B-side gaming

7 hours ago

B-side gaming
7 hours ago

B-side gaming zine #10 (news, rom-hacking, horror, humor) Originally posted on !Bside@fedia.io

cover

Welcome

Hello, everyone. I decided to create another one of these magazine posts. I will most likely continue doing these, though not monthly. Instead I will work on them whenever I have time and I am in the mood to work on them. So the next issue might come out sometime between 2 and 4 months.
In this issue, like always, there is gaming news. I have been gathering news since mid-November, so some news is a bit old. Then there is an article about ROM hacking and some ROM hack recommendations. A look at some older games. A free Python game, a walkthrough for an older Python game that I had posted in a previous issue. Finally, the usual humor at the end.
Also, last issue I accidentally linked the wrong comic page that was already posted in an older issue, but it seems nobody noticed… hmm…

Enjoy reading.

News

Open Source game news

DDNet 19.5 AND 19.6 (2025-10-13, 2025-12-14)

cover

Welcome

Enjoy reading.

News

Open Source game news

DDNet 19.5 AND 19.6 (2025-10-13, 2025-12-14)

DDNet

A platform puzzle game similar to Teeworlds. DDNet tries to keep compatibility with Teeworlds.

There is an active community where participants arrange tournaments or create and publish maps that can be downloaded by other players.

Chaneges:

[Client] Interactive scoreboard [KebsCS & AssassinTee]
[Client] Improved controls settings [Robyt3]
[Client] WebLate for translations
[heinrich5991]More Changes

Game Link

Mineclonia 0.118 (2025-11-30)

Gameplay

Survival sandbox game inspired by Minecraft.

Changes:

Improve rightclick interactions with flower pots [JoseDouglas]
Eliminate legacy mob spawning system [halon]
Fix mobs spawning on glass [halon]
Fix shulker box inventory image rendering bug in 5.15-dev

More Changes

Game Link

Shamogu 1.2.0 (2025-12-03)

Gameplay

Shamogu is a coffee-break roguelike game with a focus on tactical movement and careful timing of totemic spirit invocation and comestible consumption. Visibility and noise stealth mechanics also play an important role. See the Features section below for a more comprehensive description, or jump into Play section to install the game.

Chaneges:

Short runs (around half an hour).
9 levels deep dungeon, 3 distinct map generators, 27 monsters including various wandering uniques and guardians, 5 primary spirits and 7 secondary ones, 4 magic menhirs, 5 runic traps, and 7 comestibles.
Optional advanced content through expansion and challenge mods, including 2 new primary spirits and 7 secondary ones.
Both graphical tiles (web or SDL) and terminal ASCII versions. Animations. Simple controls. Mouse-friendly compact 80x24 layout.
- Automatic recording for later replay!

Game Link

Hades Revisited 0.19.1 (2025-10-30)

Gameplay

Hades Revisited is a game in development. The goal of this project is to create a deep and complex survival and terraforming game set on a far-away volcanic planet.

Changes:

It’s a nature update!

I've reworked all the trees.
Olive, banana, cocoa tree and coconut palm got new looks.
Every tree has its own trunk and leaves now. Previously, many trees had to share their trunk, which caused problems.
There is a new pear tree. Currently, it is very similar to the apple tree but it will gain some differences in future updates (I hope). The jungle tree will become the kaki tree bearing the kaki fruit.
All trees bear fruit or catkin, but not everything is edible.
The coconut now comes with an outer green shell, you must remove it first to get the large seed.
You can make chocolate from cocoa and coconut milk from coconuts.
Every tree species now has a "small" version that grows when a sapling does not have enough space to grow.

Flower and plant pots got an upgrade. Put seed in flower pot, and they grow, but not much further. Great to farm saplings. The flower pot now supports many extra plants.

Full Changes

Game Link

Glitch 1.3.4 (2025-11-03)

Gameplay

Glitch is a singleplayer platformer game for Luanti, created for the 2022 Minetest Game Jam by Wuzzy, featuring music by Visager.

You’re One, a bit who’s lost in cyberspace after a mysterious distortion interrupts a typical data transmission. Can you figure out what caused this and get back on track?

Explore the System, collect electrons to unlock new sectors, learn new abilities to become more powerful and maybe you’ll find the path to your true destination.

Changes:
- Fix game not working if the Luanti setting mapgen_limit is a low value

Game Link

LibreQuake 0.09-beta (2025-11-04)

Gameplay

The LibreQuake project aims to create a complete, free content first-person shooter game, but LibreQuake by itself is just the raw material for a game. It must be paired with a compatible engine to be played.

