hcmffm
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Thanks for providing the source code and giving the chance to try out a different sorting, Christopher. Below, please find the modified code.
Only additional thing you must say is whether scrolling “up” from bottom (different than now), or “down” from top (like it is now):
Scrolling should be “up” from bottom:
Items in the list below have correct order (most difficult achievement “ALL” at the very top, least difficult achievement “TRIPLE” at the very bottom). When displaying the list, the item “TRIPLE” should be displayed first and the user scrolls up to see the next item “QUADRO”. Please let me know in case you need the items in the code sorted the other way round.BTW: In the shop the items are also ordered this way: Most valuable items at the top and list starts with the item at the very bottom. Let’s see how this works out for achievements…
achivementPointers: dw all_t,all_n,all_r, 1*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE2_ALL dw blr1_t,blr1_n,blr1_r, 2*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE3_BLADEMASTER_RANK1 dw blr2_t,blr2_n,blr2_r, 2*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE3_BLADEMASTER_RANK2 dw blr3_t,blr3_n,blr3_r, 2*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE3_BLADEMASTER_RANK3 dw blr4_t,blr4_n,blr4_r, 2*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE3_BLADEMASTER_RANK4 dw blr5_t,blr5_n,blr5_r, 2*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE3_BLADEMASTER_RANK5 dw spr1_t,spr1_n,spr1_r, 3*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE4_SPY_RANK1 dw spr2_t,spr2_n,spr2_r, 3*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE4_SPY_RANK2 dw spr3_t,spr3_n,spr3_r, 3*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE4_SPY_RANK3 dw spr4_t,spr4_n,spr4_r, 3*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE4_SPY_RANK4 dw chr1_t,chr1_n,chr4_r, 4*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE5_CHALLENGER_RANK1 dw chr2_t,chr2_n,chr4_r, 4*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE5_CHALLENGER_RANK2 dw chr3_t,chr3_n,chr4_r, 4*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE5_CHALLENGER_RANK3 dw chr4_t,chr4_n,chr4_r, 4*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE5_CHALLENGER_RANK4 dw mnr1_t,mnr1_n,mnr1_r, 1*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE2_COLLECTOR_RANK1 dw mnr2_t,mnr2_n,mnr2_r, 1*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE2_COLLECTOR_RANK2 dw mnr3_t,mnr3_n,mnr5_r, 1*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE2_COLLECTOR_RANK3 dw mnr4_t,mnr4_n,mnr5_r, 1*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE2_COLLECTOR_RANK4 dw mnr5_t,mnr5_n,mnr5_r, 1*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE2_COLLECTOR_RANK5 dw scr1_t,scr1_n,scr5_r, 0*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE1_SCORER_RANK1 dw scr2_t,scr2_n,scr5_r, 0*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE1_SCORER_RANK2 dw scr3_t,scr3_n,scr5_r, 0*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE1_SCORER_RANK3 dw scr4_t,scr4_n,scr5_r, 0*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE1_SCORER_RANK4 dw scr5_t,scr5_n,scr5_r, 0*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE1_SCORER_RANK5 dw snr1_t,snr1_n,snr3_r, 0*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE1_SNIPER_RANK1 dw snr2_t,snr2_n,snr3_r, 0*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE1_SNIPER_RANK2 dw snr3_t,snr3_n,snr3_r, 0*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE1_SNIPER_RANK3 dw ofr1_t,ofr1_n,ofr1_r, 3*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE4_OFFICER_RANK1 dw ofr2_t,ofr2_n,ofr2_r, 3*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE4_OFFICER_RANK2 dw ofr3_t,ofr3_n,ofr3_r, 3*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE4_OFFICER_RANK3 dw ofr4_t,ofr4_n,ofr4_r, 3*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE4_OFFICER_RANK4 dw loss_t,loss_n,loss_r, 4*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE5_BIGGEST_LOSS dw greed_t,greed_n,greed_r, 1*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE2_GREEDY dw life_t,life_n,life_r, 1*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE2_9LIVES dw blas_t,blas_n,blas_r, 2*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE3_LASER dw quad_t,quad_n,quad_r, 2*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE3_QUADRO dw trpl_t,trpl_n,trpl_r, 2*256+ ACHIEVEMENT_FLAG_BYTE3_TRIPPLE dw 0Thank you for the “Wheel of fortune” version of Vectorblade, Christopher. I’ll try it out in the next 2-3 days. Best regards, Helmut
@Peer: Good to read from you. And good to see that there are other voices and opinions than mine: I would rather go for less fortune in Vectorblade – you would go even for more fortune.
