I never knew of his remake, but I'm glad I didn't. I really, really prefer the original C64. Especially as you could immediately tell the rank of a droid by its number (001, 711, 999 etc) and whether or not to attempt a transfer or attack. This is just too 'busy' for my liking. I also thought the original chippy sfx where more in tune with the game than whats presented here. C64 Paradroid is my most favourite classic game of all time - P90 just doesn't appeal at all now having seen this.
I just watched a video where someone never failed at taking over droids in the original Paradroid for C64... they used a hack. Sad. Nice to see you play the game fairly, which takes more skill.
@charliebrown76 It may be that the lack of 8-way scrolling was caused by the limits of the hardware of Atari ST, since P90 was developed for both Amiga and Atari ST. For example, the original Atari ST version of Spindizzy Worlds had only vertical scrolling (movement to left and right used flip-screen method - not unlike the original Spindizzy for 8-bit computers) while Amiga version scrolled to all directions. Perhaps it was easier to do vertical scrolling than horizontal scrolling on ST?
@DamoclesAlpha Yeah I remember reading in an old interview with Andrew Braybrook how he was limited by the ST's hardware regarding the scrolling so had to take the ST as benchmark for the 16-bit versions. I think he also said it could've been done easily on the Amiga and they had even done some early 8-way map designs but had to be scrapped in the end! Shame, but great game non-the-less.
There was an official Archimedes port called Paradroid 2000 but i've yet to see it...
@charliebrown76 Also, have you considered studying the disassembled code of the Amiga version of Paradroid 90? If you can handle assembly code developed for 68000, using the original code can be useful way to reproduce accurately the gameplay and other nuances in your clone/remake. For example, Chaos Strikes Back for Windows was developed by fan, who disassembled the code of the original Atari ST version and converted it to C++.
if the idea is to destory all the other robots cant you shoot them? you just tried taking over all the robots. i thought you should get the best one and then kill the rest
Actually it is better in the beginning to take over droid with low class for the reasons mentioned in description. It is safer to gradually improve your class by taking over droids with somewhat higher class. Also, you can keep control over individual droid only for limited time, which is also affected by droid's class. The droid with highest class (Cyborg/999) can only be controlled for a short period, which is usually not enough to complete the ship.
I might well look into using WHDLoad quite soon...
Just a quick question though, what program did you use to record your uploaded footage of this game, as I would like to record and upload a few game videos myself, but I've always found that WinUAE seems to run everything in slow motion, making it almost impossible, whilst eating up a lot of disk space!
One video I'd like record, would be showing everyone where the keys are hidden, plus the secret ending!
I actually use WinUAE's own recording option to make videos. My codec of choice is ZMBV (Zipped Motion Block Video), which is lossless codec created for use with DOSBox. It is included with Windows version of DOSBox and can be installed by selecting Video->Install movie codec from the folder of DOSBox in Start menu after installing the program.
In addition, I usually enable the option to disable sound output while recording while leaving frame rate limit on.(continued below)
While recording, I run WinUAE in window using 320x240 as size in order to ensure that the created video file uses that as a resolution. I do this, because I have noticed that the quality of video file is preserved relatively well in the conversion process of YouTube when it uses 320x240 as a resolution.
On the other hand, I have noticed that some of my videos recorded using ZMBV have some artifacts in certain kind of motion.
However, I have been wondering if this can be solved by increasing the amount of keyframes when selecting ZMBV as video codec (if I remember correctly, the default setting is for every 15th frame to be used as keyframe). I may do some experimenting at some point.
This game took over my life at about the age of 7/8, and I even managed to complete the game using my feet, which was a bit sad to say the least! Haha...
I notice you have V1.14E, and I'm guessing it's an "ipf" file, but do you have it in "adf" format, or have a tool to convert it from "ipf to adf"?
I'm only asking, as WinUAE-X doesn't have CAPS support, like it does for the PC!
Thank you for your video response. It certainly was interesting and I didn't know about that detail concerning the rights to Paradroid.
While there are ways to convert IPF to ADF, I would be cautious about that, since IPF image may contain additional information related to copy protection and such. Thus, conversion to ADF may actually make image unusable.
