I also noticed that the aliens only dropped bombs on the first few levels as well - but you expect this sort of thing on early versions. I think it's excellent so far.

Yeap - I've noticed that and have that on the list of to-do's...
Thanks for pointing this out anyway Dave.

Neil

Right, here's another quick update...

Things are progressing quite well, I have been nawty and have worked the full lunch hour for the last few days, getting the known issues sorted.
Thus I have, I think just about finished the main game, I'm sure there will be issues, but the ones I've seen, I've managed to fix - so after several game plays it's feeling quite good...

The details

* Added End Game Score, so you know what you got!
* Added Bonus life, this is for every 500 points gained.
* Sorted out Invader bullet speed increment as levels progress.
* Player bullet different gfx.
* Mother ship now has two frames, and some naff colours, sorry!
* Added Yellow to upper part of numbers plus life markers changed to yellow.
* Reduced delay to FIRE action on intro, start level and game over screens.
* Sorted out the various level restart gfx glitchies.

To Do list

* Hi-score entry screen and Listing.
* Quick Tidy of screens etc
* Release as beta for testing.
* Once got feedback from guys on site, release as Version 1.0
* Review code and then release to site for general use.

Will add updated screen shots within the next day or so, but I think we might be making it to the beta quite soon. All being well that is!

We might have to hold a poll on a new name for Pants Invaders, As I'm a father having a 14 yr old daughter - plus my partner has two teenagers, I have to keep up the appearance of being sensible!
However if you all like PANTS INVADERS then, sigh, it will stay!

Thanks - Neil

I actually really liked the name Sparse Invaders. I don't see it as a big deal that the name has been used before on a different platform.

Also, I noticed you started writing a Diary Of Development section on the wiki page. Makes for interesting reading - hope others check it out, if they haven't noticed it already!

Sam.

Thanks for pointing that out Sam, hadn't noticed the dev diary (cheers for writing it, Neil!).

Personally I don't mind whether it's Pants or Sparse!

On the Micropower-inspired loader screen I've done (or should I say 'ripped off'?)

SPARSE
INVADERS

actually centers better than

PANTS
INVADERS

... so reverting to Sparse might not be such a bad idea after all!

Neil, sorry for not having had time to provide feedback on the latest version (I've been real busy making preparations for Byte Back). I did have a go and definitely consider it to be a big step up from the last release (it certainly feels a lot more 'solid'). However, I did notice both the random sprite flicker and random blanking issue, neither of which [I think] affected the previous build?

As an alternative, what about SCARCE INVADERS?

Kind regards,

Francis.

For what it's worth, I was never keen on the name "Pants Invaders", it just sounds foolish, and if your current workrate is anything to go by I can't see why it wouldn't become a pretty polished Space Invaders clone.

Yes, please change it back to Sparse Invaders on the next build!!

It's clear that the finished product will be a cut above, and it would be plain wrong to bog it down with such a silly title.

Sorry!

OK, that's good! No, that's GREAT!!!

I'll rename it back to Sparse Invaders - for the beta - and we can work out a better name for it ( I was thinking 'NEIL Invaders' ) ... at a later date!

I'm glad you guys feel the same about this,

thanks - Neil

Spooky - That's what I was thinking ( after a quick glance at the thesarus anyway ) - depending on what others feel, SCARCE INVADERS hopefully haven't been used ( unlike Sparse Invaders ).

Good One Francis, gets my vote anyway ['thumbs up' Smilie to be placed here!]

Thanks - Neil

I think Sparse sounds good because it sort of implies that the game is Space Invaders, but that the background is, well, sparse, and it's generally intended to be a simple, not over-complicated version.

Scarce on the other hand, makes me think you plan to ration the number of aliens! I'll still vote for the former, but you pays yer money and you takes yer choice, as The Mad Hatter used to say.

Sam.

^^ What he says!

Sparse seems fitting as the aliens are monochrome (well, Cyan) and Sparse does sound very similar to Space. Can't say the same for "Scarce" though ... the link just isn't clear (ooh, I definitely sense the need for a poll! )

OK, [snigger into his coffee mug] there's now a poll, I've entered in the possible names, also voted for the one I like ... Worth a viewing as I have entered another name in the pot ... ( well two, but for the love of all that is holy - please don't vote for the 'silly' one - )!

I'll work on the hi-score entry over the next few day, I might put another version on the site, what I don't want to do is fill it up with old pants zip files!

Thanks for reading the wiki page, I expect it will fill up more over the next couple of weeks especially when the code is on there, as I want to explain the processes and thinking etc of the various modules. Just a foot note here, I enjoy doing the diary, I wish I had started one at the beginning of development - always good to look back ... PLUS I'm a very funny guy!! OK, maybe rated slightly below par with my old joke humour! Sigh!!

Thanks, Neil ( Looking forward to checking in on the poll later! )

PS.. - Regarding the poll, if I have missed a name out, yell and then I can always restart it, before too many get to vote!


Right, better get some work done

'Chaste Invaders'

chaste [ chayst ] (comparative chast·er, superlative chast·est)

adjective

Definition:

1. abstaining from sex: abstaining from sex on moral grounds

2. sexually faithful: not having extramarital sexual relations

3. pure in thought and deed: behaving in a pure way, with no immoral thoughts

4. plain: plain, simple, and unadorned in style

I was thinking of definition 4 because I don't know Neil well enough to comment on the other definitions.....

Martin

Dooh Martin,

how come you come up with a great name! I like 'Chaste Invaders' - And I'm glad you chose number 4 in the defination or else people would start to talk!

I'm not sure that the poll can get changed, I'm assuming not - but if anyone else feels we need to restart the poll, then yell! Maybe I should of had a poll so we could select the names to be entered into the main pole for name selection! Or am I getting confused?

Thanks - Neil

Problem is people would assume that Chaste Invaders would refer to the first definition of the term. People may even think that it is a sequel to Jon Wesener's Astrotit!

Kind regards,

Francis

Just tried out the latest version. It's definitely looking a lot more solid.

I did notice one graphical glitch however, at the start of level 5 one of the bases has a hole in it:



Kind regards,

Francis

Thanks Francis,

I've taken care of that one, as well - the explosion and invader bullets were being cleared. I'm assuming they are fixed .. LOL!

OK, I'll put the current version on my BB -

http://www.neilberesford.com/BB

in the same place it was, before the wiki page.

Please give that one a go, if you have chance and a boring afternoon at work what-ever!

This version of the game has all the fixes and chances in for the game play.

Thanks Neil

OK!!!!

It's been an age!

But I have finally finished the hi-score and have, hopefully a good beta for you all to try!!

I will place it on the site, in a while- work has been very hextic!!!

Just wanted to post, as I would hate you guys to think I'd given up!!

Will update once the SPARCE invaders disk image is updated.

Oh, a warning - I have created bloat-ware, so at present it only runs on BBC 128k Master - BeebEm to the rescue!!

Thanks - Neil

Haha, for a space invaders game? Good going