Changes:

AUDIO: Update build_components.json for Wizard sound fix by @Ospaggi in #238
MAPS: Randombrushes/e0m7 updates by @RandomBrushes in #237
BUILD: Fixed qwprogs.dat not being put into GitHub built releases. by @Zungrysoft in #240
CONFIG: Disabled hacky zfighting fix in FTEQW by @Zungrysoft in #244
[BUILD]
Add launcher for additional engines in Flatpak by @fpiesche in #247
MAPS: Even more misc. map changes. by @Zungrysoft in #250
MAPS, WADS: E2M3 deathmatch support and other changes by @Nolcoz in #248
MAPS, WADS: E1M7 fix and deathmatch support by @Nolcoz in #241

All changes

Game Link

Hurry Curry! 3.0.1 (2025-11-06)

Gameplay

Hurry Curry! is a cooperative multiplayer game about cooking. You work at a restaurant accepting orders, cooking various dishes and serving meals to customers. But don’t take too long, as customers might get impatient.

Changes:

 - Added Tag minigame (/start tag)
 - New map "Scattered"



- Added swedish translations
- Fixed bugs when helping another player with an active recipe

- AFK players will now be removed automatically
- Connections to the game server now require sending keepalive packets
- Added tile model for conveyors passing through walls
- Nigiri can now be assembled on plates
- Localization support for HTML book
- Fixed double-inserting scoreboard entries

Game Link

AAAAXY 1.6.321 (2025-11-27)

Gameplay

A nonlinear 2D puzzle platformer taking place in impossible spaces.

Changes:

Engine: module updates, including fixes for the Steam overlay.
Languages: updated texts for Ukrainian.

Game Link

Tensy 1.0 (2025-11-22)

Gameplay

A simple but addictive puzzle game. Your mission is to match numbers such that they add up to 10. Simply click and drag with your mouse or tap and drag on mobile to make a selection and make sure the numbers add up to 10!

Game Link

Indie game news

Music Adventure Game Unbeatable Set For Early November Launch

Unbeatable
- Set in a world where music is outlawed, players join Beat, a rebellious musician dodging authorities.
- Unique two-button rhythm mechanics combine with exploration, story choices, and massive concert setpieces.
- Arcade mode offers tons of songs, modifiers, online features, and an evolving challenge board to conquer.

Link

Announcing Indie Party-Based Tactics RPG Of Grit & Graves

Grit & Graves

Gameplay

A party-based tactics RPG from indie Melted Monster Game Studio that wears its tabletop DNA on its sleeve. It builds every action around dice pools, then asks you to manage position, sightlines, traps, and scarce resources as you push a four-hero squad through procedural dungeons.

Homebrew News

Alentejo: The Tinto & The Ugly [Gameboy Color]

Go horse or go

A wild gunman

Gameplay

Welcome back to the nostalgic Old Alentejo. In this historical 19th-century European western, help Gildo, Dolores, and Pepe in their quest to fight Baron Tinto and his oppressive laws. To do so, you’ll need to cross the historic border, explore new locations, discover more items, allies, and… new enemies! The Tinto has never meant so much to so many people in so many ways!

Game Link

Alentejo: Tinto's Law [Gameboy Color]

Here comes the train

A saloon

Gameplay

A Gundown Satiric Western, set in the 19th Century Iberian Penisula!

Trains, outlaws, kegs, contraband. Welcome to 19th-century Alentejo, a land where the scorching sun and mysteries are ever-present. Meet Gildo and help him assemble his gang to stand against Baron Tinto's tyrannical rule. Travel across various locations, explore caves and mines, cross the border into Spain, and challenge Tinto and his oppressive lawmaking.

Game Link

Skate Cat [Nes]

Gameplay

The city of Nekocity is no longer peaceful... Monsters from another dimension have been released and threaten to destroy the world.
Only one cat can save it: YOU!
Grab your skateboard and embark on this colorful journey of a thousand dangers.

Game Link

Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land Receives a February Launch Date [Gameboy and Steam]

Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land

Embark on a quirky adventure to restore the joy of trick-or-treating in a candy-filled overworld.
Master a turn-based Trick-or-Treating battle system and recruit unique allies for your party.
Take on a massive quest with dozens of side missions, spells, items, and challenging combat.

News Link

SHERWOOD [Commodore 64]

SHERWOOD

Gameplay

Robin Hood just won the archery tournament at Nottingham Castle. But as the last of Robin’s three enchanted arrows struck the bullseye, the magic concealing his identity was lost. Robin now stands revealed before the triumphant gaze of Prince John and his Norman guards: A wolfshead with a price on his head, caught in a deadly trap!

