Games that play themselves

[eegad]

I was reminded today of an interesting little feature that I always liked about the game Frogs and Flies - the fact that the game plays by itself if you don't touch the joystick. Just hit reset and sit back..... both player frogs will start jumping and trying to catch flies by themselves.

 

Which got me wondering..... are there any other 2600 games that can play themselves??

[ZylonBane]

It's called an "attract mode".

[Atariboy]

A lot of 2600 games have attract modes that demonstrate the gameplay.

[+thegoldenband]

What happens in Frogs and Flies is a bit different from a regular attract mode, though, as the computer is playing in earnest, i.e. playing a proper game against itself; it's not just a demo, is it?

 

Really, it's an extension of what happens in one-player mode. The computer takes control of either frog if it sits idle for more than 10-15 seconds, and relinquishes control if you start giving it input again. If it were a regular attract mode, you wouldn't normally be able to "cut in" to a half-completed game.

 

I'm trying to think if there are any VCS sports titles that will play exhibition games for you to watch, like some of the NES games that offer that bizarre option, but I was never really into that part of the VCS library.

Edited August 6, 2009 by thegoldenband

[+save2600]

Right - Frogs is different because it's actually keeping score. I'm not aware of any other 2600 games that does that

in its "attract" mode. I thought attract mode too at first, but the scoring is all the difference. And yes, some computer,

NES, etc. games - you can set up so the computer plays against itself. I'm sure there have been people that have

played out entire virtual seasons that way - for whatever reason. Could set up a little gambling scenario I suppose.

 

I vaguely remember a pong game keeping score in its attract mode though, but might have been an arcade

game...

Edited August 6, 2009 by save2600

[Pitfall Harry]

I vaguely remember a pong game keeping score in its attract mode though, but might have been an arcade

game...

 

 

Warlords will play all the way through a game once you kick it off. It can easily run for 10 minutes or more before one of the 4 computer players wins five battles.

[sloth713]

Not only does Video Life have an attract mode but it also plays its self!!!!!

 

Also Video Life keeps score during its attract mode.

Edited August 7, 2009 by sloth713

[Mr. Postman]

Not only does Video Life have an attract mode but it also plays its self!!!!!

 

You beat me to it.

[Rom Hunter]

Here are all known to exist VCS games that feature some sort of attract mode:

http://atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-2-TYPE...LAYER_ID-1.html

 

Edited August 7, 2009 by Rom Hunter

[+SpiceWare]

Here are all known to exist VCS games that feature some sort of attract mode:

http://atarimania.com/lst_soft-MENU-2-TYPE...LAYER_ID-1.html

 

All? I don't see Lady Bug or Medieval Mayhem.

Edited August 7, 2009 by SpiceWare

[Rom Hunter]

I stand corrected.

 

I mean all known to exist VCS games released between 1977 and 1992.

 

Edited August 7, 2009 by Rom Hunter

[Red 5]

Video Pinball may not have an attract mode, but you could start off the ball and leave the room. Come back hours later it will probably still be bouncing around.

[Animan]

This topic reminds me of Nintendo's patented "Demo Play" for New Super Mario Bros. Wii. It would be cool if atari games had that feature.

[eegad]

yes, i didn't really mean just an attract mode....i meant a game that you could 'start', and either it would take over and play itself if left untouched, or you could actually select 'zero' players and have the computer play against itself, keeping score. 'frogs n flies' is the only game i knew of that could do that.

 

i'll have to check warlords over the weekend....i don't recall being able to let the computer play all 4 players, but if it can, then it qualifies.

 

as for video life, i'll check it on an emulator, but unfortunately i don't have the actual cart (rarity 10) to play on my 2600.

[Skylark68]

It's not VCS related, but the Odyssey 2 had a couple of games that would play itself.

[+atari2600land]

The RBI Baseball series by Tengen for the NES as well as Wheel of Fortune for the N64 have the computer playing itself. I wonder though, why games like Jr. Pac-Man don't keep score in their attract modes. I mean, it's obvious you're not playing a game if the controller isn't being moved.

[Godzilla]

if the games play themselves too much, do they get hairy palms and go blind?

[Poopopyo]

Pinball is my favorite game that plays itself. You can get tons of points and not use the flippers at all!

[Tr3vor]

the first time ive seen a game playing itself, is Frog Bog on my grandma's intelivision

[Z80GUY]

I remember Midnight Magic seemd to do that, I could start a game of it and when I lost a ball, if I did not shoot the ball right away it would shoot it'self and the computer would play the game out the rest of the way. or maybe it was an attract mode of some kind that would kick been so long now since I played at least since 1988 who knows maybe I am wrong altogether.

 

Carl

[Emehr]

Video Pinball may not have an attract mode, but you could start off the ball and leave the room. Come back hours later it will probably still be bouncing around.

Wow, I could have sworn I posted in this very thread about that exact game! Weird. But yeah, I can start that game, go get gas in my car, come back, and have a new high score!

[BassGuitari]

Football has a game variation that plays itself. Game 3, I think. All you do is call the plays and watch the computer play them out.