Cybernoid clones?
Cybernoid clones?
I'll rephrase that as 'games inspired by Cybernoid'.
There are plenty during the post commercial era:
Slubberdegullion, Rough Justice, Zukinox, Hyperkill, Future Looter, Scumball2.
Any more? What about ones from the commercial era?
There are plenty during the post commercial era:
Slubberdegullion, Rough Justice, Zukinox, Hyperkill, Future Looter, Scumball2.
Any more? What about ones from the commercial era?
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Re: Cybernoid clones?
What would you say about Shark?What about ones from the commercial era?
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=4448
Close enough to be considered an inspired game or not?
Re: Cybernoid clones?
How could I forget Vallation?! (I made a mental note to do so in fact)
I did the same with Shark actually, so if it quickly came to both our minds then probably.
I suppose the criteria would be a shmup with a free floating sprite subject to gravity, in a fairly confined setting, with traps.
I did the same with Shark actually, so if it quickly came to both our minds then probably.
I suppose the criteria would be a shmup with a free floating sprite subject to gravity, in a fairly confined setting, with traps.
Re: Cybernoid clones?
In such case Task Force probably would qualify too. The captured screen is in start position which suggests some free space but it immediately becomes a maze game:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=5152
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=5152
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Re: Cybernoid clones?
How could you forget Sophia, I'd say...
Re: Cybernoid clones?
I'd say a most likely candidate was Cybernoid 2.
Re: Cybernoid clones?
Heh. I had it down as adventure.
We need a Cybernoid index!
Re: Cybernoid clones?
They've even gone and ripped the Cybernoid sprite as a power up! This is like when Ian Mcnabb took Crazy Horse on tour. Brazen!
Re: Cybernoid clones?
By the way, are we gathering data for the database to add new "inspired by" field or just babbling
Re: Cybernoid clones?
It is for inspiration, but for me, with my game designer's hat on.
I would love extra search fields, like 'inspired by Cybernoid', 'horizontal scroller', 'vertical scroller' but there's no time for it now.
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Re: Cybernoid clones?
Ah.... but what game was Cybernoid a clone of?
Re: Cybernoid clones?
Maybe I'm missing something but I would say Cybernoid is the first of its genre.Ah.... but what game was Cybernoid a clone of?
Generally it comes from horizontal space shootemups where you control some ship and fire at other ships. But in these earlier typical shootemups you fly from left to right and the background is scrolling. In Cybernoid you are in a maze and it's flip screen game. Different enough to say it's a new subgenre I believe.
Re: Cybernoid clones?
I kind of agree but I'm struggling to define why!
How would we differentiate Cybernoid (1988) from AirWolf (1984) for example?
How would we differentiate Cybernoid (1988) from AirWolf (1984) for example?
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Re: Cybernoid clones?
Quality.
People don't like to say "X is a clone of Y" when X plays much better than Y.
Re: Cybernoid clones?
Going a bit philosophical...
I would say that the word "clone" is a bit negative. It suggests something unoriginal, trying to mimic something good and classic but being generally worse.
You won't say that Mortal Kombat is a clone of Street Fighter. They are both one on one fighting games but both are great classics and distinct enough.
When a game is a big success and brings new elements you don't call it a clone. People often consider Arkanoid a father of the genre, although it takes a lot from the earlier, old game Breakout. Personally I would always say that something is a clone of Arkanoid, not a clone of some Breakout
I would also say that element of Cybernoid genre definition is not only a ship in the maze but futuristic backgrounds being a mix of mechanical and organic elements too. Something missing in Airwolf
I would say that the word "clone" is a bit negative. It suggests something unoriginal, trying to mimic something good and classic but being generally worse.
You won't say that Mortal Kombat is a clone of Street Fighter. They are both one on one fighting games but both are great classics and distinct enough.
