The Invaders

[Mr20to5]

Hi guys,

So with Zacc's restoration nearing completion I have been able to spend more time playing and less time painting.

Thought I would check out some high scores but there aren't any!

Oh well, so if we could start a new thread with my meagre effort, it may inspire others to join in.

I have to say that this score is set whilst trying to get as far into the game as possible, as opposed to tactically playing to score high.

But it's a start.

Neil.

Muerto2015-06-03 16:49:30

 

[Muerto]

Hi Niel.
Great score
This looks like Space Invaders? But I presume it's a Zacc clone of it?
(I just want to get the facts right before i create the scoreboard )
Any chance you could post a pic of the cab?Muerto2015-05-31 19:10:46

 

[Mr20to5]

Hi Niel.
Great score
This looks like Space Invaders? But I presume it's a Zacc clone of it?
(I just want to get the facts right before i create the scoreboard )
Any chance you could post a pic of the cab?

Here's a link to my current resto thread of the cab, take your pick of any of the photos nearer to the end.

But yes, this is the Zacc version, named The Invaders.

Resto Thread

 

[Macro]

It's a zaccaria version, total rewrite - character based and runs on S2650 CPU

There are two versions, The Invaders and Super Invader Attack - the latter (at least) has a dip switch that controls if one of the bombs chases you (it falls towards the base * which means it chases you as you dodge out of the way - makes it MUCH harder!)

* actually, it doesn't chase the base at all, it chases the missile, but if you haven't fired it then the effect is the same.

 

[david_orton_2000]

Hey there!

This is tougher than the Taito and Midway sets, as the sprite detection is poor.
-works both ways, but means a close shot coming down will damage you...
BTW, this is the Mame set :-
tinv2650

Here's my score:-

david_orton_20002015-06-29 14:41:30

 

[Hurray Banana]

Had a quick go, the collision detection is bs.

Shame they had to cram the middle and bottom invaders into a 10 pixel tile size as on the bitmapped versions they are wider than the top one.

top 8 pixels

middle 11 pixels - nearly fits

bottom 12 pixels

2310 for me.

 

[Snicklefritzx]

I can't upload a pic I won't say score invade you think I'm liying

 

[david_orton_2000]

Can't upload...no excuse! ;-)

If using Mame, the pic facility (built-in) should be a fairly small file, so upload with the form.

Otherwise, if a cab, your camera-phone should take it, then crush the res down (and thus the file size) using the free 'Gimp' software or Photoshop, etc.

Meantime...tell us the score anyway!

This is a *much* tougher version of the game, again because of the poor sprite collision detection routines, but also makes it more challenging!

 

[Mr20to5]

This is a *much* tougher version of the game, again because of the poor sprite collision detection routines, but also makes it more challenging!

I'll second that. I find this much much harder than the other versions when on mame. However I have this in an original Zacc cab, which reminds me to check the dip settings, which I never have.

How can I find out what they "should" be set at, to even out the playing field. I think they will be right but would be good to know.

There are YouTube videos on other versions with tactical gameplay being used where they shoot out a number of columns of invaders to the right of the screen, then just sit and wait for AGES!! whilst all the mystery ships come across the top. They seem to do this for up to ten minutes on the earlier levels. Whereas on mine, if I try to replicate this the invaders are at the bottom within a few minutes.

However, I hate playing games, tactically, just to ramp up points, just doesn't seem like cricket to me, so wouldn't do this anyway, but again makes me think about my dip settings.

Need to get back on mine and play some more though. There's a better score lurking around the corner....

Neil

neil16372015-09-16 11:07:56

 

[david_orton_2000]

Hey Neil,

Here's the DIP settings:-

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Function Option

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Lives 3*

Off 4

On Lightning Speed Slow*

Off Fast

On On On Coinage 2 Coins/1 Credit

On On Off 1 Coin/1 Credit*

On Off On 1 Coin/2 Credits

On Off Off 1 Coin/3 Credits

Off On On 1 Coin/4 Credits

Off On Off 1 Coin/5 Credits

Off Off On 1 Coin/6 Credits

Off Off Off 1 Coin/7 Credits

On Bonus Life 1000*

Off 1500

On Extended Play No*

Off Yes

----------------

"lightening speed"....we should certainly give that a go!!!! lol ;-)

 

[Mr20to5]

cheers pal.

I will check that out tonight. I'm guessing mine will be set as such already based on the options. might give the "lightning speed" option a try just for laughs though.

 

[Mr20to5]

Hmmmm, my dip settings were not as thought.

So in the interest of levelling the field. Can someone tell me, from the values above, what they should be.

Thanks

 

[favouredson]

Hmmmm, my dip settings were not as thought.

