Last console version of Angband?

[Legend]

Never been a big fan of Angband, but I've been thinking about playing it again recently. The problem is that I can't stand the way the newer versions and variants only use terminal display and no fullscreen. The fonts are either too big to display on a single screen, or the ones that can be displayed on one screen are too small for me to see comfortably.

What was the latest version of Angband that used console display and are are that many big differences gameplay-wise between the older dos version and the newer versions?

A link would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. 

[El Barto]

You can use even the last version in fullscreen, using a terminal emulator which allows it.

on mac osx, you could try iterm2 (that's what I use);
on ubuntu, see
http://askubuntu.com/questions/142487/how-to-start-terminal-in-full-screen;
on windows, perhaps http://www.walkernews.net/2009/11/22/enable-full-screen-command-prompt-window-persistently-in-windows-7/.

I can't test the ubuntu and win7 solutions, sorry.

The better solution would be to grab the source code and compile it on your own, to be sure you have a native console version, via the usual "configure, make, make install" routine. Additional details can be found in the readme usually boundled with the sources.

You can find the release notes and source codes of every version on http://rephial.org/release/

Note that you can change the font used in the console version under X11 via the ANGBAND_X11_FONT environment variable, for example

ANGBAND_X11_FONT=10x20

Here is a discussion on the angband forums about fullscreen fonts:
http://angband.oook.cz/forum/showthread.php?t=2955

[Ancient]

I had a look at compiling true console Angband for Windows. It was a major PITA! They completely disregard people who want console stuff on Windows platform. I had to drag pdcurses stuff to its folders and modify some files. Good thing PRIME relies on pdcurses. Experience learned working on it paid now threefold. That and this was not the first time I compiled some *band.

Time to quit whining. I put zip here: Angband 3.2.2

[Legend]

wow. That's awesome. I really didn't expect anyone to answer this thread after such a long time.

Cool of you to compile the source. I have zero experience in programming so I likely never would have gotten it done myself.

Thanks.

Now if only someone could do the same for quickband and ironband  

And maybe Hellband....

[Legend]

 I tried just copying the exe and dll files from this console version of Angband 3.22 that Ancient compiled into Ironband, Quickband, and Hellband. None of them worked.

for quickband and Ironband, I get a "parse error in limits  line 44 column 3 : : undefined directive"

When I tried with hellband, it just closed.

[Ancient]

I didn't notice the thread is half year old. Looks like we have a skilled necromancer with good alignment here. Thumbs up, El Barto!

As for copying the exe: totally no chance for this to work, friend. These variants differ by source quite much. Don't even get me started on compilation flags, libraries linked against and other stuff.

Since I managed to compile one *band preparing the rest will be a cakewalk. Or so I think. You can expect me to drop you another one (if not all three) before Wednesday. Then maybe I could start a page: modern *bands in console versions. Exes for Windows and Makefiles for Linux.

[Legend]

I didn't notice the thread is half year old. Looks like we have a skilled necromancer with good alignment here. Thumbs up, El Barto!

As for copying the exe: totally no chance for this to work, friend. These variants differ by source quite much. Don't even get me started on compilation flags, libraries linked against and other stuff.

Since I managed to compile one *band preparing the rest will be a cakewalk. Or so I think. You can expect me to drop you another one (if not all three) before Wednesday. Then maybe I could start a page: modern *bands in console versions. Exes for Windows and Makefiles for Linux.

Right on. That's very cool of you. Quickband, Ironband, and Hellband are the only band variants I was ever really interested in myself. Maybe Steamband and Tiny Angband. But otherwise, I never really kept up on all the other variants.

The main thing that keeps me from playing Angband or it's variants these days is the interface. For some reason, I just can't stand it. It's a pain in the but for some reason to get just a nice fullscreen console mode which I think is usually the best looking for roguelikes.

Anyways, Thanks again Ancient. Very cool of you. I'm sure the rest of the community will start to take notice and maybe the band developers will start thinking about making a console mode option from now on.

