Calling all Donkey Kong Masters!

[Ummon]

the last guy was on the mudpies with a hammer. ive been dying a lot on those lately. the conveyer moves me too fast and the flames go under my hammer =[
lol

Ah, I hadn't thought about that happening, as it does with barrels. I ALWAYS stop just before hitting a barrel. I generally don't get the hammer on pies anymore (unless the fireballs come down too fast) as even on early levels the points don't make up for the time wasted in letting more fireballs come out.

[TheShanMan]

Awesome Lutus! Man, you guys are leaving me in the dust! I'm still at 218,900. Seems like forever since I got that, but then again I haven't played much lately.

[Bender]

  Cheers Lutus! Nice Work!


Oh, I knew you were crafty Lutus
man, that is gonna be a tough score to beat

[Lutus]

Forgot to mention that I was on the second barrel screen of level 11.  So basically, I was halfway through the game.  I think the kill screen is an obtainable goal. 

I have learned numerous techniques from Steve's gameplay to learn where the "safe haven" areas of the barrel stage are.

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned is, do not go up the ladder underneath of Kong until Kong commits (turns) to release the barrel.  All the wild barrels come from betwen Kong's legs.  Once he turns and commits to release, run up the short ladder.  This way, if the next barrel is a wild one, you won't be stuck on the ladder.  This technique saved me TWICE.

freon1200, getting that many points on one man is what gives me hope that the kill screen is possible.  Only problem was that the game took me over 50 minutes!!

[djruden]

I'm starting to get to that point where time is now a factor when I play DK.  My high is 178,500 so far.  I used to throw a steak on the grill and play a game or 2 before going outside to flip it over, but now I get worried when I'm doing something like that and I get pre-occupied that it's gonna get burnt because I'm doing well and my game is taking long.

It's the gamers plight I suppose.  Gone are the games I could get in quick before heading to work. 

[Lutus]

Does anyone have a video of Billy Mitchell gameplay other than the extras on King of Kong?

I hear he is amazing at point pressing the barrel boards.

[toomuch45]

Forgot to mention that I was on the second barrel screen of level 11.  So basically, I was halfway through the game.  I think the kill screen is an obtainable goal. 

I have learned numerous techniques from Steve's gameplay to learn where the "safe haven" areas of the barrel stage are.

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned is, do not go up the ladder underneath of Kong until Kong commits (turns) to release the barrel.  All the wild barrels come from betwen Kong's legs.  Once he turns and commits to release, run up the short ladder.  This way, if the next barrel is a wild one, you won't be stuck on the ladder.  This technique saved me TWICE.

freon1200, getting that many points on one man is what gives me hope that the kill screen is possible.  Only problem was that the game took me over 50 minutes!!

aaahh haaaa so no wonder why them barrels be killin me so much on that stage i could never get pass it

[extendedplayarcade]

I saw this post and noticed someone embedded my buddies youtube.com video  Richie rocks it at DK.  He has a video game store in Flemington, NJ www.knucklesandwich.com will bring ya to his site.  Tell him the guy from What Exit Movies sent ya.

Richie on live TV got to the kill screen NBC live morning show.  That Billy guy was there too but he didn't play.

Richie was also the lead singer in the band Knuckle Sandwich.  They rock but are on a break right now.  I hope they get back together.

anyways here is that video i saw posted on the 2nd post
Thanks
Brent
www.extendedplayarcade.com

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[CrazyKongFan]

I was at Funspot X, but unfortunately, I didn't get to see the kill screen. (and Brian Kuh wasn't running around saying Donkey Kong kill screen coming up ) He may have done it before I showed up (it started Thursday, I didn't get there until late Friday afternoon). I did get to see a couple of Ms Pac-Man kill screens though. They were strange looking. It was the "chase" board (3rd board), upside down, with no inner maze drawn, some random garbage on the screen, and the outline of the Pac-Man maze.

Also, haven't gotten any higher DK scores, but I'm starting to do the point pressing with the bottom hammer. My brother and I both played on a real machine the other day, he beat me by about 2K, but he was 4 or 5 screens farther than I was, due to my point pressing

[TheShanMan]

OK guys, it's time to up the ante. I went from a slump of not getting anywhere near my prior high of 218,900 to getting 399,200! Previously I had never reached level 8; this time I got to level 11!

