The Aliens Legacy
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Prop Parts: The Sentry Gun Computer (Gridcase 3) Program
http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2097		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  VT 1010 [ Fri Feb 20, 2004 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Prop Parts: The Sentry Gun Computer (Gridcase 3) Program
On the old board's Sentry Gun section, a few people had made Sentry Gun Terminal programs for the GRiDCase 3, but I can't remember any of the details. Does anyone know who made these programs, thier features, thier system requirements, thier differences, and how they were made? Also, does anybody have copies of these they can send me? I'm getting a GRiDCase 3 and I have other GRiD's and would like to try them out.;)
Edited by: [url=http://pub217.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=williegoldman>Willie Goldman[/url] at: 4/22/04 12:09 am
Author:  paul kitching [ Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Hi,

I have Master Kenobi's program that he did in QuickBasic 4.5. It runs in DOS so the requirements are minimal.

I will e-mail it to you in a minute.


Paul.

The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.
Author:  VT 1010 [ Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Thanks Paul.;)

I can't wait to try it. I think I remember somebody else made another program. Do you know if someone else made one too?
----------------------

I know what your thinking. Did he fire 95 shots or only 94. To tell you the truth, the counter's broke and in all the excitment I've kind of lost track myself. But since this is a M41A Pulse Pulse, the most powerful automatic rifle in the world and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do you, punk?
Author:  paul kitching [ Sat Feb 21, 2004 12:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Well, apart from that PC one and my Amiga one I don't think I can remember any others. Maybe someone else might know, or one of the newer members might have done something?

Paul.

The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.
Author:  Neokramer [ Sat Feb 21, 2004 2:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Yeah I love that program, great work Paul, very impresive!!! :D

Cpl. Neokramer
Author:  paul kitching [ Sat Feb 21, 2004 11:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Thanks Neokramer :)

It's a shame that no-one here knows where the real original program is. There is probably a 3.5" floppy sat somewhere labelled "Aliens - Sentry Gun Program for Gridcase 3".

When I was researching for my version I did notice that they cheat for the close-ups, but there must have been at least a partially working version that runs on a Grid.

That is one thing that I have never found out (probably one of the only mysteries left in the film for me). Who wrote the program? Is it real (or was the screen plugged into something else under the table)? Where is the program? Was it written in assembler? etc. It's never mentioned in the DVD's or any articles I have ever seen, which is a real shame as I think it's great :)


Paul.

The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.
Author:  Rook 3 [ Sun Feb 22, 2004 7:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
That IS a good question. We practically know everything else about this movie, even what the bloody ASH they used was made from. :)

Anyone know better about the Sentry program?

Harry?

Rook

Visit Rook's Castle, I dare you! What's a matter McFly? Chicken?
Author:  Harry Harris [ Sun Feb 22, 2004 10:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Nope, sorry guys. If I knew it you'd know it too by now.

Harry.
<IMGSRC="http://www.triotech.demon.co.uk/hhacabanner.gif[/img]
Author:  Bug Stomper [ Mon Feb 23, 2004 1:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Paul,

what makes you think they cheated in the closeups?

Cheers,
Stefan
Author:  paul kitching [ Mon Feb 23, 2004 7:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Stefan,

You know what? They didn't!

I have just had another look in nice clear DVD-o-Vision and it all adds up. When I was creating the Sentry font several years ago I had to grab frames from VHS or pause it and the resolution just wasn't up to the job. I was quite sure that the close-ups of the counters had too many pixels in them. Maybe I was using the blocky font used for all the other text as my starting point and thought the big numbers would be consistant (I probably couldn't see the individual pixels on the large numbers). The smaller font looks like it uses a 2x2 pixel block as 1 font pixel (and not 1 real pixel which means it is quite blocky - does any of this make sense?).

The numbers are 28 pixels high which makes the screen about 500x256 (is this something like the Grid's resolution?).


Paul.

The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.
Author:  Bug Stomper [ Tue Feb 24, 2004 6:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Paul,
I did this small .gif animation some time ago:
Image
I used DVD-Screencaps and counted the pixels to do the fonts. The width (512 Pixels) of the animation should be correct, but I think the hight should be 256 Pixels. So the vertical spacing at the bottom may be off by 16 Pixels ;) . I'll see, if I can dig up the other screen too.

Cheers,
Stefan
Edited by: [url=http://pub217.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=bugstomper>Bug Stomper[/url] at: 2/24/04 4:12 am
Author:  Osmotic [ Tue Feb 24, 2004 5:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
From the book of words ( GriDCase Plus Owner’s Guide)

The aspect ratio is 1.4:1 if that helps ?




