High score competition #145: Mr. TNT

[JDFan]

Previous winners:

#001 thru #099 - For list of winners for those competitions  please refer to this link
#100: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Winner - Gray_Area, Second - Tafoid
#101: Marvin's Maze: Winner - Kixfan, Second - Hammerfist
#102: Rally-X:  Winner - Tafoid, Second  djm858
#103: Lock 'N Chase:  Winner - Kixfan, Second - Jasonbar
#104: Space Fury: Winner - Gray_Area, Second - kixfan
#105: Pig Out: Winner - Kixfan, Second - Gray_Area
#106: Carnival: Winner - rick6668, Second - Kixfan
#107: Rastan: Winner - popsicle, Second - rick6668
#108: Peguin-Kun Wars Winner-dancawar, Second - Popsicle
#109: Blood Bros.* Winner - harveybirdman, Second - Jasonbar *scores reflect use of game features considered cheats
#110: Rabbit Punch: Winner - jasonbar, Second - mimic
#111: Alien Syndrome: Winner - mimic, Second Comtek
#112: Block Hole: Winner - Comtek, Second - idsane
#113: Pepper II: Winner - Comtek, Second - Kixfan
#114: Break Thru: Winner - jasonbar, Second - mimic
#115: Ninja Baseball Bat Man: Winner - mimic, Second - Tafoid
#116: Shao-lin's Road: Winner - mimic, Second - Kixfan
#117: Scramble: Winner - Kixfan, Second - jasonbar
#118: Lost Tomb: Winner: Jasonbar, Second: mimic
#119: Green Beret: Winner: LeapinLew, Second: popsicle
#120: Lady Killer: Winner: Comtek Second: Mimic
#121: Qix: Winner: Comtek Second: sorhp
#122: Halley's Comet: Winner: Jasonbar Second: Mimic
#123: Cyber-Lip: Winner: Jasonbar Second: epetti
#124: Lode Runner: Winner: JDFan Second: kixfan
#125: Snow Bros. - Nick & Tom: Winner: Comtek Second: JDFan
#126: Bosconian: Winner: Cynicaster Second: kixfan
#127: Eggs: Winner: Cynicaster Second: kixfan
#128: Eyes: Winner: kixfan Second: Comtek
#129: Galaga '88: Winner: jasonbar, Second: opt2not
#130: Final Fight: Winner: opt2not, Second: Comtek
#131: Hammerin' Harry: Winner: lettuce, Second: kixfan
#132: Battle Circuit: Winner: lettuce, Second: jasonbar
#133: Giga Wing: Winner: edekoning, Second: spoot
#134: Osman: Winner: edekoning, Second: lettuce
#135: Surprise Attack: Winner: Comtek, Second: edekoning
#136: Anteater: Winner: Kixfan, Second: Comtek
#137: Jr. Pac man: Winner: Kixfan, Second: Popsicle
#138: Chelnov: Winner: Popsicle: Second: Comtek
#139: Berzerk: Winner: Popsicle: Second: Kixfan
#140: Mystic Marathon: Winner: Popsicle: Second: JDFan
#141: Moon Cresta: Winner: Kixfan: Second: Jasonbar
#142: Star Force: Winner: big10p: Second: Jasonbar
#143: Armored Car:  Winner: Popsicle:  Second: Kixfan
#144: Pinball Action:  Winner: JDFan:  Second: popsicle


Arcade Museum: Mr. TNT

--------------------------------------------
Game Name: Mr. TNT
  ROM Name: mrtnt
      Settings: Default (3 lives, 75,000 extra life)

Controls: 4 way Joystick, 1 button




Description: Move along lines, erasing them as you go, to collect flashing or spinning items. If you collide with one of the yellow dots that are moving around erasing lines or if you end up at a dead end with nowhere to go, you lose a life. You cannot go back, only forward.

Last day: Friday, Aug. 1st 2014 midnight Pacific
--------------------------------------------

General Rules:
- One Credit, No Continues.
- Highest 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.



