Minestorm - getting to the Wave 14 bug

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Hi all,

As most people on this newsgroup probably know, the Minestorm game that
comes built-in has a bug in it. The bug causes the game to go a bit
funny once you go past wave 13.

My question is, can anyone actually get that far?!

I've just been playing Minestorm again for the first time in a _very_
long time and realised that I can't get anywhere near that, at least at
the moment. (If you must know, I got to wave 9 and I think that might be
a personal best!)

So I'm just curious about how well anyone else reading the group does...

Regards
Roberto/.

----

Just for those who don't know about it, this is from the Vectrex FAQ:

Q. What is the Minestorm "Wave 13" bug?

Fred Taft <fred@cv.hp.com> explained it to me very well like this: Each
level of Mine Storm is described by an entry in an array of structures;
the array entry described such details as the types of mines at the
level, etc. Unfortunately, the array was only defined to contain 13
entries! That's why the first 13 levels work as expected. However,
once you got past level 13, the game ran out of array entries, but
because it did not check for this, it simply used the next block of code
after the array, as the information describing the next level. The code
was smart enough to skip levels if there were no valid mines; that's why
it occasionally skips levels.

 

[john]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Yes, I have gotten farther than that a few times. I think I got to
level 24-25, but it does skip levels. I wrote down my high score
somewhere, but have no idea where it is at. My strategy is to keep
moving and try to focus on one big mine at a time. It gets particularly
hard when the mines go invisible, but you can cheat by turning the
display real high which shows where the invisible ones are.

John

Roberto Nerici wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> As most people on this newsgroup probably know, the Minestorm game that
> comes built-in has a bug in it. The bug causes the game to go a bit
> funny once you go past wave 13.
>
> My question is, can anyone actually get that far?!
>
> I've just been playing Minestorm again for the first time in a _very_
> long time and realised that I can't get anywhere near that, at least at
> the moment. (If you must know, I got to wave 9 and I think that might be
> a personal best!)
>
> So I'm just curious about how well anyone else reading the group does...
>
> Regards
> Roberto/.
>
> ----
>
> Just for those who don't know about it, this is from the Vectrex FAQ:
>
> Q. What is the Minestorm "Wave 13" bug?
>
> Fred Taft <fred@cv.hp.com> explained it to me very well like this: Each
> level of Mine Storm is described by an entry in an array of structures;
> the array entry described such details as the types of mines at the
> level, etc. Unfortunately, the array was only defined to contain 13
> entries! That's why the first 13 levels work as expected. However,
> once you got past level 13, the game ran out of array entries, but
> because it did not check for this, it simply used the next block of code
> after the array, as the information describing the next level. The code
> was smart enough to skip levels if there were no valid mines; that's why
> it occasionally skips levels.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

I surprised the Hell out of myself four weeks ago when I reached past level
25. The score actually rolled over!
I still love playing minestorm.
John is right. The smaller mines move faster so it is a good strategy to hit
one big mine and kill the smaller ones associated with it before moving on
to the next one.
Avoid hyperspace if you can.

Dan

"John" <john@nospam.com> wrote in message
newsn_4e.26000$JL2.872938@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> Yes, I have gotten farther than that a few times. I think I got to level
> 24-25, but it does skip levels. I wrote down my high score somewhere, but
> have no idea where it is at. My strategy is to keep moving and try to
> focus on one big mine at a time. It gets particularly hard when the mines
> go invisible, but you can cheat by turning the display real high which
> shows where the invisible ones are.
>
> John
>
> Roberto Nerici wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> As most people on this newsgroup probably know, the Minestorm game that
>> comes built-in has a bug in it. The bug causes the game to go a bit funny
>> once you go past wave 13.
>>
>> My question is, can anyone actually get that far?!
>>
>> I've just been playing Minestorm again for the first time in a _very_
>> long time and realised that I can't get anywhere near that, at least at
>> the moment. (If you must know, I got to wave 9 and I think that might be
>> a personal best!)
>>
>> So I'm just curious about how well anyone else reading the group does...
>>
>> Regards
>> Roberto/.
>>
>> ----
>>
>> Just for those who don't know about it, this is from the Vectrex FAQ:
>>
>> Q. What is the Minestorm "Wave 13" bug?
>>
>> Fred Taft <fred@cv.hp.com> explained it to me very well like this: Each
>> level of Mine Storm is described by an entry in an array of structures;
>> the array entry described such details as the types of mines at the
>> level, etc. Unfortunately, the array was only defined to contain 13
>> entries! That's why the first 13 levels work as expected. However,
>> once you got past level 13, the game ran out of array entries, but
>> because it did not check for this, it simply used the next block of code
>> after the array, as the information describing the next level. The code
>> was smart enough to skip levels if there were no valid mines; that's why
>> it occasionally skips levels.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Here in rec.games.vectrex,
Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> spake unto us, saying:

