Search the Community

Ever wanted to play Tempest 2000 with a spinner? I have a low-priced way to do it. Here's what you need: Time investment: 15 to 20 minutes Hardware: 1) A computer that can run Windows XP-compatible games. 2) A USB laser mouse. Software: My personal preference is a freeware Tempest 2000 clone game called 'Typhoon 2001' which can be downloaded from various places around the web. There are other ways to play Tempest 2000 on a PC (such as owning the DOS T2K disc), but Typhoon 2001 is better because of its superior analog mouse-control. Tools and materials to make a spinner that mounts on the laser mouse: 1) A better than average triwing fidget spinner (yes, I said you need to spend money on a fidget spinner) 2) Sticky tack (my favorite brand is Loc-tite Funtac). 3) 2-liter bottle cap 4) a piece of cardboard that's thin and rigid 5) sharp blade tool 6) Scissors 7) Marker The assembly process is shown here: (5 minutes and 53 seconds in shows Typhoon 2001 being played with the fidget spinner-modded mouse). Also: There are Jaguar emulator possibilities that could be considered...

So I was playing T2K last night and decided to play a few rounds of Traditional mode. I did this mainly because I'm thinking of picking it up for the 5200 soon and wanted to get a feel for it, and if i'd enjoy it nearly as much as the trippy wonderland of T2K. My questions are? -How do people feel like it stacks up against the arcade original, in overall feel and gameplay? -Anyone actually play Traditional mode regularly as their "go-to" tempest game, among all console versions? -In what ways do people feel that the original arcade version is superior, or more fun? -Would you as a traditionalist, rather play the 5200 version since it's closer to the arcade graphically? Thanks, and looking forward to hearing what people think of this oft overlooked game mode.

Folks, To save me some typing, the following are cut 'n' pastes of several messages that I posted on another message forum: -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Does anyone have any idea as to what "streaky" does in the PC CD DOS version of Tempest 2000? I've NEVER found or read about ANY cheats whatsoever for the DOS version of T2K throughout all of these years, but was recently browsing the executable with my trusty hex-editor (as I've done numerous times over the past two decades). In the executable is the text line "FLOSSIE WANTS TO CHEAT", and immediately following that, the following hex: 1F 14 13 12 1E 25 15 I just thought to myself, hmmm... That SURE looks like keyboard scan codes (and only JUST NOW thought that they looked like keyboard scan codes... RE: "as I've done numerous times over the past two decades" above - with age comes knowledge LOL!). Hehe, and YES indeedy, they are KB scan codes, and they spell "streaky" LOL (see linked pics)! I fired up the game, and then during gameplay typed "streaky" in. The web flashes colorfully (like when you obtain an extra life), and the female voice sound effect says "Yes!", but nothing appears to have changed (?). It MAY be just me, but gameplay seemed a bit easier after doing this, but I'm not sure (?). BTW, you can enter the "streaky" code several times, with the same results (the web flashes colorfully). Anyhow, has ANYONE ever heard of this before (and have any idea as to what it does), or have I found a totally hidden easter egg/cheat in this game that NO ONE has ever came across since the game's release in 1995 LOL (wouldn't be the first time)? Pic of DOS version TEMPEST.EXE in a hex-editor -> http://www.vogons.org/download/file.php?id=16691 Pic of Keyboard scan codes -> http://www.vogons.org/download/file.php?id=16692 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- OK, I JUST figured it out! After starting a game, enter "streaky". THEN press F11 to enable the bonus level warp, or F12 to skip to the next level. Hehe, the way I figured this out... F11 and F12 are cheats for the MACINTOSH version of the game (and are NOT normal keys for the PC DOS version of the game)! Hehe, I'm thinking "YES" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- P.S. I HAVE just now confirmed that the"streaky" cheat code ALSO works for the Interplay Windows 95 version of the game as well Note that you will need to type in the cheat code fairly quickly in order for the game to recognize it. As in the DOS version, the web flashes colorfully, and you'll hear the female voice sound effect "Yes!" if you have successfully entered the code (and the game recognizes it). P.P.S. The keyboard scan codes for the "streaky" code were sitting all by their lonesome in the Windows version executable <GRIN> (see linked pic). Pic of Windows version TEMPEST.EXE in a hex-editor -> http://www.vogons.org/download/file.php?id=16719 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ENJOY!