Version
history
1.4.5 (November,
2003)
- Recompiled
with SpriteWorld 3.0 final.
- Updated
registration information. Factor Software is now using a faster registration
system for all its products that lets you unlock your copy within minutes
after purchase. Instant delivery! Instant play!
- Updated
Help.
1.4.4 (September,
2003)
- Fixed a
bug that caused display problems on Mac OS 9.x (background shifted or partially
drawn).
- Changed
the "What's New..." Help menu item to "Release Notes...".
1.4.3 (August,
2003)
- Fixed a
bug that caused the unregistered version of the game to open a saved game
file when double clicking it in the Finder or dragging it onto the application's
icon.
- The game
has been recompiled with the latest releases of the MacZoop application
framework (2.6.1), the SpriteWorld animation library (3.0b2) and the MADLibrary
music drivers (PlayerPRO 5.9.8). These updates contain several bug fixes
and code improvements.
- The application's
memory partition has been raised to 12 MBytes (this affects Mac OS 9 users
only).
- Updated
the documentation as usual.
1.4.2 (April,
2003)
- Fixed a
bug that caused the game to stop responding to mouse and keyboard input
(i.e., to freeze) after completing level 80.
- The Alien
Boss sprite was not properly erased from the screen after completing the
death sequence. Fixed.
- The game
freezed after loading an edited level with trapped enemies (i.e., completely
surrounded by blocks). Fixed.
1.4.1 (March,
2003)
- Fixed a
bug that caused the game to quit with an error (wrong depth) when switching
to full screen, under certain conditions (direct-to-screen drawing active
and monitor depth set to millions of colors).
- Now the
game checks the screen depth at startup and refuses to run if the monitor
is set to less than the minimum required depth (thousands of colors).
- The game
now requires at least Mac OS 9 to run. Mac OS 8.6 is no more supported.
1.4 (March,
2003)
- The game
application is now built as a Mac OS X bundle (it works as a packaged application
in OS 9). All external resource files and libraries are now stored inside
the bundle and are not visible at Finder level.
- The game
now runs normally in a window, but you can switch to full screen (and back)
at any time, even during a game.
- When running
in a window, the game uses a curtain effect for screen transitions (it
can be switched off in the preferences dialog).
- The info
screens have been redesigned and are now displayed directly on the main
window (previously, they were implemented using a dialog).
- All the
standard application interface elements (in particular, menus and alerts)
have been improved to be more compliant with Mac OS X and Aqua.
- The standard
Navigation save dialog is now displayed as a sheet dialog on Mac OS X (it
reverts to a movable modal dialog when in full screen).
- The standard
Navigation open dialog now correctly shows the preview image stored into
saved game files on Mac OS X.
- The "Register..." and "Enter
Code..." menu commands have been moved to the Application menu (the
Apple menu on Classic Mac OS).
- A "Windows" menu
has been added, holding the "Full Screen" and "Minimize" commands;
it also lists the game's main window.
- The documentation
is now available via the "Help" menu (Mac OS X help book format).
- RezLib has
been updated to version 1.1.12. This release fixes a bug resulting in the
game not going in background when switching to another application in full
screen mode.
- The game
now supports SimpleSoft's XGamePad Support for configuring and using HID
compliant USB input devices on Mac OS X.
- Fixed a
bug that caused some items in the Apple and Application menu to appear
in Italian on Mac OS X. This happened bacause the default country code
for the application was erroneously set to Italy (4). Now it is set to
USA (0).
- Recompiled
with Metrowerks CodeWarrior Development Tools 8.3.
- Built with
the current versions of the MacZoop application framework (2.6GM) and the
SpriteWorld animation library (3.0b1).
- The game
now requires CarbonLib 1.5 or later or Mac OS X 10.1.2 or later.
- The application's
memory partition has been raised to 9.5 megabytes (this affects the Classic
environment only).
1.3 (final
release - June, 2002)
- A few small
bug fixes and code adjustments.
- Updated
the documentation as usual.
1.3b4 (beta
release 4 - April, 2002)
- Fixed a
subtle bug, introduced in beta 3, that caused the game to occasionally
crash or quit on error.
- This build
has been compiled with less code optimizations to avoid crashes and spurious
errors on certain system configurations.
- Updated
RezLib to the latest version (1.1.11). This update fixes a bug that was
preventing the game to load under Mac OS 8.6.
1.3b3 (beta
release 3 - April, 2002)
- Fixed a
bug that caused the player sprite(s) to skip the death sequence when aborting
a game just after completing a level.
- Fixed a
bug that caused the shield effect not being shown around players in certain
situations.
- Fixed a
bug that caused wrong animation frames to be displayed for the destructible
block sprite after loading a previously saved game.
