|
|
Post by VectorX on Oct 7, 2024 12:57:18 GMT -5
^Hah, not a problem, I've been called worse   I'll see about beating Thrust in the next few nights. New episode of Only Murders in the Building is tonight, so it might be sometime later |
|
|
|
Post by fruktodlaren on Oct 7, 2024 13:18:11 GMT -5
Sad to see Sea Pup go, because I had almost arranged to have a Sea Pup aluminium shell made for the prize table. But I understand and stand behind all changes made so far. Would it be in bad taste if I had a Vectrexagon aluminium shell made commemorating its late author Andreas, and donating it to the prize table? Technically I would be using the artwork without permission.
|
|
|
|
Post by hcmffm on Oct 8, 2024 0:19:45 GMT -5
Sad to see Sea Pup go, because I had almost arranged to have a Sea Pup aluminium shell made for the prize table. But I understand and stand behind all changes made so far. Would it be in bad taste if I had a Vectrexagon aluminium shell made commemorating its late author Andreas, and donating it to the prize table? Technically I would be using the artwork without permission. Sorry for removing Sea Pup of the game list, again. Currently, all over the world there are wars and I felt more comfortable not to play Armor Attack and Sea Pup this year. Sure enough, one can discuss this and there is war in many other games, too. And it even says "Vector War". But it was my feeling to do so. Sorry for the extra hazzle with the aluminum shell. Regarding Vectrexagon: FAIK, Tony H. ( 50tbrd) did the graphics and I guess he did it for free. If you create few copies of Vectrexagon aluminum shell noone should oppose or sue you for copyright infringement. And I'm sure Andreas would have agreed if he were still with us. |
|
|
|
Post by fruktodlaren on Oct 8, 2024 1:27:57 GMT -5
Sorry for removing Sea Pup of the game list, again. Currently, all over the world there are wars and I felt more comfortable not to play Armor Attack and Sea Pup this year. Sure enough, one can discuss this and there is war in many other games, too. And it even says "Vector War". But it was my feeling to do so. Sorry for the extra hazzle with the aluminum shell. I completely agree. Regarding Vectrexagon: FAIK, Tony H. ( 50tbrd) did the graphics and I guess he did it for free. If you create few copies of Vectrexagon aluminum shell noone should oppose or sue you for copyright infringement. And I'm sure Andreas would have agreed if he were still with us. Then so be it. I will pull in some favours to finalize the 90% finished shell I already have of Vectrexagon. I want to add some commemorative text about Andreas on the back of the shell as well as something about it being a Vector War XIV prize. I should have it ready in time for the competition. The spoon was made in advance over a year ago at the end of the last Vector War, to save time as TV chefs say. Sad news reached me very recently: The author of Vectrexagon, Andreas Gustafsson, passed away in May this year. He actually passed away in 2023. Here is his memory room. It is only in Swedish. The buttons from left to right say "light a candle" and "make a donation". |
|
|
|
Post by Chainsaw on Oct 8, 2024 12:57:31 GMT -5
Hello All.
Wow, I missed a lot of discussions here, was busy with personal stuff, but I just look forward for the Vector War.
Already now thanks for organizing it again.
About the Darryl / Darren topic. I just remembered the movie D.A.R.Y.L. year 1985 with a boy with special abilities, and later it seems, that he is a robot. Who remembers this movie? I don't know if I still would like the movie today, but I remember, I liked the movie and the topic when I watched the movie many years ago :-)
Sorry the offtopic stuff, looking forward for the Vector War :-)
|
|
|
|
Post by VectorX on Oct 8, 2024 13:10:02 GMT -5
^Ha ha, yeah, I wanted to see that as a kid but probably not so much as an adult.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sketcz on Oct 8, 2024 13:31:20 GMT -5
I seem to remember that it previous VW, Soccer, Blitz and Polar Rescue, I was unable to work out how to play them and thus never did. If someone could link to or make a how-to video, that would be great. I too could never understand Polar Rescue so never played it. During the last Vector War its inclusion made me read the manual. I don't have a link, but someone from here made a page with all the manuals. A quick 15 minute read should get you up to speed. For example: to lock your engine at a lower forward speed, hold both thrust and reverse together. This creates less engine noise, so enemy subs don't get frenzied. You get the most points reaching the lifepod (big arrow on sonar). Hunting subs doesn't yield much. You need to watch your oxygen. A good tactic is to motor slowly, diving every time you see mines, and avoid combat unless forced. Think of it as playing a survival horror and stealth FPS combined. EDIT: Would you say Polar Rescue has a war theme? It has submarine combat. But the main goal is rescue? I don't know - I leave that topic of discussion to others. |
|
|
|
Post by rossross on Oct 9, 2024 6:45:09 GMT -5
Hello all,
Excited to participate in another VW. Great list of games. Happy Unicorn Galaxy made the cut. Again, some games I haven't given much time so looking forward to getting stuck in.
