Ancient Technologies by csanyk
Assemble the ancient technology in order to unlock its secrets.
Controls:
In the room, use the mouse to click on things.
Once the ancient technology is assembled, use a gamepad or arrow keys + space to play the game.
[Note for HTML5 players: There seems to be a glitch (at least in Chrome, not sure other browsers) where certain clickable objects in the room intermittently don't work because mouse events are being doubled for some reason. This does not appear to be an issue in the Windows builds, so for the best experience I recommend trying Windows if possible. If HTML5 is your only option, refreshing the page may help. I will try to release an updated build in the near future that gives a keyboard shortcut as a workaround.]
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Programmed in GameMaker: Studio by csanyk
Audio was ripped from the Atari 2600 games Adventure, Asteroids, and Superman using Stella + Audacity by csanyk.
Graphics:
Living room background created in paint.net by csanyk.
Cute Girlfriend did the TV set and the cartridge using Adobe Illustrator; I converted the drawings to sprites using Illustrator, Paint.NET, and the GameMaker Sprite Editor.
Atari 2600 console graphic by AloneAgainstPixesl ripped from DeviantArt.com:
http://aloneagainstpixels.deviantart.com/art/Atari-2600-console-Pixel-art-372549389
Atari 2600 joystick graphic by DareDevilDillon of the defunct piq.codeus.net:
https://www.google.com/search?q=atari+2600+joystick+pixel+art&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiF66GpoOPOAhUM62MKHQZuDDEQ_AUICCgB&biw=1638&bih=830#newwindow=1&tbm=isch&q=joystick+pixel+art&imgrc=t-jKdVJ7nrmwXM%3A
Woodgrain from the title was the product of a Google Image Search.
[spoiler]
To hook up the Atari 2600, it has to be plugged in, the tv has to be turned on, the cartridge has to be in the slot, and console has to be turned on. To be able to play the game, you need to plug in the joystick.
[post-submission improvements & fixes]
PRE_DEADLINE:
- Game's challenge level resets to 0 when game resets, inits, or kills.
- Asteroid max_speed nerfed (slightly).
- TV screen now all-black when game is on.
- TV Type switch now functional (this was a feature I dropped to make submission deadline, then added back in last minute). Now you can flip between playing in color and B&W!
- The flashing color text on the Title Screen now flashes in authentic Atari 2600 NTSC colors only!
Death animation
- Respawn bug -- it's supposed to wait until there's open space around the center so you spawn a little more safely. Instead, it was doing the opposite! Fixed!
-A few logical checks were added to prevent things that shouldn't be possible, like audio playing when the TV is off, etc.
POST_DEADLINE:
- Fixed a memory leak caused by spawning an object without checking to see if it already exists, once per step, while the game is turned on but in game_over state.
[planned post-jam updates]
-working difficulty switches
-working game select switch
Controls:
In the room, use the mouse to click on things.
Once the ancient technology is assembled, use a gamepad or arrow keys + space to play the game.
[Note for HTML5 players: There seems to be a glitch (at least in Chrome, not sure other browsers) where certain clickable objects in the room intermittently don't work because mouse events are being doubled for some reason. This does not appear to be an issue in the Windows builds, so for the best experience I recommend trying Windows if possible. If HTML5 is your only option, refreshing the page may help. I will try to release an updated build in the near future that gives a keyboard shortcut as a workaround.]
###
Programmed in GameMaker: Studio by csanyk
Audio was ripped from the Atari 2600 games Adventure, Asteroids, and Superman using Stella + Audacity by csanyk.
Graphics:
Living room background created in paint.net by csanyk.
Cute Girlfriend did the TV set and the cartridge using Adobe Illustrator; I converted the drawings to sprites using Illustrator, Paint.NET, and the GameMaker Sprite Editor.
Atari 2600 console graphic by AloneAgainstPixesl ripped from DeviantArt.com:
http://aloneagainstpixels.deviantart.com/art/Atari-2600-console-Pixel-art-372549389
Atari 2600 joystick graphic by DareDevilDillon of the defunct piq.codeus.net:
https://www.google.com/search?q=atari+2600+joystick+pixel+art&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiF66GpoOPOAhUM62MKHQZuDDEQ_AUICCgB&biw=1638&bih=830#newwindow=1&tbm=isch&q=joystick+pixel+art&imgrc=t-jKdVJ7nrmwXM%3A
Woodgrain from the title was the product of a Google Image Search.
[spoiler]
To hook up the Atari 2600, it has to be plugged in, the tv has to be turned on, the cartridge has to be in the slot, and console has to be turned on. To be able to play the game, you need to plug in the joystick.
[post-submission improvements & fixes]
PRE_DEADLINE:
- Game's challenge level resets to 0 when game resets, inits, or kills.
- Asteroid max_speed nerfed (slightly).
- TV screen now all-black when game is on.
- TV Type switch now functional (this was a feature I dropped to make submission deadline, then added back in last minute). Now you can flip between playing in color and B&W!
- The flashing color text on the Title Screen now flashes in authentic Atari 2600 NTSC colors only!
Death animation
- Respawn bug -- it's supposed to wait until there's open space around the center so you spawn a little more safely. Instead, it was doing the opposite! Fixed!
-A few logical checks were added to prevent things that shouldn't be possible, like audio playing when the TV is off, etc.
POST_DEADLINE:
- Fixed a memory leak caused by spawning an object without checking to see if it already exists, once per step, while the game is turned on but in game_over state.
[planned post-jam updates]
-working difficulty switches
-working game select switch
@SamuelSousa, you should try again -- you'll get an extra life at 5000 points! :-)
Now I want to play Ataray, but I'd rather play Dare. (stupid rhyme is stupid)
I found that it slowed down after I left the game open, so there may be a memory leak of some sort.
I think it was difficult to start the main game for all the youngsters out there :-)
As Atari-fanboy (go home Amiga! ;) ) from the very beginning, I really appreciate your entry - all those memories... So I'm a bit picky and miss a working b/w-button. And why are there 6 buttons instead of 4?
Anyway, really a nice game!
The only bug that I found was that the music continued after I unplugged the power from the game while it was on. Other than that it played really well. Great job!
The only thing that bugged me was on the console: guessing the purpose of the buttons was hard...
Very authentic feel to the game itself too, and right on with the theme. Really great job all around.
It really reminds me of setting up these very old game consoles :). That means the experience is working!
I honestly think the most interesting part of the game is this "set up" part. In my opinion you could go much further with this idea, like "level 1: set up an atari console", then "level 2: set up an old nintendo but you need to plug it with an adapter to make it work with your grand mother TV", it gets harder and more complex at each level etc...
I did encounter one odd thing though, halfway through the game all sound was replaced with a high-pitch whistle. Even "unplugging" the console had no effect. I'm not sure if it's a bug or if it was some kind of fire alarm easter egg.
Score: (because I like scores)
Overall 4/5
Innovation 4/5
Fun 3/5
Theme 4/5
Graphics 4/5
Audio 3/5
Humor 4/5
Mood 4/5