High Score Competition #70: Sky Shark (was Hacha Mecha Fighter)

[emphatic]

The past competitions:

#1 - Shinobi - Winner: Destructor, Second: fixedpigs
#2 - Jungle Hunt - Winner: CrazyKongFan, Second: DeLuSioNal29
#3 - Zoo Keeper - Winner: DeLuSioNal29, Second: Ummon
#4 - Q*Bert - Winner: quarterstringer, Second: CrazyKongFan
#5 - Robotron 2084 - Winner: (+_+), Second: opt2not
#6 - Joust - Winner: (+_+), Second: Shoegazer
#7 - Elevator Action - Winner: FrontyDev, Second: Zebidee
#8 - Mr Do - Winner: DeLuSioNal29, Second: rotheblog
#9 - Hyper Sports - Winner: drawfull, Second: Ummon
#10 - Wonder Boy - Winner: DrFrag, Second: drawfull
#11 - Bubble Bobble - Winner: mrclean, Second: isucamper
#12 - Gun.Smoke - Winner: isucamper, Second: Ummon
#13 - Ghouls 'n Ghosts - Winner: Ginsu Victim, Second: Zebidee
#14 - Ms Pac-Man (with speedup hac) - Winner: CrazyKongFan, Second: wooowman93
#15 - Frogger - Winner: CrazyKong Fan, Second: Jasonbar
#16 - Grobda - Winner: mimic, Second: Cornchip
#17 - Bank Panic - Winner: ahofle, Second: Jasonbar
#18 - Juno First - Winner: RayB, Second: Shoegazer
#19 - Rolling Thunder - Winner: DrFrag, Second: isucamper
#20 - Terra Cresta - Winner: isucamper, Second: Jasonbar
#21 - Gladiator - Winner: Jasonbar, Second: Hewskie
#22 - Alcon (Slap Fight) - Winner: DrFrag, Second: Bender
#23 - Galaga - Winner: quarterstringer, Second: ToddH
#24 - Defender - Winner: quarterstringer, Second: tcleary
#25 - Klax - Winner: CrazyKongFan, Second: TAG
#26 - Funny Mouse - Winner: quarterstringer, Second: Epyx
#27 - Rampart - Winner: isucamper, Second: john_abey
#28 - Satan's Hollow - Winner: jasonbar, Second: ummon
#29 - The Speed Rumbler - Winner: Epyx, Second: mimic
#30 - Black Dragon - Winner: Epyx, Second: CrazyKongFan
#31 - Twin Cobra - Winner: ArcadeNerd, Second: jasonbar
#32 - Tetris - Winner: DrFrag, Second: qlunch
#33 - Gyruss - Winner: Hurray Banana, Second: vorghagen
#34 - Mappy - Winner: Jasonbar, Second: TAG
#35 - Bump 'n' Jump - Winner: Comtek, Second: DrFrag
#36 - Popeye - Winner: CrazyKongFan, Second: isucamper
#37 - Pengo - Winner: CrazyKongFan, Second: MazzMn
#38 - Bomb Jack - Winner: bpark42, Second: Flaptop
#39 - Smash T.V. - Winner: jasonbar, Second: quarterstringer
#40 - Rygar - Winner: Cakemeister, Second: jasonbar
#41 - Krull - Winner: jasonbar, Second: I/O
#42 - Tutankham - Winner: DrFrag, Second: creatine28
#43 - Astro Blaster - Winner: mimic, Second: WhereEaglesDare
#44 - Son of Phoenix - Winner: jasonbar, Second: syph007
#45 - Metal Slug - Winner: doteater, Second: Hewskie
#46 - Puzzle Bobble - Winner: quarterstringer, Second: Benevolance
#47 - Street Fighter 2 - The World Warrior - Winner: isucamper, Second: jordanshadow
#48 - Crazy Climber - Winner: jasonbar, Second: quarterstringer
#49 - Strider - Winner:Jasonbar, Second: Bender
#50 - Donkey Kong - Winner: wweumina, Second: javeryh
#51 - Champion Wrestler - Winner: vorghagen, Second: Bender
#52 - Karnov - Winner: DrFrag, Second: darcyp
#53 - Gauntlet - Winner: quarterstringer, Second: vorghagen
#54 - Tapper - Winner: CapriRS302, Second: quarterstringer
#55 - Namco Classic Collection Vol.2 - Winner: jasonbar, Second: CapriRS302
#56 - Gain Ground - Winner: jasonbar, Second: upprc04
#57 - Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters  - Winner: DirtyDachshunds, Second: upprc04
#58 - Raiden  - Winner: jasonbar, Second: Gray_Area
#59 - Buster Bros  - Winner: spoot, Second: jasonbar
#60 - Dig Dug  - Winner: quarterstringer, Second: Matthew Anderson
#61 - Mario Bros - Winner: LeapinLew, Second: Nickelstringer
#62 - Chicken Shift - Winner: quarterstringer, Second: jasonbar
#63 - Roc'n Rope - Winner: dfmaverick, Second: Nephasth
#64 - Moon Patrol - Winner: CrazyKongFan, Second: jasonbar
#65 - Nibbler - Winner: CrazyKongFan, Second: jasonbar
#66 - Truxton II - Winner: jasonbar, Second: spoot
#67 - Aliens vs Predator - Winner: Nbk_Orchid, Second: spoot
#67 - Aliens vs Predator - Winner: Nbk_Orchid, Second: spoot
#68 - Caveman Ninja - Winner: Nbk_Orchid, Second: jasonbar
#69 - Majestic 12 - Winner: emphatic, Second: jimmy2x2x

