HSC Season 4 Week 6: Q*Bert's Qubes

[Ze_ro]

Important Note: This week's competition is over. If you still wish to discuss Q*Bert's Qubes and compare scores, feel free to do so in this thread, but no further scores will be added to the standings.

 

Take several rows of suspended "three-dimensional" qubes. Drop onto them some very weird creatures in pursuit of a guy who loves to hop, and what have you got?

 

One of the whackiest games you may ever play! And a most challenging one. You may need to match two or even three rows of qubes in one round. And then there is always someone -- or some thing -- trying to stop you... not to mention undo what you've already done. It's great fun, too. When was the last time you met a Meltnik or a Shoobop?

 

Q*bert's Qubes... It's a video game and another dimension.

 

Game Information

• Game Name: Q*Bert's Qubes
  
• Released By: Parker Bros, 1984
  
• Left Difficulty: B / Novice
  
• Right Difficulty: B / Novice
  
• Game Mode: Default
  
• Chosen By: the 5th ghost
  

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 Thursday, June 8th at 1:30 AM (CST).

 

If you want to suggest a game for future weeks, please send me a private message and let me know! I will add your game to the list. One one game per person will be kept on the list, so you will not be able to suggest a game until your first game is played!

 

Anyone can play! Just post a score and I'll add you to the list! Please read the Rules & Information if you haven't already done so!

 

Current High Scores

1. 153,325 (Rom Hunter) [+11]
   
2. 57,515 (Jred) [+10]
   
3. 42,670 (keilbaca) [+9]
   
4. 38,125 (BrianC) [+8]
   
5. 36,355 (SpiceWare) [+7]
   
6. 29,250 (vdub_bobby) [+6]
   
7. 23,235 (128bytes) [+5]
   
8. 8930 (LarcenTyler) [+4]
   
9. 8825 (scogey) [+3]
   

Best Tips

• 128bytes [+2]
  

Bounties and Challenges

• None yet posted
  

TwinGalaxies Top 3

(Difficulty B)

1. 112,745 (Daniel Vignes)
   
2. 46,345 (Troy Whelan)
   
3. 36,600 (Alan W Hewston)
   

Current Standings

1. Rom Hunter [55]
2. shawnb [39]
3. keilbaca [39]
4. SpiceWare [36]
5. vdub_bobby [36]
6. the 5th ghost [24]
7. Jred [16]
8. Random Terrain [15]
9. Lord Thag [15]
10. Lord Helmet [14]
11. LarcenTyler [11]

• BrianC [11]
• 128bytes [11]
• scogey [10]
• Cybergoth [7]
• Malc74 [7]
• phaxda [7]
• supercat [5]
• Christophero Sly [4]
• Omegamatrix [1]
• Dan Iacovelli [1]

Scoring Points in Q*Bert's Qubes

• Landing on a qube - 5 points
  
• Matching a qube to the target - 100 points
  
• Catching Green Ball - 100 points
  
• Catching a Shoobop - 100 points
  
• Catching Sheldon - 100 points
  
• Eliminating Rat-a-tat-tat with a given Q*bert (per round):
  • 1st time - 500 points
    
  • 2nd time - 400 points
    
  • 3rd time - 300 points
    
  • 4th time - 200 points
    
  • 5th time - 100 points
    
  • every time thereafter - 5 points
    

  [*]Bonus points at end of round:

  • Level 1 - 200 points per matched qube
    
  • Levels 2-10 - Starting at 225 points per matched qube, the value of matched qubes in each successive round increases 25 additional points
    

  [*]Bonus Round - Starting at 100 points, the value of each succeeding matched qube increases by 100 additional points

  [*]A bonus Q*bert is awarded every 10,000 points

Hints and Tips

As always, you really should read the manual. In case you don't have the manual, AtariAge has a typed copy and a scanned copy of it available online. The manual doesn't contain any specific hints, but there is a good bit of info in there that might be helpful to you.

When you jump "down to the left ("DL")" or "up to the right ("UR")", the color of the right side of cube will stay the same, because the cube is rotating on that UL/Dr access. To get the color on the right side of the cube to match the target, get that color to show up on the top of your cube, then jump "down to the right ("DR")". Now that the right side cube color is correct, just keep jumping DL or UR to get the cube in the perfect position.

 

Also, the interior qubes are much easier to flip into the correct position than the exterior qubes. They are also easier to "fix" if you "un-green" them by jumping on them when they are green - just jump back on them the other way. My plan of attack (which isn't too great because I haven't scored much over 17K yet) is to find exterior qubes that are close to correct, turn those, then focus on getting the interior qubes necessary to get 4 in a row all set. I also focus first on getting as many of the right facing colors correct first, so I can follow up with a bunch of UR/DL jumps at the end to get my row complete.

 

--Ze_ro

[vdub_bobby]

Ok, I'll bite: How the @#$*& do you play this game? I read the manual and I still don't get it.

 

EDIT: Okay, now I get it. When a qube is positioned correctly, the whole thing turns green. And with the left diff switch in position B, you start on level 6, where the qubes do *not* stay locked in place.

 

EDIT II: And a score: 10,320

Edited June 1, 2006 by vdub_bobby

[BrianC]

I'm playing this one via Stella since I down own the cart. My score is 8,610. One warning about this game. The switch settings are reverse from normal and difficulty B is actually the harder setting. This is one tough setting. Excellent choice in games, though.

