Back Yard Football (2600 ) RC-9

[easmith]

current 

https://atariage.com/forums/topic/305568-back-yard-football-2600-rc-9/?do=findComment&comment=4557391

 

 

I have one more "Sports" game in the works.  It will be similar to my other games that are interpretations of kids games :  1 vs 1 Basketball, 1vs1 Baseball, Pickle/ Hotbox. It will be a 2 on 2 Sandlot football game, which I played a lot of in my day.   I hope Champ Games or someone with more skills than me will someday do a proper realistic American football game .    

 

 

I have a proof of concept playfield.  For now it just scrolls the playfield when booted. No  movement/ gameplay / animations yet

 

Game concept:

-- 80 yd field

-- 4 unique players with different running, tackling, passing, and catching ability

-- you can pick  teams 

-- several formations offensive and defensive

-- can hand off or can call pass play  ( 9 different routes)

-- can aim pass to lead receiver

--  1 first down at midfield

--quarterback can  run  immediately off line but not after players have run downfield

-- must pass within  " 7 Mississippi " or it's a sack.

--  defensive strategies

-- interceptions/ fumbles

-- no kicking.  If turnover on downs then other team gets ball at goal line. 

-- first to score 28 ( 4 touchdowns) wins --  unless mom calls for dinner !

 

Gonna take a bit for playable game   but I think I can pull of my vision .

 

 

 

[+sramirez2008]

Yesss!  I like it! We played this too. ?

[easmith]

have some basic gameplay.   I posted  video below.  I took out the 2 defenders to get a better screen capture  .

Right now all you can do is pass and run after catch .   QB can't move or run yet .

 

There are 8 routes  ( the "route tree") , but can modify by throwing to any spot and then moving receiver . 

streak

flag

post

deep out

deep in 

quick out 

quick in

quick stop ( for receiver screen and handoffs).

 

Score colors indicate whether formation has been set and then if play as been called.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[easmith]

Slow and steady ......

 

Have something at least kind of interesting to play with .... No first down, defense or blocking yet .

You can practice passing / running as offense ( yellow team), and score touchdown.

It takes a bit of practice to get controls down . 

But in a nutshell  play is executed by ( button      , direction, button ,      button           , button   ) 

                                                       ( formation , play     , snap   , pull up pass target , pass   )

Controls :

 

1. Select Formation:

 Pull down on stick to toggle formations

 When desired formation is selected , press button.  Score will turn gray.

 

2.  Select route ( I need to work on the sensitivity here some more. You have to be very true to diagonal to have it properly register).

You must move stick to select route .  When route is selected score will turn yellow.   You can change . last direction registered before snap 

There are 8 base  routes  ( the "route tree") , but can modify by throwing to any spot and then moving receiver to spot . 

up = streak   ( go route) 

up + diagonal  = flag  or post depending on formation 

left or  right = deep out or  deep in depending on formation

down + left or right = quick   in or quick out depending on formation 

down = quick stop ( for receiver screen and hand offs)

 

3. snap ball by pressing button ( the red meter at top will be play clock / sack clock but is not active).

 

4.   After snap , QB can be moved.

If QB crosses line of scrimmage , can no longer pass  , but is a runner

 

5. To pass :

 

  This is a two-press pass mechanic.

  1. press button to activate pass target ( the target will start on top of the receiver ).

      you will no longer be able to move the QB.

  2.  move target to desired location.

  3.  tap button for  soft pass.   Hold button for fast pass ( for now same accuracy). 

  4.   after pass, you can control receiver .    Receiver will run predetermined route unless you are actively moving him.

  5.  Contact ball to catch ( ball  can go over your head if it is "large") . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2020 by easmith

[easmith]

 

I have a brown field and a green field.  Would like to know which looks better.  

I wanted a brown ball.

Green field is not "sand lot" either

 

I now have a pretty playable one player game .  Two player head to head will come later.

Also need to fix a few glitches and put in fumbles .

 

Kind of like 10 yard fight , you only play offense in 1 player game.

Scoring a touchdown scores 1 pt.  Getting stopped ( turnover on downs or interception) scores CPU 1 point.

As always, read instructions . It takes a bit of practice to get the controls sequence down .

It takes a bit of practice to get controls down . 

