+nanochess Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 (edited) Hi everybody. For years I've wondered why one of my favorite games got a so bad adaptation to Atari 2600, but it was because of limitations or because of lazy programmers? So I wanted to do a full-fledged game as allowed by my programming abilities and as far as I could push the hardware. I've decided to stay inside the 4K-limit and also I intend to not "abuse" of flicker. So here it is a preview version I've programmed since last week, bug-ridden, some features lacking (like tune up difficulty) and still no collision with enemies or bullets , the only way to lose a life currently is by fuel running out. Otherwise than that it is very close to my idea Enjoy it! Feel free to comment about it. Another thing, I only have tested with Z26 and I don't have tested it in real hardware, so surely it can fail miserably. You now can reserve your cartridge/box copy http://atariage.com/forums/topic/218894-interest-check-space-raid-2600/ Edit 9: latest 8K NTSC/PAL version in post #113 (Nov/21/2013) http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217250-space-raid-2600/page-5?do=findComment&comment=2871420 Edit 8: older 8K NTSC/PAL version in post #108 (Nov/09/2013) http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217250-space-raid-2600/page-5?do=findComment&comment=2863278 Edit 7: older 8K NTSC/PAL version in post #93 (Oct/28/2013) http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217250-space-raid-2600/page-4?do=findComment&comment=2855575 Edit 6: older NTSC/PAL version in post #80 (Oct/12/2013) http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217250-space-raid-2600/page-4?do=findComment&comment=2846467 Edit 5: older PAL60 version in post #68 (Oct/06/2013) http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217250-space-raid-2600/page-3?do=findComment&comment=2842700 Edit 4: older NTSC/PAL version in post #63 (Oct/05/2013) http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217250-space-raid-2600/page-3?do=findComment&comment=2842275 Edit 3: older NTSC/PAL version in post #55 (Oct/05/2013) http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217250-space-raid-2600/page-3?do=findComment&comment=2841972 Edit 2: older NTSC/PAL version in post #38 (Oct/03/2013) Edit: older NTSC version in post #12 and PAL in post #19 nanochess_space_raid.bin.bin Edited November 26, 2013 by nanochess 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iesposta Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Please DO flicker for the barriers screens. They do not look like screens. In all my imagining how to do this, I never thought of something this good! Notice how someone rants about "the 2600 can not do isometric well" and then Zaxxon and Q*Bert get made? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Nice start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Shadows to judge the height would be very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nathan Strum Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 That's an excellent start - keep up the good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phattyboombatty Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Very, very cool! Love the 3D perspective. Great arcade sounds. Has an awesome early 1980s feel to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+nanochess Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 Please DO flicker for the barriers screens. They do not look like screens. In all my imagining how to do this, I never thought of something this good! Notice how someone rants about "the 2600 can not do isometric well" and then Zaxxon and Q*Bert get made? What are the barriers screens? Thanks for your kind words. Nice start! Thanks! Shadows to judge the height would be very helpful. True! I forgot completely the shadows for the tracking missile and the big robot. That's an excellent start - keep up the good work! Very much appreciated! I hope to finish most of it this week. Very, very cool! Love the 3D perspective. Great arcade sounds. Has an awesome early 1980s feel to it. I passed Yesterday several hours testing sounds combinations until my ears were satisfied, I'm glad you liked the result! Actually I have around 512 bytes free, after collision implementation I hope to optimize it and I've a small list of enhancements I want to do BTW if someone could test in real hardware that could save me some time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+nanochess Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 For some reason I cannot take screen captures with Z26 and my current Spanish keyboard, if someone can put here some nice screenshots I would appreciate it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roland p Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Here you go. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iesposta Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Barriers / screens This thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I see nothing but goodness here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+nanochess Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 (edited) Barriers / screens This thing. I see! I've done something about that Well guys, here is another version I've crafted this afternoon , now player explodes when touches enemies or bullets. Also I've polished various minor details and solved a handful of bugs. There is now difficulty level selection (using switch for player 1, easy and hard, in hard the enemies shoot more often) and reset button support. This is closer to a final version, I've less than 100 bytes free. I'll appreciate greatly if someone can test in real hardware. I'll do myself this test but I need to build some hardware and dismount a cartridge, and this takes some time