LutherDestroysTheGond | 690 Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Looks great, can't wait for a physical release!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red | 434 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 19 hours ago, SlowMoleDev said: Yes, but if they unlocked right away when you beat it on normal, that means the game thought you played well! What is considered playing well? I'm curious what I did. How many difficulty levels are there? I see it starts with Easy and Normal and after you beat Normal, the portals at the beginning have a clock-1 symbol above them (would this be considered Hard mode?). Since I went straight to the challenge stages I skipped this mode, but I'm guessing you just have less time in this mode? I finished up the challenge stages and now the portals are marked with a skull flag (Very Hard mode?). I only played it briefly, but it seems the enemies are faster and there's less time in this mode. Are there any other differences? Will the challenge stages be harder if I beat this mode? Hope you don't mind all the questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMoleDev | 31 Posted July 8, 2021 Author Share Posted July 8, 2021 2 hours ago, Red said: What is considered playing well? I'm curious what I did. How many difficulty levels are there? I see it starts with Easy and Normal and after you beat Normal, the portals at the beginning have a clock-1 symbol above them (would this be considered Hard mode?). Since I went straight to the challenge stages I skipped this mode, but I'm guessing you just have less time in this mode? I finished up the challenge stages and now the portals are marked with a skull flag (Very Hard mode?). I only played it briefly, but it seems the enemies are faster and there's less time in this mode. Are there any other differences? Will the challenge stages be harder if I beat this mode? Hope you don't mind all the questions. There are 3 difficulty levels: easier, normal and hard (well there is an extra easy mode too, but that requires a cheat). The skull flag means hard, same as going through the -1 portal after normal. (If you beat it on easier -1 takes you to normal.) Difficulty just affects the timer, but reduced timer means you often need different strategy to beat it. The challenge levels are also affected so you can play them either in normal or hard. I tried different algorithms for unlocking the challenge levels in normal, since I felt that unless you really mastered the game they're more of a punishment than a reward. If you just barely manage to beat the game I'd rather have the player feel that moment of triumph. But I also didn't want something that punishes playing around and experimentation, like counting deaths or collecting bonus seconds would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red | 434 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, SlowMoleDev said: Difficulty just affects the timer Ah, it seemed like one of the spiders early on was going a bit faster, but I guess I was imagining it. Probably its starting position or direction threw me off. Edited July 8, 2021 by Red Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red | 434 Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Hard mode and challenge stages on hard mode completed! Now to wait for the physical release so I could do it all again. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMoleDev | 31 Posted July 9, 2021 Author Share Posted July 9, 2021 39 minutes ago, Red said: Hard mode and challenge stages on hard mode completed! Now to wait for the physical release so I could do it all again. Well played indeed!! If you're into speedrunning you can have a go at Zorilla33's record:https://www.speedrun.com/slow_mole But the cartridge version is under way! SlowMole+ is also coming later, with more challenge levels and more secrets! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red | 434 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 22 hours ago, SlowMoleDev said: Well played indeed!! If you're into speedrunning you can have a go at Zorilla33's record:https://www.speedrun.com/slow_mole But the cartridge version is under way! SlowMole+ is also coming later, with more challenge levels and more secrets! I'm not really into speedrunning. I feel like in order to get a descent run I would have to replay it so many times that I'd stop enjoying it. I'm happy just being able to make it to the end. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadeye | 1,595 Homebrew Team · Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 Fun game. I haven't gotten very far yet, but looking forward to playing it more. That prototype PCB is awesome. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMoleDev | 31 Posted July 13, 2021 Author Share Posted July 13, 2021 Ok, now I sort of have to pinch myself, but NintendoLife actually picked it up!https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/07/slow_mole_is_a_new_and_free_nes_platformer_cartridge_version_incoming 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noiseredux | 232 Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 3 minutes ago, SlowMoleDev said: Ok, now I sort of have to pinch myself, but NintendoLife actually picked it up!https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/07/slow_mole_is_a_new_and_free_nes_platformer_cartridge_version_incoming saw this this morning - congrats on the coverage! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMoleDev | 31 Posted July 13, 2021 Author Share Posted July 13, 2021 6 minutes ago, noiseredux said: saw this this morning - congrats on the coverage! Thank you! A lot of work trying to market the game. So happy someone picked it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumez | 2,930 Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 13 hours ago, SlowMoleDev said: Thank you! A lot of work trying to market the game. So happy someone picked it up! Nice! I'd actually like to hear what channels you went through, and which you felt were succesful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMoleDev | 31 Posted July 15, 2021 Author Share Posted July 15, 2021 (edited) On 7/14/2021 at 7:45 AM, Sumez said: Nice! I'd actually like to hear what channels you went through, and which you felt were succesful? Well, usually it's hard to know. Unless they respond to an email or a tweet you often don't know how they find it. I mainly use emails and Twitter, but messages on FB can also work sometimes. I've had a lot of practice marketing and selling my films but it's still very difficult. EDIT: My short films are on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Checkoofilm Edited July 15, 2021 by SlowMoleDev 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMoleDev | 31 Posted July 20, 2021 Author Share Posted July 20, 2021 Currently working on the cartridge design. I expect to share some news shortly. Meanwhile, the first review I've seen is up: https://www.retrorgb.com/new-free-nes-game-slow-mole-released.