Monday, February 28, 2011

Atomic Knights Guild



The Official Atomic Knights NESTalgia Guild

Founded February 28, 2011

Shrenwold Server

Current Roster:
Robot, GM
Frank
Brian
Igneus
DooD
Alice
Krup
BitMatt
Lief
Maverick
Ceres


This page can be used to leave message for offline guild members, co-ordinate parties, announce level ups, talk about strategy, ask questions, general social chat, and anything else. As the guild expands, I will expand the page.

Atomic Knights!

Invite friendly and awesome players!

Members, leave a post!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

NESTalgia: A Great 8-Bit MMORPG



After playing for a few minutes I was hooked. It's like Dragon Warrior 2/3 on an MMO scale. Silk Games created this free, 8-Bit MMORPG. Angels flew down from heaven and played jazz on their trumpets when I opened the website.

This looks to be the game I've always wanted to play, since I was 5.

The game is relatively new, at least it's only recently gain popularity.

From the website:

"NEStalgia is an original MORPG inspired by the glory days of traditional console RPGs. Essentially "Dragon Warrior 3 meets World of Warcraft", NEStalgia is an amalgam of the best generations of RPG gaming.

"Wage classic turn based battles using a multiplayer party system, and enjoy modern trappings such as a full-featured quest system and hordes of epic loot to find. We even have a WoW-style Auction House for item trading!
Close Community"

Go check out NESTalgia and we can all post our reactions and group-up or whatever we have to do form a party of Atomic Knights and kick the internet's ass at a video game.

Go get it, get it, get it.

You can also follow Silk Games on youtube, check out the trailer below the screenshots!





Tuesday, February 22, 2011

STAR TRACKS: The Star Quest Soundtrack



Several readers asked about the soudntrack and even more commented on the amazing music. Well, here it is! Star Tracks: The Star Quest Soundtrack. 30 tracks were used in the game, but the download includes 5 bonus tracks that did not make the final cut.

These represent years of searching the internet for the very best midis, as well as blatantly ripping off the most intoxicating pop hits of the 20th Century. Star Quest deals with complicated ideas of paramount importance; the unnecessarily epic music, therefore, is fitting.

I didn't create any of these songs, but a lot of other people did. I wish I knew who made these midis. I can't even identify some of the songs (ao.mid for example), I've just had the files for 10 years. Some of them I downloaded off of webpages in the late 90s, when people often played them on websites (early html was highly functional with embedding and playing midis!).

No infringement is intended, and this download is intended for scholarly use only. The entire enterprise is not-for-profit, including this website, so don't sue me.

DOWNLOAD STAR TRACKS: THE STAR QUEST SOUNDTRACK (under 4 Megs)




The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Epic Mural



The Legend of Zelda turned 25 on Sunday, and I didn't really have anything to post.

Then I found this on the internet. A huge painting of all the Zelda characters done in a Renaissance style. It's simply amazing. I'm not sure who painted it, but I bet they beat the Second Quest.

8-Bit City has a long history of Zelda-related articles. You should probably check out these other posts:

An awesome 1 and 2 Easter Egg that went overlooked for nearly 2 decades!

A detailed examination on the influence of Adventure 2600 on The Legend of Zelda.

And a look inside the first edition of Nintendo Power.

Monday, February 21, 2011

STAR QUEST WALKTHROUGH AND TREE DUNGEON SOLUTION



Click the image to see the map of the first dungeon and an incomplete world map (from an early build of Star Quest, crazy!).

The is the Star Quest Walkthrough!

Many people have emailed with Star Quest's first dungeon. How do I beat the first dungeon? How do I solve the first dungeon in Star Quest? How can people google search for this post? Quite easily, although redundancy threatens to destroy any positive message herein conveyed.

1. Mini Walkthrough

Check the above image. Princess is being held in room with the blue dot. You need to walk around the area marked with white dots to chase away the spiders. Quarters are strewn about. Taking a KillPill after rescuing the Princess is the smart thing to do, or you can chase the spiders away by walking around the room at the bottom.

After you save Princess, go into the other door in the tree and defeat Ax Man.

Now you can explore the entire world.