So. I had no idea what to do when winning #69, but here goes:

Sky Shark by TAITO



----------------------------------------------------

ROMSet: skyshark

----------------------------------------------------

Default settings:
Medium difficulty
Extend 50K, 200K, 150K+
Lives: 3

----------------------------------------------------

- One credit only!

- No continues or adding credits!

- No MAME cheats!

- Last day is Friday July 8 (11:59:59pm Pacific Daylight Time), 2011.
 
- High score wins.

- No savestates, savestate practices, etc. during the round.

- MAME INP recordings are encouraged but optional.

- A screenshot is required to enter a score (press F12 to save screenshot showing your final score) or take a photo of the game screen.

- If you're a MARP competitor on this title, keep in mind this is just a friendly competition among forum members, so maybe you shouldn't enter. However, if you're a forum member and this is a game you're good at and nobody knows about it, this is your time to shine!

- Even if you don't have a competitive score or if you don't *think* that you have a competitive score, please post it anyway to keep the thread fun & to give everybody a good sense of score ranges.

-Please make sure your scores are from games that take place during the competition period (no posting your best score from last year, etc.).

Best of luck!

Note:
At first, I chose Hacha Mecha Fighter by NMK as I had no idea how broken the emulation was. Really sorry about that, guys.

[Gray_Area]

Kinda of a strange game.

[Bender]

kinda new?
what version of Mame did this start working in?
I can't get it to run in .135

[syph007]

Ya this wasn't in my main mame list.  I have preliminary driver status ones filtered out and as of current MAME version looks like it's still prelim.

According to MAWS

version added    .074u2
last change(s)    .132u2 .075

[Bender]

yeah found it working in .129
man that is a weird game, don't get me wrong I like it but kinda strange, some of the graphics are really cool
doesn't seem like it's 100% accurate emulation yet, but pretty playable I guess (not knowing what it should play like  )

[mimic]

596,100 After one try.

[mimic]

948,700 After second time, but it got super hard and viciously fast. I didn't know how to kill the chinook that was behind me the whole time.

[danny_galaga]

Bugger, no good in 78. I'll just have to wait for the next one...

[emphatic]

948,700 After second time, but it got super hard and viciously fast. I didn't know how to kill the chinook that was behind me the whole time.

chinook?

I'm really sorry that people seem to have issues running this game. I had no idea it was such trouble-ridden.

[emphatic]

Oh my. I just tried this in MAME and the emulation is nowhere near the PCB (I have one and it's awesome). Some small enemies are way too fast, the boss behavior is totally broken and surely more stuff.  

What do you say guys, should we scrap this and I'll edit the first post with a new game? I'll have a look at the earlier inputs and choose something that is WORKING.

Edit: NEW GAME IS SKY SHARK. Really sorry about this.  

[jimmy2x2x]

Change it to Dodonpachi and we can call it quits

[emphatic]

Change it to Dodonpachi and we can call it quits

Nice try. Win this week and do that yourself. Much better. 