What do I credit this improvement to? Certainly some of it was luck of the draw - I didn't have a ton of wild barrels to deal with. But my last game was setting it for infinite lives and playing all the way to the kill screen. Honestly, I was really getting sick of playing that game since it took so long, but I think that helped to not only boost my skills, but boost my confidence as well. It seemed to me that the game simply doesn't get any harder after some low level number like 5 or something. It helps mentally knowing that the next level isn't going to be harder than prior levels. Also, I think I've finally made it over the hump of mastering the "new" approach to the elevator levels. I wouldn't say that I can do it in my sleep or anything, but I didn't lose a single life on elevators.

So if you're ever in a slump, I suggest playing with the infinite lives cheat and play all the way to the kill screen (be sure you have 2 hours to spend!). Try your best to play as if you didn't have infinite lives (it's hard to play exactly the same, but after all, you're trying to improve your skills here). I would say this approach is probably only effective if you've already mastered barrel control and are at least pretty good at getting past the elevator levels (not counting the 1st 2 of course). After all, you want to boost your confidence and skills, not get bogged down on an elevator screen, dying a dozen times trying to get past the springs!

[Jdurg]

I figured it was time for myself to give it a go.  Granted, compared to the massive skills being shown by other participants here my scores are a joke, but still, it is an accomplishment.     I hooked up my finished Control Panel to my laptop which was hooked up to my 42" TV in my living room.  DK never looked so good.   

So I fired up DK and played it for basically the second time in my entire life using arcade controls.  I've only played before using control pads.

My first game was a pathetic 5600 points.  Let's just say my skills are pretty bad.  After a short while though, I was rountinely putting up around 12,000.  Also keep in mind that this is with the dipswitches set at 6 lives and an extra one at 7,000 points.  So with that in mind, my top score is now 35600.  I got to the second rivets stage and couldn't get past yet.  Still, I was getting better and will keep going at it.  This game is freaking addicting.

Now back to he real scores.   

[TheShanMan]

Hey, that's great Jdurg! You gotta start somewhere. Keep in mind that most if not all of us with the high scores have been playing all of our lives (well, probably not continously, but you know what I mean). This was my favorite game as a kid and I couldn't begin to estimate how much money I spent on it (and if you include playing it in MAME? oh man!).

So keep it up! It's a great game. And benefit from all the tips provided here. Probably the best starting point for you though would be to read that DK book that was published way back when DK came out. I think the pdf (which contains the whole book) is mentioned early on in this thread, and it was originally introduced to the forums here by buckethead in a thread in misc arcade I believe. Great book, but don't take everything as gospel. I had it as a kid and there were a couple of suggestions that I've always thought were wrong. But overall it should help you A LOT. Once you master the tips and tricks mentioned there, come back and scan for tips mentioned here. You'll be in the six figures in no time!

[Jdurg]

Yeah, those books have helped as I flew right through the elevator stage the first time I got there.     It's the barrel control that I'm working on and having some difficulty at first.

[TheShanMan]

Well keep in mind that in the first couple of barrel stages especially, barrel control is not as easy. If you're wanting to work on barrel control I wouldn't focus much on it until you get to at least the 3rd barrel stage.

BTW, the second elevator stage is twice as hard as the first, and the 3rd (and subsequent) is at least twice as hard as the 2nd.

[Jdurg]

Well keep in mind that in the first couple of barrel stages especially, barrel control is not as easy. If you're wanting to work on barrel control I wouldn't focus much on it until you get to at least the 3rd barrel stage.

BTW, the second elevator stage is twice as hard as the first, and the 3rd (and subsequent) is at least twice as hard as the 2nd.

Lol.  I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse!   

[djruden]

All right!  I've owned my DK machine for just short of a month now and having only really played an official DK machine a few times before in my life ( I did have DK on atari 2600 and since the release of the Wii, purchased the NES version on Virtual Console but those are a little different )  but I have finally broke the 200k barrier. 
Barely...