But in a nutshell  play is executed by  ( down on stick ,            button      ,       stick  direction, button ,      button           ,  button   ) 

                                                       (toggle formation ,  choose formation,   route                 , snap   , pull up pass target ,  pass   )

 

To run as QB you need to run immediately  after snap .  

 

Controls :

 

1. Select Formation:

 Pull down on stick to toggle formations

 When desired formation is selected , press button.  Score will turn gray.

 

2.  Select route ( I need to work on the sensitivity here some more. You have to be very true to diagonal to have it properly register).

You must move stick to select route .  When route is selected score will turn yellow.   You can change . last direction registered before snap 

There are 8 base  routes  ( the "route tree") , but can modify by throwing to any spot and then moving receiver to spot . 

up = streak   ( go route) 

up + diagonal  = flag  or post depending on formation 

left or  right = deep out or  deep in depending on formation

down + left or right = quick   in or quick out depending on formation 

down = quick stop ( for receiver screen and hand offs)

 

3. snap ball by pressing button

 

4.   After snap , QB can be moved.

If QB crosses line of scrimmage , can no longer pass  , but is a runner

QB cannot run after 2 seconds or you lose a down .

 

5. To pass :

  There is a " 5 mississippi "  pass clock .  You will be sacked if you do not throw or run by this time  ( meter below scores).

  This is a two-press pass mechanic.

  1. press button to activate pass target ( the target will start on top of the receiver ).

      you will no longer be able to move the QB.

  2.  move target to desired location.

  3.  tap button for  soft pass.   Hold button for fast pass ( for now same accuracy). 

  4.   after pass, you can control receiver .    Receiver will run predetermined route unless you are actively moving him.

  5.  Contact ball to catch ( ball  can go over your head if it is "large") . 

 

6. Runners can "run over " tacklers .

7. offensive player without ball will block 

 

First Downs :

There is one first down at midfield ( white line) .

 Down is indicated by a number instead of the safety before formation is selected .

 

AI Defense:

 

There are 3 defense plays :  

Zone

man to man

safety blitz

 

AI can intercept pass 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited jus

 

 

 

Edited April 28, 2020 by easmith

[easmith]

ok, 

 

1 or 2 player game is active.  Fumbles are active

 

here are rules .  There are a lot of special sandlot rules so read them carefully!

 

 

 

***************************************************************

 

 

Controls :

1 Player Game-- P0 difficulty B ( novice)
2 Player Game-- P0 difficulty A ( pro) 

1 player Game:

Player is controls offense only.
Player Wins if Scores 10 touchdowns before is stopped by CPU 20 times.

PRE- SNAP

1. Select Formation:
 Pull down on stick to toggle formations
 When desired formation is selected , press button.  Score will turn gray.

2.  Select route 
 When route is selected score will turn yellow.   You can change . last direction registered before snap 
There are 8 base  routes  ( the "route tree") , but can modify by throwing to any spot and then moving receiver to spot . 
up = streak   ( go route) 
up + diagonal  = flag  or post depending on formation 
left or  right = deep out or  deep in depending on formation
down + left or right = quick   in or quick out depending on formation 
down = quick stop ( for receiver screen and hand offs)
3. snap ball by pressing button
4.   After snap , QB can be moved.
If QB crosses line of scrimmage , can no longer pass  , but is a runner
QB cannot run after 2 seconds or you lose a down.

5. To pass :
  There is a " 5 mississippi "  pass clock .  You will be sacked if you do not throw or run by this time  ( meter below scores).
  This is a two-press pass mechanic.
  1. press button to activate pass target ( the target will start on top of the receiver ).
      you will no longer be able to move the QB.
  2.  move target to desired location.
  3.  tap button for  soft pass.   Hold button for fast pass ( for now same accuracy). 
  4.   after pass, you can control receiver .    Receiver will run predetermined route unless you are actively moving him.
  5.  Contact ball to catch ( ball  can go over your head if it is "large") . 
6. Runners can "run over " tacklers .
7. offensive player without ball will block 

First Downs :
There is one first down at midfield ( white line) .
 Down is indicated by a number instead of the safety before formation is selected .

Fumbles:

Runner can fumble. This is considered a stop by the defense (offense cannot recover fumble).