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMoleDev | 31 Posted August 1, 2021 Author Share Posted August 1, 2021 We've landed on a design for the upcoming Famicom cartridge. Imagine this in gold on a black PCB. We're making a small test run based on this second prototype that will also serve as review copies. The final design might still see some adjustments. Once we're confident everything looks exactly as we want it to, we'll be ready to take orders. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a3quit4s | 4,091 Posted August 1, 2021 Share Posted August 1, 2021 Neat! Translucent shells I'm guessing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMoleDev | 31 Posted August 1, 2021 Author Share Posted August 1, 2021 1 hour ago, a3quit4s said: Neat! Translucent shells I'm guessing? Well actually, for the first limited Famicom-only release we're planning to go with a naked PCB, because we think it will look nicer. But, we're also in plans for making an NES version with a translucent shell. But that'll be a little later most likely. So if you want a shell, we recommend that version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a3quit4s | 4,091 Posted August 1, 2021 Share Posted August 1, 2021 Just now, SlowMoleDev said: Well actually, for the first limited Famicom-only release we're planning to go with a naked PCB, because we think it will look nicer. But, we're also in plans for making an NES version with a translucent shell. But that'll be a little later most likely. So if you want a shell, we recommend that version. Oh wow, didn't even know naked PCB was a thing. Learn something new everyday! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erac | 78 Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 Isn't a bare pcb risky, both in static electricity (shipping, clumsy users) as well as putting the cart in backwards (clumsy users)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMoleDev | 31 Posted August 3, 2021 Author Share Posted August 3, 2021 On 8/2/2021 at 10:14 AM, erac said: Isn't a bare pcb risky, both in static electricity (shipping, clumsy users) as well as putting the cart in backwards (clumsy users)? We don't believe either of those things will be an issue. Rest assured this will be tested thoroughly, but the cart is meant to withstand both those scenarios. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumez | 2,930 Posted August 3, 2021 Share Posted August 3, 2021 (edited) If the connections are exposed, what can you possibly to do make it withstand static electricity? Are you coating the entire thing in something? It's not really a problem to me, I have enough exposed pcbs lying around all over the place, and never did have a problem with them (even though a lot of them have been shipped back and forth in clear bubble wrap), but I can see why people would be worried. Edited August 3, 2021 by Sumez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a3quit4s | 4,091 Posted August 3, 2021 Share Posted August 3, 2021 5 minutes ago, Sumez said: If the connections are exposed, what can you possibly to do make it withstand static electricity? Are you coating the entire thing in something? It's not really a problem to me, I have enough exposed pcbs lying around all over the place, and never did have a problem with them (even though a lot of them have been shipped back and forth in clear bubble wrap), but I can see why people would be worried. I never heard of the naked PCB but I googled it and someone had one on their keychain for years and decided to test it and it still worked. I'm a fan of the shells but it's probably to keep costs down since the money is probably being fronted instead of taking preorders like a Kickstarter would do https://mobile.twitter.com/bofadibeppo/status/1116881049923907584 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMoleDev | 31 Posted August 3, 2021 Author Share Posted August 3, 2021 (edited) I won't go into any technical details yet, as I'm not the hardware designer. We'll be completely upfront about what you're getting if you choose to order the Famicom version. We expect the new prototypes shortly. I had a blast designing the gold artwork for the PCB and am really looking forward to seeing it and sharing footage of it running in all manor of NES/Famicom consoles and clones. And of course, there will also be an NES version with transparent shells coming a little later (the details regarding that are still being sorted, but expect an upcoming announcement). That will also feature similar artwork (just less prominent since it's in a shell). So if you are more comfortable with that or just prefer an NES version, go for that one instead. Edited August 3, 2021 by SlowMoleDev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumez | 2,930 Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 7 hours ago, a3quit4s said: I never heard of the naked PCB For console games, sure. If you got any arcade games, I'd guess a majority of them will be naked PCBs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkchylde28 | 1,546 Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 2 hours ago, Sumez said: For console games, sure. If you got any arcade games, I'd guess a majority of them will be naked PCBs Except those aren't naked, as the cabinet is the equivalent of a cartridge shell (or more accurately, the equivalent of the shell in a dedicated handheld/console game). Inside their protective shells, sure, the vast majority are naked, but the same could be said about console games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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