The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: jasonbar on April 08, 2009, 12:24:23 am
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Yes, Grobda! ROM name grobda.
OK, so I like to be different...
Way back when, when I had an early version of MAME32 on my laptop, I was killing time in an airport & fired up a strange game with a strange name: Grobda. I loved it.
Quirky, rare NAMCO game. Tank game with an odd control scheme, but it somehow works.
Also, this is a pretty hard game, so nobody should end up doing any 40-hour diaper-required marathons on this game... :P
#1 - Shinobi - Winner: Destructor
#2 - Jungle Hunt - Winner: CrazyKongFan
#3 - Zoo Keeper - Winner: DeLuSioNal29
#4 - Q*Bert - Winner: quarterstringer
#5 - Robotron 2084 - Winner: (+_+)
#6 - Joust - Winner: Shoegazer
#7 - Elevator Action - Winner: FrontyDev
#8 - Mr Do - Winner: DeLuSioNal29
#9 - Hyper Sports - Winner: drawfull
#10 - Wonder Boy - Winner: DrFrag
#11 - Bubble Bobble - Winner: mrclean
#12 - Gun.Smoke - Winner: isucamper
#13 - Ghouls 'n Ghosts - Winner: Ginsu Victim
#14 - Ms Pac-Man (with speedup hac) - Winner: CrazyKongFan
#15 - Frogger - Winner: CrazyKong Fan, Second: Jasonbar
Rules:
- You can only use grobda.zip, 3 tank settings, no cheats. Difficulty setting to default of A. No level select--you must start at level 1. (Even with Level Select DIP switch set to "on", I don't see how to start at a higher level anyway...)
- Single Credit only.
- Use any MAME version or variant you wish.
- Last day is Monday, April 20th (11:59:59pm Eastern Daylight Time).
***EDIT***- High score wins (if tied, the winner is the player who reached a higher level in their high score game).***EDIT***
- No savestates, savestate practices, etc. during the round.
- MAME INP recordings are optional, but encouraged!
- A screenshot is required to enter a score (press F12 to save screenshot showing your final score) or take a photo of the screen if playing on a real machine.
- If you're a MARP competitor on this title, keep in mind this is just a friendly competition amongst forum members, so maybe you shouldn't enter. However, if you're a forum member and this is a game you're good at and nobody knows about it, this is your time to shine!
I'll start things off with my high score after playing about 10 games: 15,250. Twin Galaxies high scores range from 20,900 to 24,770, so we've got a good shot at getting on the scoreboard with this one! I've learned a fair number of little tricks & such after playing this evening, but I'll see what you folks come up with before I share. >:D
Oh, and I'll offer a small token prize (no, not a token!) to the winner. Not much, but I'll dig up some video game-related trinket to mail to the winner.
Enjoy!
-Jason
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Interesting pick. I've more than likely played it, because I'm doing an A through Z exploration of MAME, and I'm in the I's now. I'll have to go back and try it out.
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Neat game, I'll have to play a bit to see what how the scoring works.
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Wow, love that ice rink music. Kind of a silly game, but whatever.
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Oh Billy Mitchell always has a plan >:D
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Holy crap, I just tried it. I remember this one. INSANELY difficult! I won't be participating.
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Yeah, this one is tough...Here's my token entry, after 2 games, 8900. I think the key is to make sure to shoot the ones in your line of path very quickly, then duck for cover. Also there's a shield button, but usually if they shoot at you, it's too late (unless you can react lightning quick ;D ) Also, you don't have to beat one of the scores to submit a score at TG...you could submit a 1000 point score if you wanted to. You just have to have an account there and use WolfMAME 106 to record your games. I haven't submitted it yet, but I plan on sending my Ms Pac turbo from 2 competitions ago (last time I tried to submit, it wasn't working right and I haven't tried again since)
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Yah, this one seemed insanely difficult at first, but then I found out a few tricks.
1 - Use your shield A LOT. Just hold it down for the first several seconds of each level while you drive around & pick off all the easy tanks. Then retreat & wait for your shield to recharge.
2 - No time limit on the rounds & no bonus for remaining shield power, so use the shield liberally. The only thing that might encourage you to hurry up is that the orange tanks go into hyperactive mode & shoot nonstop & cruise around if you stall too long.
3 - Don't wait for tanks to shoot at you before you hit the shield--by then, it's too late & you're dead. Have the shield on already if you're in danger of being shot.
4 - Take out the shielded tanks first, while you've got lots of shield. Hold down your shield & go head-to-head with them--you'll kill them before they kill you.
