O2 homebrew KTAA = ROCKS THE HOUSE!

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I've been playing the new Odyssey2/Videopac+ homebrew "Kill The Attacking Aliens" this weekend, and I've gotta say, this one really raises the bar from what you'd expect from that system. A running meter of shield strength? Power-ups? Holy cow!

I hadn't played this one in emulation because, with all due respect to the great job and tremendous effort Dan Boris has done to create an O2 emulator, I've never really felt like I was playing the real thing. So I figured I'd wait for the cartridge release. It's definitely worth the wait. KTAA has the whole "easy to learn, hard to master" thing going for it. It's kinda like a cross between Missile Command and Defender, with some of that maddening Robotron strategy that leaves you torn between offensive action and defending the targets on the ground.

My one gripe: I have to remove the Voice for the cart to play at all; for some reason, it really doesn't like the Voice being there.

I'll have a more extensive review up soon, with screen shots and all that goodness, but suffice to say, any O2 owners who've been holding off on buying this one should get their hands on it (http://www.packratvg.com). I'm mightily impressed. Kudos to Soren Gust and Packrat for bringing this one to us!

[ubersaurus]

I wanted to get it, but never got around to it...this review is awfully glowing though, methinks I'm gonna order a copy soon.

[ubersaurus]

I wanted to get it, but never got around to it...this review is awfully glowing though, methinks I'm gonna order a copy soon.

[Arqueologia_Digital]

I didn´t know anything about this new homebrew, could you post some pics or a link with any info please???

[oesiii]

Best money I've spent this year on a video game :)

Here's a webpage with info and screenshots:

http://soeren.informationstheater.de/g7000/ktaa.html

and as PDF mentioned you can pick it up at www.packratvg.com , who provide awesome service :cheers:

[chadtower]

My copy has arrived but I haven't had the chance to whip out an o2 and get it running... I think I'll do that in the next couple of days.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

It is a XYPE (http://www.qotile.net/xype/) game, so it must be good! ;)

[Sniderman]

It is a XYPE (http://www.qotile.net/xype/) game, so it must be good! ;)
http://www.deadzoom.com/member/gameagain/angus.jpg
"If it's not XYPE, it's crap!"

(I'm assuming everyone gets the SNL reference...)

[Thomas Jentzsch]

(I'm assuming everyone gets the SNL reference...)
I don't! "SNL reference"?

Anyway, I hope you just making fun and not tried to twist my words.

[Sniderman]

SNL=Saturday Night Live, a US comedy show that's been running since the 1970's

"Angus" (played by Mike Myers) appeared in a recurring sketch where he ran a shop called "All Things Scottish." He had such pride in his country and his wares, that he would often scream out "If it's not Scottish, it's crap!"

I was pointing out that you were proud in what XYPE puts out, Thomas. That's all I meant. Do not read too much into what is said. There's too much of that going on already between boards. Innocent comments are too often being twisted into things other than what was meant.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

I was pointing out that you were proud in what XYPE puts out, Thomas. That's all I meant.
Ok, maybe I am just getting too sensitive after being attacked for XYPE in the past.


Do not read too much into what is said. There's too much of that going on already between boards.
IMO it is not between boards but between individuals who are trying to instrumentate (=abuse) the boards for their private vendettas.


Innocent comments are too often being twisted into things other than what was meant.
I know to well what you are talking about, that's why I was asking. I would have been very surprised if you had started with "word twisting" and stuff too.

Back to topic:
KTAA is a great game, IMO at the very top of all O2/G7000/7400 games.

[Arqueologia_Digital]

Hey!, thanks for the link...

[Sniderman]

IMO it is not between boards but between individuals who are trying to instrumentate (=abuse) the boards for their private vendettas. But, sadly, those individuals are often viewed as the "voice of those boards", especially when they are not dealt with/silenced by the Moderators/Owners of those respective boards.

[o2william]

Here's my O2 site's database entry for KTAA:
http://www.classicgaming.com/o2home/db/cart.asp?masterid=115&cartid=399

There's not really any information here that hasn't already been covered in this thread, but if you own KTAA and would like to rate it, you can do so at the link.

Interesting about KTAA's incompatibility with The Voice. That's the second report I've heard already, so it's sounding like a universal problem. But other than that (minor) issue, I'd say XYPE has once again put its name to a superior product. Unfortunately my O2 is still in storage from a recent move, so I haven't been able to try out my copy of KTAA yet!

[Thomas Jentzsch]

But, sadly, those individuals are often viewed as the "voice of those boards", especially when they are not dealt with/silenced by the Moderators/Owners of those respective boards.
Yup! (makes you wonder, doesn't it?)

