Difference between revisions of "Zoom the Super Bear"
| (51 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | {{box | + | {{featured}}{{box |
|header='''''Zoom the Super Bear''''' | |header='''''Zoom the Super Bear''''' | ||
|file=[[File:ZoomTitle.png|290px|border]] | |file=[[File:ZoomTitle.png|290px|border]] | ||
|text= | |text= | ||
'''Release type:''' [[Shareware]]<br /> | '''Release type:''' [[Shareware]]<br /> | ||
| − | '''Release date:''' | + | '''Release date:''' [[1993]][[Category: 1993]] (original release)<br /> |
'''Levels:''' 10<br /> | '''Levels:''' 10<br /> | ||
'''Author:''' [[A-J Games]]<br /> | '''Author:''' [[A-J Games]]<br /> | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
'''Registration price:''' $30<br /> | '''Registration price:''' $30<br /> | ||
'''Related games:''' ''[[A-J's Quest]]'', ''[[The Return of A-J]]'', ''[[A-J 3]]'', ''[[Zoom II: Enter Zip]]'' | '''Related games:''' ''[[A-J's Quest]]'', ''[[The Return of A-J]]'', ''[[A-J 3]]'', ''[[Zoom II: Enter Zip]]'' | ||
| − | }}[[ | + | }}One of the larger recurring themes to my [[Andrew-Jonathan]] strip is Cousin Zoom, a timid librarian with a prophetic name. For reasons unclear, A-J’s grandfather is a wizard. Some wires crossed, his cousin found himself in the wrong place at the right time, and he became a superhero. |
| + | In developing the character I know that I was conscious of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperTed SuperTed] cartoon. My spin was a little different, though. Although Zoom gets the disguise right — he not only drops the Clark Kent spectacles; he dons a Zorro style mask — he keeps the same name in both guises. He also becomes a hazard to friend and foe alike. | ||
| + | [[File:Zoom.gif|center]] | ||
| + | Inspired by Taito’s ''Superman'' Arcade game, I chose to do something a little different with [[RSD]]’s engine. I alternated side-scrolling action levels with overhead shooting segments, and I ramped the difficulty way down to make the game accessible. | ||
| + | The lower difficulty worked together with some new concepts to gloss over some of my earlier awkwardness. Flight removed the logical problems of platform mechanics, and a bulky sprite with full player control improved collision in the shooter levels. The engine was still awkward, but the game worked within its box. | ||
| + | [[File:Zoom.png|thumb|320px|Blasting up the sea base in ''Zoom the Super Bear'']] | ||
| + | ''Zoom'' cohered well enough that people seemed to actually play it. Although I have no metric, it seems like the most widely distributed of my games. Often people would describe it as a children’s game, presumably because of the bear. That always confused me, as even with its lowered difficulty the game was still pretty tough. | ||
| + | Around the turn of the millennium ''Zoom'' turned up on a few major download sites. I recall that ZDnet gave it three stars out of five, which although unremarkable made me rather proud. By that point the game was five years old, running in a weird engine, and far from my best work — but someone who reviewed this stuff for a living still found it adequate. So, hey. | ||
| + | This game underwent a bunch of revision when Game-Maker 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul. | ||
| + | :'''''- <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Azurelore Korrigan]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>''''' | ||
| + | {{SeriesNav|The Return of A-J|Zoom the Super Bear|A-J 3|[[A-J's Quest series]]}} | ||
| + | {{SeriesNav|Zoom series{{!}}(Overview)|Zoom the Super Bear|Zoom II|[[Zoom series]]}} | ||
| + | == Story == | ||
| − | + | [[File:Zoom5-2.png|thumb|320px|Level 5-2 of ''Zoom the Super Bear'']] | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | [[File: | ||
"Hi. I'm [[A-J's Quest|A-J Bear]]. This is the story of how my cousin became super. | "Hi. I'm [[A-J's Quest|A-J Bear]]. This is the story of how my cousin became super. | ||
| Line 41: | Line 46: | ||
"To spare your ears, I won't go into the details, but the spell gave Zoom super powers. | "To spare your ears, I won't go into the details, but the spell gave Zoom super powers. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
"Grandma made a simple costume, a blue mask and a red cape with a big, yellow "Z" on it. | "Grandma made a simple costume, a blue mask and a red cape with a big, yellow "Z" on it. | ||
| Line 50: | Line 53: | ||
"He'd better get home soon, though, or he'll be late for work at the library." | "He'd better get home soon, though, or he'll be late for work at the library." | ||
| − | ==Instructions== | + | == Instructions == |
| + | |||
| + | === Controls === | ||
[[File:Zoom1-2.png|thumb|320px|Level 1-2 of ''Zoom the Super Bear'']] | [[File:Zoom1-2.png|thumb|320px|Level 1-2 of ''Zoom the Super Bear'']] | ||
