MAME Tournament Discussion Thread

[fergojisan]

(Lots of helpful hints snipped)
Good luck to everyone! :)

You're a nice person. :D

[SoulBlazer]

I think it's only fair. :D

Thanks for the info on the two games -- I'm still not sure what you mean by 'option' as I never get a option box or anything (just the five cards come up) but I'll keep trying. :)

[hydr0x]

I think it's only fair. :D

Thanks for the info on the two games -- I'm still not sure what you mean by 'option' as I never get a option box or anything (just the five cards come up) but I'll keep trying. :)

they are right there above the cards, just press the UP button and you should be in the "option" menu ;)

[NE146]

I'm in a pickle this week as #1.. I'm a couple thousand miles away from home throughout the week working till 7 or 8 pm nightly, and am under extreme pressure to finish up some reports for work.. which is the whole purpose of my travelling. #2 I get home this Sunday in the afternoon. All things said and done, it doesn't give me very much time to play let alone concentrate on playing any games at all. Guess I'll do the late Sunday night go again :P

[Flack]

well, i'm frustrated

YOU'RE frustrated? I'd kill to only lose by 1 point. My last game was 0-12.

[hydr0x]

well, i'm frustrated

YOU'RE frustrated? I'd kill to only lose by 1 point. My last game was 0-12.

well, that loss was my best game yet, as i stated i lost my first game 0-8. i have the strong feeling that the cpu is not playing fair, his average card value is way higher than mine, every game....

[Cmosfm]

I can't believe how much I suck at some of these games. :( I still have 3 wins and 2 losses though! :D

[Gapporin]

that's not what i meant, i was wondering how you wanted to add a score like 6-0 to the total tournament score, but obviously you actually get a real score like 35.635 if you finish a game, i somehow missed that, or maybe i lost so high (like i said, 0-8) that i didn't get points!?!?

Yep. The actual points you get during the game (the 35,635 you mentioned), not your final score, is what counts in the tournament.

As for the CPU not playing fair, I tend to agree that the game does tip the scales in its favor. After all, they want you to put more quarters in. ;) However, there are ways to gain the upper hand. Use the power button, and try experimenting with the options for each player. One time I played, I got a home run in the first inning.

Also while pitching, you can add points to your cards by calling a time-out, of sorts. You can only do this three times, but it adds points to every card, instead of just one.

[SoulBlazer]

So, wait a second -- with the baseball game, I've been taking pics of the screen that DOES show my final score, afetr the bonsus has been factored into it. This is right after a complete 9 inning game has been finished. Is that wrong? What score are we susposed to submit?

[InsaneDavid]

I just wanna say congrats to InsaneDavid for ending my perfect record. I plan to get back on track (or at least a split) for this week's games. I've already tried to baseball game, and it's a tad bit interesting. May take awhile to get used to.

Yeah, but you totally stomped me at Solomon's Key. LOL You're still leading our division by one win however. :)

[Gapporin]

So, wait a second -- with the baseball game, I've been taking pics of the screen that DOES show my final score, afetr the bonsus has been factored into it. This is right after a complete 9 inning game has been finished. Is that wrong? What score are we susposed to submit?

No, you're right. I guess I wasn't clear enough. Your final score, point-wise (the one at the top of screen) is what you will submit.

[DragonMaster Sam]

I got a question here, Gap. In the baseball game, do you only play one game, or do you keep playing even if you win?

[Gapporin]

I got a question here, Gap. In the baseball game, do you only play one game, or do you keep playing even if you win?

Nope. Only one game shall be played at a time.

[Jibbajaba]

I completely forgot about last week's mini-prize! As the high scorer in Solomon's Key, Dr. Morbis is entitled to a copy of the game for NES. So good sir, PM me with your mailing addy if you want it.

This week's mini-prize for Return of the Jedi will be a copy of The Empire Strikes Back for VCS, courtesy of Drexel.

As a heads-up, I will be at our house in Yosemite on Sunday and Monday, so high scores will not be posted right away, and the following week's game will not be posted on Monday morning. Expect both of these items to be posted Monday night.

Also, I'd like to point out that my meseta total is already up to about 2500, and we are only up to what, week 4? Imagine how high it will be by the time the tournament has ended! This will be quite a meseta-windfall for the lucky winner!