In order to access Skull Castle you need to:
-Rescue the King from the Gold Castle
-Defeat the Carpenter Bee
-Rescue Lobtron from the Lava Castle
-Defeat the Computer Monster

The entrance to the Carpenter Bee Boss fight is blocked by a red soldier on the island until you rescue the King. Use the friendly robots to block the evil Fish Man from killing you. Make sure to save before entering.

Rinse, repeat with Lobtron and the Computer Monster.

Enter Skull Castle and defeat the Scientist.

Find the Library, where the end of the story is revealed in full.


2. ABOUT THE ARCADES

You need a quarter to play a game! You can find some around the world, and even in a few arcade machines!

You will gain access to more arcade machines after you clear the Tree Dungeon. Every game has a unique item that you can earn by finding a secret room, completing a quest for an NPC, beating a skill-based game, solving a mystery, and other adventures. These items will help you during the Final Battle, and other actions throughout the game will also have an effect.

The arcades also function as gateways... clearly something strange is going on with these things. What is the arcade back alley? How does space function in such a weird way? Are the games real places?

Certain items may unlock doors in the Arcade Back Alley. Completely arcade games and progressing through the dungeons will unlock more arcades in the back alley. Not every machine unlocks an arcade.

Every time you beat a game, however,

Look for secret exits in Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man.

There are many, many arcades and many different machines. Some machines are very rare (like the legendary fantasy hit "Solar Adventure").


3. The Secret That Will Blow Your Mind

There is a secret door in the Spaceship Grotto... your ship contains many ancient secrets and phenomena.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Play The Great Gastby 8-Bit NES Game Online


Classic literature takes the internet gaming scene by storm!

Witness the tragic tale of the horrors of the American Dream, now in 8-Bit.

Supposedly, some guy found a cart entitled "Doki Doki Toshokan: Gatsby no Monogatari." It appears to be an unrleased prototype, and, thankfully, the guy released it to the internet. However, looking over their site it became perfectly clear that the game was merely created in NES-style. There was no Gatsby Cart, but the game has been released under the GNU General Public Liscene.

Visit http://greatgatsbygame.com/ to play through the adventures of Nick Carroway in 8-Bit glory. They also have some cool manual scans and ads for the game, made to look like NES ads circa 1990.

Everything is presented really well with text, NPCs, and bosses from the novel.

Only 4 levels (and the 4th is a joke) so this shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to demolish. I enjoy it, but would have prefered more of the story to be rendered in full.


Friday, February 18, 2011

Mutant Warzone OST - "The World Is Mad and So Am I"



The 4th song I composed for the Mutant Warzone OST.

Written on guitar and keyboard, compiled in Fruity Loops 9.

I wanted the player to be encouraged to explore because of the guitar. The beat won't stop, and the player's going to need that to destroy the added zombies in fast mode.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Mutant Warzone OST - Robot - Radiation Nation



Radiation Nation: my second track to go along with the Mutant Warzone OST. I wrote it one keyboard and guitar and sequenced in Fruity Loops 9.

The guitars and synths go perfect with the retro style.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Mutant Warzone OST - Robot - Flies in the Morning



I wrote a song for the Mutant Warzone OST! I'll write at least one more. I composed this on my laughable casio keyboard and sequenced everything in Fruity Loop 9 Demo version.

Happy 3-years of 8-Bit City!

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Screenshots


















Pretty self-explanatory but it's good to have text to go with blog posts. These are screenshots from Marvel vs. Capcom 3, the latest installment in a classic fighting series dating back to the ancient 90s.

The sprites we've grown to love because Capcom re-used them in every game are gone, replaced by strangely-smooth and shiny 3-D models. Oh well, looks good to me!

The new stream-lined fighting system should allow for easier game balance as well. Can't wait to play this.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Marvel vs Capcom 3 Launch Party


After 10 years, one of the best fighting series gets a much-needed (but tastefully postponed) iteration.

Dante, Trish (Devil May Cry), Thor (X-Men), Viewtiful Joe, and other join the party, as well as returning favorites Ryu, Iron Man, Wolverine, Morrigan, and Co. Shuma-Gorath and Kill Valentine will cost some DLC change (I think, but can't confirm $5 a piece). A special edition with both characters included is available for $70.