- Quest for the Bronze Joystick! The most successful competitor of each calendar year will possess & display the BYOAC Bronze Joystick Trophy. See this thread for details:The BYOAC Bronze Joystick.
Happy Gaming!

Scoring Updates:

kixfan            907,880
comtek            675,110
popsicle          650,480
jasonbar          639,150
epetti            610,170
AlienInferno      562,130
JDFan             414,280
big10p            277,160
pbj               143,920
Generic Eric      142,560
...
...
...

[kixfan]

Ok, I'll go first.

278,290

Decent game.   I can't seem to figure what the button actually does?   Helpful hint: don't race a fuse, you will lose.  You need to ignore your instinct and head in the opposite direction of fuse (except in a different line of course).

[jasonbar]

Pretty cool game. Very simple & primitive, but polished & well-balanced.

For a game with "TNT" in the name, they sure could use some explosions or something...

514,440 on my 2nd game.

The button says "Speed" when entering initials. Holding it down slows you down...which seems like a dumb thing to do...

-J

[JDFan]

Pretty cool game. Very simple & primitive, but polished & well-balanced.

For a game with "TNT" in the name, they sure could use some explosions or something...

514,440 on my 2nd game.

The button says "Speed" when entering initials. Holding it down slows you down...which seems like a dumb thing to do...

-J

It seems to do the same in game !! ( Slow you down ) - I guess so you can slow down and decide where to turn when getting close to a spark or when you're heading for a dead end and need to hopefully wait long enough for the sparks to kill themselves first !

Found a site with a couple hints that may( may not) help :

Scoring

Grid section - 10 points x stage number.

Defusing bomb - 1,000, 4,000 or 8,000 points.

Playing hints/tips

o There are infallible patterns for every stage. If you find one which works once in a game, use it again the next time you are on that stage.

o If you are heading towards a dead end, stop on a corner, and wait for the fuses to burn themselves out - better than losing a life!

o On the early levels clear as much of the maze as possible for extra points.

o If you manage to cut the fuses off completely from you, feel free to leech points by clearing as much of the maze as you can.

o Use the blocks inside the grid to keep the fuses at bay. You can force them to take a particular route by clearing the grid and leaving them no option.

SO guess it is like Pacman in that there are paths that can be followed if you memorize them (but that might take longer than 2 weeks to do )

MY initial game : 215,510

[AlienInferno]

Haven't done one of these in awhile.  Fun little game.  Here is my score: 244,110

[epetti]

Fun game. 459,980 after a few tries.

[AlienInferno]

Did a little better. 

350,160

[popsicle]

404,490

[JDFan]

Got a few more games in last night - best so far was 414,280

Keep making some stupid mistakes and running into dead ends or missing turns and running into the sparks.

Looks like it is shaping up to be a pretty competitive game with everyone scoring fairly close after several trial runs !

[AlienInferno]

New Score

441,990

[popsicle]

I'm not sure if I like this game or can't stand it.  The controls require great precision and I die too often to making a 'wrong turn', even if I have a plan.  Then, like Armored Car, I play 5 more games in a row. 

My best scores are when I just clear the fuses as soon as possible.  It's too easy to run out of track trying to milk each board for piddly timer points.  Maybe I need to start using the SLOW button.  Does anyone else use it?

589,950

[AlienInferno]

I do the same thing.  If I try to milk it I die.  I've used the slow button a couple times but it doesn't seem to help me much in the scheme of things.  I just finished playing a game where the fuses burned all the items and I "had to run".  Ended up on a dead end, cut off from the rest of the board.  I hit a corner and my character stopped, so I just sat there and waited for all the fuses to kill themselves.  Didn't get any points doing that but I saved myself until the next round.

I like this game.  It's addictive.

[JDFan]

I'm not sure if I like this game or can't stand it.  The controls require great precision and I die too often to making a 'wrong turn', even if I have a plan.  Then, like Armored Car, I play 5 more games in a row. 