** cell phone pic

Onward and Upward!

[Jdurg]

Awesome!  I've never seen such positive reinforcement with regards to a videogame in my life until I came across this thread.  Soon, this thread will house the best of the DK world ever!  (Good god I need a life.  :p )   

[Lutus]

TheShanMan, seems like every weekend for the past three weeks, someone in this topic ups the high score.

Great score. 

I only have the dedicated DK, but I have been thinking of changing my settings to 6 men and see how far I can get.  I guess that is when I have an hour and a half or so to devote to the game!

[TheShanMan]

Thanks Lutus. I would love to have a DK cab one day. Heck, you know a dedicated DK would get plenty of play in my household! No mame cab though? You're missing out!

[Lutus]

I had a MAME cab in a Space Invaders cabinet, but dismantled it to restore the SI cab.  I also have a dedicated Dig Dug and a pinball machine.  I also have a Ms Pac that has a 48-in-1 in it.

I will be making another MAME cabinet, but not soon enough!!!

I LOVE my dedicated DK.

[Lutus]

Also, it may have gotten missed because of TheShanMan's amazing display but,

I am still looking for some gameplay footage of Billy Mitchell playing DK, other than on the extras of KoK dvd.

Thanks.

[Ummon]

When I got into Mame, I set many games to six/five guys/ships/whatever - DK, Pac series, etc - but have long since switched back to default. I don't think barrel control is hard, now I know about it and have started using it.

[djruden]

I'm a bit of a purist so I've only been playing DK on a real dedicated cabinet with the official DIP switch settings of 3 guys to start and a free guy at 7000 pts. 

I agree tho, the barrel control is pretty easy for me at this point.  Altho my barrel board style is a bit detrimental to getting points.  I pretty much just try to run up to the level below Kong by having all the barrels fall behind me so I don't have to deal with them (missing out on the points for jumping and the first hammer)  and then I grab the hammer under DK to be safe while I walk under him and across the final ramp.  Once it runs out I have the next barrel he throws go down the ladder immediately in front of him so I have time to climb up, jump a barrel and rescue the chic. 

I think maybe soon I'll try point pressing more on the barrel boards and see how I do.  Maybe itll help my score.

[Lutus]

djruden, I have been playing my games exactly the same way on the barrel stage.

Until yesterday.

I was thinking about DK in the car ride home from work and was figuring up how many barrel stages there are total in the game.  I was playing the barrel stages exactly as djruden described each time.

Now, I took stock of how many times I die on girder and pie stages.  I have found that most of the time, my deaths come from unwelcoming girders and pies and wild barrels.

THEREFORE, at some point I have to start maximizing my points for the eventual death on a girder or pie stage.

Long story short I start using the bottom hammer and it is BRUTALLY HARD at first.  I ended up playing around 6 games, point pressing every bottom hammer.

My highest score before this was 382,900 with my last man dying on 11-2.

Yesterday I had 163,300 going into 6-1, on my second man.  I had to stop playing to leave but I think I should have a new high score relatively soon, which is exciting.

[Jdurg]

Would it be possible to gain points by jumping barrells on the top girder right before heading up the ladder at the end?  I just wonder if that would be worth while and it shouldn't be too troubling.

[massive88]

Would it be possible to gain points by jumping barrells on the top girder right before heading up the ladder at the end?  I just wonder if that would be worth while and it shouldn't be too troubling.

No, at that point, you get more points by finishing as fast as possible.

[freon1200]

wow!!! ive had my pc disconnected for about a week. it looks like some nice scores were made while i was away. snamas, thats is a SWEET score.=]

btw the DK book, it shows the spring pattern on the elevator stage. tho what it tells you about the springs is wrong. unless i read it wrong. ill have to dig it out and check so i can correct its error. tho with the scores popping up now, id say i dont need too 

way to go djruden too
thats a decent score also. i havent played for a few days. i just got AC in my room. so maybe ill get some more games in. tho im sure ill be rusty. and im not touching that bottom hammer till i reach the kill screen...lol

[Ummon]

I agree tho, the barrel control is pretty easy for me at this point.  Altho my barrel board style is a bit detrimental to getting points.  I pretty much just try to run up to the level below Kong by having all the barrels fall behind me so I don't have to deal with them (missing out on the points for jumping and the first hammer)  and then I grab the hammer under DK to be safe while I walk under him and across the final ramp.  Once it runs out I have the next barrel he throws go down the ladder immediately in front of him so I have time to climb up, jump a barrel and rescue the chic.