nanochess_space_raid_ntsc.bin Edited October 2, 2013 by nanochess 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFL Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 This looks fantastic. If there is a PAL version I could test that on a real Jr for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enthusi Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 Looks and plays nice Maybe you could trigger HMOVE every line and then get rid of the enemy's plane ghosts and the twiggling dots? Takes some getting used to match the plane's height but I guess that's the point of the game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Hunter Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 Well done, Nanochess! Is it possible to make the black levels more galaxy like? Planets and asteroids (like you did with the graphics in the blue fortress levels) instead of the white dotted lines. Perhaps a different title? http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-space-raid_18973.html Zonnax or something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 Actually I meant shadows in the initial scenario. This reminds me too much at my trouble (I hated that scenario ) with the original "Zaxxon". Even though there was a height indicator. Also, when switching to the surface, the objects and the lines do not move in sync. This looks like either the objects or the lines are floating on the surface. Keep up the good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFL Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 This has great potential as played on Stella. I agree with everyone's comments regarding 'shadows' in the space section. Personally, I'd prefer the space section to be scrapped as is and just make it another surface. You could keep it black and make out like your flying over the surface of the Deathstar a la Star Wars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS_Dracon Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 My suggestion is make 2 heights, up (for hit airplanes) and down to destroy things in the floor. So you don't need to worry about intermediate heights, if you press up, you know you're in the airplane area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+nanochess Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 This looks fantastic. If there is a PAL version I could test that on a real Jr for you. Here you go nanochess_space_raid_pal.bin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+nanochess Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 Looks and plays nice Maybe you could trigger HMOVE every line and then get rid of the enemy's plane ghosts and the twiggling dots? Takes some getting used to match the plane's height but I guess that's the point of the game Thanks! I'm very tight in the kernel area, I'll check what I can do. Well done, Nanochess! Is it possible to make the black levels more galaxy like? Planets and asteroids (like you did with the graphics in the blue fortress levels) instead of the white dotted lines. Perhaps a different title? http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-space-raid_18973.html Zonnax or something like that. I'm glad you like it! Currently I'm very constrained but I've been thinking in a kind of scrolling space background. I think I'll keep Space Raid, after all the other title using it is a Taiwan cooper. Actually I meant shadows in the initial scenario. This reminds me too much at my trouble (I hated that scenario ) with the original "Zaxxon". Even though there was a height indicator. Also, when switching to the surface, the objects and the lines do not move in sync. This looks like either the objects or the lines are floating on the surface. Keep up the good work! Ah! finally I understood you. There is no much that I can do... I'll think about it. This has great potential as played on Stella. I agree with everyone's comments regarding 'shadows' in the space section. Personally, I'd prefer the space section to be scrapped as is and just make it another surface. You could keep it black and make out like your flying over the surface of the Deathstar a la Star Wars! Thanks. I appreciate your opinion. My suggestion is make 2 heights, up (for hit airplanes) and down to destroy things in the floor. So you don't need to worry about intermediate heights, if you press up, you know you're in the airplane area. I think the current state is more fun than having only 2 heights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 I think the current state is more fun than having only 2 heights. Definitely. I am sure there will be a better solution for the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Hunter Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 I think I'll keep Space Raid, after all the other title using it is a Taiwan cooper. Also Rainbow Vision and Suntek used this title: http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-space-raid_12335.html http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-space-raid_12818.html Both official releases. Keep up the good work! This could very well become the Zaxxon we all wanted for the VCS. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 This could very well become the Zaxxon we all wanted for the VCS. Indeed! Look forward to following the progress of this ambitious project. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 How about Space Raid X? Something that resembles to Zaxxon. Or 3D. I would not leave the name as it is now. Else many people will miss the game, just because they will confuse it with an existing one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retroillucid Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 Awesome work Oscar! Thumbs up! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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