High Score Club Week 19: Midnight Magic

[Ze_ro]

Important note: This weeks competition is over. If you still wish to discuss Midnight Magic, then feel free to do so, but no further scores will be accepted. Thanks to everyone for all their contributions! Please join in on the latest High Score Club competition!

 

Pull the plunger, ready your flipper fingers, and get ready to knock the old silver ball around the table, because this week's game is Midnight Magic!

 

Game Information
Left Difficulty	A/Expert - Must Activate Center Post and Kickers
Right Difficulty	N/A?
Game Mode	1 - Single Player
Chosen By	pmpddytim

 

Post your scores right here in this thread, and I will add them to the list. Remember to play the game with the recommended game mode and difficulty settings as shown above so that your scores will be consistent with everyone elses. The deadline for posting scores will be approximately Sunday, August 15th at midnight (CST). In case you haven't already done so, please read the High Score Club rules. There is other useful information contained in that previous link, including a list of previous High Score Club games!

 

In case you don't have this game, you can find a copy of the ROM at AtariAge's Profile Page for this game. You can also find such things as a typed copy of the manual, reviews, screenshots, and other information there.

 

If you are not a member of the High Score Club, but would like to be, then all you have to do is post a reply saying so, and I'll add you to the list!

 

Next week's game will be chosen by Xot! Please send me a Private Message letting me know which game (and difficulty settings) you've chosen as soon as possible Xot!

 

High Scores:

• 
  999,995 (Malc74)

[+12]
999,995 (KaeruYojimbo) [+12]
999,995 (cuteycat2) [+12]
[*]998,015 (keilbaca) [+10]
[*]884,550 (Jeffy Arensmeyer) [+8]
[*]748,415 (Fellow Atari Man) [+7]
[*]717,225 (jedijeff) [+6]
[*]652,940 (Saldo) [+5]
[*]508,910 (the 5th ghost) [+4]
[*]454,800 (128bytes) [+3]
[*]443,815 (tin) [+2]
[*]291,115 (Ze_ro) [+1]
[*]249,605 (Numan)
[*]221,935 (Tsukasa)
[*]196,580 (Robert M)
[*]160,195 (khryssun)
[*]142,880 (Shannon)
[*]125,515 (bjk7382)
[*]89,150 (Luigi301)
[*]88,510 (Goochman)
[*]88,080 (LarcenTyler)
[*]83,105 (Kepone)
[*]77,650 (Gateway)
[*]66,790 (vb_master)
[*]52,960 (dykesr)
[*]50,660 (NintendoDieScreaming)
[*]40,505 (Kurushimi)
[*]29,380 (maibock)
[*]28,730 (sabeen557)
[*]22,350 (Gateway)
[*]10,525 (Dan Iacovelli)
[*]9125 (Chris++)

• :
  (Factory Settings)
  
  • 1,649,890 (Robert Macauley)
    [*]1,320,740 (Mark Feldt)
    [*]1,229,000 (Todd Rogers)
    • 
      

Best Tips:

• 
  

Score Statistics

• Average Score: 359,739
  [*]Std. Deviation: 64,660
  [*]Total Score: 11,511,645

 

