII : Will be shown using DMG’s Amiga fonts.
Evoke:
Quote:
PabloDraw’s built-in Topaz font will be used for displaying Amiga style ASCII.
Nordlicht:
Quote:
Amiga ASCII’s will use the built-in topaz font for displaying
Deadline:
Quote:
Amiga ASCII/ANSI can use any font supported by AnsiLove; the default is “topaz”.
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11386 |
Quote:But even if we standardize PETSCII as text mode and rom font only (aka can be printed from BASIC (which, again, I can do a shit ton of tricks in BASIC if that's your definition... :)), is that upper case or lower case? ECM allowed? What about scrolling? What about animation? And if you allow scrolling or animation, is it only BBS style printing or do you allow smooth scroll and animation frames or multiple pages? All of the above have been used in "proper" PETSCII compos.
Pretty much all compos have had a "no animations" rule since forever. Some have "one screen" now to eliminate the converted mega large ANSI stuff that became popular in the past years.
That said, having to deliver the pictures as .seq files - very similar to the requirement for PC or Amiga - would solve pretty much all problems outlines here. |
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4gentE
Registered: Mar 2021
Posts: 285 |
Quote:But even if we standardize PETSCII as text mode and rom font only
IF we standardize? I thought it was standardized already. Why don’t we look at ALL (that’s 100%) PETSCII entries at CSDb. They all are text mode and rom font only. Some are taller, like 40x50 or something. That looks as an established standard to me. “Lowercase or uppercase”? What? Either. As in ONE or ANOTHER. You know that atleast as well as me. Why are we playing these games? Who gains from this resistance to continued compliance to already existing standards? I don’t understand. |
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