+therealbountybob Posted August 2, 2022 Share Posted August 2, 2022 Ok Dextral Dodgers' iiiiiit's DROPZONE Can't believe it is 10 seasons ago we played this! Copied most of this from last time... links may stink! NOTE: A proper NTSC/USA version is available. You're going to need a good joystick for this one and the keyboard needs to be just in front of it - press space for smart bombs and any other key for the invincibility cloak. Escape is pause. NO AUTOFIRE! If you really struggle with the game you can play with autofire on, but you are capped to a maximum score of 25,000 pts. Links to the game: atarimania has instructions and a nice interview with the author fandal XEX atariage NTSC patched XEXs atarionline.pl XEX & ATRs I've put together an ATR MYDOS453-DropZone.atr (1050 density) with all the versions (PAL / NTSC / NTSC brighter colours) Standard HSC scoring This game will close on Friday 19th August @ 6pm GMT (a bit longer to play than normal) Good Luck & Get Blasting! p.s. a little tip: the secret of the game is to keep a rescued guy with you until the end of the wave - if all the guys are killed then the planet turns hostile and you'll need to hide under your blanket... a real blanket not the cloak 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickled_Pink Posted August 3, 2022 Share Posted August 3, 2022 Haven't got involved in the HSC for some time but I'd have gotten involved in this if I had time. I was a wizard on it back in the day. Got it at the same time as the XL and played it to death that first week, after which I was able to hit a million points almost every game. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5099304 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted August 3, 2022 Author Share Posted August 3, 2022 9 hours ago, Tickled_Pink said: Haven't got involved in the HSC for some time but I'd have gotten involved in this if I had time. I was a wizard on it back in the day. Got it at the same time as the XL and played it to death that first week, after which I was able to hit a million points almost every game. Hello there Tickled_Pink I expect a couple of us to get to the miliion mark. I think it then doesn't dish out the extra smart bombs so may get harder, probably should read up! If players want to stop at 1 million we can call it a joint win and have bonus point for the top score. Had my first session, great fun best goes with some duff ones inbetween: 44,620 Moon Cadet 88,710 Plantesman 253,030 Planet Marshal (not helped by breaking off for dinner!) *** KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ATARIAGE'S URL CHANGING NEXT WEEK TO https://forums.atariage.com NOT ACTIVE YET I JUST TRIED IT! Details here: https://atariage.com/forums/topic/338830-atariage-forum-upgrade-migration-on-tuesday-august-9th/ 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5099613 Share on other sites More sharing options...
graywest Posted August 4, 2022 Share Posted August 4, 2022 Dropzone: 64,140 Looking forward to getting more play time on this one... I've never been especially good at it, but it's an awesome game. 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5099748 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted August 4, 2022 Author Share Posted August 4, 2022 Improved to but still a planet marshal! 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5099941 Share on other sites More sharing options...
graywest Posted August 4, 2022 Share Posted August 4, 2022 2 hours ago, therealbountybob said: Improved to [] but still a planet marshal! Just out of curiosity, how long does it take to get to a 300k score? 15/30/60 min? I felt like I was playing for quite awhile but only hit 60k or so. But now I'm wondering if there are some strategies that will run up my score a little faster. Guess it's time to read the instructions! 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5100016 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedThunder Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 3,980 Rank: Not Listed ? 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5100418 Share on other sites More sharing options...
8BIT 1337 Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 My best score after 3-4 games in my first go around: 33960 Moon Cadet Are those Trailers supposed to be so hard to hit? I see why the game is popular but wow is it hard (I'm pretty sure I've never played it before, and I am also pretty sure I downloaded the 'fixed' NTSC version. Can't imagine it being faster!) 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5100668 Share on other sites More sharing options...
graywest Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 (edited) Dropzone: 158,330 Whew! Improvement! I think I answered my own question on scores - seems that the best way to run up the score quickly is to keep the colonists alive. After a few levels you get 500 points for each one saved. It also turns out (and I didn't realize this for a long time) that the aliens can even attack the colonists AFTER they've been rescued at the drop zone. The red "androids" can enter the base and if they do, they'll kill a rescued colonist! Edited August 6, 2022 by graywest 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5100747 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted August 7, 2022 Author Share Posted August 7, 2022 Yes keep one of the rescued guys on you this might stop the ones in the base being destoyed or at least stops them all being wiped out and the planet becoming hostile. It doesn't take long to play and get a good score. The trailer' spores can be destroyed by going past them and luring them up to the top of the screen. The manual is a good read for anyone new to the game. Great game, lots of ways to tackle it, will play a lot more this week! 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5101292 Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted August 7, 2022 Share Posted August 7, 2022 Dropzone - 25050 pts, rank Trekkie (I believe) 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5101304 Share on other sites More sharing options...
