New game: SHUTTLEBUG
New Game: SHUTTLEBUG.
EDIT: now WOS link.
It looks like a beefed up version of Mole Rat! but it's a bit more than that, a fair bit of extra work has gone into this. Again as M.R was similar to TARG, SHUTTLEBUG was inspired by its sequel-SPECTAR, but I've come further away from it as I don't think Spectar plays so well.
The game:
-The aim of the game is to defeat the deadly Pomodorian empire*
-16 different levels, a boss at the end of it and an end of game animation. The game loops after this but you get different blocks, a different colour boss (WOW!) and a slightly different end of game animation.
-tanks shoot at you, bombers bomb you, rough slows you down, road speeds you up... you'll suss it.
-Collect the letters M.O.R.E in order to get an extra life up to a max of 4, after which you get points
-To kill the boss (the deadly GRONK) you need to shoot him 40 times. The best way to achieve this is when he is stationary and respawning new guardians (which you shoot in order to cause this).
-You get bonus UDGs along the way, just some daft things to keep me interested, not all will make sense so don't worry about them.
So far I've managed level 52, so certainly more easy than Mole Rat!
Think that's everything, hope you like :-)
*a more detailed backstory can be found in the instructions when the WOS upload comes through. It was inspired by PaulJ's fantastic backstory to Antiquity Jones, mine however, is nowhere near as hammy....honest :p
**the loading screen is slightly different on the actual game, the more I look at it I think I prefer the version you see at the top of this post
EDIT: now WOS link.
It looks like a beefed up version of Mole Rat! but it's a bit more than that, a fair bit of extra work has gone into this. Again as M.R was similar to TARG, SHUTTLEBUG was inspired by its sequel-SPECTAR, but I've come further away from it as I don't think Spectar plays so well.
The game:
-The aim of the game is to defeat the deadly Pomodorian empire*
-16 different levels, a boss at the end of it and an end of game animation. The game loops after this but you get different blocks, a different colour boss (WOW!) and a slightly different end of game animation.
-tanks shoot at you, bombers bomb you, rough slows you down, road speeds you up... you'll suss it.
-Collect the letters M.O.R.E in order to get an extra life up to a max of 4, after which you get points
-To kill the boss (the deadly GRONK) you need to shoot him 40 times. The best way to achieve this is when he is stationary and respawning new guardians (which you shoot in order to cause this).
-You get bonus UDGs along the way, just some daft things to keep me interested, not all will make sense so don't worry about them.
So far I've managed level 52, so certainly more easy than Mole Rat!
Think that's everything, hope you like :-)
*a more detailed backstory can be found in the instructions when the WOS upload comes through. It was inspired by PaulJ's fantastic backstory to Antiquity Jones, mine however, is nowhere near as hammy....honest :p
**the loading screen is slightly different on the actual game, the more I look at it I think I prefer the version you see at the top of this post
Post edited by R-Tape on
Comments
Could you please provide a link for the inlay in its original size?
Dammit! No, my claim is incorrect.
If I tried a bit harder it probably should be a 16k game...
I've noticed the black background looks a bit wrong, I want to rectify this tomorrow, then it'll be uploaded to WOS full size. I think I'll put some proper cassettes together for collectors and give them away to interested WOSSERs at xmas (unless there's an exodus of people wanting one, which I doubt!).
Really funny 'n' playable. Multiplayer version?? :>
It has simple graphics but great playability and you instantly get into it!
Molerat was good but this is even better.
I like the 'deposit coin' thing, very ARCADEish, as well as the loading screen/inlay! :-)
As many 80s arcades, simple idea and very entertaining.
Thank you!
My sincere congrats!
Now your giving me ideas!
You mean as in a 2 player game or something like SPECTANK? Interesting, I wouldn't know how to go about that if the latter.
Cheers! I reduced the inertia and bit and increased the fire speed over shorter distance for playability.
Cheers! Thanks for the playtesting.
Cheers, yeah my next one will use my colleague Dr Thomas for music probably. Know you of such a package that can enable beeper music on the spectrum?....:p
Ta!, the deposit coin thing is a remnant from SPECTAR.
Cheers! I'm glad I changed the difficulty gradient at the last minute, at first it was straight in at full speed.
Ta!
Cheers! Though sounds like I may have made it too easy ;-)
Ta!
Good! :p
It's definitely not too easy, it took me a whole bunch of goes to get to the level containing the grass (level 4 I think)! For me it's because there are so many baddies to begin with rather than starting with one or two and increasing the numbers. But I did find it easier with a bit of practice on the first couple of levels.
I like the tweaks from Molerat, I found it a bit more 'natural', it feels as if you've got slightly more control over your sprite. I'm still intrigued by the enemy AI, some of them appear very cunning - they seem to pursue you when you turn away from them, and elude you when you're hunting them.. :-o
Cheers!
I'm pretty chuffed with the way the guardian AI has worked out, though not pleased with the way I coded it (it got a bit messy in the end). I guess the result on the tv screen is all that matters though.
Just 2 bytes control the behaviour of each guardian, one is the probability that it will chase you, the other is the probability of how often it changes direction. Tweaking of these and finding a workable window using random values worked pretty well. There is also a little extra thing that (yep you spotted it :-D) reacts to when the player changes direction.
please to have Spectrum, With Capital, in the letter of "S".
Thaaaankyou.
Greetings and gladsomeness to your honourableific being, and the game, it being of interest and fun times to many, with thank yous and such to the Tape of Arrrrr!
To be sure, and completely agreed upon, indeed
Also have the bars meet the bottom better/closer/cleaner.
I like it so much. Very addictive and retro-flavour.
Very thanks!!!
No worries & thanks oh goodly norman of the Z and the X, your eyes so eagle are welcomest much.
Ahh, I've uploaded the ammended version, can't be bothered making more changes. Anyway, it's the cute little (all inentional of course) imperfections that make it perfect.
Cheers Climacus!
Getting back to work now!
Level 6/7 is good going for a first try. It's scary that an RZX has been uploaded that reaches level 32* :-o, I've been informed it uses rollback but not often (in fact I think I can spot some of the rollback events). I've learned a few tips myself on how to deal with the Gronk on level 16.
*I would consider the game completed at level 16, but you get different blocks and ending up to level 64. And I will get there without cheats!
Cheers! I was getting bogged down in my fancier ideas, going for something simpler meant I actually get something finished and tbh I prefer to play things like this.
Cheers Jamma! Once you've reached ~6 then you've almost cracked it, none of the mazes that follow are total howlers (in my opinion).
Cheers matey, very nice to hear from you then!