Hope everyone is enjoying this week's games! Give Gapporin's pick a fair chance. I think it's a pretty fun game, and I'm glad that he is picking these obscure titles that I would never play otherwise.

Lastly, I will post matchups today. I'm surprised that there weren't more challenges levelled this week.

Chris

[Jibbajaba]

Tentative Matchups:

Dr. Morbis vs. DragonMaster Sam
NE146 vs. DDCecil
Cmosfm vs. Needle
Cryomancer vs. InsaneDavid
Robotriot vs. Tripppsk
hydr0x vs. Hovoc
Quintracker vs. SoulBlazer
Cirrus vs. Queen of the Felines
Crush Crawfish vs. Lady Jaye
Fergojisan vs. Flack
AdamG vs. Lord007
scooterb23 vs. Mr. FoodMonster

Kamino has dropped out of the competition, so Tripppsk takes his place in the sakaguchi division.

Chris

[AB Positive]

I AM TO A DIVISION ALL ON MY OWN.

-AG

[Jibbajaba]

I AM TO A DIVISION ALL ON MY OWN.

-AG

No you arent. You were put in Richter Belmount's spot on Monday.

Sorry.

Chris

[NE146]

I still have have yet to even try these games.. I'd have to download the roms from Seattle to my laptop here in Philly (or I guess I could check out that website), but even then I have a lot of stress this week preparing a couple of reports for my boss when I get back from this trip. I'll try my best to submit a score by Sunday night.. but by all indications my "competitive" best is having to take a rest until next week :/

[DDCecil]

I still have have yet to even try these games.. I'd have to download the roms from Seattle to my laptop here in Philly (or I guess I could check out that website), but even then I have a lot of stress this week preparing a couple of reports for my boss when I get back from this trip. I'll try my best to submit a score by Sunday night.. but by all indications my "competitive" best is having to take a rest until next week :/

Well, I absolutely suck at these 2 games, so you still have a great, great chance of beating me!

[Dr. Morbis]

I completely forgot about last week's mini-prize! As the high scorer in Solomon's Key, Dr. Morbis is entitled to a copy of the game for NES. So good sir, PM me with your mailing addy if you want it.
Sweet! PM sent.

As for this weeks games, has anyone topped 40k on that Baseball card game? I'm thinking I'll be taking a big loss in that one.

As for Star Wars, I really like that game, but I'm not too fond of the Chewbacca level where it keeps randomly switching between the ground and outer space. WTF is up with that?

[Mr.FoodMonster]

I played Dokaben like, 2 times. First score I didnt screen cap it in time, so I had to play over. I hated that game sooo much, I couldnt even make it past 10k.

Starwars, on the otherhand...
Well, I did well. I'll just say that.

[SoulBlazer]

On boy....I have to go up against the mighty top dog himself, Quintracker!

It's a good thing I allready have some experience with the ROTJ game and got a good score on the baseball game allready. :D

BTW, has no one else played ROTJ on Rogue Squadron 3? All three Star Wars Arcade games are there, and they are very good ports. Finally, a version of Star Wars I can play at home. It was'nt until about a year ago that Lucasarts finally released the code to unloack ROTJ on the CD, though.

[Quintracker]

On boy....I have to go up against the mighty top dog himself, Quintracker!

It's a good thing I allready have some experience with the ROTJ game and got a good score on the baseball game allready. :D

BTW, has no one else played ROTJ on Rogue Squadron 3? All three Star Wars Arcade games are there, and they are very good ports. Finally, a version of Star Wars I can play at home. It was'nt until about a year ago that Lucasarts finally released the code to unloack ROTJ on the CD, though.

:eek 2: I basically have tonight to send in my scores for these games, as I'm going on a road trip tomorrow and wont be back til sunday. Guess that means 2 easy wins for you.

[SoulBlazer]

That sucks. I'm sorry to hear that. I actually thought about challening you, but I did'nt feel confident enough. Then I thought about Flack but I KNEW he would destroy me at ANY SW game. LOL So I stayed quiet this week. I'll challenge someone next week.

