MAME ROW #6: Pang

meleu

This is the 6th MAME Random Of the Week

UPDATE: The most voted game was Pang.

The three random numbers for this week are: 1370, 1022, 1265.

1370
Game Name: PlayBall! (prototype)
Company: Williams
Year: 1983
ROM file name: playball.zip
BIOS: -

1022
Game Name: Mazinger Z
Company: Banpresto/Dynamic Pl. Toei Animation
Year: 1994
ROM file name: mazinger.zip
BIOS: -

1265
Game Name: Pang (World)
Company: Mitchell
Year: 1989
ROM file name: pang.zip
BIOS: -

Please vote: http://www.strawpoll.me/11542940

We will check the most voted game on Wednesday. So we have Monday and Tuesday for experimentations.

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 ROMset 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!

Every Monday we create a topic at the "General Discussion and Gaming" forum section with the 3 random games to be voted. And on Wednesday we check the results.

The current week's game thread is just where there are more people interacting/talking about the game(s). Feel free to post your hi-score (or any content about the game) anytime you want on the previous "rounds" topics (links below).

These "rules" are constantly being improved!

Explaining the randomness of the process

I took the 0.78 compatibility list and applied the following filters (in this order):

Parent: (empty)
Rpi 3 Status: (empty), OK, Untested
Rpi 2 Status: OK, Untested
Rpi 1 Status: Untested
Manufacturer: clear the "bootleg" checkbox

Saved a new spreadsheet with only the results of those filters here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13Q7QEqV5lUo662nvAC3zS_AvQvsjspEcGHVhaHcyzbI/edit?usp=sharing

And then went to www.random.org and generated a random number between 2 and 2185 (ignoring 1 because of the column headers).

Links to the previous "rounds"

dankcushions

pang is a classic that was the only arcade game at my local swimming pool when i was akid, but this mazinger z game looks like a pretty rad shooter than i've never heard of before! hard choice...

GtBFilms

Playball!

Mazinger Z

Pang

Pang needs no introduction of course, being something of a classic. However for me the ROW is about trying out something new, so I'm off to give them all a try before casting my vote.

As @dankcushions says, Mazinger Z looks pretty cool.

obsidianspider

All three games are new to me. I can't wait to give them a try!

obsidianspider

All three are fun in their own way. My Pi 0 choked on Mazinger Z, with lots of slowdown and audio stuttering, but it ran fine on my 3. Pang is harder than it looks!

backstander

Mazinger Z reminds me of Voltron!

meleu

The winner game is Pang.

I've never played it. I've noticed that it doesn't keep your score when using continue. So, it's another good game to post hi-scores. ;-)

GtBFilms

Well I went for Pang! in the end, even though I am already very familiar with it.

Even allowing for the age of Playball, it's pretty clear it's a prototype, as the gameplay needs a bit of work! Quite a frustrating exercise in random rushing back and forward bouncing balls, where your guy with the glove just isn't quite fast enough.

I did like Mazinger-Z, and had I not been playing on my tiny 8" Picade screen, then it may well have got my vote. As it was, it was just a bit small, fast, and with too much going on at once for me. I'll probably go back for another try though.

Pang! is a classic, simple to pick up and play, but difficult to master. Most importantly, it has that elusive feature where you always feel there was something you could have done better to avoid dying. There's never that feeling of unfair deaths, even when you're unlucky enough to pick up a dynamite - it's your own fault!

Looking forward to some practice on this.

cyperghost

Back from journey!
As always nice selection with one of my favourites and it won!

So have fun! :)

dankcushions

pang is such a troll! at least half the power-ups seem to make things harder for you :) so addictive, though!

you can select any stage at the start, and it shows up in the scoreboard if you start from anything except level 1. i guess we should all start from level 1? although i'm not sure it's particularly an advantage if you start at later levels as i don't think you score any different.

GtBFilms

@dankcushions There is a potential score advantage in starting on later levels, if you manage to survive the increased difficulty.

The bonus food which drops down can be shot/picked up for hundreds (later thousands) of points.

The food (and it's value) changes as you progress, eventually in later levels it becomes a slice of cake. This is worth 48,000 points. Subsequent food is always a slice of cake, and alternates between 48,000 and 50,000 points each time.

So basically, if you start on later levels, you get to the bigger bonus items quicker.

For that reason I think a 'all scores must be from a level 1 start' rule is advisable.

obsidianspider

@GtBFilms I can barely get past the second screen!

GtBFilms

@obsidianspider Heh heh, there's a rhythm to using that double harpoon as you walk in the same direction a balloon is moving, just a little in front of it.

Also the power-up item drops aren't random. So if you know where the gun is on a level, you can usually get it every time.

Those are the tips I have so far!

cyperghost

@obsidianspider said in MAME ROW #6: Pang:

I can barely get past the second screen!

Like Master Yoda said:

To practice a bit, you have, then learn, you will. Yeesssssss.

Yoda

obsidianspider

@cyperghost When I get frustrated with my GBA build I play some Pang and then when that gets frustrating I go back to the GBA. :-P

meleu

Let's start the score race!
My current hi-score: 146k.

cyperghost

@meleu 8th stage :)
Not bad :) I think I can beat this :)

cyperghost

Best item is the .... Vulcan gun :)
Some tipps (usage help) can be provided by the intro screen!

@meleu
FIrst attempt boosted me to level 5 - be aware :)

cyperghost

LEVEL 6 - 107500 :)

pjft

Wow - what a great and fun initiative! Won't promise I'll have the time to join every week, but will certainly follow at least.

Are your high scores based on single credits, or what's the idea there?

Cheers!