Modular design

This post is me just thinking aloud about what I currently think the direction of 'New Plazzle' should be.

Plazzle's limitations

In the end Plazzle will always be a puzzle game where you have to switch rectangular blocks to restore a moving pattern. The shape of the blocks is set, really; there are only a few values you can regularly fit into the 40x24 layout. 

So what can the new version of Plazzle bring that the old one hasn't already? What can its 'raison d'être' be?

Added value

More interesting sounds. 

That's certainly on the table. I'm no SID Wizard (pun intended), so I'll have to look for some assistence there. Someone remarked they don't care much about the 'black levels', but personally I like the little hints the sound can give, so even if there are no more black levels, I want to keep the sound system.
But if I want the sound to remain a 'hinter' it cannot be too complicated, at least not while playing. So maybe have more interesting music playing when you solved the puzzle. I'm putting this on the  back burner for now.

Other visualizations

I'm already working on that. In the original version the visualization is in ECM mode. The new title uses the same algorithm but draws into Hires Bitmap mode. But you could also think about Multicolor Hires, Multicolor character mode or even Petscii mode (although the linked Plascii Petsma would not be possible).

All these different modes have their own limitations and possibilities. And need research and customization to  work out. The risk is I'll get stuck in scope creep. Other character sets than the ones used in the original are certainly possible (I have a few). So I'll be doing at least parts of these things.

Loading saving

For making the levels I made a separate level tester where I could view and edit certain settings. I think something like this should integrated into the new version.

Expandability

At the moment I'm using this one algorithm, this one sine table, this one conversion table and a few variants. It would be great if the new version was flexible enough to accomodate othe algorithm, color schemes, character sets, tables. So people could download expansions or maybe even make their own. I know there must be people who have looked at 'my' plasma and knew they could do better.  It would be great if they could do that.

Plazzle API

So at the moment I'm planning to make parts of the game modular, so people can load, download, or even make their own expansion. That does mean parts of the game have to have a predictable layout, an API if you will. 

The new version has a settings screen. That should also depend on the options the expansion gives. So that menu should be able to read and write to the editable properties of the module.

Conclusion

For any Commodore 64 project I think it's very important to set achievable goals (and they should give you some kind of reward in the not-too-far future). It will never make much money and real life can and will interfere with any plan you make (hello Corona!). 

So I think my focus in the coming time will be to focus on rewrite the current engine in a new API format and make a settings screen that will render based on that API.

There no big visual improvement to show, so I've added a 'design document' to this post.