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From: mlab2@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Color games and joysticks
Message-ID: <27779.278b3ab1@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Date: 9 Jan 91 21:45:53 GMT
References: <18480@shlump.nac.dec.com> <960@chem.ucsd.EDU> <19389@hydra.gatech.EDU>
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services
Lines: 43

>    I would have to disagree.  I played this game for more than several
> hours.  
>    Although it has some advances for a mac arcade-style game, it still
> isn't up to current levels of expectation.  The graphics are flickery,

I would must differ on this.  Although it ain't Amiga, I think Sky Shadow sets
a new benchmark in Mac arcade games.  Having programmed the Mac, Sky Shadow
DOES exceed my levels of expectation.  I'm very impressed - amazed even.  I
don't doubt that someone will come along to top it, but it stands as the
arcade-game-to-be-reckoned with on the Mac.

> the scrolling playing field is small and _very_ repetitive.  The game

Sure.  Again, we're not on an Amiga or a Nintendo for that matter.  One color
screen (in 16 color mode) is going to run you around 30-40K of disk space. 
This will limit you to 20 or so screens per disk.  He has three 'levels' with
perhaps 4 or 5 screens per level.  Add to that 500K of digitized sound.  I
think besides the obvious reason of game speed, the number of screens was a
question of economy.  We don't all have hard drives or 1.4 M floppy drives.

> itself gives you so many goodies that sometimes for minutes, you are
> completely invincible with huge amounts of firepower.  So, to compensate
> for your strength, the game gets ridiculously fast.  When you lose your
> invincibility, you're pretty much dead meat.  Also, once you get all of
> this firepower, Sky Shadow game commits a serious sin.  It doesn't erase some
> of the bullets you fire, so you see little white spots all over the screen.

On this part, I agree wholly with you.  There does seem to be a skewed sort of
game-balance.  I still enjoy the game however - it just pits you in a
one-slip-up-and-your-dead scenario.  This is frustrating often.

>    My advice to you is to stick to the brain games on the Mac.  These
> tend to be more contemporary in their quality.

Certainly.  But, card games and Othello are easy to program.  Without speed
overhead, pages and pages of graphics, I should expect many more games like
'Seahaven Towers'.  If speed is no longer a factor, sure lets go 256 color
mode.

> 
> Russo, Chris A.

john calhoun