>As most people on this newsgroup probably know, the Minestorm game that
>comes built-in has a bug in it. The bug causes the game to go a bit
>funny once you go past wave 13.

Yup, and then it starts skipping levels and displaying malformed mines
(we called them star dust and house roofs and such). There's one
level with invisible magnetics, but I can get through it around 1/4 of
the time now using a Secret Strategy which I think I've posted here
before (long ago -- use a Google Groups search to find my postings).

>My question is, can anyone actually get that far?!

Sure. It might take me a game or two now, but it's not that hard once
you learn how to herd the magnetic mines properly. My own record is
between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000, which makes me #2 in my family (mainly
because my brother Dave won't quit until he wins).

>So I'm just curious about how well anyone else reading the group does...

Well, we've gotten to Minefield 89 (I think), where there's a single
shot that slowly drifts off the screen, and that effectively ends the
game at that level.

The key is to score a maximum number of points before that level and
then go into the last one with only a single ship.

--
-Rich Steiner >>>---> http://www.visi.com/~rsteiner >>>---> Smyrna, GA USA
OS/2 + eCS + Linux + Win95 + DOS + PC/GEOS + Executor = PC Hobbyist Heaven!
WARNING: I've seen FIELDATA FORTRAN V and I know how to use it!
The Theorem Theorem: If If, Then Then.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Roberto Nerici wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> As most people on this newsgroup probably know, the Minestorm game that
> comes built-in has a bug in it. The bug causes the game to go a bit
> funny once you go past wave 13.
>
> My question is, can anyone actually get that far?!
>

Actually, when I bought this Vectrex, I was 15 years old and was completly
addict on the Minestorm. In fact, I was owning only this game and no
other cartridge.
Once, I got to level higher than 100 and the score was larger than 1 000
000.
That's a long time I did not play to the game.
In fact by reading this newsgroup I m now thinking in going back to my
parents
and seing if the vectrex is still there and playing again with it ...


--
Hulotte

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

OK, I'm feeling inspired to have another go now!

I'd already figured out that hyperspace is generally bad; it is in
Asteroids. Only hitting one big mine at a time makes sense, but while
blasting at it's children it is very easy to hit some of the other large
ones. I also wonder how easy it is to do this once you have two homing
mines - with only one homer that is the obvious one to go for first.

One clarification: if say you get to wave 25, does that mean you've
really only had to clear (let's say) 20 waves, because after 13 it is
likely to go 15, 16, 19 etc?

Also I'm interested to hear that you (Dan) got the score to roll over.
That's a good target for any arcade game!

Roberto/.

kokovec wrote:
> I surprised the Hell out of myself four weeks ago when I reached past level
> 25. The score actually rolled over!
> I still love playing minestorm.
> John is right. The smaller mines move faster so it is a good strategy to hit
> one big mine and kill the smaller ones associated with it before moving on
> to the next one.
> Avoid hyperspace if you can.
>
> Dan
>
> "John" <john@nospam.com> wrote in message
> newsn_4e.26000$JL2.872938@twister.southeast.rr.com...
>
>>Yes, I have gotten farther than that a few times. I think I got to level
>>24-25, but it does skip levels. I wrote down my high score somewhere, but
>>have no idea where it is at. My strategy is to keep moving and try to
>>focus on one big mine at a time. It gets particularly hard when the mines
>>go invisible, but you can cheat by turning the display real high which
>>shows where the invisible ones are.
>>
>>John

 

[john]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

It's been a while so my memory may fail me but you are correct. After
13 it will skip, but it doesn't do it the same way every time. You will
warp to the next level then immediately warp again.

