Big Bang Bar

unigroove · Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 118

While playing my BBB I came across some minor things that I was wondering if they were intended, or perhaps would have been solved in a later sotware version, if one would have been made. I don't know if there is any chance for a software update, as I don't know who wrote the software and if the team still have the possibility to access the source code, or whatever it is called. Without the intention of spoiling any fun, allow me to list some things I noticed, which could perhaps be adjusted...? If you don't want any fun to be spoiled, dont read any further Smile

- no (new) skill shot after locking a ball and a new ball is released in the shooter lane. Could be intended, as it probably is more fair in multi player tournament games, but it could also be nice to have a skill shot after locking a ball.
- In a multiplayer tournament mode game, alien ball locks should be released after draining. In the current software another player can score Looped in space m-ball with 1 ball if a previous player already locked a ball. For Dutch tournaments this will mean the game will not be allowed to play in the tournament as this is considered unfair. Releasing any locked ball from the aliens after draining would solve this 'problem'. This could probably be an extra option in the menu: Release alien ball locks in multiplayer games? Yes/No. So far I did not find anything to make Looped in Space fair in multiplayer games.
- What probably happens only once in many, many games, but just happened to me: with all modes complete and the last mode still running, I shot a ball up the ramp which was locked as the second ball for Looped in Space m-ball. Looped in Space was started, but before the balls were released (and this is probably a coinsidence of just a second) the running mode timed out and the game lit up for Big Bang. However: no ball was released to the shooter lane, neither did the aliens release their locked balls. Only the one note samba tune was heard. So I had 2 balls locked in the aliens, and the game did not do any ball searches. The only solution was to remove a ball from the aliens, or manually release one in the shooterlane to continue. Like I said, this will probably occur perhaps once every thousand games, but it would be nice if it could be fixed.

These are the things I came across up till now. My game has version B 1.9 running according to the display when booted. If I find other things that could be improved, I'll post them here. I guess it would be nice if others who notice any bugs would report them too, so if someone decides to do an upgrade all suggestions are to be found in one topic.

jadziedzic · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 151 Location: Nashua, NH USA

Being a software guy for a LONG time, if the source code were available I'd gladly volunteer to do development / bug fix work. Kim, do you know if you received the software as part of the Capcom assets?

Tony
_________________
Joseph "Tony" Dziedzic
BBB #39

robertwinter · Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:12 pm Post subject:

BBB94 · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 407 Location: WI, USA

If there are a few bugs left (as widely believed and now reported), I'd love to try and get a revised ROM done. If anyone knows Steven King, Bill Pfutzenreuter, Tony DeFeo, and/or Samuel Zehr maybe try to gage their percieved ability and interest in taking this on if the development tools are still available. I'd be willing to pay a fair amount for more refined ROMS.

I will ask Gene about the development hardware/software the next time I talk to him, which might be several weeks. If someone beats me to it - GREAT.

I don't think this should be attempted until at least 6 months after everyone gets thier machines so that we can hopefully identify all the major problems, most of the small problems, and maybe even come to a concensus on worthy additions (if any). Heck maybe there are even a bunch of planned ubt currently unused sound calls and Jeff would be willing to help increase the depth there. Same perhaps for the Dots.

unigroove · Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 118

I'm also curious to hear what the owners of the original games found that could software wise be improved.

jadziedzic · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 151 Location: Nashua, NH USA

unigroove · Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 118

do the original programmers have access to this forum? I would not pass on them if they perhaps are more than willing to assist...

BigBangJoe · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 134 Location: Gent, Belgium

BigBangJoe · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 134 Location: Gent, Belgium

BBB94 · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 407 Location: WI, USA

Swann · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 108 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Well, if it would get to the point of a updated ROM, I see only basically four things currently;

Multiplayer tournament-mode
As unigroove says, this must be made more fair, draining both balls would solve the situation, then you have to lock the balls for the multiball on the same ball to start it.

Harder to reach wiz
I do think the game is a bit too easy, either make the wiz-mode into more stages (like CV) or plain harder to reach it.
To comply with general players, one can't add a "extremly hard" setting cause then it wouldn't be default anymore, nope, it must be a new ROM with a new default-setting.
(sure, I'm aware of that not everybody thinks this way, but then they can always use the old ROM instead.... and we're all happy, including the really good players).

Some humor-multiball/mode
Would be fun with variation of ordinary multiball or modes, like the cow video mode in MM instead of children.... of cause hard to get, and not so much points, just plain fun Wink

(This should be possible with current sounds, just need some new graphics, maybe not even that)

...and yes bug-fixes
Have encountered some, but couldn't repeat them, so I'll have come back later on in regards to that...
_________________
BBB #79 has arrived here in Stockholm, Sweden!