AI Defense:
There are 3 defense plays :  
Zone
man to man
safety blitz
AI can intercept pass 

 
2 Player Game:

P1 controls yellow team .

Defensive player controls SAFETY only. AI controls corner.

 

First to 35  (  5 touchdowns wins ).

 

 

PRE - SNAP defense.

push joystick down to toggle through safety being short or deep .
PRESS Button when safety position is set ( score will turn yellow or red ) .

Offense cannot select play until defensive position set.

BLITZ :

Defense has one blitz 9 rush quarterback per  4 downs. Use it wisely.

 

 

 
 

 

Edited April 30, 2020 by easmith

[intergalactic419]

 

On 4/27/2020 at 7:12 PM, easmith said:

I have a brown field and a green field.  Would like to know which looks better.  

I wanted a brown ball.

Green field is not "sand lot" either

I'd go green since as opposed to sandlot football it was always backyard football for me. We never had marked yardage lines so I don't know if you could do anything more sandlot or backyard style. Our endzones were always denoted by running between two trees at both ends.

 

Like the team picking concept.

[chewy]

if i see points on the right side does that mean i did good and got a point or that the other team did cause i messed up?

[easmith]

30 minutes ago, intergalactic419 said:

 

I'd go green since as opposed to sandlot football it was always backyard football for me. We never had marked yardage lines so I don't know if you could do anything more sandlot or backyard style. Our endzones were always denoted by running between two trees at both ends.

 

Like the team picking concept.

Most recent version is grass. 
 

The yard markers definitely make it less sandlot , but  I think it adds nice  visual element .  Maybe sandlot football is  not the right name , maybe just 2 on 2 football I guess.  
 

we used to go to the old college practice field to play which was a real field .  
 

 

 

[easmith]

2 minutes ago, chewy said:

if i see points on the right side does that mean i did good and got a point or that the other team did cause i messed up?

Your score is left number ( red). 
if computer stops you ( downs, int, fumble)  computer earns a point 

[chewy]

ah, i've only got right points so far- im having fun though- you can definitely throw the ball to the other guy like a good video football game should.  i like that. so i see the formation sequence but then with the route sequence, i dont think im seeing the options for that.  Also on my RCA colortrak i like the green way better than brown.  i bring the tint all the way down and i like what i see

[chewy]

so the second you move the stick or dpad after the first step you go into your selection for the 2nd step?  Dog i will tell you this: the ONLY ATARI GAME i have a physical printed manual too, is Super Football.  

[easmith]

Pull down until you have desired formation . 
Press button to set formation .

 

move stick to select route . when route is selected score color will turn yellow and red . Last direction pressed before snap is final route . 

 

press button to snap . 
 

press button to activate pass target .

 

 

move target  To desired location . 
 

Press button to pass ( tap for slow Loft and hold for fast bullet ) 

[easmith]

here is a third option:

 

hash marks are removed.  yard lines still there.   first down line is yellow .

 

I think " Backyard Football" is the best name.    But this is a backyard that has been marked with numbers !   Rich kids  

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 1, 2020 by easmith
fixed bug where sack timer would run even after catch

[intergalactic419]

So I downloaded Stella for the first time to play this and am working off the keyboard. Using the keyboard I'm having more success with the fast pass but I think the slow lofted passes will work well when I can control the receiver with a stick and break route when he is covered. If it works how I think that's a pretty cool feature option.  Is there anyway to escape the blitz?

 

I managed to do a qb sneak and almost take it the house. Running the length of the field I bowled over both defenders, but then one recovered and took me down on the two yard line from behind which made it a little anti-climatic.  I vote if you bowl over both on the sneak let him score as I would have been jumping up and down here. Unless that is, it's easier to bowl over defenders than I know and haven't figured that out yet.

 

"Backyard Football" if that's the name I think I definitely have to pick up a copy haha.

 

 

 

[easmith]

1 hour ago, intergalactic419 said:

but I think the slow lofted passes will work well when I can control the receiver with a stick and break route when he is covered.

 

 

.  Is there anyway to escape the blitz?

 

 

Definitely better with stick or some kind of   Controller .  Try the corner route and lobbing deep to the corner .  The fast pass is good when you can get the receiver running down the seam. 
 

