2600 Game Idea -- DOORS

[Brian O]

I had an idea for a 2600 game, and I thought I'd share it with everyone, in case anyone thinks it's interesting and wants to give it a shot.

 

The game is called DOORS.

 

Basic premise of the game: You are a normal guy trapped by a madman inside a complex filled with a 100 (?) rooms (like Saw, or the Cube). Each room contains a puzzle, that you must solve in order to get the key to unlock the door to advance to the next room. There is a timer that counts down, adding some tension. Not sure how much time would be given for each room, or if it would vary, but you get the idea. You can walk over certain items to pick them up, and then use the fire button to set them down.

 

If you cannot solve the puzzle and exit the room in the allotted time, you die and the game is over. If you do solve the puzzle, a key will appear in the middle of the room, and you can then unlock the door at the top and proceed to the next room/puzzle. Solve all 100 (?) puzzles, and you win your freedom back.

 

Here's some very, very rough sample screens that I whipped up. I pretty much stole the sprite of the man, and the outer playfield shape from Berzerk, and just changed the colors.

 

 

Title screen:

 

 

 

Room 1

You start on board one that contains a checkerboard pattern for a floor:

 

 

 

 

Once you step on the boxes in each of the four corners, a key appears:

 

 

 

 

Grab the key, and the door at the top of the screen unlocks, allowing you to run to the next room:

 

 

 

 

Room 2

Room 2 contains 4 grays squares, and four odd, vase-like shapes:

 

 

 

 

You'll need to pick up each vase and drop it on a gray square. When all gray squares are covered, the key appears:

 

 

 

 

You can then proceed to the next room:

 

 

 

 

And so on, and so on....

 

 

Not sure if this is doable, or how much space/rom this would require. I'm not a programmer. And since I'm not a programmer, please don't tell me to code this myself. I had an idea, and I am just passing it along, in the event that someone thinks it's a viable idea and wants to run with it. No pride of ownership here.

 

 

Any thoughts/feedback always welcome

 

 

EDIT: One thing I didn't add, that should probably be included, is the number of the room you're in.

 

 

Thanks,

-B

[0078265317]

Sounds interesting.

[PAC MAN FEVER]

looks cool

[+TrekMD]

Cool concept.

[Brian O]

Sounds interesting.

 

 

looks cool

 

 

Cool concept.

 

 

Thanks!

[A2600]

Not to threadjack but Brian have you ever played Puzznic for the NES? it has a similar concept in that you have to solve puzzles in an alloted time to advance

[high voltage]

and as a soundtrack it's gotta be The Doors...this is the end, my lonely friend, the end...

Edited February 6, 2011 by high voltage

[Brian O]

Not to threadjack but Brian have you ever played Puzznic for the NES? it has a similar concept in that you have to solve puzzles in an alloted time to advance

 

I never heard of that game. Just looked it up on YouTube. Pretty cool. I may have to buy a copy of that

 

-B

[godzillajoe]

love the idea but how much replay value would it have once you solve all the puzzles? maybe have some arrows or critters to avoid after one complete pass. This would be a great project for someone wanting to leaan 2600 programming. (hint, hint)

[toiletunes]

I love it! A 'random room' option would add replay value, but there should be a set maze for beginners. Does the timer reset for each room? A continuous timer could determine the final score (also adding replay value)

[Brian O]

I love it! A 'random room' option would add replay value, but there should be a set maze for beginners. Does the timer reset for each room? A continuous timer could determine the final score (also adding replay value)

 

I like the random room idea. As for the timer, it could reset for each room but the game could keep a running total that is displayed at the end. This way, you can have different times for each room, depending on difficulty.

 

B

[sunsetflip84]

A very interesting idea! Wouldn't ming seeing this panning out.

[StanJr]

Sounds very much like a trimmed down Solomon's Key! Which is a great game and a port of something like it would be much welcome on the VCS!

[Eltigro]

Put a countdown timer like in Pitfall.

 

I also like the ideas of adding things to avoid on a second playthrough. Reminds me of the dungeons in Zelda and that's not a bad thing.

[Miss 2600]

I like it! It sounds like a very fun and unique game!

[Brian O]

I like it! It sounds like a very fun and unique game!

 

Thanks, sista!

 

-B

[A.J. Franzman]

The game should have available as an alternative, the same solution that the characters in Cube discovered too late.

 

 

If they'd simply stayed in the first room for something like 12 hours, they would have been completely safe and could just walk out when the door opened.

 

[Gregory DG]

This game reminds me a bit of the old Atari type in game called "The Gantlet" (Tried running it for some screenshots, but I guess Atari800Win.exe doesn't work on Windows 7... Grr....)

 

Anyway, you'd go around in these rooms trying to find the exit. It was hard and I don't think I got past room 4!

Edited February 8, 2011 by Gregory DG

[+atari2600land]

The premise of the game kinda sounds like my Virtual Boy game I have been programming called Castle of Doom, only yours is 3D while mine is 2D. Also, I wonder if the checkerboard floor is doable on the 2600...

[Atarian7]

and as a soundtrack it's gotta be The Doors...this is the end, my lonely friend, the end...

 

 

 

Isn't it "my ONLY friend , the end"?

[Mingy Jongo]

Evil Otto should totally go after you when time runs out

[diogoandrei]

This is definitely a good idea for a 2600 title. And, since there's a new bB version coming around the corner, I'd say go for it man!!

[Rik]

Fantastic idea!!!!!!Puzzle solving games are the ones i like best.All the Sierra "Dr.Brain" titles, like "The Island Of Dr.Brain", are my favorites for puzzle solving, and stuff like that."DOORS" would sell quite well, i'm pretty sure, if sold back in the glory days of this type of gaming for the 2600, i'd buy it.

[homerwannabee]

Lots of awesome, and great, but not enough rep points. I decided to be the first to initiate a rep point for this great idea.

[Brian O]

Lots of awesome, and great, but not enough rep points. I decided to be the first to initiate a rep point for this great idea.

 

Thanks, Homer!