Calling all Donkey Kong Masters!

[TheShanMan]

I've created a "PD" torrent of the Wiebe video Lutus mentioned. If you get it, please help seed it since it probably won't be a top 10 download or anything. I'm currently giving it all of my upload bandwidth, but would eventually like to back off from that somewhat. If you don't know where to look for it, don't ask here because of forum rules.

[CrazyKongFan]

Great description of waiting for the right spring Lutus. I believe that's what I was trying to describe that I noticed Steve was doing. Sometimes he'd take off for the ladder, then run back to the safe spot. I assume that's when he got 2 "rightmost" springs in a row. Incidently, I bought a DVD of one of his games from Mark Alpiger last weekend at Funspot. He sells several record breaking game videos, which I believe are legal copies (i.e. not bootlegs). One is him playing Crystal Castles (or Crystal, in Alpiger-speak ), he's also got a 20 Million Star Wars game, and an 8 hour Millipede game from Don Hayes. The latter 2 are amazing to watch. The Star Wars game is the tournament setting where you start with 6 shields and get no extras. I can't make it past level 5 on that game, even with more shields and some replenished after blowing up the Death Star. The DK one is a little better quality than the other one, and is Steve's first 1 million game submitted to Twin Galaxies.

[Lutus]

Great news.  I fired up the machine yesterday after work and had a great game.  My previous high score was 204,500.

My new high score is 281,900.  Quite a jump, and I had 2 DUMB deaths on the elevator screens.  One of them was trying to get the bottom prize, stupid.

So there is room for improvement for sure.  My play time was a little over a half hour.  Got 120,000 on my first man. 


Just thought somebody in this topic would be interested!!!

[Bender]

DAMN you Lutus!

Beat my hi score by 2,000 

Congratulations!

I had a game once that I got over 200,000 with my first guy then lost all 4 guys on ONE barrel board so so sad!

[Lutus]

Guess you better get crackin' then Bender!

[TheShanMan]

Awesome Lutus! Mine is 218k, so I gotta get practicing! I've been focused on finishing up some projects so I've taken a short break from playing. I'm hoping that a break will do me good when I return.

[Ummon]

I think I'm saturated. I've gone the other way and can't get above 40 grand. Didn't even break 200k last night on Robotron. Happens in cycles.

[Bender]

Guess you better get crackin' then Bender!

I'm Comin' for you Lutus!

I'm dying to break 300,000

[shiftybill]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the tips and strategies... I had an absolutely awesome game the other day, i had lost all my lives by around 150,000 then went on to score 260,600, which leads me to believe I can score higher, not once did i die on an elevator stage, i also recorded the game and have sent it to twin galaxies lol, number 15 in the world for mame lol 

[Ummon]

After some musical joysticks, now using a modified P360 set for 4-way, I'm getting back up in score for me. Accidentally got into some repeated barrel control.

[Ummon]

Hey, I've come back and got me a new high score of 109k. I lost my first guy at 3-4 and that was only because I panicked on the possibility of my hammer running out with a firefox coming down near me and tried to jump except the hammer didn't play out and I fell. Was the last rivet above me, and could've had the fox to boot! Ah well.

[Lutus]

I saw online somewhere someone had made a blank spreadsheet in excel where you could track your score as you progressed through the game.

Does anyone know where that is?

I think I would like to start tracking my scores per level and post a couple of my good runs on here to see where my weaknesses are and my possible improvements, etc...

It is either that or the kill screen!  HAHA

[Lutus]

Found it at a blog called Why can't I be Steve Wiebe

His version is one you fill out and it does some calculations to tell you what a perfect game would be if you hadn't died or something.

anyways, attached you will find an excel file of the modified for printing version via yours truly.  It is MUCH easier to read/print/use.

NOTE:  you can't upload .xcl files so i will add .txt to the end of the filename.  Just download the file then delete ".txt" on the end to turn it back into an excel file.

[TheShanMan]

Oh man. Played a game at lunch today and got 142k before my first death, and I had lost all my lives by 153k, which doesn't even qualify for my high score table. Talk about disappointment! I thought this game was destined to beat my high score of 218k.

