Panda Jump - Homebrew for Galaxian hardware

[b_larson]

Hi everyone,

I wrote a homebrew for Galaxian hardware earlier this year called 'Panda Jump' I thought I would share with you all (I did not know this forum existed until very recently, or else I would have posted here sooner).

The premise of the game is very simple: you are a Panda. You need to jump from the bottom of the screen to the top in order to retrieve your bamboo. Only one small problem: the platforms are all moving and there's lava below.

The game is pretty hard, but IMO not much more difficult than other arcade games of the early 1980s. There are 9 levels total.

Here's the forum post where I posted earlier this year on atariage.com, which contains a link to the download: https://forums.atariage.com/topic/330567-panda-jump-arcade/ . Feel free to let me know what you think.

b_larson2022-10-09 21:44:17

 

[Georgian2]

Maybe Macro could intagreate it into his multigame rom. (Macros-arcade)

 

[Macro]

Happy to have a look if the author is ok with it. Someone was sorting out new PCBs for it so may be available again sometime.

 

[b_larson]

Macro I have been to your site (assuming you run macros-arcade.com) and yes that would be fine if you wanted to add it to the multi game ... actually an honor.

b_larson2022-10-10 16:03:34

 

[Macro]

It could do with some more sound, especially a 'dying in the lava' noise (since I seem to spend a lot of time doing that)

 

[b_larson]

Macro, I can look into that.

I was also thinking this morning that a dip switch difficulty setting where some of the platforms move slower might be a good idea. I know it's pretty hard, particularly some of the later levels.

*EDIT: larger platforms on some levels might also be another option to make it easier

b_larson2022-10-11 15:38:09

 

[favouredson]

I think the speed and size of the platforms is fine.
The main issue I had when playing was sliding off platforms after jumping on them. I didn't know panda feet were that slippery...

 

[Robert]

I didn't get past stage 1.

It's been added to HBMAME next release.

 

[Hurray Banana]

excellent stuff

 

[Hurray Banana]

just made a poor video of this. so hard for a turd like me.

Hurray Banana2022-11-05 14:38:16

 

[b_larson]

Yea the key is controlling (i.e. reversing) your momentum on the landings.

Actually in some of the later levels, you also have to use momentum to your advantage to leapfrog across to platforms that you wouldn't otherwise be able to reach.

It's pretty hard at first ...like most early 80s arcade games. You die a lot at first, then you (hopefully) start to get the hang of it.

 

[Hurray Banana]

It's nice. Coding old arcade hardware is the future

 

[b_larson]

It's nice. Coding old arcade hardware is the future

I know you're kind of joking, but I do feel like arcade hardware is still a bit of an unexplored avenue for homebrews.

...which is why I also wrote a 'hello world' program for Galaxian hardware: https://github.com/bentlartson/galaxianhelloworld

I plan to do a write up explaining it in more detail at some point - just haven't gotten around to it yet.

b_larson2022-11-12 02:28:32

 

[Hurray Banana]

Not joking I've been working on pacman hardware for a few years. A few projects some currently paused.

 

[Hurray Banana]

I plan to do a write up explaining it in more detail at some point - just haven't gotten around to it yet.

I wrote a little (naff) game with fully documented code listing for my students. Links in description

Hurray Banana2022-11-12 07:08:23

 

[Macro]

Did you add some more sound ?

if not, could I have a copy of the source code so I can add some in ... (will send you any changes of course)

Mike

 

[b_larson]

Macro I did try coming up with a sound effect for when you fall in the lava, but I didn't come up with anything I liked so far. It's just difficult to coax good sound out of the hardware as you probably know.

If you have something, though, feel free to send it my way. Otherwise I think I'm just gonna leave well enough alone for now.

 

[Macro]

PM me your email address and I'll send the sound code I did for a few games, mostly does tunes, but you can do some quickly changing pitches etc. for sound effects as well. (and one version also allows the missile noise I think ...!)

used in Mr Do's Nightmare and Clean Sweep both on the MiSTer

 

[Georgian2]

Dose this game suport high score save if NVRam is installed?