Escape Artists

The Lounge at the End of the Universe => Gallimaufry => Topic started by: CGFxColONeill on April 23, 2008, 10:16:46 PM

Title: game
Post by: CGFxColONeill on April 23, 2008, 10:16:46 PM
I re-found this game last night while taking a break from studying for finals
Curve Ball (http://www.newsandentertainment.com/zFcurveball.html)

a few points
1) I am not responsible for lost time due to this
2) the longer it goes on the better your chance of losing
3) ALWAYS expect it to come back


my highest score is around 21k and lvl 7
Title: Re: game
Post by: stePH on April 24, 2008, 05:05:46 AM
I'd like to see a 2-player head-to-head version of this, like one that can be played on a LAN.

a few points
1) I am not responsible for lost time due to this

Pfff ... try Peggle (http://www.popcap.com/games/peggle) and then get back to me.  My wife and I both need an intervention ... or we need to check into the Norman Chan Clinic for Peggle Addiction.
Title: Re: game
Post by: birdless on April 24, 2008, 05:16:25 AM
Oooo! Games! I luv'em all: board, card, video, rpg.... you name it.... trying these out now...................

ha! Curve Ball is fun, but I LOVE PEGGLE (damn you stePH!).
Title: Re: game
Post by: Heradel on April 24, 2008, 05:29:59 AM
Desktop Tower Defense (http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/Game.asp)
Title: Re: game
Post by: stePH on April 24, 2008, 12:47:08 PM
Oooo! Games! I luv'em all: board, card, video, rpg.... you name it.... trying these out now...................

ha! Curve Ball is fun, but I LOVE PEGGLE (damn you stePH!).

If you haven't bought it from PopCap yet, be advised that it's only $10 if purchased through Steam (as opposed to $20 from PopCap).
Title: Re: game
Post by: CGFxColONeill on April 24, 2008, 09:01:16 PM
I'd like to see a 2-player head-to-head version of this, like one that can be played on a LAN.

Ya I have thought that a 2 player version of that would be fun as well

anyone know how to program?
Title: Re: game
Post by: CGFxColONeill on April 24, 2008, 09:35:57 PM
oh ya now I remember the desktop defender one lol it has been a while with that one
Title: Re: game
Post by: Ocicat on April 24, 2008, 09:36:58 PM
I've gotten to Level 8 in curveball, but I don't think I've ever managed to score against the guy, no matter how many balls I have left when I get there...
Title: Re: game
Post by: Chodon on April 24, 2008, 09:55:08 PM
I've gotten to Level 8 in curveball, but I don't think I've ever managed to score against the guy, no matter how many balls I have left when I get there...
Ditto, I maxed out on level 8 with a score of 22100.
Title: Re: game
Post by: sirana on April 26, 2008, 01:41:08 PM
26.600, baby!
Title: Re: game
Post by: Thaurismunths on April 26, 2008, 05:30:45 PM
Desktop Tower Defense (http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/Game.asp)
...this is payback for that N-sh post isn't it?
(countless electrons are being burned up in pursuit of this silly game)
Title: Re: game
Post by: Heradel on April 26, 2008, 06:15:00 PM
Desktop Tower Defense (http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/Game.asp)
...this is payback for that N-sh post isn't it?
(countless electrons are being burned up in pursuit of this silly game)

Tempting is the Adversary, especially in groups of 10x2 and with various abilities.
Title: Re: game
Post by: CGFxColONeill on April 26, 2008, 07:32:41 PM
right now I am going for the 10k gold and 100 levels but I usually get burned around lvl 65 or 70
Title: Re: game
Post by: stePH on April 26, 2008, 10:53:01 PM
Desktop Tower Defense (http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/Game.asp)

Surprisingly deep in strategy for a casual flash game.


*edited to correct a tupo*
Title: Re: game
Post by: Tango Alpha Delta on April 27, 2008, 03:31:31 AM
Desktop Tower Defense (http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/Game.asp)

Surprisingly deep in stragegy for a casual flash game.

Enter your score under the group "Escapepod"... to see how bad at surprisingly deep stragegy I am!
Title: Re: game
Post by: birdless on May 01, 2008, 08:57:51 PM
Desktop Tower Defense (http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/Game.asp)
So has anyone noticed a drop in recent postings for me recently (probably not, but there were)... well, that's why! Man, what an addictive game.

I'm working on the 10k gold, too.. i can only get to the 80s in every configuration I've tried. What gets me every time is the Spawns followed by the fliers... it's just too many around level 81 or so... any ideas? We should probably split this off into its own strategy discussion! :D I can post screen shots if anyone is interested, though it's slightly different every time, I think.

