High score competition #146: THE END

[kixfan]

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
#145: Mr. TNT:  Winner: Kixfan:  Second: Comtek


Arcade Museum: THE END

--------------------------------------------
Game Name: THE END
  ROM Name: theend
      Settings: Default (3 lives)

Controls: 4 way Joystick, 1 button

















Description: You are battling aliens that can SPELL!   They take your blocks and spell the words "THE END".   If they do this the game is OVER no matter how many ships you have.   You get double points if you shoot the alien bugs while they have a block.   Do not be too concerned with running out of blocks as a new batch arrives as soon as the last one is taken.    Bonus ship at 5k, maybe more but I haven't got much past that.   

Last day: Sunday, Aug. 17th 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:

Popsicle:          27,060
Kixfan:            17,980
JDFan:             12,480
Jasonbar:          12,200
Deadmoney5:        10,580
Big10p:             8,500
pbj:                8,380
Generic Eric:       7,980
...

[popsicle]

WHAT?! No Space ZaP?

PBJim, you owe someone a kick in the groin (another vertical space shooter).

Ok, no more bitching.  First salvo 14,160

[kixfan]

WHAT?! No Space ZaP?

PBJim, you owe someone a kick in the groin (another vertical space shooter).

Ok, no more bitching.  First salvo 14,160

I've got my cup on to protect my 

Nice score Popsicle!    I haven't even broke 10k.    This game is rather tough, I was thinking 20k might win this thing but I might have to adjust my guess.

[popsicle]

Around the third set of alien motherboard attacks, it says 'chance time' or something similar at the bottom of the screen.  I thought this was going to be a bonus stage but it looks to be business as usual.  What gives?

[kixfan]

Around the third set of alien motherboard attacks, it says 'chance time' or something similar at the bottom of the screen.  I thought this was going to be a bonus stage but it looks to be business as usual.  What gives?

I did some searching and found that during "Chance Time" shooting aliens will subtract bricks.


[url=http://www.outerworldarcade.com/arcade/the_end/the_end.html]http://www.outerworldarcade.com/arcade/the_end/the_end.html [/url]

[JDFan]

I did some searching and found that during "Chance Time" shooting aliens will subtract bricks.

Good to know !! -- Pretty tough game - I keep worrying to much about the ones stealing the bricks and run into the cover fire laid out by others ! Best so far is 6280 so much practice needed to catch Popsicle !

Looks like it's another of those games that takes weird resolution screen pics !

[kixfan]

Well, I was having a hard time telling if it actually takes bricks away during chance.   One time I was in chance mode and it abruptly told me I was at the end even though I still had ships and bricks left.   Not sure what I did to deserve that.   I then had a game going and chance mode came up I think three times before I died.   I got to 13,960.   

Too late to post picture, good night folks!

[popsicle]

I think that 'chance time' is broken - if it is supposed to give bricks back I don't see it happening.  Maybe not fully implemented in this version?  I see that there is apparently another version that puts your barricades behind you so you aren't blocked when shooting, but that changes the game quite a bit. 

Anyway, a few more rounds today and I cleared the 20k mark.  My secret?  Try to shoot them when they come out of the mother ship and hover around that spot still shooting until they stop coming.  Then, mop up the rest.  The game gets out of control quickly when the screen fills up with baddies and you can't get a bead on any one target, so it's best to get them before they start stealing rather then try to chase down a whole bunch at once. 

They also have to bring the bricks to a specific spot, so toward the end of the game when they have to finish the 'D', just wait for them on that side.  I went for 2 more unexpected rounds one game with only a few bricks left before THE END was spelled out, just waiting for them under the D.  <---insert penis joke here

My pc isn't recognizing my camera sd drive for some reason.. going to reboot and post pic then.

[jasonbar]

Something seems wonky on 115u2. After the Chance Time round, the whole bottom of the screen filled with free ships, & then I got continual "Chance Time" flickering for the rest of my game.

Good thing I'm not too fond of this game, or that might bug me... :]

12,200

-Jason

[popsicle]

Something seems wonky on 115u2. After the Chance Time round, the whole bottom of the screen filled with free ships, & then I got continual "Chance Time" flickering for the rest of my game.

Same here - it also hangs for a bit right before that happens.

[jasonbar]

Yes, definitely some hangage here too!

[kixfan]

This game doesn't seem very stable.   I can't say that I have ever gotten to the chance stage before I picked this one.   One time it went to chance stage after only one level?      If anyone feels we need to move on I'm ok with that.   I'm SURE Popsicle wouldn't mind.       Or, maybe we shorten this to 1 week?    Sorry this one is a bit of a stinker.

[popsicle]

Popsicle won't mind if you change it to Space Zap instead

Or anything, really.

[popsicle]

21,280

[pbj]

I fired up turtle box and blew the dust off two mame cabinets.  This game is on none of them.

[kixfan]

Popsicle won't mind if you change it to Space Zap instead

Or anything, really.

Anyone want to second or third this?   Since there seems to be some who wanted space zap I'm ok with that but would like some more input from others.

[pbj]

Nope, the choice was made.  Deal with it.

[popsicle]

Then at least shorten it to a week, or simply ignore our resident antagonizing-yet-somehow-still-charming curmudgeon.

[JDFan]

Then at least shorten it to a week, or simply ignore our resident antagonizing-yet-somehow-still-charming curmudgeon.

