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Author Topic: "Computer Space" Clone (1st Video Arcade Game) - Now Available!  (Read 28506 times)

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DaredevilDave

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Computer Space v1.0 Available Now!!!
(post updated 10/25/17)

Step right up and get your free copy of my brand new Computer Space sim!

What Is Computer Space?
Computer Space was the first coin operated video arcade machine and was released in 1971.

Computer Space is a very rare game (about 1,500 were built) and there are no ROMs or emulators available, so I recreated the game. I spent a lot of time getting the details precise to bring as much of the original gameplay to this as possible. It took me a bit longer to complete than I'd planned (what doesn't), but the game is finally complete.

MAME, Hyperspin, MaLa
The game was designed for incorporation into most MAME front end systems, like Hyperspin and MaLa. If your FE of choice can run EXE files than you can run Computer Space, no problem.

Screenshots
Ultra-HD Graphics! ;)


MAME style menu


One is the real game:


Youtube Video:

Downloads

Marquee


Wheel Art


Snap Image


Snap Videos (right click and Save As...)



Website
http://mdigitalmedia.com/computerspace/index.htm

Game Downloads:

Computer Space v 1.0

Windows 32/64 bit
Windows 32/64 bit version 1.0
Linux
Linux version 1.0



====================================
(original Post below)


I have to admit I either didn't know about or completely forgot about Computer Space, the first commercial coin-op video game until a few weeks ago.

I found a few clones/sims online but wanted something that worked well with with an arcade cabinet front end.

So I started fiddling with my own version. I have a working prototype with a ship you can fly - that's all you can do.

What I would want to do is make a version of the game that plays and looks as close to the original as possible (or exactly), and works seamlessly with MaLa etc.

I even recreated the way the shape of the player ship gets warped a bit as it rotates. I sort of made the ship out of individual pixels instead of one image or sprite. That way the "pixels" can be slightly out of alignment depending on the angle of the ship. You can see what I mean in the video below.

Here is a video of the original game. Sorry can't get find how to embed youtube vids.



The gameplay shouldn't take more than a few days to program. The hard part for me will be in making it play realistically because I have never played the real game - not to my knowledge anyways. So unless I can find someone local with a machine I will need to rely on videos, the other sims I found, and user input.

I would make the game a Win EXE, but can also make Mac and Linux versions. It will be easy to add to many front end systems. It should be easy to include all game features, there isn't much to it. I would include wheel art and marquees and videos too.

Is anybody interested in this? I'd love feedback to help get me motivated.

Can I legally do this and offer it here (free)? And should this be in the "projects" section?




« Last Edit: October 28, 2017, 05:03:58 pm by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

My Custom Motorcycle Cabinet Build For Custom Game (Daredevil Dave):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html

Howard_Casto

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2017, 03:25:28 pm »
Projects is more for hardware stuff, so you put it in the right place. 

Yeah I'm quite interested.  I mentioned 3d printing a mini computer space cab the other day and complained that I couldn't find a good sim to put on it.  It'd be nice if the Linux port would run on a pi.  ;)


DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2017, 04:22:27 pm »
I'm pretty sure it would (linux), but not familiar with the pie. As long as the specs are decent. I'd actually be happy to send you a very early build just to find out.

I'm hoping to find someone here in the SF Bay Area that has a machine I can maybe look at or even record audio from. I don't wanna swipe any audio from other people's work, so not sure where to turn there yet. Short of that maybe I can find someone here with a machine.

There are a few Youtube videos of the original game being played, and the video is routed straight from the machine. In other words it isn't somebody recording the screen with a camera. So I can use this to look at getting proportions correct, speed of the ship, how far missiles fly, how fast ship can rotate.

The video


I swiped the background starfield image from the video and cleaned it up. So I have the original background already.

I'm thinking of three view options:
- Fullscreen no border
- with a monitor bezel, slightly smaller play field.
- with part of the fiberglass cabinet visible, small playfield.