[Quintracker]

Well I haven't done too bad so far on both games. Baseball game im not too worried about since it's just luck whether i get a good score or not. The star wars game though, I really wish I had more time to practice. Hopefully I'll beat you at least one of these :P

[SoulBlazer]

I have a question about the baseball game....

Looking at my screenshots, it looks like I mistimed one of my F12 button pushes by accident. It shows the score BEFORE the Stanima and Bonus have been factored into the Score. And it so happens it looks like it came from my best game. :/

Now, I know the Bonus is just added straight into the Score, but what about the Stanima? Does that go straight in also? And if this turns out to be my highest score, is it okay to send this screenshot?

[NE146]

I have a question about the baseball game....

Looking at my screenshots, it looks like I mistimed one of my F12 button pushes by accident. It shows the score BEFORE the Stanima and Bonus have been factored into the Score. And it so happens it looks like it came from my best game. :/

Now, I know the Bonus is just added straight into the Score, but what about the Stanima? Does that go straight in also? And if this turns out to be my highest score, is it okay to send this screenshot?

that's why I ALWAYS just make a .inp file. It's a single easy step, and it records it for all posterity so I can replay it and take screenshots wherever I want later :)

.. still have yet to even try these games :/

[Flack]

Would it be possible to extend the competition one day, since so many people (including myself) are going on trips for the holiday weekend?

[fergojisan]

Would it be possible to extend the competition one day, since so many people (including myself) are going on trips for the holiday weekend?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! Flack's running scared!! LOL

Seriously though, I won't be going away, but my sister and my wife's family will be here all weekend, and it's kind of rude to play games by yourself when you have guests. But I will abide by any decision. :D

[Jibbajaba]

Would it be possible to extend the competition one day, since so many people (including myself) are going on trips for the holiday weekend?

Well, since I am one of those people, I see the wisdom in this.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

Scores will be due Monday night instead of Sunday. The week 5 games will still be posted on Monday, though.

Chris

[Queen Of The Felines]

There's a holiday this weekend? O_O

This is why I hate working retail. LOL

Kristine

[SoulBlazer]

Don't worry, I work my normal shifts on Sunday and Monday also. ;)

Still playing around with the options on the baseball game, and none of them seem to help much, save for the bunt. I still find the best thing to do is to use your powerups in critical situations -- like when you badly need a run or to keep the other team from scoring. And if you're behind and use a credit to continue you regain all of your powerups.

[scooterb23]

I am thankful for the extra day of play...we are having a birthday party at work Sunday night, and I'm not even sure if I'd get home before midnight :D

Monday I at least having a fighting chance since I only work til 5 :D

[Cmosfm]

Dokaben. UGH.

I really can't stand this game, It bored the shit outta me, I played it once, scored 8-8 and submitted it. I couldn't sit through this crap one more time. Sorry. :(

[scooterb23]

Well, I'm pretty sure I'm going to lose 2 more games this week. I got mercy ruled in Dokaben...game ended in 5th inning LOL, and ROTJ...just never got into a groove with it, I did destroy the reactor once, but that was about it.

[Queen Of The Felines]

Somehow I ended up beating the computer 3-0 in Dokaben on my first try. Naturally every time after that I got my ass handed to me. :/

ROTJ proved once again why I suck at these types of games...I need to learn to stay AWAY from the obstacles, not keep running smack into them. :roll: LOL

Kristine

[Crush Crawfish]

Well, I sent my scores for both of them. I think I did quite well in both of them. I won my first game in Dokaben 3-2, though I've got no idea how. :/ I didn't time my screenshot for it correctly, though...so I just sent the pic and added the Bonus to the main score manually. I hope there's no problem with that!

[InsaneDavid]

ROTJ has always been my favorite Star Wars game to this day, even given the amazing production values of the Rogue Squadron games. Just the same I've only ever been decent at it, only broke a hair over 150k. As for Dokaben I figured out the commands late last night concerning stealing bases, bunting, calling timeouts, etc. and ended up with a bit over 30k.

[Flack]

I am the suck this week. I remember being a lot better at ROTJ in the arcade than I did in MAME. I'm going to go ahead and blame it on the controller (but the truth is it's probably all in the reflexes).