I have changed the blitz to where the defender can’t cross the line until after 1 second .  That will be in next update .  It was impossible to get rid of the ball if the safety was on the line. 

 

1 hour ago, intergalactic419 said:

  I vote if you bowl over both on the sneak let him score as I would have been jumping up and down here. Unless that is, it's easier to bowl over defenders than I know and haven't figured that out

 

 

 

I have had success with calling tight formation and sending receiver out as blocker ,then sneaking to receiver side . 

Running over defender is random , as is fumbles .  I thought of making it where if you press button you are more likely to run over defender but also more likely to fumble . 
 

I can add a bit to the time the defenders are knocked down . But I Wanted the defenders to be able to catch up or there would be too many scores . 

[easmith]

tweaked a few things.  This is pretty close .......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2020 by easmith
introduced a new bug :( fixed now

[easmith]

sorry , lots of edits today ,    trying to get AI run defense just right

[intergalactic419]

47 minutes ago, easmith said:

sorry , lots of edits today ,    trying to get AI run defense just right

Getting some kind of error where the defender tries to blitz bumps into me then backs off and quarterback can't throw or run and the time clock doesn't count down either. Instead of the black throw marker it is a flashing color.

[easmith]

Playing whack -a -mole with bugs where fixing one adds another . I think the posted version now is best .

If you have downloaded today please redownload latest post.  Sorry .

 

 

3 minutes ago, intergalactic419 said:

Getting some kind of error where the defender tries to blitz bumps into me then backs off and quarterback can't throw or run and the time clock doesn't count down either. Instead of the black throw marker it is a flashing color.

 

  Yes I have seen this but so far can't fix it or figure out why it is happening.  

That is the only bug now I am aware of.    I will spend some time in the next week   trying to solve this.  Need to take a sanity break.

 

Until I figure it out, I plan on adding a bail out where if you press select it will treat play as incomplete pass

[easmith]

On 4/30/2020 at 3:14 PM, intergalactic419 said:

Getting some kind of error where the defender tries to blitz bumps into me then backs off and quarterback can't throw or run and the time clock doesn't count down either. Instead of the black throw marker it is a flashing color.

solution came to me . should be fixed now 

 

 

 

 

[easmith]

version 3 update 5-1 :

 

--Title Screen added

--  increased AI interception rate for contested balls

-- made it a bit easier for Receiver to run through corner.

 

I have two color schemes :   dark green with white numbers and ball  ( scheme 1)  and light green field with brown numbers and ball.

 

Would appreciate feedback on which is preferred.

 

 

 

[intergalactic419]

5 hours ago, easmith said:

I have two color schemes :   dark green with white numbers and ball  ( scheme 1)  and light green field with brown numbers and ball.

 

Would appreciate feedback on which is preferred.

I think the lighter green grass is easier to view the players on and target. Are you able to show the lighter green grass with white numbers as opposed to brown numbers? I understand wanting the brown football but I think the white sideline and white numbers show better.

 

Having fun playing and I can actually win on the keyboard now. For whatever reason I think it's a lot easier to run. Seems like both defenders are dropping back to cover receiver more frequently than before.

[easmith]

On 5/1/2020 at 4:47 PM, intergalactic419 said:

I think the lighter green grass is easier to view the players on and target. Are you able to show the lighter green grass with white numbers as opposed to brown numbers? I understand wanting the brown football but I think the white sideline and white numbers show better.

 

Having fun playing and I can actually win on the keyboard now. For whatever reason I think it's a lot easier to run. Seems like both defenders are dropping back to cover receiver more frequently than before.

Attached is the option you asked for .

 

I hope you don't think running is too easy . I think it is almost just right , where it is not too frustrating but you can't score every time .

 

 

 

[chewy]

i haven't made a left point yet i mean im loving the attemps- this is a REALLY well layed out football game- but i mean i have to try n throw the ball to my guy and complete it to make a point on the left?  i hear like a beep sometimes that sounds good or a plunk-type sound that sounds "bad" when i dont complete at all, but i dont know if im throwing to the wrong guy or what but i havent made a left point yet.  It has less to do w/ your programming and more to do with my inability to succeed in anything, but as i said im having a lot of fun with this one still.