Defender Thread (was 5/2/08: The Day I No Longer Suck!)

[TOK]

The mechanics and overall flow of the game feel correct. The enemy sprites are a bit simpler than their arcade counterparts, but the real difference is the flicker. In the arcade game everything looks rock solid, not so much in the computer version. All the enemies are there, including swarmers from the pods. They're not quite as random, seemingly coming out in a straight line before spreading out.
Other things, like the appearance of the laser fire and the large explosions that scatter particles everywhere are surprisingly good.

I wasn't sure anyone would be interested, so I didn't try to get video. I still have it setup, perhaps I'll try and see if I can capture it decently.

I also realized I'm missing a bunch of Atari cartridges. I've been out of my parents house for about 17 years, but I think they're still in my bedroom closet there. I have the books for Gyruss and Frogger, and the complete box and manual for Super Cobra. I also have 200+ 5.25 floppies full of stuff, but I didn't even get into that today. 

[Ummon]

Very good Defender player, playing on hard difficulty.  He doesn't fly as fast as I like to, but he shoots like I do (and how I tried to describe a few posts ago).

He's pretty 'do-or-die'. I think I'm too cautious. I've found that on a lot of games, perhaps games in general. Afraid of dying and you die. Laugh at death and you, generally, prevail. (Or you die anyways but don't get frustrated about it.)

[TOK]

Reading the other control panel thread ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=82479.0 ) has me back in the mood for playing again... I should clarify that, since I wasn't out of the mood, but I moved the game in from the garage when the weather got really hot. Its not in a convenient spot right now.

[TOK]

I was playing my Defender bartop out in the garage when I posted this thread. During the worst of the summer head, I brought it in the house. I didn't really get to play it much because I just didn't have a good place to put it. Sitting on my computer desk, the panel is up a bit too high to be comfortable. Its been cooling down, so I moved it back out to the workbench. Played a few games and felt VERY rusty. It almost seemed like the thing was angry at me for letting it sit. I had Landers picking up like crazy in the first attack wave.

This morning, I had some coffee fired up Defender and got a new high score on my first game. My previous best was 104,xxx. I just busted off a 162,xxx game. Still not really great in the realm of Defender, but a major accomplishment in the realm of uncoordinated me. 

[TOK]

jrock is releasing an all-in-one Williams board that can be used either as a multi-game or to resurrect dead dedicated hardware.
Seemed like there were a lot of guys with dedicated Defenders that had issues.

http://www.jrok.com/hardware/wsf/

[leapinlew]

Woohoo! I've joined the 100k club... FINALLY.

I can totally relate to the feelings TOK expressed in his posts as I creeped over 90k for the first time. Good times.

[TOK]

 

Nice... I have all my top 10's over 100k, but still haven't broken 200k. Perhaps I've reached the limits of my coordination. 

Its just now getting back into the season where I play games out in the garage at night. Its in the 40's out there most of the Winter. Golden Tee has been getting all the play since I got it working. Its a great hanging out and beer drinking game if you shut off the shot clock.

I'll start playing Defender again now that you posted this. Congrats!

[leapinlew]

Nice... I have all my top 10's over 100k, but still haven't broken 200k. Perhaps I've reached the limits of my coordination. 

Its just now getting back into the season where I play games out in the garage at night. Its in the 40's out there most of the Winter. Golden Tee has been getting all the play since I got it working. Its a great hanging out and beer drinking game if you shut off the shot clock.

I'll start playing Defender again now that you posted this. Congrats!

Whew! I'd love it if I could get my top 10 over 100k. Right now it feels like a lucky game. You know how the game works, my next 5 games I might have a hard time breaking 50k. You've inspired me to keep on keep'n on.

I'm considering getting the jrok board and building a full size when I move back home. 

[TheShanMan]

I have my defender set for 5 lives and difficulty set to the easiest setting, and I have yet to break 50k. Yes, I suck. But I haven't dedicated myself to getting good at it yet either.