[bjk7382]

Okay since I was the first person that finished this game (that I know about), I want to start this contest and give the next person that is going to beat it the motivation they need to finally finish this great game. Hopefully this contest will give you the push you need to go and play game after game untill you also can call yourself a part of the elite "Mas+er of Thrus+" club.

I am going to give people the same amount of time that the last contest was. ONE YEAR to beat this game and still collect the prize. So the deadline is 3-8-2005. That gives you more than enough time to get this game done. The shortest way to beat it is on Game 3, which is the hardest, but shortest game (24 missions)

Post your scores here and after (if) the contest ends you will need to send a picture of you holding the cartrige along with the final screen to me.

And now for the prize for this great contest. I will buy the winner of this contest any hack or homebrew $30 or under from the AtariAge store. That is a pretty wide selection of great games to choose from, so dust off those Thrust carts and start posting some high scores


High Score History:


5-06-04 - Happy_Dude - 289,550
4-26-04 - Happy_Dude - 205,050
4-23-04 - Happy_Dude - 203,200
4-15-04 - Happy_Dude - 185,150
4-13-04 - Happy_Dude - 149,250
4-12-04 - Happy_Dude - 98.800
3-18-04 - Happy_Dude - 75,800
3-16-04 - Happy_Dude - 68,400

[Thomas Jentzsch]

BTW: Am I allowed to participate? j/k

[bjk7382]

Thomas Jentzsch said:

BTW: Am I allowed to participate? j/k

I don't see why not. I know you wouldn't cheat, even though you have access to the final screen.

I would like to see some of your high scores posted here to see how good you are at the game compared to me

[Thomas Jentzsch]

bjk7382 said:

I would like to see some of your high scores posted here to see how good you are at the game compared to me  

Ok, maybe I'll post some scores here. But I will not competede for the prize for mastering the game (which I won't be able to do anyway ).

[Robert M]

I am up for this challenge, I need to finish work on the Wolfenstein Hack first. I have ordered some switches from Mouser electronics and I will be trying out my custom Thrust Controller Mark II

Cheers!

[Happy_Dude]

Game On

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[Adrian M]

I applaud all who will attempt this monumental task. Let me tell you from firsthand experience, this will not be an easy contest to win. You will endure many, many deaths but thankfully the game is great fun so frustration should be minimal.

Good luck! Be prepared for many sleepless nights.

[cvga]

BTW - I received my cart. Thanks! I'm currently training to get prepared for the challenge.

[Happy_Dude]

Just beat my high score (but died in the exact same #$%^@^&ing spot)
Man I hate level 3 reverse.

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[Adrian M]

cvga said:

BTW - I received my cart. Thanks! I'm currently training to get prepared for the challenge.  

My pleasure!
Glad to hear it arrived safely and that you're satisfied.

[Happy_Dude]

@bjk7382, what controller did you use to beat thrust?

This afternoon I rewired a 3rd party Megadrive pad and it's awsome
I finally stoped breaking controllers because if I fuck up it's actually MY fault now
(stupid 7800 & SMS pads )

I also just discovered a level I hadn't seen before. (Mission 4 game 2 )
Getting to the pod is damn hard and I just can't get it out
I can't see how it would be possible with reverse gravity when I'm getting
2 pixles leeway in normal.

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[Thomas Jentzsch]

Nice score!

Happy_Dude said:

I also just discovered a level I hadn't seen before. (Mission 4 game 2 )

You mean mission 5, right? (Mission 4 in game 2 is mission 6 in game 1). Wait until you meat mission 6!

Quote

Getting to the pod is damn hard and I just can't get it out
I can't see how it would be possible with reverse gravity when I'm getting 2 pixles leeway in normal.

Yup, those two new levels (planets) where designed be me (unlike the six orginal ones) to be the ultimate challenge. Not impossible, but extremely hard.

BTW: Do you know about the "deadly something" yet?

[Happy_Dude]

Thomas Jentzsch said:

You mean mission 5, right? (Mission 4 in game 2 is mission 6 in game 1). Wait until you meat mission 6!

Yeah mission 5. Thats just plain evil.

Thomas Jentzsch said:

BTW: Do you know about the "deadly something" yet?

Haven't meet the deadly something yet.
I think invisible levels will be pretty damn deadly

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Happy_Dude said:

Haven't meet the deadly something yet.
I think invisible levels will be pretty damn deadly

You got it!

[bjk7382]

Okay I am back on the forums after a day or so and I am surprised to see some reaction to my contest

Some good scores so far I know I had a really bad time with the reverse gravity, but once you learn how to get past the tight spot on level 3 you will learn the tecnique used for all tight spots on reverse gravity.

And to see the other "impossible" level on game 2 look at This Thread. And I have beat both of those at least 2 times. But still havent beat game 2 or 4 (same levels) yet.

@Happy_Dude- I used a converted nes controller and I think I mentioned it in the first contest page. I sold a genesis controller on ebay a while ago and tested it with thrust and it didn't work, but I tested it on most of my other games and there was no problems. I don't think a genesis controller will work with this game. More power to you to rewire a megadrive one though, whatever works best for you.

And a final note. After philly classic I hope albert will find some time to get the thrust video I sent him uploaded. It should help you guys out on how to maneuver the ship. There is really no way to describe with words or pictures how to move the ship, so I guess you will all have to wait for the video. (168 mb)

Keep playing and posting scores. And I will try to answer any questions you have.

[Happy_Dude]

bjk7382 said:

@Happy_Dude- I used a converted nes controller and I think I mentioned it in the first contest page. I sold a genesis controller on ebay a while ago and tested it with thrust and it didn't work, but I tested it on most of my other games and there was no problems. I don't think a genesis controller will work with this game. More power to you to rewire a megadrive one though, whatever works best for you.  