| − | + | ==== Flying ==== | |
| − | : | + | |
| − | : | + | [[File:ZoomFly.gif|center]] |
| − | : | + | |
| − | : | + | : 8, Up Arrow: Speed Up |
| − | : | + | : 2, Down Arrow: Slow Down |
| − | : | + | : 4, Left Arrow: Veer left |
| − | + | : 6, Right Arrow: Veer Right | |
| − | + | : Space Bar: Fire a Ray of Magic | |
| − | : | + | |
| + | ==== Walking ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:Zoom3-2.png|thumb|320px|Level 3-2 of ''Zoom the Super Bear'']] | ||
| − | + | : 7, Home: Fly Left | |
| + | : 8, Up Arrow: Fly Upwards | ||
| + | : 9, PgUp: Fly Right | ||
| + | : 4, Left Arrow: Walk to the Left | ||
| + | : 6, Right Arrow: Walk to the Right | ||
| + | : 2, Down Arrow: Fly Downwards | ||
| + | : B: Fire a Ray of Magic to the Left | ||
| + | : N: Fire a Ray of Magic to the Right | ||
| − | + | === Items === | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | [[File:Zoom4-2.png|thumb|320px|Level 4-2 of ''Zoom the Super Bear'']] | |
| − | + | [[File:ZoomItems.gif|center]] | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | : 4 | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | : | ||
| − | |||
: A drop of honey refills your hit points by one point. The big `100' floating around gives you one hundred points, and the zoom doll gives Zoom an extra life. | : A drop of honey refills your hit points by one point. The big `100' floating around gives you one hundred points, and the zoom doll gives Zoom an extra life. | ||
| − | + | === Monsters === | |
| + | |||
| + | [[File:ZoomMons.gif|center]] | ||
| + | |||
: The Crabbies move in a set pattern, a diamond. They're pretty easy to get rid of. | : The Crabbies move in a set pattern, a diamond. They're pretty easy to get rid of. | ||
: The Flaming Turnips, those orange balls with boots and shades, move VERY randomly. If you can hit them, they'll die instantly. | : The Flaming Turnips, those orange balls with boots and shades, move VERY randomly. If you can hit them, they'll die instantly. | ||
| Line 95: | Line 100: | ||
: The Clouds are as easy to dispatch as the Pretzels. | : The Clouds are as easy to dispatch as the Pretzels. | ||
| − | ==Credits== | + | == Credits == |
Games: | Games: | ||
| Line 110: | Line 115: | ||
: [[Matt Bell]] | : [[Matt Bell]] | ||
| − | ==Links== | + | == Background == |
| + | |||
| + | <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Azurelore Korrigan]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>: | ||
| + | : Mostly a sort of side-scrolling platformer, although there are some ill-functioning vertical shooting segments. A side-story (or gaiden, if you prefer) to the ''[[A-J's Quest]]'' series, which I took as my namesake at the time. I think this is actually a bit better than the main series, with the exception of the (incredibly complex) third game. | ||
| + | |||
| + | : As with ''[[Friction]]'', this was on ZDNet from around 1998 through 2000 or 2001 or so. Maybe it had something to do with C|Net's buyout? I honestly didn't pay much attention to that deal. Also as with ''Friction'', this game managed to gather three stars (out of a possible five) by whatever internal monkey did the official reviews for these things. I don't think too many people actually downloaded either game, which might be a second explanation for why they're no longer around. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Availability == | ||
| + | |||
| + | This game is distributed in the shareware directory of the Game-Maker 3.0 CD-ROM. | ||
| + | |||
| + | During the early 1990s the game also was available for download from various dial-up bulletin boards, including: | ||
| + | * GameLynk's [[Frontline BBS]] | ||
| + | * The Kobayashi Alternative | ||
| + | * I.D.D.C. BBS | ||
| + | |||
| + | During the early 1990s the game also was available for download from . | ||
| + | |||
| + | Also available on several shareware compilation CD-ROMs, including: | ||
| + | * '''[[:Category: Sixteen Bits CD-ROM|Sixteen Bits CD-ROM]]'''[[Category: Sixteen Bits CD-ROM]] (June 1996), | ||
| + | * Public Software Library's '''[[:Category: PSL Monthly 4-05|PSL Monthly #4-05]]'''[[Category: PSL Monthly 4-05]] (1996), | ||
| + | * Public Software Library's '''[[:Category: PSL Monthly 4-08: Games, Sound|PSL Monthly #4-08: Games, Sound]]'''[[Category: PSL Monthly 4-08: Games, Sound]] (1996), and | ||
| + | * PC-Ohio's '''[[:Category: Shareware Extravaganza 8|Shareware Extravaganza 8]]'''[[Category: Shareware Extravaganza 8]] (1997). | ||
| + | |||
| + | In addition, for several years ''[[Friction]]'' and ''[[Zoom the Super Bear]]'' were available fom ZDNet Downloads. Both games received a three-star rating (out of five). | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Archive history == | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''Zoom the Super Bear'' was retained as part of the archive from the game's inception. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Links == | ||
