High Score Competition #97: Mouse Trap !

[Gray_Area]

Previous winners

#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
#68 - Caveman Ninja - Winner: Nbk_Orchid, Second: jasonbar
#69 - Majestic 12 - Winner: emphatic, Second: jimmy2x2x
#70 - Sky Shark - Winner emphatic, Second: jasonbar
#71 - Make Trax - Winner: djm858, Second: jasonbar
#72 - Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo - Winner: quarterstringer, Second: djm858
#73 - Bomber Man (Japan) - Winner: djm858, Second: AlienInferno
#74 - X-Men - Winner: djm858, Second: jasonbar
#75: MotoRace USA - Winner: 51mmz0rz, Second: jasonbar, Third: CrazyKongFan
#76: Gaplus - Winner: jasonbar, Second: Gray_Area
#77: Time Pilot '84  - Winner: jasonbar, Second: Spoot
#78: Shadow Dancer  - Winner: StriderDSO, Second: Hurray Banana
#79: Omega Race - Winner: CrazyKongFan, Second: JasonBar
#80: Amidar - Winner: jasonbar, Second: CrazyKongFan
#81: Pleiads (Pleiades) - Winner: Hurray Banana, Second: jasonbar,
#82: Snap Jack - Winner: Kixfan, Second: jasonbar,
#83: Mr. Do's Wildride - Winner: Draginit, Second: Bender
#84: City Connection - Winner: patbb, Second: kikfan
#85: Space Dungeon - Winner: paigeoliver, Second: doteater
#86: Up 'N' Down - Winner: Draginit, Second: jasonbar
#87: Metro Cross - Winner: Draginit, Second: Kixfan
#88: Timber - Winner: PatBB, Second: Kixfan
#89: Ladybug - Winner: Kixfan, Second: PatBB
#90: 1942 - Winner: opt2not, Second: jasonbar
#91: Burgertime - Winner: Kixfan, Second: Yotsuya
#92: Gorf - Winner: Nephasth, Second: Gray_Area
#93: Exerion - Winner: mimic, Second: Nephasth
#94: Knuckle Joe - Winner: mimic, Second: Kixfan
#95: Flicky - Winner: Tafoid, Second: Kixfan
#96: Black Widow: Winner - Gray_Area |  Second - Jasonbar

_____________________________

ROMSet: mtrap

Default Settings

Lives: 3
Bonus life: 30000
Difficulty: N/A

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

Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouse_Trap_(arcade_game)

KLOV: http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8765












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

- One credit only!

- Start only on Wave 1!  (If applicable)

- No continues or adding credits!

- No MAME cheats!

- Last day is Sunday August 20th (11:59:59pm Pacific Daylight Time), 2012.
 
- 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.).

- Use of autofire or other non-standard hacks within MAME or your PC's OS are not allowed.  No program or other person or entity of any sort may manipulate your controls during your game.  Coaching & back-seat driving is fine as long as the party doesn't directly influence the game or controls.

- If you can beat any of the high scores from the previous competitions, you can submit your score to the BYOAC High Game Scoreboard.

Good luck!

[kixfan]

Spent about 30-40 minutes playing today.   My goal was to reach the "Incredible" status.   Finally reached 53,910.   Never played in arcade but plenty of time on Colecovision, which was a pretty good clone.   My minimalist control panel is again making this competition slightly harder.   I have a single u360 with 2 buttons on each side.   That dang bird is tough!   I think I made it to round 4.   I always enjoy the Exidy games, not sure why.   Maybe because so many got converted to Coleco.  Does it matter which version we play?   I was playing 3.

[Tafoid]

Main set (mtrap) using 0.146u4 MAME -  57,040
Used keyboard control on PC

[Cynicaster]

I like this title’s embellishments of the maze game formula, but ultimately that stupid bird totally ruins it for me.  I know these games were designed to suck quarters, but I think the key to great arcade game design is to trick the player into thinking he/she at least has a chance of survival, even if they don’t.  In this game, Exidy didn’t even attempt to obscure the fact that they’re sticking it to you; that f*&king eagle just materializes out of thin air right on top of your character and you die.  What the hell were they thinking?   When I first played this game in a tournament at AtariAge last year, I actually thought this curious anomaly was due to a glitch in the emulation, but apparently that’s what the game is supposed to be like. 

I’m all for a good challenge, but cheap BS like that makes a game more maddening than entertaining, thereby defeating the purpose of playing it (for me, at least). 

[jasonbar]

The weird acceleration scheme on the mouse makes control rather difficult. Lots of buttons for a simple maze game!

Apparently, I'm not only incredible but fabulous. I may not be fond of this game but it seems to have a thing for me!

124,840 after about 4 games.

-Jason

[paigeoliver]

This is a hard title to support properly. 4-way, vertical and 4 buttons (when nothing else 4 way vertical needs more than 2).

[jasonbar]

This is a hard title to support properly. 4-way, vertical and 4 buttons (when nothing else 4 way vertical needs more than 2).

Horizontal! :]

[paigeoliver]

It is horizontal, why the heck are all the screenshots taller than they are wide?

[Gray_Area]

I like this title’s embellishments of the maze game formula, but ultimately that stupid bird totally ruins it for me...I'm all for a good challenge, but cheap BS like that makes a game more maddening than entertaining, thereby defeating the purpose of playing it (for me, at least). 