I couldn't force myself to get through an entire game of Dookyban. I tried using strategy, I tried just hitting the first card the entire game, I tried letting my 3 year old son pick the cards. At no time did I ever come close to winning so I just said screw it. For me, videogames are about reflexes, thinking, planning and acting. When it comes down to losing everytime due to chance, I lose interest in a hurry. I never felt like I really understood the game and I don't think I even scored a single point any time I played it. Oh well, ya win some, ya turn some off halfway through the game.

[TripppsK]

I am the suck this week. I remember being a lot better at ROTJ in the arcade than I did in MAME. I'm going to go ahead and blame it on the controller (but the truth is it's probably all in the reflexes).

I'm going to have to agree with you on the controller part of that. If you didn't have an analog controller you were definitely at a huge disadvantage.

[Lady Jaye]

Yeah, I didn't do too bad at RotJ after all, with a high score of just below 80,000 points. I'm curious to see how well people have fared, though. In any case, I agree: without the analog joystick on the PS2 controller, I'm not sure I would have done as well.

And I'm glad that the next game will be 1943. Hopefully, Gapporin's choice will also be interesting.

[Jibbajaba]

OK I posted my pick for the week in Senor Sticky. As Lady Jaye said, it is 1943. If you don't like this one, then I just don't know what to tell you. I don't know what the mini-prize(s) will be this week, but I guarantee that there will be some. I have a lot of stuff to unload.

This should be a good week of competition. 1943 is a really well done shooter. Hopefully the competition will be fierce.

I will not get to the scores and standings and whatnot until tommorow. Today is my birthday, and I don't want to spend it doing MAME league book keeping.

If anyone has any challenges, post them now. I am going to set up the matchups tommorow at the same time as the scores and standings.

Chris

[Lady Jaye]

I challenge thee, AdamG!

[Jibbajaba]

I challenge thee, AdamG!

Slow down there, Lady. I still haven't recieved scores from him for last week.

Come on Adam, let's have them!!!

Chris

[Cirrus]

I'll call out scooterb23. I hope shooters aren't your thing!

[fergojisan]

I'll challenge Soulblazer this week. I thought I was going to get my ass kicked by Flack, but it seems like we may split, if his Dokaben score is as bad as he makes it out to be. ;)

Anxiously awaiting Gapporin's Capcom Pick Of The Week! :P

Dr. Pushy

[NE146]

Sent in my scores late today.. just woke up! :P

[fergojisan]

Okay, I've played 1940 something, but not this one. This one is a lot of fun!

BUT....

I'm assuming you only get one plane, as I was asked to continue after getting shot down. Or will this be covered in the dipswitch post? Sorry :embarrassed:

Dr. Pushy,

Still waiting for the Capcom pick :evil:

[Jibbajaba]

Okay, I've played 1940 something, but not this one. This one is a lot of fun!

BUT....

I'm assuming you only get one plane, as I was asked to continue after getting shot down. Or will this be covered in the dipswitch post? Sorry :embarrassed:

Dr. Pushy,

Still waiting for the Capcom pick :evil:

Yeah you only get one plane because instead of dying after being hit once, you have a power/life meter.

Chris

[Gapporin]

I have decided to add my pick now, even though the download link is still forthcoming. And, surprise! It's not a Capcom game. :P

I think that everybody will like my pick for this week (as opposed to last week's pick). It's a fairly known game, but it tends to get shuffled around in the midst of Namco's more popular releases at that time.

[fergojisan]

Hey Gapporin, I've never heard of this one, but it's a great game! here's a link to it if it's the right one (I got it from Usenet :evil: ):

http://home.comcast.net/~wombat94/metrocrs.zip

Sorry to be Dr. Pushy again, but this is a lot of fun.

[Gapporin]

Looks like it checks out. I'll put this link on the main topic for now. Thanks!

[scooterb23]

Go ahead and bring it Cirrus...I'm going to make your week mostly cloudy with a 100% chance of PAIN!!!!!

Dear God that was cheesy...

[AB Positive]

man, I loved dokoban even though I never won... I wonder if it ever got any sort of console port...



since I probably lost both rounds last week here's hoping I pull off a 2-0

-AG

[SoulBlazer]

I accept the challenge!