Well the MD/Genny controllers have the best D-pads EVER So it was worth the 5 minute soldering job
Although I need to rewire the fire button to the bottom row (can't stand convex buttons)
Also thinking of adding a sheild button so I don't get shot down so damn much
I find it a little hard to press down and fire in the split second before I die

btw: can't wait to see the vid.

[bjk7382]

Happy_Dude said:

I find it a little hard to press down and fire in the split second before I die

What I try to do it is hit the gun an extreme angle (beyond the guns firing angle) or fly in at a high rate of speed at the correct angle and then hit the fire button at the right time. If you are stuck sitting in front of the gun I usually wait until the second a bullet passes over my guy with the shield on, and then I usually have enough time to turn and shoot it quickly without it firing again. (Level 3 has the fastest firing guns, which aren't easy)

There is a way to get used to the firing patterns and it gets easier with practice.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

bjk7382 said:

Okay I am back on the forums after a day or so and I am surprised to see some reaction to my contest

Told you so!

[Happy_Dude]

well the fire button on my thrut controller ( ) has died on me so I thought I'd conduct a
little experiment before I get the soldering iorn back out. I hooked up my C=64 mouse and
started it in joytick mode (right button at power on). I pretty much sucked more than usual but I
can see how good this could be if I had more room for the mouse or if I had a trackball


I found a download manager that compiles on my system so I should be watching that video soon.

[bjk7382]

Happy_Dude said:

well the fire button on my thrut controller ( ) has died on me so I thought I'd conduct a  
little experiment before I get the soldering iorn back out. I hooked up my C=64 mouse and  
started it  in joytick mode (right button at power on). I pretty much sucked more than usual but I  
can see how good this could be if I had more room for the mouse or if I had a trackball


I found a download manager that compiles on my system so I should be watching that video soon.

I don't know how good it would be with a trackball, but you can use the Driving Controller in joystick port 2. (requires foot pedal) But that gives you more accurate shooting.

Once you see the video, you will see how I go about killing the guns. I would still suggest using a simple joypad setup, but if you can beat it with a homemade joystick, more power to you Hope to see some spectacular scores soon

[AtariYoungin]

If I had the money to buy a thrust cart I would enter this, always like a good challange. But saddly, I be broke

[Thomas Jentzsch]

AtariYoungin said:

If I had the money to buy a thrust cart I would enter this, always like a good challange. But saddly, I be broke

The contest lasts one whole year. That should give you some time to save enough money. And you can start training on an emulator right now.

[bjk7382]

Thomas Jentzsch said:

AtariYoungin said:

If I had the money to buy a thrust cart I would enter this, always like a good challange. But saddly, I be broke

The contest lasts one whole year. That should give you some time to save enough money. And you can start training on an emulator right now.

This is true, I don't plan on leaving anytime soon The contest will go on until someone wins... or the year passes with no intrest (which I hope doesn't happen)

[Happy_Dude]

Thomas Jentzsch said:

And you can start training on an emulator right now

Thats how I did it. Plus its much easier to turn a 14" monitor upside down for the reverse gravity

bjk7382 said:

Once you see the video, you will see how I go about killing the guns. I would still suggest using a simple joypad setup, but if you can beat it with a homemade joystick, more power to you Hope to see some spectacular scores soon

Didn't you use a homemade joypad too
I'v wired the buttons but the sheild disables the thrust button
So now I have to re-rewire the buttons so the sheild in next to the fire button.


Some stratergy for anyone who is actually trying
I noticed in the vid that on planet 5 you turned 180 degrees to shoot the reactor.
I usualy shoot it at 90 degrees. I find it much easier and there is plenty of room to allow for
the swinging pod on the way out. (which is very slight because you only turn a little bit right)
Also on planet 3 I find it easier to hit the reactor 14 times and clear all the guns first and return
for the fule afterwards, It takes about as much fule as your sheild tactic and there is no danger of being shot at
Planet 4, I shoot the reactor 14 times to disable the guns before heading down to the pod room.

Although I am still in awe of how you handle reverse gravity. I'm soooo close (planet 6) to getting past it.

[bjk7382]

Happy_Dude said:

Didn't you use a homemade joypad too

Yes, but mine wasn't totally homemade. I just followed some directions on the internet. If you are figuring out the wiring yourself, you are doing more than I did.

In fact I just put the exact controller I beat thrust with up on ebay. You can buy it if you want The Thrust Controller

Quote

I noticed in the vid that on planet 5 you turned 180 degrees to shoot the reactor.
I usualy shoot it at 90 degrees. I find it much easier and there is plenty of room to allow for  
the swinging pod on the way out.

I know this is an embarassing part of the video, I usually only turn 90 degrees also and then fly straight out, but on the video I shoot the ball 3 times I think It is almost like shooting yourself in the foot with a gun. Just plain stupidity on my part.

Quote

Also on planet 3 I find it easier to hit the reactor 14 times and clear all the guns first and return  
for the fule afterwards, It takes about as much fule as your sheild tactic and there is no danger of being shot at
Planet 4, I shoot the reactor 14 times  to disable the guns before heading down to the pod room.

I am just used to the way I do it, if you want to shoot the reactor and go thru and get all the guns first, go for it, but I find it easier to take my time from the beginning.

Quote

Although I am still in awe of how you handle reverse gravity. I'm soooo close (planet 6)  to getting past it.

If you are talking about getting past level 6 on reverse gravity, I would say that skinny part at the bottom is the toughest part of the game on reverse gravity. I think on the video, I die there two or three times.

I die a lot in the video, and I know the part where I am trying to shoot the reactor and shoot the ball 3 times looks pretty stupid, but, oh well...