Cosmic Cretins From Outer Space!

[Retrospect]

 

COSMIC-E <ea5 file 1

COSMIC-F< ea5 file 2

COSMIC-G< ea5 file 3

 

COSMIC-X < XB game

 

This is the final release of Cosmic Cretins.  It is much improved with better sprite collision/position detection, the option to have starfield either static or scrolling (in either case it will twinkle different colours), a weapon power-up if you reach level 3, an extra life every 1000 points.  There's 8 aliens on screen, 6 of them will shoot at you.  When you get down to the last alien it'll have something to say.  The end of level baddie is harder than before, firing two missiles at a time, in various positions, when you shoot at it, text appears atop the screen telling you what it's saying.  There's 16 differently shaped aliens, they'll change every level up to level 16 if you ever get that far. Also every level, their firing rate increases making them more difficult than the level before.  The levels are actually infinate, so when you get past level 16 the shape will randomize to one that appeared before, the firing rate will stay the same. I can only just get onto level 4.  It's not a game of any particular depth, it's just a fun little shooter that'll entertain you whilst you are bored.

Edited December 26, 2020 by Retrospect
new version

[Schmitzi]

 

Hi, cool game, and I made a .DSK with all files, (XB autoloads)

 

Cosmic-Cretins--XB-EA5.dsk

 

 

Maybe it´s me, but my Joystick (with USB-Adapter) does not work for it in Classic99.

But the Joystick-Test-cartridges passes OK, other games too.

Will see tomorrow on real iron.

 

PS: I´ve only used this Joystick and USB-Adapter with .BIN-files before, first time here with EA/5 and XB game

 

 

 

Edited December 20, 2020 by Schmitzi

[+Vorticon]

Very cool and a lot of fun! Really well done! Love it.

[Retrospect]

8 hours ago, Schmitzi said:

 

Hi, cool game, and I made a .DSK with all files, (XB autoloads)

 

Cosmic-Cretins--XB-EA5.dsk 90 kB · 6 downloads

 

 

Maybe it´s me, but my Joystick (with USB-Adapter) does not work for it in Classic99.

But the Joystick-Test-cartridges passes OK, other games too.

Will see tomorrow on real iron.

 

PS: I´ve only used this Joystick and USB-Adapter with .BIN-files before, first time here with EA/5 and XB game

 

 

 

Hi Schmitzi.  So you're having joystick troubles?  Well I'm thinking about making a keyboard version - and here's the good bit - I'm hoping if I do a keyboard version we can have TWO fire buttons..... You'll move left and right with the S and D keys and fire with the J and K keys.  I'm also making the end of level bosses a whole lot meaner too.  

[Retrospect]

6 hours ago, Vorticon said:

Very cool and a lot of fun! Really well done! Love it.

Hey thanks Vorticon!  I'm currently writing a keyboard version because I wanted the ability to have two fire buttons, and also it'll help Schmitzi out with his joystick troubles   

[Schmitzi]

1 hour ago, Retrospect said:

Hi Schmitzi.  So you're having joystick troubles?  Well I'm thinking about making a keyboard version - and here's the good bit - I'm hoping if I do a keyboard version we can have TWO fire buttons..... You'll move left and right with the S and D keys and fire with the J and K keys.  I'm also making the end of level bosses a whole lot meaner too.  

 

yes, this would be great But I see it already works on Classic99 with keyboard, with Q as fire and the arrow keys.

If you didn´t program that, maybe Classic99 takes/redirects this from a possible joystick input ?

Would mean this is a Classic99-function/AddOn, and would not work on real iron.

Will try that tonight.

 

Edited December 21, 2020 by Schmitzi

[Retrospect]

17 minutes ago, Schmitzi said:

 

yes, this would be great But I see it already works on Classic99 with keyboard, with Q as fire and the arrow keys.

If you didn´t program that, maybe Classic99 takes/redirects this from a possible joystick input ?

Would mean this is a Classic99-function/AddOn, and would not work on real iron.

Will try that tonight.

 

Well, for reading the FIRE button I always use CALL KEY(1,K,S) :: IF K=18 THEN ..... firing ...... etc etc.  I didn't know this wouldn't work in real iron?

[Schmitzi]

6 minutes ago, Retrospect said:

Well, for reading the FIRE button I always use CALL KEY(1,K,S) :: IF K=18 THEN ..... firing ...... etc etc.  I didn't know this wouldn't work in real iron?

 

No, I just assumed that  

 

If you have any questions about programming, better don´t ask me  🤣

 

[Schmitzi]

18 minutes ago, Retrospect said:

Well, for reading the FIRE button I always use CALL KEY(1,K,S) :: IF K=18 THEN ..... firing ...... etc etc.  I didn't know this wouldn't work in real iron?

 

So I just went upstairs and tested it   The "Q" as fire works, the movement via keyboard not.

(my joystick works great there)

 

Means, the joystick/fire-button delivers a "keyboard-Q" via the CALL KEY command ?

And, Classic99 adds the keyboard control rigt/left on the arrow keys ?

This way ?

 

 

Edited December 21, 2020 by Schmitzi

[Retrospect]

16 minutes ago, Schmitzi said:

 

So I just went upstairs and tested it   The "Q" as fire works, the movement via keyboard not.