My game is definitely improving, and I'm working on the most recent elevator technique Lutus mentioned (watching the second spring and retreating if necessary). At this point I consider a sub 100k game to be terrible (they're uncommon), 100k-125k to be poor, 125k-150k to be mildly disappointing, 150k-175k to be good, and 175k+ to be great (I have 3 200k+ games). I think I'm on the cusp of regularly getting 200k+ games though! My ability to get out of sticky situations is improving, and I'm panicking less in those situations.

[Lutus]

I just played 2 games and lost all my men on 1 stage.     I was at 181,000 when the problems started.

The next game I only got 133,000 or so because I started to rush stuff on the barrel stages.

Pissed off, so I got to put it down for a couple days...... maybe.   

[TheShanMan]

I always have to remind myself that 100 points doesn't matter, so don't take risks for such small rewards - life is precious! I also have a tendency of getting a little angry when I die, which subsequently either makes me sloppy or gives me a bigger sense of urgency, both of which cause me to take unnecessary risks. Emotion is NOT your friend when you're trying to top your high score! I have to continually talk to myself at the start of each level to keep me on track. I'm getting better at keeping emotion out of it, which is part of what I meant when I said my game is improving because it's clearly having a positive impact. I'm just not all the way there yet.

Pissed off, so I got to put it down for a couple days...... maybe.   

It's hard to do that when you're an addict like you and I! But it can help. Here's a suggestion: instead of playing for the next 2 days, spend the time watching the Wiebe video and see what you can pick up (inspiration if nothing else).

[Lutus]

HAHA, hey ShanMan, I think you missed this post about me....

I love Zelda II

That should make you chuckle for sure...   

[TheShanMan]

Oh yeah, I remember that thread. Please don't take a hammer to your cab!

[freon1200]

hey guys, im new here. came here from a link on klov.

just going to throw my tidbits on DK that seem to have been missed. for controlling the barrels. the first board is almost impossible, but sometimes towards the top of the screen you may be able to. the second barrel board is a little easier, but still not always. by the 3rd barrels it becomes pretty eazy. tho farther on occasionally youll lose control of them for like a stage or 2(of barrels)

on the rivets(and all other boards) theres about 5 seconds of free time after the timer hits 000. so when doing point pressing by DK, after the timer hits 000, you can still get 4-5 jump in. even on level 4 when your jumps arent gaining points due to bonus time going down too quick, if you dont miss any 100 point jumps, you can stil;l grab about 400-500 points at the end. tho if you miss any jumps its barely worth it.

also the foxfires are kind of arfraid of you, so if they are coming towards you and you dont want to run, push the joy back and forth, and theyll usually turn around.

also on this screen the backwards jump can be your greatest friend. as youll be going the other direction and the foxfires still think your going the opposite direction.(many usues for this)

al

[TheShanMan]

Thanks for adding your tips freon1200, and welcome. I've found that sometimes there is significant time after the timer hits 000, but not on all levels. I haven't bothered to figure out when there is and when there isn't though.

BTW, I've pretty much got the "watch the 2nd spring" technique down now. Not perfect at it yet, but usually I'll get it. I spent a couple of hours on saturday doing just that level with infinite lives (I would commit suicide instead of reaching pauline's platform). I found it quite difficult to train myself to watch the springs while operating mario. I also settled on a different object to fix my eyes on for judging what kind of spring it is. Just to the left of the yellow block I watch the red girder - the spot where you see "^" in the middle of the girder immediately to the left of that block. That was what finally got me success with this technique. If a spring bounces to the right of that ^, take off running. If the 2nd spring bounces to the left, keep going and if not, turn back. I even turn back if it's partially on the ^, though I imagine as I get better at the technique I may be able to optimize that decision a bit better.

[Lutus]

welcome freon1200, I posted that link at KLOV.

I think DK sometimes boils down to how nice the fireballs, firefox's, and wild barrels are to you.

That is why sometimes the pie factory is easy as...... pie, and sometimes it is not.

