To coincide with the 20th Anniversary, 6th Quest Contest, (Discord Server) we're working on the next maintenance release of Zelda Classic 2.53.0 (Release 3).

If you are interested, you can download the latest contest build here.

The quest that wins the contest will be included in the final build of ZC 2.53.0, Release 3.

ZLaunch
2.53.0R3 includes a new version of ZLaunch (v2.7,7).
  • Includes ZCL 2.7.6, supporting loading Themes,loading Modules, loading Save Files; and separating GUI themes between ZCPlayer and ZQ Editor.






New Features
  • Added some additional user-created GUI skins.
  • The keys used to change the current CSet (- and =, but let's call them MINUS and PLUS) now allow changing the Level Palette by +/-1 or +/-16, in addition to working on CSet as before.
    • Unmodified Minus: Reduce CSet by One
    • Unmodified Plus: Increase CSet by One
    • Shift Modified Minus: Reduce Level Palette By One
    • Shift Modified Plus: Increase Level Palette By One
    • Control Modified Minus: Reduce Level Palette by 16
    • Control Modified Plus: Increase Level Palette by 16
  • Added the following hotkeys:
    • % :Set Current Level palette to 15 (0 to 14 were previously possible).
  • DXGL is now packaged with ZC (it does not require installation).
  • You can toggle DXGL on and off with ZLaunch 2.7.3.on the Drivers tab.
  • The ZScript Compiler now has sound effects for the following events:
    • Script Error
    • Script Compilation Success
    • Finished Assigning Slot Data
    • You can change the sounds (and the master volume) of these audio events, or disable them in zquest.cfg.

  • You can now save any single palette from any Palette Editor, and you can use the Palette Editor Grab button to load its cset ramps into a different palette.
  • You can now have multiple game save (.sav) files.
    • You can load the desired save file using ZLaunch, from the ZC Player tab, or set it in zc.cfg.







New DXGL and Save File Configuration Options in ZCL




Export or Grab Individual Palettes in the Palette Editor




Classic.zh
  • Added an 'automatic', Z2-style Lantern item
  • Added 1st Quest Eagle Dungeon door bug scripts.
  • Blank Quest (WIP)
    • Started work on integrating 1st.qst (thanks to Anthus) wit the blank Classic tileset quest, and all Classic.zh features, plus expanded palettes.




Bugfixes
  • The mouse Y position in ZScript will no longer be improperly synchronised during Screen->Quake.
  • Fixed a bug where changing the screen palette with the < and > hotkeys wrapped from 0 to 255, and from 255 to 0. It now properly wraps to and from palette 511.
  • Clicking on one of the nine button panel recent screen buttons no longer crashes ZQuest if you reduced the mapcount and made that mapscreen invalid. The buttons are now always clamped to valid mapscreens and will automatically update if you reduce the mapcount.
  • Trying to access member variables of invalid ffcs (e.g, ffc 0, or ffc 33) will no longer crash ZC, and will log errors.
  • You can now set doors/templates on all mapscreens (up to 0x87).
  • Fixed some colour/theme flaws.
  • Fixed lvl colours not pulling an average for palettes ending in E or F and displaying an incorrect (violet) colour space on the mapscreen selection grid.
  • Clear RenderTargets set by Previous Quest







ZScript and std,zh
  • Zelda->Version now returns 253,0001 for ZC Player version checks by script.
  • Ported the new (v2.55), coloured ZScript debugging console to 2.53. This console reports more information than the old console, and closing it will not kill the ZC process/thread.
  • Fixed int WeaponTypeToID(int) in std_functions.zh, reporting inverse weapons for bomb/bombblast types.
  • Added constants and accessors to get the version, and file date of std.zh at compile time.



The following ZASM interpreter fixes will only be valid if the player plays the quest in ZC v2.53.0 Release 3, or later:
  • Writing to Link->Equipment now works properly.
  • Added SetEquipment(int a, int b) to std.zh as an easy to use function for those who are not comfortable with bitwise operations fro writing Link-.>Equipment.
  • npc->Attributes[] is now read/write, and is the correct size.
  • Corrected size of ffc->Flags[]
  • Added int Screen->GetRenderTarget(). This returns the currently set render target used by bitmap draws.
  • Updated zscript.txt and added ZScript_Changes.txt for a cursory review of the new features that won't work in older player versions. Use Version.zh to control the minimum player version to play your quest.

Addons
  • In addition to DXGL, ZC now ships with AntiMicro.
    • AntiMicro is an open-source utility hat allows you to bind any controller input to keyboard keys, and thus allows binding buttons and gamepads that ZC Player has trouble recognising.
    • We have included presets for the XBoxOne and the XBox360 controllers, as these have been notorious with regard to users being unable to map all of their buttons, particular the crosspad buttons and extra triggers. AntiMicro allows using all of the features on these controllers.
    • If you create gamepad configuration files with AntiMicro, please submit them to us, so that we can bundle them with future releases of ZC.



Misc
  • The 'About' dialogues in ZC Player and ZQ Editor now display the date and time of the build.
  • Epilepsy protection to reduce screen and bomb flashing.


As always, please report any bugs, or issues with this build on the Bug Reports subforum, and please insicate that the report is for Release 3. Please include the build date and time (from the ZC or ZQ About menu dialogue).