Current Standings [*]the 5th ghost [158] [*]Jeffy Arensmeyer [136] [*]sku_u [85] [*]jedijeff [63] [*]Ze_ro [59] [*]Stingray [48] [*]Chris++ [44] [*]keilbaca [30] [*]Shannon [28] [*]Saldo [28] [*]bobafett07728 [27] [*]Malc74 [27] [*]stayrunner [24] [*]bjk7382 [24] [*]NintendoDieScreaming [23] [*]taxman [23] [*]Robert M [23] [*]crsdawg [20] [*]Numan [19] [*]homerwannabee [17] [*]The 8th Passenger [17] [*]Fellow Atari Man [17] [*]Tsukasa [15] [*]HermChase [13] [*]NovaXpress [12] [*]Kurushimi [12] [*]khryssun [12] [*]Christophero Sly [12] [*]Thomas Jentzsch [9] [*]tin [9] [*]Goochman [8] [*]gospeedde [8] [*]LarcenTyler [7] [*]Keir [7] [*]dykesr [7] [*]mikeftrevino [7] [*]NE146 [7] [*]EricDeLee [6] [*]Paul Slocum [6] [*]StanJr [5] [*]DeV0 [4] [*]maibock [2] [*]Nateo [2] [*]Sora [2] [*]InanimateCarbonRod [0] [*]shining slade [0] [*]Kepone [0] [*]Saikyo [0] [*]Scooterb23 [0] [*]moycon [0] [*]gamerz [0] [*]Dan Iacovelli [0] [*]128bytes [0] [*]Gamemaster_ca_2003 [0] [*]video game addict [0] [*]LU8 [0] [*]fsuinnc [0] [*]iguana [0] [*]davepesc [0] [*]Albert [0] [*]pmpddytim [0] [*]karnov [0] [*]pitfallaimee [0] [*]Happy_Dude [0] [*]Kialan [0] [*]xmetalhedx [0] [*]Adrian M [0] [*]intvgene [0] [*]ScottHuggins [0] [*]jeepnut24 [0] [*]figgler [0] [*]Old_Atarian [0] [*]hobbles [0] [*]liquid_sky [0] [*]Luigi301 [0] [*]sabeen557 [0] [*]Spirantho [0] [*]johnnywc [0] [*]vb_master [0] [*]AcidTone [0] [*]FireTiger [0] [*]PaulEMoz [0] [*]BigFairy321 [0] [*]atari_wizard [0] [*]lost child [0] [*]Bunsen [0] [*]chadtower [0] [*]Big Player [0]

Standings are current as of the beginning of this week, and do NOT include points from this week's game. If you think there has been a mistake in any of the scoring, please contact me.

 

Member List

Xot, Scooterb23, Dan Iacovelli, LarcenTyler, sku_u, Luigi301, Max-T, adams_ale, gamerz, Christophero Sly, Trooper, Nateo, homerwannabee, lost child, Happy_Dude, video game addict, Spirantho, bobafett07728, mikefrevino, Paul Slocum, fsuinnc, Gamemaster_ca_2003, Robert M, DeV0, Gateway, Mendon, Fretwobbler, PaulEMoz, killersquirel, shining slade, chadtower, gospeedde, stayrunner, Big Player, Swingtown, Chris++, hotpants, hobbles, taxman, Ze_ro, maibock, moycon, somePUNK, Saldo, Stingray, Kepone, xmetalhedx, chrisbid, Kialan, Jeffy Arensmeyer, Keir, ToddRogers, Numan, iguana, LU8, jeepnut24, Albert, Tsukasa, Adrian M, dykesr, EricDeLee, Thomas Jentzsch, The 8th Passenger, the 5th ghost, Bunsen, atari_wizard, jedijeff, davepesc, maximebeauvais, buzzguy, bjk7382, khryssun, HermChase, wiz21mx, karnov, Goochman, NE146, Sora, Malc74, sabeen557, 128bytes, Kurushimi, Fellow Atari Man, liquid_sky, InanimateCarbonRod, Krazy_kamino, pmpddytim, cuteycat2, kemsted

 

