eegad #1 Posted August 6, 2009 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?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZylonBane #2 Posted August 6, 2009 It's called an "attract mode". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Atariboy #3 Posted August 6, 2009 A lot of 2600 games have attract modes that demonstrate the gameplay. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+thegoldenband #4 Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+save2600 #5 Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pitfall Harry #6 Posted August 7, 2009 I vaguely remember a pong game keeping score in its attract mode though, but might have been an arcadegame... 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sloth713 #7 Posted August 7, 2009 (edited) 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Postman #8 Posted August 7, 2009 Not only does Video Life have an attract mode but it also plays its self!!!!! You beat me to it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rom Hunter #9 Posted August 7, 2009 (edited) 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+SpiceWare #10 Posted August 7, 2009 (edited) 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rom Hunter #11 Posted August 7, 2009 (edited) I stand corrected. I mean all known to exist VCS games released between 1977 and 1992. Edited August 7, 2009 by Rom Hunter Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red 5 #12 Posted August 7, 2009 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Animan #13 Posted August 9, 2009 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eegad #14 Posted August 10, 2009 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skylark68 #15 Posted August 11, 2009 It's not VCS related, but the Odyssey 2 had a couple of games that would play itself. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+atari2600land #16 Posted August 11, 2009 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Godzilla #17 Posted August 11, 2009 if the games play themselves too much, do they get hairy palms and go blind? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poopopyo #18 Posted August 12, 2009 Pinball is my favorite game that plays itself. You can get tons of points and not use the flippers at all! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tr3vor #19 Posted August 18, 2009 the first time ive seen a game playing itself, is Frog Bog on my grandma's intelivision Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z80GUY #20 Posted August 22, 2009 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emehr #21 Posted August 22, 2009 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! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BassGuitari #22 Posted August 22, 2009 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites