ScottHuggins Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 (edited) Hey guys, Here is my new game, "Armchair Quarterback" . Actually, it's called "Terra Attack". Game play is pretty simple. The on screen instructions will get most of the point across. You basically just blast away, protecting your cannons and the Green Towers (4 of them). Each cannon has limited ammo. The red bar below each cannon shows how much ammo is left. The game speed and the enemy AI get smarter as you progress through each level. If you make it pass the BOSS stage (the mother ship takes several hits to killl her), then you get a bonus for the bullets remaining from each cannon and a bonus for the towers that have survived. One destroyed tower will be replaced if you complete that level. When you complete a level, all your destroyed cannons and ammo are revived. Different enemies appear as you progress through the game. The game ends when either: * you lose all your cannons * or you lose all your towers CONTROLS * left moves the currently HIGHLIGHTED cannon turret left * right moves the currently HIGHLIGHTED cannon turret right * left controller button will fire a bullet (missile). * pressing up will switch to the cannon to your right (if it's not destroyed) * pressing down will switch to the cannon to your left (if it's not destroyed) * pressing 1,2, or 3 of keypad will activate shields over the cannons That's it! I would greatly appreciate anything and everything you all think. The attached ZIP FILE has some screen shots.... Scott ps: Pixelboy, I am still working on the 'cross hairs thing'. Need to free up some bytes. EDIT: This is the FINAL .bin release candidate. terra_attack.zip Edited August 9, 2007 by ScottHuggins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelboy Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 ps: Pixelboy, I am still working on the 'cross hairs thing'. Need to free up some bytes. Trying to keep it within 16K, huh? Good for you. The game is great! After a while, you aim better and waste less ammo, but those crosshairs would still make a big difference. Keep up the good work! The ColecoVision just got a great new homebrew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjb Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Outstanding! It looks and plays very well. -tjb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottHuggins Posted March 10, 2007 Author Share Posted March 10, 2007 (edited) tjb, THANKS! I REALLY like your atari 8-bit asteroids project. It was looking very good. Outstanding! It looks and plays very well. -tjb Edited March 10, 2007 by ScottHuggins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jboypacman Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 Ok Scott i could get the ROM to run on my computer yet but i will work on it.But from the pics i saw and from your details of the game i think we are going to have a winner here.I better start saving my money . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggs130 Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 Thanks for the pm Scott! just gave it a try and I like it so far. definitely on the will buy list if its released in cart form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjb Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 tjb, THANKS! I REALLY like your atari 8-bit asteroids project. It was looking very good. Outstanding! It looks and plays very well. -tjb Thanks. I'll be releasing a 5200 binary soon. -tjb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cybergoth Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 That's a pretty cool game! Reminds me of something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottHuggins Posted March 11, 2007 Author Share Posted March 11, 2007 Manual, As I said before...I hope you don't think I'm taking your ideas from your game. I think there's enough of a difference, don't you? That's a pretty cool game! Reminds me of something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cybergoth Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 Manual, As I said before...I hope you don't think I'm taking your ideas from your game. I think there's enough of a difference, don't you? That's a pretty cool game! Reminds me of something Heh, I'm certainly the last guy on this planet that can complain about someone else for stealing ideas No really, I like it! Even if it was aiming at another port of Colony 7 it'd be cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelboy Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 (edited) Here are a few pics for those who need an incentive to download and try the binary. Edited March 11, 2007 by Pixelboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+5-11under Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Looks good. Great to see you working on a new game! Thanks, 5-11under Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdub_bobby Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Very cool, but the cannon-switching seems clumsy. Is there a better way to switch between cannons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottHuggins Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 (edited) Thanks. Man, I've gone back and forth with that. Any sugegstions??? Once you get used to it, it's not so bad, but I agree....it could be improved. I'd thought about the button #2 in combination with pressing left / right on joystick, but that also seems clumsy. I don't think using the keypad on the controller is much of an option either... Very cool, but the cannon-switching seems clumsy. Is there a better way to switch between cannons? Edited March 12, 2007 by ScottHuggins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeybastard Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I can't believe I just noticed this thread today! Downloading the rom and I'm gonna try it on my lunch hour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdub_bobby Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 (edited) Thanks. Man, I've gone back and forth with that. Any sugegstions??? Once you get used to it, it's not so bad, but I agree....it could be improved. I'd thought about the button #2 in combination with pressing left / right on joystick, but that also seems clumsy. I don't think using the keypad on the controller is much of an option either... Very cool, but the cannon-switching seems clumsy. Is there a better way to switch between cannons? I've never played a Colecovision so I'm probably not the one to be giving controller-related suggestions, but I was thinking of a couple of options: -Use the keypad to directly select the turret (#1 selects left, #2 selects middle, #3 selects right), or -Have the stick move all turrets at the same time and use keypad to fire (#1 fires left, #2 fires middle, #3 fires right). -Use one of the fire buttons to fire and the other cycles through the turrets Edited March 12, 2007 by vdub_bobby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeybastard Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 