Donkey Kong Forum
Blogs => Player Blogs => Topic started by: GalacticDancin on May 01, 2017, 06:02:02 pm
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I posted this over at KLOV, but I figured I'll post it here and make it the beginning of a blog that I'll update when I reach some score milestones etc.
When I was a kid I had a friend who was one of those kids whose parents bought him everything - a spoiled rich kid of sorts. So he had like every video game and system imaginable. Both his parents played games. His mom was really good at Tetris, Columns, and Dr. Mario, and I always remember her in the living room playing one of those three games. He was the first person I knew that got a Sega Genesis, I still remember him showing me Altered Beast. But the most amazing thing of all was that his dad collected Arcade machines and they had a basement full of classic games, all free to play! This was in the late 1980's so by this point they were already a bit dated, but it still blew my mind - just the whole concept of actually having an arcade machine IN YOUR HOME! My young mind would never have even conceived of such a reality before I saw it with my own eyes. We didn't even have cable TV at my house and just had one old 19' Zenith TV from the late 70s, the kind with the big knob to change the channel. The contrast between my home and my friend's home was almost overwhelming, it was like entering some sort of video game utopia. I had to beg for years before my parents finally and reluctantly got me an NES (Yes that's the same one seen in the pictures below!) One of the arcade machines I remember playing in that basement was Donkey Kong, and I never forgot just how difficult the game was. Even in the late 80s and early 90s when I would go over this friend's house, I still knew there was something special about these older era games, and that memory stuck with me. With the resurgence of the arcades in the early 90s, I was mostly interested in the new games like NBA Jam, Mortal Kombat, Turtles, etc, but when I started getting down to my last few quarters I would head to the back corners of Aladdin's Castle where they kept the old games that only cost 25cents per credit, milking the last of my resource.
Ok, now that that nostalgia trip is aside, I present you with the latest, and for space limitations in my apartment, FINAL addition to my humble, two machine arcade. I really wanted a cabaret and I needed one in great condition as it's literally in the middle of my living room. It arrived this afternoon. My friend was there to help me set it up and start playing. My current high score is 80K.
What's that in the distance??
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/5C71F2EE-DA7C-4C1F-9501-404D90EE3510_zpskxrhvcpq.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/5C71F2EE-DA7C-4C1F-9501-404D90EE3510_zpskxrhvcpq.jpg.html)
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/398CBE66-CAEC-40C3-AE35-8C06D1AE8983_zpscl7jkhrj.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/398CBE66-CAEC-40C3-AE35-8C06D1AE8983_zpscl7jkhrj.jpg.html)
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/CFC5EB25-CAAB-47E4-8A28-B1AB953D94F3_zpsjremd7ty.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/CFC5EB25-CAAB-47E4-8A28-B1AB953D94F3_zpsjremd7ty.jpg.html)
My friend will be providing fierce competition. We already have an intense Galaga 88 rivalry.
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/A49397B4-CBE9-449A-A6CB-4A2DDBCE1FDF_zpsblz9ajua.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/A49397B4-CBE9-449A-A6CB-4A2DDBCE1FDF_zpsblz9ajua.jpg.html)
I got some new side art for that Galaga.
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/03A1DA7E-A9F3-48B2-9B5B-8E3D05C8BE8C_zpsx43esqd7.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/03A1DA7E-A9F3-48B2-9B5B-8E3D05C8BE8C_zpsx43esqd7.jpg.html)
They look so happy together!!
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/F8FD1F0C-6C4E-48E3-8E7D-A638C7058B45_zpsio3i2ten.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/F8FD1F0C-6C4E-48E3-8E7D-A638C7058B45_zpsio3i2ten.jpg.html)
Current high score. Just warming up. I to the DK Remix high score save kit, but haven't put it in yet.
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/D267755A-39A6-4886-9C41-BBE1458E5761_zpsmmygfpzf.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/D267755A-39A6-4886-9C41-BBE1458E5761_zpsmmygfpzf.jpg.html)
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Looks amazing sir! I'd definitely like to get a cabaret someday. Hope to see some big scores from you soon!
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Thanks! It looks like it just rolled off the factory floor! It has a 2 board set, so the board isn't original, but I was fine with that when I bought it. I'm going to install the high score save and DK Remix mod soon.
