1K puzzle game almost finished

Posted by , 18 September 2005 · 40 views

As a treat for those of you who read my blog, here is a sneak preview of my 1K puzzle game. I've tripled the number of puzzles from the first version posted, and added a musical reward for winning. (thanks to Paul and Wolfgang

) It wasn't easy keeping the scanline count stable when resetting and selecting, while still keeping under 1K.A reminder of the rules: You play by jumping marbles over each other, like in checkers, except the jumps are only horizontal or vertical. You win when the last piece is in the center. To jump hold down the button and push the joystick in the desried direction. You can also reset the board and select the 24 puzzles.The puzzles are mostly new, and only 3 are from the first demo. This set is still tentative, so let me know if there are any you definetely want to see in the final version. Also let me know if you want to see any puzzles from the first post again.Once I settle on the final puzzle set and complete testing this game will be ready for the 2005 Minigame Competition. If I can optimize a few more bytes, I may add a sound effect for jumping. :ponder:

Edit: Please do not attempt puzzle #4. I entered the data incorrectly, and it is impossible as it is. The current puzzle is shown on the left, and the correct shape is on the right. I will fix this for the final release.

attachment

Attached Thumbnails

Attached Files

marbjump_sep17.zip (4.84K)
downloads: 66

Cybergoth
Sep 18 2005 4:02 AM

Hi there!

Way cool! Still stuck on the second board though

Greetings,
Manuel

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Zach
Sep 18 2005 2:06 PM

Cybergoth, on Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:02 AM, said:

Hi there!

Way cool! Still stuck on the second board though

Greetings,
Manuel

Yeah, #2 is too difficult to be the second puzzle. It took me a long time to find the solution. It's going to be moved or replaced.

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Cybergoth
Sep 19 2005 2:15 AM

Hi there!

Zach, on Sun Sep 18, 2005 8:06 PM, said:

Yeah, #2 is too difficult to be the second puzzle. It took me a long time to find the solution. It's going to be moved or replaced.

My best tries so far end with 2 pieces on opposing sides of the middle hole. But I haven't given up on it yet

Greetings,
Manuel

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cd-w
Sep 19 2005 4:40 AM

This is a neat little mini-game. I really suck at the later levels, but that is my own fault. The competition is really being dominated by 2600 entries this year - it is going to be very interesting to see how we all do!

Have you though about a SuDoku game as your next project? It would requirew a 9x9 grid though ...

Cheers,
Chris

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vdub_bobby
Sep 19 2005 5:02 PM

Looks very nice. I like it!

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Cybergoth
Sep 20 2005 11:55 AM

Hi there!

Gave up on the 2nd one. But I just got the 3rd on my second try

Greetings,
Manuel

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Zach
Sep 20 2005 3:14 PM

Cybergoth, on Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:55 PM, said:

Hi there!

Gave up on the 2nd one. But I just got the 3rd on my second try

Greetings,
Manuel

That's good to work on other puzzles. When you solve some more I bet you'll want to get back to #2. I've found that #2 is one of the most difficult in the whole set. I've analyzed it and found that you have to get the first two moves right to have any chance of winning.

I am probably going to replace #2 because the shape can trivially be derived from the spiral shaped puzzle #9.

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Zach
Sep 20 2005 3:27 PM

cd-w, on Mon Sep 19, 2005 5:40 AM, said:

Thanks Chris. It just takes patience and persistence to solve the more difficult puzzles.

Quote

Have you though about a SuDoku game as your next project? It would requirew a 9x9 grid though ...

I actually have thought about Sudoku. This is what I've come up with so far:

Posted Image

So many boardgames, so little time.

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Cybergoth
Sep 20 2005 3:27 PM

Hi there!

Zach, on Tue Sep 20, 2005 9:14 PM, said:

I am probably going to replace #2 because the shape can trivially be derived from the spiral shaped puzzle #9.

I just thought of something the other way round with #5: It's just natural to start it with removing the 4 edge pieces, so basically the puzzle could just start with the smaller version straight away

Other than that, I really liked #5

Greetings,
Manuel

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cd-w
Sep 20 2005 5:51 PM

Zach, on Tue Sep 20, 2005 9:27 PM, said:

I actually have thought about Sudoku. This is what I've come up with so far:
Posted Image

So many boardgames, so little time.

Great - it looks like that should be possible with the standard 48-pixel sprite trick. I hope you manage to make some progress on this. I have got really addicted to The Times Su Doku Puzzles lately. I thought about doing a 2600 version myself, but I've got too many other projects on the go at the moment.

Chris

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Zach
Sep 26 2005 6:50 PM

In case you missed it, I've posted a new set of puzzles to the homebrew forum.
http://www.atariage....showtopic=76874

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Zach
Nov 10 2005 6:13 AM

As stated elsewhere, Marble Jumper is now finished and has been submitted to the 2005 Minigame Competition. It was also given the honor of a place in the 2005 Minigame Multicart along side such excellent games as Hunchy, Jetman, Nightrider, Rocket Command, Zirconium, and M4. It will be available for purchase from AtariAge at vgXpo Philadelphia this weekend, and online shortly thereafter. I've been programming for the VCS since early 2003, and this is my first published homebrew. Naturally, I'm excited.