30 replies to this topic

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

I'm looking for some ideas for this kind of game. The 8-Bit version of Silicon Warrior is admitedly not the greatest game ever and I think a way better game can be done within its main theme. I'm curious if anyone had ideas for a game with this being the only restriction:

2-player game with each player controling a Wizard.

Please brainstorm. If there's a really good idea coming out of this, I might go and program it

Greetings,
Manuel

[inextremis staple]

I have no idea how Silicon Warrior plays or anything about it but when I read this I immediately thought of Archon. You could do something like that pretty easy I think. Have the two wizards shooting magic things at eachother. You could throw some randomly appearing powerups that make you shoot in different patterns or for different amounts of damage. Walls and obstacles could make things interesting as well.

My two bits..

is

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

Quote

I have no idea how Silicon Warrior plays or anything about it but when I read this I immediately thought of Archon. You could do something like that pretty easy I think. Have the two wizards shooting magic things at eachother. You could throw some randomly appearing powerups that make you shoot in different patterns or for different amounts of damage. Walls and obstacles could make things interesting as well.

Aha, ok. Something like the action scene of Archon. Good idea for the start.

I'd be interested in more of the details. What would make this game special, when comparing it to Combat or Outlaw for example?

Greetings,
Manuel

[Thomas Jentzsch]

[quote name='Cybergoth]I'd be interested in more of the details. What would make this game special' date=' when comparing it to Combat or Outlaw for example?[/quote']
Different weapons, movement speeds, shieldings, special moves...

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

Thomas Jentzsch][quote=Cybergoth]I'd be interested in more of the details. What would make this game special, on when comparing it to Combat or Outlaw for example?[/quote, said:

Different weapons, movement speeds, shieldings, special moves...

Hm... so how would the wizard choose his "weapon"? Like in how would he switch from "fireball" to "poisoned needle"?

How would he activate a shield?

Assuming our wizards are fit enough to have for example "Teleporting" as a special move, how would they do that?

Don't wizards need "mana" for using their powers?

Questions, questions...

Greetings,
Manuel

[CPUWIZ]

Quote

Hi there!

Thomas Jentzsch][quote=Cybergoth]I'd be interested in more of the details. What would make this game special, on when comparing it to Combat or Outlaw for example?[/quote, said:

Different weapons, movement speeds, shieldings, special moves...

Hm... so how would the wizard choose his "weapon"? Like in how would he switch from "fireball" to "poisoned needle"?

How would he activate a shield?

Assuming our wizards are fit enough to have for example "Teleporting" as a special move, how would they do that?

Don't wizards need "mana" for using their powers?

Questions, questions...

Greetings,
Manuel

Omega Race Booster Grip?

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

Quote

Omega Race Booster Grip?

Hm... if the required controlers were for sale somewhere in unlimited quantities, I'd consider it. But just supporting the few owners of a Booster Grip would be too small an audience I think.

Does for example any homebrew hardware source offer modded NES controlers for this purpose?

Greetings,
Manuel

[inextremis staple]

Quote

Hm... so how would the wizard choose his "weapon"? Like in how would he switch from "fireball" to "poisoned needle"?

How would he activate a shield?

You could just make it power ups. Make the fireball the default weapon and have little, different coloured shapes pop up now and then at various points on the screen and if a wizard manages to run over it in time he acquires that magic for a predetermined amount of time. The sheild power up could last for a few seconds and allow for the wizard to get to a wall or another power up.

is

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

Quote

Make the fireball the default weapon

What if the default weapon was "no weapon"? Then you'd have both wizards trying to catch the power ups. One would go for the shield and the other for the fireball for example...

Greetings,
Manuel

[inextremis staple]

Cybergoth said:

Hi there!

inextremis staple said:

Make the fireball the default weapon

What if the default weapon was "no weapon"? Then you'd have both wizards trying to catch the power ups. One would go for the shield and the other for the fireball for example...

Greetings,
Manuel

I don't think that'd work as well, personally. If there's a default weapon it would make the game that much better I think. You could have life bars like in Karateka or any fighting game since. The default weapon makes the least amount of damage and can be used indefinately. You can make another bar above the life bar that shows how much time is left for the power up.

You could make it so that using the power up takes over the red button's function. Originally the button would control the fire balls but say you got the Triple Fire Ball power up and then you shoot those until the bar runs out (it'd be constantly depleating). You could make it so that even the sheild has to use the red button. It would still depleat the bar no matter if you pushed the button or not. You could hold down the button to keep it up. You could make it so that you had to lower the sheild to pick up another power up. You could also make other power ups that increase your health.

Man, I'm spurtin' ideas off left and right. I should go to bed. Last final tomorrow at 7.45 am. Calc II. Then I get to drive 10 hours home. Fun day tomorrow.

is

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

inextremis staple said:

You could make it so that using the power up takes over the red button's function.

Ah, that is cool I think. So we don't need a second fire button at all. Though we're also limited to one spell at a time.

I had another idea lately.
(Well, actually it's only half an idea, more or less)

Think of Qb.

I thought to max out the action rectangle from 4x4 squares over the whole screen. Then each wizard would sit on a Qb platform, and so have his movement limited.

On the board might be other stationary platforms, or ones popping randomly in and out.

The wizards could possibly switch platforms by teleporting from one platform to the other.

Ok, as I said that's only half an idea, as it's more or less just the universe where the wizards "live" in. But what would they do there? What is the gameplay?

