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omicron (2k)


seemo

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Hi,

here's my take on the 'hostile playfield' theme, that has been discussed in the '2600 mockups wanted' thread.

 

The game supports the AtariVox/SaveKey units for hi-score load/save functionality.

 

Instructions:

 

- Console Controls

Reset: starts a new game / ends the current game

Select : if you turn the 2600 on while pressing select, the hi-score on the savekey/atarivox is reset to 0

Colour/BW: before turning the 2600 on, set it to Colour for NTSC colors, BW for PAL colors

 

- During play

Move with the joystick in port 1, FIRE rotates the direction of fire by 90 degrees.

Pay attention to the 'full' square, it will show you where the enemy will start growing.

 

- Score

You get 1 point for each element of the enemy that you hit

 

- Game Over

Game ends when the enemy touches you

 

Enjoy ! :)

Simone

omicron_2k_20080113.bin

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Cool game core with great potential!

Already has: smooth and fast gameplay, clever game controls, and atmospheric, entrancing music. :thumbsup:

 

Main missing ingredients:

- purpose. What's the long-term motivation of shooting blocks? It's sure fun, but becomes pointless quite quickly. (A bit like punching holes into a sheet of paper).

- punch. As a result of above, the player can as well content himself with just avoiding the blocks. That's not so good, since excitement mostly stems from keeping the player on his toes, be it through relentless action or challenging puzzles.

 

Suggestion:

(of course subject to technical feasibility)

- introduce "rescue" items. A single sprite would already be sufficient to implement this idea. Displayed at random on the screen for a limited time, the player would have to race to get it before it vanishes. One level would then last for 10 or 20 such consecutive sprites. Get all of them for a "perfect" score bonus. (a counter could keep track of the rescue items).

Additional "punch" factor: the score for rescued sprites decreases with time: say, 30 pts. within the first 5 secs., 20 pts between 6-15 secs, 10 pts until 30 secs. The sprite then disappears (= 0 pts)

Later game levels could then raise in difficulty by giving increasing motion to these sprites (from static to 8-ways, fix pattern to random, different speeds, etc.)

 

This could at once fill the deficits described before, keep the player motivated and in constant motion, and open lots of possibilities for a full-blown, multi-level, exciting game experience...

(thinking about it: it's basically Robotron's success ingredient. How boring would that be without all the little humans to rescue?)

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  • 5 weeks later...

here's a thought...

 

if no other elements get implemented into the game, then there's no need for the player to press FIRE. as the game is currently, firing should be automatic. then the player can press the FIRE and move the joystick to change direction of the gun.

 

but yeah, it's freaken bad-ass. the little ditty that plays gets you pumped. if this goes on a cart, i'll have about $20-$25 less to my bank account! ;)

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Great game!

 

I'd suggest an occasional bonus bomb that the player can pick up. They can then use the fire button to detonate the bomb, which will destroy all blocks in a 3 block radius of the player.

 

The virus theme is good. Something like Fantastic Voyage. Your microscopic ship has been implanted into the President's brain to destroy a dangerous growth, which is impeding his ability to make competent decisions. ;)

Edited by TROGDOR
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Your microscopic ship has been implanted into the President's brain to destroy a dangerous growth, which is impeding his ability to make competent decisions. ;)

One logic error here - you are assuming an existing ability?? ;)

 

Agree though that the gameplay almost imposes itself for the "contagion" theme. :cool:

Not only in the medical field, it would also beautifully evocate the dangers of computer viri, political doctrines, religious fanatism, philosophical credos, etc.

If it is technically possible to include sprites in the action, their graphical appearance could then serve as the bearers of the respective theme by using typical/credible symbols.

The various themes would then make the framework for different set of levels.

Such extra dimensions would foster a free-floating aura similar to Lead, built upon a strong underlying message: "contagion" is bad, enslaving you physically and mentally.

Edited by r_type2600
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The game doesn't appear on the Atari Age game directory. Other great homebrews are listed. :?

 

I'm pretty sure the 2007 X-Mas releases will get entries in the DB soon. Al was pretty busy building and shipping things until now :)

 

Okay. It sounds like business is good!

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Hi,

thanks to Everybody for the feedback :)

 

Here's an updated version of the game, that features two new gameplay elements:

 

1) the enemy grows from the last occupied cell, while it previously restarted from the 'root' at every growth attempt.

 

This way, the enemy extends way more towards the player, no matter if the player keeps moving.

 

2) there's an undestructable and deadly border around the playfield.

 

This adds some strategy to the game, since you have to approach the enemy from the right direction, otherwise you could hit a border and cause a game-over.

I also find that this keeps the player 'on his toes', somehow addressing the 'lack of tension' issue addressed by the always precious r_type2600 :thumbsup: .

 

One more thing: please note that you do not have to hold FIRE to release missiles, just 'click' it to rotate your ship, Ok ? ;)

 

Have fun !

Simone

omicron_2k_20080229.bin

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