Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Retroleague. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
Season 5, Champion's Challenge: Wizball, C64; T64 'Wizball (1987)(Ocean Software).t64'
Topic Started: 26 Nov 2006, 12:13 PM (1,873 Views)
Antiriad2097
Member Avatar
League Co-Ordinator
For the Season 5 Champion's Challenge, TK421 has chosen a game written by Sensible Software and published by Ocean Software in 1987: that old C64 classic, Wizball.

Posted Image

To ensure we're all playing the same version of the game (as there will be noticeable differences between PAL and NTSC etc), please download and use this one. As a T64 tape file, it should be usable with any C64 emulator.

For C64 emulation, my personal preference is VICE. Please check the VICE home page should you require documentation, though we will help out if you get stuck.
Windows users can direct download VICE from here
Not listed on that page is PSPVice. Note that I've not tested this game with the PSP port of VICE.

To load this game using VICE, please follow instructions provided by Kaiserpc:
Kaiserpc
 
- start winvice (x64.exe)
- ALT-T to attach the tape image
- browse to where ever you saved Antiriad's tape image
- select the t64 file and click on "Attach"
- ALT-F and select "autostart disk/tape image"
- wait 30 seconds for it to load
- ALT-E to go into settings
- select Joystick Settings
- assign your Windows joystick to port two
- press fire to start
- ALT-C for a screenshot (select the PNG driver)
- ALT-Pause to pause the emulator


Twin Galaxies has no score recorded for this game, but let's see if we can beat the Lleague and max out at least the Top 5 places :D

Default settings:
No settings to change.

No continues allowed, no auto-fire allowed, no trainers allowed

Scores to be in by 12:00 noon on 03/12/06.

Final Scores at 12:00 on 03/12/06

1) 999999 - Opa-Opa = 100.00 points
2) 554810 - Kaiserpc = 72.18 points
3) 318510 - Merman = 54.81 points
4) 180830 - Leezer = 42.37 points
5) 83630 - Necronom = 31.96 points
6) 57720 - Elgin_McQueen = 25.11 points
7) 30470 - A.J.Green = 18.19 points
8) 26110 - Antiriad2097 = 12.42 points
9) 10800 - TK421 = 6.10 points

[size=7]Congratulations Opa-Opa[/size]

A disappointing turnout for a classic game, I suspet many were taking a break and looking to Season 5.5. I for one expected to see this make the cut for that season.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sureshot
Member Avatar
Test your might
Great game, alas one that I never played the first time round. The only annoying thing about it is the bullets can be quite hard to distinguish sometimes so you'll find yourself seemingly die from nowhere on a few occasions.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
opa-opa
Member Avatar
Steakhouse & Brewery
Remember that if you hide under the "horizon" the bullets can't get you.. (most of the time..)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kaiserpc
Member Avatar
Not Going on holiday. Again.
43020

1st go. Great game, that should have got a zzap gold medal (only got a sizzler due to Gary Penn not liking it :blink: )

The instructions to get it working are slightly different to the ones posted above (as they were for Arabian Nights). The instructions for this are;

- start winvice (x64.exe)
- ALT-T to attach the tape image
- browse to where ever you saved Antiriad's tape image
- select the t64 file and click on "Attach"
- ALT-F and select "autostart disk/tape image"
- wait 30 seconds for it to load
- ALT-E to go into settings
- select Joystick Settings
- assign your Windows joystick to port two
- press fire to start
- ALT-C for a screenshot (select the PNG driver)
- ALT-Pause to pause the emulator

:P

by the way, there's a great "making of" feature in last months Retro Gamer magazine
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sureshot
Member Avatar
Test your might
As a tip for those who are a bit bemused, you should look to max out the powerup in your first box as soon as possible. This eventually gives you free movement instead of having to try and bounce around which makes things MUCH easier.
Attached to this post:
Attachments: wizball1.png (6.19 KB)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Antiriad2097
Member Avatar
League Co-Ordinator
26110
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Antiriad2097
Member Avatar
League Co-Ordinator
The review from Lemon64 here explains how to play. In brief...