- Fixed a
bug that caused the Alien Boss egg to occasionally release two enemies
instead of one.
- Recompiled
with MacZoop 2.5.2r1.
- Added complete
sets of 32-bit icons, including 128x128 thumbnail icons, for application,
data files, saved games files and preferences file. These new icons are
displayed in the Mac OS X Finder only.
1.3b2 (beta
release 2 - February, 2002)
- Fixed a
bug that caused the Ghost sprite to be erroneously identified as a Taur
sprite (wrong sprite ID number assigned). This was particularly obvious
when restoring a saved game: Ghosts were replaced with Taurs.
- Improved
error handling when switching display size and color at startup to avoid
the screen remaining obscured if something goes wrong.
- Updated
RezLib to the latest version (1.1.1). Version 1.1 or later of this library
is now required to run.
- On Mac OS
Classic, desktop icons position is now saved on startup and restored on
quit. The warning about possible Finder icons shifting due to on-the-fly
resolution switching has been removed. This functionality is implemented
in RezLib 1.1 and has not been thoroughly tested.
- Fixed minor
cosmetic problems with dialogs appearance under Mac OS X.
1.3b1 (beta
release 1 - January, 2002)
- The game
engine is now built using SpriteWorld 3 instead of SAT (SAT is apparently
no more supported by its author).
- The Carbon
version of the game runs on Mac OS 8.6 through 9.x with CarbonLib 1.1 or
later or on Mac OS X.
- Improved
all standard application interface elements. Aqua is supported under Mac
OS X.
- Increased
the game's memory partition to 9 megs to accomodate to Carbon and SpriteWorld
needs.
- The new
engine allows to use "interlacing" to gain speed on older machines.
When this option is selected, the game animation is drawn skipping every
other line.
- The game
now supports stereo positioning of sounds (useful only if you have speakers).
- Added/changed
some translucency effects.
- Monitor
resolution and depth switching is now performed using RezLib (Carbon only).
- When running
under Mac OS X the monitor depth is set to 16-bit (thousands of colors)
on startup.
- Several
bug fixes and code improvements.
- Updated
the documentation as usual.
1.2.3 (June,
2000)
- Fixed a
bug, introduced in version 1.2.2, that caused the game to crash during
startup on all iMacs (in fact, it failed to set the monitor depth to 8-bit).
- Fixed a
bug, introduced in version 1.2.2, that caused the game to crash when opening
some dialogs on systems with Appearance Manager older than 1.1 (for ex.
Mac OS 8.1).
- Fixed a
bug that caused the game to crash when opening the Info dialog a second
time.
- Fixed a
small memory leak (about 1k) occurring when starting a new game or opening
a saved game.
- Now, when
changing keyboard settings, the program checks if Caps Lock is on and asks
the user to switch it off.
1.2.2 (May,
2000)
- Fixed a
problem with the resolution switching routines where safe timing modes
(refresh rates) could not be determined with some VGA displays.
- Now saved
game files are not loaded when double clicked in the Finder if the game
is not registered.
- Now the
game makes use of Navigation Services, if available, when opening and saving
games.
- In addition,
a preview image is stored with saved game files. The preview image works
with Navigation Services only and requires QuickTime™ for its creation.
It shows a small screen snapshot, the level number and the file creation
date and time.
- Fixed a
few small bugs not affecting the majority of the users.
- Increased
the game's memory partition to 6 megs to avoid occasional 'out of memory'
messages as reported by some users.
1.2.1 (April,
2000)
- Fixed a
bug that caused negative score values to be displayed in some cases when
surpassing one million of points.
- Fixed a
bug in the display resolution switching routines that caused the monitor's
refresh rate to be uncorrectly set in some cases.
- Now, when
switching the monitor size to 640x480, the best available refresh rate
is always set (normally 75Hz).
- Changed
the text in the alert displayed when it is not possible to change the main
monitor's resolution to 640x480.
- Improved
player manoeuvrability when using joysticks or other fully rotational controllers
via InputSprocket.
- Fixed minor
problems with dialogs appearance.
- Removed
some useless resources.
1.2 (final
release - April, 2000)
- Fixed a
bug that caused the game to quit with a type 12 error at startup if the
Control Strip was not installed.
- Now the
Control Strip is shown at quit (or when the game is suspended) only if
it was hidden by the game application.
- Fixed a
bug that caused the game to crash at startup on Mac OS version prior to
8.5 if the Internet Config Extension was not installed.
- Adjusted
the size of some dialog items to avoid text being cut when using a system
font different from Charcoal.
- Now the
save game feature is unlocked immediately when a valid registration code
is entered (no need to quit and restart the game).
- On saved
games the teleporters link order was reversed. Fixed.
- Removed
some useless 68k code resources.