@Christopher: Looking at the long explanation above I have the feeling that the word “cluttered” caused some irritation. Vectorblade is a complex game but what is missing a bit is the reusage of things and consistence. This is just a very slight complaint. I still think that Vectorblade is very unique and another pearl for the Vectrex!
O.k., by now I understand the ranks. Ranks (Ensign, Lieutenant, …) are taken from Warblade, isn’t it? From what I can see these are Navy Ranks, see https://www.military-ranks.org/navy .
In total it’s 47 achievements that you can get which results in a very long list. I still wonder whether the order of the achievement could be improved in some way. E.g. simple achievements first and difficult achievements last. In the order below achievements without level first (only exception “ALL”) are listed first.
TRIPLE <top of list> <— This achievement is displayed when opening the list. User has to page **upwards** to see other achievements.
QUADRO
BLASTER
LIVELY
GREEDY
GREATEST LOSS
OFFICER 4-1
SNIPER 3-1
SCORER 5-1
MONEY COLLECTOR 5-1
CHALLENGER 4-1
SPY 4-1
BLADEMASTER 5-1
ALL <bottom of list>Ascending order starting at bottom
And I wonder whether the list should be ordered just the other way round: TRIPLE at the very bottom of the list and ALL at the very top of the list. The user would start at the very bottom and scroll upward. Not quite sure but this way this order might reflect the “value” of the achievement better. Hardest/most valuable achievements are listed at the very top.
Perhaps a trial version with this order and start could be provided and then people can discuss and judge better.ALL <Top of list>
BLADEMASTER 5-1
SPY 4-1
CHALLENGER 4-1
MONEY COLLECTOR 5-1
SCORER 5-1
SNIPER 3-1
OFFICER 4-1
GREATEST LOSS
GREEDY
LIVELY
BLASTER
QUADRO
TRIPLE <Bottom of list> <— This achievement is displayed when opening the list. User has to page **upwards** to see other achievements.i can’t remember but i would say it was either malban told me or it was from the documentation here:
Thank you for this info, vtk. Looks like one is pretty safe to say that getting the laser via E-X-T-R-A in correct order is a well hidden feature/secret.
A sort of “Wheel of fortune” which gives you one of say eight… different very good bonus.
Hmm. In Vectorblade both player’s skill and luck plays a role. A wheen of fortune make Vectorblade even more of a lucky game. ATM, I’m not sure whether this a good or bad thing.
Personally I’d like to see a bit more of consistency in Vectorblade. There are all kinds of fonts and animations that you see once and never again (e.g. READY PLAYER 1). It’s amazing to see these animations but from my point of view this makes Vectorblade a bit cluttered.
Secret message 2
Perhaps the secret message 2 could be split into two secret messages:COLLECTING RANK MARKERS IN ASCENDING ORDER WILL GIVE YOU GREAT BENEFITS!
and
COLLECTING E-X-T-R-A IN CORRECT ORDER WILL MAX YOUR WEAPON!Splitting the secret message has two benefits:
1. Messages are easier to understand.
2. The EXTRA can be last secret that you can buy. This helps us in the laser discussion, I think, because the laser secret will be revealed last.Secret message 4
A different wording:
COLLECT THREE CONSECUTIVE $50. THEN KILLING THE MONEY SUCKER WILL DROP HEAPS OF MONEY!Secret message 6
A different wording:
THREE TIMES SCOOPIES MAKES SCOOPIES STAY EVEN AFTER A WARP!Thank you for your super fast reply and explanations, Christopher, which make things clear, now. Please note that I made various edits to my above post (wanted to highlight my changes but highlighting in preformatted text is not possible.)