Wizball uses a power up system similar to Nemesis/Gradius. The power up icons are shown at the bottom of the screen. This display also alternates to the 'colour pots'.

Shooting enemies often reveals a green bubble. Collecting these advances the power up selection by one to the right. To activate a power up, waggle the joystick left and right.

Initially, you control the roll of the Wizball and will bounce left or right depending how fast you spin it. The first power up will stabilise left and right movements so you can do so at will with the joystick - you'll still be bouncing though. The first power up will now be replaced by a similar one that rectifies this - once activated you have full control of your position on screen up, down, left and right. Now you can start to play properly...

Most of the other power ups are for additional, more powerful weapons, but one of these is essential to gameplay - Nifta the cat in his catellite. Third from the left, this little ball of fun is your greatest ally. Once activated, Nifta will follow you around wherever you go and shoot when you do, doubling your rate of fire. Holding down the fire button will halt the Wizball and allow you to control Nifta directly. Nifta is the only one who can collect the drops of colour needed to advance the game...

Your aim in each level is to collect a certain amount of colours. You 'll see these bouncing along in hte levels and when shot will drop to the ground. When dropping, Nifta can catch them and add them to the colour pots. Level 1 has red, level 2 has green etc, so you'll need to swap between levels to get enough of each colour for the mix in later parts of the game.

You can go between levels by entering the trasnporters scattered around - on level 1 they look like craters, which take you to level 2 where they're more clearly indicated tubes.

When you've collected enough colour, Wiz will return to his lab and mix it back into the world. At this point, you get the option to choose a permanent powerup. For the first couple, you probably want to select the movement ones as it'll save you a lot of pain if you die...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
necronom
Member Avatar
Para(lytic)Droid
83,630

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Elgin_McQueen
Member Avatar
King Hanafuda Sandcrab IV
not only have never played this, but hadn't seen it played till I saw Opa's most recent vid, looked quite interesting. If a bit weird.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Elgin_McQueen
Member Avatar
King Hanafuda Sandcrab IV
Slow today, i'm only the 4th person to download the file.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Antiriad2097
Member Avatar
League Co-Ordinator
Elgin_McQueen
Nov 26 2006, 10:54 PM
Slow today, i'm only the 4th person to download the file.

Surprising, considering there have been at least 5 posts. Either someone's not playing yet or they can't guarantee its the same version...

Unless it's Opa-Opa as I know he has the same disc as me...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Antiriad2097
Member Avatar
League Co-Ordinator
I'm in the Top 3 ;)

[size=1]Scores updated in first post[/size]
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
opa-opa
Member Avatar
Steakhouse & Brewery
Elgin_McQueen
Nov 26 2006, 09:11 PM
not only have never played this, but hadn't seen it played till I saw Opa's most recent vid, looked quite interesting. If a bit weird.

Ahh yes, I did have a little look at Wizball in the most recent episode of Weekend Gamer, E4.
I have not had a chance to play this game yet as I have been working on E5 (almost finished) and the new website...

This afternoon I have to go to work...? which sucks...! I enjoy being unemployed like TK421 does but you can be sure I'll be taking my USB stick, a copy of VICE and Wizball with me so I can get a score or 5 in :)

I LOVE THIS GAME :)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
merman
Member Avatar
Retro Survival Ed
Just getting warmed up ;)
Levels 1-3 complete

191020



Actually, there is a problem. I *think* this is the NTSC tape version - the power icons are at the bottom of the screen and the music runs too slowly in the bonus round...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
a.j.green
Member Avatar
Its not easy...
28880
Attached to this post:
Attachments: wizball1.png (3.44 KB)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sshblack
Member Avatar

I know I moaned like crap to get this in the league and now it's here I'm doing 11 hour shifts at work and am too shattered when I get home.