However, there is WHDLoad. As you may know, it is program which allows user to install supported games to hard drive. (continued below)
Fortunately Paradroid 90 is among supported games. So, it is possible to use WinUAE on PC to install supported games to hard disk image using IPF images. After you have installed the wanted games, you can transfer this hard disk image for use with WinUAE-X.
Thank you for telling that. It probably is quite reasonable way to implement some kind of continue feature without compromising the challenge offered by game.
I forgot to add, that on this version, you can start from up to and including "Ship 4", whereas on the original version, you can only start from up to and including "Ship 2"...
(Although, "Ship 4" on V1.14E is the USF Odyssey)...
You may have already seen this as well, but a website called "OurWorld" on Google search is the best Paradroid 90 website out there with regards to all information about it, (original version) and contains pretty much everything to the smallest of details! :-)
I agree. It had been years since I last played Paradroid 90, so I was somewhat rusty. I put too much emphasis on choosing the side with connections unavailable to the other side.
However, I like to think that I "redeemed" myself in some of my later attempts (seen in parts 2 and 3). As matter of fact, I am somewhat surprised that it took this long for someone to point out my poor performance in the first transfer attempt. ;)
Unfortunately I haven't yet managed to finish the game. While it is not unreasonably difficult when player knows what he/she is doing, it is quite easy to get killed by botched transfer attempt or one of those high-class droids.
However, Paradroid 90 is one of those classics on Amiga (and Atari ST) that time has treated kindly and I have decided to start playing it again and trying to finally complete it.
Well, to help you: Try the F1 key at the initial screen to switch on/off the transfer game. You also may chose whether you want to start on ship 1 or 2. I believe there are 6 or 7 ships. The hardest one is not the last but the second last one.
Thank you for your advice, although I am already aware of those options. While transfer game makes the game more difficult, I think it is worth it. Probably makes two of us. ;)
Interestingly, the version used in recording these videos allowed player to select his/her starting point from four different ships instead of two. You can see this in the following video:
"Paradroid 90 (Amiga) - Loading, Title and Option Screens"
Yes yes fantastic retro game here, a lot to learn for future programmers.
This could do with a 2012 remake.
n1pperash 2 months ago
super Spiel! leier ist der Spieler nicht so sehr gut... aber egal, Spielspaß: 130% !
ich habe es auf dem Amiga geliebt!! danke für das Video... -:
TiburNeltoben 6 months ago
I never knew of his remake, but I'm glad I didn't. I really, really prefer the original C64. Especially as you could immediately tell the rank of a droid by its number (001, 711, 999 etc) and whether or not to attempt a transfer or attack. This is just too 'busy' for my liking. I also thought the original chippy sfx where more in tune with the game than whats presented here. C64 Paradroid is my most favourite classic game of all time - P90 just doesn't appeal at all now having seen this.
techyback 7 months ago
Classic game - Wasthere a save game option?
retronostalgic 9 months ago
I just watched a video where someone never failed at taking over droids in the original Paradroid for C64... they used a hack. Sad. Nice to see you play the game fairly, which takes more skill.
NeilRoy65 10 months ago
Comment removed
Maridianokusho 1 year ago
A great game but i always wished it was 8-way scrolling maps like the C64 original! I did start to write a clone on PC, but its unfinished.
charliebrown76 1 year ago
@charliebrown76 It may be that the lack of 8-way scrolling was caused by the limits of the hardware of Atari ST, since P90 was developed for both Amiga and Atari ST. For example, the original Atari ST version of Spindizzy Worlds had only vertical scrolling (movement to left and right used flip-screen method - not unlike the original Spindizzy for 8-bit computers) while Amiga version scrolled to all directions. Perhaps it was easier to do vertical scrolling than horizontal scrolling on ST?
DamoclesAlpha 1 year ago
@DamoclesAlpha Yeah I remember reading in an old interview with Andrew Braybrook how he was limited by the ST's hardware regarding the scrolling so had to take the ST as benchmark for the 16-bit versions. I think he also said it could've been done easily on the Amiga and they had even done some early 8-way map designs but had to be scrapped in the end! Shame, but great game non-the-less.
