Completed (I Think) Atari 2600 Game: Pig Perambulator

[NAveryW]

I made a thread chronicling this game's development in the batariBasic subforum, and am presenting the game here for feedback now that I think it's complete. The game uses characters I have been writing stories of since I was eleven, and am currently working on an animated Flash series featuring them called Enthalpy. This is their first complete console game.

 

You play an eleven-year-old boy named Nicholas:

 

He's trying to perambulate. To score points, move him to the left side of the screen, then the right, then the left, then the right. That would be pretty simple, except that his archenemy, a transgenic pig named Piggly Oink...

...is constantly firing missiles at him. Nicholas must dodge the missiles while perambulating. He must also dodge something yellow that's bouncing around all over the place that will also kill him if it hits him. I don't know what the yellow object is, but boy is it dangerous.

 

You can play the game online with jStella here, or download the .bin file here.

 

Currently I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to make the game available on a cartridge via the AtariAge homebrew store.

 

REASONS FOR DOING SO:

-I'd love to own the game on an actual, professionally made cartridge, with a professionally made manual, even if nobody else would.

-In my opinion, the game is just as fun as many other Atari 2600 games that were commercially released during the 1980s.

-I recently formed a sole proprietorship which I mainly intend to use to distribute video games, and I intend to apply to become a licensed Nintendo developer soon. On the application, they want to know what systems you and your company have made games for in the past, and I'd be able to put an actual console game on the list.

 

REASONS AGAINST DOING SO:

-I can't really imagine anyone besides me wanting to buy such a game nowadays, especially since I'm making it freely available online.

-I think the game gets a bit too hard once you get 21 points.

 

Please let me know what you think. ^_^

[phaxda]

This is an interesting if simple game, but I am not sure I would dish out the cash for a cart. Moving back and forth and dodging missiles... eh. I want to shoot something!

 

Still a way better program than I could ever make.

[accousticguitar]

This game is more fun than a lot of games I've played. I agree, it would be nice to be able to shoot something.

[Ian Primus]

Man. this gets evil after ten laps...

 

It's simple, yet addicting. I like it.

 

If you want - I can make up a cart for you. But I have no graphic design skills, so someone else needs to design a label - unless you like Dymo labels...

 

-Ian

[NAveryW]

Man. this gets evil after ten laps...

 

It's simple, yet addicting. I like it.

 

If you want - I can make up a cart for you. But I have no graphic design skills, so someone else needs to design a label - unless you like Dymo labels...

 

-Ian

Thanks for the offer. I'd prefer to design the label anyway so I can make sure it fits my preferences. I'd like to wait until I finish animating the first episode of Enthalpy before making the cart, though. Perhaps I'll actually get some kind of small consumer demand.

 

Since I feel that the game remains too easy after you reach eleven points, and it gets way too hard once you reach twenty-one points, I updated the game to incorporate multiple difficulty levels. If you flip one difficulty switch, the game stops increasing in speed once you reach eleven points. If both switches are flipped, you get a really boring game in which the speed doesn't increase at all. I have a feeling I got the switches set backwards, but otherwise Stella automatically has it set to where the speed doesn't increase.

 

Download the updated version here.

[Kurt_Woloch]

Hmmm... the graphics on this look rather simple. Reminds me a bit of this game...

 

Here's an idea... don't know if it's possible in Batari Basic, though... since the player on bottom and the pig on top never overlap, it should be possible to use both players for each of the characters (thus providing better graphics), and reposition them somewhere in between the top and the bottom.

[Animan]

Got me addicted for a bit, but i agree with everyone else: I WANT SHOOT OPTION!!! Reasonable difficulty, good graphics, and addicting gameplay all made this a good game. Overall 3.5/5

[neotokeo2001]

Got me addicted for a bit, but i agree with everyone else: I WANT SHOOT OPTION!!! Reasonable difficulty, good graphics, and addicting gameplay all made this a good game. Overall 3.5/5

 

After every ten points you could have a shoot the pig level and then move on to more dodging at a higher speed.

 

 

 

[xg4bx]

kudos on your avatar.

 

"remember to keep your meat ice cold!"

[EricBall]

-I can't really imagine anyone besides me wanting to buy such a game nowadays, especially since I'm making it freely available online.

In spite of Skeleton+ being freely downloadable, an amazing number of cartridges have been sold. So don't think others won't want a cartridge just because they can play it for free. Many people want to play it on the original hardware.

 

One piece of advice: Before comitting your creation to cartridge ensure that it is perfect. There's no way to issue a patch because you've discovered an obscure bug or had an idea which makes the game ten times more fun. (Yes, I'm speaking from experience in both cases.) Take your time, playtest the heck out of it, and listen to suggestions.