My best scores are when I just clear the fuses as soon as possible.  It's too easy to run out of track trying to milk each board for piddly timer points.  Maybe I need to start using the SLOW button.  Does anyone else use it?

589,950

LOL -- yeah it's a pretty frustrating game at times but does grow on you --- Only thing I don't really like is the sparks hit boxes seem a bit big where you can't really even come close to them in an intersection or it counts as a hit even if you think you have time to get passed - and it does take some strategy on whether to just clear the board or Milk it for some points.

As for the slow button I use it once in awhile to slow down so I don't miss a corner when I can remember to press it - problem then is that it takes some time to get moving again and the sparks close in fast !

EDIT : Scores updated in first post !

[popsicle]

That's the first thing I noticed about the 'slow' button - it makes your guy decelerate and accelerate, which makes using it for hairpin turns too unpredictable.  Plus, like you said you can't get going again fast enough to outrun the sparks.  If it were like the 'slow draw' button in Qix where it was an immediate speed change I'd probably make use of it.



 

[kixfan]

I got this pretty easy today, I think it was my second go.   Then couldn't get even remotely close.   No, I don't even bother with the speed button.   I think you have to get really lucky to get big points (4ks and 8ks) and not have the fuses kill themselves when you still have points to collect.   

588,800

[epetti]

Improved a bit. 520,860.

[kixfan]

660,140

Don't know that I did anything special just that I got lucky and got some good points early (I had 200k after just 4 rounds) and got out of jams (fuses killing themselves very early).

[Generic Eric]

Generic Eric    142,560

[AlienInferno]

My highest yet.  Think I could have easily beat the 600k mark but I kept trying to milk it and that was my downfall.

562,130

[epetti]

Another step up. 596,740.

[popsicle]

Still not quite good enough.

602,180

[epetti]

Inched up again, but still not enough for first. 610,170.

[Comtek]

632210

[jasonbar]

I'm all like 639,150 and stuff. Played thrice last night. Best score was the first game. Then I got worse.

-J

[kixfan]

I don't normally like to trump my own score till the very end but I am leaving on vacation tomorrow and am posting this now.

907,880

I am posting some progress screenshots as well just so everyone can get a sense of my score thru the progression of screens.   This game really comes down to having a decent early score.   Also, while it is nice to have the fuses burn themselves out (specially after level 12) if they do this too early you could lose major points.   I also just want to verify everyone else is getting a total of 4 extra lives (75k, 150k, 225k and 300k).   My settings say 75k but I think they mean every 75k up to 300k.   I have had several runs to the same level but did not have anywhere near the score.

So, in case I would happen win this competition  , I am ok with the 2nd place winner picking the next game.   I will be back on Monday (8/4) if everyone is ok with waiting.   I am ok with whatever the group decides. 

[JDFan]

Time for a Score update with 2 days left :

Scoring Updates:

kixfan           907,880
jasonbar         639,150
comtek           632,210
epetti           610,170
popsicle         602,180
AlienInferno     562,130
JDFan            414,280
Generic Eric     142,560


2 days to go and looks like there is some work to do for anyone to pass kixfan  But there are several people that look like they could do it (if they get some free time to put in some practice ).

As far as posting the new game it makes no difference to me whether second place chooses in Kixfan's absence or we wait for him to post on Monday ( one good thing about waiting would be that we get back to the first part of a week for the end of a contest rather than going into a weekend.)  So to me either works - what does everyone else think ??

[jasonbar]

Seeing as how I'm (barely) in 2nd place, I'll pipe up. I have no preference--I don't mind waiting.

Actually, I have family flying in to visit me tomorrow through the 6th, so, if I hold on to second, I'll be a bit tied up too.

-Jason

[epetti]

I'm good either way. I'm not going to have a chance to play until Monday -- also family in town. So waiting until Monday is fine with me.

[pbj]

Had two free minutes... just to irritate Generic Eric.