| + | |||
| + | <youtube>SlVW8_cC3JQ</youtube> | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Interviews / Articles === | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [http://www.aderack.com/journal/2011/05/the-history-of-a-j-games-part-two/ The History of A-J Games, Part Two] | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Listings === | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [http://archive.org/details/ZoomTheSuperBear_1020 archive.org entry] | ||
| + | * [http://www.demu.org/resource/ZoomTheSuperBear_1020 demu.org entry] | ||
| − | + | === Misc. Links === | |
| − | + | * [http://pcug.org.au/pcug/16bits/96_06/sln_0696.htm Sixteen Bits Online: June 1996] | |
| + | * '''[http://www.aderack.com/game-maker/java/zoom.php Play ''Zoom the Super Bear'' online]''' | ||
| − | + | == Downloads == | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| + | * '''[http://www.aderack.com/game-maker/downloads/zoom.zip ''Zoom the Super Bear'']''' (? kB) | ||
| + | * [[Media:Zoom1-1.png|Level 1-1 map]] (58 kB) | ||
| + | ** [[Media:Zoom1-2.png|Level 1-2 map]] (68 kB) | ||
| + | * [[Media:Zoom2-1.png|Level 2-1 map]] (31 kB) | ||
| + | ** [[Media:Zoom2-2.png|Level 2-2 map]] (29 kB) | ||
| + | * [[Media:Zoom3-1.png|Level 3-1 map]] (34 kB) | ||
| + | ** [[Media:Zoom3-2.png|Level 3-2 map]] (115 kB) | ||
| + | * [[Media:Zoom4-1.png|Level 4-1 map]] (26 kB) | ||
| + | ** [[Media:Zoom4-2.png|Level 4-2 map]] (75 kB) | ||
| + | * [[Media:Zoom5-1.png|Level 5-1 map]] (18 kB) | ||
| + | ** [[Media:Zoom5-2.png|Level 5-2 map]] (22 kB) | ||
| + | [[Category: Game-Maker games]] | ||
[[Category: Shareware]] | [[Category: Shareware]] | ||
[[Category: A-J Games]] | [[Category: A-J Games]] | ||
| Line 136: | Line 185: | ||
[[Category: Character games]] | [[Category: Character games]] | ||
[[Category: Accomplishments]] | [[Category: Accomplishments]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Game-Maker 3.0 CD]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Frontline BBS]] | ||
| + | [[Category: A-J's Quest series]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Zoom series]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Eponymous titles]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Complete games]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Compilation CD-ROMs]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Based on a Comic]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Maine]] | ||
| + | [[Category: United States]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:58, 22 June 2021
Release type: Shareware
Release date: 1993 (original release)
Levels: 10
Author: A-J Games
Registration bonus: Zoom II: Enter Zip
Registration price: $30
Related games: A-J's Quest, The Return of A-J, A-J 3, Zoom II: Enter Zip
One of the larger recurring themes to my Andrew-Jonathan strip is Cousin Zoom, a timid librarian with a prophetic name. For reasons unclear, A-J’s grandfather is a wizard. Some wires crossed, his cousin found himself in the wrong place at the right time, and he became a superhero.
In developing the character I know that I was conscious of the SuperTed cartoon. My spin was a little different, though. Although Zoom gets the disguise right — he not only drops the Clark Kent spectacles; he dons a Zorro style mask — he keeps the same name in both guises. He also becomes a hazard to friend and foe alike.
Inspired by Taito’s Superman Arcade game, I chose to do something a little different with RSD’s engine. I alternated side-scrolling action levels with overhead shooting segments, and I ramped the difficulty way down to make the game accessible.
The lower difficulty worked together with some new concepts to gloss over some of my earlier awkwardness. Flight removed the logical problems of platform mechanics, and a bulky sprite with full player control improved collision in the shooter levels. The engine was still awkward, but the game worked within its box.
Zoom cohered well enough that people seemed to actually play it. Although I have no metric, it seems like the most widely distributed of my games. Often people would describe it as a children’s game, presumably because of the bear. That always confused me, as even with its lowered difficulty the game was still pretty tough.
Around the turn of the millennium Zoom turned up on a few major download sites. I recall that ZDnet gave it three stars out of five, which although unremarkable made me rather proud. By that point the game was five years old, running in a weird engine, and far from my best work — but someone who reviewed this stuff for a living still found it adequate. So, hey.
