HermChase

I love the work on the layout, Ze_Ro! Very colourful! I agree Kuru, I can't stop playing it, even though my index finger is all crackly.... Oh, and off topic, I love the webcomic Kuru. I read it whenever I can, and often laugh hartily. Edit: WOAH, edit structure just wrecked my post, so I'll try again. I typed what I remembered, and my new score, which I tried to edit in, is 1:39! -------- Chase Hermsen

Down to 1:44. Why can't this be a twitch game like Circus Atari? ---------- Chase Hermsen

...Wow. That was quick. No way I'll beat that. :bluelol: I come to post my 2:22, and you have 1:11. Yikes. Well, 2:22 is my best so far! Edit: Shaved off 2 seconds! 2:20!! Edit: The razor is getting sharper! Shaved off 27 seconds! 1:53!!! ----- Chase Hermsen

I finally figured out how to beat this game... I'm at 427 now. I'm gunna have to work a LOT to get that down... Edit: Down to 2:59! -------- Chase Hermsen

I've been playing this game since you made the post...Bleh. I'm horrible at this thing. I'm gunna have to practice ALL WEEK if I want to be up to par with you all... Now, sleep. ---------- Chase Hermsen

I just got home from an Easter dinner, but now I'm back to finish a game I left between men while I was gone. It's over 16000 so far, I believe, so I'll post the score when I'm done! Edit: I forgot to mention that the 16000 was still on my FIRST life. I just finished with a new personal record by far, with 36361!!! --------- Chase Hermsen

Okay...I'm home... Here are some last minute strategy tips that I follow when I'm playing. First of all, get comfortable. This is a tip for ALL games, and I'll probably repeat it again and again. If you aren't comfortable, you WILL be distracted and you WILL mess up. No sense playing Circus Atari while standing on a bed of nails. (Note to self: Interesting Idea there... ) Now, onto the game. The most important thing to do first (besides selecting your game) is to aim for that Red row. When you clear that, you will get many points, and an X in the top right corner of the screen. This is like a pinball "Ball Save" in a way. If you die, you will start again on the same life. Now, there is no set way to clear the reds. However, the way I usually use is: 1) Clear ALMOST all of the yellows. b. Dig a hole into the blues. IV: Try to get stuck on top of the blues, in a back and forth combo. This will get you most of the red ones if done correctly. The final few you will have to pick off either by repeating this process, or with patience, aim, and precision. Don't always try to bounce them to the top. Wait. Use strategy to clear the ones you WANT to clear first. Okay, now that you have the X, there are a few ways to score lots of points. The easiest, in my opinion (or, rather, quickest), is to clear the whole blue line in one fell swoop. The way I have found that I can do this best is to have a nearly full blue line and a nearly full yellow line, with a few reds left. If there is a hole in your yellow line, aim for it, and try to catch the very edge of the balloon. If done correctly, you will bounce up and down on it, clearing the yellows and the blues, and if there is no blue, it can bounce up and maybe catch a red. With this method you can score 100s of points in one shot. The same can be done by bouncing on top of the blue row. The blue row generally is the most "cleared all at once row". I have, on a few occasions, cleared said row, and immediately cleared it again on the next bounce. Otherwise, this game is basically a "Twitch" game, as has been stated. Just remember to get the X before anything, so if you don't twitch fast enough, you can still stay on the same life. Also, though risky and not as "point-giving", some players may want to leave but one or two red balloons left at all times. This is so if they die, they can regain the X very quickly and continue on. However, this cuts down on the speed that you recieve points, as the red row is most valuable, and may be too accuracy driven or stamina wasting for some players. Create a comfortable environment, with light music if you need it, or none at all, depending on your personal preference. Also, don't start if you know you have something important to do soon. You never know when you'll have the game of your life. And, if you are using an emulator, close down any superfluous programs that may make your emulator jumpy or slow, which can confuse you and make you miss, ESPECIALLY instant messaging clients, which can beep and buzz you out of existence. And, if you can't use a mouse, try a Stelladaptor with an Atari Paddle, or try picking up the "ultimate in glowy paddle thingies", the PowerMate: Don't ask me if those things work with a VCS emulator, because I don't have one and don't know. I just know they look REALLY cool. Well, that's all the help I can think of for right now. Good luck, and keep on poppin' them balloons! -------- Chase Hermsen