Also, hyperspace does become useful in many situations, although it is
always a gamble. Often though it helps you get away from all the little
homing mines.

The think that always pissed me off is when you get to the last few
mines and die, and have to start the level all over.

John

Roberto Nerici wrote:
> OK, I'm feeling inspired to have another go now!
>
> I'd already figured out that hyperspace is generally bad; it is in
> Asteroids. Only hitting one big mine at a time makes sense, but while
> blasting at it's children it is very easy to hit some of the other large
> ones. I also wonder how easy it is to do this once you have two homing
> mines - with only one homer that is the obvious one to go for first.
>
> One clarification: if say you get to wave 25, does that mean you've
> really only had to clear (let's say) 20 waves, because after 13 it is
> likely to go 15, 16, 19 etc?
>
> Also I'm interested to hear that you (Dan) got the score to roll over.
> That's a good target for any arcade game!
>
> Roberto/.
>
> kokovec wrote:
>
>> I surprised the Hell out of myself four weeks ago when I reached past
>> level 25. The score actually rolled over!
>> I still love playing minestorm.
>> John is right. The smaller mines move faster so it is a good strategy
>> to hit one big mine and kill the smaller ones associated with it
>> before moving on to the next one.
>> Avoid hyperspace if you can.
>>
>> Dan
>>
>> "John" <john@nospam.com> wrote in message
>> newsn_4e.26000$JL2.872938@twister.southeast.rr.com...
>>
>>> Yes, I have gotten farther than that a few times. I think I got to
>>> level 24-25, but it does skip levels. I wrote down my high score
>>> somewhere, but have no idea where it is at. My strategy is to keep
>>> moving and try to focus on one big mine at a time. It gets
>>> particularly hard when the mines go invisible, but you can cheat by
>>> turning the display real high which shows where the invisible ones are.
>>>
>>> John
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

John wrote:
> It's been a while so my memory may fail me but you are correct. After
> 13 it will skip, but it doesn't do it the same way every time. You will
> warp to the next level then immediately warp again.

Ok, interesting.

> Also, hyperspace does become useful in many situations, although it is
> always a gamble. Often though it helps you get away from all the little
> homing mines.
>
> The think that always pissed me off is when you get to the last few
> mines and die, and have to start the level all over.

Yes it is annoying, but it would be quite a lot easier if it didn't!
Maybe a good compromise would be for any completely destroyed mines
(meaning all its children too) being removed; this would also encourage
further the strategy of going for one mine at a time.

Roberto/.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Bonjour Hulotte!

> Roberto Nerici wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> As most people on this newsgroup probably know, the Minestorm game
>> that comes built-in has a bug in it. The bug causes the game to go a
>> bit funny once you go past wave 13.
>>
>> My question is, can anyone actually get that far?!
>>
>
> Actually, when I bought this Vectrex, I was 15 years old and was completly
> addict on the Minestorm. In fact, I was owning only this game and no
> other cartridge.
> Once, I got to level higher than 100 and the score was larger than 1 000
> 000.

Wow.
I think it is safe to say that you mastered this game!

> That's a long time I did not play to the game.
> In fact by reading this newsgroup I m now thinking in going back to my
> parents
> and seing if the vectrex is still there and playing again with it ...

Good idea
Let us know if you get reunited with your Vectrex...

Roberto/.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Richard Steiner wrote:
> Here in rec.games.vectrex,
> Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> spake unto us, saying:
>
>>As most people on this newsgroup probably know, the Minestorm game that
>>comes built-in has a bug in it. The bug causes the game to go a bit
>>funny once you go past wave 13.
>
> Yup, and then it starts skipping levels and displaying malformed mines
> (we called them star dust and house roofs and such). There's one
> level with invisible magnetics, but I can get through it around 1/4 of
> the time now using a Secret Strategy which I think I've posted here
> before (long ago -- use a Google Groups search to find my postings).

House roofs? Shurely rooves
Seriously though, I look forward to seeing them. Sigh.

>>So I'm just curious about how well anyone else reading the group does...
>
> Well, we've gotten to Minefield 89 (I think), where there's a single
> shot that slowly drifts off the screen, and that effectively ends the
> game at that level.