143,920

[popsicle]

650,480

2nd place, but I'll never catch Kixfan

[Comtek]

675110

[JDFan]

Finally broke the 500K barrier but man do those sparks move quick at that level - not easy when using the arrow keys on your keyboard rather than a joystick !

501,300

[big10p]

I didn't have much time to play this one, unfortunately - hence my score. 

A game I haven't seen before. Tough to control sometimes. I guess that's what the 'slow' button is for?!

277,160

[JDFan]

Looks like the final scores are in - Posted below

Scoring Updates:

kixfan              907,880
comtek            675,110
popsicle           650,480
jasonbar          639,150
epetti              610,170
AlienInferno     562,130
JDFan              414,280
big10p             277,160
pbj                  143,920
Generic Eric     142,560

Seems kixfan managed to hold on to the lead barely beating out comtek and several others (Game must have given him all 8K bonuses  ) Since it seems no one minds waiting for him to return on Monday to post the new competition and jasonbar and epetti are also both out till then - we might as well let him post it then since it will give a couple extra days for the weekend at the end of the competition to get the final scores in.

So guess we can all take a rest this weekend and be ready for the new competition to begin after the weekend !

[kixfan]

New game is coming, probably within a couple of hours.   Anyone have any feelings about:

Space Zap (different but not sure anyone else likes it)
The End (space shooter that I think many are tired of)
Time Pilot (we played sequel a long time ago)

On a side note: What would we do if say a person picked a game that had a high probability that a tie could result?

[JDFan]

On a side note: What would we do if say a person picked a game that had a high probability that a tie could result?

Perhaps set it up so that a Tie goes to the first to post the score ( ie. if there were 3 with the same top score they'd be the top 3 finishers but the first to post the score would be considered first - next second etc. - to keep it easier to decide who gets the next game pick and also to encourage posting of scores during the competition rather than waiting for the final day to finally post a score !)

[pbj]

Space Zap is fun but I think that's going to be a little weird on a typical MAME cabinet setup.

[kixfan]

Space Zap is fun but I think that's going to be a little weird on a typical MAME cabinet setup.

Good point!   I never looked at the original CP.   Plays fine with joystick (actually is probably easier with that setup then original).

[JDFan]

Space Zap is fun but I think that's going to be a little weird on a typical MAME cabinet setup.

Works OK on keyboard - just gets tough as it speeds up to keep your fingers moving to the correct arrow key ! (gave it a quick try on my desktop) I'm sure it should be ok with joystick or perhaps even a 6 or 8 button layout could be configured to play 

Funny how out of all the games you selected The End as one also, I had looked at it before deciding on Mr TNT for the last comp.

[kixfan]

Space Zap is fun but I think that's going to be a little weird on a typical MAME cabinet setup.

Works OK on keyboard - just gets tough as it speeds up to keep your fingers moving to the correct arrow key ! (gave it a quick try on my desktop) I'm sure it should be ok with joystick or perhaps even a 6 or 8 button layout could be configured to play 

Funny how out of all the games you selected The End as one also, I had looked at it before deciding on Mr TNT for the last comp.

Good, cause that is what I am picking.   Should be up soon!   Time pilot takes too long to play.   I think the way I was playing space zap (joystick) actually is a huge advantage over the buttons and while I could play on a keyboard I just don't think it will be the same.

[pbj]

You actually kind of weirded me out with those choices.  A friend of mine used to have all three of those lined up in dedicated cabinets. 

[big10p]

Time Pilot! I love that game! 

[popsicle]

Yay, Space Zap

[jasonbar]

Excellent choice--that was on my short list of games to pick...but I don't win anymore... :\

All you need to do to play Space Zap properly is to use a giant control panel with angled P1 & P4 buttons. Problem solved!!!

-Jason

[jasonbar]

Heeeey, you didn't pick Space Zap! Tease!

[kixfan]

Sorry for the confusion!  When GDfan said he almost picked The End, I figured that was a sign.   I should have clarified my pick then.