X-A Eliminator

ABOUT X-A ELIMINATOR

A free roaming first person POV game (in pretends 3d), with trading, exploration, strategy and, since being an Atari 2600 title—aliens—which need be dealt with.

CONTROLS

• BW/Color Switch—toggle map
• Joystick Up—move direction
• Joystick Down—stop
• Joystick Down on Map screen to show Aliens Eliminated and current Surveyor location (when in possession of a Pulse). Surveyors progress across empty map spaces after each is eliminated. 
• Joystick Left—turn CCW
• Joystick Right—turn CW
• Joystick Button—enact scan when in an Surveyor Signal Capture event
• Joystick Button—enact Pulse when magnified Surveyor Signal Capture (press button when both numbers below craft equate)  
• Joystick Button—haggle when in a Merchant Event selling Rocks (success if glowing box is RHS the haggle strip on button press)
• Joystick Button—spend when at a Fuel Station/Clinic/Pulse Dispenser

UI 

Line One:

• LHS—amount of [type] rock*
• RHS—dollars held

      When at a structure, when purchasing:

• LHS—dollars held
• RHS—good or service, and cost

Line Two:

• LHS—x position
• RHS—y position
• MID—direction

See 'PROJECT 2025 - WIP 01_03' devlog.

*NB., last collected rock type defines UI focus. Trade rocks at a Citadel (see Map below).

STRUCTURES

To visit a structure as indicated on the map, first navigate to its grid location. Use UI coordinates within grid location to reach (2,2).

GOLD, SILVER & RUBIES

Valuable rocks exist scattered across vacant land.

Swerve either L or R to collect into the Rock Box (located vehicle centre, above the Fuel Gauge). Last captured rock defines the UI, ready to trade at a Citadel (see Map below).

See 'PROJECT 2025 - WIP 11, WIP 12' devlogs.

RADAR

A radar for tracking Surveyors provides for a mini-action sequence when player elects to capture signal by heading towards it (before it disappears). 

See 'PROJECT 2025 - WIP 06, 07' devlogs. 

See Haggling below for how to purchase a track option over a Surveyor.

Image: radar mini-action sequence with Surveyor detected; head towards: 

 

Image: radar operational and radar cascade (uploading data to server) after a magnified Surveyor Signal Capture event:

FUEL GAUGE & 'NEXT ROCK' SCANNER

A fuel gauge sits atop the Radar. It also doubles as a scanner defining approaching rock type. 

HEALTH

The health gauge sits below the fuel gauge. It is a coloured line that starts out green and finishes in the red. Sentinels attack your health. To avoid, take cover at any structure. To repair, consult a Clinic. You also get a full health bump on successful elimination of a Surveyor.

HAGGLING

Merchant Events conducted at Structures allow for market exchanges benefiting one or more party. 

See 'PROJECT 2025 - WIP 09, WIP 13' devlogs.

MAP

Structures

Sell cash for: [straight swap, always one price]

• A - Fuel      ($3)—your gauge restores to right-side full.
• C - Clinic   ($6)—restore your health to green.
• D - Pulses ($3)—to acquire a track option over a Surveyor, to pursue through the radar.

Sell rocks for cash: [haggle successfully by choosing rhs glowing square]

B - Citadel rates: 

• Gold, $1 each.
• Silver, $1 for a minimum of 2, doubling by even amounts thereafter: $2 for 4, $3 for 6, $4 for 8.
• Ruby, $1 for a minimum of 4, $2 for 8 or more.

Spaces

Spaces are occupied by Surveyors. Depending the current tally of Surveyors eliminated, a single Surveyor occupies a single successive free space, starting top left of map and finishing last row and second-last column. There are 9 free spaces and there are 9 Surveyors to eliminate, to win the game.

SURVEYORS & SENTINELS

Surveyors control Sentinels. A Sentinel attacks your vehicle when seen in proximity. A Surveyor always exists at high altitude, accessible through the Pulse Imager. To access and destroy a Surveyor, first purchase a track option via the Pulse Dispenser (see Map—'D'). 

Having purchased a track option, in Map view, hold joystick down to reveal Surveyor Location (as well as Surveyor Tally). Head to location and chase the Surveyor through your Radar screen. If successful, your vehicle is put into a Surveyor Signal Capture event. Hit Joystick Button to  enact scan; a close-up of a Surveyor follows, as seen below. Match numbers to eliminate the Surveyor (and current Sentinels). 

Image: max-distance wobbly Surveyor, as viewed through a Pulse Imager. 

Image: Sentinel as seen hovering over the landscape.

LEVELS

Game difficulty advances along with the Surveyors Tally. At certain points in the tally,  different Sentinels arrive, whereby your health gets depleted by an additional amount.

GAME WON OR LOST

• On Game Won, your vehicle stops and the UI will show in green your 9 out of 9 Surveyors eliminated.
• On Game Lost, your vehicle stops and the UI will show in red your current tally of Surveyors eliminated.

VARIATIONS

Download standard (x-a-elim.bin) or variant 'Magnum Knight,' as seen in the auto play segment above (x-a-elim_mk_var.bin).