[jimmy2x2x]

hehe I'll give it a go

[mimic]

Can I apply my high score from HMF? I know I suck at flying shark even though I love that game.
Btw seemed like a I had no issues with HMF at all, maybe it seemed very fast paced, but then again I have no idea how it should play like, that was my first time.

for empatic
chinook = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_CH-47_Chinook

[emphatic]

Can I apply my high score from HMF? I know I suck at flying shark even though I love that game.
Btw seemed like a I had no issues with HMF at all, maybe it seemed very fast paced, but then again I have no idea how it should play like, that was my first time.

for empatic
chinook = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_CH-47_Chinook

How about an honorary mention? 

The Chinook is never supposed to appear behind you in the game. The whole boss' mechanics are messed up. I'll try to shoot a video of me playing my PCB sometime next week (I'm not competing in Sky Shark, my personal best is two loops).

[torino]

We can share hi-scores via public web-folder. With the help of HiToText utility simple .BAT script can update local hi-scores with server scoreboard and publish our own records back to server by merging all the current scores automatically. The point of this would simply be so that everyone can see current competition scoreboard right there in the game itself, which kind of makes it more interesting and motivating to break someone else's record.


I already have everything set up, currently there is only my record in there: 46950 TORINO 13



HOW TO IMPORT SERVER SCOREBOARD & PUBLISH LOCAL RECORDS
===================================================

1.) download "web-sync_skyshark.zip" (web-sync folder)

2.) unzip and copy "web-sync" folder in MAME folder

3.) in "web-sync" folder is SYNC.BAT script, run it



That's it. The script is for SKYSHARK ONLY.

[emphatic]

That's way cool, torino. I'll have to check it out.

Edit: In Windows 7 I get this error when running sync.bat:

"net.ext - Entry Point Not Found

The procedure entry point I_NetPathType could not be located in the dynamic link library NETAPI32.dll."

Edit 2: I just realized that I didn't have a "hi" folder, the "highscore.dat" or an actual score recorded yet. I'll try to play later when the kids aren't screaming (that's apparently how kids talk) at each other.

[torino]

That's way cool, torino. I'll have to check it out.

Edit: In Windows 7 I get this error when running sync.bat:

"net.ext - Entry Point Not Found

The procedure entry point I_NetPathType could not be located in the dynamic link library NETAPI32.dll."

I think it's cool too, and the more people jump in the cooler it gets, or so it would seem. I never tried it before with anyone else, I only tested it by myself so far. Anyway, I don't know about Windows 7 but I'm pretty sure we can overcome the problem of 'network drive' mapping, one way or another.


a.) Try deleting "net.exe" in "web-sync" folder, it's WinXP version. That should make the script use system's own "net.exe", if your system has it. My WinXP did not have that command, for some reason, and that's why I placed it in the .zip, but if your Win7 does not have "net.exe" and the script still does not work, you can always map network drive manually:


b.) [Top menu of any folder]: Tools->Map Network Drive... (Z:)

"http://www.drivehq.com/webdav/OnlineMAME"

Username: OnlineMAME / Password: letmeplay



Once Z: drive is mapped .BAT file will start reporting error how "device is already in use", but that's fine. We could un-map the drive at the end of .BAT file after each web-syncing, but it takes several minutes until the drive can be mapped again, so I just leave it mapped all the time to make testing faster. If more than few people happen to be interested I will make the script a little better and maybe implement some additional features.

Edit 2: I just realized that I didn't have a "hi" folder, the "highscore.dat" or an actual score recorded yet. I'll try to play later when the kids aren't screaming (that's apparently how kids talk) at each other.

Yeah, you need to have MAME enabled for hi-score support, which includes having a "hiscore.dat" and "hi" folder.


So, everyone has their local "skyshark.hi" copy as usual in their "MAME/hi" folder, and then there is one 'master' copy of "skyshark.hi" in shared web-folder. The script downloads this master file to temporary local folder, locks server file access and uses HiToText utility to merge scoreboards, then it overwrites both local and server "skyshark.hi" with this new one and unlocks back master copy file access.

[Bender]

so does this overwrite the local "skyshark.hi" folder?
if not how do you switch back and forth between using the local and the web hi for a game?
Theoretically this sounds pretty cool, a live updating scoreboard
man I'd like to set that up with just a couple of friends

[emphatic]

Removing the "net.exe" worked for me.   I'm just gonna play a credit (I'm not competing in this game though) and see if it works 100% on my end.

[opt2not]

Yes! Flying/Sky Shark is one of my favorite shmups! I'm in.

Good pick Emph!

