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General Category => Games => Topic started by: reidrac on 18:35, 27 November 15

Title: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 18:35, 27 November 15
[attach=2]

[attach=3]

As some of you may know I started the conversion of my ZX Spectrum game "The Return of Traxtor" to the Amstrad CPC early November, and I'm happy to announce that the game is finished.

It is almost a complete rewrite of the original, and it's been enhanced quite a lot. I honestly think this is the best version of the series in 8-bits (background music and 25 FPS, to name a couple of the improvements).

Agreed that is a "match-3 puzzle" game, which I think may not appeal to everyone; but it includes a nice twist to old mechanics that makes it somewhat unique, so even if you're not too keen on the genre... you may want to give it a go anyway ;)

This is my second Amstrad game, and I'm having a lot of fun. Thanks for the support in my forum posts, it really helps to know people like your work. I hope you enjoy playing the game as much I enjoyed making it!

As always, feedback is appreciated.

Instructions on how to play and free game downloads at: Amstrad CPC: The Return of Traxtor - usebox.net (http://www.usebox.net/jjm/return-of-traxtor-cpc/)

Last version is: 1.1 (2016-03-05)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: ||C|-|E|| on 18:55, 27 November 15
It is very cool! Thank you! I will for sure give it a good go!  :-*

P.D: Should not be the title "The return of the return of Traxtor"?  ;D it is coming from the Speccy.
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: TFM on 19:06, 27 November 15
Great job!!! Thank you very much for the game!  :) :) :)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Neil79 on 19:14, 27 November 15
Woooh!!!  8)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: TFM on 19:57, 27 November 15
Progress report...



Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 20:02, 27 November 15
Quote from: TFM on 19:57, 27 November 15
Progress report...

Nice, so... was EASY too easy or did you poke around a bit?

Did you like it? Was the alt tileset OK to you? :D
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: TFM on 20:05, 27 November 15
Well, to be honest EASY took/needed all my skills and concentration, now I really need a break. There was a moment when I thought that's it, but a wonder happened. Didn't even know it has an end. It's just very addictive.

Used the Alt Tileset, yes that makes it more easy too.
In normal mode in my first game I dropped out at level 4.

IMHO it's just well balanced.  :) :) :)  Absolutely great game and lot's of fun!!!  :) :) :) 
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 20:09, 27 November 15
Quote from: TFM on 20:05, 27 November 15
Well, to be honest EASY too all my skills and concentration, now I really need a break. There was a moment when I thought that's it, but a wonder happened. Didn't even know it has an end. It's just very addictive.

Used the Alt Tileset, yes that makes it more easy too.
In normal mode in my first game I dropped out at level 4.

IMHO it's just well balanced.  :) :) :)  Absolutely great game and lot's of fun!!!  :) :) :)

Thanks a lot. Glad you liked it and the alt tileset was right for you!

I didn't play it in EASY too much, but in normal mode I struggle to get past level 14  ;D
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Nich on 22:32, 27 November 15
Quote from: reidrac on 20:09, 27 November 15
I didn't play it in EASY too much, but in normal mode I struggle to get past level 14  ;D

I found easy mode to be a piece of cake. I reached level 14 on my first go in normal mode.

This is a great puzzle game and it's very colourful as well! :)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Nich on 22:56, 27 November 15
I should also add that it would have been even better if the Spectrum loading screen could have been adapted for the CPC - but this is only a rather minor quibble.
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 23:08, 27 November 15
Quote from: Nich on 22:56, 27 November 15
I should also add that it would have been even better if the Spectrum loading screen could have been adapted for the CPC - but this is only a rather minor quibble.

Yes, right. Unfortunately I'm not an artist and the speccy loading screen was a collaboration. I didn't want to use mode 1 so ...

Well, this game is a conversion rather than a port. It is different anyway :)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: TFM on 22:52, 05 December 15
Maybe somebody could help with a title screen. What's about @MacDeath (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=221) or @Carnivac (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=50) or/and all the others posting mock ups here in the forum. This time it actually would really make sense to draw a screen. Give it a helping hand guys.  :)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: TomEtJerry on 08:28, 08 December 15
Hello,

Nice game ! It reminds me a little bit Klax !  Graphics are not so bad but could be improved. Anyway, that's a very good surprise, as 2015 is clearly not a very good blend (hu hu,not sure of this traduction, means "cuvée" in french :-) ) for CPC software.
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 09:03, 08 December 15
I recorded a video with some gameplay.