So you are saying that you can't play any further than that?
(Not a problem for me of course)

Regards, and thanks for the info,
Roberto/.

(Btw, I like your website)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Here in rec.games.vectrex,
Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> spake unto us, saying:

>Richard Steiner wrote:
>
>> Yup, and then it starts skipping levels and displaying malformed mines
>> (we called them star dust and house roofs and such). There's one
>> level with invisible magnetics, but I can get through it around 1/4 of
>> the time now using a Secret Strategy which I think I've posted here
>> before (long ago -- use a Google Groups search to find my postings).
>
>House roofs? Shurely rooves
>Seriously though, I look forward to seeing them. Sigh.

The exact behavior depends on the version of the game you're playing,
of course, and the one I'm talking about is the one on my real Vectrex,
not one in an emulator. I've not played with the emulators that much.

>>>So I'm just curious about how well anyone else reading the group does...
>>
>> Well, we've gotten to Minefield 89 (I think), where there's a single
>> shot that slowly drifts off the screen, and that effectively ends the
>> game at that level.
>
>So you are saying that you can't play any further than that?

Not on the version my unit has in ROM. :-(

>(Btw, I like your website)

Thanks! It badly needs to be updated, tho...

--
-Rich Steiner >>>---> http://www.visi.com/~rsteiner >>>---> Smyrna, GA USA
OS/2 + eCS + Linux + Win95 + DOS + PC/GEOS + Executor = PC Hobbyist Heaven!
WARNING: I've seen FIELDATA FORTRAN V and I know how to use it!
The Theorem Theorem: If If, Then Then.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

It has always been my opinion, and I think this thread reinforces it, that
Minestorm was the best game ever designed for the Vectrex.
My father brought home a Vectrex when I was 14 and I played Minestorm for
countless hours in our basement (lights turned off of course).
I never reached level 89 though! That's the stuff that legends are made from





"Richard Steiner" <rsteiner@visi.com> wrote in message
news:4u0VCpHpvaSM092yn@visi.com...
> Here in rec.games.vectrex,
> Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> spake unto us, saying:
>
>>Richard Steiner wrote:
>>
>>> Yup, and then it starts skipping levels and displaying malformed mines
>>> (we called them star dust and house roofs and such). There's one
>>> level with invisible magnetics, but I can get through it around 1/4 of
>>> the time now using a Secret Strategy which I think I've posted here
>>> before (long ago -- use a Google Groups search to find my postings).
>>
>>House roofs? Shurely rooves
>>Seriously though, I look forward to seeing them. Sigh.
>
> The exact behavior depends on the version of the game you're playing,
> of course, and the one I'm talking about is the one on my real Vectrex,
> not one in an emulator. I've not played with the emulators that much.
>
>>>>So I'm just curious about how well anyone else reading the group does...
>>>
>>> Well, we've gotten to Minefield 89 (I think), where there's a single
>>> shot that slowly drifts off the screen, and that effectively ends the
>>> game at that level.
>>
>>So you are saying that you can't play any further than that?
>
> Not on the version my unit has in ROM. :-(
>
>>(Btw, I like your website)
>
> Thanks! It badly needs to be updated, tho...
>
> --
> -Rich Steiner >>>---> http://www.visi.com/~rsteiner >>>---> Smyrna, GA USA
> OS/2 + eCS + Linux + Win95 + DOS + PC/GEOS + Executor = PC Hobbyist
> Heaven!
> WARNING: I've seen FIELDATA FORTRAN V and I know how to use it!
> The Theorem Theorem: If If, Then Then.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

I've been up to level 90 or so (on an earlier version) so it *is* possible.
I remember the "fix" for it in the manual - "press RESET"! lol
There's also another bug (in the 1st version) that will cause it to crash
back to the title screen. For more info, check out:
http://www.digitpress.com/eastereggs/vectrexminestorm.htm