This game underwent a bunch of revision when Game-Maker 3.0 came around. In particular all of the menus and interfaces got an overhaul.
| Previous | Current | Next |
|---|---|---|
| The Return of A-J | Zoom the Super Bear | A-J 3 |
| A-J's Quest series | ||
| Previous | Current | Next |
|---|---|---|
| (Overview) | Zoom the Super Bear | Zoom II |
| Zoom series | ||
Contents
Story[edit]
"Hi. I'm A-J Bear. This is the story of how my cousin became super.
"It was all an accident, really. Unbeknownst to Zoom, Grandpa Merlin was busy conjuring a spell in his den.
"When Zoom came in to watch the telly, Grandpa was distracted and his spell went awry, throwing Zoom across the room.
"Grandpa rushed over to him; he didn't have any idea what would happen. He didn't even know what the spell was. When Grandpa pulled Zoom to his feet, Zoom woke.
"To spare your ears, I won't go into the details, but the spell gave Zoom super powers.
"Grandma made a simple costume, a blue mask and a red cape with a big, yellow "Z" on it.
"He's not here right now -- I think he said he was gonna go find some kind of card.
"He'd better get home soon, though, or he'll be late for work at the library."
Instructions[edit]
Controls[edit]
Flying[edit]
- 8, Up Arrow: Speed Up
- 2, Down Arrow: Slow Down
- 4, Left Arrow: Veer left
- 6, Right Arrow: Veer Right
- Space Bar: Fire a Ray of Magic
Walking[edit]
- 7, Home: Fly Left
- 8, Up Arrow: Fly Upwards
- 9, PgUp: Fly Right
- 4, Left Arrow: Walk to the Left
- 6, Right Arrow: Walk to the Right
- 2, Down Arrow: Fly Downwards
- B: Fire a Ray of Magic to the Left
- N: Fire a Ray of Magic to the Right
Items[edit]
- A drop of honey refills your hit points by one point. The big `100' floating around gives you one hundred points, and the zoom doll gives Zoom an extra life.
Monsters[edit]
- The Crabbies move in a set pattern, a diamond. They're pretty easy to get rid of.
- The Flaming Turnips, those orange balls with boots and shades, move VERY randomly. If you can hit them, they'll die instantly.
- Watch out for Flying Dirt Clods. They get weaker every time you hit them, but it takes multiple hits to dispatch them.
- Pretzels are wimps. Just shoot 'em.
- The Polygon, Green takes two hits. After the first one, it gets annoyed and starts to chase you.
- The Clouds are as easy to dispatch as the Pretzels.
Credits[edit]
Games:
Game Testers:
- M.O.S.H.
Game Engine:
Special Thanx to:
Background[edit]
- Mostly a sort of side-scrolling platformer, although there are some ill-functioning vertical shooting segments. A side-story (or gaiden, if you prefer) to the A-J's Quest series, which I took as my namesake at the time. I think this is actually a bit better than the main series, with the exception of the (incredibly complex) third game.
- As with Friction, this was on ZDNet from around 1998 through 2000 or 2001 or so. Maybe it had something to do with C|Net's buyout? I honestly didn't pay much attention to that deal. Also as with Friction, this game managed to gather three stars (out of a possible five) by whatever internal monkey did the official reviews for these things. I don't think too many people actually downloaded either game, which might be a second explanation for why they're no longer around.
Availability[edit]
This game is distributed in the shareware directory of the Game-Maker 3.0 CD-ROM.
During the early 1990s the game also was available for download from various dial-up bulletin boards, including:
- GameLynk's Frontline BBS
- The Kobayashi Alternative
- I.D.D.C. BBS
During the early 1990s the game also was available for download from .
Also available on several shareware compilation CD-ROMs, including:
- Sixteen Bits CD-ROM (June 1996),
- Public Software Library's PSL Monthly #4-05 (1996),
- Public Software Library's PSL Monthly #4-08: Games, Sound (1996), and
- PC-Ohio's Shareware Extravaganza 8 (1997).
In addition, for several years Friction and Zoom the Super Bear were available fom ZDNet Downloads. Both games received a three-star rating (out of five).
Archive history[edit]
Zoom the Super Bear was retained as part of the archive from the game's inception.
Links[edit]
Interviews / Articles[edit]
Listings[edit]
Misc. Links[edit]
Downloads[edit]
- Zoom the Super Bear (? kB)
- Level 1-1 map (58 kB)
- Level 1-2 map (68 kB)
- Level 2-1 map (31 kB)
- Level 2-2 map (29 kB)
- Level 3-1 map (34 kB)
- Level 3-2 map (115 kB)
- Level 4-1 map (26 kB)
- Level 4-2 map (75 kB)
- Level 5-1 map (18 kB)
- Level 5-2 map (22 kB)
