Cortex Labs - Real-time, puzzle, strategy game for x86 processors made in assembly. MS-DOS.
https://cyfrowynomada.com/products/cortex-labs
- Assembly 59.1%
- C 29.1%
- DIGITAL Command Language 7.1%
- Zig 4%
- Makefile 0.4%
- Other 0.3%
| Filename | Latest commit message | Latest commit date |
|---|---|---|
| .zed | ||
| build | ||
| docs | ||
| journal | ||
| jsdos | ||
| packaging | ||
| src | ||
| tools | ||
| .bochsrc | ||
| .gitignore | ||
| build.zig | ||
| LICENSE | ||
| MANUAL.TXT | ||
| README.md | ||
Build the rails. Harvest the planet. Fill the rocket.
Cortex Labs is a small sci-fi logistics strategy game for classic x86 PCs. Build
rail networks, use cargo pods to collect alien resources, and refine green
Neurofung to fill and launch the rocket. The game is written in assembly, runs
as a DOS .COM program, and can boot directly from a floppy disk.
Play
Core Features
- 6 fixed seeded maps, plus a randomized map
- Rail-building logistics across a large 128x128 alien world
- Cargo pods that move resources through player-built rail networks
- Stations, switches, collectors, extractors, silos, refineries, labs, radar, and pod factories
- Three resource types to extract, transport, store, and spend
- Refinery system: turn green Neurofung into rocket fill progress
- Laboratory upgrades for faster pods, faster extractors, longer extractor range, and bigger silos
- Resource storage limits expanded by building silos
- Fog of war and radar visibility expansion
- Mouse gameplay with keyboard shortcuts
- Victory goal: fill the rocket and complete the mission
Story
Earth's last unaging generation is dying.
For three decades, Cortex Labs has chased Neurofung — a wild organism found only on Kepler-486i. A single gram can extend cognition and cellular life. A full rocket could change the fate of humanity.
You are Orbital Commander: the remote mind of an automated mining expedition.
Harvest. Refine. Launch.
Technical Highlights
- Pure x86 assembly game for DOS PCs
- Less than 16KB in size
- Runs under DOS or from a bootable floppy on compatible x86 PCs
- Bootable FAT12 floppy image support
- VGA 320x200 graphics
- 16-color DawnBringer-style palette in 256-color mode
- 16x16 tile and sprite renderer
- Procedural map generation from campaign seed values
- Double-buffered framebuffer drawing
- RLE-compressed title/background images
- PC Speaker sound effects
- Rail auto-orientation and switch logic
- Pod entity movement with collision handling
- DOS mouse support through
int 33h - Bare-metal floppy boot path with tiny PS/2 mouse driver
- Custom asset pipeline using small tools for tiles, fonts, and RLE images
- Graphics created with P1Xel Tool: https://github.com/w84death/p1xel-tool
Screenshots
