Tempest 2000
Encyclopedia
Tempest 2000 is a 1994 remake by Jeff Minter
of the Dave Theurer
1981 arcade game
classic, Tempest. Originally an exclusive to the Atari Jaguar
, the game received critical praise for its 3D graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay.
The game contains a total of 100 webs, with new frame colors and variations every 15 levels. In all versions, the player's progress is saved every couple of levels, and players are allowed to resume by using "keys" to return to the last stage the game saved at.
Power-ups appear as small floating polygons that appear after shooting a number of enemies. Catching the polygon will activate one of a number of progressively more useful capabilities:
If a power-up is caught while warping off of a completed web, the increasingly high-pitched sound of a woman saying "Yes! Yes! Yes!" is played, and the first power-up received in the next stage will be the A.I. Droid.
If the player successfully completes all 100 levels, a special "Beast mode" is unlocked. This is a harder difficulty setting where the enemies move faster and fire more often.
's running DOS
, Macintosh, Sega Saturn
and PlayStation game consoles, the latter version with several changes to the design under the name of Tempest X3. Interplay
released a Microsoft Windows
version later.
The DOS version contains optional AdLib
and Roland MT-32
versions of the music, but lacks several of the visual effects of the console versions, such as the "Melt-O-Vision" transition effects. The Windows version is rendered in higher resolution, and has some unique glitches, like registering bonus level scores incorrectly.
The Sega Saturn
version, programmed by High Voltage Software, uses a limited amount of sound channels, causing thin sound. In this version, the third type of bonus level has been completely removed.
Tempest X3, the PlayStation version, was released on November 30, 1996, with updated graphics and sound. However, the following gameplay differences from the original version were identified by Jeff Minter
in a Usenet
post:
Entering the name "YIFF!" on the highscore table will activate a secret mode, allowing the user to choose to play the original Tempest 2000 game; however, any high scores made in this mode are not saved, the music (wave-captured from the original modules) is muffled and the effectiveness of the Particle Laser against Spikes is not restored even in this original mode.
The PlayStation version of Tempest X3 includes support for the PS1 Mouse, Nyco Trackball and Namco's rotary neGcon
analog controller.
Jeff Minter returned to the genre with Tempest 3000
and again with Space Giraffe
.
on the Atari Jaguar.
The music was composed in the Commodore Amiga MOD music file format
, although non-Jaguar releases of the game played music off of CD
, with the exception of the PC port. At the time of its release, the music soundtrack could also be purchased on CD directly from Atari.
The Windows Version CD also included the songs in standard CD format, to be spooled from the CD drive to the speakers during gameplay. This could be played in a standard CD player, but was not advertised as such, as Atari was selling the soundtrack CD as an addition.
The one used by Jeff Minter during testing was made from a hacked-up 2600 driving controller, and until about 2004, he had never actually played with a more suitable controller.
, Electronic Gaming Monthly
(won EGM's Game of the Month award), and Diehard GameFan
. Of particular critical acclaim was the game's intense techno music soundtrack. A separate soundtrack CD with newly-done versions was also released; this was the basis for the audio for all conversions to come.
Tempest 2000 was awarded Best Jaguar Game of 1994 by Electronic Gaming Monthly
.
Jeff Minter
Jeff 'Yak' Minter is a British computer/video game designer and programmer. He is the founder of software house Llamasoft and his recent works include Neon , a non-game music visualization program that has been built into the Xbox 360 console, and the video games Space Giraffe , and Space Invaders...
of the Dave Theurer
Dave Theurer
David "Dave" Theurer is a game designer. In 1980, he created Missile Command, considered one of the great classic video games from the Golden age of arcade games. Another pioneering achievement, also in 1980, was Tempest. Theurer also designed I, Robot, the first commercial video game with filled...
1981 arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
classic, Tempest. Originally an exclusive to the Atari Jaguar
Atari Jaguar
The Atari Jaguar is a video game console that was released by Atari Corporation in 1993. It was the last to be marketed under the Atari brand until the release of the Atari Flashback in 2004. It was designed to surpass the Mega Drive/Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and the Panasonic...
