Atari "Battlezone" tank game questions

[nopeda]

Hi,

I used to like playing Battlezone in arcades and have recently found that you can play it for free online. Is anyone else here into it? Can anyone suggest good places for discussing it?

Thank you for any help!
David

[wizardofwor1975]

Which version are you playing? I was kinda shocked when I played it on the Gameboy Advance. I was really surprised at how good it was. I mean it’s not the arcade version but overall it’s not a bad port for the GBA. There is also a regular Gameboy version. Have you played the Gameboy or GBA version? So what do you think of the C64 port of Battlezone?

[Neb6]

There's a certain Zen thing that happens when you really get into the groove of Battlezone. Great game. I still recall when it arrived at the arcades (my brother pointed it out to me the second it arrived).

There's a good version of it on the Color Computer called "Rommel 3D".

I also like the version on the Atari Lynx called "Battlezone 2000".

It would be nice to see an exact vector version of Battlezone, but with an expanded universe. You know, some sharp programmer could actually make it possible to drive to the volcano. People have been dreaming about that for years now. It would also be nice to have selectable configurations (e.g. increased armor, so that it takes more than one hit to destroy an enemy tank or to be destroyed).

[nopeda]

Which version are you playing? I was kinda shocked when I played it on the Gameboy Advance. I was really surprised at how good it was. I mean it’s not the arcade version but overall it’s not a bad port for the GBA. There is also a regular Gameboy version. Have you played the Gameboy or GBA version? So what do you think of the C64 port of Battlezone?
I don't know what version it is. So far I know of two places to play online. The one I like better is first:

http://chrome.atari.com/battlezone/
http://my.ign.com/atari/battlezone

but they only give you 3 tanks to start with. After searching around I found a good thread about it in this forum:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?162676-Good-Atari-BattleZone-gameplay-video

so I'm hoping more Battlezoners will come along eventually. One guy provided a link to a video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymrYkbEbnEQ

and he started out with 5 tanks instead of 3. I learned a couple of things from watching him and got a lot better at killing the fast tanks. Now, like those guys, the problem I can't overcome is the missiles.

I don't really know anything about gaming, and this is the first and hopefully only game I want to get into because of the time it takes. But I would like to be able to get handle controls for it if possible, because that gives you that spit second advantage in reflex, and also it seems to turn significantly faster giving you an advantage in many situations. Do you know if it's possible to get handles to use with it, and if so specifically what would be good to get? Or if not specifically, what in general to search for?

[nopeda]

There's a certain Zen thing that happens when you really get into the groove of Battlezone. Great game. I still recall when it arrived at the arcades (my brother pointed it out to me the second it arrived).

There's a good version of it on the Color Computer called "Rommel 3D".

I also like the version on the Atari Lynx called "Battlezone 2000".

It would be nice to see an exact vector version of Battlezone, but with an expanded universe. You know, some sharp programmer could actually make it possible to drive to the volcano. People have been dreaming about that for years now. It would also be nice to have selectable configurations (e.g. increased armor, so that it takes more than one hit to destroy an enemy tank or to be destroyed).
Are the versions you mentioned available to play online? I agree with what you said about getting in the groove of it....it sort "takes you there"... Something I read about it said some people consider it to be the first virtual reality game, and that's how I felt about it back when I was playing it in arcades. Then it was fifty cents a play though, but now it's free and I can play it until I get too drunk right here in my living room :) Also agree that it would be great to have versions with an expanded universe and selectable configurations. Surely some people could do that and not lose the quality of the game, but enhance it...

[Graham Mitchell]

You guys should play Specter. It's an old Mac game but there's a snes port. It's battle zone with more variety in the enemies, gourad-shaded polygons and a new gameplay twist where you have to pick up flags on the play field like Rally-X. Seriously fun game.


Battle zone is great though. Nothing beats the arcade game with that crazy eyepiece and a bright vector monitor.

[wizardofwor1975]

I don't really know anything about gaming, and this is the first and hopefully only game I want to get into because of the time it takes. But I would like to be able to get handle controls for it if possible, because that gives you that spit second advantage in reflex, and also it seems to turn significantly faster giving you an advantage in many situations. Do you know if it's possible to get handles to use with it, and if so specifically what would be good to get? Or if not specifically, what in general to search for?

