ZX Games

Hi,

I am in the middle of Lode Runner III - Level 21, completed all the yellow chests except the ones on the right side of the screen and the ones in the middle (inside the cage where the Bungelings are running), then when I dig to death any Bungeling - a new one is coming and then the screen just freezes. No way to recover but to kill the window.

Another thing I noticed - levels 18-21 seem not to be marked as completed, although I completed them all.

Thanks,

Alf

Hi,

I managed to complete level 21, but the freezing screen problem still occurs from time to time. You have to be lucky.

Thanks,
Alf

alf wrote:... when I dig to death any Bungeling - a new one is coming and then the screen just freezes. No way to recover but to kill the window.

We thought we'd solved this issue in the last update. We'll see if there's still a mistake in the code. I hope we can find it and kill the problem off completely.

alf wrote:Another thing I noticed - levels 18-21 seem not to be marked as completed, although I completed them all.

Can you please open Windows registry (Start > Run > regedit) and find the following key?
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ZX-Games\Lode Runner III\AccompLevel

Is it equal to 17 by any chance?

Hi,

I have already completed all 25 Die-Hard levels, so this registry value is now 25.
I think it was 17 that time, but I am not sure about that.

I have just checked level 21 again and I can easily reproduce the freezing screen problem.

Thanks,

Alf

Once again, great job Alf. I am curious to know which levels you found to be the toughest, the most fun, etc.?

Also, just for an extra challenge, I made one additional change to level 24 in the top right area on the platform right above the 4-bungleing trap - instead of the lone brick (which makes it easy to handle that entire section, I changed it to steel. Doing that one change makes a huge difference.

Hi David,

I think from 10 and above are all very tough, espesially 10,11,16,17,18,21 and 23. 24 is piece of cake :-), and 25 was overwhelming (at first sight, I thought it is a jok).

Regarding 24 - There are 2 lone bricks in the top right area, Do you mean the rightmost brick or the other one (which is in a lower platform).

Another thing: I just noticed that I probably completed level 24 in a much tougher way then really needed. I managed to handle the entire right area (both bottom and upper parts) by using only a single Bungeling. So, the 2 bricks just above the bottom-middle ladder can also be changed to steel. Of course, without using save-load it almost impossible.

Thanks,
Alf

alf wrote:I have just checked level 21 again and I can easily reproduce the freezing screen problem.

Here's a temporary solution:

1. Download the attached levels.lr file.
2. Replace the original file in the program folder (by default, \Program Files\ZX Games\Lode Runner. Episode III).
3. Start the game and proceed with Level 21.

Please let us know whether or not it completely solves the problem.

Hi,

I tried the new levels.lr file with level 21 and the freezing screen problem still occurs almost every time. It seems to freeze either when a new guard is coming from top or when a brick which was dig is refilling itself (screen freeze just before the brick completely filled).
Usually, it happens when a new guard is coming.

Thanks,

Alf

Of the two platforms in the upper right corner of Level 24, replace the lower one's brick to steel, and leave the upper one alone. What this does is it FORCES you to bring ALL FOUR bungelings along to the upper right section. If you kill any one of them prior to then, you will not ba able to complete the level.

I strongly suggest changing this permanently. It is not only much more difficult, but the entire level is transformed. You no longer have the luxury of doing away with bungelings along the way. Trust me, it is much more fun, and I challenge you to figure out how to get all four bungelings from the left side to the right. This was the intent of the level.

I do, however, applaud you for figuring out how to do it with just one bungeling. I tried to prevent this easier route but you still overcame it.

Definitely change that one brick upper right to a steel one. You won't be disappointed... no longer a piece of cake. :)

- David

Alf,

with modified level, I could only reproduce the problem by killing two Bungelings first, so they started running at the top preventing each other from falling further way down, and then killing another Bungeling. The program froze, as there was no vacant spot for this Bungeling to drop to. Otherwise, it worked fine for me.

This is, of course, our slip, anyway. However, since working around this problem in the code, testing and creating new installation files would take considerable time, I can't quite give you a dead-line at the moment. It seems that the problem exists with just one level though, and I hope it doesn't inconvenience you or any other players too much.

Our sincere apologies.

David wrote:Of the two platforms in the upper right corner of Level 24, replace the lower one's brick to steel, and leave the upper one alone... I strongly suggest changing this permanently.

I will look into this when we're about to release yet another update. Frankly, I don't think it'll affect many people :-)

Hi,

Indeed, It was a challenge to bring all 4 bungelings to the upper right section, then handle them in that part without the extra brick. Although from a level point of view, it is much easier to do with only 2 bungelings. If you change the level and add a trap in the upper-left corner, then it will really force you to bring ALL FOUR bungelings along to the upper right section, and you should keep them all alive until you complete the level.

See Attachement of "levels.lr" (Force to bring ALL FOUR bungelings).

I also customized level 24 for a new challenge - This time you have to use only 2 bungelings.
Well, I know it was not the intent of this level, but anyway. I attach another file "levels.lr" for this challenge (customized level 24). I think currently you are the only candidate to try it, if you have the time.

Thanks,
Alf

thanks alf. I will take a look at both variations when I get the chance.

- David

Great, great adjustment to level 24! Enjoyed both versions. Although the one you said you would need all four (by changing that one brick top right to steel) is no longer the case as you have proven how to do it with two in that section. The brilliance you brought was how you must follow and be followed in the end moment to achieve the latter.

So, check out my next post called "Episode III - Level 24: the ultimate level" I will attach a final variation that incorporates your 2-bungleing concept with the 4-bungeling one.