Yeah, me, too. I'm not concerned with score but level-screen. Still, I might take Lutus' approach. I'm still having stick troubles, so there are times when I die cos it was the stick's fault. I have to get some better kind of dedicated 4-way. I dunno about this game for me, though. It's fun to play, but any game that isn't fairly easy for me I just end up spinning out and eventually burning out on if I play too much.

[Bender]

djruden, I have been playing my games exactly the same way on the barrel stage.

Until yesterday.

I was thinking about DK in the car ride home from work and was figuring up how many barrel stages there are total in the game.  I was playing the barrel stages exactly as djruden described each time.

Now, I took stock of how many times I die on girder and pie stages.  I have found that most of the time, my deaths come from unwelcoming girders and pies and wild barrels.

THEREFORE, at some point I have to start maximizing my points for the eventual death on a girder or pie stage.

Long story short I start using the bottom hammer and it is BRUTALLY HARD at first.  I ended up playing around 6 games, point pressing every bottom hammer.

My highest score before this was 382,900 with my last man dying on 11-2.

Yesterday I had 163,300 going into 6-1, on my second man.  I had to stop playing to leave but I think I should have a new high score relatively soon, which is exciting.

Hi Lutus,

it's a little scary, but I had the exact same thought about a week ago and have been trying the bottom hammer as well,
man is it hard!
I think it really forces you to pay attention and be able to get out of any barrel conbination that rolls at you
I'm just practicing now, I haven't been able to get over 150,000
Haven't had much time to play either

Hey ShanMan Congradulation! that is one sick score!

[Lutus]

Well, I played a game yesterday and got a little over 200,000 point pressing every barrel screen.

2 deaths on pie stage, 1 death on elevator (my fault), and 1 death on barrel screen by way of fireball.

For those who would like to discuss bottom hammer technique, these are the tidbits I have found in the 2 whole days I have been using this technique.

-Wait till the blue barrel is at least on the girder system somewhere before grabbing the bottom hammer.
-Watch the fireball that comes out of the oil barrel.  Sometimes he will go straight up the very first ladder with no hesitation.  I have both waited and smashed him right away, I would suggest grabbing the hammer as soon as he starts coming up the ladder to smash him.
-Watch the fireball as he bounces along the bottom girder.  If he even gets CLOSE to the right side ladder, move Mario to stand underneath the hammer.  The ladder is so short, you have very little time to grab the hammer to smash the fireball.

Other than that, just use barrel control to get barrels down as fast as possible.


This method makes the games feel longer because you have to use so much more concentration.

That's all I got.

[Ummon]

A small thing here, but I'm curious if anyone noticed how to jump right after landing? I saw a video of Wiebe doing it, and then figured it out, at least once in a row. Maybe it's just a matter of very tight timing, but I've found I have to double (or sometimes triple) tap the button. This also works when you're coming up a ladder trying to outrun the barrel that is coming down the girder above you and double/triple tapping the button right before or as you've gotten to the top. It's a close shave, too.

[Jdurg]

Today I managed to get up to 40,000 but then got "wild barrel hell" as it seemed like there were nothing but wild barells coming after me and taking my lives.  Haven't had too much time lately to play due to work and the fact that I'm building a poker table right now.  (Got the paying surface built and the foam padding put on top, but can't decide if I want to put pine or poplar for the chip trays, as well as what color I want to stain it.  I just have to state that the plywood/lumber combo to build the middle part weighs a TON!).

[djruden]

My strategies with wild barrels now is to just stay the course.  I used to try to turn around but then the barrel would almost sure enough take a weird jump and nail me.  Now if I just stay focused and continue on it seems my random barrel death is less frequent.

