Atomohod
A downloadable game for Windows
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To play on Windows:
- download Atomohod (Windows, upd. 15.04.2024) archive
- unzip Atomohod-dosbox folder ("64" - 64-bit, "32" - 32-bit)
- launch Atomohod.bat from the folder to play the game
To play on DOS or another OS:
- download Atomohod (DOS floppy, upd. 15.04.2024) image
- mount it in the DOS emulator / Virtual Machine for your OS
- follow the instructions from readme.txt on the floppy disk
You can read the full installation notes below on that page or in readme.txt of the game.
***
Atomohod is a real-time puzzle/action game about space exploration in ASCII-style, written in Lua/C for the text mode of DOS. Available for modern systems via emulation/virtualization (download the Windows package below).
You play in two real-time parallel modes: the puzzle mode with puyo-puyo/tetris-like (not so much alike) original mechanics for producing energy, and the space mode to spend that energy for space traverse.
Unlike similar puzzle games, Atomohod has no random factor, and in theory, you can calculate and plan everything. The idea is to allow the player to experiment and develop his own different strategies.
The early, but full and playable version of the game ("first alpha").
The latest version to download - upd. 15.04.2024 files (the archive or floppy image 15.04.2024 contain a full copy of the game - see readme.txt).
[ You can download the very first or the latest version of the game. For any other version contact thinking.pr@gmail.com ]
Changes:
15.04.2024:
- The rare bug (of the time record save) was fixed;
- Some QoL improvements of messages.
23.12.2023:
- The new LOW ENERGY MODE was added;
- It allows newcomer or any player to operate at decreased speeds;
- The energy output is halved at the lower speed;
- Thus it's easier to play, but harder to get great results;
- Therefore the new mode is a good and balanced introduction to the game;
- Also it's a more comfort field for experiments with combos and setups.
21.09.2023:
- Text tutorial was edited.
18.09.2023:
- Cruise mode for the spaceship added;
- Balance tweaks for the puzzle mode;
- Minor performance improvements;
- Bot message adjustments.
13.09.2023:
- Some design and balance tweaks;
- Message Bot was adjusted.
30.08.2023:
- The game performance (including the sound stability);
- Sounds for the MOLs selection were changed.
25.07.2023:
- Music and game sounds were added (experimental);
- The new space region;
- Bot Message tweaks;
- Minor level-design changes and bug fixes.
Current top priorities in development:
- Sound and music via PC speaker (beep()) - upd. 25.07.2023 (but still in development);
- Bug fixing;
- Minor performance and stability issues;
- Moderate design tweaks;
- To receive and process the feedback.
NOTES:
- In my experience, VMs (VMware or VirtualBox) give the most smooth performance (performance in DOSBOX was considerably improved in upd. 30.08.2023).
- For the DOSBOX performance (the Windows-ready version) you can tweak the atomohod-dosbox.conf file if you want to.
Download
Install instructions
INSTALLATION NOTES below (also you can check the "readme.txt" file)
There are at least two ways to play the game:
- The easy one.
- Optimal.
I recommend the second one, because of the ideal performance whithout a single framedrop in that case, and sometimes rough performance in the first case (it depends) (note - performance in DOSBOX was considerably improved in upd. 30.08.2023).
1. (The easy one) Download the game archive for Windows. Extract the "atomohod-dosbox" folder ("64" - for Windows 64-bit, "32" - for Windows 32-bit) to a prefered location. Launch "atomohod.bat" inside the folder to play the game, if you are a Windows user. For other OS, copy the folder "atomohod" from the "atomohod-dosbox" folder (or from the "ATOMOHOD-**.**.****.IMA" floppy image) and mount it as a disk C in Dosbox-X or Dosbox Staging for your system. Launch the "nml.exe" file in Dosbox to play the game. Atomohod requires 32 MB of RAM for DOS (write it in your Dosbox config on the other OS).
Links to the compatible Dosbox:
2. (Optimal - but not so easy) Download the Virtual Machine for your OS. I can recommend VMware Workstation Player 15 (it's free) for Windows (and for MacOS - VMware Fusion should work). VirtualBox (for MacOS, Windows, Linux) is OK and gives a great performance too, but provides no sound for Atomohod, lacking the PC speaker emulation (it is used for sounds in the game).
Create a virtual HDD in VM, write 32 MB of RAM in the config. Install MS-DOS 6.22 or FreeDOS 1.3 on the drive. Download the "ATOMOHOD-**.**.****.IMA" file from above, create a virtual floppy drive in your VM and connect the "ATOMOHOD-**.**.****.IMA" floppy image to your system.
Copy the "atomohod" folder (with all its folders and contents) from the floppy (disk A) to a prefered location on the disk C of your DOS system.
Find the "config.sys" file on the disk C (the specific paths and names may vary).
For MS-DOS - edit C:\CONFIG.SYS text file adding the line
"DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS",
for FreeDOS - edit C:\FDCONFIG.SYS text file adding the line "DEVICE=C:\FREEDOS\BIN\NANSI.SYS" (you need it for the game to render ASCII-graphics properly);
RESTART your system; launch "nml.exe" from the game folder to play the game.
NOTE: VMware Workstation Player 15 on Windows doesn't have a scaler, therefore I recommend to reduce the Windows desktop resolution to 1280x720 for a comfort play.
Links to the VMs:
You'll need MS-DOS 6.22 installation files
or FreeDOS 1.3 from https://www.freedos.org/
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