Game Link

Featured article: ROM Hacks

ROM hacking is a method of editing and modifying games. The early console games were stored on cartridges in ROM memory chips. These games can be extracted (dumped) from these chips and saved into files called ROM images or simply ROMs. Emulators (see previous issue) can play these games saved in ROMs.

A ROM dumping device for the Game Boy Advance

Besides just playing these ROM images, they can also be edited with software tools like hex editors, tile editors (tool to create and edit tile map graphics.), or more advanced tools such as assemblers and debuggers. Some popular games, like the Pokémon series, have tools specifically designed for these games, like item, story, and level editors.
There are many kinds of ROM hacks—some hacks fix small bugs or typing errors in games, while other hacks translate the game into other languages, usually into languages that the game was not initially released in. For example, many early Japanese games never saw an English release for various reasons (like publishers believing certain types of games would not sell well in the West). But there are also occasions where a game gets retranslated into a language that already exists. This happens when the original translation was done poorly or when the official translation has taken many liberties, changing the original plot of the game, and there is a desire for a better translation. These kinds of ROM hacks are called Fun Translations.

RPGe's translation of Final Fantasy V was one of the early major fan-translated works.

One of the earliest examples of a fan translation is the translation of Final Fantasy V into English. Originally, Final Fantasy V was only released in Japan. When the ROM image of the game was made available on the internet unofficially, it was translated into English so western Final Fantasy fans could play the game. Years later the game was officially released in English on the Playstation. Other notable fan translations include the translation of Mother (Earthbound) 3 into English and Bahamut Lagoon into English as well.

Another type of ROM hack is randomizers. These types of hacks randomly shuffle around items that can be found in a game, making a game already finished multiple times interesting and challenging again.

Then we have difficulty rebalancing hacks. A lot of early video games were unfairly difficult, or they had an imbalance. So people created hacks to make these games easier and better balanced. Examples of these hacks are for Double Dragon 3 on the NES, which is extremely difficult, especially the English release of the game, there is an easy mode hack for the game. Another example is Dragon Ball: Legacy of Goku, which is ridiculously unbalanced. There is a ROM hack that rebalances this game. (Though I could not use this hack correctly and would glitch the game)

But there are also ROM hacks that do the opposite, making an easy game harder or making a hard game even harder for players who desire extreme challenges in their games. (Definitely not me.)

ROM hacking can also be used for cheating purposes, for example, modifying the game so the game has infinite lives and/or energy. Making it for player impossible to loose.

Finally, the last category of ROM hacks we are going to look at is multiplayer hacks. These hacks increase the number of players who can play the game. For example, the official release of TETRIS for the NES has only one single-player mode, while the unofficial release of TETRIS for NES by Tengen comes with a two-player mode. There are several hacks that make the official version of Tetris able to be played in a two-player mode. Another example is a ROM hack that changes the NES version of Battletoads into a 4-player game.

Tetris 2 players hack

While several websites exist that provide ROM hacks, two popular sites with tons of ROM hacks are Romhacking.net and Romhackplaza. These sites do not distribute ROMs pre-hacked but rather patches that can be applied to ROM files to modify them. Romhacking.net provides downloadable tools that can be used to patch ROMs. But online patching tools also exists.

Online Rom patcher 1
Online Rom patcher 2
Online Rom patcher 3

They work simply enough: first you upload the ROM file you want to patch and then the patch you want to use. After that, you click on the button Apply Patch. Then the patch ROM will download.

ROM hacks recommendations

1. Double Dragon | 2 players (NES)

2 players

Added 2nd player functionality.

Hack

2. Doom 64: Complete Edition (N64)

This hack adds extra levels and many quality of life features to Doom 64.

Hack

3. Mario Kart Amped Up (N64)

This hack adds 16 brand new courses, as well as additional game modes, music, modern visuals, gameplay techniques, and much more!

Hack

4. International SuperStar Soccer Deluxe (SNES)

12 new teams that are added to the original roster.

hack

Hack

5. Streets of Rage 3 (Roo, Ash, Shiva Unlocked)(Genesis/Mega drive)

The hack made the available characters reach 7 and did not change any content of the game.

Hack

6. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial fixed (atari 2600)

Hack

Fixes a lot of problems with the game.