"Roberto Nerici" <rn@bloggo.org> wrote in message
news:42545ca2$0$389$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
> Hi all,
>
> As most people on this newsgroup probably know, the Minestorm game that
> comes built-in has a bug in it. The bug causes the game to go a bit
> funny once you go past wave 13.
>
> My question is, can anyone actually get that far?!
>
> I've just been playing Minestorm again for the first time in a _very_
> long time and realised that I can't get anywhere near that, at least at
> the moment. (If you must know, I got to wave 9 and I think that might be
> a personal best!)
>
> So I'm just curious about how well anyone else reading the group does...
>
> Regards
> Roberto/.
>
> ----
>
> Just for those who don't know about it, this is from the Vectrex FAQ:
>
> Q. What is the Minestorm "Wave 13" bug?
>
> Fred Taft <fred@cv.hp.com> explained it to me very well like this: Each
> level of Mine Storm is described by an entry in an array of structures;
> the array entry described such details as the types of mines at the
> level, etc. Unfortunately, the array was only defined to contain 13
> entries! That's why the first 13 levels work as expected. However,
> once you got past level 13, the game ran out of array entries, but
> because it did not check for this, it simply used the next block of code
> after the array, as the information describing the next level. The code
> was smart enough to skip levels if there were no valid mines; that's why
> it occasionally skips levels.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Here in rec.games.vectrex,
"kokovec" <dsiewers@socal.rr.com> spake unto us, saying:

>It has always been my opinion, and I think this thread reinforces it,
>that Minestorm was the best game ever designed for the Vectrex.

Yes, Minestorm is a very good game.

Some of the others (that I have, anyway) are also quite good, but I've
found that StarCastle and Armor Attack have serious flaws (the former
is far too easy compared to the arcade version, and the latter has a
bug which allows someone to obtain near-infinite points).

We found competitive two-player RipOff to be a *lot* of fun (where you
both play at the same time but against each other for points).

I also like both Cosmic Chasm and Scramble. The former isn't too bad
once you learn how to flicker the shield button to get through doors at
full speed, and the latter requires a lot of skill.

>My father brought home a Vectrex when I was 14 and I played Minestorm
>for countless hours in our basement (lights turned off of course).

I was a sophomore in college when I bought mine in 1982. It was a nice
thing to have back then -- game systems of *any* kind were rare in the
dorms!

>I never reached level 89 though! That's the stuff that legends are
>made from

Having over 20 years of experience playing the game can help.

--
-Rich Steiner >>>---> http://www.visi.com/~rsteiner >>>---> Smyrna, GA USA
OS/2 + eCS + Linux + Win95 + DOS + PC/GEOS + Executor = PC Hobbyist Heaven!
WARNING: I've seen FIELDATA FORTRAN V and I know how to use it!
The Theorem Theorem: If If, Then Then.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> wrote in news:42545ca2$0$389
$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com:

>
> As most people on this newsgroup probably know, the Minestorm game that
> comes built-in has a bug in it. The bug causes the game to go a bit
> funny once you go past wave 13.
>
> My question is, can anyone actually get that far?!
>


I didn't get that far yet. This thread inspires me to start trying again

Also, does anyone know if all vectrex roms have the bugged version or did
later production runs have Minestorm without the bugs?

(I recently acquired a special proto like US GCE vectrex, modded for use on
220V by GCE for their german MB product manager. Appearantly, it also has a
patched version of minestorm)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

dgo wrote:
> Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> wrote in news:42545ca2$0$389
> $cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com:
>>
>>My question is, can anyone actually get that far?!
>>
>
> I didn't get that far yet. This thread inspires me to start trying again

Me too. I was already playing it again (hence the thread) but I am
defintely inspired to try get futher now. I mean, it's embarassing how
much better some people are

> Also, does anyone know if all vectrex roms have the bugged version or did
> later production runs have Minestorm without the bugs?

I'd quite like to know this too. I've assumed so far that the fixed
version only went out as a separate cart.

Speaking of the fixed version (Minestorm II), how did they fix the problem?

Roberto/.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> wrote in
news:42598fca$0$326$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com:


> Me too. I was already playing it again (hence the thread) but I am
> defintely inspired to try get futher now. I mean, it's embarassing how
> much better some people are
>

I'll try start playing it 'seriously' (I've never REALLY played it to be
quite honest)

> I'd quite like to know this too. I've assumed so far that the fixed
> version only went out as a separate cart.

according to the Vectrex Faq
(http://www.roachnest.com/vectrex/vx_faq.html#mineversions) there are three
different rom versions... I can't confirm this though.

