SCRAPYARD SKEDADDLE ZX  

Spectrum 48K : Top-Down Arcade-Style Maze Race Game.

"A fictional 1980s arcade game gets a home port."

DESIGNERS : ARP & CER (The game design, graphics, associated promo artwork, storyline, font, names & characters are copyright © 2025 by antp.ARP )

SOFTWARE : Jonathan Cauldwell's MPAGD engine.

PLAYTESTED : TheSpectrum2024, Speccy 4.8

DOWNLOAD : Free

FILE FORMAT : '.tap' [ Requires ZX Spectrum compatibility ]

=== ABOUT THE PROJECT ===

The first game from a complete newbie, noting here that I'm not a coder, and that without the degree of automation offered by the excellent MPAGD engine, none of this would've been possible. Likewise, there are a number of wonderful people to thank for very kindly sharing their expertise throughout the development process. 

The 'outcome of a learning project' might be the best way to describe this game, which started life as just a respite activity but soon grew into something so much bigger. As a professional graphic artist in my younger days, I had the dream of one day bringing some of my own ideas for games to life... Little did I think it would happen all these years later, and on a system that I have such fond memories of  : )

Designed for all ages, to kill 10 minutes on a rainy Sunday afternoon, SCRAPYARD SKEDADDLE ZX is a very SHORT and SIMPLE 'quasi-top-down maze race game', the style of which should be very familiar to all retro game fans. My goal was to create a 'home port of a fictional early 1980s arcade game', and litter it with homages to the classics.

=== STORYLINE ===

"" Willow's box of catnip toys has been stolen by the Rat Gang. Using the local scrapyard as a hideout, the gang patrols their territory using old bangers they've fixed up and race around in, and they welcome the ghosts of fallen gang members to help scare off trespassers. Willow must race against the clock to retrieve all her toys across the various mazes that make up the scrapyard, relying on her nine lives to survive and get back to her owner (Betty). When running doesn't cut it against a bird boy racer, Willow can speed up her pace by barrel rolling to outrun danger, and random patches of catnip show her pathways that are undisturbed and therefore safe from traffic. There are also some conveniently scattered ghost traps to help bust any spooks that wander into them. Grab your toys and skedaddle, Willow ! ""

=== INSTRUCTIONS ===

GAMEPLAY : 

• Guide Willow the Cat through a gauntlet of patrolling (fixed pattern) enemies. 
• The aim is to retrieve 10 stolen toys per level. 
• The game consists of 16 levels, plus an intro and outro screen. 
• Observing the fixed enemy patterns (and then moving as quicky as possible) is the key to completing each level before the 90-second timer runs out.
• Catnip patches are safe spots to stand in. 
• The only enemies to chase you will be ghosts, should they appear - They can reach you even in safe spots, but to keep things fair, they can only walk the pathways (not through barriers). 
• The ghost traps (small pink item with a cat-like face) are not collectables; They are scattered onscreen to banish ghosts that touch them. You can freely pass over them without harm.  Try to lure ghosts into them ; )
• Aside from the ghosts, none of the enemies can be destroyed or removed from the playing field. 
• The speed roll is not an attack move, and is only used to move at twice your normal speed when you see a chance to travel safely over a distance. 
• Use the openings at the edges of the screen to 'teleport' to the opposite side.
• Like every cat that gets itself into scrapes, Willow has 9 lives. 

CONTROL SYSTEM : 

[ Development notes on AUTO-ALIGNMENT LOGIC ]

Various choices were made during development to individualise this game. Rather than using a 'continuous movement' for the control system, which is found in many classic maze games, it was decided to allow the player to choose when to carefully move (in minor increments if need be, or across major distances via speed rolling) to help with the timing to avoid the fixed enemy patterns.

To ensure the control system was fairly balanced, a logic was applied to assist with passing through gaps. 8 degrees of tolerance were tested to ensure the most suitable was used for the logic in the final version of the game :

• 0, zero tolerance = No logic. The 16x16 pixel player had to be lined up perfectly with the 16x16 pixel gaps, which obviously wasn't suitable for fluid gameplay. 
• 8, highest tolerance = The logic pulled the player through gaps when approaching from a block/tile away, which again wasn't suitable in a game that requires carefully timed movements. 
• 4, mid-range tolerance = A logic of 2 pixels either side of gaps was decided upon for the released game, ensuring the player still has to skilfully aim for the gaps, but with leeway for missing the alignment, at which point the logic engages. 