, the game received critical praise for its 3D graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay.
Gameplay
Tempest 2000 modifies the gameplay of the original Tempest by adding bonus levels, collectible power-ups, more sophisticated enemy types, and wildly varying web (level) designs.Power-ups appear as small floating polygons that appear after shooting a number of enemies. Catching the polygon will activate one of a number of progressively more useful capabilities:
- Particle Laser
- Particle Laser enhances the ship's firepower and allows it to destroy spikes much more quickly.
- Points
- Between certain power-ups, the player can gain bonuses of 2000 points.
- Jump
- Allows the player to jump off of the web, useful for avoiding enemies that travel along the edge, and for avoiding the attack of Pulsars.
- A.I. Droid
- An autonomous polygonal ship appears floating above the web, and shoots at enemies.
- Warp Token
- Collecting three tokens gives access to a bonus stage following the current web.
- Outta Here!
- Collecting this power-up will destroy all enemies on the web and warp the player to the next stage. However, spikes are not destroyed, and it is still possible to lose a life by hitting one as the player warps down the web.
If a power-up is caught while warping off of a completed web, the increasingly high-pitched sound of a woman saying "Yes! Yes! Yes!" is played, and the first power-up received in the next stage will be the A.I. Droid.
If the player successfully completes all 100 levels, a special "Beast mode" is unlocked. This is a harder difficulty setting where the enemies move faster and fire more often.
Ports
Tempest 2000 was ported to PCIBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
's running DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
, Macintosh, Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
and PlayStation game consoles, the latter version with several changes to the design under the name of Tempest X3. Interplay
Interplay Entertainment
Interplay Entertainment Corporation is an American video game developer and publisher, founded in 1983 as Interplay Productions by Brian Fargo. The company had been a quality developer until they started publishing their own games in 1988, like Neuromancer and Battle Chess. The company was renamed...
released a Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
version later.
The DOS version contains optional AdLib
AdLib
Ad Lib, Inc. was a manufacturer of sound cards and other computer equipment founded by Martin Prevel, a former professor of music and vice-dean of the music department at the Université Laval...
and Roland MT-32
Roland MT-32
The Roland MT-32 Multi-Timbre Sound Module is a MIDI synthesizer module first released in 1987 by Roland Corporation. Along with its compatible modules, it established an early de-facto standard in computer music and was the first product in Roland's ミュージくん line of Desktop Music System packages...
versions of the music, but lacks several of the visual effects of the console versions, such as the "Melt-O-Vision" transition effects. The Windows version is rendered in higher resolution, and has some unique glitches, like registering bonus level scores incorrectly.
The Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
version, programmed by High Voltage Software, uses a limited amount of sound channels, causing thin sound. In this version, the third type of bonus level has been completely removed.
Tempest X3, the PlayStation version, was released on November 30, 1996, with updated graphics and sound. However, the following gameplay differences from the original version were identified by Jeff Minter
Jeff Minter
Jeff 'Yak' Minter is a British computer/video game designer and programmer. He is the founder of software house Llamasoft and his recent works include Neon , a non-game music visualization program that has been built into the Xbox 360 console, and the video games Space Giraffe , and Space Invaders...
in a Usenet
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
post:
- The "AI Droid" only follows the player, instead of acting autonomously. A new, "Mega Droid" powerup rectifies this somewhat, but it takes a very long time within a level to acquire it.
- Pulsars now move slowly around the top of the Web if they reach it (rather than electrifying the whole top edge the moment they arrive).
- The Particle Laser is no more effective than the normal laser against Spikes (in the original, it destroys them very quickly).
- Some of the harder, "sticking point" webs have been removed from the game entirely.
