Mutant Xpiders

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After the experience of re-building my 1983 game for the BBC Microcomputer 'Mutant Spiders' to work with a PC-based emulator (read about it here) my interest in writing computer games was rekindled.

I decided to create a PC-based update of that game.

I initially thought of trying to achieve this in DOS, but eventually decided that the Windows environment was the only way to proceed.
Microsoft's DirectX interface for the PC offers the best route into this.

I looked into the available literature and decided upon 'Window's Game Programming For Dummies' by Andre LaMothe - which I can highly recommend.
This book explains the DirectX interface, and supplies an easy-to-use API that encapsulates much of its functionality.
Not being someone who enjoys re-inventing wheels, I thought I'd get to grips with this.

Being quite conversant in C/C++ I was able to write a simple shoot-em-up in only 3 weeks - that's from receiving the book to finished product.

You won't find any fancy 3D graphics here I'm afraid - it's all 2D action.
Another thing is that I can't do, to be honest, is to draw decent graphics. Consequently it all looks a bit basic.
But it's the gameplay that's important here :-)

 

Game principles:

  1. Remember those old games where you could only have 1, or maybe 2, shots on-screen at any time. Doesn't that suck big time because it reminds you that you are running a computer program rather than taking part in a game environment?
    Well in 'Mutant Xpiders' you can have as many shots on-screen as you want, and it all works using a sustained-fire system which doesn't require you to repeatedly pound the fire button (see next point).

  2. Question. Why, given this, would you ever want to take your finger off the fire button?
    Answer. Because you are in a gravity world, and firing up, and unused shots have a nasty habit of returning back to Earth where they are just as lethal to you as your enemy - that's why.

  3. You fire directly up, but the sideways movement of your Base Cannon can be used to give your shots a little sideways momentum.
    The Xpiders can do this as well same, so keep your eyes peeled to either side at all times.

  4. Xpiders start their existance descending on a web. During this time they are unable to fire - so pick 'em off while you can.
    Then, with a scream, they detach themselves from their tether and proceed to fly around the screen (well they *are* mutants after all) dropping lethal web-shots from their, er, undercarriage.
    Hint - you just might want to wait until they detach, for more points (see later).

  5. You can disable their shots with your shots, and vice versa.

  6. Hey - it's not all bad news. Xpiders have very small brains and quite often take out each other in their enthusiasm - which is great except that you don't get any credit (i.e. points) for it.

  7. Which brings me to the points system:
  8. You get an extra life every 'x' number of points (this figure varies depending on your chosen starting level - see further down for details).

  9. There's a demo mode that kicks in if no selection is made from the title screen after 20 secs - watch the 'dots' countdown at the lower-right.

  10. Press 'P' at any time to pause the game - and press it again to continue.

 

Installation (latest version 1.5):

  1. To play the game download (175Kb) and unZip the files into any directory.
    There is no Install procedure or Registry changes.
    (I guarantee that this program is virus-free - I have an up-to-date checker on my machine, and the files have been nowhere else.

  2. NB - You will need to have Microsoft's DirectX5, or greater, installed on your machine.
    You should have no problems getting hold of this software as it's supplied free on almost every single magazine coverdisk and with most commercial games since early '98.
    If you're not sure, try it anyway - no harm will result.

  3. To play, simply run the 'mut_xpid.exe' file and off you go. And play it LOUD!

  4. To delete the game just delete all the files that were unZip'd. (There are no registry entries to undo.)

 

Starting, or difficulty, levels:

On the title screen you be presented with 3 difficulty starting levels.

  1. For your very first play you might want to start at Trainee level, which allows to you play around with the movement of your Base Cannon and it's sustained firing mechanism. You get an extra life every 10K points - but frankly it's very boring starting here.
  2. Regular level starts at Wave 3, allowing newer players to live for a while. Extra life every 15K points.
  3. Pro level is for real Arcade Gamers. It throws you in at wave 7 where it's starting to get a bit more interesting. Extra lives come every 20K points.

 

Controls:

To control your Base Cannon you can use the Keyboard (Z=left, X=right, K=up, M=down, SPACE=fire) or a digital Joystick.
There is also support for using the Mouse - which is a superior mode of control as it gives a far more immediate 'analogue' response - you'll see what I mean if you try it.
Ideally it should really be played with a trackball, like 'Centipede' or 'Missile Command' - but the PC doesn't have one :-(

Press ESCape to quit the game at any time.

 

STOP PRESS.....STOP PRESS.......STOP PRESS.....

I entered 'Mutant Xpiders' in the Gameswire.com Games Development Awards 2000 competition.
The game was nominated for an award in the Single-screen category at the awards ceremony at the ICA in The Mall, London on 24th October 2000.

 

Technical Specs:

 

Feedback:

Hi-Score update (27th April 2002):

Congratulations to John McConnell on beating Wave 64 at Trainee' level (with no 'continues'):-

Can you do better?