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I dunno, I just thought the concept sounded neat. Trapped in the middle of a Breakout game, where both the bricks and the ball will destroy you. Not a bad hook!

Thanks, man!

Okay, question. Is there a way for GB Basic software to detect the system being used? I had a wicked idea where starting the system up with a Game Boy DMG causes a "this game is not compatible with this system!" error, while putting it in a Game Boy Color gives you a different error. "Sorry, doesn't work on this either."

Google-Bet Expire. Their mission statement is "do be evil." A lot like the current real-life Google, actually!

Dang! I am so impressed with what you've done on the Atari 2600. The wiggly worm, the fishing line that trails behind him, the smile at the end of the stage, the big huge sprites... now that's the arcade experience at home! This isn't just ordinary bait... it's the MASTER bait!

...what?

Thanks! I'll give that a look later.

Uh, question from the back. How do you import graphics to this software? I use Aseprite to do sprite work, and was hoping to put the graphics I make there into your compiler. I'm not finding any way to do this. Thanks in advance for any help you may provide!

Beats the crumbs out of the ColecoVision version, for obvious reasons. I put this on my emulation setup, and managed to reach the waterfall before getting washed out (literally). 

You've done well, sir. Please continue to turn the Amiga computer into the arcade at home it should have been from jump.

At this point I've stopped development, so yes. Why, is there something you feel is missing?

Use GearColeco, then choose the menu settings Input, Spinner, and Roller Controller.

I'd go by dates for this... those are your best bet for finding the freshest versions. 

Is this going to be folded into the CD32 disc at a later date?

Anyway, bravo for all these arcade conversions. I always had a fascination with the Amiga computer, but was disappointed when I found out that its arcade conversions left something to be desired. Arcade ports like yours help level the playing field with the Amiga's more hardcore Japanese cousin, the X68000.

I just don't think it's a very good game. Some nice scenery, sure, but the gameplay falters pretty badly. Inconsistent damage, cheap hits, seemingly random weapon gains, slooooowdown galore... you kind of get why Technos didn't make games outside the sports and fighting genres. When they tried, you'd get something like Xain'd Sleena.

Most likely, yes. Release Candidate 3, if memory serves.

It's a Canadian computer, designed for online use in the 1980s. (Understand that "online" was drastically different, and drastically more primitive, in the 1980s.) Put bluntly, it's an MSX with a modem built into it.

It's getting close!

Sound is planned. It won't happen immediately, though.

https://github.com/drhelius/Gearcoleco/releases/tag/1.5.5

You'll need an emulator. Gearcoleco is what I personally use. Download the file, unzip it into the folder of your choice (I use C:/emulate/coleco), then put the games in the same folder. Run Gearcoleco, then press CTRL+O or select GearColeco/Open ROM from the options at the top of the screen, and finally select your game.

If Gearcoleco grumbles that you're missing a BIOS file, download "coleco.rom" and put it in the Gearcoleco folder. You should be all set.

Thanks on both counts. As for whether I'm still active, I was last year! Operation Hibernation Plus came out in October! Nothing to show for 2026 yet, but I have ideas...

Awesome! I can finally lay claim to this game, without having to sign up for Patreon first.

How long has it been since work started on this game, anyway? It's absolutely been worth the wait... you and your team have done a great job. Brazil once again proves its mastery of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive hardware.

Do you have any insight on how the logic works for the small birds in the first couple of stages? It seems like random chaos on its face, but there's got to be a method to its madness!

Cool beans. I probably should update the Spectravision version of this game... I think it's using old collision detection code.

So, should I assume that you enjoyed the game?

Do you have an email address where I could send the file? I looked over the rules and it seems that while I can't publish MSX Operation Hibernation for the duration of the contest, nothing was said about promotion, and I believe this qualifies.

Whipped something up, but need permission from the organizers of the MSX dot org software design contest before I can give it to you. (They're very, er, particular about the contest rules.)

Mind? Me? I rarely mind free publicity. Thanks!

Will consider this. There's not much space left in the ROM but something may be possible.

I'll give it a look. Thanks for the publicity!

The demo version contains the entire first loop of the game. When all stages are completed, it loops back to the title screen. The full version lets you play for as long as you have lives, and features a second loop with more challenging gameplay.

Try OH Plus: Short Deaths. It cuts back on the animations so you're not reminded of another obnoxious orange video game mascot with a flair for long, drawn out death scenes.

I mean, I could. People are kvetching about the difficulty so I might make some adjustments.

That cover, though. Is that AI? I imagine you couldn't have drawn all that in a day. I like the perspective, though! It is pretty much how I imagined an SG-1000 version would look.

I'll have to make some adjustments on the MSX side of things (and it needs sound effects the ColecoVision version already has).

Sorry, that's for ColecoVision, and it's the latest (last?) build. I should clarify that.

Er, Itch.IO is being a bag of dicks about embedded images. Not sure what I can do about it.

Thanks! And I appreciate the coverage!

I certainly DON'T mind! Thanks much... will take a look at the footage shortly.

Nice proof of concept! The graphics and sound were ported over well, and the gameplay feels a bit crisper than the Super NES version, although some play mechanics seem to be missing. Probably not worth addressing if development's never going to get any farther than one stage, though.

Okay, I think I've got this licked. When running the game in BlueMSX, first select File -> Cartridge Slot 1 -> Insert from the menu. Choose the game (typically "whackem_msx.rom"), then select "SCC" or "Konami SCC" as the ROM type.  I'd recommend using C-BIOS as the BIOS, since it comes with the emulator. That can be changed in Options -> Emulation. Make sure you have the BIOS where BlueMSX can find it, or nothing will happen.

MSX emulators can be tricky like that. I'm trying to run the game in BlueMSX right now, and not getting encouraging results whether I use an MSX BIOS or the freeware C-BIOS. You may have more luck with OpenMSX or Emulicious... I just got the game running on the latter emulator after an update.

When I'm in the mood for the MSX, I typically play the game on handheld devices, where problems don't crop up so much. What I'd recommend is try the ColecoVision version (GearColeco) or the SG-1000 version (Kega Fusion) instead. It's not the answer you wanted, but at the moment, it's all I can offer.

So you did make that sequel after all! It just wasn't for the Vita.

I uploaded another build, one which should fix the SC-3000 joystick issues. Possibly the SG-1000 issues too, I can't say for sure.