Marble Craze screenshots

[Paul Slocum]

Development is going well. The game is playable with scoring and music. Most of the game logic is working except for some details to make levels more interesting. It should be ready for CGE. Here's a few of the latest screenshots...

 

 

 

 

-Paul

[Rick Weis]

Paul,

 

does the levels have a time limit to complete a level or is the timer adding the time it takes you to complete the level? BTW: looks good can't wait to hear it!!!

 

Take care,

 

Rick

[Paul Slocum]

You have a limited amount of time to finish the level, and time you have left at the end of a level is added to your score. If you run out of time, you lose a life and get another 15 seconds to finish the level. On some levels, there will be pills that give you extra time (coding that part tonight).

 

-Paul

[Albert]

Wow! These screenshots look great! I can't wait to play! It's pretty obvious how the two-player game works, but what happens in a one player game? Is it full-screen, or still split-screen with you playing against the computer?

 

..Al

[Fretwobbler]

Will this be controlled with two paddles?

 

Will it have support for joysticks?

 

Adam

[bloatedmonkey]

Will it have support for joysticks?

I was just thinking the same thing. It could be interesting with a couple of joyboards.... Of course, it's cool as is too.

[Rob Mitchell]

Paul:

 

Looks like a great game .. I look forward to playing it!

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[Chuck Gill]

Paul,

 

It looks like a lot of fun, is it possible to reserve one?

-Chuck

[StanJr]

I am SO TOTALLY geeked about this game and those screenshots look like just about the coolest thing ever! I'm losing my mind! Release the thing already! I MUST PLAY AND OWN MARBLE CRAZE!!!

[Paul Slocum]

I'll consider adding joystick support, but probably will just stick with paddles. (Thomas can always do it later anyway ) It's really difficult to control at first with the paddles but you get used to it quickly. I worked pretty hard to get the control polished. The paddles give you the ability to give the marble a slight nudge or accelerate it very quickly depending on the situation.

 

In one player mode it is still split screen, but the other player's screen displays patterns. I considered doing a full screen mode, but since it would require writing a new kernal, I decided not to.

 

I'm not going to take any reservations yet since I've still got some details to work out. Currently the plan is to produce 50 copies, and each will come in a clear plastic box with instructions at $30. None of this is for sure, though.

 

-Paul

[StanJr]

$30 is completely reasonable and a price I am MORE that willing to pay for this exceptional game! Great work, Paul!!!

[DuckandCover]

Count me as extremely psyched as well! The game looks outstanding, Paul. I'll be eagerly awaiting its release!

[Albert]

I'll consider adding joystick support, but probably will just stick with paddles.  (Thomas can always do it later anyway )  It's really difficult to control at first with the paddles but you get used to it quickly.  I worked pretty hard to get the control polished.  The paddles give you the ability to give the marble a slight nudge or accelerate it very quickly depending on the situation.

 

If it was my game, I don't know that I'd bother adding joystick support. Although it would be cool if you could play with the TrakBall. I think it's cool to see 2600 homebrew games taking advantage of the paddle controllers. This worked very well for SCSIcide.

 

In one player mode it is still split screen, but the other player's screen displays patterns.  I considered doing a full screen mode, but since it would require writing a new kernal, I decided not to.

 

Patterns? What does this mean? Just curious.

 

..Al

[ATARIPITBULL]

When your game does go on sale, you can count me in for buying a copy.

 

[Paul Slocum]

I'm not sure what the patterns will be yet. It will be some looping pattern of lo-res playfield data. I'm just about to start implementing that and I'll see what looks cool. I'm going to use one of the music driver counters to run the animation, so it will be synced to the music.

 

-Paul

[Rob Mitchell]

I'm going to use one of the music driver counters to run the animation, so it will be synced to the music.

 

Well .. if it is anything like the light show mode in the Synthcart .. it will be cool! BTW: Is the LSM in the Synthcart supposed to be an undocumented easter egg or something?

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[Rob Mitchell]

Paul:

 

I anticipation of your Marble Craze cart .. I just thought of a way to mount two paddles side by side.

 

Get a flat piece of plastic, plexiglass or whatever. Drill two small holes on either side of the area where one paddle is to be mounted. Get a loop of elastic (rubber band, ponytail tie, whatever). Thread a small loop of the band through each hole and secure on the bottom side of the flat plastic by running a paper clip through the small loop. Then you have two lengths of elastic which can be placed over / around the paddle controller. Do the same for a second paddle.

 

How's that sound?

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[+johnnywc]

Great work Paul!!

 

Stan - I just made my hotel and flight reservations for CGE - I'll be picking up a copy for you when I get there!! (thanks again for the Bugs Bunny... )

[Paul Slocum]

I'm thinking of building a custom double paddle for CGE by drilling two holes in a project box and just mounting the pots in the holes.

 

And the Light Show Mode is an easter egg. I was hoping more people would find it!

 

-Paul

[+opcode]

Hi,

 

A friend of mine sent me a demo version of your game and I must confess I was completely stunned by it. The sound alone was unbelievable!

It did sound like 3+ channels! Very impressive.

 

Now I am very interested on getting a copy when it is released. I hope you don't just make it available for the luck ones going to CGE. Remember there are some classic gaming enthusiasts who don't live in US...

 

Good work!

[Rob Mitchell]

I'm thinking of building a custom double paddle for CGE by drilling two holes in a project box and just mounting the pots in the holes.

 

And the Light Show Mode is an easter egg.  I was hoping more people would find it!

 

The pots are 1 MegOhm .. Will fire buttons be required also?

 

LSM: I know the secret!

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[Paul Slocum]

The buttons are used to select options on the title screen and to pause the game.

 

-Paul

[Rob Mitchell]

The buttons are used to select options on the title screen and to pause the game.

 

I now see that I am going to need to build a custom controller box with two pots at 90 degrees and two fire buttons. Just for your game!!

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[+Propane13]

Looking forward to this game. Looks funky!

 

Is the 2-player setup time-based (i.e. first one who makes it to the end of the same course wins)? If so, I would recommend putting in "gotchas" to make it more competitive and fun. Like, for example, randomly having things appear on someone's track (akin to Mario Kart "?" squares), that can do bad things to the other player. I remember putting some of these in my PG2 demo, and it made a lot of difference in the fun value. So, how's it work?

 

-John K. Harvey

[Paul Slocum]

I'm going to try to have at least a few levels where you can hinder the other player, but I haven't decided how yet.

 

2 player currently just let's two people play at the same time. There isn't any interaction right now.

 

-Paul