Great game. I already liked the first Randoom game, and this one here, is just as good. It's fun to play. Good work. By the way, a two-player simultaneous function could be a lot of fun in both Randoom games. And I could also very well imagine a four-player simultaneous mode (using a 4-player-adapter). I am sure, it would be a great party-game, when you have friends visiting. There would be a lot going on then, on the screen, but it would definitely be a lot of fun. If multiple human players could play simultaneously, there could be different game-modes. For example, you could set it up, so that you could either play together as a team, to complete the respective levels together, as quickly as possible, or it could be set up, that the human players must play against each other, based on the principle, of who can defeat so many cpu-powered opponents the fastest. Just a few suggestions, that are currently popping into my head, as the gameplay would be really great for a multiplayer-game.
Viewing post in Randoom Ancient Stones [C64] comments
Thank you very much for your feedback and suggestions! The multiplayer modes you mention would undoubtedly be a great addition to the game. The technical problem with a Commodore 64 is that it is impossible to display more than 8 sprites in the same row. In this game, with the added sprites of several players, there would be many occasions when more than that number of sprites would coincide on a platform. It would be a great challenge to design levels where that did not happen or to create a multiplexer that would prevent such overlaps. Well, there are other options, such as making software sprites or even creating an 8x8 sprite matrix to draw on... Another option that wouldn't be bad would be to port the game to a modern platform where you could add everything you mentioned and even online multiplayer. These are things I'm considering for the future, as the mechanics of the game allow for many variations that could be a lot of fun.
Hy. Thanks for answering and the interesting technical infos. Yes, i know about this sprite-limit problem and the idea of software-sprites or the thing with the 8x8 matrix, sounds very interesting. I can't really comment much on the programming of the C64, because you will certainly know better, but these suggestions sounds good. Better than the idea with the porting to modern platform, because if you ask me, then that would take away a lot of the game's charm, because what's special is, that it runs on retro-hardware. But maybe some of your other ideas could be realised, sometime in the future?
On the C64 alot of programming-tricks where used, in the last years by different people, to realise unbelievable things in demos or games. I am always surprised, what is possible in the meantime, on a C64. Do you know the little demo "Field Sort" from Lft, this is also very interesting, when it comes to sprites etc (can be found on the CSDB, by the way). But, back to the topic. A 2-player mode would be really nice to have in your Randoom games, because games that can be played together at the same time, are often the ones, that are most fun. Perhaps a way could be found to include a second human player in the future?
And just a fast idea, but it could also be fun, if, for example in a 4-player mode, the other players were the objects to be hunted (the guards), or rather the one player, who had the right color. One player could always be the adventurer and the others the guards etc. Or the second human player could also be one of the guards, besides the other, cpu-controlled ones. Could also be interesting to play. Of course, you would have to think this through further, but then less cpu-controlled sprites would be needed and the second player would have a meaningful task in the game. But, just an idea.
The truth is that, as I mentioned, the basic mechanics of the game allow for infinite variations to consider, and I will definitely take note of them for possible sequels. The next version will likely be a ‘back to the roots’ in terms of appearance, but with the gameplay improvements (control, fluidity, bonuses, etc.) from the second version, and adding some of the things you suggest. More enemies and multiplayer modes.