I hope it's not too early...Because I still have a few more good games left in me, I think.... I'm headed out right now, but I'm going to try to compile some last minute tips and strategies, if I can... See you soon! And I also love this competition! Great job, Z! You've given us all even less of lives! ------ Chase Hermsen

14757 here.... I had some REALLY bad luck. Got like 20 points on life four, and on my last life I only had one red one left to get the X, and I died. Oh well...I don't think I'll pass that 100K mark. I'll play a few more times, but not many...I'm getting burned out from Circus Atari. ------- Chase Hermsen

It's so great to have an Activision connection at our board. I can't wait to get an update! Thanks for the searching! --------- Chase Hermsen

For a nice visual: http://anvilfilms.net/ATARI/Paddles/paddle1.html That looks like it would be good for "visual learners". ------ Chase Hermsen

It's not often you see Rarity 10 games on eBay, I don't think, so here's Mangia' : http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...3089838849&rd=1 ----------- Chase Hermsen

Yes, I'm on an emulator, and I forgot to check the little "Mute application sounds while Away!" on my away message. It made me jump for just a quarter of a second, and I lost concentration... Oh well, gives me incentive to try again! ------------ Chase Hermsen

Finally got the rollover! Now, if I could only get more than 200 points on my second life...EVER!!! Hint: DON'T leave AIM open while playing. I forgot I did, but that "Buddy Sign Off" door close sound reminded me as I lost my fourth life. Anyway, my new score...11966!! -------- Chase Hermsen

Wow...Amazing how many times I can lose a life the before my red line bonus has even been added in. Everything but that went my way this game...Well, that and the 200 points on my 2nd life. 9464!!!! ------- Chase Hermsen

I reset a lot...sometimes within seconds. Better than one habit I used to have: When playing a game on my GameBoy Colour, if I got mad, I'd spin it up into the air and catch it. Well, I was having the game of my life, 3 lives left and 4 times my best score...And I lost a life. Flipped it, it did a few barrel rolls (Like normal) then came down, hit the side of my hand, bounced off, and hit the floor. I picked it up...And the game was frozen. I'll never do THAT again. --------- Chase Hermsen

Wow. I thought of the Mario Kart thing too, Ze_ro. Get out of my head! --------- Chase Hermsen

Just had a pretty good game. 5902 Hint to all: Don't. Think. Ever. Once I start thinking, I end up missing. ------- Chase Hermsen

5060 here. Slowly moving up...But, not to a rollover anytime soon, I'm guessing. 6th place doesn't warrant a bandwidth wasting screenshot. Also, I agree with the "points for everyone" idea. That way, 1st 2nd and 3rd can have their glory, but a strong competitor who just can't ace one game can still be seen. ------ Chase Hermsen

I'm slowly improving at this game, but I still am making stupid mistakes (like talking on the phone... ) 4069. --------- Chase Hermsen

It's hard on my ol' 13" TV...maybe I should go down to the basement and hook it up to the 84.25" projector down stairs...Maybe then I'd have better aim. ------------ Chase Hermsen

Ack... My Paddles were annoying me, couldn't get them to work well enough, so I switched off to an emulator...Turns out my emulator is evil. My top score so far: 3666. -------- Chase Hermsen

7 months and 14 days later.... Hey, 714. My lucky number! I feel bad for whoever had to watch said tapes, either Ron or Robert, most likely. -------- Chase Hermsen

My paddles are jittery, but (now that my father helped me clean them) only at random times when I need them the most NOT to be. Anyway, my best after a few tries with the newly cleaned paddles is 1906. I'll be playing all week, though! Edit: 2769! Edit: I know at least one of you will ask me at some point, so yes: I did try ripping the top off of my paddle and putting yesterday's unwashed sock on top and controlling it with my teeth. It cut down on the jitter, but my jaw began to cramp. -------- Chase Hermsen

Wow, you are really good. That sums things up beautifully. That is the top one right now. Anybody else care to chime in? Should I make a new thread in case people are not visiting this one as much? Thanks again for the suggestions and help. Edit: Actually we have been together since 1991 so I guess it would be 13 years together. Why, thank you! :insert blushing smiley here: If it's thirteen years, that's a simple manipulation, which I'm sure you probably thought of already: ---- Also, that scrapbook idea would be very cool. Not only does she get the proposal cartridge, she gets the whole story compiled with it! Does she read any gaming sites at all? Because we could probably shoot around an email to some news sites... ---------- Chase Hermsen