New Release: Demons of Dex

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phvic
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New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by phvic »

A new roguelike for the unexpanded VIC-20!

You are Eino, a member of the druids. Your master, the arch druid has become old and it is time for somebody to replace him. As a young initiate you are sent to dungeon Dex, a mysterious labyrinth home to vile creatures. You must enter the dungeon alone and defeat three demon lords within. Only then can you achieve enlightenment and ascend to become the next arch druid.

Good luck!

Image

Features:
- 15 randomly generated levels
- 10 kinds of monsters
- 5 kinds of usable items including a magical artifact
- themed levels
- scoring
- music and sound effects (music by Mikko Kallinen)
- written in highly optimized assembly code

System requirements: unexpanded VIC20, PAL recommended (music is offtune on NTSC!)

Download:
http://www.grimrock.net/extras/dex.prg

Manual (and source code):
https://github.com/petrihakkinen/demons ... /README.md

Play online (VIC-20 emulator by Matt Dawson):
http://tinyurl.com/DemonsOfDex
phvic
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by phvic »

Got feedback that the game is too easy. Adjusted the difficulty a bit.
rhurst
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by rhurst »

Haven't played this rogue game yet, but already love the back story as written on the releases post. 8)
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
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RobertBe
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by RobertBe »

The FCUG members tried out the game today at our meeting. After figuring out the keys that controlled the game, we got into the nitty-gritty of playing it. We liked the different levels but couldn't quite figure out how to attack. When we did die, there didn't seem any way to start the game again; we would have to turn off the VIC, reload, and run the program again.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
phvic
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by phvic »

Uh, this answer is pretty late but here goes...

As explained in the manual, you attack by trying to move onto enemies. And when you die you can press space to start a new game. The problem with limited memory of an unexpanded vic-20 is that there is practically no room to have in-game instructions, so that's why it's important to read the game manual before playing.

Thanks for trying the game!
rhurst
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by rhurst »

Fun little dungeon crawler. Like pulse, this is definitely one of those unexpanded games that would have made for a great hit back in the day. 8)
My only complaint is not knowing (in-game) my health risks beyond a 1/2 heart icon. Perhaps the battle / hit point system is rudimentary enough that it does not necessitate efficient use of health potions? Or maybe I just need to play this a lot more and get a feel for how many hits I can take? :twisted:
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phvic
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by phvic »

Thanks! :) Managing health and other resources is key to survival in this game. You should pay attention how the damage system works -- it's all deterministic. Once you are down to half a heart, the next hit will kill you. Once you get the hang of it, battles become easier to manage. There are also a few surprises waiting in the later levels (there are 15 dungeon levels in total). Good luck!

Hint: every hit deals half a heart of damage
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R'zo
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by R'zo »

Wow! I just played the online version... Instantly my favorite rouglike to date. Love the layout, love the battle system. Very nice work. Have it downloaded will definitely be wasting some hours away with this game. Thank you and again, very nice work, absolutely beautiful. :D
R'zo
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phvic
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by phvic »

Thank you R'zo! Please post your hiscore at some point :)
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R'zo
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by R'zo »

Here's my best highscore so far.

Image
R'zo
I do not believe in obsolete...
Moloch
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by Moloch »

Great little rogue-like and now a c64 port was released -> http://csdb.dk/release/?id=150286
phvic
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by phvic »

The C64 version was made behind my back without my permission. They basically grabbed the "All rights reserved" tagged source code from github and ported the screen routines to C64 and now they are calling it their game and "all the hard work by Hokuto Force". Sheesh.
hokutoforce
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by hokutoforce »

No dude, this released wasn't behind your back. I contacted you on one of your post on G+ (the few ways I had to contact you) telling you we're doing a porting, I know it was one year ago and propably you forgot it, but look at your post on G+ and you'll see my message. If I'd receive a denial to proceed, with all respect this porting project would be stopped. But seems all was ok for you and we give your credits as origina developer of the original game. So I think there's only a big misunderstanding :)
phvic
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by phvic »

This is my last post on the subject. Just for the record I never gave you permission to make the port. But that is beside the point. I feel all the communication you are having about the game on the net downplays my contribution. In fact I would not be surprised if the majority of players think the game is solely the hard work of Hokuto Force. I put a lot of effort and limited free time into making this game. All that feels like a wasted effort now.
hokutoforce
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Re: New Release: Demons of Dex

Post by hokutoforce »

Sorry if you see it in this way, but I accept your decision to quit the discussion. From my side I can only repeat that there was no harming intention against you and I thought that for you was fine contacting you and informing of our porting without receiving a negative reply to do not make it. But believe me, people knows that is a porting and who did the original code, as stated inside the game.
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