Greetings,
Manuel

[Old_Atarian]

well if it's like Qbert maybe you could have the wizards trying to manuver in to a position (kinda like a chess game) on the board where they are protected by a wall or somthing then use a fire ball with combat richochet affects to try and take out the other wizard whose defense can be teleporting to saftey but if it is random he might teleport in to the line of fire

i know it sounds crazy but it might work, just a thought

OA

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Old_Atarian said:

well if it's like Qbert ...

Don't ever compare Qb with Qbert!

[Old_Atarian]

Okay then what is QB ?

Do you mean Q-Basic that M$ crap product ? Or is there another Atari game called "QB" ?.



OA

[Thomas Jentzsch]

http://www.atariage.com/software_search.ht...l?SystemID=2600

[Old_Atarian]

"Oh i see" said the blind man in the pink mini skirt

OA

[khryssun]

For those wondering what is this game, here is the pic (C64 version) :



and the manual :

Quote

Silicon Warrior
 
This is the year 2084. The Earth Houses in Silicon Valley are troubled,  
because the Syborgs, a superhuman race of technocrats, have invented  
the 10th Generation computer. The Syborgs have sworn to give the secret  
Source Code of this computer to the Earth House which proves to be most  
technologically aggressive. The ultimate one-to-one combat is to take  
place in a futuristic battle grid somewhere in outer space. You are one of  
the chosen Warriors! Can you outwit the Syborgs and win the five battles  
to become Master Silicon Warrior ?

Features

4 skill levels, 1-4 players, Joystick controlled

Objective

To link five programmed chips of the grid in a diagonal, vertical or  
horizontal row. To do so you must teleport from chip to chip,  
programming them in your language colour. If you succeed, the Score  
Code will be revealed.

Joystick Controls

To select the number of players and skill levels - push joystick forward or  
back to  move the cursor, then press fire button.  

To teleport yourself from chip to chip - move joystick vertically or  
hrizontally. You cannot move diagonally.  

To aim and fire your laser - first press and hold the fire-button, then  
move joystick in the direction you wish to fire.  

To shield yourself from enemy fire - return joystick to neutral position  
then press fire button.  

Silicon Warrior © 1983 Epyx

Hope this'll help

Chris

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

khryssun said:

Hope this'll help  

Heh, now this is an interesting screenshot. So the guy was playing 1-player "Connect-5"

Greetings,
Manuel

[inextremis staple]

Wow, that's not how I envisioned this at all. LOL

So, Manuel, are you trying to make a true port of this game or did the game just inspire you? Just wondering because it seems nothing like what we've been shooting back and forth.

is

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

inextremis staple said:

So, Manuel, are you trying to make a true port of this game or did the game just inspire you?  Just wondering because it seems nothing like what we've been shooting back and forth.

Just inspiration, don't worry

I didn't post any screenshots of the original on purpose, to have the brainstorming more open minded. But it's cool to have one available now for reference.

BTW: I'm still undecided wether I'm programming such a game or not. I'm still not 100% convinced of any of our thought's so far. There's missing the final kick to them. You know, that point where the gamer in me says: "That's it! Perfect idea! Let's do it!"

Greetings,
Manuel

[inextremis staple]

OK. That's what I thought but I just wanted to be sure.

I was just thinking...

What if you could choose your wizard? Each wizard could have his own strength and weakness. Take Betrard, The Fire Wizard, for example. Betrard has the strength of fire. His weakness is ice. His default weapon is the fire ball. Then there's Gelzaan, the Ice Wizard. His strength is ice and his weakness is fire. He shoots icecicles. When these two fight their weapons do more significant damage to eachother than to other wizards like Bazitt, the Thunder Wizard.

I dunno, just a thought.

Maybe you could make it into a tournament to see who the ULTIMATE SORCERER is. Make the last guy a big meanie who has no weaknesses and is really fast and such. It might work.

is

[Jess Ragan]

Seems pretty easy to figure out. Tap the button to fire, and hold 'er down to create a shield. You could even hold the button to anchor yourself in place and direct the shield toward incoming attacks with the joystick.

JR

[inextremis staple]

So... Manuel, any thoughts as to whether this might be put into production or not? I think we've given you lots of great ideas that could make a great homebrew. Whaddya say? It could be a really awesome game.


is

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

inextremis staple said:

So...  Manuel, any thoughts as to whether this might be put into production or not?  I think we've given you lots of great ideas that could make a great homebrew.  Whaddya say?  It could be a really awesome game.

Hm... no, I'm sorry. At the moment it looks more like I don't go for it. Still not sure what I'm doing next. I'm also evaluating a few other things like porting Archon for example or Sword of Fargoal. I think I'll do some prototype programming now and see in which direction this'll go. Not too long ago I tried a few things regarding Archon, but wasn't too happy with the results. Next I'll try and see how good a Sword of Fargoal port might get.

But I'm also still thinking about the wizards game and am still interested in any more ideas regarding it. I've done some more research about this topic, I'll soon post a few screenshots with different approaches/ideas for such a game.

Greetings,
Manuel

[Andrew Davie]

Thomas Jentzsch said:

Old_Atarian said:

well if it's like Qbert ...

Don't ever compare Qb with Qbert!

Yes, some kind soul wrote to me recently telling me he'd added a link to Qb in his Q*Bert page listing all Q*Bert clones. I'm supposed to be grateful, I think. Biggest mistake I ever made with that game was its name. Oh well

Cheers
A