Breaking Scott's expectations is half of what this game is about. The other half is telling Scott how we could fuck with it, but not actually doing it.
Oof. I played a knock-off online version just now to test it out, and got around 6k points. I wasn't really in the zone, but this game looks interesting. I last played it when I was a young child, so I've pretty much forgotten any strategy.
Ok, so I played 4 different versions of Galaga just now. Arcade, Ms. Pac-Man & Galaga, NES, and DS. Indeed they are not 100% identical. I had remembered the NES version being easier, but it was actually harder than the arcade. I also confirmed that the NES version gives your first extra ship at 30K, not 20K, which makes a bigger difference than I thought. 30K means you survive for at least one or two extra waves to get those 10K points. I'll still allow all these official Namco releases, just be aware you may disadvantage yourself by selecting a more difficult version.
The reason I will allow all these versions anyway is because the skills completely transfer over. Even though it is slightly different, it's still Galaga. When I switched from arcade to NES, I was still in the same zone. The same bugs came in the same patterns at the same speed. I used the same movements to dodge the shots. If you get good at this game you will do relatively equally well playing any of these official releases.
As for the glitch, I do think in the end I must disallow it, but not for the reason you may think. I tried to do the glitch four times, and only succeeded once. The first time I died trying to hang out in the middle of the screen dodging the last two bees. The second and third times I stayed on the right side of the screen, and stayed perfectly still for minutes. But eventually a stray bullet crossed over from left to right and killed me. I did the same thing on my third try, but I couldn't concentrate long enough and that same stray bullet got me when I was zoning out. The fourth try I concentrated long enough to make it happen.
I do think there will be many lols at people who try it and fail, but there is a problem. The problem is that all three times I failed I had the same exact score. We don't exactly have any tiebreakers available in this round. If a bunch of people try the glitch and fail, how will we separate them in the rankings?
So yeah, I still think it's difficult to do, and I have respect if you can do it in your one chance. However, in the interest of making the rankings clean with minimal tie-ing let's see how far people can get legit.
What's your MAME set up, Scott? I'm having issues getting MAME running since I am a total nub with it.
I use MAMEUI. I set it up when I got my HTPC with one of those torrents that includes every MAME ROM ever. I haven't updated it since.
My MAME routine usually goes something like this:
1) Connect my arcade stick to HTPC with USB cable. 2) Open MAMEUI and search for a game, double click on it. 3) Press tab to open the config menu. 4) Go through the entire config menu to set the controls and options for that specific game. 5) Play game
MAME seems to save those options, so if I ever play the game again, I don't have to do anything. I just press tab to check the controls to remember what I assigned the last time.
I've been casually practicing, and am glad we're not allowing the glitch. I executed it a couple times, but it's incredibly tedious and boring. I'm much more aggressive in games and prefer the difficulty.
Technically August 1stish when I get back from AUS. But if you want to stream, you have to set an appointment by July 9th before I leave for CTCon and Australia.
Not one person has made an appointment yet. I suggest you do so quickly. If you're going to be at one of the three conventions AB, CTCon, or PAX AUS, or you just want to meet in NYC, you still have to set an appointment. It's first come first serve. My other priorities in life come first. If my schedule fills up, you're fucked.
Alternate strategy: get all the other inactive prix entrants to schedule appointments at all the most convenient schedule blocks. Reduce pool of potential competitors.
Goods are based on scarcity and demand. Since I'm fairly certain that Rym would provide unlimited distractions if able for minimal monetary gain since he'd likely enjoy it for the trolling for nothing and any money is a genuine bonus.
As your financial planner, I suggest an entry offer of $2.
One note though. I find game scores to be highly variable between games. For example my best today has been 61k but I had a few games where I lost 2 ships before 10k. So I propose that since games are generally short (for me at least) it might be better to play a couple games rather than just one, and either take the best or average of the games.
Not really a big issue but I'd figure I'd put it out there.
Well, part of the idea of this challenge is to reward consistency, and ultimately this is in direct conflict with attempting to eliminate variance.
However, there's an argument to be had as to whether one single game is the right balance to strike; some clear points in favour of such a system are elegance and suspense.
One note though. I find game scores to be highly variable between games. For example my best today has been 61k but I had a few games where I lost 2 ships before 10k. So I propose that since games are generally short (for me at least) it might be better to play a couple games rather than just one, and either take the best or average of the games.
Not really a big issue but I'd figure I'd put it out there.
Yeah, this is true. But the whole point of this round is that you have one chance. How well you do under such pressure? That's what makes this round different from the others.
To clarify, this is how the scheduling works. You tell me a specific date and time. I tell you yes or no. If I say no, you try again. I can't have a conversation with every single person to work things out.
I do think there will be many lols at people who try it and fail, but there is a problem. The problem is that all three times I failed I had the same exact score.
I don't think that's entirely representative, actually. The scoring actually does depend on more than just which enemies you killed; it also depends on what state they were in when you killed them.
Basically, basic enemies killed while swooping are worth twice as much as when they're sitting in formation; similarly, Galagan Commanders are worth more if they're swooping, and also depending on the number of escorts they have.
Comments
The reason I will allow all these versions anyway is because the skills completely transfer over. Even though it is slightly different, it's still Galaga. When I switched from arcade to NES, I was still in the same zone. The same bugs came in the same patterns at the same speed. I used the same movements to dodge the shots. If you get good at this game you will do relatively equally well playing any of these official releases.
As for the glitch, I do think in the end I must disallow it, but not for the reason you may think. I tried to do the glitch four times, and only succeeded once. The first time I died trying to hang out in the middle of the screen dodging the last two bees. The second and third times I stayed on the right side of the screen, and stayed perfectly still for minutes. But eventually a stray bullet crossed over from left to right and killed me. I did the same thing on my third try, but I couldn't concentrate long enough and that same stray bullet got me when I was zoning out. The fourth try I concentrated long enough to make it happen.
I do think there will be many lols at people who try it and fail, but there is a problem. The problem is that all three times I failed I had the same exact score. We don't exactly have any tiebreakers available in this round. If a bunch of people try the glitch and fail, how will we separate them in the rankings?
So yeah, I still think it's difficult to do, and I have respect if you can do it in your one chance. However, in the interest of making the rankings clean with minimal tie-ing let's see how far people can get legit.
My MAME routine usually goes something like this:
1) Connect my arcade stick to HTPC with USB cable.
2) Open MAMEUI and search for a game, double click on it.
3) Press tab to open the config menu.
4) Go through the entire config menu to set the controls and options for that specific game.
5) Play game
MAME seems to save those options, so if I ever play the game again, I don't have to do anything. I just press tab to check the controls to remember what I assigned the last time.
Not one person has made an appointment yet. I suggest you do so quickly. If you're going to be at one of the three conventions AB, CTCon, or PAX AUS, or you just want to meet in NYC, you still have to set an appointment. It's first come first serve. My other priorities in life come first. If my schedule fills up, you're fucked.
As your financial planner, I suggest an entry offer of $2.
One note though. I find game scores to be highly variable between games. For example my best today has been 61k but I had a few games where I lost 2 ships before 10k. So I propose that since games are generally short (for me at least) it might be better to play a couple games rather than just one, and either take the best or average of the games.
Not really a big issue but I'd figure I'd put it out there.
However, there's an argument to be had as to whether one single game is the right balance to strike; some clear points in favour of such a system are elegance and suspense.
Basically, basic enemies killed while swooping are worth twice as much as when they're sitting in formation; similarly, Galagan Commanders are worth more if they're swooping, and also depending on the number of escorts they have.