Chocolate Keen (a "port" of Commander Keen 1-3)
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 19:26
UPDATE (Dec 24th, 2016): Edited download links since Dropbox' "Public" folder is expected to become private by March 2017.
UPDATE (May 12th, 2013): Support for Keen 3 has just been added, meaning Chocolate Keen has full support for the Invasion of the Vorticons trilogy. Thanks again to Lemm for his assistance!
UPDATE (April 11th, 2013): Support for Keen 2 has just been added, hence the project is renamed "Chocolate Keen" now with no numbers involved. Thanks to Lemm for Keen 2 support!
Links for the most current version:
- Windows executable, packed with Keen 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5e1sqvbjzq1i7 ... 9.zip?dl=0
- Source code (for GNU/Linux, Windows and maybe more), again packed with Keen 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/14ouagaqamc1i ... r.bz2?dl=0
Links for an earlier version (without the launcher and cfg file, looks for some game data files in another place):
- Windows executable, packed with Keen 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b16l3l37cegp9 ... 5.zip?dl=0
- Source code (with Keen 1): https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejohb3d7nlegb ... r.bz2?dl=0
Original post contents (with a few edits):
Hey all,
Let me first add that the following would not be possible without the great work of QuantumG and Lemm.
Basically, what I am talking about is a "port" of Commander Keen 1 to modern platforms, using SDL (and SDL_mixer). I cannot say it is complete, but you should be able to play through all levels, at least. I also can't promise it's stable, though! (Actually, that can *never* be promised...)
UPDATE (November 23th, 2012): I think that we now have a complete "port" of Commander Keen 1 v1.31. A few parts of the original code may not be ported in case they are never actually used (with no modification applied).
Please see the included README.TXT file for more details, along with things that may or may not be supported.
A short list of points describing the way this has been done:
- First, QuantomG figured out a lot of stuff about Keen 1 itself. Here is a link to a version of the file posted by him: http://www.quantumg.net/keen1.c.txt
Basically, it is C code which actually seems to have an implementation of x86 Assembly code.
- Secondly, Lemm came out, got the Keen 1 exe in ASM form and used QuantumG's work in order to give names to stuff.
- Finally, I have "ported" Lemm's work to a mixed C/C++ app using SDL. A few uncompression routines from Commander Genius have been used to the rescue.
Chances are that I won't be working on it any time soon. If someone wants to step up and improve it, be warned that a lot of the work, well... Either something is not so trivial (probably not so much now), or it's trivial but also "robotic" in a way...
P.S. About the name, I've thought that it makes sense since I aim to replicate vanilla Keen1 (including compatibility with files like SCORES.CK1). I've had other thoughts and the name *may* change later. For instance, if someone actually gets to add support for Keen 2 or 3...
For now, though, it is called Chocolate Keen1. NOT Chocolate Keen, nor Chocolate Keen Vorticons, Chocolate KeenV or anything else. (Hey wait, Chocolate KeenV may refer to Keen 5...)
The current name is simply Chocolate Keen1.
Hope you have fun while trying this out!
UPDATE (May 12th, 2013): Support for Keen 3 has just been added, meaning Chocolate Keen has full support for the Invasion of the Vorticons trilogy. Thanks again to Lemm for his assistance!
UPDATE (April 11th, 2013): Support for Keen 2 has just been added, hence the project is renamed "Chocolate Keen" now with no numbers involved. Thanks to Lemm for Keen 2 support!
Links for the most current version:
- Windows executable, packed with Keen 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5e1sqvbjzq1i7 ... 9.zip?dl=0
- Source code (for GNU/Linux, Windows and maybe more), again packed with Keen 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/14ouagaqamc1i ... r.bz2?dl=0
Links for an earlier version (without the launcher and cfg file, looks for some game data files in another place):
- Windows executable, packed with Keen 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b16l3l37cegp9 ... 5.zip?dl=0
- Source code (with Keen 1): https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejohb3d7nlegb ... r.bz2?dl=0
Original post contents (with a few edits):
Hey all,
Let me first add that the following would not be possible without the great work of QuantumG and Lemm.
Basically, what I am talking about is a "port" of Commander Keen 1 to modern platforms, using SDL (and SDL_mixer). I cannot say it is complete, but you should be able to play through all levels, at least. I also can't promise it's stable, though! (Actually, that can *never* be promised...)
UPDATE (November 23th, 2012): I think that we now have a complete "port" of Commander Keen 1 v1.31. A few parts of the original code may not be ported in case they are never actually used (with no modification applied).
Please see the included README.TXT file for more details, along with things that may or may not be supported.
A short list of points describing the way this has been done:
- First, QuantomG figured out a lot of stuff about Keen 1 itself. Here is a link to a version of the file posted by him: http://www.quantumg.net/keen1.c.txt
Basically, it is C code which actually seems to have an implementation of x86 Assembly code.
- Secondly, Lemm came out, got the Keen 1 exe in ASM form and used QuantumG's work in order to give names to stuff.
- Finally, I have "ported" Lemm's work to a mixed C/C++ app using SDL. A few uncompression routines from Commander Genius have been used to the rescue.
Chances are that I won't be working on it any time soon. If someone wants to step up and improve it, be warned that a lot of the work, well... Either something is not so trivial (probably not so much now), or it's trivial but also "robotic" in a way...
P.S. About the name, I've thought that it makes sense since I aim to replicate vanilla Keen1 (including compatibility with files like SCORES.CK1). I've had other thoughts and the name *may* change later. For instance, if someone actually gets to add support for Keen 2 or 3...
For now, though, it is called Chocolate Keen1. NOT Chocolate Keen, nor Chocolate Keen Vorticons, Chocolate KeenV or anything else. (Hey wait, Chocolate KeenV may refer to Keen 5...)
The current name is simply Chocolate Keen1.
Hope you have fun while trying this out!