I've demolished Marvel vs. Capcom 2. My digital camera is clogged with pictures of me beating it in arcades across the country (and I'm not too shabby 1v1!), so I'm pretty excited about this new "update." The control style will borrow from the (sadly never released in America) Capcom vs Namco. The controls should be simplified, which is probably for the best. Capcom seems to be restraining themselves, even if only slightly, with this release. You won't get the 200 character roster you may have expected.

No arcade model to speak of, except XBOXs set up in cabinet to play this game.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 launches with a retail price of $59.99 for the PlayStation 3 and XBOX360.

Mega Man 9 Secret Found?



This was a glitch I stumbled upon in Mega Man 9. I used a Black Hole Bomb right as Wily shot his sparks and he got stuck...

I don't think this is the secret, just a glitch, but it's never been revealed so who knows? Personally, I don't think a Mega Man 9 "secret" ever existed. Pretty lame, Capcom.

Proto Man 2 Gameplay Video



Gameplay footage from my Proto Man 2 hack.

You can also watch this on youtube, but why?

I lost part 1 of the video, but I play through several Robot Master stages and Wily's Castle. Thanks to the new youtube features, it's 1 video and 1 hour long, which is pretty cool. I think part one only had Bubble, Metal, and Wood Man stages.

Praise for Mutant Warzone



The Wizard of Vestron reviews Mutant Warzone, stating:

"Now THIS is what gaming is all about."

"Put Mutant Warzone on fast mode and see if your not shitting your pants within 30 seconds as you become surrounded by the mutated living dead."

Go read the full review now!

Also, download Mutant Warzone!

Great review Wiz!

DOOM Cheat Codes



Type in the following codes at any time. These are, of course, pretty well known, and I'm just posting them here as a resource because I forgot to save and need to warp to level 1-5.

dbehold# When # is one of the letters below, this gives the powers of an item:
"R": Radiation shielding suit.
"I": Partial invisibility.
"V": Invulnerability.
"A": Computer area map.
"L": Light amplification visor.
"S": Berserk.

idchoppers1 Gives the option to select the chainsaw.

idclip No clipping in Doom II (see idspispopd below for technical details).

idclev##2 Warps to level E#M# or MAP##.

iddqd3 GOD MODE, This cheat reveals information if used while in automap mode, showing additional data the second time it is used:

First use: full automap (reveals unexplored areas, including invisible linedefs not shown by the computer area map powerup).

Second use: full automap with items, monsters, players, obstacles, and decorations.

Third use: the automap is restored to normal.

idfa6 This is the same as idkfa below, but excludes the keys.

idkfa7 Grants full megaarmor protection (200%), all weapons, full ammo, and all the keys.

idmus##8 Plays music from level MAP##

idmypos9 Shows the player's coordinates and compass direction in HEX

idspispopd10 No clipping

New Duke Nukem Forever Screenshots and Release Date


Supposedly the game is finished and launching in the USA on May 3rd for PS3, XBOX, and PC. This is great news for DOS gamers and FPS fans; the Duke Nukem series was known for possessing edgy action humor and (in the case of Duke Nukem 3D) an in-game strip club. Sales were exceptional.

The DOS platformers are fun and clunky, but Duke Nukem 3D is a masterpiece. This is really the game that popularized Duke and brought him out of the drugstore shareware bin and onto home consoles into gaming magazines.

No surprise then that 3D Realms decided to make another game, to follow up on the success of Duke Nukem 3D. Well they did, 14 years, except it's been in development ever since. Long ago, everyone abandonned any hope of playing this game. Duke Nukem would go the way of Commander Keen and Hugo. Sad, but typical. However, deep within the 3D-Realms office block, underpaid grad students continued to tinker with Duke Nukem 3D and kept slowly working on the game, until now.

One day, they say, "Z.O.M.G. We finished this shit!"

Executives response, "Whoa wtf! No way!"

It now uses a modded Unreal 2.5 engine, which is great because it should be fast-paced, smooth, and lend itself to online play and further modding (but who knows?).

These are the interesting, new screenshots, which don't show too much to be honest. Story screenshots? Sigh.

