Kombalar

As a vector game fanatic I can't fully enjoy the vector games on MAME/AAE but since I live in Scandinavia, the genuine cabinets (with working monitors) are pretty much impossible to find. So MAME is the best alternative. Raster games... well... MAME gives me 90% satisfaction of the genuine article. Games with unique controllers, like Pole Position and Paperboy are exceptions of course.

There's a difference between Namco & Atari ROM versions. Atari has 3 letters, Namco 8.

Peter Pack-Rat comes to mind... that's very difficult game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sIcXxiIKlk

I wouldn't call Gravitar "difficult". It requires you to learn the controls (the Asteroids 5-button layout) and it has a long learning phase. But after you master the controls, it's not that hard at all. The later (invisible) levels are difficult though. I admit that... but getting to 200K level isn't that hard.

I gave a go for Raiders of the Lost Ark. I completed it when I was a kid. Will never forget the feeling of victory. I know there's a walkthrough on YouTube but I want to complete it again (without cheating) and relive my childhood that way.

@Gabriel: That's what I thought as well. I would have given my left nut for that conversion back in the 80's. @sqoon: I agree on all counts... except that 7800 probably couldn't quite handle Star Wars properly. The gameplay was heavily tied to the yoke and very precise, accurate controls. I played 30 million points in the original arcade machine (until I quit because of boredom) but as you can see from my MAME video I can only get 2 million with a mouse (and using 3 extra shields). The whole "kick" of this game was the later levels which had some interesting twists... those required very precise yoke handling. Domark made pretty decent attempt for Amiga and ST but even those versions couldn't hold a candle to the original. The successor, ESB, would be much better candidate for 7800. It wasn't as "controller-heavy" game. Cheers.

Ah, thanks. Seems to be really impressive conversion.

Have you seen the 7800 version of this arcade game? I have never played this 7800 conversion but it looks pretty damn good on this YouTube vid and I'm surprised I didn't find more information of it on Google. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKSxe2IuOf0 I loved the original arcade machine and I still play it on MAME (see my signature for a gameplay vid). Cheers.

Brilliant! Enjoy this classic!!!! I love Centipede.

I'd love to have this kind of "bar tops" of my all favorite games. http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=92656.160

Most (if not all) Atari vector games. Absolutely. They're timeless. Gravitar Star Wars Asteroids Deluxe Space Duel Battlezone etc. Xevious still looks good too... simple, but very clean & professional.

Well done. Check out my gameplay video (in the 2nd post) for the tactics. You'll get past them. The first real obstacle is the "snake" planet in the 3rd solar system. Here's what the world record holder Dan Coogan said: Each time I started on a new screen that I had not played before I thought "I'll never be able to get through this one -- it's just too difficult." -- after some practice and perseverance I raised my game to the next level and completed it.

Man, it's a GREAT game. I played it recently on a local pinball expo and tried to buy the machine. Too bad he wasn't selling. Actually I co-authored the PinMAME version of the Baby Pac-Man back in the day... It's a game that some hate, some love... personally, I think it's a great machine that requires some good tactics and a longish learning phase to get through the first 5-6 mazes.

My favorites of the early 80's Solid State era. Williams: Alien Poker Black Knight Firepower Blackout Warlok Bally: Baby Pac-Man (video/pinball combo) Flash Gordon Vector 90's WMS/Bally era: Twilight Zone Theatre of Magic Tales of the Arabian Nights

There was an excellent PC version of this title available (back in the day). I played it to death... love it. I've been playing the arcade version on MAME recently.

That's a good score man... you're quickly learning the game. It's pretty easy to get to the next skill level as soon as you get familiar with the 5-button control system. PS: Crank up the beam width and contrast... MAME has a problem showing the red gun turret shots because the screen is way too dark with the default settings. I use these screen settings for MAME (although the game looks much better on AAE Vector Emulator). http://i47.tinypic.com/332mp0y.jpg

Well played Kane. Second solar system is tougher but not that much, really. In the first solar system always go for the upper left planet first. You'll get the super bonus and all other planets are also worth 8K after that.

Check the later parts (2, 3, 4 & 5). The same levels change to invisible. THAT'S when it gets crazy. It literally took me 30 years to complete the game. The first 2 universes aren't really that difficult. There is a learning process though... but if you can play Asteroids, you'll learn it quick. Here's a lot of info and tips of the game from Dan Coogan (the world record holder): http://www.cooganphoto.com/gravitar/ It's a highly enjoyable game as soon as you figure out the control physics. You gotta use the original Asteroids-type button layout though... it's impossible to play with the arrow buttons. http://www.8-bitcent...tarControls.jpg

Thanks man. Deluxe is a tough game. I scored 90K in the arcade version... now I can't surpass 70K anymore. I'm getting old. That's not a great score though... never played it that much. I prefer Space Duel.

Great. My favorite arcade machine of all time. I'll be following. Here's some playing tips for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLmAIyTOqGQ Check out parts 2, 3, 4 and 5 from my channel (game fully completed & clocked). Best controls for PC keyboard: Z - RotateLeft X - Rotate Right SPACE - Shield / Tractor SLASH - Thrust RIGHT SHIFT - Fire Good luck!

Check it out. I made a small YouTube video of the emulator. It can't make it justice as the resolution is rather low on the vid, but at least you'll see the features. Shots on Asteroids & Asteroids Deluxe look pretty authentic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4lHsVueSj0

This score is nothing special but it shows the trench run in later levels... I haven't seen such video on Youtube before. I compensated the increased difficulty between yoke and mouse by adding 3 extra shields after completing the level from the dip switch settings. I was able to score over 30 million in the arcade machine but I simply can't get same kind of precision from a mouse, no matter how much I play with the MAME analog settings. The towers pose a problem with the mouse (for me), not the trench run which is pretty much always the same combo of levels 8, 9 and 10. This game is one of my all time favorite arcades. Use 480pt (HQ resolution). Otherwise the video looks really bad. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GmBVoM3sTQ

I managed to complete the game fully. I also recorded one full loop. I would have edited the 1st post but the forum software doesn't allow that. This is now 100% perfect walkthrough (all universes & solar systems until the game "clocks" and starts over). Enjoy. PART I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1lsAqPfgSU PART II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZv-9R2fPjI PART III: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvLcrlKmNy4 PART IV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iVWrcEMorA PART V: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1lsAqPfgSU

Gravitar is definitely a demanding game. I can see why it wasn't a big success in the arcades... it requires a lot of practice... and back then a lot of coins. But the reputation of being "an extremely difficult game" is greatly exaggerated. When you master the 5-button controls it's not that difficult... it's a tactical game... you can play it relaxed... but the attacks have to be planned and precise. I absolutely love it... and when the controls are mastered it offers great enjoyment. I guess people who can play Asteroids/Space Duel can learn it very easily.

Check this out... a must for all vector game fans...!! http://pages.suddenlink.net/aae/ Can't go back playing the MAME versions after this...absolutely cool...Gravitar, Tempest, Asteroids Deluxe and Space Duel, etc. have never looked better...!! I have managed to get AAE look really close to the real vector monitor... you have to play with the video settings a bit. I can't stress enough how amazing emulator this is... you won't even look at MAME after this... if you play vector games. Look at the brightness... you'll never see this kind of quality with any other emulator. Here are the settings I use: And these are the results: Look at Star Wars dammit... almost exactly like the real thing.....!! Maybe just reduce the beam width a bit. I wonder how could we get in touch with the author... there's still a few little bugs to beat... and the last update is from years ago. Biggest annoyance is the lack of mouse support in Star Wars. I'd LOVE to play it on AAE.