I'm also working on the Survivor mode (all spawns). I can see the end, but I can't get there.

I gave up (for the time being) on 15 towers max, and gave up (forever) on the 3000 gold fixed (I don't see how it's possible).

<edit: added the "impossible" clause to 3k Gold Fixed and again on further details on the 10K gold>
Title: Re: game
Post by: Thaurismunths on May 01, 2008, 11:24:18 PM
I'm working on the 10k gold, too.. i can only get to the 80s in every configuration I've tried. What gets me every time is the Spawns followed by the fliers... it's just too many around level 81 or so... any ideas? We should probably split this off into its own strategy discussion! :D I can post screen shots if anyone is interested, though it's slightly different every time, I think.
I'm with you.
Jody Monster is cleaning up in the EscapePod group standings, and I'm having trouble on Medium.

I have a pretty good setup on the 10K I can show off too.
Title: Re: game
Post by: Heradel on May 02, 2008, 12:57:42 AM
It took me about a month of play to start beating the game, once you do it the first two or three times it gets a lot easier. I'd get back in for group, but finals and final papers are due in the next two weeks, and I sort of need to pass my classes. Just a little bit. 

You can't really beat 10k, at least I never could. You can get very far, but there's no real good way to finish it since you can't do much. I'd concentrate on getting a really good maze and some ice towers, but again, it's nearly impossible to win.

I never really liked the Anti-air towers after level 40ish, the squirts @ 5 do a lot more damage, but they also set off the spawns. Go heavy on the squirts, but mix in the other things, especially the pounds when you have a U turn since the extra couple of seconds while they're stunned can save you later in the game and especially with the speedfreaks.
Title: Re: game
Post by: Tango Alpha Delta on May 02, 2008, 02:04:03 AM
So, I guess you guys probably figured out how to kill the Dark ones that keep wandering through my maze undamaged...?

<Edit: Just saw Jodymonster's scores... I bow to thee, and beg you to defend me, in the event I'm invaded by actual creeps.... that aren't mice, that is.>
Title: Re: game
Post by: stePH on May 02, 2008, 03:41:26 PM
Desktop Tower Defense (http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/Game.asp)

Surprisingly deep in stragegy for a casual flash game.

Enter your score under the group "Escapepod"... to see how bad at surprisingly deep stragegy I am!

I can't do well enough to get a score on the board, it seems.  I can survive the first three or four waves before losing out altogether, and it doesn't give me the opportunity to save my score to any group.
Title: Re: game
Post by: Heradel on May 02, 2008, 04:02:36 PM
Arg. Typo on my name in the group, there isn't a Heradek. Take a look at my maze, it's decently fool-proof. 
Title: Re: game
Post by: Alasdair5000 on May 02, 2008, 09:34:05 PM
I re-found this game last night while taking a break from studying for finals
Curve Ball (http://www.newsandentertainment.com/zFcurveball.html)

a few points
1) I am not responsible for lost time due to this
2) the longer it goes on the better your chance of losing
3) ALWAYS expect it to come back


my highest score is around 21k and lvl 7

*Salutes the Colonel*

That is wonderful.  Also puts me in mind of a little game called, I think, Room 10 created by legendary '80s game designer Pete Cooke, and set in the same world as this baby:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tau_Ceti_%28computer_game%29
Title: Re: game
Post by: jodymonster on May 03, 2008, 01:05:32 AM
<Edit: Just saw Jodymonster's scores... I bow to thee, and beg you to defend me, in the event I'm invaded by actual creeps.... that aren't mice, that is.>

Not anymore! Talk to Heradel if the creeps show up.  The first ten times or so I played my scores were somewhere in the 300's.  Looking at the maps of high-scoring people helps a lot, especially if you're new to the game.  Also, Heradel's right, as soon as you beat it the first time, it gets easier.

Around level 40, I can't seem to kill both flying bosses, only the one that flies horizontally, even with two anti-air towers upgraded all the way. He's also the only creep without a health bar over his head.  What's up with that? 
Title: Re: game
Post by: Heradel on May 03, 2008, 01:20:17 AM
<Edit: Just saw Jodymonster's scores... I bow to thee, and beg you to defend me, in the event I'm invaded by actual creeps.... that aren't mice, that is.>

Not anymore! Talk to Heradel if the creeps show up.  The first ten times or so I played my scores were somewhere in the 300's.  Looking at the maps of high-scoring people helps a lot, especially if you're new to the game.  Also, Heradel's right, as soon as you beat it the first time, it gets easier.

