MAME ROW #175 - Robotron: 2084

[obsidianspider]

This is the MAME Random Of the Week #175

The five random numbers for this week are: 1541 2047 512 1933 1734

Click here to vote! Which game do you choose for MAME ROW #175?

1541
Game Name: Robotron: 2084 (Solid Blue label)
Company: Williams
Year: 1982
ROM file name: robotron.zip

2047
Game Name: Vandyke (Japan)
Company: UPL
Year: 1990
ROM file name: vandyke.zip

512
Game Name: Exterminator
Company: Gottlieb / Premier Technology
Year: 1989
ROM file name: exterm.zip

1933
Game Name: Tickee Tickats
Company: Raster Elite
Year: 1994
ROM file name: tickee.zip

1734
Game Name: Space Fever (color)
Company: Nintendo
Year: 1979
ROM file name: spacefev.zip

The result of the poll is posted on Wednesday, so we have Monday and Tuesday for experimentation.

What is the MAME ROW?

MAME ROW stands for MAME Random Of the Week. We randomly select an arcade game from the 0.78 MAME Reference Set to play on the week. The idea is to play games we've never played before, interact with other forum members, post hi-scores, share game strategies, fun facts, and (the most important) HAVE FUN!

We will play the winner all next week.

Previous Rounds

[IanDaemon]

I love Robotron 2084!
Exterminator is "unique", but not my cup of tea.
Space Fever is just a Space Invaders clone.

[RedMarsBlueMoon]

How do you guys (and girls?) play Robotron? With what controllers? It was basically the original twin stick shooter right? On which games like Geometry Wars and Smash TV are based?
I tried with one stick plus the four buttons but it was hard.
Maybe using a PS/XBox controllers' two analogues?

[IanDaemon]

@redmarsbluemoon I changed the controls on my MAME cabinet to use two arcade sticks for one player for those games. Basically it's just remapping the buttons to a stick for those games. I love playing Robotron and Cloak & Dagger (although I need one additional button for "C&D"). Those are both "one player (simultaneous)" games so this doesn't work for Smash TV or Total Carnage.

p.s.
If you want to use two sticks and no buttons you can go into Retroarch > Quick Menu > Options. In the middle of the list there should be a setting to enable called "Map Right Stick To Buttons" or similar wording. Voila. I love it.

[Thorr69]

@redmarsbluemoon said in MAME ROW #175:

How do you guys (and girls?) play Robotron? With what controllers? It was basically the original twin stick shooter right? On which games like Geometry Wars and Smash TV are based?
I tried with one stick plus the four buttons but it was hard.
Maybe using a PS/XBox controllers' two analogues?

A controller with two analogs is good. It generally auto-configures to use it. It plays like Geometry Wars that way. Personally, I use dual stick mode like IanDaemon uses. (I use it for Krull as well.)

[IanDaemon]

I used to play this game often.

[RedMarsBlueMoon]

@iandaemon said in MAME ROW #175:

@redmarsbluemoon I changed the controls on my MAME cabinet to use two arcade sticks for one player for those games. Basically it's just remapping the buttons to a stick for those games. I love playing Robotron and Cloak & Dagger (although I need one additional button for "C&D"). Those are both "one player (simultaneous)" games so this doesn't work for Smash TV or Total Carnage.

p.s.
If you want to use two sticks and no buttons you can go into Retroarch > Quick Menu > Options. In the middle of the list there should be a setting to enable called "Map Right Stick To Buttons" or similar wording. Voila. I love it.

Excellent tip thanks! My problem is that my arcade build is a 'small ' form factor bartop with regular Arcade stick and buttons for Player1 only.
I'll try with an xbox controller!

[obsidianspider]

This week's winner is Robotron: 2084

[Thorr69]

I really want to join in on this one, but I am in the middle of a move and my system is packed away.

[jamrom2]

@redmarsbluemoon I was lucky enough to have built my first of five MAME cabinets when Wico was still around. I purchased two new leaf switches, much like the original cabinet had. So you can really lean on the sticks like you need to.

I will say that is the best way. The newer cherry switches just don't have the same feel and you can't beat on them the same way.

Robotron is a total upper body workout once you start hitting Brains and Tanks. It's complete insanity. There is so much shit flying around the screen it's nearly impossible to avoid getting killed.

My sister-in-law laid down the law at a whopping 219k point high-score that for 20 years...I still can't beat.

If you've never played it, I highly recommend it... It's a classic 80s game that NEVER gets old. If you have a bunch of friends over, it's one of the best games to get the room on fire with cheers and laughs.

[IanDaemon]

It seems that the control scheme is prohibiting some from participating this round. :(

[IanDaemon]

@iandaemon People could use a dual-stick controller via Bluetooth such as a generic PS3 or Switch Pro controller.

[sirhenrythe5th]

@iandaemon second this, i use both analog sticks of my 8BitDos or PS3-Pads for games like Robotron, Smash TV, Total Carnage, Crazy Climber and so on - works great. I also tried two arcade sticks once (HanaHo HotRod SE on MAME32FX and WinXP) but that was not so cool 😎)

[obsidianspider]

MAME ROW #176 is live!

[IanDaemon]

@sirhenrythe5th I recently introduced friends to Robotron 2084 and Cloak and Dagger. Both great dual stick games!