Will endeavour to get a score in by the end of the week though, even if it means calling in sick.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kaiserpc
Member Avatar
Not Going on holiday. Again.
merman
Nov 27 2006, 01:03 PM
Just getting warmed up ;)
Levels 1-3 complete

191020



Actually, there is a problem. I *think* this is the NTSC tape version - the power icons are at the bottom of the screen and the music runs too slowly in the bonus round...

thought there was something strange about the cauldrons being covered up by the power ups half the time. I was sure I didn't remember it like that before, that must be why
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sureshot
Member Avatar
Test your might
Yeah, I always remember the icons being on the top when I've played it. So, which version? :lol:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Elgin_McQueen
Member Avatar
King Hanafuda Sandcrab IV
19950

first few games ever, I like this.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
necronom
Member Avatar
Para(lytic)Droid
I'm using the proper version from Gamebase (disk version that saves my highscores - cracked by Remember). If that's against the rules, then remove my score. As it's not for points and I didn't want to play the inferior NTSC version, I didn't think it would matter.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kaiserpc
Member Avatar
Not Going on holiday. Again.
necronom
Nov 26 2006, 04:38 PM
83,630

Posted Image

Yep, different version again :( Necronom's version looks like the UK version. Funny we are using a T64 image that is the NTSC version, as most USA c64 owners used disc drives. Actually the NTSC version is a pain, cause you sometimes can't tell how full the cauldron is.

Antiriad, I assume the version you've listed is the gamebase version?

Shouldn't really matter though; firstly, it's only the champion's choice rather than a league game, and secondly, we should all get 999,999 eventually (got over 500,000 last night before my PC decided to reboot :( )
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kaiserpc
Member Avatar
Not Going on holiday. Again.
necronom
Nov 27 2006, 03:03 PM
I'm using the proper version from Gamebase (disk version that saves my highscores - cracked by Remember). If that's against the rules, then remove my score. As it's not for points and I didn't want to play the inferior NTSC version, I didn't think it would matter.

I should have done a refresh before posting :lol:

your version is better anyway, might start using it. We are in the UK anyway
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Antiriad2097
Member Avatar
League Co-Ordinator
Bah. Not this again. What's the point of me saying 'Use this version' if you all ignore it?

I chose the 'standard' version from my TOSEC set that has no cracks to avoid temptation (and possible accusations), assuming it was PAL.

What's the preference here? Do we make everyone download a new PAL version or do we all stick with the NTSC one? Your call as I'm pissed off with it.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Elgin_McQueen
Member Avatar
King Hanafuda Sandcrab IV
29510

Don;t have a clue what i'm doing on the second level, go back and forth between portals but can never seem to fill them up.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
merman
Member Avatar
Retro Survival Ed
Antiriad2097
Nov 27 2006, 05:31 PM
Bah. Not this again. What's the point of me saying 'Use this version' if you all ignore it?

I chose the 'standard' version from my TOSEC set that has no cracks to avoid temptation (and possible accusations), assuming it was PAL.

What's the preference here? Do we make everyone download a new PAL version or do we all stick with the NTSC one? Your call as I'm pissed off with it.

You choose. Either make people play the NTSC tape version at NTSC speed in the emulator, or use the Gamebase D64 that is PAL at PAL speed.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kaiserpc
Member Avatar
Not Going on holiday. Again.
Antiriad2097
Nov 27 2006, 04:31 PM
Bah. Not this again. What's the point of me saying 'Use this version' if you all ignore it?

I chose the 'standard' version from my TOSEC set that has no cracks to avoid temptation (and possible accusations), assuming it was PAL.

What's the preference here? Do we make everyone download a new PAL version or do we all stick with the NTSC one? Your call as I'm pissed off with it.

calm down Ant, only Necronom is using this version at the moment. Okay, I'll stick with your version (Think I may need to change to NTSC emulation though).