I started OK, clearing the board several times; but then I lost focus getting to level 14 :picard:
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Puresox on 17:01, 08 December 15
Magical drop style game by the looks?
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 08:02, 09 December 15
Quote from: Puresox on 17:01, 08 December 15
Magical drop style game by the looks?

The funny thing is I didn't know about Magical Drop, but I've checked videos and the gameplay looks similar. I would say the game mechanics are closer to Klax than Magical Drop, but there you are.
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Gryzor on 18:30, 13 December 15
I finally got to play it, and loved it. I started off relaxed and cool, but soon enough I was frowning and trying to concentrate...


Thanks mate, that's a really cute title! Why don't you update the Wiki home page with an announcement? Also, can I add it to the downloads?
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 19:02, 13 December 15
Quote from: Gryzor on 18:30, 13 December 15
I finally got to play it, and loved it. I started off relaxed and cool, but soon enough I was frowning and trying to concentrate...

Thanks! I'm glad you like it.

Quote from: Gryzor on 18:30, 13 December 15
Thanks mate, that's a really cute title! Why don't you update the Wiki home page with an announcement? Also, can I add it to the downloads?

I don't know how to do that, but I can try (any pointers?); and of course you can add it to the downloads. NP!
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Gryzor on 19:14, 13 December 15
Oh, more than liked it, just stopped playing :D


Don't worry, I'll edit the page myself :) (hint: if you hit Edit on a page you can very easily see how the wiki works...)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Gryzor on 12:30, 14 December 15
Ok, added it to the Wiki's home page news :)


We should also have a special page about all your own efforts...
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 12:46, 14 December 15
Quote from: Gryzor on 12:30, 14 December 15
Ok, added it to the Wiki's home page news :)


We should also have a special page about all your own efforts...

OK, thanks!

I'll register on the wiki at some point, sometimes I find outdated information that would be just 5 minutes to improve.
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Gryzor on 12:50, 14 December 15
That'd be nice to do :) Editing the wiki is pretty easy, you can find help on there but also by looking at how an article has been written it's very easy to understand the syntax!
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Optimus on 16:46, 20 December 15
Very good game, the controls are fine, I kept playing in a trance.


p.s. Question, do the levels ever end? In easy mode I am over level 30, I am wondering if I should just continue playing for a final win or it never ends?
p.p.s. Normal mode is more challenging, I also end around level 14.
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: dodogildo on 23:21, 20 December 15
I finally found time to play this gem. (I only use original hardware so it sometimes takes some time before I finally check new stuff)
Man,  this game is awesome.  Wish developers back 25 years ago made such quality stuff for our CPC. 

I know of course they didn't have quad core laptops, emulators, Internet and awesome c libraries back then. But they should know better than making crappy speccy ports :)

Anyways, congrats @reidrac

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 08:40, 21 December 15
Quote from: Optimus on 16:46, 20 December 15
Very good game, the controls are fine, I kept playing in a trance.

Thanks!

Quote from: Optimus on 16:46, 20 December 15
p.s. Question, do the levels ever end? In easy mode I am over level 30, I am wondering if I should just continue playing for a final win or it never ends?
p.p.s. Normal mode is more challenging, I also end around level 14.

It has 25 levels; take a look to the the game page, it has useful information (including tips & tricks) ;)

How did you get over level 30 in easy mode? May be you found a bug. Do you keep cleaning the board at level +25?  :o

EDIT: hehe checked the code, to finish the game you need to level up normally (without cleaning the board) after level 25 (so that would be 25 levels played).
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 20:02, 28 December 15
I know there aren't many two button joysticks out there, but I finally managed to test the game with a GX4000 controller, and it works!

Juan op Twitter: "And it works... The Return of Traxtor supports two button (https://twitter.com/reidrac/status/681549313080717312)

Keyboard is fine, but with the gamepad plays just perfect (left button to fire blocks, right button to beam them into the bay).

(I had tested it in emulators, of course, but happy to see that the real thing works too)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: dodogildo on 00:05, 29 December 15
Quote from: reidrac on 20:02, 28 December 15
I know there aren't many two button joysticks out there, but I finally managed to test the game with a GX4000 controller, and it works!

Juan op Twitter: "And it works... The Return of Traxtor supports two button (https://twitter.com/reidrac/status/681549313080717312)

Keyboard is fine, but with the gamepad plays just perfect (left button to fire blocks, right button to beam them into the bay).