In any case, it's almost time to kick ass and chew bubblegum. And I'm all out of gum.

OFFICIAL DUKE NUKEM FOREVER LINK








Sunday, February 13, 2011

Wolfenstein 3D Review, Resources, and DOS vs GBA Comparison



Holy crap look at that dude kick the shit out of those Nazis. He doesn't even need the goddamned machine gun. He's just firing it because he's angry.

Released in 1992, Apogee's (Commander Keen and Jill of the Jungle, later they would become ID software) Wolfenstein 3D was the first first person shooter worth playing. Some early examples like Battlezone might prove to be exceptions, but Wolfenstein 3D and Doom really set the standards of quality for the genre. The music is subtle yet tense, the graphics are realistic for the time, and all the sprites and artwork feel polished, even if enjoyably dated.

Wolfenstein 3D was banned in Germany, and subsequently developed a large cult following among German teenagers because of its restricted status. It's a little harder (impossible) for countries to ban old software for censorship reasons now.

Anyone who grew up in the 90s probably knows this game; it was everywhere. Everyone had this game on PC. Your friend probably gave you a copy on 4 (holy hell) floppies.

Despite the marketable title, it's technically not 3D, but uses a 2D map and "ray-casting" to create a 3D environment similar to the old Windows Maze screensaver. It doesn't get much better than this (unless, of course, you happen to be playing DOOM, but I'll save that review for later).

Originally released as Shareware, the first 10 levels were free, but the next 50 would cost you. Despite this, the game was heavily circulated on BBSes and the early internet. The source code was released in 1995, like many of ID's other games.

You play William Joseph Blazkowicz and you're captured in a Nazi castle. It's going to be a serious pain in the ass to escape. You'll have to defeat zombies, ghosts, nazis, giant Germans, and Hitler himself to escape.

This game is brutally difficult on the default setting. The mazes are disorienting, the damage is hefty, and enemies abound. You'll need to develop your mental mapping skills because you won't have access to any sort of map. Even using an online map will prove somewhat confusing.

The flaws only increase the appeal of the game. The environments are repetitive, but so what? Isn't everything to some degree? Wolfenstein 3D provides a legitimately tense adrenaline rush, and that's just not something you can get from most FPSs these days.

Each level is pretty long, taking an experienced player around 7 minutes to clear, and around 15 (or longer) for a first timer. You can save your game, but you are only provided with a limited number of lives in the beginning. The game is, as mentioned, divided in 6 episodes of 10 levels each, which adds up to hours actions.

Like a lot of things discusses here, you'll of course need DOSBox, a DOS emulator for Windows and Linux. Mac users don't despair, a Macintosh port exists, as well as a PS3, Apple IIGS, Acorn Archimedes, Super NES, Atari Jaguar, Amiga 1200, Game Boy Advance, iPhone, 3DO, Nintendo Wii, and Steam versions. Many versions are censored or altered, so research a version before purchasing.

I have, however, played the GBA version and it is excellent. Wolfenstein 3D fits perfectly on the system, even if the people are somewhat pixelated the controls are smooth and if you find this game cheap, consider it a steal. You could, naturally, take the less-legit route and play the game in VBACE (the only GBA emulator I can recommend, it's light years faster than regular VBA). And google search to coolroms or emuparidise or something for the rom.

You can download the full version of Wolfenstein 3D here. This link'll do for now, I'll upload it to the Postmodern Software download page soon-ish so there can be a permanent link on the page.

One final important consideration: the controls for the windows version are terrible. If you have a gamepad for your PC (why don't you! You can buy a PS1/PS2 to USB for 7 bucks on eBay!) you can use the fantastic, free Joy2Key application to easily map the controls onto ANY gamepad.

If you even hope to make it through the game these days, you'll probably want to start decoding the maps. I'm not sure I understand how to read them, but it should be pretty easy. I just didn't see a map key anywhere but maybe I'm overlooking it. Even if there isn't a key, printing out the first level and decoding it myself would clearly be possible.

