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Post by hcmffm on Jan 31, 2023 1:50:42 GMT -5
... I was thinking something like this for 5 seconds (centered on the screen). That'd make it easy to take a picture! CAVERN RESCUE HI SCORE
43075
B A W
EDIT: If the above screen is displayed at the end of a game after entering the highscore this is o.k.. A highscore screen [EDIT: as part of the group of screens displayed in unattended mode, i.e. title screen, control screen, thank you screen, ...] with just one highscore is a bit of an overkill, I think. The way you have it now (highscore + name at the top of title screen) would be sufficient for me.
For a tournament like the yearly Vector War it's good to display highscores as follows: - Score is displayed + Game can be told from game graphics or game title is displayed.
- Info should be visible for some few seconds (or redisplayed) to take a picture.
- Score should NOT be persistent when turning off Vectrex (because it would allow to play and use that highscore much later)
- If there are various game modes the game mode played to achieve the highscore should be visible as well.
That would be the optimum for a tournament if you followed all of this for displaying a new highscore. Not all games follow the above guidelines - in Vector War it's matter of trust that people stick to rules and do not cheat. And during the past 12 years this has worked very well. |
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Post by minsoft on Jan 31, 2023 4:46:53 GMT -5
> it's a strategy to fly into that thing at Mach 1 and turn around get to the exit asap. You summed exactly up why I did it. Anyone truly from the early 1980's era - the way it feels to fly full speed into that orb knowing you will be stopped and turned around is kind of exhilarating, isn't it? I can't think of a game of this type from the 80's where the physics suddenly stops, which is why it seems wrong to me. However, it's your game so your rules - do not change it if you prefer it how it is! |
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Post by drsnuggles on Feb 5, 2023 12:43:13 GMT -5
Congratulations! Cool game that features fast game play while drawing complex scenario without flickering, sorry emu only experience but even there some games do flicker. It's nice to play, the growing difficulty was ok for me, at least after some level 1 tries to get used to physics  Thank you! EDIT: Found your attached newer files in post 3 of this thread. I think the newer version 01-28-23 is easier but also less challenging. |
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Post by scotthuggins on Feb 5, 2023 16:34:26 GMT -5
Hello everyone! Here's my latest (and likely last) revision to Cavern Rescue. All bug (visual and sound) glitches, gameplay polishes, etc, are done. Roland (nexus6) is doing a stand up job on the box/manual/cart artwork. Once that is done, I will let everyone know the details on how to get a copy. I really want it to be as cheap as possible - even if I have to lose a little bit of money. Here's what's new: * Fixed up the intro music to be less eccentric and repeats the “good parts” of the music - got rid of the annoying sounds * FINALLY got the PAUSE to work correctly. Button 1 will initiate the pause feature. Any button or joystick movement AT ALL will get out of the PAUSE screen. * The intro music only plays every other time thru the title screens (playing constantly was a total beat down) * The "controls" section of the title screens lasts 2 seconds longer (this was a big complaint) * Added the displaying of the hi score screen at the end. I guess this game can be used in Vector Wars tournament now? ;-) * Increased the level of difficulty as the cavern (levels) gets higher and higher (enemies respawn quicker and move much faster) * Other optimizations to make sure the screen is always at stable 50hz ( tracki in VIDE is great for that). Here is the link to the latest version: CavernRescue_2-6-23
The third post in this thread also is linked to this version. LimitZer0 and playvectrex (Brett) or anyone else, could you give this version a try? Can you still beat it so easily? Thanks. Here's what the Hi Score look like. Should be good for taking a picture.  |
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Post by playvectrex on Feb 6, 2023 16:04:51 GMT -5
Oh I see you, putting down the highest of high scores  Challenge accepted! Will give this a try later tonight. |
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Post by playvectrex on Feb 7, 2023 22:08:25 GMT -5
 I played version 02-05-23 for the above score, but later realized you updated the post with version 02-06-23. I played this afterwards and I didn't noticed any difference on timing / sounds / difficulty or anything... so I guess lemme know what's different. I played 5 times and beat the game 3 times with no smart bombs used. I didn't have all of my lives, but was trying to max out the score, so kept playing until I got both orb challenges. The first 4 times I played I didn't really perceive that the enemies were harder, probably because I move so fast they never touch me. But once I was trying to beat myself, I started making mistakes. I lost all of my lives on level 6 on this 50025 run, and had to beat the last 3 levels with my last life. Pulled out a win though! Another thing I noticed is the boot music is really garbled and not a tune or anything. Is it supposed to be like that by design? It does sound creepy or whatever, but a nice tune goes a long way If you are adding a competition mode, it might be best to make it 1 life only. I can't see how you can make it more difficult without making it not fun to play. Right now it's not that hard for me, but it's fun, and I like trying to perfect the speed runs for the high score. |
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Post by hcmffm on Feb 8, 2023 1:41:16 GMT -5
... If you are adding a competition mode, it might be best to make it 1 life only. I can't see how you can make it more difficult without making it not fun to play. Right now it's not that hard for me, but it's fun, and I like trying to perfect the speed runs for the high score. ... Just a quick note: Changing to one life only will make a different game - I'm not really sure whether this is an improvement or not. Perhaps just we'll just try it out and see. |
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Post by Malban on Feb 8, 2023 6:30:50 GMT -5
In Vectorblade and KarlQuappe these are additional game modes "Hardcore" - where you have one live only (and can not get another one).