The level of tolerance was based on one of my favourite classic arcade games about a chef that makes burgers  ; ) ... So even with the auto-alignment, you still need to use some precision. Originally, the diagonal inputs were disabled to create a true 4-way joystick game, but they were reinstalled to add an extra layer of tolerance and fluidity.

***** FOR JOYSTICK *****

(This game was designed primarily with joystick control in mind)

HIT 'K' =  KEMP:  Kempston

HIT 'S' =  SINC:  Sinclair

• ---  DIRECTIONS :  UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT

• ---  FIRE :  Press and hold down FIRE to SPEED ROLL (x2 speed)

***** FOR KEYBOARD *****

HIT 'Q' =

• ---  Q:  UP

• ---  A:  DOWN

• ---  O:  LEFT

• ---  P:  RIGHT

• ---  M:  FIRE - Press and hold down FIRE to SPEED ROLL (x2 speed)

***** FOR USER DEFINED KEYS *****

HIT 'U' =  Set U/D/L/R+FIRE to your preferred keys, then HIT 'Q'

***** OTHER IN-GAME KEYS *****

H:  "Hold" (Pause)

F:  "Fast Forward" (Level Skip)

=== ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ===

It's only from the incredible support I've received that this project was completed with such a unique set of controls. As documented above, the reason Willow moves with ease around the maze is thanks to the work of coding genius 'MAS', who very kindly spent time troubleshooting the auto-alignment as part of the player controls, as well as the movements of the Banger Racers.

I have therefore added in-game thanks

•  for the use of the MPAGD engine by 'JONATHAN CAULDWELL', 
•  to 'MINILOP' for giving all newbies a gateway into MPAGD, and
•  a ZXtra super special thanks to 'MAS' for major coding contributions, without which this game would not exist.

I'm extremely grateful for the tutorials I've had access to, and for the support I've received - I can't praise the work of these amazing individuals enough. THANK YOU : ) antp.

=== SYSTEMS === 

For those using emulation, this '.tap' file should load instantly in most emulators, including TheSpectrum2024 on which this game was primarily tested. 

REQUESTED UPDATE : For those using original Sinclair ZX Spectrum hardware and loading via the audio input, a second release of the game now features a PIXEL ART LOADING SCREEN and is available for download alongside the original. Please select "SSZXincPIXELART" when choosing the .tap file. The gameplay remains identical.

PERFORMANCE : Please note that, depending on the emulator used, or the model of original hardware, the colours, sound effects, framerate and speed of the game (including the countdown timer) may differ slightly.

DISPLAY : The game shown in the three screenshots on this page is the exact same game contained in the downloadable file. These screenshots were photographed directly from a bright monitor, with TheSpectrum2024's colour enhancement and CRT mode both enabled. The game is not ULA+, but colour enhancement settings (alongside brightness and contrast) can boost/bloom the colours to help imitate the look of a vintage arcade monitor.

PHOTOSENSITIVITY NOTES : This game contains brightly-coloured, fast-moving sprites set against a black background, with one specific sprite that flashes slowly. There should be no rapid flashing or flickering when played and operated correctly.

=== DOWNLOAD ===

This game is completely FREE to download and enjoy - Have fun !  : )  

Any monetary reward received in relation to this game will go entirely to charity. If you enjoy this game please consider donating directly to :

https://www.mndassociation.org/get-involved/donations . 

The MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE ASSOCIATION is a UK charity (no.294354) that's very close to my heart. The MNDA funds medical research and provides support for people diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, their families and carers. For those caring 24/7 for loved ones, the MNDA monitors wellbeing, offers help and guidance, and in some cases provides the only means of respite. 

Alternatively, please consider donating directly to a charity that means something personal to you : )

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SCRAPYARD SKEDADDLE (ZX)

Copyright © 2025 by antp.ARP