When a game is a big success and brings new elements you don't call it a clone. People often consider Arkanoid a father of the genre, although it takes a lot from the earlier, old game Breakout. Personally I would always say that something is a clone of Arkanoid, not a clone of some Breakout
I would also say that element of Cybernoid genre definition is not only a ship in the maze but futuristic backgrounds being a mix of mechanical and organic elements too. Something missing in Airwolf
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Re: Cybernoid clones?
However most games mentioned in this thread as "clones of Cybernoid" don't have "futuristic backgrounds being a mix of mechanical and organic elements too".
Re: Cybernoid clones?
THE OFFICIAL CYBERNOID INDEX.
0 – Different genre entirely.
1 – A flip screen game with shooting in a non futuristic setting. Not very much like Cybernoid at all really.
....
5 – A hermetic futuristic setting with red/magenta/green tentacles bound by metal blocks. Large static alien heads fire projectiles at you with mild homing tendencies. Power ups include missiles and an orbiting ball. You have to avoid synchronised drones in vertical or horizontal columns. Patrolling background hugging sprites. So close to Cybernoid it is Cybernoid.
(Haven't filled in 2,3,4 yet)
So in my opinion that would put:
Future Looter and Hyperkill at around 4.8
Vallation a solid 4.5
Zukinox and Sophia ~4.0
Airwolf 1.0
Slubberdegullion is tricky, I would have given it 4.8 were it not for the vector innovation.
0 – Different genre entirely.
1 – A flip screen game with shooting in a non futuristic setting. Not very much like Cybernoid at all really.
....
5 – A hermetic futuristic setting with red/magenta/green tentacles bound by metal blocks. Large static alien heads fire projectiles at you with mild homing tendencies. Power ups include missiles and an orbiting ball. You have to avoid synchronised drones in vertical or horizontal columns. Patrolling background hugging sprites. So close to Cybernoid it is Cybernoid.
(Haven't filled in 2,3,4 yet)
So in my opinion that would put:
Future Looter and Hyperkill at around 4.8
Vallation a solid 4.5
Zukinox and Sophia ~4.0
Airwolf 1.0
Slubberdegullion is tricky, I would have given it 4.8 were it not for the vector innovation.
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Re: Cybernoid clones?
I disagree about Zukinox. The idea of collecting objects and carrying them back to the mothership (instead of simply progressing through screens) makes it quite different. The visual style wasn't influenced by Cybernoid either. It's basically a game to negotiate obstacles while dealing with gravity (like Airwolf), with a lot of backtracking (like Airwolf), except with a space theme (like Cybernoid).
I kinda agree about Sophia. Despite a completely different theme and visual style, it follows the Cybernoid gameplay style closely so the influence is obvious.
I kinda agree about Sophia. Despite a completely different theme and visual style, it follows the Cybernoid gameplay style closely so the influence is obvious.
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Re: Cybernoid clones?
ZXDB always had "inspired by" information about games!
Unbeknownst to many, Spectrum Computing allows you to see this information easily. For instance, in game Elite there's a field called "derived titles". If you click there, you will see a list of 5 titles: 2 "inspired by Elite" and 3 "Elite mods". I just noticed this list is missing Awaken, I will add it in the next update.
On a more technical note, I have already updated our internal spreadsheet (currently used to automatically generate ZXDB updates). There's now a new tab for updating information in previously registered titles. I have already added to the spreadsheet the information discussed in this thread so far, they will appear in the next ZXDB update!
Re: Cybernoid clones?
I checked this game and I would give abut 2.5 to Zukinox in "The official Cybernoid index" (tm)I disagree about Zukinox.
It's flip screen, it's a ship that shoots, it's space themed but graphically it doesn't have this Cybernoid feeling. It has actually very basic graphics while Cybernoid has it very good. I would say a game has to have good graphics to be close to Cybernoid.
And Sophia is a very curious case. You control a person, not a ship, it has a medieval/fairytale and not space setting and yet it feels strongly Cybernoid inspired
Re: Cybernoid clones?