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Post by hcmffm on Feb 8, 2023 16:57:55 GMT -5
In Vectorblade and KarlQuappe these are additional game modes "Hardcore" - where you have one live only (and can not get another one). A good suggestion and solution, Malban. Players could choose whether they really want to go the hard way or not. On highscore screen the played mode "Normal" / "Standard" or "Hardcore" / "Difficult" should also be displayed. There's still another alternative to make the game harder: Instead of decreasing energy any contact with an enemy could result in loosing a player ship. To be honest I'd even find game play more consistent and plausible if behaviour was like that. But this change would also have quite some impact on game play of Cavern Rescue. Spawning of enemies might be an issue but then it might be an extra challenge for the player to avoid spawning enemies. |
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Post by playvectrex on Feb 8, 2023 17:24:48 GMT -5
To be clear, the game is fine as is for its normal mode. I was referring to the Competition mode for Vector War, the game should be harder and score achievable should be higher than you can get in normal mode. Reducing the number lives in Comp mode, and increasing bonuses could help. Or give big bonuses for any extra lives left at the end. The final screen though should be persistent until a button (1?) is pressed and say "Competition Mode" or something like that. Otherwise you won't know what mode the game was played in. And while we're talking about it, I think 5000 points is a good qualifying value... it basically means you can beat level 1 and 2 quickly, or after a few deaths.
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Post by nexus6 on Feb 8, 2023 17:30:44 GMT -5
I wouldn't change the enemy contact behavior, because this is an element that distinguishes CR from most other games. To make it harder they could take the energy faster in later levels.
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Post by scotthuggins on Feb 8, 2023 23:59:58 GMT -5
The thing that's making this hard is that 95% of ALL the suggestions and ideas you guys are offering up are great!  I ESPECIALLY like the "hardcore" mode idea. It's just one ship and that's it! Easy to implement. On the title screen, along with "Press 4 to play", I could have it like this: Press 4 for normal game.
Press 1 for hardcore game (one ship).And when the Hi Score flashes for 5 seconds like it does now (on the final screen of the title screens). It will say something like: Cavern Rescue Hi Score
(hardcore mode) 34085 SCH I will post an update when I get Hardcore mode going. PS: did anyone try out the PAUSE feature? It works much better now. > I wouldn't change the enemy contact behavior, because this is an element that distinguishes CR from most other games. Roland, I agree. Otherwise, that would make it even more like Cosmic Chasm....which was never my intention whatsoever. I never, ever think about Cosmic Chasm - it didn't influence any of CR even though when I went and read the manual recently after hearing so many comparisons to that game, I was shocked to see that manual refer to those "rooms" in that game as "Caverns" as well. Damn. |
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Post by D-Type on Feb 9, 2023 2:02:22 GMT -5
5 seconds to view the high score and take a picture is still not very long. My old phone takes 5 seconds to wake up and it can take some fiddling around to get an acceptable picture.
When the score disappears, is it possible to have one of the buttons bring the high score display back up?
(Note, I haven't actually played it yet, so it might be fine!)
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Post by playvectrex on Feb 9, 2023 15:37:00 GMT -5
After a game ends, the menu system goes into "attract mode" effectively cycling between title, shouts, high score and help screens. So it will come back around and it's JUST barely long enough to take a good picture It might take you a few tries. It should be noted somehow that a high score was loaded from memory vs. just achieved. LimitZer0 does this in Beluga Dreams and other games by adding a line over the score if it was loaded from memory, or no line if you just achieved that score. You can also disable loading scores from memory ($CBEB) on first boot, and still let them be saved to memory ($CBEB) after a game ends... so they will save on VEXTREME. Or you could choose to only disable loading scores for Hardcore Mode. Or do a line a something |
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Post by scotthuggins on Feb 11, 2023 15:12:31 GMT -5
The loading of the hi scores was funny when you (and another forum member) told me about it. LOL. I only have a VecMulti (from Richard Hutchison), and it doesn't have that functionality. This update is for: Hardcore mode: press button 1 to play
- It’s not advertised on title screens or in the manual. Just a secret thing. Main purpose is for, hopefully, entry into Vector Wars (I really want to play in the competition and it would be nifty if CR was a part of it). Testing it out, I found it's neat to see how far you can get with only one ship. Nice idea, Malban!
- You get one life, no extras possible
- Instead of showing the ships remaining (since there is only one), it will show “HARDCORE”. See screenshot below.
- When game ends and you get the hi score and enter your initials…it will cycle thru the intro screens. It will get to the Hi score screen and if the hi score is from a Hardcore game, instead of showing “hi score”, it will show “Hardcore”. See below screenshot.
- If you start a regular game (pressing button 4) and you beat the Hi Score, it will show like it always does: "Hi Score" instead of "Hardcore". Otherwise "Hardcore" will always appear for the hi score if it was set in Hardcore mode.
At this point, the added difficulty in later caverns and the Hardcore mode will be it for any more game play or feature additions. Forum member, Gliptitude, had a great suggestion of reducing the brightness of the cavern walls and most other objects so that the orb is the brightest flashing object so it stands out more…and hopefully it will make it seem more of a focal point and more “important”. The brightness suggestion will be the last enhancement - I'm beat (lol). Everyone has made such a huge impact. It’s not even close to the game it was one month ago…it’s way better. Thanks to everyone! Please see the updated version of the game with Hardcore mode: CavernRescue_02-14-23What it looks like when you enter hi score in Hardcore mode:  What it looks like it at the top (instead of ships remaining):  |
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Challenge accepted! Will give this a try later tonight.
