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Request for Defender CP layout details
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arzoo:
With practice you should be able to pick up and carry all 10 humanoids on the first level, then drop them when the last Lander is destroyed - the drop is always fun because the code or CPU freaks out and strange things happen. The trick to saving the humanoids is always keeping an eye (or peripheral vision) on the radar - know where the pickups are and keep up your speed (avoid changing direction). Use the radar to gauge your altitude so you are above the rising Lander for the kill and rescue.
TOK:
Shanman, though I posted kidding around, definitely try the original layout. The Reverse button goes a long way to making the game.
PColson... Keep playing. I think Defender might be the toughest game to make the leap from frustrating to fun. When it does get fun, you will be amazed at the depth of play. I boggle that this game came out in 81 with such a unique mix of offense, defense and varied enemies. When you compare it to other games of its era, nothing is even close in depth.

You'll start to see cool stuff at Wave 3. Thats when enemies start warping away to prevent overloading the processor (the emulation in this vs. the real thing is excellent). You'll also find tricks like smart bombing multiple pods will slow the game down so much that you'll be able to get Landers picking up humanoids from a much greater range. The game slows down, but your ship doesn't.
This trick will also let humanoids drop from normal sure death heights and survive because they fall slow.

One of the coolest things I see on a pretty regular basis is that around the 5th Wave or so, sometimes things get so busy that a Lander will carry a humanoid up through the top of the screen and start over at the bottom. The original hardware is apparently so overwhelmed that it skips the mutation.

Its all glitches, but it's just so cool to see that crazy stuff happen while you're playing.
TheShanMan:
In case anyone following this thread hasn't noticed, I've posted a source patch in the software forum for being able to use the controls hack (8 way joystick + 3 buttons).

I appreciate that info, TOK. And believe me, if I fall in love with playing the game, I will take the extra steps to do it right. I realize that would mean re-learning to a degree, so I won't wait too long before I do it, but I do think the controls hack is the right approach for now. I gave it a try last night and it's quite playable like that. Especially for a beginner - it is more intuitive and simpler. But I can see that more advanced players would benefit from the correct layout.

I do hope it won't be long before I report back here stating that I love playing defender and I'm going to make the right control layout for it! :)
TheShanMan:
Well, I've solved my dilemma of what to do for defender controls. I bought a defender today! ;D Not working ATM though. I've started a thread in the restoration forum for it (pics included): http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=83956.msg877932#msg877932
GaryMcT:

--- Quote from: TOK on July 21, 2008, 09:02:20 pm ---I don't use the reverse button for anything but Defender and Stargate on this machine... I did a thumb button on my first cab also, and it gets used for a few other games like Total Carnage and a mostly unknown game that I love called Rescue.
The Stargate machine is a bartop and it has other stuff on it, but I kept the game list pretty short. The stick is a Sanwa 8 way and since most Golden Age games didn't use a lot of buttons anyway, the Stargate Thrust and Fire buttons are good for button 1 and 2.

I'm pretty sure just from feel that the button spacing is identical between the two games. Stargate just adds the Inviso button.

I just took a quick look and the center of the stick shaft to the center of the button is about 2 1/8". Thats not exact because its just holding the ruler by the stick and button. The template I made is buried out in the garage. I can tell you that its close enough that you'll have to trim the base on most sticks. Here is a pic of what I trimmed off the Sanwa and I did something similar to a Happ Competition. I don't really like playing the Defender with the bat-top Happ on the other machine, but it was functional enough until I got this done.

On the Sanwa, I actually had to trim away a bit of the housing too, but not enough to go through.


Pic sucks, but you can see how tight they fit together after the trim.






--- End quote ---

Holy crap. . this is what I'm looking for!!!!  Thanks!  Getting the Defender reverse button in the right spot with an 8-way joystick (even a Ultrastik) is a great thing. :)
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