Scoring Points in Midnight MagicScore points by hitting the targets and bumpers. When the score multiplier is on, all scores are multiplied by the number shown. [*]The five drop-targets at the top of the screen are worth 100 points each. [*]Hitting a target when the arrow is pointing at it is worth 3000 points. It also lights up the bumpers, brings up the center post, and turns on the kickers. Hitting all five targets is worth 500 points and increases the score multiplier. [*]Bumpers are worth 100 points each. When lit, they are worth 1000 points. [*]Rollovers on the top right and left are worth 500 points. When the score multiplier is on, hitting a rollover earns you an extra ball. [*]The two targets above the top flippers are worth 100 points each. [*]The spinner is worth 10 points each spin. Each spin moves the drop-target arrow and bottom rollover lights. [*]Bottom lanes are worth 500 points when lit. When the kickers are activated in the outside lanes, they kick the ball back into play, earning you 10 points. [*]Each bounce on the walls above the flippers earns you 25 points. [*]Each time the ball rolls over the white area beside the bottom flippers you earn 10 points. - Yes, after 999,995... Screen flashes when this happens.   Hints and Tips As always, you really should read the manual. What's that? You don't have the manual? Well no problem, because AtariAge has a typed copy of the manual available online right over here. What's that? You're too damn lazy to click that link? Well, here's the hints that it give (along with some corrections to the spelling!): First shoot for the target with the arrow to light the bumpers and activate the kickers and center post. [*]Hit all five drop targets to increase the score multiplier. [*]When the score multiplier is on, go for the top rollovers to get an extra ball. (the manual) Here's a tip, try to hit all the color blocks on the top of the board, if you do, you'll go into 2x mode, so you can rack up points like crazy, also try to get the white square spinny thing as much as possible, that really helps. (vb_master) For those that want to get the side kickers here is a way to get it 3 out of 5 balls - I dont know why the shooting speed varies but if you pull the plunger all the way down and the move it up just until the 3rd line shows (ie, only 2 lines should be showing on the pluger, 1 move from the 3rd) it should hit the center target. It only worked for me 2 or 3 of the 5 balls but is the right place to start. (Goochman) There's a sweet spot with the plunger. If you find it, the ball will hit the bumper and then the light bumper target, scoring 3000 points and 1000 for each bumper hit, along with activating all the posts and kickbacks. The controls are a little mushy. Don't let the ball go down to the flipper before you swing, or you'll lose your ball for sure. The bumpers are very valuable. Try to keep the ball in the bumpers as much as possible, but watch out for the ball going down the middle. Keep the ball as far away from the in/out lanes as possible. They're deathtraps. (Luigi301) Multiplier colors are as follows: 1x--purple 2x--blue 3x--green 4x--yellow 5x--orange 6x--red (?) The 6x multiplier seems to be unverified? (Fellow Atari Man, Jeffy Arensmeyer) Once the center blocker is activated, whenever the ball appears to be heading straight down the drain (i. e. down the middle), most of the time, if you let it go, it will usually bounce back up into the playfield...I usually find this to happen 75-90% of the time. If a flipper is raised, the ball could bounce back underneath it, hit the flipper, and go right back down. [*]Try to keep aiming the ball for the top of the screen, so you can hit the drop targets to activate the multiplier, then go for the extra ball in the corner loops, which is the most important thing to do, pretty much.   Good luck everyone!   --Zero (Fellow Atari Man) Use the joystick to launch the ball, then qiuckly unplug it and plug in a pair of paddle controllers to control the flippers. Alternatively, you could use the joystick to pull the plunger, then swap in a track and field controller so you don't have to be fast about swapping the controls. (Tsukasa) As was mentioned earlier, a lot of the time the ball will bounce around and won't even hit any targets that are worth any points, and as was also previously mentioned, if you don't hit the ball right when it's going towards a flipper, you're usually going to lose it. So, try banking the ball a lot if you don't have a sure shot for the top of the playfield (in order to try to get an extra ball) or to hit another drop target (for the bonus multiplier), causing it to bounce off of something and head for the direction of one of the drop targets or one of the corner loops. Also, sometimes a "soft" hit can work, particularly with the top flippers: a lot of the time you can hit one of the targets that are above and diagionally behind the flipper, which will cause the ball to bounce right back down to the flipper, giving you the opportunity for another shot. (Fellow Atari Man) The ball seems to have a bad habit of bouncing funny when it comes down through the side lanes, and then bouncing over my flipper when I try to hit it. I guess the trick to try to watch it's bounces and hit the flipper when the ball is at it's lowest, otherwise you might "whiff" and the ball will just bounce past it and into the gutter. This sort of prevents the standard pinball strategy of shooting the ball off the edge of the flipper unfortunately. (Ze_ro) To build on the paddle idea stated earlier. If you have the foot pedal controller you can use the foot pedals to launch the ball and the paddle buttons to operate the flippers. The only downside is the code does not support pushing both buttons at the same time (!?!?!?! an unfortunate oversight by the programmer) So you need to use the foot pedal to operate both flippers at the same time. (Robert M)

[Gateway]

I may actually be able to squeeze a game or 2 in this week, since my schedule has eased up a bit. I want to at least be a blip on the radar of scores.

[Brad2600]

Definitely going to play this game later!

 

[Shannon]

Hmm. never tried this one.

[dykesr]

23570.