There was an official Archimedes port called Paradroid 2000 but i've yet to see it...
charliebrown76 1 year ago
@charliebrown76 Also, have you considered studying the disassembled code of the Amiga version of Paradroid 90? If you can handle assembly code developed for 68000, using the original code can be useful way to reproduce accurately the gameplay and other nuances in your clone/remake. For example, Chaos Strikes Back for Windows was developed by fan, who disassembled the code of the original Atari ST version and converted it to C++.
DamoclesAlpha 1 year ago
c64 version was far better
captainmic 1 year ago
Another of my fave Amiga games. Yes you do suck at it but I loved seeing it again.
tarsung 1 year ago
OMG. That't the worst Paradroid playing I've seen in a long time :D
tehrba666 1 year ago
thanks for posting, used to play this a lot. wish they'd make a paradroid '10!
bubbabubba20042004 1 year ago
When i was younger i didn't understand the droid transfer mini game so i had to remove it :} it made the game pretty easy though
1LLskillz 1 year ago
I used to LOVE this .. thanks for posting.
JonathanAnon 1 year ago
Dont suppose you could send me the emulator and paradroid... sooooo long since I played this awsome game and I aint owned an amiga for years. :D
ElensarFFXI 1 year ago
Damn you messed up badly on the first transfer :-)
Paradroid 90 and Carrier Command were the best games on the Amiga for me.
They should release this on the PSN store....I would snap it up instantly!
thedon1977 2 years ago 2
@thedon1977 Yeah! If this was available on Xbox Live Arcade, I'd get it with no hesitation.
pilltsi 1 year ago
Thanks,mate. But you totally suck at the game. : D
Thanks for the memories.
grnd 2 years ago
lol i really liked this game on c64 and on amiga however the player badly suck ...
anyway thanks for upload :)
neoprana 2 years ago
ooh my favorite amiga games my fav robots was the rifle guy ouh man
haados 2 years ago
The 614 Sentinel....my favourite too!
VenlyssPnorr 2 years ago
There should have been a save game function as i found it really tough...
retronostalgic 2 years ago
Now THAT's a BULLETBALL
killchain187 2 years ago
if the idea is to destory all the other robots cant you shoot them? you just tried taking over all the robots. i thought you should get the best one and then kill the rest
dariusb23 3 years ago
Actually it is better in the beginning to take over droid with low class for the reasons mentioned in description. It is safer to gradually improve your class by taking over droids with somewhat higher class. Also, you can keep control over individual droid only for limited time, which is also affected by droid's class. The droid with highest class (Cyborg/999) can only be controlled for a short period, which is usually not enough to complete the ship.
DamoclesAlpha 3 years ago 2
C64 version is better.
meleeman90 3 years ago 4
better in what?
EFileTahi 3 years ago
It looks better. :) Otherwise it's same, i think.
meleeman90 3 years ago
believe me, the looks of it is way worst. But hey, this is my opinion :)
EFileTahi 3 years ago
My father is very good in the C64 version! He won 999 with 001!
Gamefan17 3 years ago 6
Thank you very much for that!
I might well look into using WHDLoad quite soon...
Just a quick question though, what program did you use to record your uploaded footage of this game, as I would like to record and upload a few game videos myself, but I've always found that WinUAE seems to run everything in slow motion, making it almost impossible, whilst eating up a lot of disk space!
One video I'd like record, would be showing everyone where the keys are hidden, plus the secret ending!
Cooter3422 3 years ago
I actually use WinUAE's own recording option to make videos. My codec of choice is ZMBV (Zipped Motion Block Video), which is lossless codec created for use with DOSBox. It is included with Windows version of DOSBox and can be installed by selecting Video->Install movie codec from the folder of DOSBox in Start menu after installing the program.
In addition, I usually enable the option to disable sound output while recording while leaving frame rate limit on.(continued below)
DamoclesAlpha 3 years ago
(continued)
While recording, I run WinUAE in window using 320x240 as size in order to ensure that the created video file uses that as a resolution. I do this, because I have noticed that the quality of video file is preserved relatively well in the conversion process of YouTube when it uses 320x240 as a resolution.
