Warlords 12-8-80


 


This prototype is an interesting mid-development version of Warlords.  While the basic gameplay is all there, there are numerous glitches that still need to be ironed out with the shield and ball movement.  However the most interesting difference in this prototype are the 'Team Variations'.  In these variations two of the players are put on a team and share one life.  If one of the players on the team is killed then both players lose that round.  There are two and three player team variations for each of the gameplay options (catch/ricochet, lightning/fireball) with the computer controlling either the green or green and blue shields.  It's unknown why these were removed, but they may have been axed to make room for the three children's variations which are absent from this prototype.  Interestingly there are no one player team variations, perhaps Atari thought it would be too difficult to have a player go against two computer opponents on the same team?

With the eight extra variations and the three missing variations the total number of variations in this prototype comes to 28.  This is the exact number of variations that are listed on the prototype box.  The prototype box also mentions 'Team Competitions' which may be a reference to the removed team variations


Differences

The variation and number of players text is reversed.  The number of players is on the left side and the variation number is on the right.
The number of players text is orange
The game variation text is blue
The left digit in the variation number gets corrupted for variations 5-9 and 25-28
The shields/warlords on the left side of the screen turn orange instead dull red when selecting game variations (this matches the game variation text color).
The color cycling screensaver is not present
All the player shields are not always present when the game starts and may suddenly appear after a second or two
Shields can sometimes go slightly off screen.  The green shield will sometimes wrap around to the left.
When a player catches the ball it is shown in the center of the shield instead of off center
The caught ball will disappear from the players shield as they rotate around the castle (although it's actually still there).  This happens in the final version as well, but it happens in different spots in the prototype.
The catch mechanic is somewhat broken.  The player cannot release a caught ball in a straight line, it will always move at an angle.  The ball is also prone to being shot backwards into the players castle.  While this can happen in the released version as well, the problem is much more prevalent in the prototype.
If the ball is caught and released while the player is on the edge of the screen it will sometimes be 'juggled' on the players paddle
The computer AI isn't as good and the ball is prone to getting caught in endless rebound loops
The graphic for the shield on the point of the turn is different
There are 28 variations instead of 23
The three children's variations are missing
There are eight 'Team Variations' in which two players act as a team and share one life and score counter (see above).  There are two and three player variations for the Team Variations.
The extra team variations are positioned after the regular player variations but before the doubles variations.  Compared to the released version the variations in the prototype line up this way:

1-4 = Same as the released version
5-6 = Team variations
7-11 = Same as variations 5-9 in the released version
12-13 = Team variations
14-18 = Same as variations 10-14 in the released version
19-20 = Team variations
21-25 = Same as variations 15-19 in the released version
26-27 = Team variations
28 = Same as variation 20 in the released version



Notice how the # of players and variation # are switched?

Variation 25?  Also note the graphical glitch in the 2

 
Notice that the ball is held in the center of the paddle


  

The shield graphic on the turns is different

 

 

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