Thank you, for your fast response, Christopher.
I have to look into the blaster thing.
I have no idea under what circumstances this problem occured.
49 – yes it is a “quiet” level – that is rigth. It also is overall “slower”…
O.k., good to know. So a feature and not a bug. 🙂
Below, I’ve made some corrections – corrected lines are marked with ## (a Wiki page for editing and comparing changes would have been cool). Secrets 2, 4 , and 6 are still a secret to me. Not sure whether this is on purpose or not. Do other testers understand what these secrets mean?
Perhaps a consistent wording (“DROP” = “SOMETHING BAD” = “MALUS”?) which matches the user manual might help here. And a native speaker should double-check.Secret 7: Are there really 200 levels in level “NORMAL”?
I have to look into the blaster thing.
I have no idea under what circumstances this problem occured.
49 – yes it is a “quiet” level – that is rigth. It also is overall “slower”…
O.k., good to know. So a feature and not a bug. 🙂
Below, I’ve made some corrections – corrected lines are marked with ##. Secrets 2, 4 , and 6 are still a secret to me. Not sure whether this is on purpose or not. Do other testers understand what these secrets mean?
Perhaps a consistent wording (“DROP” = “MALUS”?) which matches the user manual might help here. And a native speaker should double-check.sm11String db "SECRET MESSAGE 1",$80 sm12String db "FIVE UFOS MUST PASS, THEN",$80 ## UFO**S**, TH**E**N sm13String db "THE MOTHER APPEARS WHICH",$80 sm14String db "DROPS BIG MONEY!",$80 ## sm21String db "SECRET MESSAGE 2",$80 sm22String db "COLLECTING ORDERED DROPS",$80 sm23String db "CORRECTLY WILL GIVE YOU",$80 sm24String db "GREAT BENEFITS!",$80 sm31String db "SECRET MESSAGE 3",$80 sm32String db "THREE TIMES IN A ROW OF",$80 sm33String db "SOMETHING BAD GIVES YOU",$80 ## sm34String db "SOMETHING GOOD!",$80 sm41String db "SECRET MESSAGE 4",$80 sm42String db "THE MONEY SUCKER CAN DROP",$80 ## sm43String db "HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY WHEN ",$80 sm44String db "KILLED PROVIDED YOU",$80 ## sm45String db "COLLECTED 150 CREDITS WITH",$80 sm46String db "THREE CONSECUTIVE DROPS!",$80 sm51String db "SECRET MESSAGE 5",$80 sm52String db "COLLECT 50 DIAMONDS TO",$80 sm53String db "ENTER THE",$80 sm54String db "SUPER DIAMOND LEVEL!",$80 sm61String db "SECRET MESSAGE 6",$80 sm62String db "THREE TIMES SUCKER",$80 ## sm63String db "MAKES THEM STAY AFTER",$80 sm64String db "A WARP!",$80 sm71String db "SECRET MESSAGE 7",$80 sm72String db "FINISHING 100 LEVELS ON",$80 sm73String db "EASY MAKES YOU",$80 ## sm74String db "IMMUNE TO 1 SHOTS!",$80 sm75String db "FINISHING 200 LEVELS ON",$80 sm76String db "NORMAL MAKES YOU",$80 ## sm77String db "IMMUNE TO 2 SHOTS!",$80
I’ve just played another game of Vectorblade. For some reason I don’t know it seems that I play better with AtariVox off. Sure enough this has nothing to do with the game itself, it’s probably something psychological on my side. 😉 Score was 400.000 points in level 50 – somehow I the second boss has become more challenging to me and I lost 3 or 4 lives against him. Double shot seems not to be the right weapon against this guy.