1.2b2 (beta
release 2 - March, 2000)
- Fixed a
bug that caused wrong animation frames being occasionally used for the "ghost" sprite,
during death sequence.
- Modified
alert message issued when trying to open files (data files or saved games)
belonging to an older, and not compatible, version of BOOM.
- Now saved
game files have the same version as the application.
- Now the
program correctly handles the opening of a multiple selection of saved
game files from the Finder, i.e., only the first selected file is actually
loaded.
- Now the
score display in the side panel correctly indicates millions of points
with small stars as expected.
- Removed
unused string resource.
1.2b1 (beta
release 1 - February, 2000)
- Completely
rewritten in C/C++.
- Recompiled
with the latest updates of the Sprite Animation Toolkit and the MADLibrary
(music drivers).
- Highly improved
all standard application interface elements.
- The Preferences
dialog (formerly called Options) has been completely redesigned using tab
panels.
- The Preferences
dialog is now directly accessible when in pause (the relevant menu item
has been moved to the Edit menu).
- The "Quick
Settings" menu is now called "Options" and is located on
the menubar for easier access.
- Now the
game automatically hides the Control Strip (if active) on startup and shows
it again on quit (and when switching to the Finder).
- Added an
option for automatically setting the monitor resolution to 640 x 480 on
startup.
- Added support
for external input devices like joysticks and game pads (requires InputSprocket
1.1 or later installed).
- Added transparency
effects to visually enhance some animation details.
- Introduced
a frame-skipping mechanism to speed-up animation on slower machines.
- Now registered
users are able to save games in progress. The option for selecting the
starting level has been removed.
- The status
and quantity of collectible items (no. of bombs, quick match, explosion
width, shield and speed-up) are now shown in the side panel for both players.
- Now enemies
attack or follow players only if they can actually 'see' them, i.e., they
don't foolishly fire at players from behind blocks like in previous versions.
- Now enemies
do not change shape (i.e., do not turn into aliens and vice versa) during
death sequence.
- Now the
fading routines affect the main monitor only.
- Increased
the game's memory partition to 5.5 MBytes.
- Various
bug fixes and code improvements.
- Updated
the documentation as usual.
1.1.4 (February,
1999)
- Updated
author's e-mail and Web site URLs in both software and documentation.
1.1.3 (October,
1998)
- Updated
author's e-mail, Web site and FTP URLs in both software and documentation.
1.1.2 (July,
1998)
- Fixed a
bug, introduced with version 1.1.1, that caused occasional freezes on certain
machines. Apparently, the bug was related to the latest implementation
of the music drivers (MADLibrary) and the freezes occurred when disposing
of a music track without resetting the associated driver first.
1.1.1 (June,
1998)
- Recompiled
with CodeWarrior® Professional release 3.
- Recompiled
with the latest updates of the Sprite Animation Toolkit and the MADLibrary
(music drivers).
- Optimized
the size of some graphic resources.
- Improved
all dialogs.
- Updated
URLs in the About dialog.
- Various
small bug fixes and code improvements.
- Changed
postal address in the documentation.
- Updated
exchange rates in the Register application.
- The game
is now distributed in form of an installer application.
1.1 (December,
1997)
- Recompiled
with CodeWarrior® Professional 1.
- Recompiled
with the latest updates of the Sprite Animation Toolkit and the MADLibrary
(music drivers).
- Fixed a
bug in the monitor depth switching routines, possible cause of crashes.
- Fixed a
memory leak that occurred when closing some dialogs.
- In the about
dialog it was actually possible to write in URL fields. Fixed.
- Now the
current level number is shown on the upper right corner of the screen during
play.
- Increased
the minimum intermission time between levels on fast machines (2 secs).
- Added an
energy display for the Alien Boss in the final level.
- Added the
ability to register on line by launching your Web browser directly from
the game application.
- Now the
game application is able to locate the “Register BOOM” application
everywhere on your hard disk.
- New Factor
logo during loading sequence.
- Updated
exchange rates in the Register application.
1.0.1 (March,
1997)
- Recompiled
with CodeWarrior™ 11.
- Recompiled
with the latest versions of the Sprite Animation Toolkit and the MADLibrary
(music drivers).
- Fixed a
bug in the sound management routines that caused output corruption (noise)
on some machines.
- Fixed a
bug that caused a player to occasionally get stuck over a block after a
collision with the other player.
- Fixed a
bug that caused a player to occasionally being teleported over a teleporter
already occupied by the other player, resulting in the two players being
placed one upon the other.
- Increased
the game's memory partition to 4.5 MBytes.
- Added Gravis
GamePad sets matching the default key assignment for Player 1 and 2.
- Added “Troubleshooting” section
to the Read Me file.
1.0.0 (January,
1997)