About Defender

For execution on a SolderCore and a SolderCore Arcade Shield or SolderCore LCD Shield. I've even run this code on a Windows PC using Qt to do GUI heavy lifting.

Background

This code replicates, as accurately as I can make it, a Williams Defender unit. Defender was one of those games that was pretty awesome for its time.

Please don't complain about the coding style, don't ask how it works, just do not bother me. I send this code out into the world to fend for itself and for you to unravel any puzzles you find. You have a SolderCore, you have an Arcade Shield, you have CrossWorks, you have a debugger, so all is not lost.

Core hardware

This code is primarily intended to run on a SolderCore and a SolderCore Arcade Shield or a SolderCore LCD Shield. Best gameplay comes from using the Arcade Shield because the display is bigger and it is considerably faster.

You can also run this code, using a SolderCore Arcade Shield or SolderCore LCD Shield, on:

• an Olimex STM32-E407.
• an Olimex STM32-H407.
• a BugBlat Cortino.
• a Netduino Plus 2.
• an mbed-LPC1768 with an ELMICRO TestBed. (This platform is a bit of a challenge as the LPC1768 RAM is split into several regions, none big enough accommodate a complete frame buffer.)

And you can run this code using the integrated LCD of:

• an Olimex STM32-LCD.

...and perhaps this code is included in CrossStudio as an Easter Egg? :-)

Human interface

The code can either use a Defender Playboard with a standard joystick and arcade buttons or a Nintendo Wii Classic Controller.

You can attach a Classic Controller using a SolderCore SenseCore and WiiChuk adapter. I happen to lay everything out using a 2x2 "flat four" base.

I've also coded up an interface using the Nintendo Wii Nunchuk Controller for the STM32-LCD in case you purchased one of those from Olimex. In this case, use the analog joystick for ship control and C to let off a smart bomb and Z to fire.

I laser-cut my Defender Playboard from 5mm acrylic and fitted some proper arcade buttons and a nice joystick. A good place to purchase these in the UK is Gremlin Solutions. You will find that 3mm acrylic is a better fit for the arcade buttons from Gremlin because they have a spring-latch underneath that will not lock on 5mm acrylic—I rebated the cuts for the buttons so mine would.

A warning: I purchased some arcade buttons from SparkFun but these are very deep and have a seriously naff feel. Don't use these arcade buttons, they are truly awful.

What's different

I took a little artistic license with the gameplay:

• The two-player game pits you against an AI-controlled Defender that is on screen, and playing, when you play. Neither Defender can collide with the other Defender, and neither Defender can shoot down or smart bomb the other Defender.
• The game doesn't stop and restart the wave when you die. This is a consequence of two-player mode. Although it would be possible to restart, I quite like it this way.

What's not implemented

Some things have not been implemented yet, and I may well get round to implementing them when I feel the need. Things left out for the moment are:

• Sound effects. I started putting in the hooks for sound effects, but I am no sound designer and haven't found a satisfactory way to get sound effects integrated into a SolderCore setup. Ideas run along the lines of the GinSing, the Fluxamasynth (MIDI), or custom VS1053 firmware (don't want to do this…), and then dry up.
• Baiter hurry-ups.
• Exploding landscape and hyperspace on loss of last human.
• Warping when pressing the hyperspace button.
• High scores. Who needs 'em? :-)
• The AI could be much better. Have a go!