Hi! Thank you for these great suggestions. Here are my thoughts on them:
- Kinetic scrolling: This is a fantastic idea! I can implement this in v1.1. I will set the minimum 'drift' speed to 2 pixels per frame, because in C64 multi-color mode, anything slower would make the background pattern break apart. It will definitely add to the atmosphere!
- Speed boost with Fire: Technically I could do this, but from my experience (especially with shooters), it doesn't work well in the heat of the action. With a joystick, it’s almost impossible to stop perfectly still just to fire the cannon while the ball is flying around.
- Autofire & Level transitions: You are right about the 'braindead' start. If someone uses a joystick with auto-fire turned on, the next level starts instantly. To fix this, I’m considering moving the 'Start Level' trigger from the Fire button to the 'S' key. By the way, I recommend trying the game with the keyboard; I find it much more precise than a joystick for this type of game!
- The Ultimate Solution: The best experience will definitely be the Paddle support. With a paddle, the speed is 100% in your hands: turn it slowly for fine adjustments, or flick it fast for a quick save. It perfectly follows your rhythm. I highly recommend getting one—it will be a whole new game with it!
Thanks again for the constructive ideas, stay tuned for v1.1