<span style="color:black;font-family:FederationBold;font-size:medium;]Adapt-Overcome-SurviveEdited by: [url=http://pub217.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=osmotic>Osmotic[/url] at: 2/24/04 10:57 am
Author:  paul kitching [ Tue Feb 24, 2004 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
512x256 seems to makes sense, but I have read that the GridCase 3 was CGA and I think the maximum resolution for CGA is 640x200 (or 640x400 double scanned). Even VGA's 640x480 wouldn't work (you would have to double up the y-axis or it would be too thin and to do that you would need 512 pixels down). Maybe it was EGA which gives 640x350 (with unused space round the edges)?

I can't find the specs of the GridCase 3's screen anywhere.

Paul.

The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.
Author:  VT 1010 [ Tue Feb 24, 2004 10:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
I am going to be getting a GRiDCase 3. Unfortunately it's the red plasma screen version, not the tempested yellow plasma screen version. The guy had a yellow, but he was still using one and needed another one as a spare. The yellow version had extra shielding for use in a radio enviroment. These specific tempested models were made in England (which is probably why they used the yellow screen versions). There's also an LCD version that might have a different resolution then the plasma, but I'm not sure.-Oops. Sorry. I got a little carried away.:lol: Anyway, the guy is going to copy the manual for me and send it with the GRiD 3, so I'll check to see what the resolustion is on it. It should arrive in a week or two.;)
----------------------

I know what your thinking. Did he fire 95 shots or only 94. To tell you the truth, the counter's broke and in all the excitment I've kind of lost track myself. But since this is a M41A Pulse Pulse, the most powerful automatic rifle in the world and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do you, punk?
Author:  Birdie15 [ Tue Feb 24, 2004 10:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
What the hell is he using it for??? A door-stop? :lol:
Birdie@cwcom.net
Author:  paul kitching [ Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Osmotic,

:roll: Not really...

It makes less sense now :lol:

I'm surprised the manual doesn't give the display spec.


VT1010,

Maybe your manual will have more info.

I'm not sure that any of this actually matters, but hey, it keeps us off the streets :) It's even beginning to get too geeky for me, and that's saying something :lol:

We may not find another version that will play on your Grid, but we may find out the screen resolution!!! :lol:

Paul.

The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.
Author:  VT 1010 [ Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Actually, since the tempested version was designed to work in a radio enviroment, he uses it to work with radios. My GRiDCase 1535EXP manual says the resolution is 600x800 pixels and CGA compatible. It has quite a bit of detail on the display, so I'm hoping the GRiDCase 3 manual will have just as much.;)
----------------------

I know what your thinking. Did he fire 95 shots or only 94. To tell you the truth, the counter's broke and in all the excitment I've kind of lost track myself. But since this is a M41A Pulse Pulse, the most powerful automatic rifle in the world and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do you, punk?
Author:  Osmotic [ Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Ah HA !

Found something in book seven: Appendix GRiDCase Plus specifications

Display: Enhanced LCD or Gas Plasma
80 characters by 25 lines
640 x 200 bit mapped, PC compatible
9.5 inches diagonal
1:1.4 aspect ratio




<span style="color:black;font-family:FederationBold;font-size:medium;]Adapt-Overcome-Survive
Author:  paul kitching [ Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
A-Ha! So it is normal CGA - that's a very strange ratio (doesn't that make it 3.2:1 or is it the pixels that are not square - 1.4 times higher than wide?). Which means that our calculations of 256 pixels down are wrong.

I will have another look tomorrow and re-count. Maybe they did cheat afterall.

Paul.

The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.
Author:  Bug Stomper [ Thu Feb 26, 2004 11:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
I'm pretty sure the resolution is 512x256 Pixels. Why?
Because the font in the following animation is pixel-matched to DVD-screenshots form Aliens:
Image

So the font can be used for size reference. Now, if you compare the animation with the following reference picture you'll agree the fit is pretty good. :)

Image

Cheers,
Stefan
Edited by: [url=http://pub217.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=bugstomper>Bug Stomper[/url] at: 2/26/04 5:39 pm
Author:  Osmotic [ Fri Feb 27, 2004 6:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
The books aren’t too big. There’re all A5 and secured into a lever arch folder about 80mm deep. I have a total of eight with exotic names like ‘Getting started :InterGRiD’ and Grid Term and GriDReformat users guide’

They all seam to be concentrating on the programming side of things.

I think I might know why there is this enigma with the resolution. I need to contact another board member. ;)




<span style="color:black;font-family:FederationBold;font-size:medium;]Adapt-Overcome-SurviveEdited by: [url=http://pub217.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=osmotic>Osmotic[/url] at: 2/27/04 12:41 pm
Author:  paul kitching [ Fri Feb 27, 2004 8:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GRiDCase 3 Sentry Gun Program
Yes, it must be 512x256. The picture you posted looks right to me, and the big counter numbers on the other screen are 28 pixels high, so by measuring the screen with a ruler I get at least 240 (and a bit of the screen was off the bottom).

It looks like the GridCase had a better screen than the GridCase Plus ("book seven"!! I like to get manuals with my computers, but that seems excessive!)

Paul.

The Colony - My collection and current prop projects.
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