That is my technical opinion!

[freon1200]

hey thanks for the welcomes Lutus and Shanman. 
thats awsome with you finding out a good spot for keeping your eyes Shanman. leaning to do that can be rough. i always try not to start running up that ladder till im SURE the next spring is safe. because i NEVER look at mario while running. and if i start up the ladder and have to run back down while im still sorta looking away, i get killed sometimes.
 my biggest prob on DK is that if im not pretty far and my first guy dies, i always kill off all of my guys. tho ive have some of my best games where i died on level 4 and didnt kill my guys,  but i ALWAYS seem to die more on the earlier stages that later. im not sure if its b/c im in the zone, or if the game starts slow and its never a steady pace till about level 5 or so? so maybe the unevenss in the speed is my prob. 

[djruden]

ye freon, I got home after work yesterday and tested your theory about controlling the barrels and it does seem to be noticably easier when you get to level 3.  I think it has to do with the speed.  My consistency for high scores is getting better.  I've only broken 100k 2x now and I was able to get to 90k on my second game yesterday. 

My trouble spot is that darn 3rd elevator stage.  Those springs are brutal.  I've read about everything there is to find about it and have seen video too, I think it just comes down to practicing it enough to have the timing and placement down so I don't get hit.

The occasional rivet stage too when the foxfires aren't being cooperative.

[Ummon]

I have noticed there barrels aren't as often manipulated on the first stage; maybe 50% and seems to get easier when reaching the second-to-top girder. I'm thinking there's a similar, though a bit more complex, capacity with firefoxes and fireballs at the pie factory.

[freon1200]

hey djruden
nice scores =] man

yeah, im sure youve read it, but dont look at mario when running. theres 3 different springs. one bounces about 1/2 way off (left side) of the yellow thing. one almost on top of the yellow thing (but not quite) and one dead on the yellow thing. this one usually comes out onto the screen a little higher than the others. this is the one i start running on. while i wait for it, i stand half way on and halfway off the other yellow thing.(right side) it takes a few tries to get the timing down. but i start running before the spring is above my head. and when i get to the ladder i try to wait till i see the next spring. if all goes well you can make it up the ladder on ALL springs except the one that hits dead center (same spring you run on)(or same type) but the ones close to the center of the yelolow thing are tricky and i get them mixed up with the dead center ones sometimes. so i just keep running back and forth till i KNOW it the spring towards the left half of the yellow thing. then i run up.
but remember, dont watch mario watch the yellow thing the springs hit. after you do it a few times you should know how far to run so you are lined up with the ladder.  thers plenty of time to get it right. unless you take the long way around the board. if all goes well you should have roughly 50 seconds of time left when you get up there to get it right. if youve got mame. savestate and dont worry about getting up the ladder. just run right, as soon as you see what kind of spring it is (even if its a good one) run left. this will train you to dodge the bad ones, and at the same time train your eyes for recognizing which ones are good and which ones are bad.
hope this helps. tho i know this board is a pain in the butt till you get it. its kinda like backflips on a trampoline. you have almost a mental block and one day you pull it off. then it seems soooooo much easier.

[jeffsgames]

Thanks to these tips I broke 200K.  My high is now 234,600.  I can regularly get through the elevators, but I struggle on the later rivet levels.

[Lutus]

I classify the rivet levels in three different categories.

1-  Most of the firefox's spawn or congregate quickly to the top right corner of the board.

2- I can smash about 3 or 4 firefox's with the left hammer on the 2 level of the rivets

3- I get the AGGRESIVE firefox which doesn't allow me to complete the left hand side pattern of ladders/rivets quickly enough to get back down to the hammer.


Situation 2 is by far the easiest.  A normal smash and grab and usually leaves just 2 firefoxs to deal with in the top right hand corner.

Situation 1 happens fairly often.  In this situation I try to clear the left side rivets and stand directly below the left hammer.  I press "down" on the joystick over and over, and sometimes start moving down the ladder and get right back up.  I am trying to trick the firefoxs into moving down a level or two.  Once a couple of them move down, I grab the hammer and try to finish the level.