You could toggle between them using a TAB menu I think. I want to make any buttons and stuff like MAME.

I'm going for single player for now.

I'm having a rotten day (people, ugh!) so I think I will work on this today.

Here is a link to an existing simulator of the game. My only game play experience is from this.

http://www.computerspacefan.com/NewCompSpaceSim2.htm

Cool, I needed something to do for the rest of the day.

ETA:
I also want to add any (optional) bloom, scanlines or other visual effect that will help make this look like it is being played on the original hardware.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2017, 04:26:10 pm by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

My Custom Motorcycle Cabinet Build For Custom Game (Daredevil Dave):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html

raph

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2017, 05:17:41 pm »
This article might be useful to you, lots of pics and stuff. https://edfries.wordpress.com/2015/03/13/fixing-computer-space-3/

pbj

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2017, 06:48:02 pm »
This article might be useful to you, lots of pics and stuff. https://edfries.wordpress.com/2015/03/13/fixing-computer-space-3/

Interesting read, thanks for posting.  I shook my head at some of it but you can't argue with his results.

 :cheers:

DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2017, 07:03:33 pm »
Thanks raph, I just read that page, or most of it. That is one detailed guy! Which is cool for me. And man that would be cool to slowly bring back to life one of these cabs like that. I don't have the know how but I love that stuff.

Totally fascinating how that machine works. I always thought I might have a vague understanding of what it means when someone says a game machine is "IC" based or runs off of hardware. Now I actually do to some extent. What a trip!

I'm designing the saucer now. I'm trying to make it look authentic, so perfect square pixels are kind of out. I've got it mostly figured out. I've been watching videos very closely trying to get the shape just right.

On some of them it looks like the saucers have a type of propeller thingy on the left end, but I don't see that in all videos. It's in the one I linked to above. Like the side view of a propeller.

Do the saucers have these "propellers" or this some kind of artifact I'm seeing?

I will do some research on gameplay, like how often the saucers move, and how far. How often they shoot. Maybe I can find some info. If not I'll use a stopwatch and a ruler (haha) on all the video I can find.

I've never tried recreating someone else's video game before.

Edit to add:
Can someone help me out with Youtube tags? I will post some videos when I can.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2017, 07:05:07 pm by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

My Custom Motorcycle Cabinet Build For Custom Game (Daredevil Dave):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html

DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2017, 04:24:34 am »
Progress:

- Starfield background is the same as the original.
- Player ship moves, turns and fires missiles.
- Player missile is steerable.
- Two enemy saucers move randomly. Timing needs work (on everything) but it's in the ballpark.
- Enemy saucers can be destroyed when shot, or crashed into.
- I made a screen "flash" for when there is a death, but it's just a start and not used yet.

I will make a to-do list as soon as it is shorter than my "done" list ;)

It's a pretty simple game, of course, so it's an easy job. Getting it to look and play authentic is where the work will be.

I'll get some pics up and hopefully a video too tomorrow/today (Saturday).

Looks like I'm doing this! I am a game developer so this is right up my alley. I want it to be perfect and will work at it until it is. Well... close anyways ;)

ETA:
I read that the Saucers shoot toward whatever "quadrant" the player ship is in and not using any fancy math for targeting. Their shots seem pretty accurate so I'm guessing the quadrants are small (not really quadrants).
« Last Edit: August 19, 2017, 04:28:25 am by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

My Custom Motorcycle Cabinet Build For Custom Game (Daredevil Dave):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html

1500points

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #7 on: August 20, 2017, 12:19:08 am »
The fpga for this is already done and working. I have been waiting for someone to assemble some for sale as complete fpga without having to be an fpga dev to get it going


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2017, 06:17:16 pm »
Here is a screenshot of the game so far.