If you only print out 10 pages a day no one will notice at work. You can have a really nice Wolfenstein 3D strategy guide. Color printers are a huge plus. If you could get color copies for 15 cents a piece (I doubt it), creating a guide at FedEx would cost $9.00. GameFAQs, of course, has a collection of Wolfenstein 3D guides if you want to be confused by the level AND someone else.

Finally, Wolfenstein 3D serves as a major inspiration on the less-revolutionary, yet-still-more-fun 8bit Killer, a free indie game created by Locomalito. I reviewd the game a long time ago, and a download link has been in the sidebar for years, so you've probably already heard all about it. If you haven't yet played Wolfenstein 3D, you'll immediately notice similarities between level 1-1 and 1-2 and the free-roaming levels in 8bit Killer.





Screenshots from the DOS version. For GBA comparison squint eyes.

MUTANT WARZONE SECRET CODE



Access the super-secret speed setting by hitting F2. This option is so fucking secret that I didn't even know the game included it (it's built into Megazeux)!

You might as well go ahead and set the game to super-fucking-fast because it's the default setting from now on.

Image is an unfinished version of a picture for the OST. I liked this version for some reason, but the finished one is, I think, better. It's the guy from the title screen. The bad guy who isn't in the game yet.

Mutant Warzone OST Album Art Sneak Peak



Another piece done for the upcoming OST! I intended for the main character to be either male or female depending on the player. Duke would be the male version, so here is the female protagonist.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Mutant Warzone Hi-Res Wallpaper




Mutation Warzone Hi-Res Wallpaper.

This will be the back cover, I think, to the upcoming Mutant Warzone OST by mrjordak!

MUTANT WARZONE Beta 3.0



UPDATE: Beta 3.0 is out! Enjoy some new areas/features.

Download Mutant Warzone Beta 3.0

MUTANT WARZONE
A Zombie Apocalypse Simulation
Rendered in 8-Bit, ANSII, and Megazeux ANSII
Official HTML Readme
Beta 3.0

Version 3.0 Changelog
---------------------
-Added Dungeon: "HELL" (accessible via the cathedral in the upper-right, requires red key)
-Game balance issues
-Fixed stairs bug
-Fixed title screen
-Death now sends the player back to the beginning
-Increased Health to 200 per heart (up from 10) in player base
-Removed alternate stairs to the sewers, they are now only located by the hospital
-Added entrance to player base

Version 2.0 Changelog
---------------------
-Bombs now set the ground on fire
-Added Dungeon: "SEWERS" (multiple entrances)
-Added Dungeon: "HOSPITAL" (Key found in Sewers)
-More low-stregnth bombs
-New enemy: "Mutant Beetle"
-Added about 1,000 zombies to the City



Getting Started
---------------
Run megazeux.exe, and select MUTANT.mzx. You have loaded the game!

CTRL+ALT+ENTER to switch to fullscreen.

Hit "P" to start playing!

Access the super-secret speed setting by hitting F2. This option is so fucking secret that I didn't even know the game included it (it's built into Megazeux)!


Story and Gameplay
------------------
You are the last survivor of a mutant/zombie outbreak in the City.
The 1,000s of inhabitants are now hell-bent on ripping out your
spine and eating your brains. Armed with a trusty machine gun,
explore the city to find more supplies, achieve a high score,
and, ultimately, clear the infestation completely.


Controls
--------
Enter: Menu/Status

P: Play the Game at the title screen
F2: Settings
F3: Save
F4: Load
F9: Quicksave
F10: Quickload



F5/INS: Toggle Bomb Type
Arrow Keys: Move Around
Space + Direction: Shoot Machine Gun
Delete: Bomb


Items
-----
AMMO: Needed to survive, comes in different quantities.
LIFE: Restores health! Also needed to survive.
Gems and Coins: Score some extra points.
Bombs: There exists both strong and weak vaireties.
Keys: Match the color to the lock!
Atoms: Atomic Energy gives you an extra life!


Zombies and Mutants
-------------------
Most mutants will chase after you, but some lurk quietly in the shadows.


About and Contact
-----------------
Mutant Warzone was originally developed in 2 days using Megazeux.


Liscene
-------
THIS GAME IS FREEWARE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD FOR PROFIT. ANYONE CAN EDIT THIS GAME.