Appearantly, my proto seems to have a bug free one.. I'll check what
checksum it has.

>
> Speaking of the fixed version (Minestorm II), how did they fix the
> problem?

As far as I know, they just fixed the bug where the software read invalid
data in to the array after the 13th level. (This caused the program
to skip levels when it detected non existing mines as explained in the
vectrex FAQ) It seems originally they just didn't expect people to get past
lvl 13?

I've got a revised version of Minestorm II. Once (or rather, if) I'm good
enough to get past level 13, I'll check what happens..

>
> Roberto/.
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

dgo wrote:
> Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> wrote in
>
>>I'd quite like to know this too. I've assumed so far that the fixed
>>version only went out as a separate cart.
>
>
> according to the Vectrex Faq
> (http://www.roachnest.com/vectrex/vx_faq.html#mineversions) there are three
> different rom versions... I can't confirm this though.
>
> Appearantly, my proto seems to have a bug free one.. I'll check what
> checksum it has.

I probably didn't make the question clear. The FAQ says there were three
different versions of the software, but doesn't say anything (unless I'm
missing it) about a fixed version going out built in to the Vectrex.
That was what I found so interesting about your prototype Vectrex.

>>Speaking of the fixed version (Minestorm II), how did they fix the
>>problem?
>
> As far as I know, they just fixed the bug where the software read invalid
> data in to the array after the 13th level. (This caused the program
> to skip levels when it detected non existing mines as explained in the
> vectrex FAQ) It seems originally they just didn't expect people to get past
> lvl 13?

I definitely didn't make myself clear here. What I meant to say was
that, since the original problem was because the ROM only contained
entries for 13 waves, did they fix the problem my just adding more
entries (if so how many, and how big is each one?) or did they take a
more algorithmic approach or....

Anyway must go, I've got some Minestorming to do

regards
Roberto/.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> wrote in
news:425ad6a9$0$307$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com:

> dgo wrote:
>> Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> wrote in
>>
>>>I'd quite like to know this too. I've assumed so far that the fixed
>>>version only went out as a separate cart.
>>
>>
>> according to the Vectrex Faq
>> (http://www.roachnest.com/vectrex/vx_faq.html#mineversions) there are
>> three different rom versions... I can't confirm this though.
>>
>> Appearantly, my proto seems to have a bug free one.. I'll check what
>> checksum it has.
>
> I probably didn't make the question clear. The FAQ says there were
> three different versions of the software, but doesn't say anything
> (unless I'm missing it) about a fixed version going out built in to
> the Vectrex. That was what I found so interesting about your prototype
> Vectrex.
>

It says you can check the checksum of the rom using the test cart. This
seems to refer to the built in rom version. I did a quick check on my
machines using the test cart (well, using the SK multicart that is)

3 x MB Vecs checksum B796
1 x MB Vec with checksum 7931

The 'proto' has B796 so it doesn't seem to have anything proto like for a
rom. This is a GCE machine by the way, It still is special though,
because it's a 110V model, modified by GCE to run on 220V (without any
external voltage regulator that is) for use as a test machine for one of
their European MB productmanager at the launch of the system over here.

So there seem to be differences in rom. But this might as well be
differences in the BIOS so we still know nothing until someone actually
plays past level13 on machines with different checksums.

>>>Speaking of the fixed version (Minestorm II), how did they fix the
>>>problem?
>>
>> As far as I know, they just fixed the bug where the software read
>> invalid data in to the array after the 13th level. (This caused the
>> program to skip levels when it detected non existing mines as
>> explained in the vectrex FAQ) It seems originally they just didn't
>> expect people to get past lvl 13?
>
> I definitely didn't make myself clear here. What I meant to say was
> that, since the original problem was because the ROM only contained
> entries for 13 waves, did they fix the problem my just adding more
> entries (if so how many, and how big is each one?) or did they take a
> more algorithmic approach or....
>
> Anyway must go, I've got some Minestorming to do
>

I don't know the answer to that one.

As to Minestorm playing... I'm at level 9 with room for progress, so
who knows.. you?