Around level 40, I can't seem to kill both flying bosses, only the one that flies horizontally, even with two anti-air towers upgraded all the way. He's also the only creep without a health bar over his head.  What's up with that? 

I usually miss one of them too, it's nearly impossible unless you've cleared the map of all of the previous creeps, and have all of the squirts near their flightpaths.
Title: Re: game
Post by: williamjamesw on May 03, 2008, 01:38:23 AM
I think that particular creep just is so large that it overlaps its health bar.  I've never managed to get that one yet, the vertical path being shorter, we don't get as much time to hit that one. 
Title: Re: game
Post by: stePH on May 03, 2008, 05:31:14 AM
Aw, f*ckw*nkb*ggersh*tting*rsec*ck ... I just got a score that was almost double my posted score, but the browser hung while it was supposed to be posting it to the group and now it's lost  >:(
Title: Re: game
Post by: Thaurismunths on May 03, 2008, 05:33:31 AM
So playing the 10K and using a variation of Haradel's maze I made it to level 89 with a score around 10k. When it became obvious I wasn't going to win I just skipped the next 11 levels... the level 100 boss has 600,000 health. OMFG!
Title: Re: game
Post by: stePH on May 03, 2008, 11:19:43 PM
I'm still only playing on Normal, but using qwints' highest scoring maze I managed to get through to the end twice.  My higher score is posted to group "shejidan" of which I'm currently the only member, but waiting for people on the other board I frequent to get on there too.
Title: Re: game
Post by: williamjamesw on May 04, 2008, 01:10:43 AM
I've been trying the challenge with only 15 towers.  Haven't gotten past level 45 or so yet.
Title: Re: game
Post by: Darwinist on May 04, 2008, 07:35:07 PM
Totally addicted to Desktop Tower.  Playing on Normal and am struggling around level 30 or so when the flying dudes show up for the 4th or 5th time.  I am amazed at the crazy scores out there, will have to copy some of the maps.  BTW, what does it mean when it shows a bunch of "lives" next to your  score?  I'm always at 0. 
Title: Re: game
Post by: qwints on May 04, 2008, 08:30:38 PM
Lives is the number of lives you have left when you finish the game. 50 levels for normal, 60 for hard.
Title: Re: game
Post by: stePH on May 04, 2008, 09:05:54 PM
Totally addicted to Desktop Tower.  Playing on Normal and am struggling around level 30 or so when the flying dudes show up for the 4th or 5th time. 

You gotta get some Swarm (anti-air) towers built early and put them in the center of the field.  Two base-level towers plus whatever else you've built for regular defense should get you through the first couple of waves of air creeps.  By the time the second wave comes around though you should have started upgrading them.

Some people get by without using any Swarm towers though; my friend on the shejidan board (Vetch, currently top of the group) had a cross of five level 6 Squirt towers in the center of the map.  I find that the four-missile shots of the Swarm towers are most effective in taking out the air creeps though.
Title: Re: game
Post by: Darwinist on May 05, 2008, 01:16:43 PM
Totally addicted to Desktop Tower.  Playing on Normal and am struggling around level 30 or so when the flying dudes show up for the 4th or 5th time. 

You gotta get some Swarm (anti-air) towers built early and put them in the center of the field.  Two base-level towers plus whatever else you've built for regular defense should get you through the first couple of waves of air creeps.  By the time the second wave comes around though you should have started upgrading them.

Some people get by without using any Swarm towers though; my friend on the shejidan board (Vetch, currently top of the group) had a cross of five level 6 Squirt towers in the center of the map.  I find that the four-missile shots of the Swarm towers are most effective in taking out the air creeps though.


Cool.  Thanks for the info.  I'll spend a couple late night hours tonight trying to beat the Normal mode.   Found out my 11 y/o had been playing this for a while so he also game me some pointers and explained some things.  I should consult with my lads before posting inane questions on the message board I suppose.
Title: Re: game
Post by: Darwinist on May 07, 2008, 09:07:25 PM
I think that particular creep just is so large that it overlaps its health bar.  I've never managed to get that one yet, the vertical path being shorter, we don't get as much time to hit that one. 

If you click on the creep it will show you its health. Its fun to watch their health fall as they are getting attacked.  Little b@stards!
Title: Re: game
Post by: qwints on May 08, 2008, 04:50:12 AM
I've been trying to beat the 100 level challenge, but it's damn hard. I can't get past the level 65 swarm and 66 flyers.