Disclaimer: Nothing is finished or looks the way it will when complete. Just posting this to prove I am actually doing this ;)

- Saucers fly and shoot randomly for now. They move approximately the same speed and directions (eight) as the original game
- Player ship is fully controllable and shoots steerable missiles
- Saucers and ships need redesign until I can get them right (graphics)
- Score is kept although I have no scoreboard yet.

Again, this will work with popular front ends and will be free. I'm not exactly crazy about this game (Computer Space), but I thought it would be cool to have a decent version of it available for multi-arcade cabinet use. I can't believe nobody has done this.



Other notes:

The player ship is built with individual "pixels". I did this so that when the ship rotates it will "warp" a little bit as the pixels find the closest position for themselves. You can see that in the image.

The ships pixels don't look right but it's okay for now.

The saucers are just animated sprites.

The game play works fine. In fact it's almost done. I need to get the saucers shooting as they should, which will take about 20 minutes. The graphics and finer touches will take a little time, but not much.

If anyone else reads this and is interested please let me know. It helps motivate me knowing I'm not the only one. And anyone with access to a real machine - I would love to pick your brain and have you maybe test this for me when ready! :) I will update the game for as long as it takes until a consensus is reached that it is good.

ETA:
I'm going to make some images for the score numbers. I want to recreate the way they look and a font is too clean, plus I can't find a good one anyways. The numbers on any images and videos I can find are far from perfect looking (which is cool!). I think the method with which they are displayed gives them an overlap look where the lines intersect.

Posting this video again:
« Last Edit: August 20, 2017, 06:42:16 pm by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

My Custom Motorcycle Cabinet Build For Custom Game (Daredevil Dave):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html

DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #9 on: August 20, 2017, 11:09:04 pm »
Score and timer works with deliberately funky looking custom sprites for "fonts".



The numbers are the same size as the original game, and are in the exact same spot. if you look at the real game, the numbers in relation to the background stars are virtually the same. I need to alter the color and maybe blend them in a little in some way.

The game is almost entirely functional now.
- game doesn't end when the timer reaches zero.
- I need to program in the functions for Start, quarters, etc for front ends.
- no sound yet
- Saucers "AI" doesn't exist yet. Should be about 3 lines of code :)

This is all very easy stuff, just a matter of me taking the time to do it. Then I will fuss with the graphics a bit.

Comments?
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

My Custom Motorcycle Cabinet Build For Custom Game (Daredevil Dave):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html

pbj

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #10 on: August 20, 2017, 11:32:41 pm »
Looking good.  Keep coding.


DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2017, 04:36:50 pm »
Thank you! I have been :)

Game is functional - keeps score, ends when timer reaches the max time. I just need to work on the saucers missile aim, and I won't be able to maybe for a few days.

I ran the game in my custom made front end and it works great. Credits, player start, and exiting the game. I'd like to make a MAME style options menu. If I get lazy it will just be an INI file you can hand edit.

Video of my front end (figured out youtube tags - there are none!):
!

The game is an exe so you'll need to use shortcuts or a batch file depending on your FE. Mine uses shortcuts.

A soon as I get my websever going I will make test versions available for people. Right now I have no place to upload anything.

Few more notes since I'm bored:
- As far as I know there is no indication as to how many quarters/credits the machine has in it. I'll assume there is a light on the control panel for this or something. Anybody know about this?

« Last Edit: August 24, 2017, 12:35:54 am by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

My Custom Motorcycle Cabinet Build For Custom Game (Daredevil Dave):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html

Howard_Casto

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #12 on: August 22, 2017, 08:14:47 pm »
How big is it?  You can upload things directly in a post so long as they are under a couple of megs.  If not we have a download repository here... or I can throw it on my site. 

headkaze

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #13 on: August 23, 2017, 11:10:36 am »
I don't know much about the hardware used for "Computer Space" but I briefly searched Google using the terms "computer space emulator" which gave me the site http://www.masswerk.at/icss/

Looking at one of the Javascript source files (http://www.masswerk.at/icss/pdp1_engine.js?v=2.8.7fx) I noticed about half way down the the following comments:

Code: [Select]
/*
DEC PDP-1 emulation
original emulation by Barry Silverman, Brian Silverman, and Vadim Gerasimov, 2012
(c.f. http://spacewar.oversigma.com/html5/)

Extended by N.Landsteiner 2012-2015
(fairly complete implemntation of CPU and paper tape reader.
still missing: sequence break, flexo writer, paper tape punch.
there is no internal memory buffer, since memory is implemented
as an array.)
Most important changes:
* added hardware multiply/divide option
* re-implemented arithmetics, sense switches, and program flags
* re-implemented shift-group (no loops)
* added emulated hardware multiply/divide
* added xct in-place skips
* extended some iot and opr instructions and flags logic
* added test-word (not zeroed by reset)
* added paper-tape emulation and status register
* added realtime count
*/

So it would appear that this version actually emulates the hardware. If accuracy was something you were trying to re-create I suggest porting the emulation code rather than re-create it based on observations of the game running.

Howard_Casto

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #14 on: August 23, 2017, 02:43:09 pm »
With mentions of a paper tape reader and such it sounds like it might be computer space's main frame cousin...  the one with the black hole in the center ect...  The name escapes me. 

Actually.... looking closer, that's the pdp port of computer space.  They are emulating the pdp and running the computer space program on it because there is a project to revive pdp 1 machines.  In other words it isn't computer space, it's yet another homebrew of computer space..... just a really weird one. 

DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #15 on: August 24, 2017, 02:41:21 pm »
That stuff is over my head, I'm a  half-assed programmer who got lucky with a few games haha. That hardware thing mentioned half a dozen posts ago sounds a little interesting too, but I want something I can play on my computer and arcade machine, and in this decade preferably.

Like I said, I didn't know this game existed until recently, and so far nobody I have mentioned it to has ever heard of it. I can't believe there are no proper remakes or simulations after all these years. Props to the people who made a few, but they just aren't good enough for an arcade cab.

I will make a a faithful recreation of the game play, hopefully with the help of some testers. If someone comes out with a better one later I'm cool with that. I would have been happy downloading someone elses work if it existed. Much less work!

I have some important work that needs to be done before I can complete this game. Hopefully in a few days.

I don't know the legalities of any of this, but for now I have made wheel art, snap, a marquee, and 30 sec video for front ends. I'm trying to figure out who owns the IP for this game, if anyone.

Maybe I will upload a vid later today.
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

My Custom Motorcycle Cabinet Build For Custom Game (Daredevil Dave):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html

pbj

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« Last Edit: August 24, 2017, 03:19:02 pm by pbj »

DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #17 on: August 24, 2017, 05:17:41 pm »
Cool thanks!

I'm messing around with different frame rates for the game to simulate the feel of the original. Not sure if I should though. I can make it optional.

I see that the original game had a GE television stuffed inside, at least in a video I watched. I'm curious at what refresh rate or fps the game ran at, or maybe what it appears to run at. Any ideas?

I have the saucers firing at the ship properly. For now they aim exactly where the ship is and fire. I will adjust that later. I've watched videos and the ships are pretty accurate, though I've read there is no advanced targeting going on.

I want to simulate the screen flash accurately (explosion). I almost have it, but the saucers color isn't inverted using my technique. I have a few workarounds in mind if needed. I wonder if I should make the flash optional just in case some find it annoying, or seizure inducing.

Questions for anyone who knows:

- is there any kind of logo or title during the attract mode? Or anything at all? All I've seen is the saucers flying around until a game is started. Hey the easier the better so I'm cool with that! I'm guessing there is nothing and not so much as a boot screen since there is no computer ;)

- I need sounds. Maybe I can find someone with a local machine. I have a good recorder. If not, is there anyone out there that can record audio off their machine? I realize this is a long shot but may as well ask. Hmm, 1300-1500 machines built ever, half a dozen people in this thread...  ;D

If I can't do either of these things, I can resort to ripping audio from Youtube videos, at least for now.