[Ancient]

Success! Here you go:

Hellband 0.8.7
Quickband 2.0.5b
Ironband 14 Aug 2008


I wanted to compile Gumband too because it is my favorite variant but ran out of time. Fortunately it has DOS binary which could run out of the box. If not and you can be bothered a bit DOSBox is quite likely to handle it.

[Legend]

Wow. These are awesome.

I noticed a couple peculiarities. Ironband and quickband do not have the yellow torch light even though the feature is turned on.

Ironband and hellband don't recognize the arrow keys when pressed. Just the numberpad.

None of the recognize the enter key on the numpad.

When trying to fire a projectile in quickband, it doesn't let you just hit the letter of the iutem. It only works if you hit the fire key, then the "/" then the letter of the item. It doesn't let you skip openiong the inventory if you already know what letter the item you want to throw is assigned to.

I can't remember if these things were the same in the other version of if they just popped up in your re-compile. Haven't had time to check yet. Probably will tonight though.

I checked out gumband since you mentioned it. It seems pretty cool so far. I definitely like the concept behind it. If it already has a dos exe, what would the benefit be of re-compiling it? Some of the features of the newer engine would be nice like being able to automatically open doors.

Think you might do a few more?

Looks like Antoine(the guy who made ironband and quickband) has done another one that looks interesting called minimal. http://angband.oook.cz/forum/showthread.php?t=5226 The download is on the bottom of the quickband page. Don't know if it's worth re-compiling just yet though since it is in beta and from the forum posts, it looks like a new version may pop up somewhat soon.

NPP Angband seems like a good one. Seems interesting to me anyways.

Steamband and Tiny Angband are also kinda cool.

Anyways, thanks again Ancient. Very cool of you. It was nice running through hellband a little bit last night again. The windows versions are just a big hinderance for me when it comes to trying to play angband and it's variants. I promise I won't make anymore requests after the above mentioned ones .

[Ancient]

Have you checked the differences against other versions? Today I will try troubleshooting keyboard problems. Then tackle Steamband, Tiny Angband and NPP Angband. Will have a look at what Antoine created too but might skip that for now.

[Legend]

I confirmed that arrow keys and the Enter key on num pad work in the windows versions of all games but not in the re-compiled versions.  When you hit the enter key on the numpad in the dos re-compile, it prompts for "count" and if you hit it again, it says "0".

The yellow light thing seems to be the same in both versions of each game. SHame., I rather like the yellow light shining on the walls.

For some reason I wasn't having an issue with firing projectiles this last time I started dos quickband.

[getter77]

I'd suggest waiting a tad on Steamband, if only for the amazing circumstance where after all these years an apparently at least somewhat substantial new release is inbound to get released perhaps as soon as the tail end of this upcoming weekend.

[Ancient]

I found out what is the probable cause of lack of arrow keys and numpad enter support. PDCurses and NCurses seem to differ enough to make this happen. Looks like entering correct numbers into some pref file might set things right. I have not solved this yet. Number pad enter seems to be recognized as zero which supposedly is count command.

Here are other four you requested:

TinyAngband 0.0.3
Steamband 0.4.1f
NPPAngband 0.5.4
MinimalAngband (2012.04.07)

Once Steamband new shiny release sees the daylight I'll redo that one. NPP and Minimal have slightly different interface and support arrow keys. Hurray!

[Legend]

Cool. THanks Ancient. I'll give them a go later tonight.

I'm finally starting to get back into Angband a bit thanks to your re-compiles.

Wish I could figure out how to register on the Angband forums so I could post a link to this thread and share over there all the work you've done.

Still thinking about doing Gumband? It already has a dos exe, but you mentioned you were thinking of it. What would the benefits of doing so be? If it had an updated option menu like the current Angband, I think it would be worth it. (I hate having to open doors manually )  Just curious.

Thanks again.

[konijn_]

Success! Here you go:

Hellband 0.8.7
Quickband 2.0.5b
Ironband 14 Aug 2008


I wanted to compile Gumband too because it is my favorite variant but ran out of time. Fortunately it has DOS binary which could run out of the box. If not and you can be bothered a bit DOSBox is quite likely to handle it.

You rock, by the way I will steal your zip and place it on my hellband site

Cheers,
T.