Entering the name "YIFF!" on the highscore table will activate a secret mode, allowing the user to choose to play the original Tempest 2000 game; however, any high scores made in this mode are not saved, the music (wave-captured from the original modules) is muffled and the effectiveness of the Particle Laser against Spikes is not restored even in this original mode.
The PlayStation version of Tempest X3 includes support for the PS1 Mouse, Nyco Trackball and Namco's rotary neGcon
NeGcon
The neGcon was a third-party controller for the PlayStation manufactured by Namco.- Physical properties :...
analog controller.
Jeff Minter returned to the genre with Tempest 3000
Tempest 3000
Tempest 3000 is a remake of the Tempest arcade game and a sequel to Tempest 2000, written by Jeff Minter for Nuon.-Gameplay:Tempest 3000 includes all of the enhancements from Tempest 2000 plus additional web designs, webs that move and reform, a greater game role for the jump control, a missile...
and again with Space Giraffe
Space Giraffe
Space Giraffe is an action arcade video game by Jeff Minter and Ivan Zorzin of Llamasoft. Space Giraffe visually resembles the arcade classic Tempest, an arcade game by Atari Inc. released in October, 1981, though Minter claims that it is not a clone of this game. The game was released on August...
.
Music
The original Jaguar version's music was created by Ian Howe, Alastair Lindsay and Kevin Saville of Imagitec Design Inc. (AKA Dream Weavers), who also created the music for Jeff Minter's Defender 2000Defender 2000
Defender 2000 was a game developed for the Atari Jaguar in 1995 by Jeff Minter. Considered by many to be the true successor to the original, it sold fairly well—but not as well as his prior creation for the console, Tempest 2000....
on the Atari Jaguar.
The music was composed in the Commodore Amiga MOD music file format
MOD (file format)
MOD is a computer file format used primarily to represent music, and was the first module file format. MOD files use the “.MOD” file extension, except on the Amiga where the original trackers instead use a “mod.” prefix scheme, e.g. “mod.echoing”...
, although non-Jaguar releases of the game played music off of CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, with the exception of the PC port. At the time of its release, the music soundtrack could also be purchased on CD directly from Atari.
The Windows Version CD also included the songs in standard CD format, to be spooled from the CD drive to the speakers during gameplay. This could be played in a standard CD player, but was not advertised as such, as Atari was selling the soundtrack CD as an addition.
Soundtrack album track listing
- "Thermal Resolution"
- "Mind's Eye"
- "T2K"
- "Ease Yourself"
- "Tracking Depth"
- "Constructive Demolition"
- "Future Tense"
- "Digital Terror"
- "Hyper Prism"
- "Glide Control"
- "Ultra Yak"
- "2000 Dub"
Jaguar rotary controller
There is an option to use a rotary controller (similar to the controller on the Tempest arcade machine) with Tempest 2000 on the Jaguar, but there are two obstacles:- The option must be unlocked by holding Pause on Controller 1 and Controller 2 at the same time on the Options menu.
- Atari never made a Jaguar rotary controller. Such a controller was planned for development and release by Atari, but no prototypes exist. However, several homebrew options exist by using parts from a Jaguar controller and either an Atari 2600 Driving Controller or new, higher-precision rotary encoders.
The one used by Jeff Minter during testing was made from a hacked-up 2600 driving controller, and until about 2004, he had never actually played with a more suitable controller.
Reception
Tempest 2000, though initially dismissed by the creator of the Atari Jaguar, received critical acclaim from such video game magazines such as GameProGamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
, Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
(won EGM's Game of the Month award), and Diehard GameFan
GameFan magazine
GameFan Magazine was a publication started by Tim Lindquist and Dave Halverson in September 1992 that provided coverage of domestic and import video games. It was notable for its extensive use of game screenshots in page design because of the lack of good screen shots in other US publications at...
. Of particular critical acclaim was the game's intense techno music soundtrack. A separate soundtrack CD with newly-done versions was also released; this was the basis for the audio for all conversions to come.
Tempest 2000 was awarded Best Jaguar Game of 1994 by Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
.