So in the interest of levelling the field. Can someone tell me, from the values above, what they should be.

Thanks

The factory defaults are highlighted with asterisks.
I would assume you use those.

 

[Mr20to5]

Thanks pal.

Best get mine off 'fast' then and change my extra life to 1000!

 

[iamjimmi]

Hi guys - sorry to hijack this thread, but whilst we have a few Space Invader players chatting, I thought I would ask a question that posted earlier in the year but didn't get an definitive answer...

On my Taito, the 'Wall of Death' doesn't work correctly... my shots go straight through the invaders when they reach the lowest level.

I am curious to find out if my board is faulty or did Taito 'fix' the wall of death on later rom sets to stop people playing the game indefinitely? Anyone ever heard of a Taito board doing this?

Does the wall of death work on Zac Invaders (let the line of invaders drop to the second to last row on the screen (the one before they "invade") and their missiles cannot harm your base - giving you the opportunity to take them out without being shot)?

Cheers.... Jim C

 

[Body pop]

Excellent thread !
Made me get my invaders working again
Need to get some practice and checkup dips
Had took this pic to show it working again
Think the scores 3040 or something ,I upped it a few hundred just the next night .
Il be back with a better score at weekend

 

[Mr20to5]

Hi guys - sorry to hijack this thread

Apology not required, it's good to talk about the games, never seems to be much love for this game, irrespective of the developer, I just find it soooooooo addictive, and holds a lot of good memories for me.

Does
the wall of death work on Zac Invaders (let the line of invaders drop
to the second to last row on the screen (the one before they "invade")
and their missiles cannot harm your base - giving you the opportunity to
take them out without being shot)?

So, I am playing on original hardware and had already tried this, after watching a few world record attempts on youtube, where they utilise this 'advantage', basically shooting out 2 columns near to the right (but not the furthest right), creating a space to continuously shoot the 'mystery' bonus ship through, each time it comes along, letting the invaders plod their slow path down the screen, before taking them out, a row at a time when they hit the last row, safe in the knowledge that they cannot harm you.

I personally, can't be done with this with this style of gameplay. It just doesn't seem cricket to manipulate the game just to increase your score, PLUS I find it boring as hell waiting and waiting and waiting for the bonus ships.

That said I have tried it and can confirm that it does NOT work on my Zacc, you just get shot to hell by the invaders, whose missiles penetrate you liek a hot knife through soft butter!!

Other's have said it before on this thread, but I think this version is hard, I haven;t tried it on mame, no need to really, so not sure how it plays on there with reference to your original query.

I need to check out my dip switches though, as I changed them the other day, but my changes don't seem to match up to the schematics listed above???? Not sure if I miscounted or if something more complicated is at fault.....

Neil

 

[iamjimmi]

Thanks for the reply Neil - I will try and clock up a score this weekend (without using the wall of the death) and post later!

 

[Mr20to5]

Thanks for the reply Neil - I will try and clock up a score this weekend (without using the wall of the death) and post later!

No worries pal. Without sounding (too) pedantic, if yours is a Taito board, then I would like to keep this thread to the Zaccaria version only, just because of the differences between the software. Unless of course you are going onto mame, or bought another cab !!!

Thanks in advance.

Neil.

 

[iamjimmi]

Thanks for the reply Neil - I will try and clock up a score this weekend (without using the wall of the death) and post later!

No worries pal.  Without sounding (too) pedantic, if yours is a Taito board, then I would like to keep this thread to the Zaccaria version only, just because of the differences between the software.  Unless of course you are going onto mame, or bought another cab !!!

Thanks in advance.

Neil.

Well I had to join in, so Mame it was... I've got to say... I am not a huge fan (sorry Neil).

It's been said before the collision detection is awful. It makes the game feel unfair...

The sound... just not in the same league at the Taito (unless Mame has made a hash of it, in which case I will withdraw that comment).

And the flying saucer is way too fast. Which oddly makes the game easier.. On Taito if you miss the saucer you know that you can out pace him and have another crack... but invariably as you chase across the screen an Invader's missile will get you. On Zac you can't catch the saucer so there is not point chasing after him - if you miss him, you just carry on - no incentive to put your base on the line to have a second go.

I'm not sure if it is harder than Taito or just different. Shooting the invaders missiles is a whole lot easier than Taito.. and you can use your shield buildings a lot more effectively on the Zac version - on Taito you think you are safe and a missile will still get you.

But it has been an interesting exercise just to see how different the versions are. And I love Space Invaders, so whilst I will stick with Taito, I still loved playing it...

Anyway - the score... 4660. I 'm pretty pleased with that - just missed out on the top spot but it's getting late. No tactics employed - just try and shoot the buggers before they shoot me.

iamjimmi2015-09-28 01:07:41