I tried playing some games last night and it seemed like the 3rd incarnation of the spring stage is my achilles heal.  I could sometimes pass it, probably out of luck when I would get the right combination of springs. 

Otherwise I'm pretty good on most of the other levels now.  Just the occasional Pie factory level can get me, I think if it's when I hesitate too long letting the flames jump out before I take off running.  I hate having to deal with them when I'm on a conveyor belt, especially cuz that thing seems to change directions at the worst time!

[freon1200]

know what my achilles heal has been lately? level 4-1 or 4-3, i seem to ALWAYS get a wild barrel either right by the bottom hammer that goes wherever i go. but when i grab the bottom hammer i seem to always get killed before i get to the top. or sometimes i get hit climbing up the ladder to the beam below the top hamer beam. its driving me crazy.  i probably die on one of those boards 80% of the time.
its driving me crazy

[Lutus]

I got too frustrated on the last couple of games.  I need to take a break a couple days.  Probably go back to dig dug or missile command.

Definently stick with the bottom hammer though.  I rarely die on barrel stages.

Levels 3 and 4 are the hardest I believe.

[freon1200]

Levels 3 and 4 are the hardest I believe.

tru dat Lutus

[freon1200]

i just had a pretty decent game compared to how ive been playin lately. i thought i was going to beat my old hi. level 7 i was over 200,000 on my first guy which doesnt happen. i was getting nervous. i ran up the ladder on the elevators knowing too well the next spring was death. level 10 mudpies, i died with the hammer running out with a flame about 1/4" from me, and same board lost a life jumping over ledges as a flame came up behind me faster than i could jump. last guy died on level 12 barrels. i dont remember which 12-1, 12-3, or 12-5. when i get in the zone 1/2 the time i cant remember which board is next. its like my mind goes blank and i just play. wasnt a wild barrel or anything. barrels rolling down ladders. double...single, then another double. i think it couldve been done. but it was too fast for me.

overall tho, ill take it.
445,400

[TheShanMan]

Great score freon! One day I'll catch up to you!

Well no new high score to report, but I played 2 games this weekend. The first was 154k, and as much as a score like that would not long ago felt like a very good score, it only felt mediocre this time. Then the second was 240k, my second highest score ever. That one felt like a very good score, but definitely doesn't feel like a score.

I believe while not long ago 200k+ scores were rare for me, they will now be commonplace. My skills have unquestionably improved, and I think playing an infinite lives game all the way to the kill screen had a lot to do with that. I am much better at handling wild barrels than I used to be, I rarely die on the elevator screens now, and rivet screens are a piece of cake 90% of the time. Pie factory is always the wild card - sometimes it is simple as can be, and other times it is pretty tough - mostly when the fireballs get down to the conveyor belt before you're able to get above it.

And during my 240k game I had one of those oh so close moments - I got to the upper ladder just a fraction of a second too late, and the ladder moved down. It started going back up but before I could get to the top a fireball got me from below.

I pretty much don't play during the week anymore. I can't tie up the arcade machine for 45 minutes while I play because the kids are always dying to play, and I don't have the time for it anyway! So I'm down to playing 2 or 3 games on the weekend and that's it.

[freon1200]

Great score freon! One day I'll catch up to you!

thx ShanMan

but youve done some SERIOUS kicking butt!!!!

may 07

My high score in one shot went from around 88,000 to 106,100!

and now july 20 only about 2 1/2 months your at 399,200. thats an insane learning curve. i DO believe you probably will beat my hi if you keep playing like that.

i was hitting around 200,000 around Christmas. now given my high is in the 500k range, thats still about 5 months to get a 300,000 lead on my score. (btw ive only made 500k range once)

[TheShanMan]

may 07

My high score in one shot went from around 88,000 to 106,100!

and now july 20 only about 2 1/2 months your at 399,200. thats an insane learning curve. i DO believe you probably will beat my hi if you keep playing like that.

Now I'd consider 106k to be a terrible score while 2 or 3 months ago it was awesome. Funny how things change like that. Today I'd have to score over 203k just to make it onto the high score table.