As always we appreciate the work you put in to run the league :)

As I said it shouldn't matter anyway, as we should all max out on this one
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sshblack
Member Avatar

ARGH!!!!

What the hell is going on?? I have tried about 3 versions of this and all I get is this screen:

Posted Image

Man I hate my computer.

I am a twonk and I cannot follow simple instructions :rolleyes:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kaiserpc
Member Avatar
Not Going on holiday. Again.
I assume you've downloaded Ant's version, and are following my instructions exactly? It's not a case of you trying to load the tape image as a disk image?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Antiriad2097
Member Avatar
League Co-Ordinator
Kaiserpc
Nov 27 2006, 10:27 PM
I assume you've downloaded Ant's version, and are following my instructions exactly? It's not a case of you trying to load the tape image as a disk image?

No, he has not. That is quite clearly a disk image (D64) that is attempting to load in the screenshot.

Possible cause of problems is that you've not unzpped it - that can have this effect.

But as its not the unzipped tape version I went out of my way to make sure everyone was using, that doesn't really matter...

:angry:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sshblack
Member Avatar

this is what I got when followed exactly:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m81/sshblack/attached.jpg

thought I'd put in url instead of IMG to save space
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Antiriad2097
Member Avatar
League Co-Ordinator
Simplifying things even further...

Download the T64 file I linked to in the first post. Save it somewhere sensible (My Documents?).

Start WinVice by double clicking the X64.exe

From the WinVice menus, select 'File', then 'Autostart disk/tape image'.

Browse to the file you saved earlier in the load dialogue that pops up, then double click it to start.

Done. It should be running now.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Elgin_McQueen
Member Avatar
King Hanafuda Sandcrab IV
45370

Still can never seem to get enough to clear that second area.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
merman
Member Avatar
Retro Survival Ed
Right, a little help for the first three levels...

Any exit on level 1 (RED drops) takes you down to level 2 (GREEN DROPS).
The far left hand exit on level 2 (you have to go down the gap next to the pipe pointing up) takes you down to level 3 (BLUE DROPS)

So, as a general rule, if the arrow near the exit points UP it INCREASES the level number. If it points DOWN, it decreases the level number.

Level 1 had three colour combinations:
A. Red (100% RED)
B. Purple (50% RED, 50% BLUE)
C. Cyan (50% GREEN, 50% BLUE)

Also, keep an eye on the enemy counter (top left, next to the number of levels). This will count down as you shoot enemies, and when it gets to 0 (with an accompanying sound effect), a new set of enemies will be placed on the current level.

If you can't find enemies, scroll to one end of the landscape and then go all the way to the other end. Note, that if you complete a level and it is the lowest level number (i.e. 1), that level will "close" and no more enemies will appear on it.

So, let's say you complete level 1. Now you will still have three levels "open" - one RED (level 4), one GREEN (level 2) and one BLUE (level 3). Completing level 2 would then open level 5 (GREEN). There are 8 different levels.
Attached to this post:
Attachments: untitled.jpg (8.64 KB)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Elgin_McQueen
Member Avatar
King Hanafuda Sandcrab IV
Thanks, exactly what I needed to hear. :D
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sureshot
Member Avatar
Test your might
My problem is that my Internet's still down at home, so I have no idea if I'm using the exact same version as you lot. It's certainly A tape version anyway.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sshblack
Member Avatar

Quote:
 
I am a twonk and I cannot follow simple instructions 


HEY!!!!!

It turns out if you download ants file into your existing C64 games folder it converts (well it did for mine) into an un-executionable file. I just started a fresh download from my desktop and it worked fine.


When do the scores have to be in by?

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sshblack
Member Avatar

I've just read when the scores have to be in by.....