GREAT pick with 1943! I OWNED this game in it's NES version, totally kicking it's ass. :evil:

Quick question, though -- both the US and Japanese versions of the game are included. Which one are we susposed to use?

(Always seemed strange to me to play a game on Japanese hardware about one of the worst defeats in Japanese history, but hey..... ;) )

Never heard of the other game, but I like having 'one popular one unknown' game.

I think my scores for last weeks games were okay -- ROTJ I got about 190k and the baseball game 35k.

[InsaneDavid]

Quick question, though -- both the US and Japanese versions of the game are included. Which one are we susposed to use?

I'm guessing that it'll be the US version and also that in the DIP switch settings "Allow continue" should be changed to No.

[Quintracker]

I think my scores for last weeks games were okay -- ROTJ I got about 190k and the baseball game 35k.

Ouch, looks like I've got my first loss :/ stupid ROTJ!

[SoulBlazer]

Well, sorry, but I SAID I had pratice at the game thanks to Rogue Squadron III. :evil: Does'nt anyone listen to me? :P

Let me say this again -- I expect a high score on 1943 as well, cause this another game I feel REALLY good about. :D

[fergojisan]

Let me say this again -- I expect a high score on 1943 as well, cause this another game I feel REALLY good about. :D

Dammit. :(

I played a few games of 1943, and only got just over 20,000. Then I stopped being Mr. Chickenpants and starting moving around the screen, instantly doubling my score. Hooray! :roll:

[Jibbajaba]

OK new standings sheet posted in the stickster. Definitely a lot of shuffling around this week.

Hovoc has been booted out of the league for not submitting a score two weeks in a row. Needle also failed to submit a score this week, but he has been really good about submitting his scores in a timely manner up to this point, so I'm guessing that he is either out of town or studying for finals or something. I'm still waiting to hear back from him.

So anyway, not we have an odd number of peeps again. Assuming that Needle is not dropping out of the competition, Someone will not have a partner to play against. To fix this, I will play both games and attempt to rack up some sort of reasonable score, and the odd man out will be judged against them. It's either that or I have to orchestrate some kind of bullshit three-way matchup, and that's too much of a pain in the ass.

Today will be the last day to issue challenges. I'll post matchups either tonight or tommorow morning.

Chris

[SoulBlazer]

Holy crap!

I THOUGHT my score for ROTJ was good, but I did'nt expect to have the highest score in the league on it! O_O

Well, I'm a little surprised, honestly -- and there's a funny story behind it. :) As I said, as soon as Lucasarts finally released the code to allow you to play ROTJ on Rogue Squadron III, I punched it in and started playing. Now, this was a game I had tried a couple times in the arcades and hated, but I found I enjoyed it after a bit. It's really a good game, fun and challenging, although the cheap deaths are a little 'cheap' sometimes. So when I saw it picked for MAME, I happily fired it up and found the controls the same here as they were on the GC.

After praticing all week in the evenings after work, I finally got a high score of around 160k and was just almost at the reactor in the Death Star in Stage 2. I figured that was enough and I'd send it in. I really loved how ROTJ saved your high scores. Only I realized when I was about to send in my mail I never took a screenshot of the high score table. :(

So I had to play the game one last time, and do it well, in order to be able to take that screenshot. And what do you know? I got to Stage 3 on this try and a all new high score. :)

The baseball game....well, I can live with that loss and score (good job splitting, Quin!) because I also did'nt care too much for it. Maybe it was in English and I could SEE what all the options were.....I experimented but never got far.

Now, 1943 I played some last night cause I had never tried the arcade version. It's pretty close to the NES version. No 'super shot' in the arcade version and no powering up your P-38. Also, the number of 'hidden items' in the clouds seems MUCH lower. I only found ONE so far. :hmm:

And this game is a AWFULL button masher. I'm having to flip between my thumb and index finger to fill the screen with enough lead! :)

The other game.....well, it's certinaly weird. :P Unlike 1943, I don't think I'll rack up a good score on this one.

Two questions about 1943, though --

1) Are we susposed to play the US or Japanese version?