5 - The big points come from killing combos of tanks with their own explosions, Missile Command style. Though I must admit that I never intentionally let tanks live long enough to start clumping up...
Oh, on your screen shots, please do a grab from the Top 5 scores screen--it also shows what level you got to. That's interesting info--it shows if you were getting combos or not. In fact, I'm going to change the original post to say that a score tie breaker will be determined by whoever got the higher level (true, one might argue that it takes more skill to get combos & therefore a lower level is more impressive, but... ???).
-Jason
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So can you have your shield on while firing? I haven't tried it
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So can you have your shield on while firing? I haven't tried it
Yup! And/or moving! A must!
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Oh, on your screen shots, please do a grab from the Top 5 scores screen--it also shows what level you got to. That's interesting info--it shows if you were getting combos or not. In fact, I'm going to change the original post to say that a score tie breaker will be determined by whoever got the higher level (true, one might argue that it takes more skill to get combos & therefore a lower level is more impressive, but... ???).
If you include a screenshot of the screen where you enter your initials, it also has the level number on it. Mine has a 6 between the score and my initials.
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Indeed--thank you for adding that--that works great too.
Thanks,
-Jason
If you include a screenshot of the screen where you enter your initials, it also has the level number on it. Mine has a 6 between the score and my initials.
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I quit my current job today so you guys are screwed, this one is all mine thanks to having nothing else better to do.
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I quit my current job today so you guys are screwed, this one is all mine thanks to having nothing else better to do.
Quit? As in voluntarily? In today's market? Yikes.
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Ok, after 1/2 hour of playing, this is what I got: 21050. Never mind the 3300. *blush* I guess it's probably a one-time score for me.
Oh, and in my true nature, I fatfingered FAT as FAA.
*sigh*
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Damn, I had higher but hiscore save not working!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh its on now ladies
& yes I quit today....... I have a belt buckle that says BAMF on it so when I went on an interview today & showed them my belt they told me to quit my old job.
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lol
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Damn, I had higher but hiscore save not working!!!!!!!!!!!
Strange, the hiscore save works for me, and I'm lousy with software, so if *I* can set it up, I'd imagine anybody could! ;D
-Jason
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Meh maybe its the FE or my version of MAME?
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I'm using 115 with the no-nag/hi-score patch.
-Jason
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I managed around 17000 yesterday after a few plays. Tough game.
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17,910 so far. Boy, those basic purple tanks on the 1st few levels are nothing compared to the nasties that show up later! :hissy:
-Jason
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Yah, this one seemed insanely difficult at first, but then I found out a few tricks.
1 - Use your shield A LOT. Just hold it down for the first several seconds of each level while you drive around & pick off all the easy tanks. Then retreat & wait for your shield to recharge.
Although, if it goes too low, you're hosed, and they hunt you down and you die.
2 - No time limit on the rounds & no bonus for remaining shield power, so use the shield liberally. The only thing that might encourage you to hurry up is that the orange tanks go into hyperactive mode & shoot nonstop & cruise around if you stall too long.
Or if it's the last one.
5 - The big points come from killing combos of tanks with their own explosions, Missile Command style. Though I must admit that I never intentionally let tanks live long enough to start clumping up...
But you could do one side on some screens and then go up and around or something. Worth looking into.
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Best I got so far.
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Good ROM pick with Grobda. It's kinda like Atari 2600 Combat on crack. Here's my current high till I'm bumped. ;D
Cornchip.
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Look's like I'm on the board at Twin Galaxies with 28,920. If I could only clear wave 14.
Cornchip.
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Look's like I'm on the board at Twin Galaxies with 28,920. If I could only clear wave 14.
Cornchip.
So, you must be actively stalling & wrangling the enemy tanks together for big combos. I think I've hit level 14 (is that the level that's a full screen offset grid of squares?) or so but my score won't go over 18k, since I kill everything ASAP.
-Jason
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Yeah, there's a big difference between a full banzai attack and what you get for a score. I go full bore to wave 10 using my shields to the edge possibly at the cost of some bonus points. After 10, I give them a chance to re-gen for a bit sometimes giving that opportunity to setup a tank along with a second baddie. Other than that, I'd say it's some what random. I think that is why I like this game so much. It's patterned just enough to allow some flexibility. What a great game.
Cornchip.
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I started work at my new job, can we just end the competition at the point where my score was the highest?
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35330
I used to be pretty good at this game and was getting somewhere into high 20's or low 30's (levels not points)
combos in early levels is the main thing + trying to get the green flying one into blast area in later levels.
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35330
I used to be pretty good at this game and was getting somewhere into high 20's or low 30's (levels not points)
combos in early levels is the main thing + trying to get the green flying one into blast area in later levels.