Blaster: Achievement achieved but not displayed as achieved (Bug)
In this game I’ve achieved the blaster and could buy the quadro shot. When looking in the list of achievements, the “Blaster” achievement isn’t hooked and the trophee graphic isn’t displayed.Secret 1: Typos
In this game I had lots of money so I decided to buy a secret for 3000 bucks. The secret was interesting (I knew about it, already), but there were two typos in the message: “UFO” –> “UFOS” and “THAN” –> “THEN”.
Perhaps it’s a good idea to post all texts of secrets somewhere (with a spoiler warning) for reviewing.Level 49: No attacks?!
In level 49 the enemies fly in slowly and the enemies that you don’t shoot fly into formation at the top and keep their formation and don’t attack at all. This way you can “care” for ufos and other stuff. Is this no-attack behaviour a bug or programmed on purpose? (Unfortunately all this money doesn’t help you for fighting the boss in level 50 because there is no shop right before the boss.)VTK mentioned that too. I thought it was fixed – this is defenitly a bug – will look at it again.
A bug but really not much disturbing and a minor issue.
I know what you mean – I wish I could “easily” make them bigger.
O.k., I didn’t know that your custom drawing doesn’t allow for scaling. But not too bad if the layout remains the way it is.
Every once in a while I power-up my Vectrex and playVectorblade a bit and try to get better. Until now, my best game was level 75 boss and that was about four weeks ago. So not much of a progress, atm. :-/
First boss: Shot gets stuck (very minor issue)
Currently, when destroying the boss one of the shots remains in the air. It looks as if this shot is frozen. If you keep on shooting you can do so but not in normal frequency.
Suggestion: Shots should dissappear and not freeze in the air.Shop: Size of symbols
In the shop, in the top left the symbol of the selected power-up is displayed.
Currently, the symbol is displayed in normal size, i.e. the size that is used within the game. The top left area looks pretty empty.
Suggestion: The symbol could be displayed a bit larger. This way, one can recognize the symbol more easily and the empty area is filled.@Peer: Cool that you let your students play Vectorblade. Always interesting to see how people go with a game when they play it for the first time. Do you happen to remember how far they got (level)?
They all figured out to collect the EXTRA letters pretty quickly, but none of them ever came up with the idea of collecting them in the correct order. So in that sense I agree with Helmut and I think that it should not be made even more unlikely to achieve this.
Looks like the “EXTRA” in correct order could be become another secret. Unlike other secrets this secret rewards you with a laser and not with 10.000 points.
@vtk: How did you find out about “EXTRA” in correct order?With all this discussion about the laser we should keep in mind that getting the laser by collecting “EXTRA” in the correct order is a secret and not described in the manual. I for one would never have found out this secret. Getting some reward for finding out about a secret is fair, I think.
Getting EXTRA without any other power-ups in between is almost impossible, I think. And this would makes this secret even more secret – in other words: Very unlikely, I’d say almost impossible that anyone finds out unless he/she’s really out for riddles.
Thank you for your replies and consideration, Christopher.
I can’t remember right now – does the BOSS display Level 25 too? – It shouldn’t…
In beta 28 it says: “LEVEL 25 BOSS”. Changing this to just “BOSS” or “BOSS LEVEL” would be a simple and effective solution.
Thing is – if I use your (or Ollies) suggested counting – I have 3 levels to many – and I don’t want to throw them away.
And I would like to stay at level count 100…. I can’t have it all …Right. Throwing away existing levels is really no option.
Scrolling and paging of the status info and the achievement list has improved a lot. Thank you, Christopher, for this effort.
Single and double arrows
Currently, there are single and double arrows used as indicators for the list:
– Status info uses double arrows
– Achievement list uses single arrows
Both lists use paging for displaying the various items. In Status info the item at the very bottom is displayed again on the next page at the very top. This means that some items are displayed on two pages.Suggestions:
– Use single arrows for both lists (the double arrow is not helpful for the user I think).
– When paging in status info the item at the very bottom should not displayed on the next page at the top, again.Note:
The list in the shop scrolls item by item and doesn’t display items pagewise. So the list in the shop is different to the list of achievements and the status info.