2) How do you loop the plane? You SHOULD have three loops of your P-38, like in the NES version. Only I can't find how to do it -- one button fires and the other button uses your special attack.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

Well hey, look at how well I did on ROTJ compaired to some others. I got like, 3rd place overall. Not bad at all :D . I cant believe I won on Dokaben, I played once and submitted because I HATED that game. Works for me.

1943. YES. I already have a damn nice score on that one. (I hope I screen - capped....)

I've yet to play the other one.

EDIT
Nope. Didnt screen cap. It was like 120k to...
That other game is cool, I only played till round 3 to get used to it. Fun.

[hydr0x]

damnit people, i can't believe this, look at my statistic

W: 3, L: 4

and you know what?? all 3 wins i got because my enemy didn't submit a score LOL i want to win a honest point damnit :D

well, i'm not good at shmups but i like them so at least i'm sure i'll enjoy this weeks games, don't get me wrong, ROTJ was fun, but without analogue control you didn't stand a chance against some others (i only played it 3 times though)

[Crush Crawfish]

Great choices this week! :D I love the NES version of 1943, and I played Metro-cross quite a bit on Namco Museum vol. 5, so I'm hoping I'll do well this week. I'm really surprised with how well I did on Return of the Jedi, too!

[Mr.FoodMonster]

Wow...

I just got 249k, and I accidentally hit escape and not P because I got a phone call....

/kills self

[Cirrus]

Wow...

I just got 249k, and I accidentally hit escape and not P because I got a phone call....

/kills self

That brings up a point I was wondering about... is pausing against the rules? I actually wanted to pause at one point, but thought: "That seems like an unfair advantage." Heck, in a game like Pnickies you would have a bit of an unfair advantage if you paused it and took a break.

[Jibbajaba]

No, pausing is not allowed. Of course I can do nothing to stop you, but you shouldn't do it. Anything that makes the gameplay experience different from the gameplay experience of playing the game in an arcade is not allowed (within reason and whenever possible). Obviously we can not make it exactly as it would be in an arcade.

Chris

[Mr.FoodMonster]

Well, I guess it serves me right then.

My bad.

[DragonMaster Sam]

Well, after starting off hot, I'm cooling off. Hopefully this week I'll get back on track.

[Dr. Morbis]

Well, after starting off hot, I'm cooling off. Hopefully this week I'll get back on track.
Well, to be fair, you were up against some stiff competition last week my man ;) ... LOL

Actually, I was expecting to take a loss in that Baseball card game. The very first game I played I got 36k. In that game I won by one run and was trailing the whole game until the 9th inning when I got a flukey 2 run homer. After I figured out how the game worked, I pitched a 6-hit shutout and beat the cpu 7-0. My score in that game: 32k!?!? After all that trouble, I gave up and submitted the 36k I got in my very first game, and I won X_x

[scooterb23]

I better get good fast at these games...I'm leaving for Minnesota on Saturday...so I have to get my act together, and scores in by Friday :\ 2-7 here I come :(

[InsaneDavid]

I challenge hydr0x this week, I promise not to drop out. :D

*puts on 1942 shirt* ..ahh, roots of the series - 1943 is fun but I like 1941 Counter Attack better. Just the same while I enjoy the games I'm sure I'll be bested. I've played Metro-Cross on Namco Museum Vol. 5 but only a few times.


Holy crap!

I THOUGHT my score for ROTJ was good, but I did'nt expect to have the highest score in the league on it! O_O

Damn, beat by just a hair over 27k points. LOL Nice work.

[hydr0x]

I challenge hydr0x this week, I promise not to drop out. :D

bring it on :evil:

[Mr.FoodMonster]

Well, looks like that game where I was going to pause didnt matter afterall. I hope whoever my opponent is can rock some faces off in 1943, for their own sake :D

[Quintracker]

2) How do you loop the plane? You SHOULD have three loops of your P-38, like in the NES version. Only I can't find how to do it -- one button fires and the other button uses your special attack.

To do a loop you have to hold the fire button and press the special attack button :)

1943 just might be the first game so far that I'm having a ton of fun trying to get the high score. Alot of the others have been fun sure, but this game I don't mind playing over and over again for the highest score.

Metro-Cross is... different, as seems to be Gapporin's style :)