I agree about Zukinox.
In which case we should try and list more games with more than say, 3 on the Cybernoid Scale?
EDIT - although Zukinox is arguably less than 3, the author does quote Cybernoid as an inspiration.
Also, good call about not being able to backtrack, I'll revise the scale later.
Great! So this will be an easily searchable property when Peter & Ricardo sort out the advanced search?Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Wed Feb 07, 2018 11:51 am ZXDB always had "inspired by" information about games!
Unbeknownst to many, Spectrum Computing allows you to see this information easily. For instance, in game Elite there's a field called "derived titles". If you click there, you will see a list of 5 titles: 2 "inspired by Elite" and 3 "Elite mods". I just noticed this list is missing Awaken, I will add it in the next update.
On a more technical note, I have already updated our internal spreadsheet (currently used to automatically generate ZXDB updates). There's now a new tab for updating information in previously registered titles. I have already added to the spreadsheet the information discussed in this thread so far, they will appear in the next ZXDB update!
In which case we should try and list more games with more than say, 3 on the Cybernoid Scale?
EDIT - although Zukinox is arguably less than 3, the author does quote Cybernoid as an inspiration.
Also, good call about not being able to backtrack, I'll revise the scale later.
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Re: Cybernoid clones?
There's no need. As soon as this information is added (in the next ZXDB update), you can simply open the Cybernoid page and click on "derived titles" to find them.
Not sure about 3. Perhaps above 4?
Also we should try to identify others inspirations missing from the archive and add them too!
You created a scale for "Cybernoid clones". I agree that Zukinox was inspired by Cybernoid, but I disagree that it's even close to a clone!
Re: Cybernoid clones?
I wrote a "lunar lander in a maze" game in 1983. More of a Thrust clone, although that didn't exist yet. It was in the "way too hard for anyone but the dev to play" category, because the tunnels were so tight. It was awful, and I couldn't get it published
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Re: Cybernoid clones?
Okay how’s this for a revised Cybernoid Scale:
0 - A vanishingly small amount in common with Cybernoid, e.g. Yahtzee.
1 - A flip screen game with a floating sprite, the sprite can shoot but it you would not describe it as a shooter, e.g. Cauldron
2 - A flip screen game with a floating sprite, which you would describe as a shooter, e.g. Airwolf
3 - Same as #2, but with a space/alien/biological/mechanical/futuristic theme, e.g. Shark
4 - No backtracking. Some traps and synchronised avoidance e.g. Rough Justice
5 - Orbiting power ups, background hugging baddies, synchronised baddies in columns. So close to Cybernoid, it is Cybernoid.
So, like the Kinsey scale of human sexuality, every game has its position on the Cybernoid Scale, with 4 or more warranting the title of ‘Cybernoid clone’.
Einar – now that I’ve done the difficult bit, could you assign every game in ZXDB a CRN (Cybernoid Reference Number)?
I think Cybernoid 2 is a slightly overegged pudding, so is a 5.1.
0 - A vanishingly small amount in common with Cybernoid, e.g. Yahtzee.
1 - A flip screen game with a floating sprite, the sprite can shoot but it you would not describe it as a shooter, e.g. Cauldron
2 - A flip screen game with a floating sprite, which you would describe as a shooter, e.g. Airwolf
3 - Same as #2, but with a space/alien/biological/mechanical/futuristic theme, e.g. Shark
4 - No backtracking. Some traps and synchronised avoidance e.g. Rough Justice
5 - Orbiting power ups, background hugging baddies, synchronised baddies in columns. So close to Cybernoid, it is Cybernoid.
So, like the Kinsey scale of human sexuality, every game has its position on the Cybernoid Scale, with 4 or more warranting the title of ‘Cybernoid clone’.
Einar – now that I’ve done the difficult bit, could you assign every game in ZXDB a CRN (Cybernoid Reference Number)?
I think Cybernoid 2 is a slightly overegged pudding, so is a 5.1.