Trap (Compute's Gazette)

"Trap" takes you to another universe, another dimension. Trap'sworld consists of an array of colored blocks hanging in ink-black space, set against a blanket of distant, sparkling slars.
Two beings inhabit this strange place, each with a geometrical form: a sphere, which continuously bounces from block to block, and a flat square, which lies atop the blocks, blinking patiently. In Trap, you're the blinking square, and your objective is to trap the bouncing sphere and use its kinetic energy for your survival.
The article for this game can be found on page 26 of Issue 59 (May 1988): https://archive.org/details/1988-05-computegazette/page/n27/mode/2up

Why TAS This Game?

My continuation of TASing games from my all-time favorite magazine, Compute's Gazette. This makes my 15th TAS from this series.
I don't normally make mention of this, but usually the best games to TAS from this magazine are written in Machine Language. The style of writing provides control and play-ability that eliminates hesitation or heavy lag....as BASIC written games usually have. Additionally, these games can be played much, much faster and thus the reason for TASing.
This particular game was a shock to me, when I saw it running the first time. The developer put a lot of effort into it's presentation, as it was well worth it. On the other hand, I didn't play this game too much due to the increasing difficulty making it hard to play. After I realized that it was very unpredictable...I stopped playing it.
Previous Compute's Gazette submissions include (In order of submission):

Effort In TASing

Before I comment on the effort it took to create this TAS, I want to invoke the new Movie Rule that allows acceptance of this game...due to very special conditions. This game is a first, in regards to a developer announcing options, via external modifications. What do I mean by this? With Commodore computers, anything that is loaded from tape or disk, will normally require an execute command. This game has a built in SYS command that makes it easier to start the game by eliminating the knowledge of the area where it is loaded into memory. Before that execute command is entered, the Commodore is in an open state where anything can be altered. In this case, the magazine article provides instructions on how to change various attributes of the game's operation.
  • To adjust the overall speed of the game, type POKE 2910, n where n is a number between 1 and 255. A value of 1 gives the fastest speed and 255, the slowest. The normal speed is about 170. In this TAS, I use the value of "1", via the statement.
POKE 2910,1
  • To control the ball's speed, type POKE 4211, n where n is a value between 0 and 9. Using 0 will result in the ball eventually becoming a gray blur. Using 9 will cause the ball to never accelerate. A normal value is 2. In this TAS, I use the value of "1".
POKE 4211, 1
  • If you want to change the rate at which time decreases, type POKE 3258, n where n is a value between 1 and 255. A value of 1 will leave you with something less than one second to react. Using 255 will let you trap the ball at your leisure. The normal rate is 42. In this TAS, I use the value of "7", because anything less is not playable.
POKE 3258, 7
Now, as for the effort...it was basically an exercise in RNG as I have normally done with most C64 games. To get the fastest times, you want to trap the ball in the top right corner...as this takes only 4 moves to obtain. The problem is trying to get the ball to cooperate, which I did by changing my inputs to force it to move up that direction. Now, as speed increased...it was more difficult because it was hard to tell where the ball was moving. Additionally, the trapping mechanism was being detected by the game and had to be played around with...because obvious, it wants to avoid landing on a spot that it can't escape from.

Game Ending

Because of the blast of speed, it was very difficult to determine when the max speed was "capped". The article is clear on how difficulty increases, where the speed of the ball is sped up every 3 screens. I eventually determined that 24 screens were required to end the speed-up, as all the levels afterwards showed the same timing from beginning to end of each screen.
For those of you who are watching the encode only, set the video to play at the slowest speed so that you can see why this game was a problem to TAS.

Human Comparison

I couldn't find any human comparison this time.

ThunderAxe31: Claiming for judging.
ThunderAxe31: Yep, the new rule introduced for cases like this works just like intended. We want to allow any kind of modification that it's actually officially intended for use by the relative game developer. In fact, in the practice these end up being just like the usual game settings that we see in most games from the 80s era.
In this movie, the author opted for the settings that would allow for the fastest completion possible, which in a casual play would make it impossibly hard to beat. Neat! Accepting.

despoa: Processing...


TASVideoAgent
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This topic is for the purpose of discussing #8385: nymx's C64 Trap in 00:37.22
LoganTheTASer
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wouldn’t it be faster to wait until the time is about to run out and then reach the goal?
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nymx
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LogansGamingRoom wrote:
wouldn’t it be faster to wait until the time is about to run out and then reach the goal?
Good eye. There are a few problems though: During actual play, the timer runs much faster than during the "Tallying" time, after winning a round. So each bounce costs a lot and I had to balance the setting just in order to make it through this game. When I started, I used the fastest value of "1", which basically...I couldn't complete a level, as the time was gone before I could get up to the top. So, I increased it by 1, until I was able to get through a number of levels. Thereafter, it was pretty much safe. So, as you stated...if I just waited, the ball would have bounced one too many times and the time would have been gone. Sorry, it was hard to control....but theoretically, you are right.
I recently discovered that if you haven't reached a level of frustration with TASing any game, then you haven't done your due diligence. ---- SOYZA: Are you playing a game? NYMX: I'm not playing a game, I'm TASing. SOYZA: Oh...so its not a game...Its for real? ---- Anybody got a Quantum computer I can borrow for 20 minutes? Nevermind...eien's 64 core machine will do. :) ---- BOTing will be the end of all games. --NYMX
LoganTheTASer
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oh right. i thought the timing would’ve been easier to control.
YouTube: @LoganL2008 Discord: sneakers_o_toole Watch my TASes here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmcAd4CTuEymf4qWKIE0Pv_NlA031cYR1&si=m1hP9qz9c8Ip35Ur
Twisted_Eye
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i have no idea what i just watched but it was mesmerizing nonetheless
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
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This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [5393] C64 Trap by nymx in 00:37.22