Ponder's Blog

More updates today, mainly aesthetic. I changed the text to mixed case, but this left me without a heart character for the lives. I had considered using the tick character, but instead I copied the character data into RAM and replaced that with the heart. This means that the code is now fully ready to accept a full, custom character set.

The other minor change is showing a full Bonus on the very first intro screen.

In the code itself I’ve finally removed redundant code left over from early testing. The game now must be reset to exit. Run/Stop – Restore has also been disabled. This has always been the intent.

The download link is here and it runs fine on every emulator I’ve tried, and on a real C64C with SD2IEC. There is no special loader so no bother 😉

I’ve been featured as a stand alone video on NiftyRetroGamer’s YouTube channel! 😀

Thanks to his feedback I’ve added “next move prediction” that makes player movement more fluid. I’ve also changed the sound effect when difficulty is increased.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQRiOBw0rH4

Latest update is here as usual 🙂

New PSU built, tested and fully working 😀

I also have an SD2IEC device that partially emulated a 1571 floppy drive so I can use SD cards as storage, and a joystick, which is essential for most C64 games.

Fastload cartridge is in the post. All going well so far 🙂

Who said 13 was unlucky? 😉

The bonus score is now added and so I’ve finished the core to this game!

I still have further plans for it: tweaking from any feedback I may get, customising the character set to get lower case (not trivial when using PETSCII) and maybe, just maybe some music on the intro screen. That’s going to be a whole task in itself!

Here’s a video of the full gameplay and the game is available for download here. Tested on Vice (as seen here) and Frodo (for Android devices).

A small sound effects routine has been added. Just the 2 effects so far: the siren during gameplay and the “difficulty up” interval message.

Just the bonus score to add and I’ll consider the game at Version 1.0.

I don’t intend to leave it there though. At an even more leisurely pace I’ll add a custom character set (mainly to allow lower case letters) and improve the interval. Maybe, just maybe add some music to the intro page (but don’t hold your breath on that score).

Download link here.

An aesthetic update today. I’ve added the introduction / instructions screen at the start of the game.

Tomorrow I plan to add a small sound effects routine to have a siren while the game is being played and a difficulty increase interval, if time permits.

The latest update is available for download here.

Today I added lives! Start with 3 and an extra life every level cleared, up to 6 max.

High Score added. Game over routine added.

Each difficulty consists of the full loop of 4 levels. Starts with a single Chaser at normal speed, then single Chaser at double speed, then 2 Chasers at normal speed, etc. to 3 fast Chasers and that’s where it stays. Though that’s bloody difficult!

It’s now officially in beta, available for download here and will run on your favourite C64 emulator or a real C64.

The video is quite long but shows a quick game to set the high score, then a full game played as well as I could.

Todo: Intro and Interval screens and Bonus Score. The bonus won’t be life ending just no bonus score if you take too long to complete a level.

Remember, I said from the start, this is going to take time. I won’t be giving up but I can’t give it high priority. Having said that, I’ve added (up to) 3 chasers, and it’s just nuts!

Still no lives (Soonâ„¢) but the text is there ready.