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Post by Malban on Sept 22, 2020 9:33:16 GMT -5
Hi,
on FB the question came up, whether there is some thread/forum - where feedback for Vectorblade can be "collected". Let's try this out.
If you have questions, experiences you would like to share - or even spoilers (pls mark them as such) and high scores to share. Pls be my guest!
Malban
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Post by Malban on Sept 22, 2020 9:36:32 GMT -5
I know there are a couple of people who already "finished" level easy - care to join in?
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ozyr
Vector Runner
Working on it...
Posts: 45 
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Post by ozyr on Sept 22, 2020 10:13:33 GMT -5
To any wondering, Packrat is working on releasing copies of this game, with overlay. No ETA at this time.
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Post by marblemad on Sept 22, 2020 15:23:06 GMT -5
Small update on the scopetrex (and other vectrex copy) issue.
So the cart release crashes on both, they boot into the screen of text that begins "The joystick ... ".
You asked me to try the rom (not the new bug fix rom) on the vecfever.
On Vecfever it plays perfectly on scopetrex and the other vectrex copy pcb!
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Post by gliptitude on Sept 24, 2020 14:17:06 GMT -5
I played through easy mode. Encountered the bug but recalibrated, no need to replace the software in my opinion.
(?spoiler?)I was stuck for a while around level 80 where a different type of enemy kept duplicating but I figured out a solution eventually.(end spoiler)
One most interesting aspect, and not something that would have occured to me in my fantasies (where I am able to compose Vectrex games), the whole experience kind of has a variety show aspect to it and reminds me of Rocky and Bullwinkle or You Can't Do That on Television. The varied screens, warps, shop, Mine Storm "event", home screen options all establish this, but so do all the titles, messages and genre mashup elements, (familiar arcade and sci-fi iconography and lore..). So kind of as theater, it is like a vector burlesque.
I started playing without sorting out the rules and later made short hand of them. I guess it is by design that the rules themselves are to be uncovered, not mastered at the outset, and coming from various directions, (the manual, the help screens, secrets, alert messages..). I am curious how big a factor playing from a saved game is. I know I encountered somewhere a message about highscores not counting and I feel like "achievements" were mentioned there too. Plowing through by saving aggressively to maintain good weapons and stats has been my strategy but has some downsides I think, in addition to the lack of valor in this method.
The overlay is fantastic.
..So I had bombs at one point early in the game but I don't know how I got them ..
.. Also, damn those malus items!
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Post by 8-Bit Waves on Sept 25, 2020 0:20:35 GMT -5
I think saves are best used to practice certain areas that you have issues with. Right before a boss or that "different" enemy you encountered. I believe if you play from a save it won't unlock the achievement or next difficulty either.
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Post by SiLic0ne t0aD on Sept 25, 2020 2:20:35 GMT -5
Amazing game - love it! I'm stuck at the "Tribbles" level.. Around 77-78 iirc and wasn't able to kill them off. I was going at them for what felt like 10 minutes straight. Brutal! Lol. I'm sure I'll figure out the secret though.  |
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Post by tatanga on Sept 25, 2020 16:13:41 GMT -5
I am a big fan of Vectorblade. It is a great game that I have spent many hours with. I love the allusions, even if I can only really assign half of them. And I love the mechanics of having to rebuild everything every time you try. Besides, it's great that you can improve the starting conditions by playing frequently. I have managed easy mode and yet there are still some mechanics that I have not yet fully understoodd. There are always new things to discover. Nice! The biggest question for me is: Why on earth is there a shop option to reduce speed by paying (!) $50?
Either this is an allusion I don't understand or it really becomes important at some point. I also wonder how you can get secrets if you don't buy them. Apparently you can discover them in other ways. In the following I write in black letters how I got bombs. Mark to read it! _________ If I collect a $ item at the end of a level, but there are no more enemies on the screen that could be converted into $42 notes, I get a bomb._________ About level 80: _________ I spent almost all my lifes until I understood what to do. That is just brilliant!_________ |
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Post by tatanga on Sept 25, 2020 17:46:47 GMT -5
One more tip on how to get the drunken Minestorm achievement:
______
ALWAYS collect the bottle of alcohol. Sometime you will be lucky enough to get the Minestorm item right after that.
Then turn your controller around, press button 3 constantly to slow down and try to survive the Minestorm slowly.
______
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Post by outlander999 on Sept 25, 2020 18:05:08 GMT -5
Vectorblade is just fantastic, Thanks, Malban!
I have a question: I play Vectorblade with Atarivox+ connected, but it makes strange vocals, looped. Something like "eeeeeh - aaaaaa- owowowow". Is my Atarivox broken? What phrases it should tell? Thanks!
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Post by Malban on Sept 26, 2020 10:02:44 GMT -5
:outlander999 I can only assume. The AtariVox has 3 settings: a) AtariVox b) VecVox c) VecVoice It must be set to VecVox. It might be that you have set it to VecVoice. VecVoice is for example used by Verzerk. Other than that - I don't know. During beta test phase we had strange trouble of different VecVox using slightly different timing parameters, which resulted in VecVox being silent after a couple dozen of levels. But we never encountered a "strange noise" behaviour. Also beware - it seems newer AtariVox seem to have the dip switches falsly outlined in the accompanying manual. If you are on FB - there were some threads regarding that. Cheers Malban
---
Actually I just connected my AtariVox to my Vectrex in VecVoice mode. And it behaves exactly as you describe - so the solution to your problem defenitly is - "Switch it to VecVox!"
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Post by Malban on Sept 26, 2020 10:16:25 GMT -5
@tatanga: The "slower" in the shop is one of the first things that was buyable. It stems from me playing Warblade - and in Warblade you could get very (VERY) fast - to fast for my reflexes (and probably others too). So in the shop of Warblade you could buy a slowdown. I thought I would need that too - so I implemented it. But the fact is - in Vectorblade I did not really go overboard with the fighter speed. So you probably do not need it in any circumstance. ---- The "bomb" getting you described would be a bug, I have to test it.
There are "ways" to get bombs though. One is even described in the diary - at least if you know what to do, you will know what it says :-).
---- Actually - in the diary is also a hint about level 81!
----
Cheers Malban
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Post by 8-Bit Waves on Sept 26, 2020 12:19:13 GMT -5
I have some trouble getting between those triple shots at max speed. I'll probably use a speed down or two for levels >90.
. . .
I have yet to get 2 or more secrets. I can get the super bomb though.
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Post by tatanga on Sept 27, 2020 6:03:03 GMT -5
@ Malban: Ah, many thanks for the explanation! Now I understand the motives for "slower". And yes, maybe I should read the diary again. Now I have more information and know how to interpret certain things better. |
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Post by squidhead on Sept 27, 2020 10:50:59 GMT -5
Thanks for your game Malban. I've just finished the "Easy level" ! Died on normal boss 1. Score : 793283. On another try, i've seen the Big ***mond  But i don't know how. |
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But i don't know how.