Brainstorming: Fort Apocalypse 2600

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

 

So this weeks question is: "How about doing Fort Apocalypse for the 2600?"

 

An old favourite of mine. Here's a couple of links:

 

Lemon64 link for the C64 version:

http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=961

 

Atarimania link for the A8 version:

http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?...VERSION_ID=2054

 

A youtube video of the A8 version:

 

A longplay video of the C64 version:

http://www.c64-longplays.de.vu/

 

Unlike the two last brainstorming entries, finally a game I know inside out

 

I think it might translate pretty good to the VCS, at least there's almost no scenes that the VCS couldn't render as static screen. So the main problem is getting everything scrolled 8-ways, which I'm not sure wether it'd work out. Any scrolling experts here?

 

A bit of a heretic thought would be just making it a couple of connected flick screens?

 

Also, is there anyone interested enough in a port to try to mockup a few significant scenes from the game for us?

 

Greetings,

Manuel

[vdub_bobby]

My Metroid kernel supports a (chunky) 8-way scrolling playfield with intelliflickered sprites and particles.

 

Might be too blocky for this, though, and the scrolling would probably be too chunky/fast for this game.

 

Static screens would be your best bet, I think.

[Fort Apocalypse]

F.A. for the 2600 would be TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!

 

I have thought about it as well, but it would be beyond what I could do in batari Basic and it look decent.

 

Things I would not include as they might require too much processing/memory:

* Scrolling

* Flashing dots within the blocks you shoot

 

Things that are musts:

* Having to refuel

* Having to pick up people

* Having to avoid lasers or "moving blocks"

 

Things that are likely musts:

* Radar (if you scroll without it, you might run into the enemy helicopter or the flying mines)

* Having to shoot your way through stuff

 

I suck at asm, but I could give you a hand with the player sprites if you want. Let me know.

[Fort Apocalypse]

BTW- this interview with Steve Hales has some stuff about F.A.: http://www.dadgum.com/halcyon/BOOK/HALES.HTM

 

For example, did you know that it was influenced by the movie Blue Thunder and that he started writing it before Choplifter came out? (Great minds think alike!)

[ZylonBane]

Individually shooting away lots and lots and lots of little character-based bricks is sooooo 80s.

 

But in any case, a 2600 port would most likely end up as Wing War with a helicopter.

[TROGDOR]

Definitely static screen. Think Adventure with a helicopter. Should be very doable.

 

My Metroid kernel supports a (chunky) 8-way scrolling playfield with intelliflickered sprites and particles.

Is intelliflicker ™ vdub_bobby 2008?

"Your flicker is our flicker. Intelliflicker."

Edited February 5, 2008 by TROGDOR

[Cybergoth]

Wing War with a helicopter.

Think Adventure with a helicopter.

 

I see yours and raise you by one: H.E.R.O. with a helicopter!