Hack

7. Super Pitfall 30th Anniversary Edition (NES)

This hack was created in celebration to 30 years of Super Pitfall. It vastly improves the original game while keeping the base game and level layout intact. The idea was to modernize, fix and beautify the original game because the author felt like the game’s problems kept it from getting justice.

Hack

8. Super Ghouls N Ghosts - Super Arthur (SNES)

This is a hack that changes various gameplay mechanics for Arthur including:

Power decrementation on hit (return to previous armor)
Weapon collecting and switching between them with the L/R buttons
Shields that will not break by blocking with them
A slightly slower timer

Hack

9. Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest Redaction (NES)

Example

Better translation, fixes bugs

Hack

10. Pokemon Yellow - 151 (gb)

Pokemon Yellow - 151

Pokémon Yellow - 151 is intended for emulator players who simply want to play through the original Pokémon Yellow, complete their Pokédex 100%, and have access to the surfing beach-house. The problems with playing on emulators these days is that there are no promotional Pokémon events to go to, there is no connectivity to Pokémon Stadium, and trading across games, while possible, is not only tricky to do, but also feels totally un-natural. Many players have solved the problem by using cheat-codes to temporarily activate the ability to capture the “missing Pokémon”, but to many players it still feels unnatural and, well, like cheating.

Hack

Free Game

The second part of the Mythix game. Explore an underground passage.
To import the progress from the previous game make sure that the ms1.json is in the location as the Mythix2.py file.

import json
import os


def title(name):
    if name == "":
        name = input("Enter your name: ")
    print("███    ███ ██    ██ ████████ ██   ██ ██ ██   ██     ██████ \n"
          "████  ████  ██  ██     ██    ██   ██ ██  ██ ██           ██ \n"
          "██ ████ ██   ████      ██    ███████ ██   ███        █████  \n"
          "██  ██  ██    ██       ██    ██   ██ ██  ██ ██      ██      \n"
          "██      ██    ██       ██    ██   ██ ██ ██   ██     ███████ \n")
    print(f" Welcome Back {name}")
    print(" The story continues as you find yourself\n in an underground tunnel")
    print(" Enter 1: To continue, Press 0 to exit")
    return name


def underground_one(blue, reset):
    print(blue)
    print("|.'',                                     ,''.|\n"
          "|.'.'',                                 ,''.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'',                             ,''.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'',                         ,''.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|,',',',',|                         |,',',',',|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.','       /*********\\       ','.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.','        /***********\\        ','.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.','         /*************\\         ','.'.|\n"
          "|.','          /***************\\          ','.|\n"
          "|;____________/*****************\\____________;|\n")
    print(reset)
    print(" An underground passage. Only exit is 'N'.")
    return True


def underground_two(blue, reset):
    print(blue)
    print("|.'',                                     ,''.|\n"
          "|.'.'',                                 ,''.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'',                             ,''.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'',                         ,''.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'O'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|,',',',',|                         |,',',',',|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.','       /*********\\       ','.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.','        /***********\\        ','.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.','         /*************\\         ','.'.|\n"
          "|.','          /***************\\          ','.|\n"
          "|;____________/*****************\\____________;|\n")
    print(reset)
    print(" An underground passage. Exits is 'N' and 'S'.")
    return True


def underground_three(blue, reset):
    print(blue)
    print("|.'',                                     ,''.|\n"
          "|.'.'',                                 ,''.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'',                             ,''.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'',                         ,''.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|    ||||||||||||||||||||||.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|    ||||||||||||||||||||||.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|    ||||||||||||||||||||||.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|    ||||||||||||||||||||||.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|    ||||||||||||||||||||||.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|,',',',',|    ||||||||||||||||||||||,',',',',|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|    ||||||||||||||||||||||.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|    ||||||||||||||||||||||.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|    ||||||||||||||||||||||.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|*************************|.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.','       /*********\\       ','.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.','        /***********\\        ','.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.','         /*************\\         ','.'.|\n"
          "|.','          /***************\\          ','.|\n"
          "|;____________/*****************\\____________;|\n")
    print(reset)
    print(" An underground passage. Exits are 'W' and 'S'.")
    return True


def underground_four(blue, reset):
    print(blue)
    print("|.'',                                     ,''.|\n"
          "|.'.'',                                 ,''.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'',                             ,''.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'',                         ,''.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|,',',',',|                         |,','O',',|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.','       /*********\\       ','.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.','        /***********\\        ','.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.','         /*************\\         ','.'.|\n"
          "|.','          /***************\\          ','.|\n"
          "|;____________/*****************\\____________;|\n")
    print(reset)
    print(" An underground passage. Exits are 'W' and 'E'.")
    return True