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Those Cabarets are cool in my book. Very nice to see. 8)
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Any of you guys in the NYC area? I'm in Williamsburg, Brooklyn if anyone wants to come over and play some Galaga 88 or DK or meet up at the Barcade just a 10min walk from my place. :)
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Galaga 88 Kreygasm
Nice looking cabs, sir
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Questions:
Have many people kill screened a Cabaret? How about the cocktail?
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Questions:
Have many people kill screened a Cabaret? How about the cocktail?
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CayvYSUWcAAJXUG.png)
Kappa
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That cabaret! Kreygasm BibleThump
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This morning I installed the DK Remix and high score save daughter board. I took some pictures of the inside before I pulled the board out. Put it all back together and it seems to be working fine. I also turned down the volume by removing the control panel and lifting the plexi and monitor bezel. Had to guess which pot it was but found the right one (the bigger one on top).
I guess you can see how the two board stack fits in here. Also, you'll notice I have a modern power supply. The original is still there and I believe it works but as well.
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/CCB7056B-79D0-43AD-96E2-8D81E47E6AE5_zpsdjzitxql.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/CCB7056B-79D0-43AD-96E2-8D81E47E6AE5_zpsdjzitxql.jpg.html)
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/173B3DB3-A08B-4DAF-8BB6-1A526CE1BE18_zps5pdblisn.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/173B3DB3-A08B-4DAF-8BB6-1A526CE1BE18_zps5pdblisn.jpg.html)
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Sir, that cabaret looks in such great condition! I'd love one of those!
The coin door looks monstrous on that little guy!
Fantastic get, good job!! Kreygasm
Jonesy loves it!!!!
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Thanks Jonesy!
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Very nice sir, I love it!
I'm guessing the cabarets were intended for 4-board stacks? I don't know much outside of the UR's, but am always interested to learn more.
Also, have you noticed any side-to-side shaking of the video? It's a semi common issue reported by DK owners (myself included) at KLOV. I guess that's also my sneaky way of encouraging you to get it hooked back up on the original power supply. However, if the original power supply needs to be re-capped, which is the most likely cause for the switching power supply being installed, you could get symptoms including from the original power supply including the side-to-side shake, waviness in the image, some other visual anomalies.
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Thanks. Yes I believe all the cabarets were originally 4 board stacks. Mine was modified to use the 2 boards. I have no shakiness or problems with my picture. The monitor was recently re-capped by the seller who seems like he knew what he was doing. Actually I believe the original power supply works fine and it was hooked up to it before I bought it. I requested to have the modern power supply put in because I assumed it would be more reliable long term. Maybe this was an amateur move on my part. I'm new to this.
Interestingly, When the seller added the new power supply a problem with the picture developed. He said the graphics were flickering at the top of the screen, i guess because the newer power supply isnt as strong of a voltage or something. So he actually swapped out the board and put a different board set in and the problem went away.
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Well, if it's not creating any problems, then no harm no foul. Me personally, I'm a purist. Ironically, I actually put a new power supply in my cab to get rid of the shakes. Turned out the original power supply was creating problems cuz it needed to be re-capped, and then the new replacement only made it worse. A couple fixes later, including recapping the original power supply, and the shakiness finally went away. Just an FYI, maybe something to be mindful of if you ever notice anomalies develop with the video/image.
Either way, good luck to you sir in your pursuit of improvement, and that is quite a nice and unique pick-up. :)
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I don't think anyone has killscreened a Cabaret, but I could be wrong.
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Second day of owning the game. Just put up my new PB, 91,300. Ugh, so close to my 100K goal (and hopefully level 5). I died on the elevator stage of Level 4. I guess I need to study some more of those videos for when to time my ladder climb. I ran on a long spring but still was hit. My high yesterday was 80K but I just installed the score save DK Remix kit today.
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/9DECA9F3-46C9-402C-91B9-930D77A03D36_zpse1i4vsxo.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/9DECA9F3-46C9-402C-91B9-930D77A03D36_zpse1i4vsxo.jpg.html)
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Ok, I keep dying on the third elevator stage. I guess I need to study the spring timing some more. Only have passed it once and was probably just luck.
