Arkanoid Vaus movement issues?

edited December 2013 in Games
After watching Lawnboyspost1975 playing some Arkanoid on Youtube I thought I'd give a whirl as it looked fun on the Speccy.

I got an image of it (TAP) and loaded it up in Klive but the 'Vaus' paddle movement was funny. Sometimes it moved very quickly and other times really slowly. Other times it would change speed in the midst of moving. It all made the game unplayable. So, I tried it in FUSE. The same thing. Then I grabbed the demo of Speculator. Same thing. Does the game do this on real hardware or is it an emulation thing? Is it even user error??
Post edited by The Equalizer on
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Comments

  • edited December 2013
    played it in Spin emulator and never noticed that problem

    Maybe you could try the various .tzx files of it and see if they do the same

    http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0000255

    (or try Arkanoid 2:Revenge Of Doh and compare)
  • edited December 2013
    I think the Arkanoid paddle is designed to move more quickly if the ball is further away to the left or right of you. Could that be it?

    It takes a bit of getting used to, but it can be really useful once you get to grips with it. You can collect falling things on the other side of the screen and then nip back in time to get the ball.

    I don't think this feature appeared in the sequel.
  • edited December 2013
    I've tried quite a few different tzx files too but I haven't tried Spin yet. If it is a 'feature' I find it really irksome. It doesn't feel consistent to me. Sometimes when I'm moving towards the ball the Vaus just speeds up and zips right past where I was aiming for... I haven't noticed it in the C64 version either...

    Maybe I'm just old! Thanks for the help. :)

    PS: Doesn't happen in Revenge of Doh.
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  • edited December 2013
    maybe it is just the game then, tbh I find the original Arkanoid very fiddly and difficult anyway.

    a breakout clone I would recommend if you've not tried it is Krakout - you can actually set the responsiveness/inertia value of the bat in the options on this one
  • edited December 2013
    After watching Lawnboyspost1975 playing some Arkanoid on Youtube I thought I'd give a whirl as it looked fun on the Speccy.

    I got an image of it (TAP) and loaded it up in Klive but the 'Vaus' paddle movement was funny. Sometimes it moved very quickly and other times really slowly. Other times it would change speed in the midst of moving. It all made the game unplayable. So, I tried it in FUSE. The same thing. Then I grabbed the demo of Speculator. Same thing. Does the game do this on real hardware or is it an emulation thing? Is it even user error??

    I remember getting that feeling while playing it on my +3, pretty sure it must me my imagination but deffo felt real
  • fogfog
    edited December 2013
    it's the inertia / acceleration that is odd .. I just tried it, I'm guessing it's relative to the ball perhaps ? e.g. when I hit space it seems to zoom across the screen.. would it have anything to do with the control routines ?

    the atari 8 bit / 64 one both support paddles.. and this is the only version I noticed this speed up / slow down.

    I just tried it on kempston also.. does play differently (in bad way) due to it vs c64 / atari 8 bit one.. perhaps try batty by elite instead tbh. or the best ever ever ever spectrum game thro' the wall on the horizons starter tape :D

    c64 for me is the best version 8 bit wise I have played. (not tried the BBC or CPC versions)

    also I noticed on the c64 verision (c)1984 imagine and (c)1986 taito.. odd
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