def underground_five(blue, reset):
    print(blue)
    print("|.'',                                     ,''.|     W\n"
          "|.'.'',                                 ,''.'.|   S + N\n"
          "|.'.'.'',                             ,''.'.'.|     E\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'',                         ,''.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'O'.'.|||||||||||||||||||||||    .'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|||||||||||||||||||||||    .'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|||||||||||||||||||||||    .'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|||||||||||||||||||||||    .'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|||||||||||||||||||||||    .'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|,',',',',|||||||||||||||||||||||    ,',',',',|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|||||||||||||||||||||||    .'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|||||||||||||||||||||||    .'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|||||||||||||||||||||||    .'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|*************************|.'.'O'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.','       /*********\\       ','.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.','        /***********\\        ','.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.','         /*************\\         ','.'.|\n"
          "|.','          /***************\\          ','.|\n"
          "|;____________/*****************\\____________;|\n")
    print(reset)
    print(" An underground passage. Exits are 'N' and 'E'.")
    return True


def underground_six(blue, reset):
    print(blue)
    print("|.'',                                     ,''.|\n"
          "|.'.'',                                 ,''.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'',                             ,''.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'',                         ,''.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|          .-.            |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|         (O,O)           |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|          |-|            |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|         __|__           |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|,',',',',|       //.=|=.\\\\         |,',',',',|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|      // .=|=. \\\\        |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|      \\\\ .=|=. //        |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|       \\\\(_=_)//         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|        (:| |:)          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.','         || ||           ','.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.','           () ()             ','.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.','             || ||               ','.'.|\n"
          "|.','              #=' '=#                ','.|\n"
          "|;___________________________________________;|\n")
    print(reset)
    print(" A Skeleton monster is blocking your way.")
    print(" A chill goes down your spine\n")
    return True


def underground_seven(blue, reset):
    print(blue)
    print("|.'',                                      ,''.|\n"
          "|.'.'',                                  ,''.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'',                              ,''.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'',                          ,''.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|      _.------.           |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|     /         \\          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|     |  o   o  |          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|     |  vvvvv  |          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|,',',',',|     |  ^^^^^  |          |,',',',',|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|     |         |          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|      \\________/          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.','                          ','.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.','                              ','.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.','                                  ','.'.|\n"
          "|.','                                      ','.|\n"
          "|;____________________________________________;|\n")
    print(reset)
    print(" A Ghost monster is blocking your way.")
    print(" Deadly Silence.\n")
    return True


def underground_eight(blue, reset):
    print(blue)
    print("|.'',                                     ,''.|\n"
          "|.'.'',                                 ,''.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'',                             ,''.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'',                          ,''.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|     \\      /             |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|      o  ^  o             |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|    \\(       ) /          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|_____)        (_____      |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|,',',',',|(     )       (     )     |,',',',',|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|(_____         _____)     |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|  (__(        )__)        |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|     //(     )\\\\          |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|        (   )             |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.','         ( )              ','.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.','            !                 ','.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.','                                  ','.'.|\n"
          "|.','                                      ','.|\n"
          "|;____________________________________________;|\n")
    print(reset)
    print(" An Incest Monster is Blocking your way.")
    print(" You feel a stillness.\n")
    return True


def underground_nine(blue, reset):
    print(blue)
    print("|.'',                                     ,''.|\n"
          "|.'.'',                                 ,''.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'',                             ,''.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'',                         ,''.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|                         |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|   -------------------   |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|   |                 |   |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|   |                 |   |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|,',',',',|   |   0    0    0   |   |,',',',',|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|   |   1    2    3   |   |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|   |                 |   |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|   |                 |   |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.'.|   |                 |   |.'.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.'.','       /*********\\       ','.'.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.'.','        /***********\\        ','.'.'.|\n"
          "|.'.','         /*************\\         ','.'.|\n"
          "|.','          /***************\\          ','.|\n"
          "|;____________/*****************\\____________;|\n")
    print(reset)
    print(" At the end of the corridor is a wall with 3 buttons.")
    print(" Press E to examine.")
    return True