I am a twonk.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
a.j.green
Member Avatar
Its not easy...
30470
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Antiriad2097
Member Avatar
League Co-Ordinator
Sshblack
Nov 28 2006, 09:52 AM
It turns out if you download ants file into your existing C64 games folder it converts (well it did for mine) into an un-executionable file.

Nope. You've just been unlucky and got a corrupted download. It happens sometimes.

I'm in a better mood today...

[size=1]Scores updated in first post[/size]
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
opa-opa
Member Avatar
Steakhouse & Brewery
239500

Posted Image

Grrr I'm having to play this on keyboard with no sound...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Antiriad2097
Member Avatar
League Co-Ordinator
opa-opa
Nov 28 2006, 08:53 PM
Grrr I'm having to play this on keyboard with no sound...

... and doing so badly you're in first position.

[size=1]Scores updated in first post[/size]
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
merman
Member Avatar
Retro Survival Ed
Also playing on keys here...

318510
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kaiserpc
Member Avatar
Not Going on holiday. Again.
554810

probably the last go for me this week

Still a great game though, with a brilliant soundtrack
Attached to this post:
Attachments: wizball2.png (3.35 KB)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
tk421
Member Avatar
Happy Days
10800
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
opa-opa
Member Avatar
Steakhouse & Brewery
730450

Posted Image

Nearly got there...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
tk421
Member Avatar
Happy Days
well im offisialy crap t this game !ive played a couple of times ands trieds but no luck off yo bed dreaming of the gordgoes black tigger gettinbgpicked , hapopy days
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
stomach
Member Avatar
Zed's dead baby, Zed's dead
My only real recollection of this game is playing it whilst on holiday somewhere in England (I know it's a big place). We were staying in a static caravan and managed to persuade the'olds' that we needed our C64 with us to test that the games we bought for it worked. I think they were secretly quite happy as it meant they got to go to the 'entertainment' at night on there own without the kids.

KaiserPC my (much) older brother and I would sit down for a game of this on 2 player co-operative, but because it was his game I always had to go the cat and he would go the wizard. The cat was useless and I never got a shot of being the wizard, as you can probably tell I have never quite forgiven him ;)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
RS200
Member Avatar
vroom vroom !
stomach
Nov 29 2006, 10:47 PM
KaiserPC my (much) older brother and I .....

:o :o :o :o :o

I never knew you were Brothers !!! .. Great story though Stomach - made me kinda think back to the times when I would bring my Spectrum 48k to my aunts house @ Christmas and play Manic Miner, Lotus Esprit, TLL and Jumping Jack on the big TV *all day* on it ... to which my uncle would watch me and say that it was rubbish and computer games would never catch on ... how wrong was HE, eh ?. HA ! .. eat that uncle Tony ! ..
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
opa-opa
Member Avatar
Steakhouse & Brewery
tk421
Nov 29 2006, 10:25 PM
well im offisialy crap t this game !ive played a couple of times ands trieds but no luck off yo bed dreaming of the gordgoes black tigger gettinbgpicked , hapopy days

Dude, you been on the sauce again...?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kaiserpc
Member Avatar
Not Going on holiday. Again.
stomach
Nov 29 2006, 10:47 PM
My only real recollection of this game is playing it whilst on holiday somewhere in England (I know it's a big place). We were staying in a static caravan and managed to persuade the'olds' that we needed our C64 with us to test that the games we bought for it worked. I think they were secretly quite happy as it meant they got to go to the 'entertainment' at night on there own without the kids.

KaiserPC my (much) older brother and I would sit down for a game of this on 2 player co-operative, but because it was his game I always had to go the cat and he would go the wizard. The cat was useless and I never got a shot of being the wizard, as you can probably tell I have never quite forgiven him ;)

yes, I remember this well. But you were really good at being the cat ;)

I think we bought it in London (at Hamleys I think?) so we would have been staying in a caravan park in Oxford. Happy days! :rolleyes:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
DealsFor.me - The best sales, coupons, and discounts for you
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Season 5 · Next Topic »
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1