Genocide

A 2 player game in progress - you can see the other player1 in player2's view

This game's graphics engine was based on something similar to Dungeon Master or Captive, but this was no RPG - this was intended to be a real-time, multiplayer proto-FPS, set in a universe similar to space-crusade, probably with a bit of Alien thrown in for good measure. This was my most ambitious STOS project, and I reckon I came fairly close to doing it. All thats missing is enemies, and, er, any type of gameplay.

The gameplay I had planned for genocide is fairly common place these days in the age of online games, but (I think) unheard of on the Atari ST. The game can be played by up to four players who were to work as a team, clearing each level of aliens, collecting weapons, and keys to progress to different parts of the level, and ultimately onto the next level (sound familiar? :) If you imagine a cross between Gauntlet and Substation, I think that sums it up well.

A 4 player game

The playing area for each person would alway remain the same size - 1/4 of the screen, no matter how many players were taking part. This meant I only had to create one lot of graphics, and simplified things a lot. I was also going to implement an effect that would simulate fading the players view to different colours, by overlaying a dithered screen$ graphic that was partly transparent. A red overlay would mean that player had just been shot, a black overlay was supposed to simulate the lights being out in that map area (a switch would turn them on!) and a blue overlay meant the player had picked up an item.

In the playable demo below, you (and up to 3 other friends) can walk around a fairly large test map. There are windows so you can see in to other rooms, and doors that open when you walk near them. There are also transporters (golden / red floor ceiling, with gold bits suspended within) - these will take you to a (possibly random - I cant remember) spawn location. You can fire your weapons, but it has no effect.

The map editor, displaying a map of the level from the playable demo

Almost as much fun as writing the game itself, was designing the maps! I wrote a simple map editor, that allows you to design levels (including walls, doors, windows) and place objects (keys, ammo, guns, enemies) around the level. I've included the map editor in the download.

This is probably the only bit of software I'd still consider worth extending - I'd just like to be able to see what might have been. I'm thinking maybe a multiplayer deathmatch style game - no AI, but each player could choose what character they were. It'd probably need an emulator to be fast enough however. Let me know in the comments if you'd like to see this.

More Screenshots

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  You can see player 2 in another room through the window

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  2 players look at each other through a window.

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  A one player game screen

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  3 players standing in a group

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  The various enemies that would have been found on different levels

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  The games colour palette.

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  A selection of weapon graphics

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  Splash screen of the map editor.

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  A very complicated looking level

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  A glimpse of what might have been! Player1 has just taken a hit...

Download

Instructions

When the game loads, the screen will turn black. Type the number of players (1 - 4), and the rest of the game will load.

Once in the game, the usual joystick directions move and turn your player, and fire your gun. Holding down fire and left or right will make your character sidestep.