def death(color, reset):
    print(color)
    print("                                ,..,.\n"
          "                               {    }\n"
          "                               /,   }\n"
          "                              /  `/`\n"
          "                         __, /   /\n"
          "                        {_'-/.__/\n"
          "                         `/-.__/._\n"
          "                         /  ' /`\\_}\n"
          "                        /  ' /     \n"
          "                ____   /  ' /\n"
          "         ,-'----    --/  ' /_\n"
          "        '             ``~~~%%',\n"
          "      (                     %  Y\n"
          "     {                      %% I\n"
          "    {      -                 %  `.\n"
          "    O       ',                %  )\n"
          "    I        |   ,..__      __. U\n"
          "    I    .,_./  Y ' / ^Y   J   )|\n"
          "    \\          |' /   |   |   ||\n"
          "     \\         L_/    . _ (_,.'(\n"
          "      \\,  ,      ^^""' / |      )\n"
          "       \\_  \\        /,L]    /\n"
          "        '-_`-,       ` `   ./`\n"
          "          `-(_            )\n"
          "              ^^\\..___,.--`\n")
    print(reset)
    print(" You died! Make sure you found and used the right weapon")
    print(" correct monster.")
    print(" Press enter to exit")
    return False


def battle(attack, enemy, game_score, inventory):
    info = " You killed the Monster and moved on to the next area"
    if enemy == "u6" and attack == "2" and "lit-torch" in inventory:
        info += "\n You hear a 'TA' sound"
        room = "u7"
        game_score += 3
    elif enemy == "u7" and attack == "1" and "tuning-fork" in inventory:
        room = "u8"
        info += "\n You hear a 'DA' sound"
        game_score += 3
    elif enemy == "u8" and attack == "3" and "fan" in inventory:
        room = "u9"
        info += "\n You hear a 'AH' sound"
        game_score += 3
    else:
        info = ""
        room = "dead"
    return room, info, game_score


def ending(color, reset):
    print(color)
    print(" ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n"
          " ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n"
          " ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n"
          " ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠶⠶⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠶⠶⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n"
          " ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n"
          " ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠉⠉⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠉⠉⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n"
          " ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣤⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣤⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n"
          " ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n"
          " ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n"
          " ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣀⣀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣀⣀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n"
          " ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n"
          " ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⠶⠶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⠶⠶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿\n")
    print(" The ground shakes and the wall in front of you rises up.")
    print(" In the next room there is a ladder tha goes up.")
    print(" You climbed up.")
    print(" End of Part 2. To be continued!")
    print(" Score saved. You can use the save,json file to")
    print(" import the score into the third part of the game.")
    print(" Press enter to exit.")
    return False


def main():
    print()
    # Initialize game variables
    # variables
    loop = True
    room = 'title'
    info = ""
    game_score = 0
    name = ""
    direction = "n"
    # Colors
    color = ''
    green = '\033[32m'
    yellow = '\033[33m'
    blue = '\033[34m'
    reset = '\033[m'
    red = '\033[31m'
    search_counter = 0
    inventory = []

    rooms = {
        "u1": underground_one,
        "u2": underground_two,
        "u3": underground_three,
        "u4": underground_four,
        "u5": underground_five,
        "u6": underground_six,
        "u7": underground_seven,
        "u8": underground_eight,
        "u9": underground_nine,
        "dead": death,
        "end": ending,
    }

    colors = {
        "u1": blue,
        "u2": blue,
        "u3": blue,
        "u4": blue,
        "u5": blue,
        "u6": blue,
        "u7": blue,
        "u8": blue,
        "u9": blue,
        "dead": green,
        "end": green,
    }

    move_south = {
        "u2": "u1",
        "u3": "u2",
    }
    move_north = {
        "u1": "u2",
        "u2": "u3",
        "u5": "u6",
    }

    move_west = {
        "u3": "u4",
        "u4": "u5",
    }

    move_east = {
        "u5": "u4",
        "u4": "u3",
    }

    no_action_rooms = [
        'exit',
        'title',
        'end',
        "u6",
        "u7",
        "u8",
        "dead",
    ]

    battle_rooms = [
        "u6",
        "u7",
        "u8"
    ]

    # Try to load save data from precious part
    if os.path.exists('ms1.json'):
        with open('ms1.json', 'r') as sv:
            loaded_data = json.load(sv)
            game_score = loaded_data['game_score']
            name = loaded_data['name']
            info = " Import successful"