> regards
> Roberto/.
>

Kind Regards,

Pepijn

 

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Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

dgo wrote:

> As to Minestorm playing... I'm at level 9 with room for progress, so
> who knows.. you?

Still level 9 too.
However I'd be worried if I was you. I've got my Starplex controller now
and I feel a breakthrough coming! (yeah, right)

Regards
Roberto/.

 

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Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> wrote in news:425ecaa8$0$344
$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com:

> dgo wrote:
>
>> As to Minestorm playing... I'm at level 9 with room for progress, so
>> who knows.. you?
>
> Still level 9 too.
> However I'd be worried if I was you. I've got my Starplex controller now
> and I feel a breakthrough coming! (yeah, right)
>
> Regards
> Roberto/.
>

be sure to take screenshots or I won't believe you when you do

I'll be building my own vectrex controller real soon so until then
you might have a slight advantage

I'm going to play now and I feel level 10 is within reach tonight...

Kind regards,

dgo

 

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Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

dgo wrote:
> Roberto Nerici <rn@bloggo.org> wrote in news:425ecaa8$0$344
> $cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com:
>
>
>>dgo wrote:
>>
>>
>>>As to Minestorm playing... I'm at level 9 with room for progress, so
>>>who knows.. you?
>>
>>Still level 9 too.
>>However I'd be worried if I was you. I've got my Starplex controller now
>>and I feel a breakthrough coming! (yeah, right)
>>
>>Regards
>>Roberto/.
>>
>
>
> be sure to take screenshots or I won't believe you when you do

You know, I think that's a good idea. In fact... [light bulb above head
lights up]

> I'll be building my own vectrex controller real soon so until then
> you might have a slight advantage

Interesting. Maybe you can tell us all about that in another thread when
you do.

> I'm going to play now and I feel level 10 is within reach tonight...
>
> Kind regards,
>
> dgo

And to you,
Roberto/.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Roberto Nerici wrote:
> dgo wrote:
>
>> As to Minestorm playing... I'm at level 9 with room for progress, so
>> who knows.. you?
>
>
> Still level 9 too.
> However I'd be worried if I was you. I've got my Starplex controller now
> and I feel a breakthrough coming! (yeah, right)
>
> Regards
> Roberto/.
Got to 10 (120.000+ points).
I don't have the drive anymore to play hours on end as I did when I was
11 yrs.

 

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Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

Roberto Nerici wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> As most people on this newsgroup probably know, the Minestorm game that
> comes built-in has a bug in it. The bug causes the game to go a bit
> funny once you go past wave 13.
>
> My question is, can anyone actually get that far?!
>
> I've just been playing Minestorm again for the first time in a _very_
> long time and realised that I can't get anywhere near that, at least at
> the moment. (If you must know, I got to wave 9 and I think that might be
> a personal best!)
>
> So I'm just curious about how well anyone else reading the group does...
>
> Regards
> Roberto/.
>
> ----
>
> Just for those who don't know about it, this is from the Vectrex FAQ:
>
> Q. What is the Minestorm "Wave 13" bug?
>
> Fred Taft <fred@cv.hp.com> explained it to me very well like this: Each
> level of Mine Storm is described by an entry in an array of structures;
> the array entry described such details as the types of mines at the
> level, etc. Unfortunately, the array was only defined to contain 13
> entries! That's why the first 13 levels work as expected. However,
> once you got past level 13, the game ran out of array entries, but
> because it did not check for this, it simply used the next block of code
> after the array, as the information describing the next level. The code
> was smart enough to skip levels if there were no valid mines; that's why
> it occasionally skips levels.
Level 16!!! 245606 points
level 13 - game over flashes
and goes to level 15

 

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Archived from groups: rec.games.vectrex (More info?)

"Jeroen (vectrex.nl)" <dontusethis@antispam.nl> wrote in
news:43a96$426a419f$3e3b7847$27119@news.versatel.nl:
> Level 16!!! 245606 points
> level 13 - game over flashes
> and goes to level 15

Screenshots please


First prize (blue dome vectrex stand, only valid if you don't own one yet)
for playing beyond level 13 goes to Jeroen!!!

- Crowd goes wild yaaaaaa -

Got to level 11 - 139320

how the hell did you get 245606 points? Sure it isn't 145606?