This game is fun! It reminiscent of the Intellivision version of Atlantis except this is much easier to control and much more fun. The graphics look great, I like the explosions in particular. I'm playing it thru VColeco at work so the sound isn't right. It's super high pitched sounding so I can't comment on that until I hear the real deal. The cannon switching is a little weird at first but I got used to it. I think it would be easier in this sort of setup: Button 1 fires obviously Button 2 alone picks middle cannon, release to move cannon Button 2 + left picks left cannon release button to move cannon Button 2 + right picks right cannon release button to move cannon Actually I'd love an option to use a Super Action Controller and use 3 buttons. First click picks a cannon, then fires that cannon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottHuggins Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Thanks, Joe! I thought the intv version of Atlantis was one of the best games for that system. I think intuitively, your suggestions for the controls sound great. I think I'll try it out and see how it feels...as well as post another binary. PS: Mess32 is a fine emulator for CV, but wow...I just discovered MEKA. It's AWESOME. Super easy install and the emulation is very very nice. It emulates several machines... http://www.smspower.org/meka/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelboy Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 (edited) I've never played a Colecovision so I'm probably not the one to be giving controller-related suggestions, but I was thinking of a couple of options: -Use the keypad to directly select the turret (#1 selects left, #2 selects middle, #3 selects right), or -Have the stick move all turrets at the same time and use keypad to fire (#1 fires left, #2 fires middle, #3 fires right). -Use one of the fire buttons to fire and the other cycles through the turrets The cannon switching is a little weird at first but I got used to it. I think it would be easier in this sort of setup: Button 1 fires obviously Button 2 alone picks middle cannon, release to move cannon Button 2 + left picks left cannon release button to move cannon Button 2 + right picks right cannon release button to move cannon Actually I'd love an option to use a Super Action Controller and use 3 buttons. First click picks a cannon, then fires that cannon. Personally, I think the controls are adequate as they are. I've gotten used to cycling between the turrets rapidly by pressing down on the joystick, so I wouldn't bother to use the keypad even if the feature was available. The ability to make a precise turret selection would be nice, but when the game gets faster, I'd rather cycle rapidly between the turrets ra ther than fiddle with the controller buttons. However, having several turret selection options (keypad, or "button+left/down/right") would fit most playing styles. I'm also wasting a lot of ammo just to aim properly, in order to avoid looking down at the turrets to aim them (I can't look at the UFOs to prepare my next shot AND look at the turret's angle at the same time). That why I'm so looking forward to the crosshairs feature. With it, I can aim the active turret without actually looking at it, with peripheral vision. Edited March 12, 2007 by Pixelboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottHuggins Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 I wonder if it'd be worth it to give three options for the controls? You could select it when you start a new game. One option available for the way they are now, one for Joe's suggestion of left/right on joystick while pushing button #2, and one utilizing the Super Action Controllers (I love those, btw) and all three buttons the way he suggested (that would make it very quick to switch b/t the cannons). The cross hairs thing will go in tonight or tomorrow. Not a big thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelboy Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I wonder if it'd be worth it to give three options for the controls? You could select it when you start a new game. One option available for the way they are now, one for Joe's suggestion of left/right on joystick while pushing button #2, and one utilizing the Super Action Controllers (I love those, btw) and all three buttons the way he suggested (that would make it very quick to switch b/t the cannons). I think Joe's suggestion has a lot of merit, but I would like to press down on the joystick to select the middle turret while pressing the button. Also, you should offer the option to inverse the left and right button assignments, to cater to both left- and right-handed players. Perhaps just press the "0" key on the keypad at any time to inverse the buttons... The cross hairs thing will go in tonight or tomorrow. Not a big thing to do. You have all my thanks, sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeybastard Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I wonder if it'd be worth it to give three options for the controls? You could select it when you start a new game. One option available for the way they are now, one for Joe's suggestion of left/right on joystick while pushing button #2, and one utilizing the Super Action Controllers (I love those, btw) and all three buttons the way he suggested (that would make it very quick to switch b/t the cannons). The cross hairs thing will go in tonight or tomorrow. Not a big thing to do. Jeez, now I feel like I made MORE work for you... Sorry Scott! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelboy Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Jeez, now I feel like I made MORE work for you... Sorry Scott! That's what beta-testers are for! Homebrew authors have a love-hate relationship with their testers. Besides, if this game is going to be released in cart format, with box and manual, then it should be as well-designed as possible, control-wise. Modifying the control setup is the easiest of tasks, after all. It's not like trying to fix those *cough* *cough* hovering UFO remains *cough* *cough* bugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottHuggins Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Yea, let me tell you. That bug is about to make me start taking pills. It's not like trying to fix those *cough* *cough* hovering UFO remains *cough* *cough* bugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeybastard Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 I tried it last night on MESS at home. It played great, the sounds are really good particularly the little bit of music at the end of the game. I kind of wish it had some kind of low level sound during the game play though. Like a Space Invaders type 'dum dum dum dum' or the Asteroids 'bum bum'. It's not really necessary but it just feels like this game would have something similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.