New Tempest game in the works for Atari 8-bit

[+wood_jl]

I take it that - by the lack of any reply as to whether or not this "new" A8 Tempest supports any form of analog control (2600 driving controller, paddle controller, ST mouse) that it's just another digital (joystick/D-pad) re-release of Tempest, or it would have been noted? No thanks, then, as there's no shortage of digital-control Tempest games. Should it be reconsidered to support analog control, it would be a groundbreaking A8 title.

[peteym5]

This project had to be put on hold because there had been delays in reprogramming to use compression. I had been considering using paddle or driving controller. However the game will be played with firing bullets only and without being able to use the super zapper since there is one fire button. Unless people want to put up with also using the keyboard.

Edited May 12, 2015 by peteym5

[Mclaneinc]

Super Zapper = Space bar....

 

 

I know people who played titles using space with their feet, works, trust me...

[snicklin]

Super Zapper = Space bar....

 

 

I know people who played titles using space with their feet, works, trust me...

 

AND WHAT ABOUT ME? I DON'T HAVE ANY FEET!!!

 

Only kidding!!

 

Is there no user friendly method of firing left? i.e. Pull back on joystick with fire or hold down fire?

 

I'd just not like to infuriate the 65XEG users though they're in the minority.

[Lost Dragon]

Mclaneinc's post jogged some memories of my C64 days.

Did'nt the space bar get used to some degree in the following games?

Operation Wolf, Commando, R-Type, Gryzor, Nemesis, Kung-Fu Master, probably good few others...

One of the Zzap 64 reviewers used to activate the space bar with his feet as well i seem to recal.

[accousticguitar]

I would buy Tempest for the Atari computer if it utilized the driving controller. I don't think any other controller would do it justice. You certainly could use the space bar for the super zapper.

[Mclaneinc]

 

AND WHAT ABOUT ME? I DON'T HAVE ANY FEET!!!

 

Only kidding!!

 

 

YOU BLEEP!!!

 

For one sec I felt terrible...

 

If I remember clearly, Defender on the Atari used the space bar for the smart bomb....Pretty much the same thing..

Edited May 15, 2015 by Mclaneinc

[tep392]

I heard in an interview on one of the Atari podcasts that there was a rash of space bar failures after Defender was released. Don't remember which one it was, I listen to a lot of podcasts.

[Mclaneinc]

Thanks for the info tep, does not surprise me, in the heat of a frantic game I often belted the space bar a lot too hard

 

Have I just talked my idea of the Space bar for the super zapper out of being good

[tep392]

I think it would be ok. We treat our machines more delicately than back then. But then another option would be to use a second joystick. Or why not make them both work?

[peteym5]

Are there any documents on how to read these Driving controller? Anyone have some source code on how to read these things? Use same fire button? I wonder if it is similar to the track ball in which I already have a routine for. I know 2 bits go up and down in value as the track up is spinning. I wonder if the trackback and driving controller use a common routine.

 

Currently the space bar is used for pause. Could have it press enter or another key for pause. Just don't want any complaining the game to too hard to control if I decide to make these changes.

[+Stephen]

The driving controller is a quadrature encoder. I believe it pulses the left & right input pins on the joystick port. It should read the same as the trackball.

[peteym5]

I am trying to test the logic to read trackball, mouse, driving controller. However Altirra can only emulate ST Mouse. When I tried it out, its movement is sluggish with my mouse. It would read trackball for selected controller, but can make it cycle through mouse or driving also, even though it will just be using the same bit of programming code to read the controller. Driving controllers had become rare, probably get greater interest with using a trackball or ST Mouse.

[potatohead]

The driving controller uses 3 bit grey code for a total of 8 encoded positions per revolution. It's like the Tracball, but with one less bit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_code

[Mclaneinc]

Hi Petey,

 

Re the key for Pause, I'd go for ESC as its a fairly big key and because its on the edge of the KB in a corner so its easy to hit in a frenetic game (unless of course you have mapped that already)

 

Whatever the keys people will both be happy and moan, you should know, you can't always please every one

 

Me, as long as it plays well I'm in...New good games are a little rarer these days..

Edited May 20, 2015 by Mclaneinc

[The Usotsuki]

ESC serves as pause on a lot of Apple games, btw.

[Mclaneinc]

Yep or a level restart but I have no idea how Petey has set it up...Just seems an ideal key by location..

 

But its his game..

[gozar]

Hi Petey,

 

Re the key for Pause, I'd go for ESC as its a fairly big key and because its on the edge of the KB in a corner so its easy to hit in a frenetic game (unless of course you have mapped that already)

 

Whatever the keys people will both be happy and moan, you should know, you can't always please every one

 

Me, as long as it plays well I'm in...New good games are a little rarer these days..

 

Or be sadistic and set the Option key to be pause. :-)

[peteym5]

I was thinking Return (Enter) Key, Break Key, but Esc Key works just as well. I may be able to have it so if they are using the Joystick, the space bar will work as pause, but when using a Driving Controller/TrackBall Space Bar will trigger the superzapper. That way I can keep the Tempest Xtreme style input by default.

[Mathy]

Hello guys

 

During last years Fujiama, I wrote a small routine to show how the driving controller can be read:

 

100 A=STICK(0)-11

110 B1=(A/2>1)

120 B0=(A-(2*B1)>1)

130 ? B0,B1

155 GOTO 100

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

[Mclaneinc]

I was thinking Return (Enter) Key, Break Key, but Esc Key works just as well. I may be able to have it so if they are using the Joystick, the space bar will work as pause, but when using a Driving Controller/TrackBall Space Bar will trigger the superzapper. That way I can keep the Tempest Xtreme style input by default.

 

But you could be even more resourceful and let the player map what key they want ...That way every one is happy, worked for Spectrum owners for years..

[peteym5]

That may be too much to do within the start menu, most people will select their options and play the game. However, I am adding the trackball/driver controller option because some people demanded it over the years and was missing from Tempest Xtreme. The pause feature was also missing. However with all the other features, I can only say you have to wait and see what we had done.

[Mclaneinc]

No probs, was just a suggestion...Not seen, has a demo of it been released yet?

[spookt]

I would certainly consider a purchase with trackball / driving controller support. Look forward to the demo / videos.

[cjameslv]

That may be too much to do within the start menu, most people will select their options and play the game. However, I am adding the trackball/driver controller option because some people demanded it over the years and was missing from Tempest Xtreme. The pause feature was also missing. However with all the other features, I can only say you have to wait and see what we had done.

 

 

Good to see your adding trackball option.