|
|
Post by gliptitude on May 15, 2013 10:07:53 GMT -5
So unfortunately I have no images or special information about this game for those who may have already heard of it - "HOVERCRAFT" - a 3D color vector game by Cinematronics.
The game is thought to have been completed and presented in ONE prototype cabinet, but never saw production or distribution.
What interests me is the 3D system, as it was described in one of the things I read today - Basically there is a mirror system that splits and then superimposes the images. There is just one monitor displaying graphics. ... I got the impression there was basically two regions of the screen (LEFT and RIGHT), but that it is viewed indirectly so that the two regions coincide. I don't believe there were any moving parts or overlays or goggles or anything involved in the 3D effect.
Anybody have any information on this ... or has there ever been any images circulated???
|
|
|
|
Post by VectorX on May 15, 2013 10:39:59 GMT -5
I don't believe there were any moving parts or overlays or goggles or anything involved in the 3D effect. Maybe it would have a viewer to look through like with Battlezone, as this was a few years after the latter was released. Anybody have any information on this ... or has there ever been any images circulated??? Unfortunately maybe not, but this could be lost forever.  |
|
|
|
Post by celtroniclabs on Jun 23, 2013 1:07:34 GMT -5
Anybody have any information on this ... or has there ever been any images circulated??? It would be interesting to see what this game looked like.. I have never seen any images of it (cabinet or screen).. The best information that I've seen on it, and on all Cinematronics games in general, is on that "allincolorforaquarter" blog. A reader comment, at the bottom of one of the blog pages, states that Jim Pierce died from some sort of cancer a few years ago. He was the long term principal boss-man at the company from 1975 to 1987. The poster of the comment claimed he was a relative of his (via marriage I think) but did not know Mr. Pierce personally. If that's true, the author of the blog won't be having any interview with Jim Pierce for his book.. |
|
|
|
Post by TrekMD on Jun 23, 2013 9:08:23 GMT -5
Wow, based on the description this could have been a fun game to play. The 3D method is creative for a video game also.
|
|
|
|
Post by marblemad on Jul 10, 2013 12:41:10 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by gliptitude on Jul 10, 2013 15:45:40 GMT -5
I don't think so because the game was described to have had only ONE monitor. Although I suppose it could be this straight forward if the monitor was just really big, and the angles of the mirrors changed? So essentially "C" and "D" would just be the two polar regions of one huge picture. I doubt it though. I like the diagram you linked, and I'd like to find similar illustrations of different systems, like specific arcade displays that use mirrors, magnifiers etc. Some of them seem pretty unique, like the X-Men wide screen, where I'm pretty sure you are looking directly at one monitor on the left but then the image on the right is actually a reflection, (of an inverted monitor). |
|
|
|
Post by marblemad on Aug 11, 2013 17:35:01 GMT -5
I like the diagram you linked, and I'd like to find similar illustrations of different systems, like specific arcade displays that use mirrors, magnifiers etc. look up Stern's Dark Planet. it does funky things with mirrors and colour cells and a single monitor to generate a 3d effect. You can download the manual. I assume you know about Holloseum. I built a tiny one using mame on a phone. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArukbRxgAc0 |
|
|
|
Post by VectorX on Aug 11, 2013 18:42:34 GMT -5
look up Stern's Dark Planet. it does funky things with mirrors and colour cells and a single monitor to generate a 3d effect. I played that once or twice. It was definitely a different-looking game to experience for sure! Wow! |
|
|
|
Post by gliptitude on Aug 12, 2013 0:50:46 GMT -5
look up Stern's Dark Planet. it does funky things with mirrors and colour cells and a single monitor to generate a 3d effect. You can download the manual. I assume you know about Holloseum. I built a tiny one using mame on a phone. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArukbRxgAc0 Wow cool. The diagrams in the Dark Planet manual are exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. ... I've only spent a few minutes looking at them so far, but I'm thinking they would be easier to decipher if I could see the actual arcade cab in action. ... The videos I looked at were either too difficult to see or just MAME versions without the whole display system. Did not know about Holloseum. Also looks cool, although difficult to see in the video. Thanks for these suggestions. They are quite relevant to what I was asking about. |
|
|
|
Post by VectorX on Aug 12, 2013 7:28:30 GMT -5
Wow cool. The diagrams in the Dark Planet manual are exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. ... I've only spent a few minutes looking at them so far, but I'm thinking they would be easier to decipher if I could see the actual arcade cab in action. You kind of look down and there's some landscape that looks like they're actual, physical things, like little mountains or something. I only played the game once or twice but don't really recall it though. |
|
|
|
Post by gliptitude on Aug 12, 2013 13:31:10 GMT -5
You kind of look down and there's some landscape that looks like they're actual, physical things, like little mountains or something. I only played the game once or twice but don't really recall it though. Yeah it is described and vaguely pictured that way on KLOV, like a little model of a moon surface. |
|
|
|
Post by celtroniclabs on Aug 16, 2013 2:15:04 GMT -5
That Dark Planet game looks cool. Don't recall ever seeing that one..
|
|
|
|
Post by VectorX on Aug 16, 2013 8:26:55 GMT -5
I think the difficulty level killed it, as it seemed really hard, or maybe I just didn't know what I was doing when I played it.
I think it had kind of a vector look to it as well, but it wasn't vector though.
|
|