Situation 3 is the MOST annoying.  Either I cannot get to the top fast enough, or there is one right below ladder when going back down to get the hammer.  This is where you have to wing it.


I know there are no tips in this post.  Just general rambling about rivet stages.

[massive88]

We have the same last two initials, and phonetically the same first name.  Weird.

As for rivets, I think it helps to not try and force your pattern, if its there for the taking, by all means, but if its not, you have to improvise.  Moving up and down the tower can help split the firefoxes up, and use the middle hammer when you can to make sure you can seal as many as possible on the left hand side of the screen.

[freon1200]

nice on beakin 200,000 JeffsGames

what i do on scenarios 3 Lutus is. usually the firefox will come to the level the hammer is on while im on the 2nd from the top. i jump over the rivet space, then jump back with a backwards jump. sometimes 2 or 3 times. as long as you continue the backwards jump, the firefox often gos to the right with enough space to grab the hammer. another thing for grabbing the hammer is if a firefox is REAL close. jump under the hammer as oppsed to jumping to the left. because it takes a split second to bounce off the wall and bounce back and gives the firefox time to get in close.
another rivet tip not mentioned is this. you can bounce off of the invisable wall even on the top level. run to the edge and jump off. just make sure your feet are halfway off before pushing the jump button on the top level or youll die. it sometimes can save you if a firefox is coming at you. still not the safest way. but if you know the tecnique. itll come to you when you need it.

[Bender]

Guess you better get crackin' then Bender!

how's 292,800 sound Lutus

your move!


I didn't want to post till I broke 300,000 but man it's hard, almost made it and I lost a guy very early on like level 3 then had a great game after that

[freon1200]

nice score bender. =]

[Lutus]

You've got to be KIDDING me Bender!

I just picked up a Missile Command project cab today, but don't you fret.  I am crafty like Billy Mitchell.   

[TheShanMan]

how's 292,800 sound Lutus

I just took a week off of DK because I was burning myself out working on technique. Now I have to get cracking so I can catch up to you guys.

[Bender]

Finally!!!!!!!! over 300,000
yesterday was so heartbreaking coming so close I just had to try again today and after a few hours
317,600!!

Has any one made it to double digit levels?
I was one board away from level 10

I just took a week off of DK because I was burning myself out working on technique. Now I have to get cracking so I can catch up to you guys.

I'd taken some time off too, I think it's good every once in awhile to let it go
felt good to come back to it fresh, and it seemed to help

now on to 400,000

... don't you fret.  I am crafty like Billy Mitchell.  

That's what scares me so much about you Lutus! 

[freon1200]

i hit level 10 every once in a while, level 11 once, 13 once, and my best game ever was level 14. im thinking of setting my machine on 6 guys and try for the killscreen. but im too lazy to pull the machine away from the wall to get to the dips

[TheShanMan]

i hit level 10 every once in a while, level 11 once, 13 once, and my best game ever was level 14. im thinking of setting my machine on 6 guys and try for the killscreen. but im too lazy to pull the machine away from the wall to get to the dips

If you want to experience the killscreen, you could always play it in mame with the unlimited lives cheat. That's how I burned myself out last weekend - using the unlimited lives cheat to practice my modified technique for the elevator levels over and over and over and...

[Lutus]

Bender!!!

Sweet mercy, slow down with the high score updates.   

[Bender]

I Played trough all the way in Mame once (with unlimited guys) and it was a good learning experience to see that after level 5 it's pretty much the same till the end and it was cool to see the kill screen, but just not satisfying because, you know, the cheat and all, and it's not quite the same as and actual machine

Freon1200,
level 14 my god! what was the score on that game?

Lutus,
I'm taking a rest for a while.....                I think!?!

[TheShanMan]

How long did your game last? I'm tempted to do that, but I spend long enough just playing a normal game these days, so I'm reluctant to "waste" it on a game that doesn't count.

[Ummon]

I had taken a break, too, and then the evening after a new personal record on DK3 (162,000), I got my new DK score - 142,000. A decent increase from 116k.