New homebrew called "Rocketeer"

[GroovyBee]

I've started this in the main Inty section because I think some people are probably afraid of venturing into the programming section . At the end of last year I set myself a goal of releasing a homebrew Inty game on cart in 2013. Well... This is it :-




Its provisionally called "Rocketeer". The objective of the game is to collect the 5 pieces of your rocket and assemble it while dealing with the aliens on the planet you crashed on. Luckily you have your trusty laser cannon to blow them away with. After the rocket is complete and ready for flight you need to collect several fuel pods before you can complete your mission and leave the planet. Bonus items will fall down the screen randomly and can be collected for extra points. Every 4 levels you'll get a new rocket to build. I'm aiming for 4 or 5 different rockets so that'll be 16-20 levels in total.

Most of the core game elements are already in place. I still need to do :-

- A better title page - done.
- Attract sequence (title/high scores/credits) - done.
- Add more frames of player animation - done.
- Add player/baddie collision detect and get the player lives/death system working - done.
- Add falling fuel pods and their collection - done.
- Add falling bonus items and their collection - done.
- Add rocket take off animation - done.
- Add rocket landing animation - done.
- Add more baddie graphics - done.
- Add more baddies attack/movement patterns - done.
- Add more rockets - done.
- Get the score and high score system working - done.
- Add sound effects - done
- Add title page music - done.
- Add difficulty levels - done.
- Randomise the placement of rocket parts - done.
- 5 name and their high scores display - done.
- Intermission screen after rocket launch - done.
- Add a more interesting planet surface - done.
- Fix a few bugs - done (bar anything new) .

Optional :-
- Speech (needs more research and depends on ROM space) - not implemented.
- Add a few small stars in the background (depends on free RAM space) - not implemented.

I have a graphic artist on board the project so the programmer art will soon be replaced .

It'll be a cart only release so there is NO manual, overlays or box.

Finally I'd like to say thanks to sh3-rg for the "spacey" digits and letters font. Hopefully you'll see more of that in the rest of the game.

Current progress
Added 05/03/13 - Shooting left/right
<---- Click to animate
Added 05/03/13 - Collecting fuel pods
<---- Click to animate

Teaser ROM #1 - Released 07/03/13
The teaser game ROM has been tested on :-

PAL/NTSC - Tested on both types of machine using CC3s.
jzintv - Works as expected. Use F6 to map left control to fire and the cursor keys for movement.
jzintv4droid - I haven't tested on it personally but no issues are reported.
jzintvwii - I haven't tested on it personally but no issues are reported.
Nostalgia v5.0 - Works as expected. The default key mapping of Nostalgia uses the Home, Delete or PgDn keys for fire in conjunction with the cursor keys to move.
Bliss v2.0.5 - Issues with some parts of the game.

Rocketeer_Teaser_ROM#1.rom

 

Added 09/03/17 - Release candidate #1 (RC1) video

PRE-ORDER CLOSED 01/04/2013

[+Rick Reynolds]

Any chance of a ROM release as well? Even as just an add-on to the cart release?

 

I'm definitely in for a copy, in whatever form(s) it is made available.

 

Thanks for another great looking home-brew!

[+Gemintronic]

Is there a blog for this? I'd love to hear about the trials and tribulations of INTV development

[GroovyBee]

Any chance of a ROM release as well? Even as just an add-on to the cart release?

 

I'm aiming to get a taster ROM out towards the end of next week. I'll release the final ROM at some point but its not likely to be for a while.

 

I'm definitely in for a copy, in whatever form(s) it is made available.

 

 

Thanks for another great looking home-brew!

 

Thanks for the compliment.

[GroovyBee]

Is there a blog for this? I'd love to hear about the trials and tribulations of INTV development

 

You're in it .

[JasonlikesINTV]

Good news! I'm in, but now I'm going to have to hire Voltron to design a custom box and manual for this You don't mind if I get the cart bedazzled, right?

[+Darrin9999]

I`m in for 1..

[mr_intv]

Count me in for sure. Looks great!

[Utopia]

Put me down for one also.

[Fushek]

Count me in for 1 ... although the collector in me is disappointed in no box

[y-bot]

Please add me to the pre-order list.

 

Thanks!

[LidLikesIntellivision]

Great news!

I can't wait to have the cart.

[GroovyBee]

Thanks for the interest so far.

 

Count me in for 1 ... although the collector in me is disappointed in no box

 

I'm more of a player than a collector.... err... well... much more of a coder than either of those . Maybe the next one will have the "works".

[atari5200dude82]

looks very good. Count me in for 1 too. Any updates on Mystery castle.

[GroovyBee]

looks very good. Count me in for 1 too. Any updates on Mystery castle.

 

Thanks for the compliment. I was looking at the Mystery Castle source code over the Christmas holiday. It'll be very different to the 7800 Halloween game it was kinda based on. When "Rocketeer" is done I have a few more Inty projects I'd like to get going on as well as working on my already announced titles.

[bikeguychicago]

Looks a little like Joust

[bikeguychicago]

I'd be interested in one as well.

[+evg2000]

Please add me to the list

thanks,

charles

[sqoon]

Looks a little like Joust

 

Thought the same here. Congrats on the excellent work, GroovyBee.

[+CyranoJ]

Most of the core game elements are already in place. I still need to do :-

 

- A better title page.

- Attract sequence (title/high scores/credits).

- Add more frames of player animation.

- Add player/baddie collision detect and get the player lives/death system working.

- Add falling bonus items and fuel pods and their collection.

- Add rocket take off and landing animation.

- Add more baddies with different attack/movement patterns.

- Add more rockets.

- Get the score and high score system working.

- Add sound effects and title page music.

- Add difficulty levels - still thinking about that one e.g. laser overheating.

- Randomise the placement of rocket parts.

- Fix a few bugs.

 

Ah good, you'll be done by Sunday afternoon then

[+cmart604]

First of all, what a great surprise! I was having a bit of a crappy day and then I stumbled on to this coolness. I'm certainly in for a couple of copies.

 

Are you using Joe's boards and shells?

 

Let me wonder aloud for a moment but I'm always of the mind that games should be boxed so is there any chance that Marc or Willy could make a box and/or manual for these naked carts? Also could PBoland possibly produce overlays?

 

Excellent to hear you're also working on other INTV items! Yay!

[TrekMD]

Very cool. Count me as interested in getting one!

[TrickyMoon]

Count me in for 1, Also count me in on any custom box/overlays that are created.

 

This is an excellent surprise!

[scobb]

Sent PM for 1 copy - looks cool!

 

Thanks!

 

Scott

[Rev]

Thanks for the mention! Now to live up to that mention, put me down for five.

 

no, im not kidding.