Allow me to begin this post by extending my warmest regards and thanks to you for pioneering Lemmix, which has since been developed into NeoLemmix and remains, in my honest opinion, the absolute best option for playing the classic game on a modern platform. Big kudos!
Just to ask the question: what's the motivation behind wanting to stay faithful to the DOS version, in particular? The original game was designed for the Amiga using Deluxe Paint II, and is (IMO) a far superior version of the game, if only aesthetically. The DOS version has some questionable colour schemes going on and all the writing is squished vertically and difficult to read.
I originally discovered this forum after playing Lemmings on SuperLemmini, an engine which I still think is gorgeous enough for Tsyu to consider upgrading a bit to keep up with the features that make NeoLemmix so good.
If you'll indulge me for a moment, take a look at the differences between each version:
Here's the original
Amiga title screen. Note that, whilst everything is probably a bit too big, everything is in proportion and the colours are fairly pleasing to the eye:
The
Lemmix/NeoLemmix title screen squishes these images vertically, remaining faithful to the DOS version but ultimately resulting in a less pleasing visual image. However, the relative sizes of each object on the screen are arguably better in relation to each other:
The
SuperLemmini title screen, regrettably, makes no attempt whatsoever to replicate the original Amiga title screen and is arguably the worst aspect of Lemmini/SuperLemmini, visually. The scroller text is squished horizontally this time, and stands out as being a fairly unconsidered issue. It's a shame because pretty much everywhere else, SL looks fantastic. Note, however, that the text is much more striking and the colours are stronger. In the context of the title screen, it looks perhaps a bit
too bold, but elsewhere in NL these enhancements work a treat:
Moving on to the level pre-screens, here's the
original Amiga version (forgive me, I've had to screenshot this from a YouTube video as I no longer have a working Amiga emulator handy). Note the pleasing colour scheme and easy-to-read text; the only issue I'd have with this version is that the level preview is too small:
The
SuperLemmini version does a great job of replicating this, enhancing the colours whilst also tightening the text up slightly, to a satisfying effect. This would have allowed for a bigger level preview as well, but it inexplicably remains a bit too small
and stretches it horizontally
:
The
Lemmix/NeoLemmix version, again, looks identical to the DOS. The level preview is nice and big this time, which is great. But the text is squished vertically and relatively difficult to read as compared to the other versions:
I think what I'm getting it here is that the option is there to make improvements: have a bigger level preview, easier to read text, a better colour scheme. Why try to replicate a version that is still available in DOSBox for those that really want it?
If the answer is: purely for sentimental reasons, that's absolutely fair enough. But if the intention is then to publish the engine and make it widely available, surely it's worth considering the possibilities for making an improved, dare I say - definitive - version of the Lemmings platform, that incorporates all the best elements of the various versions available? If I had the coding talents that you guys possess, I would no doubt aim for just that!
At the very least, I'd be more than willing to lend my talent for visuals & graphics to provide custom text, background, menu and pre-screen graphics with enhanced colours and more pleasing proportions, if that would help. Just say the word!
EDIT: This goes out to all of you btw; Eric Lang, Namida and ccexplore - I'd be happy to do the above for either/both platforms.