[stella] Climber5 prototype...comments???

Subject: [stella] Climber5 prototype...comments???
From: Dennis Debro <ddebro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 8:55:28 -0500
Here is a prototype of Climber5 so far. Most of the game play is in so you can play it :) Now I'm up for suggestions. The game code WILL change before the final release (which should be months from now). I have to do some cleaning and optimizing. I feel I'm using too much RAM. I know how to reduce it so that will be the next step.

I sent a screen shot before and I've had suggestions of extending the ladders into the platforms. I fully intended to do this but it is not in this prototype. I want to move the kernal around a bit and then look into doing it.

Give this a try and see what you think so far. I have tested it using Z26 1.57 and my 7800 using a Cuttle Cart. Also any suggestions would be helpful. I'm trying to stick as close to the original 8-bit game as possible but I am willing to step out and add things that would make for a good game.

In the original A8 version the obstacles only moved left to right. I'm thinking of adding an option where the obstacles move randomly back and forth.

You should notice that I'm forgiving on the ladder control. The player doesn't have to be directly under the ladder to ascend/descend. There is a 5 pixel range for vertical movement. I also give you the ability to push diagonally so the player can sort of hook the ladder as they walk by. Comments???

GAME PLAY
---------
A the ball boy on the baseball team, it is your job to retrieve the fly balls. One ball has landed a top a building under construction. Your job is to retrieve the ball (by touching it) without being hit by the moving obstacles. The speed of the obstacles increase each time the level increases. Use the ladders provided on each platform to ascend and/or descend the building. Numbers on the bottom of screen show number of lives (left number) and current level number (right number).

USING THE CONTROLLERS
---------------------
Use the joystick connected to the LEFT CONTROLLER port to control the player.

CONSOLE CONTROLS
----------------
Game Select
This is used to pause the action during game play. Press Game Select again to resume play.

Game Reset
Use this to reset or start a new game

Right Difficulty Switch
Alternates between NTSC and PAL display. The PAL color palette is not implemented in the prototype. Position A will give you a PAL display (312 scan lines). Position B will give you a NTSC display (262 scan lines).

Known issues...
No sound implemented
PAL color palette not done
No death animation
Difficulty/speed increases rapidly
Player can possibly overshoot the ladder
Pressing game reset will cause the screen to roll
You can only go to level 9
Text for level number not done
lives indicator not implemented
No title screen

Attachment: climber5_PROTOTYPE.bin
Description: Binary data

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