« Last Edit: August 24, 2017, 10:27:53 pm by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

My Custom Motorcycle Cabinet Build For Custom Game (Daredevil Dave):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html

raph

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #18 on: August 27, 2017, 03:10:04 pm »
I know Ed, who did the article above on the original cab restoration. I just sent him an email pointing here, maybe he will have time to jump in and answer your questions.

DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #19 on: August 28, 2017, 05:34:20 pm »
Cool!

I'm still working on it, just finishing up another project at the same time.

I'm almost done with a MAME style game menu (press tab key)

I screwed up my saucer missiles so now they don't fire correctly anymore. Can't figure out what I did!

I have a full screen view and an optional view that shows the upper part of the cabinet and monitor and all that. Makes the playfield a bit small but what the heck.

I would post a video but this other project popped up. Almost done!
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

My Custom Motorcycle Cabinet Build For Custom Game (Daredevil Dave):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html

DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #20 on: August 29, 2017, 08:59:39 pm »
Video of the game!

Youtube description:
Early video of a mostly working Computer Space clone I'm working on. Computer Space was the first commercial coin-op video game.

The ship graphics, speed, turning rate, and many other things need to be worked on still.

Game will run on Mac, PC and Linux when it is complete. It is compatible with MAME front ends, such as MaLa and Hyperspin.


I see I uploaded the most boring part of the video where my ship barely even moves :(
!blablabla

There are things I am unsure of and/or that need to be fixed.

To do
- The missiles in my game are short lines and I think they were just dots in the original.
- I believe missiles are not destroyed in the real game after they collide with a ship. Mine don't either.
- Upon being hit, player missiles should spin out of control as the ship spins.
- Not sure about the turning radius of the missiles, but I can figure this out, as well as speed of all objects and ship rotation. Theses speeds are always the same so it's easy to figure out as long as I have a video to watch. Of course player testing will come into play too.
- Screen flash isn't completely finished.

Done
- I now have a working MAME style Tab menu
- Game has sounds ripped from videos. Clean as I could get them for now. They probably sound as bad as the original cabinets :)
- Everything else.

I will make a copy of this available real soon, I promise.

Comments on the video are welcome. If you see something wrong please let me know!
« Last Edit: August 30, 2017, 02:10:17 am by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

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Howard_Casto

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #21 on: August 30, 2017, 12:39:26 am »
There's no video dude.  You need to put a description in between the url tags as half of the browsers out there can't see the depreciated youtube support on this site.  That way we can click on the link.

DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #22 on: August 30, 2017, 02:12:52 am »
I fixed it but I still don't see the video on one of my PCs.

Here's a link:


![url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKuzv75_nCE&feature=youtu.be#]! No longer available[/url]

If it doesn't work in this post then I guess copy/paste the url above? Not sure what else to do.

ETA
Sorry video seems wonky still in some browsers. Can anyone help me out? I'm still trying.
« Last Edit: August 30, 2017, 03:11:16 am by DaredevilDave »
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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #23 on: August 31, 2017, 05:58:39 pm »
I watched it on YouTube, and it looks like it's come along nicely!

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #24 on: August 31, 2017, 09:22:10 pm »
Yeah it looks good.  Something that seems to be ruining the illusion is when the screen inverts.  You can see black around the spaceship dots.  I don't know if that's even fixable.

DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #25 on: September 03, 2017, 01:39:51 am »
The black around the dots is fixable. The flash was a quickie. It actually does more than invert the colors in the real game it seems.

I'm still a few days away from continuing work on it.