 

From the manual:

"Choose a skill level. To start at Level 1 (easy), set

the LEFT Difficulty switch at A. To start at Level 6

(difficult), set the switch at B."

 

Also from the manual:

"Look at the qube in the upper left portion of the

screen. This is the target qube. The object is to

color-match a row (or rows) of four qubes to this

target qube. To make a match, Q*bert must jump

off the qube in the appropriate direction -- as if he

were tumbling that qube. (This may have to be

done several times.) Once the qube matches the

target qube, it becomes one color. In lower levels, a

matched qube is locked in place. As you'll see in

higher levels, matched qubes can become unmatched

by Shoobops -- or by Q*bert himself!"

Edited June 1, 2006 by BrianC

[BrianC]

Higher score: 19,970

[+SpiceWare]

31,140

 

[Lauren Tyler]

I never could figure out this game. Now I'll get that chance.

[Dan Iacovelli]

darn, I don't own this game so I'm out for this week.

[+SpiceWare]

It's a niner so I'm not surprised.

[the 5th ghost]

The main trick to this game is understanding how to turn the cubes, and which rows are the best to go after.

 

The cube will rotate in the direction you jump off of it. It will rotate a quarter turn. Study the target cube then look at the board to see which ones can be matched the fastest.

 

Another good trick is to learn how to backtrack and then correct any changes.

 

On the bonus round you turn the cube by simply moving the joystick in the proper direction. Q-Bert will stay put until you match the cube, then he will automatically jump to the next cube. Do this as fast as possible!

[the 5th ghost]

Also, Difficulty B is the more difficult setting, but the points come faster.

 

Eventually, you will have to match 4 rows! That's all I will say

[BrianC]

21,875

[BrianC]

38,125

[Jred]

35,345.. Don't own this one, and not liking the keyboard Game is tricky, but fun. Always did like the arcade, even if I wasn't too good at it

[vdub_bobby]

29,250

[phaxda]

I am just awful at this game and it makes me feel totally stupid--I've never bene very good at spacial-relations type stuff. "As if he were tumbling" means nothing to me--I just can't see how it works. Can anyone else describe their a-ha moment for this game, where you just figure it out... it's just not happening for me and I am swearing a lot. But I will keep trying.

[Jred]

I am just awful at this game and it makes me feel totally stupid--I've never bene very good at spacial-relations type stuff. "As if he were tumbling" means nothing to me--I just can't see how it works. Can anyone else describe their a-ha moment for this game, where you just figure it out... it's just not happening for me and I am swearing a lot. But I will keep trying.

 

Mine was when I finally got it in my head that they were cubes. Poorly drawn which threw me off to begin with, but cubes. If I picture them as cleaner line versions of themselves, it really helps (in my head at least) see the way they would turn when Qbert jumps off of them. Like a child's block would rotate. That being said, I haven't beat 45,000 yet, so I'm not sure my way of thinking is really the best

[+SpiceWare]

36,355

 

[Rom Hunter]

 

They should have called it: Hop 'till You Drop.

 

It's not really a game.

 

Edited June 3, 2006 by Rom Hunter

[the 5th ghost]

It's not really a game.

 

 

Actually, it's one of the best games ever for the Atari! Don't give up on it!

[128bytes]

17,340. I'm still at the part where I am jumping on them until they are green (and then trying my best to stay off them!). I'm still getting the hang of strategic rotation.

 

[Rom Hunter]

Actually, it's one of the best games ever for the Atari! Don't give up on it!

I agree.

 

It's actually quite fun once you know how to decipher the qubes.

 

 

Edited June 3, 2006 by Rom Hunter

[the 5th ghost]

Actually, it's one of the best games ever for the Atari! Don't give up on it!

I agree.

 

It's actually quite fun once you know how to decipher the qubes.

 

 

 

That's more like it!

 

Of course, everyone should feel lucky that I can't play this week. I can rool the score at 1 million

[128bytes]

I have been focusing on how to get the Qubes to turn, and not on high scores (for now), and I have been making some good progress.

 

Some tips -

 

When you jump "down to the left ("DL")" or "up to the right ("UR")", the color of the right side of cube will stay the same, because the cube is rotating on that UL/Dr access. To get the color on the right side of the cube to match the target, get that color to show up on the top of your cube, then jump "down to the right ("DR")". Now that the right side cube color is correct, just keep jumping DL or UR to get the cube in the perfect position.

 

Also, the interior qubes are much easier to flip into the correct position than the exterior qubes. They are also easier to "fix" if you "un-green" them by jumping on them when they are green - just jump back on them the other way. My plan of attack (which isn't too great because I haven't scored much over 17K yet) is to find exterior qubes that are close to correct, turn those, then focus on getting the interior qubes necessary to get 4 in a row all set. I also focus first on getting as many of the right facing colors correct first, so I can follow up with a bunch of UR/DL jumps at the end to get my row complete.

[Jred]

Wish I had more time this last week. I really like this one, but only got to run 4 games total. I'll post my current high in case I don't get to try one more time.

Edited June 7, 2006 by Jred

[keilbaca]

 

42670, and trying for higher