[torino]

so does this overwrite the local "skyshark.hi" folder?
if not how do you switch back and forth between using the local and the web hi for a game?

The important thing is that "web-sync" folder shares the same parent folder with whatever currently used "hi" folder, becasue that's where the .BAT script is looking for local scores to update master (server) scoreboard and where consequently local .hi files will be updated.

C:/WEB_SYNC_MAME_COMPETITION_FOLDER/
 + cfg
 + hi
 + roms
 + web-sync
hiscore.dat
mame.exe


You can avoid overwriting or mixing "local" and "competition" .hi files in several ways:

a.) SEPARATE: duplicate MAME to a new folder, say "c:/OnlineMAME" and empty "hi" to start clean

b.) BACKUP: rename or zip your current "hi" folder, make a new one, alternate renaming accordingly

c.) some better and simpler solution, something that can be automatised with the .BAT script itself?

Theoretically this sounds pretty cool, a live updating scoreboard
man I'd like to set that up with just a couple of friends

Go ahead and use "OnlineMAME" drivehq account, or open your own, it's free. I'll help you modify .BAT script for other games.

[torino]

Removing the "net.exe" worked for me.   I'm just gonna play a credit (I'm not competing in this game though) and see if it works 100% on my end.

Did you run .BAT script before you started the game and you could see my score inside it once you entered the game?

If you first play the game with a brand new .hi file and register some score, exit the game and then run .BAT script, you should see both my score and your score the next time you start the game.


The script can probably be inserted to work within some MAME front-ends, so that it can be run automatically by the front-end each time when the game starts and/or after game exits.

[emphatic]

Wouldn't it be possible to use the * to include all available games in one's hi folder with this tool?

[torino]

Wouldn't it be possible to use the * to include all available games in one's hi folder with this tool?

Almost, it's a bit more complicated because different games use different number of fields, but HiToText utility, beside reading and writing, can also inspect each format beforehand, so too then can .BAT script do each different format merging accordingly. In short, with some little additions and modifications the only limit for this script is the number of games actually supported by HiToText.

So, did you see my score in the game after running SYNC.BAT ?


Why are you not competing? Wasn't it the point when you won the last competition to choose some game you would actually _want to compete in... so you can win again, then choose another game you're good at and win yet again, and then again, and again... until everyone bows down and calls you the king? That's how you can rule this competition, or can you? How high can you get?

[emphatic]

The first time I ran the sync.bat, I saw your score. Then I played and MAME recorded my score above yours. I then used the sync.bat again, but now both scores has been removed for some reason. 

Well, let's see how the competition goes, maybe I'll enter a score. It's super hot here right now, so I'm lazy.  I just don't see the point in adding games you know you're good and play yourself. I chose Hacha Mecha Fighter because it's a little known game, and when people first see it they will just zip on by to the next game because it looks totally insane. But it's really very fun (when working properly). I chose Sky Shark because it's a very good game, and it hadn't been chosen before.

[torino]

The first time I ran the sync.bat, I saw your score. Then I played and MAME recorded my score above yours. I then used the sync.bat again, but now both scores has been removed for some reason. 

Don't know. I tried it just now and everything is fine with server file, it still has only one (my) name in it.

Did .BAT script got to the point to say "- SERVER UPDATE FINISHED -", or maybe it got stuck, or something?


Try it again please, it should work, I don't see why not, it works every time from here.
If .BAT files runs correctly you should still at least see my score next time you run the game.

[danny_galaga]

Oh my. I just tried this in MAME and the emulation is nowhere near the PCB (I have one and it's awesome). Some small enemies are way too fast, the boss behavior is totally broken and surely more stuff.  

What do you say guys, should we scrap this and I'll edit the first post with a new game? I'll have a look at the earlier inputs and choose something that is WORKING.

Edit: NEW GAME IS SKY SHARK. Really sorry about this.  

Woot! I can play this on my cab! Something like 1942, which I'm not bad at so I might be in with a chance. First attempt attached. I'll try and work on it some more. How long have we got?

80350

[emphatic]

How long have we got?

80350

Last day is Friday July 8 (11:59:59pm Pacific Daylight Time), 2011.

[jasonbar]

3rd game netted 214,280.

Boy, your plane moves far too slowly relative to the enemies & their bullets...

-Jason

[opt2not]

Love this game!
So far I'm at 332,790.

[mimic]

...my personal best is two loops).