I like your formula: Booze & Battlezone. Most of us love are past arcade experiences. But can you imagine an arcade that caters to retrogamers and serves booze. Nice, very nice. I'm sure there are some but not where I live. :(
The best your gonna do where I live is a bar that still has one and rarely more than one arcade game. As far as handle controls for Battlezone. I haven't seen anything but I'll help you look around and see if we can come up with something.

[ccovell]

You guys should play Specter. It's an old Mac game...

You'll only find the game in a search if you spell it correctly. ;-D

[Gamevet]

I don't know what version it is. So far I know of two places to play online. The one I like better is first:

http://chrome.atari.com/battlezone/
http://my.ign.com/atari/battlezone

but they only give you 3 tanks to start with. After searching around I found a good thread about it in this forum:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?162676-Good-Atari-BattleZone-gameplay-video

so I'm hoping more Battlezoners will come along eventually. One guy provided a link to a video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymrYkbEbnEQ

and he started out with 5 tanks instead of 3. I learned a couple of things from watching him and got a lot better at killing the fast tanks. Now, like those guys, the problem I can't overcome is the missiles.

I don't really know anything about gaming, and this is the first and hopefully only game I want to get into because of the time it takes. But I would like to be able to get handle controls for it if possible, because that gives you that spit second advantage in reflex, and also it seems to turn significantly faster giving you an advantage in many situations. Do you know if it's possible to get handles to use with it, and if so specifically what would be good to get? Or if not specifically, what in general to search for?

If you don't mind spending $5 for a PC copy of the game, you could pick up Atari Anniversary collection. It supports the dual analog sticks with a PS3 or Xbox 360 controller.

[Leo_A]

There's no point in buying that collection. It was rereleased several years later under a new name, is cheaper and more widely available, and included the addition of several additional arcade games and most of Atari's unlicensed 2600 library to the mix.

http://rideyourpimp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/61JMWHMP9BL__SS500_.jpg

Battlezone on XBLA includes online play, remake and speed up modes, and replicates the original controls via the two analog sticks.

[sloan]

If you are looking for dual stick control of Battlezone at home, the Atari 5200 version has just that. Play it with the controller coupler used on Space Dungeon and the experience is arcade-close.

[Leo_A]

It's sadly not a very good conversion.

The vast majority of arcade conversions of it over the past nearly 20 years support the arcade controller layout. No shortage of options. Even on the Super Nintendo, the up and down on the d-pad and X & B are utilized to replicate it as I recall.

[sloan]

It's sadly not a very good conversion.

That's a vague statement that gets a lot of repeating around the internet. Care to expound?

I have Battlezone for 5200 and find it decent, though the collision detection suffers some. The thing I love about it is that it does offer dual stick support.

[Gamevet]

There's no point in buying that collection.

He said he didn't really want to play any other games. ;)

I thought he might enjoy the interviews with Bushnell that were included in the Anniversary Edition.

[Leo_A]

As I recall, it just seemed too choppy. I respect the attempt to simulate the vector appearance of the arcade release outside of the backdrop, but it just ended up not playing nearly as well as the 2600 attempt. Things scale very roughly and motion isn't so hot because of it.

It also has the narrowest sweet spot of any Battlezone release I've ever played. Shots have to be virtually dead center on target or a hit won't be detected. Even the arcade original where you need to hit the turret since your shots are above the height of the tank hull, you have a much wider hit detection box it seems.

In their defense though, it's just a prototype as I recall (I only have it on a multicart just like games like Jr. Pac-Man) and likely wasn't finished. And I never knew that it had dual joystick support so I'll have to revisit it.


He said he didn't really want to play any other games. ;)

I thought he might enjoy the interviews with Bushnell that were included in the Anniversary Edition.

Those interviews are also carried over. I don't actually have the PC version of Atari Anniversary, but the same Bushnell interviews in the DC & PS1 version of Atari Anniversary are present on the later Atari 80 Games in One and Atari Anthology.