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Here's my O2 site's database entry for KTAA:
http://www.classicgaming.com/o2home/db/cart.asp?masterid=115&cartid=399
Maybe you should add that O2em is having some display problems in some of the levels. They look better (=correct) when played on the real hardware.

[ManekiNeko]

I'm looking at this game and it reminds me of that Defender/Missile Command hybrid that was released for the Supercharger. Can't recall what the name of that game was, though...

It's really cool that the designer allows you to download the game for free. I can't wait to get it home and try it out for myself.

JR

[Sniderman]

But, sadly, those individuals are often viewed as the "voice of those boards", especially when they are not dealt with/silenced by the Moderators/Owners of those respective boards.
Yup! (makes you wonder, doesn't it?)Not at all. I'm certain that NEITHER BOARD'S OWNERS OR MODS condone or agree with anything it's respective asshat members may do or have done. To believe that any website or host thereof has some kind of dirty Machiveillian machinations is paranoid at best; ludicrous at worst. After all, shouldn't a site be judged by it's members as a group, rather than just by the loudest of those members? I think we could each name some names of idiots here, there, and elsewhere, but they certainly aren't representatives of the 1,000s of members each site hosts, are they? ;)

That being said, can we now take this to PM so this thread on this excellent homebrew doesn't get any more sidetracked? Thanks.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Killer Satellites (http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=264) ?

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Thomas,

Not trying to pick nits or anything, but if KTAA's that good (and I agree that it is, by the way!), XYPE needs to add the game and its author to their web site. :) I know everyone's probably been busy with other things, but I took a gander at the site today and thought that Soren and his creation should definitely be up there as soon as someone can add them.

And hopefully we can coax Soren into gracing us with more Odyssey 2 goodness, even if it means waiting another five years. :-P

[Ed Oscuro]

@ Thomas: I know you had some trouble in the past, but if anybody like that comes by to cause you problems we've got your back, right! I appreciate all the work you do, no need to worry about us. We're all harmless anyway LOL

As for the game...those graphics are, well, "a damn sight better" than any screenshots I've seen for O^2 games...really impressive...even when you're just looking at stills!

Also extra coolness for the site using the G7000 name/logo to refer to the console (I assume this is out of Europe, but still) and I just realize I like that name/logo more than the Odyssey^2 logo.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

If anyone's interested in seeing video of the game in action, here's a ~31Mb video file:
http://www.thelogbook.com/odyssey/ktaa/ktaa.mpg
If it sounds funny, it's because I run all of my mono games through a stereo reverb and then pump that through a 5.1 surround system. You're hearing the direct output of said reverb. Sounds awesome if you're in the room and it's coming out of every speaker! ;)

I'm hoping to have a full review up by the weekend.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Thomas,

Not trying to pick nits or anything, but if KTAA's that good (and I agree that it is, by the way!), XYPE needs to add the game and its author to their web site. :) I know everyone's probably been busy with other things, but I took a gander at the site today and thought that Soren and his creation should definitely be up there as soon as someone can add them.
Very true, even Manuel's Star Fire and Dennis' Climber 5 are still missing. The web site is maintained by Paul who has been very busy recently, but I hope he will soon finally find the time for an update.

[digitalpress]

Ok, maybe I am just getting too sensitive after being attacked for XYPE in the past.

I sincerely hope that has not happened here. Our mods and admins know to cancel that nonsense, as well as attacks and abuse.

As for the game, I'm thrilled to see someone keeping the O2 alive! I'm not really a fan of the system but of all the "big boys" of the 70's and 80's it seems the O2 gets the least homebrew love. Glad to see that's changing!

[Thomas Jentzsch]

I sincerely hope that has not happened here. Our mods and admins know to cancel that nonsense, as well as attacks and abuse.
Nope, that happened on AA (and I probably wouldn't even have noticed if it happened here ;)). The attacks weren't insulting, so no moderating was necessary. Instead XYPE members in general were accused of being elitists and snobbish. All that just because some people didn't like the idea of XYPE at all.

[sgust]

Interesting about KTAA's incompatibility with The Voice. That's the second report I've heard already, so it's sounding like a universal problem.


There are 2 reasons why KTAA is incompatible with The Voice. First, I don't have one, so I could not test it. The second reason is technical: I need a special feature on Videopac+ machines called box mode. Without it the ground is wider than the sky on Videopac+. This mode is actived by not connecting Pins B and C on the cart together. The same signalling is used to activate The Voice, which is the problem. Perhaps this could be fixed by turning off The Voice by software, but see first reason, I don't have one. And I don't intend to get one, as it is fundamentally inkompatible with my development environment and that is not fixable AFAIK.

Sören Gust