29 replies to this topic

[Ze_ro]

Important Note - This week's competition is over, no further scores will be accepted. If you still want to discuss Commando Raid and compare scores, feel free to do so.

You are in defense of your buildings which have come under attack by android
commando raiders. Without warning they appear, intent on capturing your
buildings and destroying your gun! You must fend them off, because this week's game is Commando Raid!

Game Information

• Game Name: Commando Raid
  
• Released By: US Games, 1982
  
• TV Type: Your Choice (Color - Manual Fire, B&W - Autofire)
  
• Left Difficulty: B / Novice - Steerable Bullets
  
• Right Difficulty: B / Novice - With Bomber
  
• Game Mode: Default
  
• Chosen By: Mad Scientist
  

Post your scores right here in this thread, and I will add them to the list. Remember to play the game with the recommended game mode and difficulty settings as shown above so that your scores will be consistent with everyone elses. The deadline for posting scores will be approximately Tuesday, Jan 10th at 1:30 AM (CST). In case you haven't already done so, please read the High Score Club rules. There is other useful information contained in that previous link, including a list of previous High Score Club games!

As before, next week's game will be chosen by the next person in the member list, which happens to be Dan Iacovelli! Please send me a private message with your choice of game for next week!

If you are not a member of the High Score Club, but would like to be, then all you have to do is post a score for this week's game, and I'll add you to the list!

Current High Scores

• 78,685 (keilbaca) [+11]
  
• 68,285 (SpiceWare) [+10]
  
• 63,400 (Rom Hunter) [+9]
  
• 51,780 (shadow460) [+8]
  
• 48,725 (silverpoodleman) [+7]
  
• 40,040 (Mad Scientist) [+6]
  
• 38,025 (MoonlightKnight) [+5]
  
• 35,545 (D.Yancey) [+4]
  
• 34,550 (supercat) [+3]
  
• 34,155 (LarcenTyler) [+2]
  
• 31,505 (Christophero Sly) [+1]
  
• 17,870 (davepesc) [+1]
  
• 14,780 (scogey) [+1]
  
• 12,790 (vdub_bobby) [+1]
  

Best Tips

• None yet
  

Bounties and Challenges

• Free Cigars! - Post a score and get a free point from Mad Scientist!
  

TwinGalaxies Top 3

(Default Mode)

• 3,325,300 (Todd Rogers)
  
• 152,195 (Stephen R Riesenberger)
  
• 132,790 (Mark Feldt)
  

Current Standings

Coming Eventually...

Member List

Dan Iacovelli, iguana, Luigi301, Gateway, Damon Plus, gospeedde, Kepone, internetotaku, panda_racer, KaeruYojimbo, cyberneticimplant, bjk7382, davepesc, neotokeo2001, xeex, bmlbytes, Omegamatrix, the 5th ghost, Xebec's Demise, khryssun, vgcollector666, chadtower, moycon, Malc74, shadow460, Atarifever, Keir, supercat, FireTiger, Philflound, Fellow Atari Man, keilbaca, brendano, Cybergoth, durden26, sku_u, mitsubachi, arlo, Recycled, LarcenTyler, silverpoodleman, 128bytes, Goochman, Thomas Jentzsch, Christophero Sly, D.Yancey, mrppv666, Mordax, Numan, Mordax, vdub_bobby, Dones, Gamemaster_ca_2003, scogey, graywest, RJ, Voch, video game addict, SpiceWare, Robert M, Mad Scientist

Scoring Points in Commando Raid

• Shooting down a helicopter or bomber is equal to 200 points.
  
• Shooting down a commando paratrooper or a bomb is equal to 115 points.
  
• Every 10,000 points you will be awarded a new building to take the place of the building that is most badly damaged. A ringing bell signals the award.
  

Hints and Tips

The Manual said:

As always, you really should read the manual.

What's that? You don't have the manual? Well, AtariAge has a scanned copy and a typed copy online for your viewing pleasure. Unfortunately, the manual doesn't provide any specific hints, but it's still worth reading.

--Ze_ro

[keilbaca]

first score 19750

[LarcenTyler]

I know I have this cartridge around here somewhere... Question is, where did I leave it? For now, I'll have to give you this emulator score.