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/57EE3269-D1EE-40D0-9FB1-D0725BEF3D4D_zpslvn2rysh.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/57EE3269-D1EE-40D0-9FB1-D0725BEF3D4D_zpslvn2rysh.jpg.html)
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Finally!!! I got over 100K. 6 days in to owning the game. I just had a good game. I died on the rivet board of level 5. I was SOOOOO close to finishing the board. I actually timed out as I was reaching the top girder to jump over the last rivet. I needed literally .5 seconds to jump the rivet and I would have been to level 6.. Ugh... So frustrating. All the fireballs were at the top of the screen and I had to wait for an opening to ninja my way over the top hammer. Totally forgot about the clock and it shocked me when I suddenly died. Oh well. I made it to the third elevator stage with all 4 lives. I lost one or two lives there getting the spring timing down. I beat the elevator stage on my first try on Level 5 fortunately. I don't think I died on any barrel boards.
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/03400EE1-1E57-45D8-B3BA-BBBAC5569A97_zps2bj0bxxk.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/03400EE1-1E57-45D8-B3BA-BBBAC5569A97_zps2bj0bxxk.jpg.html)
Next goal is to get to Level 6 and break 150. This feels good as I felt like I was really stagnating, I had a bunch of 90K scores all dying around the third elevator stage. I needed a breakthrough.
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(http://i65.tinypic.com/2v0izwi.gif)
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Question: In the future if I do record gameplay for submission purposes, will TG accept a score if my DK board has a DK Remix daughter board installed on it?
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Question: In the future if I do record gameplay for submission purposes, will TG accept a score if my DK board has a DK Remix daughter board installed on it?
Just don't mention it and they probably wouldn't know any better.
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go sir :)
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Question: In the future if I do record gameplay for submission purposes, will TG accept a score if my DK board has a DK Remix daughter board installed on it?
Just don't mention it and they probably wouldn't know any better.
Lol. noted.
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Question: In the future if I do record gameplay for submission purposes, will TG accept a score if my DK board has a DK Remix daughter board installed on it?
Just don't mention it and they probably wouldn't know any better.
Also, use the webcam that you used for recording the screen to record the inside of your cab, and make sure it's really dark in the cab and anything the webcam does happen to capture is super blurry. :P The fellas here at DKF, myself included, will then come along and say "great job, accepted", and the rest of the adjudicators will fall in line.
I'm part kidding, but part not, that is actually a recount of at least one submission I've seen for DK at TG. And I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just making light of it. 8) That long list of rules for submission that you find on TG? Completely disregard it! I think the good thing here is, we DKF'ers stick together and come to each others' aid to help get scores pushed through on TG.
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Question: In the future if I do record gameplay for submission purposes, will TG accept a score if my DK board has a DK Remix daughter board installed on it?
I'm not actually sure how fussy TG is, but for the record the DK Remix kit is the *only* high score kit which when you are playing Donkey Kong, you're actually playing your original DK ROMs on your main PCB.
All other high score kits will include a separate modified DK binary - with the code patched up to load/save scores and other features.
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I'm not actually sure how fussy TG is, but for the record the DK Remix kit is the *only* high score kit which when you are playing Donkey Kong, you're actually playing your original DK ROMs on your main PCB.
All other high score kits will include a separate modified DK binary - with the code patched up to load/save scores and other features.
That's great info there! I've always wanted free play at a minimum, and high score saves would be nice, but my OCD purism wouldn't let me run the game off a daughterboard.
Confirming, this is the correct one, that will use the native chips?
https://www.highscoresaves.com/high-score-save-kit/john-kowalski-donkey-kong-remix/donkey-kong-remix-multigame-high-score-save-kit-with-deranged-dk.html (https://www.highscoresaves.com/high-score-save-kit/john-kowalski-donkey-kong-remix/donkey-kong-remix-multigame-high-score-save-kit-with-deranged-dk.html)
:edit: and is there a less expensive version that will run off the original roms? Sorry, I'm a cheap bastage.
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That's great info there! I've always wanted free play at a minimum, and high score saves would be nice, but my OCD purism wouldn't let me run the game off a daughterboard.
Confirming, this is the correct one, that will use the native chips?
Correct. All the Remix kits run the original DK game off the main PCB ROMs.
[edit] Ah, if highscoresaves doesn't have stock of the original DK/DKRemix-only kit, I can send one to you.
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I'm not actually sure how fussy TG is, but for the record the DK Remix kit is the *only* high score kit which when you are playing Donkey Kong, you're actually playing your original DK ROMs on your main PCB.
All other high score kits will include a separate modified DK binary - with the code patched up to load/save scores and other features.
That's great info there! I've always wanted free play at a minimum, and high score saves would be nice, but my OCD purism wouldn't let me run the game off a daughterboard.
