Space Invaders help needed...

[opcode]

I am not sure if this is the right place to post it but...

My good friend Bruce ("zektor") has suggested a number of improvements to Space Invaders. The most controversial one is to change the title name from "Space Invaders Collection Pack" to just "Space Invaders Collection". He also suggested me changing the Collection font to something more "ColecoVision" like. Showing below are snapshots from conceptual artworks to the new name/font and to the original name using a new font. Please note they are just work in progress, so you will see lots of dithering, antialising, etc, which will be removed in the final version. I would greatly appreciate any feedback...
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/p6ad1619b2876738fdef890d00ee9a186/fcf8b1dc.gif
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/pf14a94c90d45541d4aeb6ddead287c94/fcf8b1da.gif
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/pc229e57aad24a6ed40d5009a3e3cdee7/fcf8b1d8.gif
Bruce has suggested another wonderful idea, which I am showing in the next snapshot. Now, depending the option your invader cursor is on, the color pattern for Space Invaders will change. Nice, eh!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/p25ab52fbf446a1a55c6ee1fa5e2720fb/fcf8b1de.gif
Paul Slocum, another good chap, has suggested me to include a fourth game "mode", so here it's.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/p203259076428041d0827073357002a12/fcf8b1d6.gif
To be honest, he didn't suggest me to include the mode, but said like "Hey, it isn't the SI I know! Where is the green overlay?!". Thanks Paul! ;)

And Jess Ragan has also suggested me a few interface improvements I will include shortly. Thanks again!

Any comments, suggestions, etc?

[digitalpress]

My first suggestion would be to get away from Geocities as fast as you possibly can!

If you want me to host the pictures, send them to digitalpress@email.com. It's gonna be hard to reply to this post without seeing them!

[opcode]

Ooops! Sorry! O_O

Lets try something else....

[Arcade Antics]

I like the first mock-up image (with the "Collection Pack" type in the same style/color as the SI type) the most of the three.

I also like the title color change/game select option, neat-o idea!

[NE146]

I don't know if it's already in there or not, but you mentioned in another thread that you've never heard of the trick where the invaders don't fire on the lowest row (which is sort of an essential trick to get through the higher levels). If not, I'm not sure if it can be implemented at this late stage but if it can, then including that would be my suggestion. :)

There was a site that used to explain the trick in detail but I can't seem to find it now. However.. luckily enough I had saved it :D I uploaded it to here: http://www.users.qwest.net/~userid946/Space%20Invaders%20Site1.htm (p.s. this is NOT my work, but rather just a website I had saved. If it's yours and you want me to remove it, just let me know). Anyway, it explains the trick slightly different from the way I do it, but the idea is still the same of course. It's known as the "Wall of Death" in his explanation and is towards the bottom of the page.

The only other thing I could think of would be the 4 planetary backgrounds (SI part 1 - Taito and Midway versions, SI part II version, and SI Deluxe version).. But of course I realize that's pretty much out of the question on the Coleco. ;)

[autobotracing]

here are the pics

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/p203259076428041d0827073357002a12/fcf8b1d6.gif
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/p25ab52fbf446a1a55c6ee1fa5e2720fb/fcf8b1de.gif
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/p6ad1619b2876738fdef890d00ee9a186/fcf8b1dc.gif
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/pf14a94c90d45541d4aeb6ddead287c94/fcf8b1da.gif
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid41/pc229e57aad24a6ed40d5009a3e3cdee7/fcf8b1d8.gif

[opcode]

First, thanks for hosting my images! I have bookmarked the host, so next time I promess I will do it right. :D By the way, looks like something happened to that combo title screen image. Now there is a lot of dithering...

About the "wall of death" trick, I am happy to say I have just tested it and it works!!!! No need for any modification. I have even impressed myself this time! 8-)


The only other thing I could think of would be the 4 planetary backgrounds (SI part 1 - Taito and Midway versions, SI part II version, and SI Deluxe version).. But of course I realize that's pretty much out of the question on the Coleco.

Excuse me, but I think I didn't understand your question... x_x

Any more comments about the name change?

[NE146]

Excuse me, but I think I didn't understand your question...
Oh I was just talking about the cardboard planet backgrounds that are on the upright Space Invader machines . But of course those images I'm sure couldn't be made on the colecovision so I was just daydreaming. ;)

I know Mame allows you to put the background images in, but they only have 2 of them at this point. But there are a total of 4 backgrounds in the "official" Space Invaders machines (I think).

1. Taito Space Invaders Planet Background
2. Midway Space Invaders Planet Background
(These two are pretty similar but are obviously different artwork if you look closely. Most people in the U.S. have only seen the Midway planet.)
3. Taito Space Invaders Part II Background:
4. Midway Space Invaders Deluxe Background.


Here's a picture of the Midway SI Deluxe Background.
http://www.users.qwest.net/~userid946/invader/inv_D_playfield_small.jpg
And here's how it looks in Mame
http://www.users.qwest.net/~userid946/invader/invaddlx.jpg

But again, I'm just daydreaming. :P

The name change looks fine by the way. :) And that's awesome that the wall of death trick is in there as well. Now I just have to wait until I can buy this cart! :D

[opcode]

My gosh! You aren't kidding about being a Space Invaders fan. Man, I am impressed! :o

We would follow the Vectrex route: including several celofan overlays... LOL

Do you have a Space Invaders arcade yourself?

[ManekiNeko]

I've got to be honest with you... I don't like the pictures with the Coleco font. I prefer the picture directly above them.

JR

[ventrra]

I like the bottom screen better. I think it shows more ofthe graphic abilities of the system (not that the game itself isn't a remarkable graphics achievement in it's own right). X_x :D

[GENESISNES]

how will this game come out? will you sell it, give it away, make one copy and sit on a rocking chair with a shotgun on your lap shooting at anybody that gets near you?

[opcode]

how will this game come out? will you sell it, give it away, make one copy and sit on a rocking chair with a shotgun on your lap shooting at anybody that gets near you?

Come out? This game was never intended to come out, didn't you know? I will keep it just for me. Mine! Mine! Maybe 20 years from now my still to be born son will sell it as a unreleased prototype... $$ >)

Seriously, I will sell it soon. After that I will give the rom image for free... But if it ends selling like cakes, maybe I think twice about giving it... :-D

By the way, nobody has commented: does just Collection sounds better than Collection Pack?.... :roll: English isn't my native language so I am never sure about names being cool or dull