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[bjk7382]

I've always wanted to convert this to a paddle game, but I don't have enough programming skills yet. I know paddles take a lot more time to read than the joystick, so I don't even know if it is possible. Plus it would need to be dissasembled anyway, which is over my head.

But I think paddles would improve the game immensely.

[LarcenTyler]

bjk7382, on Wed Jan 4, 2006 3:39 PM, said:

I've always wanted to convert this to a paddle game, but I don't have enough programming skills yet. I know paddles take a lot more time to read than the joystick, so I don't even know if it is possible. Plus it would need to be dissasembled anyway, which is over my head. 

But I think paddles would improve the game immensely.

I agree, paddles would be more fun for this game. If only my paddles weren't broken...

[keilbaca]

Bump my score to 28445

[supercat]

bjk7382, on Wed Jan 4, 2006 3:39 PM, said:

I've always wanted to convert this to a paddle game, but I don't have enough programming skills yet. I know paddles take a lot more time to read than the joystick, so I don't even know if it is possible. Plus it would need to be dissasembled anyway, which is over my head. 

Adding paddles to a game is nasty. If there is a Y counter which indicates the current scan line, the code is IIRC:

  bit INPT0
  bmi NotPot0
  sty Pot0Value

This code takes eight cycles and needs to be run about once every other scan line. Some game kernels have cycles to burn, but trying to add pot support to one that doesn't will be basically impossible.

[keilbaca]

Updated score: 35430

[SpiceWare]

32,640

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[keilbaca]

huzzah!

47900

EDIT: 53530

I like this, reminds me of beach head for the C64.

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Edited by keilbaca, Wed Jan 4, 2006 7:02 PM.

[SpiceWare]

47,475

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[Christophero Sly]

Pretty sketchy collision detection in this one. I think this will be my only submission this week.

31,505

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Edited by Christophero Sly, Wed Jan 4, 2006 9:40 PM.

[davepesc]

17870

Man, there is like 1 pixel in the top of the parachute you need to hit or your shot just goes sailing on through!

If there's any advice, I'd say it's to try and wait for the paratroopers to line up on either side so you can take 2 out with 1 shot. Otherwise, it's just keep firing and remember that this ain't Missile Command, you need to defent the destroyed cities moreso than the standing ones.

[vdub_bobby]

12790

EDIT: If you are going to hack in different controls, it would probably be more feasible to hack in driving controller support.

Edited by vdub_bobby, Fri Jan 6, 2006 12:15 PM.

[shadow460]

I had to wonder if I set the 'ol 7800 up right for this...

I used to kick serious butt with this game.

My first try this week ended at 51780. I was pretty well screwed when they got me, but, out of perversity, when the dude ran out to plant the bomb, he was obliterated by another bomb falling from the plane.

I just found out that this game blanks the screen after a few minutes, too. Oops.

[D.Yancey]

[MoonlightKnight]

Here my first try.

Edited by MoonlightKnight, Sun Jan 8, 2006 3:36 PM.

[silverpoodleman]

34,875 - getting there!

[Rom Hunter]

First try:


Last try:

Edited by Rom Hunter, Mon Jan 9, 2006 11:26 AM.

[keilbaca]

Update my score to 66890

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[SpiceWare]

68,285 - didn't get any tunnels this time, the bomber got me

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Edited by SpiceWare, Mon Jan 9, 2006 7:42 PM.

[scogey]

14780

I like this one....had a bit of trouble getting my aim down quickly enough

[Mad Scientist]

40,040 for me... just time for one emulated game.

I've been largely inactive on AtariAge since the birth of my son in November. I had originally planned to use Jr. Pac-Man for the contest (it seemed appropriate), but I saw at the last minute that it had been used last year. Commando Raid was one of the time-wasters from my childhood; collision detection aside, I hope that people liked it.

Small bounty: submit a score, get a point from me. It's the closest thing to handing out cigars that I can do around here (and more appealing, given my career in cancer research)!

-Mad Scientist

Edited by Mad Scientist, Mon Jan 9, 2006 10:27 PM.

[supercat]

34,550. It's a nasty little game, having to hit those little guys just right. It's not hard to do, but it takes too long while the guys are coming down the other side...

[keilbaca]

78685

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