Version analysis of Main flight loop (Part 9 of 16)

This code appears in the following versions (click to see it in the source code):

Cassette, Disc (flight), 6502 Second Processor, Master and Electron

Code variations between these versions are shown below.

       Name: Main flight loop (Part 9 of 16)
       Type: Subroutine
   Category: Main loop
    Summary: For each nearby ship: If it is a space station, check whether we
             are successfully docking with it
  Deep dive: Program flow of the main game loop
             Docking checks


 The main flight loop covers most of the flight-specific aspects of Elite. This
 section covers the following:

   * Process docking with a space station

 For details on the various docking checks in this routine, see the deep dive
 on "Docking checks".


 Other entry points:

   GOIN                 We jump here from part 3 of the main flight loop if the
                        docking computer is activated by pressing "C"


.ISDK

Code variation 1 of 5Specific to an individual platform

Tap on a block to expand it, and tap it again to revert.

Cassette
Flight, 6502SP, Master
Electron
 LDA K%+NI%+32          \ 1. Fetch the AI counter (byte #32) of the second ship
 BMI MA62               \ in the ship data workspace at K%, which is reserved
                        \ for the sun or the space station (in this case it's
                        \ the latter), and if it's negative, i.e. bit 7 is set,
                        \ meaning the station is hostile, jump down to MA62 to
                        \ fail docking (so trying to dock at a station that we
                        \ have annoyed does not end well)
 LDA K%+NI%+36          \ 1. Fetch the NEWB flags (byte #36) of the second ship
 AND #%00000100         \ in the ship data workspace at K%, which is reserved
 BNE MA62               \ for the sun or the space station (in this case it's
                        \ the latter), and if bit 2 is set, meaning the station
                        \ is hostile, jump down to MA62 to fail docking (so
                        \ trying to dock at a station that we have annoyed does
                        \ not end well)
 LDA K%+NI%+32          \ 1. Fetch the AI counter (byte #32) of the second ship
 BMI MA62               \ in the ship data workspace at K%, which is reserved
                        \ for the space station, and if it's negative, i.e. bit
                        \ 7 is set, meaning the station is hostile, jump down
                        \ to MA62 to fail docking (so trying to dock at a
                        \ station that we have annoyed does not end well)

 LDA INWK+14            \ 2. If nosev_z_hi < 214, jump down to MA62 to fail
 CMP #214               \ docking, as the angle of approach is greater than 26
 BCC MA62               \ degrees

Code variation 2 of 5Related to a standard feature

The cassette version contains an extra docking check that makes sure we are facing towards the station when trying to dock.

Tap on a block to expand it, and tap it again to revert.

Cassette, Electron
Flight, 6502SP, Master
 JSR SPS4               \ Call SPS4 to get the vector to the space station
                        \ into XX15

 LDA XX15+2             \ 3. Check the sign of the z-axis (bit 7 of XX15+2) and
 BMI MA62               \ if it is negative, we are facing away from the
                        \ station, so jump to MA62 to fail docking
 JSR SPS1               \ Call SPS1 to calculate the vector to the planet and
                        \ store it in XX15

 LDA XX15+2             \ Set A to the z-axis of the vector

                        \ This version of Elite omits check 3 (which would check
                        \ the sign of the z-axis)

Code variation 3 of 5Related to a standard feature

When docking, the cassette version checks that the angle between the vector to the space station and the nominal approach is less than 22.0 degrees; in the disc version, it checks that the angle between the vector to the planet and the nominal approach is less than 26.3 degrees; and in the advanced versions, it checks that the angle between the vector to the planet and the nominal approach is less than 22.0 degrees.

Tap on a block to expand it, and tap it again to revert.

Cassette, 6502SP, Master, Electron
Flight
 CMP #89                \ 4. If z-axis < 89, jump to MA62 to fail docking, as
 BCC MA62               \ we are not in the 22.0 degree safe cone of approach
 CMP #86                \ 4. If z-axis < 86, jump to MA62 to fail docking, as
 BCC MA62               \ we are not in the 26.3 degree safe cone of approach

 LDA INWK+16            \ 5. If |roofv_x_hi| < 80, jump to MA62 to fail docking,
 AND #%01111111         \ as the slot is more than 36.6 degrees from horizontal
 CMP #80
 BCC MA62

.GOIN

Code variation 4 of 5A variation in the comments only

This variation is blank in the Cassette, Disc (flight), 6502 Second Processor and Electron versions.

Master
\JSR stopbd             \ This instruction is commented out in the original
                        \ source

Code variation 5 of 5Specific to an individual platform

Tap on a block to expand it, and tap it again to revert.

Cassette, Electron
Flight
6502SP, Master
                        \ If we arrive here, either the docking computer has
                        \ been activated, or we just docked successfully

 LDA #0                 \ Set the on-screen hyperspace counter to 0
 STA QQ22+1

 LDA #8                 \ This instruction has no effect, so presumably it used
                        \ to do something, and didn't get removed

 JSR LAUN               \ Show the space station launch tunnel

 JSR RES4               \ Reset the shields and energy banks, stardust and INWK
                        \ workspace

 JMP BAY                \ Go to the docking bay (i.e. show the Status Mode
                        \ screen)
                        \ If we arrive here, we just docked successfully

 JSR RES2               \ Reset a number of flight variables and workspaces

 LDA #8                 \ Set the step size for the launch tunnel rings to 8, so
                        \ there are fewer sections in the rings and they are
                        \ quite polygonal (compared to the step size of 4 used
                        \ in the much rounder hyperspace rings)

 JSR HFS2               \ Call HFS2 to draw the launch tunnel rings

 JMP DOENTRY            \ Go to the docking bay (i.e. show the ship hangar)
                        \ If we arrive here, we just docked successfully

 JMP DOENTRY            \ Go to the docking bay (i.e. show the ship hangar)

.MA62

                        \ If we arrive here, docking has just failed

 LDA DELTA              \ If the ship's speed is < 5, jump to MA67 to register
 CMP #5                 \ some damage, but not a huge amount
 BCC MA67

 JMP DEATH              \ Otherwise we have just crashed into the station, so
                        \ process our death