Confirming, this is the correct one, that will use the native chips?
https://www.highscoresaves.com/high-score-save-kit/john-kowalski-donkey-kong-remix/donkey-kong-remix-multigame-high-score-save-kit-with-deranged-dk.html (https://www.highscoresaves.com/high-score-save-kit/john-kowalski-donkey-kong-remix/donkey-kong-remix-multigame-high-score-save-kit-with-deranged-dk.html)
:edit: and is there a less expensive version that will run off the original roms? Sorry, I'm a cheap bastage.
I was able to buy just a DK Remix board, without Deranged and the Trainer features (I didn't want either of those features) and it was just slightly cheaper, I think $75.
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I posted this over at KLOV, but I figured I'll post it here and make it the beginning of a blog that I'll update when I reach some score milestones
Welcome! I post as Steve W over at KLOV, good to see you over here. This is the best site for classic gaming gameplay hands down. Have fun
Steve
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I posted this over at KLOV, but I figured I'll post it here and make it the beginning of a blog that I'll update when I reach some score milestones
Welcome! I post as Steve W over at KLOV, good to see you over here. This is the best site for classic gaming gameplay hands down. Have fun
Steve
Hey Steve. Thanks!
I'm improving a lot at DK, but I'm still really struggling with the 3rd elevator stage and spring timing. I'm actually having trouble getting past the first spring to the first little save area by the yellow block. I don't know which spring to move on to the first safe area before I attempt to do the latter climb in my second movement.
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There a a range of different techniques. I run on a short, shortly stop as my nose touches the first ladder and let the spring jump over my head, then run like hell :D Takes a tiny bit of getting used to but gives a nice margin for timing errors. Remember that the first savespot at the beginning of the upmost girder goes all the way to the third small triangle in the girder structure. Behind that and you are safe.
On the final run I do something likewise: run on a long spring (before it passes over me), shortly wait when my nose touch the ladder and wait for it to jump over my head then climb like hell :D This also gives a better margin for timing errors. In this (second) safespot you are safe if more than half of your backmost foot touches the yellow area. Retreat on a second long.
Are there less complex methods? YES
Will you be happy that you learn this from the beginning? YES
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Have a look at this thread.
https://donkeykongforum.net/index.php?topic=492.0 (https://donkeykongforum.net/index.php?topic=492.0)
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Mini Update:
Well, I still haven't been able to beat my 144k score which is starting to feel like a bit of a fluke but in the past few days I have been more consistent at getting to Level 5, thus passing the Level 4 spring stage. I'm starting to get a better grasp on getting past them, but still feel like I'm praying quite a bit as I scurry up the ladder. At least It has resulted in getting several more 100+K games. Hopefully I can eventually break into a more constant Level 5 gameplay and work towards the 200K mark.
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/1F096F4B-AEE8-4A2E-9630-E16466AE3F29_zpssnjlwxit.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/1F096F4B-AEE8-4A2E-9630-E16466AE3F29_zpssnjlwxit.jpg.html)
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Keep going! That's a pretty natural progression. Once you get the springs and L5 down better, watch 200k, 300k, 600k will all come pretty quickly. The your sights will be set on the kill screen. 8)
:edit: btw, have you posted a performance on the score submissions yet?
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Keep going! That's a pretty natural progression. Once you get the springs and L5 down better, watch 200k, 300k, 600k will all come pretty quickly. The your sights will be set on the kill screen. 8)
:edit: btw, have you posted a performance on the score submissions yet?
Right now I'm dealing with the fact that my friend got a fluke 167K game (his only 100K+ game) and currently holds first place on my leaderboard. I take some credit for coaching him through the elevator stages. I should have kept my mouth shut! But yeah, now I really need to up my game. Unfortunately I'm going to have to take a three week hiatus from play as I'll be traveling starting tomorrow so will have to resume my quest mid June.
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Haven't updated this in awhile in part because my friend embarrassingly was occupying the top spot of my scoreboard. But I just had a really good game and surpassed him. After I passed his score I kind of fell apart and lost concentration which is a bummer cause I was on target to pass 200k easily. But oh well, at least I'm back on top and can now focus on passing 200k.
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n294/fotografiamia/138060D4-A267-4297-BDB4-0FF480B437BC_zpsjvkih70x.jpg) (http://s115.photobucket.com/user/fotografiamia/media/138060D4-A267-4297-BDB4-0FF480B437BC_zpsjvkih70x.jpg.html)
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Cool! Good job!