On the other hand, I have noticed that some of my videos recorded using ZMBV have some artifacts in certain kind of motion.
(continued below)
DamoclesAlpha 3 years ago
(continued)
However, I have been wondering if this can be solved by increasing the amount of keyframes when selecting ZMBV as video codec (if I remember correctly, the default setting is for every 15th frame to be used as keyframe). I may do some experimenting at some point.
DamoclesAlpha 3 years ago
Erm, nice gameplay?! Haha!
This game took over my life at about the age of 7/8, and I even managed to complete the game using my feet, which was a bit sad to say the least! Haha...
I notice you have V1.14E, and I'm guessing it's an "ipf" file, but do you have it in "adf" format, or have a tool to convert it from "ipf to adf"?
I'm only asking, as WinUAE-X doesn't have CAPS support, like it does for the PC!
I hope you like my video response! :-)
It'd be nice to see this go next gen!
Cooter3422 3 years ago
Thank you for your video response. It certainly was interesting and I didn't know about that detail concerning the rights to Paradroid.
While there are ways to convert IPF to ADF, I would be cautious about that, since IPF image may contain additional information related to copy protection and such. Thus, conversion to ADF may actually make image unusable.
However, there is WHDLoad. As you may know, it is program which allows user to install supported games to hard drive. (continued below)
DamoclesAlpha 3 years ago
(continued)
Fortunately Paradroid 90 is among supported games. So, it is possible to use WinUAE on PC to install supported games to hard disk image using IPF images. After you have installed the wanted games, you can transfer this hard disk image for use with WinUAE-X.
DamoclesAlpha 3 years ago
As soon as you complete a ship, you can choose to start form the next higher one.
securitysystem 3 years ago
Thank you for telling that. It probably is quite reasonable way to implement some kind of continue feature without compromising the challenge offered by game.
DamoclesAlpha 3 years ago
I forgot to add, that on this version, you can start from up to and including "Ship 4", whereas on the original version, you can only start from up to and including "Ship 2"...
(Although, "Ship 4" on V1.14E is the USF Odyssey)...
You may have already seen this as well, but a website called "OurWorld" on Google search is the best Paradroid 90 website out there with regards to all information about it, (original version) and contains pretty much everything to the smallest of details! :-)
Cooter3422 3 years ago
LOL, no offense but your first transfer attempt sucks quite a lot. :D
You choose the wrong side and connect to two of those "everlasting" connections of your opponent.
Thats not the way to make it ;)
securitysystem 3 years ago
I agree. It had been years since I last played Paradroid 90, so I was somewhat rusty. I put too much emphasis on choosing the side with connections unavailable to the other side.
However, I like to think that I "redeemed" myself in some of my later attempts (seen in parts 2 and 3). As matter of fact, I am somewhat surprised that it took this long for someone to point out my poor performance in the first transfer attempt. ;)
DamoclesAlpha 3 years ago
I think I would have retried and cut the first part out in the vid. Indeed well done in the later vids.
Nevertheless P90 rulez. Did you finish it?
securitysystem 3 years ago
Unfortunately I haven't yet managed to finish the game. While it is not unreasonably difficult when player knows what he/she is doing, it is quite easy to get killed by botched transfer attempt or one of those high-class droids.
However, Paradroid 90 is one of those classics on Amiga (and Atari ST) that time has treated kindly and I have decided to start playing it again and trying to finally complete it.
DamoclesAlpha 3 years ago
Well, to help you: Try the F1 key at the initial screen to switch on/off the transfer game. You also may chose whether you want to start on ship 1 or 2. I believe there are 6 or 7 ships. The hardest one is not the last but the second last one.
securitysystem 3 years ago
Thank you for your advice, although I am already aware of those options. While transfer game makes the game more difficult, I think it is worth it. Probably makes two of us. ;)
Interestingly, the version used in recording these videos allowed player to select his/her starting point from four different ships instead of two. You can see this in the following video:
"Paradroid 90 (Amiga) - Loading, Title and Option Screens"
DamoclesAlpha 3 years ago