Thank you for the input! I will post more vids, and a copy of the build when I can.
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DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #26 on: September 06, 2017, 10:59:12 pm »
Things I have done:
- player missiles spin out of control when player ship is hit and spinning.
- fixed broken saucer missiles. No idea how I screwed that up.
- F3 key resets game.
- Tab menu is functional. Options are controls, set game timer, free play, screen flashes, volume, brightness (brightness may end up being a placeholder for something else)

I have it so there is a glow around each object like in an old monitor. Well that's the idea. I will make an option for this type of stuff too. If you have an old monitor then you don't need to fake it.

To do:
- Player ship needs a max speed, right now there isn't one.
- Finish the explosion flash.
- Custom controls. Not looking forward to this.
- Saucer AI may need tweaking. You guys can let me know once you try it.
- Saucer animations may need tweaking (the dots that move left and right across the ship). I need to figure out if there is any logic behind the patterns or if they are random - fast, slow, and reverse.

It is ready for testing and tweaking of the game mechanics. I STILL need to get my webserver up so I can upload the file for y'all to download. I've been both busy and lazy. More lazy I must admit. Maybe tomorrow.

« Last Edit: September 06, 2017, 11:02:17 pm by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

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DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #27 on: September 06, 2017, 11:30:17 pm »
Menu


Alternate view. Could zoom it in a bit maybe. Graphics need work.
Thanks to whoever I swiped this photo from. I changed the color and edited it a bit. I was going to do it in 3D, and maybe I will.


Hours of action packed fun!!!  ;)


"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #28 on: September 07, 2017, 12:28:58 am »
I'm looking forward to playing this.  Chop, chop.

 :cheers:

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #29 on: September 07, 2017, 12:42:28 am »
Yeah man, release a demo or something. 

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #30 on: September 07, 2017, 03:39:27 am »
Computer Space Demo Available
Version 0.6
Windows only (for now)

I want comments!
If you are familiar with the real game, please help me make this sim as accurate as possible!

Read the ReadMe file. I guess the game is ready for some beta testing?!?! We shall see.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Zk02UCSp7gX2RFbW5tSUc5Y00/view?usp=sharing

Please let me know if you have any problems downloading or running the game.

You will need a somewhat modern computer to run this (486 ain't gonna cut it) because I used a current game engine to design it. Unity 3D(2D) isn't the best choice for this game, but it's what I have been using for the past 7 years, so I just went with that. It has unnecessary overhead for a 2D game like this, but oh well. It is easy to port to OSX, Linux and other platforms as well, which I will be doing.

ETA
I will make my wheel art, snap, marquee and video available as well!
« Last Edit: September 07, 2017, 04:01:59 am by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

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nexusmtz

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #31 on: September 08, 2017, 01:54:39 am »
Please let me know if you have any problems downloading or running the game.
Ran fine on my test XP VM, so it should run for most people, but I don't have any point of comparison for feedback on the speeds.

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #32 on: September 08, 2017, 02:07:23 am »
Linux Version - I have not tested this as I don't have a Linux install available.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Zk02UCSp7gWkFkQmpPUWhTUHM/view?usp=sharing

This version is slightly newer than the Windows version

- Ship has maximum speed now.
- Ship missile lasts slightly less time on screen.
- Bezel view graphics are slightly updated.

I wonder if I should simulate the weird scoring "glitch" that was in the original game, or some of them maybe. Where the score wouldn't display correctly if the player got more than 9 points.

Do I need to make an OSX version? Howzabout a "pro mode" where the saucers AI is a lot more difficult. Maybe like an Easter Egg feature ;)

How about 2 player? Please say no....nah it would be easy.

My last major task is custom controls.

Good to hear it ran for you, nexusmtz! Thank you!
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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #33 on: September 08, 2017, 09:44:25 am »
The Windows version plays very well.  I haven't played an actual machine so no basis of comparison for me.


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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #34 on: September 10, 2017, 12:33:52 am »
Very cool!

Here is some artwork I made. Can't stand blank spots where images should be in my front end!

I will improve the marquee later. Having the title on the right looks better in my menu, but I can make a few variations. Maybe narrower too.
I'll do a vid soon.

If you have any art requests let me know.