(I had tested it in emulators, of course, but happy to see that the real thing works too)
Real thing works too with 2 button Gamepad. And it's excellent ;)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 09:15, 03 March 16
I finally jumped to Mode 1 and ported the speccy loading screen...

[attach=2]

OK, agreed that is better than no loading screen (well, not completely true as it has a loading screen, but is just too dull).

I may re-release the game with this addition. Watch this space!
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Kris on 09:48, 03 March 16
I just took few minutes to play the game and it is very adicitive :)
Great job ! Hope to see the final version soon  ;D
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Bytebreaker on 12:10, 03 March 16
Great game. I know now what to play during lunch break on work days..
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: dodogildo on 21:09, 04 March 16
Great music too
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 21:19, 04 March 16
Well, if you don't mind me teasing you a little bit let me tell you that the game will have a physical release.

Besides it'll be an special one because it will have the ZX Spectrum version in one side and the Amstrad CPC in the other one.

Interested? Well, watch this space :)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: dodogildo on 22:38, 05 March 16
Quote from: reidrac on 21:19, 04 March 16
Well, if you don't mind me teasing you a little bit let me tell you that the game will have a physical release.

Besides it'll be an special one because it will have the ZX Spectrum version in one side and the Amstrad CPC in the other one.

Interested? Well, watch this space :)


Definitely interested :)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 13:04, 14 April 16
Another teaser!

S★T★A★R on Twitter: "Aviso que son SERIE ULTRALIMATADA. Comprad o morid. (https://twitter.com/star2024/status/720559727365746688)

The publisher will be at the "Amstrad Eterno" event in Barcelona this weekend and there will be copies to buy of several homebrew games (including this one and others, like some games by CNG Soft).

It is a limited edition but I believe that there will be some copies available on Matra web in due time. I'll update this thread when that happens, in case anyone is interested.

I'll re-release the game with the port of the speccy loading screen soon, and that's the same edition that you'll find in the cassette.
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Gryzor on 09:49, 15 April 16
yes, yes, please let us know! I saw a tweet about it and came straight here to find info on ordering a copy :)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 18:48, 10 August 16
I've updated the ZIP file with the version of the game that was used for the physical release (with the mode 1 loading screen).

Unfortunately I don't have news about the cassette version; some people were lucky and got a copy already in one of the retro-events in Spain, but I don't know when it'll be available to buy online (if ever, to be honest).

Other than the loading screen, it is the same game.
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Dubliner on 14:01, 13 August 16
Quote from: reidrac on 18:48, 10 August 16
Unfortunately I don't have news about the cassette version; some people were lucky and got a copy already in one of the retro-events in Spain, but I don't know when it'll be available to buy online (if ever, to be honest).

Doesn´t look like they will be available in the short term. Good luck with your new distributor, Golden Tail deserves a better distribution :)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Gryzor on 15:04, 17 August 16
That's such a shame, really :(
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 10:58, 04 September 16
Matranet has updated the website and "The Return of Traxtor" is available to order:

MATRANET [dot] NET (http://www.matranet.net/boutique/zx/traxtor/traxtor.php)

It is a cassette edition and it has both the ZX Spectrum and the Amstrad CPC versions, one in each side.

Disclaimer: I waived any royalties on this one, although I was offered a fair deal. Basically I do this for fun and the physical release is just for people wanting to have it in cassette, and because I think new releases are a nice thing to have if we want to keep the system alive.

Why this disclaimer? I don't want you to buy this to support my work (although I appreciate it!), but because you love the game and want a nice cassette edition that reminds of ERBE's releases back in the 80s.
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: Gryzor on 10:40, 06 September 16
Ordered :)
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: awergh on 14:51, 06 September 16
oooo I do like new physical releases.  ;D


Now I've never used matranet, do I simply fill in the form and they send me an email with how to pay by paypal or something like that?
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: reidrac on 15:04, 06 September 16
Quote from: awergh on 14:51, 06 September 16
oooo I do like new physical releases.  ;D


Now I've never used matranet, do I simply fill in the form and they send me an email with how to pay by paypal or something like that?

Once the form is sent, they'll contact you with the payment details.
Title: Re: New game: The Return of Traxtor
Post by: DJO on 15:19, 17 September 16
Just downloaded this and had a play on my emulator, what a neat game, could get addictive!

Its great to see new games for Amstrad in 2016!

David
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