(my joystick works great there)

 

Means, the joystick/fire-button delivers a "keyboard-Q" via the CALL KEY command ?

And, Classic99 adds the keyboard control rigt/left on the arrow keys ?

This way ?

 

 

I dunno .... probably!  Sorry can't be much help there.  I have a real TI99 it just doesn't work.  It's an ornament.  

I'm getting on with a new version that uses full keyboard anyhow.  I'm hoping to have it working by tonight.

[Retrospect]

So apparently, I can't use S&D together with J&K ... but I can use S&D together with H&J (to fire).

 

Strange ?

[sometimes99er]

Classic99 menu: Options, Options... and look under Joysticks:

[Retrospect]

I have a question; 

 

I'm working on another version of the game which lets you use the keyboard, S and D for left and right, and at the moment, H and J for your two fire buttons (you can fire two missiles at a time) .... the problem I'm having is, the player ship keeps moving one way if either of the fire keys are held in place even if you let go of S or D ... (I'm using CALL MOTION as it's much much faster) .... Is there a way to scan the keyboard differently? for example can I do this;

CALL KEY(2,K1,S) and combine it with CALL KEY(3,K2,S) and use commands like IF K1=68 AND K2=74 then move left & fire .... ?

so that I could do IF K1=-1 and K2=74 then stop motion of ship?

Edited December 21, 2020 by Retrospect

[Schmitzi]

3 hours ago, sometimes99er said:

Classic99 menu: Options, Options... and look under Joysticks:

 

THIS was my problem Thanks !

 

PS: 900 Points

 

Edited December 21, 2020 by Schmitzi

[Retrospect]

1 hour ago, Schmitzi said:

 

THIS was my problem Thanks !

 

PS: 900 Points

 

i could only get 750! lol

[Schmitzi]

uuuh my hands

 

[Retrospect]

8 hours ago, Schmitzi said:

uuuh my hands

 

That's a great score!  It's funny that I can make these games but I can seldom actually play them good enough to get a good score, ha!  

In the case of Cosmic Cretins, each new level you get to, they move faster, I'm not sure about the end of level bosses, but the normal aliens certainly do.  They get to the point where I can't keep up with them and end up running into their missiles!

[Retrospect]

Also, I'm having too many problems making a new version that uses keyboard and two fire buttons / two player missiles.  The responses are just too slow and when you fire whilst moving, it keeps moving in that direction if you hold the fire keys down, there's two fire keys to press in rapid succession , and it's just not viable.  If you're able to play the original now then we should leave that version as the one we have

 

 

[Retrospect]

 

You'll have to catch up now, Ralf! hahaha

Edited December 22, 2020 by Retrospect

[Schmitzi]

23 minutes ago, Retrospect said:

Also, I'm having too many problems making a new version that uses keyboard and two fire buttons / two player missiles.  The responses are just too slow and when you fire whilst moving, it keeps moving in that direction if you hold the fire keys down, there's two fire keys to press in rapid succession , and it's just not viable.  If you're able to play the original now then we should leave that version as the one we have

 

 

 

yes, just Joystick is perfect. (And with Classic99 as mentioned before, the keyboard works fine) 

 

[Schmitzi]

 

Maybe - if DSKx is detected and writable - we can save the highscores ?

 

Or via Tipi - if detected and connected - on a central highscore-server on the internet, for all games ? 🥰 

(or collect the data on DSK and transmit them when connected later)

 

Data to be transmitted:

#GameNameShort #Version #Platform #DSKorBIN #PlayerName #DateTime(if given, or use TransmitTime) #Reserve #Score

 

[Retrospect]

If saving of high-scores can be figured out, that would be fantastic.

 

In the meantime, I've got another game in the works, the working title is "GalaxiBirds" .....

There's 8 birds in space, animated, each bird flaps it's wings at different times to the other birds, all the while there's a scrolling starfield that twinkles different colours as it scrolls ....

You're a space ship with an animated red exhaust flame, and your ship has different patterns for turning left , middle, and right.

I'm in the process of making the birds randomly fire at the player.  It's not really going to be the fastest of games but it'll be enjoyable once it's out!

Edited December 22, 2020 by Retrospect

[Retrospect]

This is the start of the "GalaxiBirds" project.  The birds kind of work, they fire but not properly yet ... there's the player ship moving and firing ... once the sprite collision detection gets put in this game may be too hard to be playable?  So maybe either get rid of two birds or alter their rate of fire.

[Retrospect]

 

Player can now shoot and kill the birds but they can't kill player yet.  Planned for end of each level is end of level bird, which will be 3 sprites in size.

[jrhodes]

12 hours ago, Retrospect said:

If saving of high-scores can be figured out, that would be fantastic.

 

In the meantime, I've got another game in the works, the working title is "GalaxiBirds" .....

There's 8 birds in space, animated, each bird flaps it's wings at different times to the other birds, all the while there's a scrolling starfield that twinkles different colours as it scrolls ....

You're a space ship with an animated red exhaust flame, and your ship has different patterns for turning left , middle, and right.

I'm in the process of making the birds randomly fire at the player.  It's not really going to be the fastest of games but it'll be enjoyable once it's out!

Other then saving scores, are you calling this one done?