    # Main game loop
    while loop:
        if room == 'title':
            name = title(name)
        print("*" * 60)
        print(f" Name: {name}", end="")
        space = 45 - len(name)
        print(" " * space, end="")
        print(f"Score: {game_score}")
        if room in rooms:
            loop = rooms[room](color, reset)
        if room not in no_action_rooms:
            print(green)
            if direction == "n":
                print(" ⣿⣿⣿N⣿⣿⣿")
                print(" ⣿W + E⣿")
                print(" ⣿⣿⣿S⣿⣿⣿")
            if direction == "s":
                print(" ⣿⣿⣿S⣿⣿⣿")
                print(" ⣿E + W⣿")
                print(" ⣿⣿⣿N⣿⣿⣿")
            if direction == "e":
                print(" ⣿⣿⣿E⣿⣿⣿")
                print(" ⣿N + S⣿")
                print(" ⣿⣿⣿W⣿⣿⣿")
            if direction == "w":
                print(" ⣿⣿⣿W⣿⣿⣿")
                print(" ⣿S + N⣿")
                print(" ⣿⣿⣿E⣿⣿⣿")
            print(reset)
            print(" Enter the letters corresponding exits to go there")
            print(" Enter 'F' to search, Enter 'I' for Inventory")
        # Fighting Attacks
        if room in battle_rooms:
            if "tuning-fork" in inventory:
                print(" 1.Tuning Fork ", end="")
            if "lit-torch" in inventory:
                print(" 2.Lit-Torch ", end="")
            if "fan" in inventory:
                print(" 3.Hand Fan ", end="")
            print()
        # Display Text and input prompt
        print(yellow + info + reset)
        info = ""
        print("*" * 60)
        command = input(" Command: ")
        command = command.lower()
        if command == "0":
            loop = False
        if command == "1" and room == "title":
            room = "u1"
        # Search area actions
        if command == "f":
            info = " You searched the area but found nothing"
            if room == 'u2':
                if "matches" not in inventory:
                    if "torch" not in inventory:
                        info = " You found a torch"
                        inventory.append("torch")
                        game_score += 1
                else:
                    if "lit-torch" not in inventory:
                        info = " You found a torch and you lit with the matches"
                        inventory.append("lit-torch")
                        game_score += 2
            if room == 'u4':
                if "tuning-fork" not in inventory:
                    info = " You found a tuning fork."
                    inventory.append("tuning-fork")
                    game_score += 1
            if room == 'u5':
                if search_counter == 0:
                    if "fan" not in inventory:
                        info = " You found a hand fan"
                        inventory.append("fan")
                        search_counter = 1
                        game_score += 1
                elif search_counter == 1:
                    if "torch" not in inventory:
                        if "matches" not in inventory:
                            info = " You found matches"
                            inventory.append("matches")
                            game_score += 1
                    else:
                        if "lit-torch" not in inventory:
                            info = " You found matches and used them to lit the torch"
                            inventory.append("lit-torch")
                            game_score += 2
        # Movements
        if command == 's':
            if room in move_south:
                room = move_south[room]
                direction = 's'
        elif command == 'n':
            if room in move_north:
                room = move_north[room]
                direction = 'n'
        elif command == 'e':
            if room in move_east:
                room = move_east[room]
                direction = 'e'
        elif command == 'w':
            if room in move_west:
                room = move_west[room]
                direction = 'w'
        elif room in battle_rooms:
            room, info, game_score = battle(command, room, game_score, inventory)

        if command == "e" and room == "u9":
            print(" You examine the buttons.")
            print(" The first one makes an 'DA' sound when you pressed it.")
            print(" The second one makes an 'TA' sound when you pressed it.")
            print(" The third one makes an 'AH' sound when you pressed it.")
            print(" Press switches in the right order")
            puzzle = input(" For example 1,2,3: ")
            if puzzle == "2,1,3" or puzzle == "2,1,3,":
                game_score += 5
                data_to_save = {
                    "name": name,
                    "game_score": game_score,
                }
                with open('ms2.json', 'w') as sv:
                    json.dump(data_to_save, sv)
                room = "end"
            else:
                info = " Nothing happens"

        if command == "xyzzy":
            info = " Unfortunately nothing happens this time."
        if command == 'i':
            print("*" * 60)
            print(" Inventory: ")
            print(red, inventory, reset)
        if room in colors:
            color = colors[room]
main()

Walkthrough

Escape the attic (From Issue #6)

Enter the number 1 into the prompt to start the game.
Enter the number 3 into the prompt to examine the portrait, behind it you will find a key.
Enter the number 4 into the prompt to open the drawers with the key and find a knife.
Enter the number 5 into the prompt to cut open the pillow on the arm chair. Inside it you will find a key.
Enter the number 1 into the prompt to unloack the door and escape.

Blast from the past

Invasion of the Mutant Space Bats of Doom [DOS GAME]

Gameplay

Mutant Bats oh no!

This game, despite its cheesy name, is one of the cutest shoot-'em-up style games ever made for the PC. You take the role of a lone starship pilot, who happens to encounter the "Dreaded Space Bats of Doom" on a routine assignment in outer space, and are all that stands between them and the invasion of Earth.