This should be cheaper and easier to acquire since it seemed to see a much wider releases (My two copies came free in cereal boxes for instance). And it has the excellent 2600 conversion of Battlezone as well. And being newer, it's probably easier to get going on the latest PC since it's from several years later and Atari Anniversary dates to circa 2000.

And if he enjoys Battlezone, I can't imagine that he wouldn't like some of the other arcade titles here even if he's not specifically seeking them out. For example, Red Baron is basically Battlezone in the air and worth checking out if you're a fan.

So he may as well seek out the newer and expanded version.

[Gamevet]

And if he enjoys Battlezone, I can't imagine that he wouldn't like some of the other arcade titles here even if he's not specifically seeking them out. For example, Red Baron is basically Battlezone in the air and worth checking out if you're a fan.

So he may as well seek out the newer and expanded version.

I really liked playing Red Baron in the arcades. I'll have to pick that up soon. :)

[Gameguy]

The vast majority of arcade conversions of it over the past nearly 20 years support the arcade controller layout. No shortage of options. Even on the Super Nintendo, the up and down on the d-pad and X & B are utilized to replicate it as I recall.
Battlezone is on the Super Nintendo? I wasn't aware of this, is it in some sort of compilation?

[Leo_A]

It's on Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Atari Collection.

It includes the same roster the emulation versions on the Playstation and such featured (Asteroids, Super Breakout, Centipede, Tempest, Missile Command and Battlezone) but in this case, the arcade source code was ported over. And of course the interviews aren't present.

It's a great release but sadly, Digital Eclipse didn't go the extra mile and support the Super Nintendo mouse for Missile Command, Centipede, and Super Breakout (Not sure it would've worked as well for Tempest). I wish I had some programming skills since I'd love to hack it and rectify that glaring omission. But Battlezone and Asteroids play great.

[nopeda]

That's a vague statement that gets a lot of repeating around the internet. Care to expound?

I have Battlezone for 5200 and find it decent, though the collision detection suffers some. The thing I love about it is that it does offer dual stick support.

The dual stick thing for Battlezone is all I'm really interested in. I'm sure I would enjoy playing other games--I like asteroids for example--but am already spending too much time getting my butt kicked by Battlezone and don't want to get involved with anything else. In the arcades I could sometimes play as long as I wanted to but now even after playing with it for a couple of weeks and having learned some things I didn't know back then I'm usually shut down at around 40K. I can't help but feel part of that is because of not having the control the sticks offer. Also the game I play only gives 3 tanks to start with but I've seen a video of a guy playing and he started out with 5. Can anyone tell me what's up with that?

Two things I believe I've learned recently. One is to not pay as much attention to scoring and putting too much emphesis on the saucers. I was getting shot way too often because of stupid mistakes caused by greed. I think the game is set up to take advantage of that.

Another I'm still playing around with, but I'm starting to think the best way to deal with the missiles may be to back up to the right. I've read and noticed that they tend to do a lot of killing by coming in from the left, so backing to the right helps you set up to take them out when they're on the left. It also makes them follow you and adjust to what you're doing, instead of just doing what they want if you sit still which is how I'd been doing it.

If anyone can tell me the best affordable way to get two sticks and start out with 5 tanks I'd sure appreciate it!

One final thing that influenced my feelings about the saucers: If I remember right a guy that got a world record of over 5 million played for something like 10 hours to do it, and never lost a tank!!! That sure made me feel like an idiot for getting shot by slow tanks because of greed over saucers. I guess it also means in the long run if you ever get into the big leagues it shouldn't matter if you start out with 3 tanks or 5, but so far it still matters to me.

[nopeda]

How do you delete a post? I posted the same thing twice by accident and wanted to remove one, but didn't see the option so I'm editting it by asking this question instead.

[Neb6]

If anyone can tell me the best affordable way to get two sticks and start out with 5 tanks I'd sure appreciate it!



I wonder how it would run on MAMEdOx on a modded XBOX (the original XBOX) using the two analog sticks on the XBOX controller?

Could be good!


As for online versions of Rommel 3D and Battlezone 2000... none that I'm aware of, so far.