I figured if PBJ wants to keep it all the more reason to change  -- Actually makes no difference to me though some may not check in for awhile so making changes mid competition may cause some confusion.

[epetti]

I think keeping it but shortening to a week is reasonable.

[pbj]

We've had to endure some truly awful games.  If you dislike this one so bad, win the competition and we can all make love to your precious Space Zap in a couple of weeks.

 

[popsicle]

So, Kixfan, epetti, JDFan, jasonbar, and myself are ok with a 1 week end time, and PBJ wants to submit ---smurfy--- scores for 2 more weeks.

[leapinlew]

I'm going to agree with PBJ. For all you guys know, there is a The End fan out there who will see this game later.

[pbj]

Popsicle doesn't realize he's on a slippery slope that ends with accepting blurry VHS recorded scores and being mocked worldwide for his naivety.

[popsicle]

Popsicle doesn't realize he's on a slippery slope that ends with accepting blurry VHS recorded scores and being mocked worldwide for his naivety.

Ha 

I doubt we'd be having this conversation at all if the game didn't seem 'broken'.  But if the consistency and sanctity of this contest would be in question, then whatevs.  Also, I'm winning this round, so get bent.  I plan on ripping out that bronze 2600 joystick and replacing it with a chrome plated Intellivision controller. 

 

[deadmoney5]

10580.. First ever submission.  I had to dig this one out from my old Mame disks.

[pbj]

I don't understand why you guys can't just dust off your original PCB that you dumped the ROMs from....

It's also on the 60 in 1s everyone owns.

 

[kixfan]

Since I can't definitively say the game is broken and there is some concern about shortening the contest, we are going to go the full 2 weeks.   

For anyone who saw the movie Internship, Maybe we should track down the original coder (Professor Charles Xavier) and ask him to find the error.

I updated the scores.

[kixfan]

Popsicle doesn't realize he's on a slippery slope that ends with accepting blurry VHS recorded scores and being mocked worldwide for his naivety.

Ha 

I doubt we'd be having this conversation at all if the game didn't seem 'broken'.  But if the consistency and sanctity of this contest would be in question, then whatevs.  Also, I'm winning this round, so get bent.  I plan on ripping out that bronze 2600 joystick and replacing it with a chrome plated Intellivision controller. 

 Oh Yeah, well I plan to mount it to a Colecovision Turbo wheel!

[Slippyblade]

Oh Yeah, well I plan to mount it to a Colecovision Turbo wheel!

My grandmother had a Colecovision with all the accesories.  It was for family get togethers.  Played the hell outta that thing, great system.  Remember these bad boys?  Hated em.

[kixfan]

Oh Yeah, well I plan to mount it to a Colecovision Turbo wheel!

My grandmother had a Colecovision with all the accesories.  It was for family get togethers.  Played the hell outta that thing, great system.  Remember these bad boys?  Hated em.

Oh yeah!  I got those as well.   I loved playing Rocky and Super Controller Baseball with them.

[big10p]

8,500

[pbj]

8,380

[JDFan]

Had to go back and play again since couldn't stay behind pbj --- 11,700

[leapinlew]

Who do I talk to about getting this game extended another 2 weeks? 

[popsicle]

This game doesn't seem very stable.   I can't say that I have ever gotten to the chance stage before I picked this one.   One time it went to chance stage after only one level?      If anyone feels we need to move on I'm ok with that.   I'm SURE Popsicle wouldn't mind.       Or, maybe we shorten this to 1 week?    Sorry this one is a bit of a stinker.

Each game I've played since this conversation I've noticed the same pattern  When round 3 starts,  it says 'chance time' and then the mothership moves around dropping aliens like normal.  No bricks are returned the player as far as I can tell.  After clearing this stage, the mothership disappears again, the game blinks and your ship is reset to the middle, it hangs, chance time is displayed again with corrupted graphics on the bottom, then ships start coming out of an imaginary mothership on the right half of the screen (which is where I stay and shoot them as they come out).  This continues until your game is over. 


 

[JDFan]

This game doesn't seem very stable.   I can't say that I have ever gotten to the chance stage before I picked this one.   One time it went to chance stage after only one level?      If anyone feels we need to move on I'm ok with that.   I'm SURE Popsicle wouldn't mind.       Or, maybe we shorten this to 1 week?    Sorry this one is a bit of a stinker.

Each game I've played since this conversation I've noticed the same pattern  When round 3 starts,  it says 'chance time' and then the mothership moves around dropping aliens like normal.  No bricks are returned the player as far as I can tell.  After clearing this stage, the mothership disappears again, the game blinks and your ship is reset to the middle, it hangs, chance time is displayed again with corrupted graphics on the bottom, then ships start coming out of an imaginary mothership on the right half of the screen (which is where I stay and shoot them as they come out).  This continues until your game is over.

I've noticed the same behavior and when it is in the second or third round of chance time it gives you unlimited ships so you can get hit as many times as you want until they fill the "THE END" text but each hit means more chance of missing the enemies as the fill in the letters.

Improved a bit to 12,480 -- Just enough to pass jasonbar !!

[popsicle]

27,060

Fully exploiting this buggy POS.

[kixfan]

Nice Popsicle!   

I improved a little and you improved a lot.

17,980

[Generic Eric]

Checking in


Generic Eric   7980