Video please, I would love to see whole game! I love this game but as I mentioned I suck at it and I struggle terribly. After maybe 20 games measly 150K or so.

[emphatic]

...my personal best is two loops).

Video please, I would love to see whole game! I love this game but as I mentioned I suck at it and I struggle terribly. After maybe 20 games measly 150K or so.

I'll see if I can make that happen tonight (recording the .inp anyway). For some reason, my whole face starts to itch whenever I play this game, and you can't ever take your hands off the controls or you're dead.  I've had this problem since first playing it back in 1987.

A tip for you who are new to Flying Shark: Don't leave your plane just sitting there or you will get sniped by a tank or small boat. Move almost constantly because your weapons (unless you've just died) will have the spread to kill stuff anyway.

[danny_galaga]

Sneaking up from behind (",)

189340

[torino]

The first time I ran the sync.bat, I saw your score. Then I played and MAME recorded my score above yours. I then used the sync.bat again, but now both scores has been removed for some reason.

Everything is fine with server file, and I do not think it's possible for the script to erase or corrupt local scoreboard.

Something else must have happened there. Did you try it again to make sure what is going on?


You can even completely delete your local skyshark.hi, in which case the script will only download master file from the server for you. By the way, I updated server scoreboard with some of the records from the screenshots people reported so far. If you run SYNC.BAT now you will get all these records imported (see attached), and the script would also publish all your local records if you got any.

[torino]

danny_galaga, opt2not, jasonbar, mimic, Haze:

- What do you think about sharing competition scoreboard so everyone can see current records right in the game itself, like this:





...can you please explain in few words what do you like, or not like, about this idea? Thank you.




emphatic,
you forgot to mention DIP SWITCH settings, where particularly important is number of LIVES, DIFFICULTY and BONUS LIFE. Perhaps the game default setting should be used, which we get by deleting game's .cfg file, so for this game it should be LIVES="3", DIFFICULTY="normal" and BONUS LIFE="50K, then every 150K", additionally then ALLOW CONTINUES could be set to "NO". -- By the way, I could make the script start the game with input recording enabled, then after game exits the script could upload screenshots and .inp files all together when publishing local records back to server.

[Haze]

Oh my. I just tried this in MAME and the emulation is nowhere near the PCB (I have one and it's awesome). Some small enemies are way too fast, the boss behavior is totally broken and surely more stuff.  

What do you say guys, should we scrap this and I'll edit the first post with a new game? I'll have a look at the earlier inputs and choose something that is WORKING.

Edit: NEW GAME IS SKY SHARK. Really sorry about this.  

The game (HMF) is tagged as 'UNEMULATED PROTECTION' which is probably the source of some of your issues.

If you want to compile a list of exact differences between the current version of MAME and your PCB (with video evidence if possible) it would help document how the game should behave (as most of it is guesswork for now)  Such information could be posted to MameTesters as original reference material.  Having people with a good knowledge of the original games and their behavior is always useful in such cases.

Eventually the protection device should be decapped and emulated for 100% accuracy, but if and when that will happen is anybody's guess (my guess is never..)

[danny_galaga]

danny_galaga, opt2not, jasonbar, mimic, Haze:

- What do you think about sharing competition scoreboard so everyone can see current records right in the game itself, like this:





...can you please explain in few words what do you like, or not like, about this idea? Thank you.

I don't really understand all this syncbat this and did.bat that. I struggle with software stuff. I just like to sit down, at my cocktail cab, and play the game 

[emphatic]

Default settings should be used.

@ Haze: I'll try to record a video. I know there's a short one on YouTube already, but it's only stage 1 IIRC.

Also, no .bat business is required to compete, even though it's quite a nifty feature.

[torino]

I don't really understand all this syncbat this and did.bat that. I struggle with software stuff. I just like to sit down, at my cocktail cab, and play the game  

There is nothing you need to understand in order to use it, simply download and double-click.


The question is whether you like the idea to see current scoreboard in the game itself, or not?


It would be like everyone is playing on one and the same public machine, and when you run SYNC.BAT it's like you just walked in the arcade room - you would be able to see everyone's scores right there in the game itself and there will always be a chance someone has beaten your old record while you were "away". This little 'in-game scoreboard' thingy, that's what large part of the arcade experience was all about. Try it and you will see it will get you more excited and motivated to play, it will make you feel again a little bit of that sweet arcade taste from your nostalgic dreams. I guarantee, or your money back!