 

Not to bad for my first try i would say but it will get bettt trust me.

 

RD

[Goochman]

I got 69035 but I want make sure of something - With the Dif Switch set to A that makes the game easier since the bottom bumper is added as well as the side ejects?

 

I played this on a 7800 which gives me NO indication of what Dif it is set to but Im pretty sure it is at A.

[Adrian M]

I just realized I haven't been submitting scores for the last few months.

I'll definitely get my act together on this one.

[Malc74]

First submission for the week 203930.

 

Most important tip - you must activate your centre blocker and the left and right kickers! To do this you have to learn exactly where to pull back the plunger so that you take out the centre drop target almost every time you launch a new ball. Sometimes it doesn't work, but with practice you'll find that you're able to hit the centre drop target anywhere between 75% and 90% of the time.

 

Goochman - if the blocker and kickers are there then the diff is set to B - when it's set to A then they disappear.

[Goochman]

Malc - In your picture I see the kickers and the center block - I presume you got those by hitting the Center Target? Do you need to hit the Target with the arrow pointing to it to get the blockers?

 

 

Zero - Ignore my initial score since I played on the incorrect setting.

[keilbaca]

Seriously, whoever picked this game has given me a headache. I have never threw down a controller so many times than with this game, and its only the first day... after all the kicking and screaming i got a measly 52,400.

[Lauren Tyler]

Well, I'm off to a steady start.

[Malc74]

Malc - In your picture I see the kickers and the center block - I presume you got those by hitting the Center Target?  Do you need to hit the Target with the arrow pointing to it to get the blockers?

 

 

Yep, the arrow points to the centre target at the beginning but basically hit whichever target the arrow points to and you'll get the blocker/kickers.

[vb_master]

Yes, a game I acctually have!

[FireTiger]

Gooch -yes

 

I have a machine where I can use the kids controller - "atari 2600" 4 switch... leagle?

[vb_master]

Here it is! 30260

[Ze_ro]

Looks like I'll have to clean out my cartridge or my Atari... every time I try to play this one, the game totally freaks out when I launch the ball or move a switch... I hope my cartridge isn't fried.

 

By the way, anyone know what relation this game has to the C-64 game "David's Midnight Magic"? Who was David?

 

--Zero

[vb_master]

New score! 66790! Used my NES pads, extremely handy! (Edited picture so my reflection isn't in the picture .)

[maibock]

29,380

[128bytes]

Excellent choice -- I'm going to start on it tonight.

 

Also, I've been curious for a long time about the multiplier/color combinations. I'd be interested to know who can get the highest multiplier/color combination -- I've never gotten beyond 3x/Green. If anyone has a list of them, I'd find it interesting.

[vb_master]

Here's a tip, try to hit all the color blocks on the top of the board, if you do, you'll go into 2x mode, so you can rack up points like crazy, also try to get the white square spinny thing as much as possible, that really helps.

[+KaeruYojimbo]

477,480

 

About 350,000 of that was a really good first ball.

[Tsukasa]

221,935

 

Most of that was from my first ball, I used paddle controllers which helps a lot.

[+Nathan Strum]

Looks like I'll have to clean out my cartridge or my Atari... every time I try to play this one, the game totally freaks out when I launch the ball or move a switch... I hope my cartridge isn't fried.

 

By the way, anyone know what relation this game has to the C-64 game "David's Midnight Magic"? Who was David?

 

Try cycling the 2600's power a few times. My cart has an odd problem (but only on one of my 2600's) where it will freak out like that about 50% of the time.

 

There are about four different demos that randomly load when the game is powered up. My Atari (for whatever reason) doesn't like two of them, and will reset within a minute of being powered up. Sometimes it won't load at all. But two of the loads work fine.

 

The cart works fine on my other 2600. Go figure.

 

David was the programmer of the original version, although I can't think of the last name right now. This is the Atari 2600 port of it. I suppose they dropped the "David's" since nobody else knew who he was either.

 

This is one of my favorite games... I may just have to join up for this one. My best is around 1/2 million, but that's without needing to activate the kickers.

[Malc74]

Improved to 252315.

[Gateway]

Yay! I'm finally a blip on the HSC radar!

 

Though my current high score is nothing special.

 

022350