Title: Re: game
Post by: birdless on May 08, 2008, 02:46:11 PM
I've been trying to beat the 100 level challenge, but it's damn hard. I can't get past the level 65 swarm and 66 flyers.
Putting those two groups together was just evil to begin with.
Title: Re: game
Post by: Russell Nash on May 08, 2008, 05:15:29 PM
I've been trying to beat the 100 level challenge, but it's damn hard. I can't get past the level 65 swarm and 66 flyers.
Putting those two groups together was just evil to begin with.

IF I have the board clear when the swarm starts to come out I send the flyers early, so the center of my maze isn't occupied with other things when they come.
Title: Re: game
Post by: stePH on May 08, 2008, 05:22:07 PM
IF I have the board clear when the swarm starts to come out I send the flyers early, so the center of my maze isn't occupied with other things when they come.

And the extra points don't suck either  :)
Title: Re: game
Post by: Darwinist on May 21, 2008, 06:46:36 PM
Has anyone tried the trickle/constant mode (where one creep is sent per second)?  If so, any pointers?  I can't seem to get past lvl 30.   It seems harder to upgrade my weaponry which allows more to get through the maze. 
Title: Re: game
Post by: birdless on May 21, 2008, 07:33:54 PM
I've tried it, but I don't remember my results, other than that I lost. I'm trying to beat the Hard level, which I have not been able to do yet! grrrr...
Title: Re: game
Post by: Darwinist on May 21, 2008, 07:58:22 PM
I've tried it, but I don't remember my results, other than that I lost. I'm trying to beat the Hard level, which I have not been able to do yet! grrrr...

I started trying the beat the Hard level out last night and failed miserably at that also.  I tried using the same mazes (ideas I stole) that I used to beat the Normal level but with the added health of the creeps they just seem to shred it. 
Title: Re: game
Post by: birdless on May 21, 2008, 09:58:26 PM
Yeah, my experience thus far is that my methods for beating the Normal level are woefully inadequate for beating the Hard level. Except the one time I got over 4000pts on the Hard level was using the method I use to beat the Normal level, but have since been unable to duplicate it, or even get close using that same method. I've tried using Qwints and Jody's maps, but there's obviously something to be said for timing, because my version of their map didn't cut it. Is "juggling" required to beat the Hard level?

<edit>
Just tried it again, using the best method I have for Normal, and got just a few points shy of my top score. It's that Spawn boss—or rather, it's the Flyers that come while all my towers are trained on the Spawn boss—that does me in. Virtually every Flyer gets through while the remnants of the Spawn boss are barely half-way through.... hmm... maybe I can juggle the Spawn bosses until the flyers get through? I hate juggling.
Title: Re: game
Post by: qwints on May 22, 2008, 02:10:10 AM
You can definitely beat it on hard without juggling, though juggling really helps. I find snap towers to be indispensable to winning without it though.
Title: Re: game
Post by: stePH on May 22, 2008, 02:56:57 AM
You can definitely beat it on hard without juggling, though juggling really helps. I find snap towers to be indispensable to winning without it though.

Could someone define "juggling" in this context please?  :-\
Title: Re: game
Post by: birdless on May 22, 2008, 03:12:51 AM
I finally got it! I didn't necessarily get points for style, but I made it! I did juggle a little, but not much. I juggled the last 2 groups of bosses just because I could, though one got through. The key (for me) was slowing down the Spawn Boss while sending the Flyers immediately after the Spawn Boss emerged.

Didn't even get close to killing the Flyer Boss, though, and that was with 3 maxed out Squirt Towers, 1 Squirt Tower that was in its dormant-stage building to max level until the Flyers were maybe just past the half way mark, 1 maxed out Swarm Tower, 1 level 5 Swarm Tower, 2 maxed out Frost Towers and 1 level 5 Frost Tower.

Most of my life-loss were from the Spawns fairly early in the game, iirc.

Thanks for the advice qwints! I wished I had seen it beforehand! lol! BTW, what are snap towers?
Title: Re: game
Post by: birdless on May 22, 2008, 03:20:23 AM
You can definitely beat it on hard without juggling, though juggling really helps. I find snap towers to be indispensable to winning without it though.

Could someone define "juggling" in this context please?  :-\
Well, I confess, I didn't look it up, I just saw the term used somewhere on that site... but I'm pretty sure it's the strategy of opening up the maze to make it shorter after the creeps have crawled past that point. If they haven't passed the point where it's just as quick for them to go the long way, they'll turn around and start to trudge back towards the newly opened up path. When they get close to the new opening, you build the tower back in that space, making them turn around to go back the long way... then lather, rinse and repeat.