Noon30 Shovel Duck

 Noon30 Shovel Duck is a platform game for the ZX Spectrum I've created using Jonathan Cauldwell's  Multi-Platform Arcade Game Designer. It is the first Spectrum game I've written using this tool, so has very much been a learning exercise (Which I've decided to share ... if anyone is interested)

In the Spirit of 1980 budget games (or magazine covermounted games) we have a simple platform / collect them up. Collect green things for points (money). Dig holes for a screen bonus (You will need the shovel first - only certain things can be dug; but you'll work that out). Find your friend Money Mouse and go to the BBQ. Avoid touching red things; you'll lose a life doing that. (You will turn red if you're in danger of making contact with something red).

Sounds simple. It probably is (except for the tricky bits).

Controls.

All the usual joysticks

Keyboard:

Left: O, Right: P, Jump: M

To dig (when you have the shovel) keep hold of the M button. You'll dig and bounce. You can't dig rocks, but there is some cyan dirt here and there... )

(When I write an inevitable sequel, there will be more of a focus on digging things... but that is something for future me to be worried about).

It has been tested in emulators, but my original hardware is in a box somewhere... I assume it works if you can get it on a physical tape, but I've not tried.

Game is supplied as a .tap (Tape) file which should be recognised by all modern ZX Spectrum emulators.

Enjoy.

(I have learnt a lot from this. The next thing will be better / bigger).

(Cover art generated by Bing AI image creator)

Update 12/12/2023:
Just added a loading screen as it felt like it was a bit plain without it.

Update 15/12/2023:
Adding a note to this - I should mock up a cassette inlay at some point. Added controls and refined the instructions on this page. Don't know if it'll help.