8BIT 1337 Posted August 7, 2022 Share Posted August 7, 2022 11 hours ago, therealbountybob said: The manual is a good read for anyone new to the game. This is weird but the link you have above to the us gold version didn't have the manual, which I found confusing It's in a different entry, Americana, http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-dropzone_6569.html 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5101596 Share on other sites More sharing options...
McKong Posted August 11, 2022 Share Posted August 11, 2022 781000 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5103292 Share on other sites More sharing options...
oracle_jedi Posted August 12, 2022 Share Posted August 12, 2022 1,201,780 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5103737 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedThunder Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 On 8/12/2022 at 5:14 AM, oracle_jedi said: 1,201,780 Impressive :-) 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5105104 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted August 14, 2022 Author Share Posted August 14, 2022 3 hours ago, RedThunder said: Impressive 🙂 Yes, I was expecting a couple of 1m+ scores here, once you get on a roll there's a lot of points / extra men / smart bombs to keep it going but I think the lives stop at 1m is that right? (no improvement from me) Will start the next poll soon ! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5105203 Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 Does the invincibility cloak only work for as long as you hold down a key, i.e. once you let go it stops working? I've yet got to learn how to use the smart bombs, and using a Starplex doesn't help either since it practically uses up both hands. Perhaps I can improve my foot dexterity to push the keyboard with my toes. I mean some disabled people can hold pencils with their toes, surely I can learn to push a random button? 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5105224 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted August 14, 2022 Author Share Posted August 14, 2022 17 minutes ago, carlsson said: Does the invincibility cloak only work for as long as you hold down a key, i.e. once you let go it stops working? I've yet got to learn how to use the smart bombs, and using a Starplex doesn't help either since it practically uses up both hands. Perhaps I can improve my foot dexterity to push the keyboard with my toes. I mean some disabled people can hold pencils with their toes, surely I can learn to push a random button? just press a key to toggle it. You get about 50% recharge after each wave. Quickshot and hand resting across base and bottom of keyboard is how I play! New poll is alive - i've picked some goodies mostly not from the games list - think we should look at new games after the next round too, there are lots of them they look interesting 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5105234 Share on other sites More sharing options...
oracle_jedi Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 A little Sunday morning blasting, and a slight improvement to 1,366,130. I think the extra lives and extra smart bombs all stop at 1M points, so it gets much harder. I know last time we played this someone scored over 1.9M and that is incredible. 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5105246 Share on other sites More sharing options...
McKong Posted August 15, 2022 Share Posted August 15, 2022 125650 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5105696 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaG Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 I've been on vacation so I startet to play yesterday. I play the Joy2Bplus-version, with my SNACK I've got bomb and cloak on my additional SNES-buttons. That does not mean that I am better than the keyboard-players 😂 Best result of day #1: 32,110 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5106141 Share on other sites More sharing options...
McKong Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 188550 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5106204 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jblenkle Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 Drop Zone - 8,030 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5106462 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariSphinx Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 Dropzone: 32,610 I accidentally tried the non fixed NTSC version and it is crazy fast. Barely cracked 10k. Switched over to the fixed one and much better score though this is a tough one. Great game though. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5106773 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted August 17, 2022 Author Share Posted August 17, 2022 On 8/14/2022 at 6:07 PM, oracle_jedi said: A little Sunday morning blasting, and a slight improvement to 1,366,130. I think the extra lives and extra smart bombs all stop at 1M points, so it gets much harder. I know last time we played this someone scored over 1.9M and that is incredible. 22 hours ago, McKong said: 188550 He's getting close ! Did have a table to post the other day but forum wasn't mended enuf! Please vote everyone for the next round: New forum doesn't show how many people have voted 😦 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338825-hsc19-r11-dropzone/#findComment-5106834 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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