Cheers!
|
|
|
|
Post by hcmffm on Oct 9, 2024 16:55:02 GMT -5
Hello all, Excited to participate in another VW. Great list of games. Happy Unicorn Galaxy made the cut. Again, some games I haven't given much time so looking forward to getting stuck in. Cheers! Great to read from you, Ross. This year, even before the Vector War folks are around, already, which is cool.  |
|
|
|
Post by Sketcz on Oct 9, 2024 17:34:07 GMT -5
Cool. Yesterday evening I've ordered Unicorn Galaxy. Let's see which game is delivered faster. ACoL arrived today! Got some practice in, crushed Lucifer three times. I like it - very different to other Veccy games. (Though the sound needs some work - I get a high pitched whining sound.) Overall it reminds me of Starfox a bit. A real pity it never came out. Conspiracy theory: what if it was made recently but burned to a ROM chip and "hidden" someplace to be found and thought of as lost? Since there's no evidence of it having existed...  (whispers) hidden there by the devil himself some say... |
|
|
|
Post by VectorX on Oct 9, 2024 18:00:28 GMT -5
A Conspiracy of Lucifer, whee...
|
|
|
|
Post by Chainsaw on Oct 10, 2024 15:31:55 GMT -5
A crush of Lucifer... Didn't know about this... Seems I really live under a rock the last years?! Ordered now :-)
|
|
|
|
Post by VectorX on Oct 10, 2024 16:40:14 GMT -5
^No more rock dwelling for you!
|
|
|
|
Post by Peer on Oct 11, 2024 1:16:21 GMT -5
Conspiracy theory: what if it was made recently but burned to a ROM chip and "hidden" someplace to be found and thought of as lost? Since there's no evidence of it having existed... (whispers) hidden there by the devil himself some say... Some time ago, VectorX was kind enough to award me the title of being the resident mad scientist. Though most of the time the mad part predominates, in this matter the scientists part of me deems such theory highly improbable.
Theories should always be proven or disproven by verifiable facts. And in fact, last December I did a code analysis and some deep digital archeology of Crush of Lucifer (just never found the time to write it all up and put it online).
I went through the "original" code, without the new parts and modifications which were added by Chris Malcolm. The style of the code is "old-style", and very similar to the styles of the other original WT and GCE games. It does not contain any of the "modern" homebrew programming techniques or tricks. It was also not generated by a C-compiler. And there are certain indicators that the programmer was familiar with the code of certain other original Vectrex games. I am not talking about the obvious things, like the Mine Storm mines, but about shared subroutines and similarities of the game engine design.
And before you ask: No, the code does not contain any explicit reference(s) to its author(s), and I also did not find any Easter Eggs.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sketcz on Oct 11, 2024 4:54:36 GMT -5
Conspiracy theory: what if it was made recently but burned to a ROM chip and "hidden" someplace to be found and thought of as lost? Since there's no evidence of it having existed... (whispers) hidden there by the devil himself some say... Some time ago, VectorX was kind enough to award me the title of being the resident mad scientist. Though most of the time the mad part is prominent, in this matter the scientists part of me deems such theory highly improbable.
Theories should always be proven or disproven by verifiable facts. And in fact, last December I did a code analysis and some deep digital archeology of Crush of Lucifer.
I went through the "original" code, without the new parts and modifications which were added by Chris Malcolm. The style of the code is "old-style", and very similar to the styles of the other original WT and GCE games. I does not contain any of the "modern" homebrew programming techniques or tricks. It was also not generated by a C-compiler. And there are certain indicators that the programmer was familiar with the code of certain other original Vectrex games. I am not talking about the obvious things, like the Mine Storm mines, but about shared subroutines and similarities of the game engine.
And before you ask: No, the code does not contain any explicit reference(s) to its author(s), and I also did not find any Easter Eggs.
Thank you for the detailed explanation! Fascinating. I was half joking, but this is definitely a mystery I'd love to see solved some day. Based on my chats with Mark Indictor, it's possible whoever worked on this was contracted while working remotely, handed in a finished version, then forgot about it. Maybe. That's speculation based on other's statements about other unreleased games. I will remain cognisant of ACOL in case a lead appears. |
|