The game consists of 66 stages, arranged in some sort of pattern (for example, every type of bats you encounter takes 3 stages to pass, each of three introducing new challenges). Once every several bats you kill you get one of four bonuses - purple gems, 6 of which grant you another life, a green gem which makes your missiles faster, a red one which gives you additional missiles per round, or a white gem which grants you a time-limited "hyper" mode.

The game is very challenging, and the cliche' name/plot makes it a refreshing change from all the typical Space Invaders clones...

Return of the Mutant Space Bats of Doom [DOS GAME]

In this sequel, the mutant space bats of doom return yet again to invade earth. Only you stand in their way of achieving their nefarious goals. As usual collect the different colored gems that can increase your ship's firepower, slow down the enemies, or add to the number of lives. In the bonus stage you turn into a bat and fly around collecting the maximum amount of gems to increase the chances of success in battle.

They are back!

Gameplay

Game Talk

This is the first game talk where I share my thoughts on games. In this first game talk, I will write about mini indie games that I enjoyed playing.

Loco Motive

gameplay

A very good point-and-click adventure game that reminds me of old Sierra and LucasArts adventure games, you play as a lawyer who has to solve a murder case on a train. The game has beautiful pixel art graphics and good music. The puzzles in the game are, in my opinion, very good. Not too difficult but also not too easy.
The game has some pixel art gore in it and some wicked humor that I enjoyed. I would recommend this game to anyone who has not played it.
This game is free on Itch.io, but there is also a reimagined version of the game on Steam and Switch to buy. I have not played the reimagined version yet, only the original.

Cookie's Bakery

gameplay

A Game Boy homebrew game that can also be played online. I had posted this game in the community recently during the Advent calendar free game event. It is a simple game, you own a bakery, and you have to cook cookies for your customers. The customers do not name the kind of cookie they want, they just describe it vaguely, and you have to figure out which type of cookie they want based on the cookie's description in your baking book. Then you have to pick up the right ingredients in the kitchen following the recipe in the baking book and then bake them. If you have done everything correctly, the customer will be satisfied, otherwise, they will be a little disappointed. You can also talk to the town folk at the start of a new day. It does not do anything for the progression of the game, it is just a fun addition. And that is about it for the game. A fun little pastime for a cold winter day. Or you can play it midsummer, who am I to judge?

Game on Itch.io

Six Cats Under

Six Cats Under

Another short point-and-click adventure game. Yes, I love those games.
In this game you play as an old lady who owns many cats and who has recently died. You are a ghost now and worry that your cats will die from hunger trapped inside your house. You want to free them, but your ghostly powers are not strong enough to open the door. So you can only manipulate small things to spook the cats or attract their curiosity. Like pressing the button on a fan or a remote control, for example. A cute little game I recommend for cat lovers.

Game on Itch.io

Corner of Fun

jokes

I’m not lazy, I’m just in energy-saving mode for gaming.
Why did the computer go on a diet? It had too many chips!
PC gamers don't take hot showers.
They take Steam-y ones.

Memes

Level 1
Level 1

Boss Fight

I hate it

INIDIE'D

Source

#foss, $OpenSource, #games, #nintendo, #news, #python, #programming, #game, #comic, #free, #indie, #humor, #demo, #homebrew, #code, #gameplay, #gameboy, #jokes, #freegame, #recommendations, #casual, #open-source, #fossgames, #indie-games, #fossgaming, #indie-gaming, #gaming-news, #indie-news, #Screenshots, #walktrough, #foss-news, #free-game, #mames, #c64, #retro, #commodore64

#gameboy #nintendo #comic #Game #news #homebrew #recommendations #indie #free #humor #foss #retro #Games #programming #python #gameplay #6 #code #demo #c64 #jokes #commodore64 #screenshots #open-source #casual #FreeGame #250 #247 #fossgaming #241 #237 #238 #240 #248 #244 #fossgames #walktrough #indie-games #gaming-news #foss-news #indie-news #free-game #mames #indie-gaming

B-side gaming

B-side gaming 7 hours ago •

B-side gaming zine #10 (news, rom-hacking, horror, humor) Originally posted on !Bside@fedia.io

Welcome

News

Open Source game news

Indie game news

Homebrew News

Featured article: ROM Hacks

ROM hacks recommendations

Free Game

Walkthrough

Blast from the past

Game Talk

Corner of Fun

INIDIE'D

B-side gaming
7 hours ago