Marquee


Snap


Wheel Art - transparent


The game is really easy, but in 1971 controlling a ship on a screen was brand new and was difficult for people to play. I can improve the AI if it isn't correct.

I am having an issue with recovering after colliding with a saucer. Sometimes your ship will keep reappearing on top of the saucers and explode repeatedly. I will come up with a fix.

Also, my ship disappeared once after a death and never reappeared. I think I know why, but it's a known bug.

I wish there was some kind of boot-up screen I could simulate, but there was no computer in this game. Maybe I can simulate an old CRT warmup fade-in hah. I assume that is all you would see.
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #35 on: September 10, 2017, 01:24:49 am »
Looks great man.  Great job. 

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #36 on: September 12, 2017, 12:26:04 pm »
 Before I even make time to try it out, may I say THANK YOU for your hard work. I'm a huge fan of old black and white games and have often wondered if anyone would ever do this kind of thing for any of them since I assume there's a real possibility most of them won't be emulated in MAME (or DICE or any other way) in my lifetime.

DaredevilDave

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #37 on: September 13, 2017, 12:46:54 am »
Looks great man.  Great job.

Thank you! Have you given the linux version a try by chance?

I'm not sure this will run on a Pi. I did a little research - apparently Unity compiles linux files that are not compatible with Pi (this may have changed), BUT they are compatible with an Android emulator that runs on the Pi.

Just what I've read.


Before I even make time to try it out, may I say THANK YOU for your hard work. I'm a huge fan of old black and white games and have often wondered if anyone would ever do this kind of thing for any of them since I assume there's a real possibility most of them won't be emulated in MAME (or DICE or any other way) in my lifetime.

You are very welcome, and thank you for the kind words!

I found DICE about 9 months ago. I wanted to run the motorcycle game (Stunt Cycle?) but I don't know if it will work well in MAME front ends because, if I remember correctly, there are menus you are forced to go through when you run DICE, like setting controls. I tried to contact the creator of DICE, but no dice! :(

Just to be clear, Computer Space will not run in MAME but it is compatible with front ends that can run EXEs, like MaLa. In my own front end the game blends seamlessly into the menu/launch system.

I wonder if anyone would be interested in a mobile version? It would take me less than one day to make it compatible with a touch screen. Would people want the "First Arcade Game Ever" on their phones?

ETA:
To Do:

- finish the damn explosion flash!!! I can make it look perfect!
- Need to resolve ship collisions - sometimes the ship stays on top of the saucers after a crash and they just keep crashing repeatedly.
- Bug where ship won't reappear after it explodes multiple times in quick succession.
- Tweaks to ship speed, turning, etc.

I can fix all of these, no problem. That's about all that remains!
« Last Edit: September 13, 2017, 01:08:14 am by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

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http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #38 on: September 13, 2017, 10:30:28 am »
I found DICE about 9 months ago. I wanted to run the motorcycle game (Stunt Cycle?) but I don't know if it will work well in MAME front ends because, if I remember correctly, there are menus you are forced to go through when you run DICE, like setting controls. I tried to contact the creator of DICE, but no dice! :(
You are running the latest version (0.9) available here, right?

You only have to configure the controls once.

You can run individual DICE games without going through the menu system, just add the game name after the executable.

If you:
  1. Unzip the emulator files into C:\DICE\
  2. Put the ROMs in C:\DICE\roms\

. . . then "C:\DICE\dice.exe stuntcycle" works as a shortcut or from command prompt -- exactly as described in the README.txt file.  ::)


Scott

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Re: "Computer Space" Clone Project - Anyone Interested?
« Reply #39 on: September 14, 2017, 01:14:12 am »
New download soon!

I have my web server up and will upload the newest Linux and Windows builds.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2017, 12:48:06 am by DaredevilDave »
"Computer Space" (1st coin-op game ever) for MAME Front Ends Available Now!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,155041.0.html

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http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151106.0.html