I know, and I hesitated selecting it. It seems to be a matter of luck, as I've had 100k+ games. The bird aside, it's a cool game. (Another option was Marvin's Maze.....)


The aspect is 4:3, however the resolution is 256x256, so it's actually a square. Turn your head, and you'll see.


I've been dallying on starting this up, only partly due to a power outlet issue in the room that I have also been somewhat dallying on. But I'll cobble together something....maybe right now....

[Gray_Area]

Okay. A few games....and taking apart my U360 and then messing with maps and stuff....got me 109k. But I felt I could do better.  143k, difficult it is to see.

[kixfan]

I was just able to "squeak" past Gray_area...

[Gray_Area]

I was just able to "squeak" past Gray_area...

HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH. NICE.

This game is terrible and weird. 

 

I watched my younger brother play it a lot at Chuck E. Cheese ('84-85, which at that time in the back was the kiddie area, and the graphics and cabinet looked kiddie-like to me; I'm thinking the staff thought the same), but too many buttons for me. Plus the motion as mentioned above discouraged me. Still can, because you really have to pre-meditate your turns (beats out Dig Dug, even, on this), even more so by the third board, on. But I can get into the game.

Last night, I made a mnemonic for the buttons: similar to RGB video, I do red/blue/yellow = buttons left/middle/right. I know, there's yellow in green...but it's easier for me. I found my color accuracy was much better, which lent to my scores.  (I have a full 2P panel, so it goes LL/UM/LR, with the dog being UL. Capice?)

[kixfan]

Well, due to the fact that I only have 2 buttons on each side of stick it meant I had to cross over.   With that setup I could only (easily) change 1 color of gates and dog with other.   Then I realized I could remap my player 1 button that is on that side to control another set of gates.   I was then able to post a score of 184,690.   I'm not sure what level I was on but at some point the cats are well faster then you and it's all you can do to just get to the next bone.

[kixfan]

Bonus life: 30000

This is every 30000, right?   This was my default setting.   This is how mine is playing.

[Gray_Area]

Bonus life: 30000

This is every 30000, right?   This was my default setting.   This is how mine is playing.

Yeah. That, as far as I know, is default.

And, awwww, I was gonna come and up the ante.....yeah, they get real fast.

[kixfan]

Alright, I'm not sure if everyone knew this or not but here are 2 observations to help increase your score...

1. The bonus items in the maze are critical to get.   Each item increases in value.   I was able to score over 30k in the first round.   As long as you don't die when the next round starts you start with the next item.   I think the highest value item I got was 3k.

2. I already mentioned this previously but the cats eventually get much faster than you and it's all you can do to get to the next bone.   Unless something changes in even later rounds you need to get as many points in the first few rounds as you can.

Good Luck!

[Gray_Area]

Alright, I'm not sure if everyone knew this or not but here are 2 observations to help increase your score...

1. The bonus items in the maze are critical to get.   Each item increases in value.   I was able to score over 30k in the first round.   As long as you don't die when the next round starts you start with the next item.   I think the highest value item I got was 3k.

Ah, I hadn't noticed that. At the least, getting the first four of them means getting the 10k bonus, which becomes pretty easy, and that's where maybe half my points are.

2. I already mentioned this previously but the cats eventually get much faster than you and it's all you can do to get to the next bone.   Unless something changes in even later rounds you need to get as many points in the first few rounds as you can.

Good Luck!

Well, that and being clever and quick with the doors.

[Gray_Area]

Actually, thinking about it, it's probably wise not to use bones if possible in the first few boards, as the points aren't that much, and it's not a necessary thing like in Pac. I wonder how many bones it will store. I know I've had up to six. Anyways, where is everyone?

[kixfan]

Actually, thinking about it, it's probably wise not to use bones if possible in the first few boards, as the points aren't that much, and it's not a necessary thing like in Pac. I wonder how many bones it will store. I know I've had up to six. Anyways, where is everyone?

Hmmm.... I think even if that gets you thru 2 more boards on the back end you aren't going to get many points.   I've been trying to maximize points in the first 2-3 rounds.   I've had as high as 90k in the first round.   I just can't seem to get lucky enough to duplicate that in the 2nd round.   

[kixfan]

Sorry, don't mean to run the score up but not sure if I'm going to have time tomorrow.   I finally got a couple of good games and 1 excellent one.   On the last one I was able to make it almost thru 3 boards on the first guy.   I maximized the bonus items, when I finally died I was at 7k per bonus item.   I think I was at 75k after 1 and about 150k when I first mouse expired.

435,690

[Gray_Area]

NIIice. That is IN-CREDIBLE.

[kixfan]

Twin Galaxies is back up and I was finally able to get the current high score, which happens to be more than 61 MILLION.   There must a pattern to this game.

[kixfan]

Found this site that indicates that the bonus items increase to 7200 then loops back around.

[kixfan]

Just realized the date is off, it should have been Sunday 8/19 or Monday 8/20.   

[Gray_Area]

Yeah, I think there are patterns to the game.

Just realized the date is off, it should have been Sunday 8/19 or Monday 8/20.   

Either way, I doubt anyone was going to play. So, pick a game, yo.