No screenshot = no entry
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I'll post screenshot with higher score, I'm pretty sure I can do it.
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I dunno. The constraints on this game are a little tight for me, and the difficulty ramps up quickly, so it's not a favorite of mine.
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wow
this is a pretty cool game never tried it before
did ok after a few tries
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I find this level by far the hardest. On my last tank here, I am going for cover to attack the 'easy side'. Shoot the lame 'purple' tank for a chain reaction explosion. This doesn't work so well with the 'yellow' tanks as there shields hold up longer than the blast. Survive this wave and 15 is easy followed by another cross fire level that's as far as I've reached at 40070.
Cornchip.
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Yeah, there's a big difference between a full banzai attack and what you get for a score. I go full bore to wave 10 using my shields to the edge possibly at the cost of some bonus points. After 10, I give them a chance to re-gen for a bit sometimes giving that opportunity to setup a tank along with a second baddie. Other than that, I'd say it's some what random. I think that is why I like this game so much. It's patterned just enough to allow some flexibility. What a great game.
Impressive. I tried playing some "smart" Grobda last night, trying to stall & group the tanks for chain reactions. Boy, they don't behave when you want them to! I certainly was gaining more points per round, but I was dying much more, so I couldn't top my personal best with that method...
-Jason
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The brown tanks and the fast moving green ships are the most predictable. They respond to being fired at. Example, the green ship can be pinned or guided into a corner. Don't aim at it, but to the side where you don't want him to escape to. This will allow you to place him between a wall and your barrage, then finish him by fanning your shots (try this on level 12...the one with the "X" in the center). The brown tank will also hide and run into or around an object when your on the offensive. That's the best time to chase him down. The yellow is different. It comes right at you!
Cornchip.
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Two more days.
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Two more days.
Until someone picks a game that doesn't slaughter me, I hope....
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C'mon people counting days till competition on this games is over!? This game is great!
Although I'm nowhere near the levels in my youth days.
Also can't break 50,000. Almost there by less than 500 points! Just don't have time to play too much. I played maybe 30-40 games tops total during whole week.
I'll post pictures tonight if nothing changes.
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I think that's it for me, I can't crack 50k. If tommorow is one more day I'll give it one final push.
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Damn and I got to 33,000 and thought I was kickin' a$s
oh well :'(
can't get past level 14 either
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yeah baby! Just one last time before bed time and what do you know! ;D
Too bad combos didn't go nicely in the beginning or the score would be much higher.
I managed once to get over 10k in only 4 rounds! Wish it was this time.
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Two more days.
Until someone picks a game that doesn't slaughter me, I hope....
Heh. Guess we'll soon see.
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Two more days.
Until someone picks a game that doesn't slaughter me, I hope....
Heh. Guess we'll soon see.
Can't get here soon enough...
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...and the winner is.................MIMIC! With a blurry photo score of 65,410. A not-so-close second place goes to Cornchip's 40,070.
I'm happy to have shared a semi-rare game that has some pretty good depth to it. Grobda seems to be a love-hate game...mostly hate... :)
OK, mimic, copy & paste my OP in this thread, modify as needed, & pick the next game. Oh, and PM me your snail mail address so I can send you some minor video game-related trinket of a prize.
Thanks,
-Jason
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Grobda seems to be a love-hate game...mostly hate... :)
Don't take my posts as hate toward the game. It just kicked ---my bottom--- too much, that's all.
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A very distant second and a great game none the less. I'm glad the pressures off, I wasn't looking forward to picking the next game. Way to go Mimic. :cheers:
Cornchip.
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Thank you, i'm accepting the crown. unfortunately due to unpleasant situation with my wife ive got access only to ipod which is not the easiest tool to use and to setup page with next game. so maybe you could help me either setup the thread or wait untill ive got access to a computer again. Sorry about that.
Till then I was thinking which classic should I pick?
Many come to mind. Should it be: time pilot? Or maybe centipede? Perhaps rygar, commando, missile command, scramble, tempest, bosconian, etc. But I think in due time someone will give these games a chance, so I opted for a lesser known game (and probably underappreciated) which I believe has only one unique rom and no clones, a game that will test not only your reflexes, but your itchy fingers, by the name of... BANK PANIC. Hope you all enjoy!
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Interesting choice.
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YESSSS!!!! I loves me my Bank Panic! :cheers: Used to have the board & played it a lot in grad school.
Congrats--I think we can just all start practicing our Bank Panic skillz & wait till you can set up a proper thread--that works for me! :]
-Jason