Vortex (iPod)

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Vortex was one of the games preinstalled on later models of the iPod. It's the matrimony between Tempest and Breakout, now on a clickwheel!

It's as disorienting as it sounds.

Development Text#

Most of the game's text has commented-out descriptions.

// Glyphs on the character wheel during name entry.
// Tell player cheat is enabled.
// For 12-hour time display am. %s replaced with time in hh:mm format.
// For 12-hour time display pm. %s replaced with time in hh:mm format.
//
// Screen title text at top center that appears
// for menu, level intro, level end, and front end screens.
//
// Main menu
// Statistics menu
// Options menu
// (MOD)Volume adjust screen.
// Sound effects volume adjust screen.
// Paused menu
// The next 4 are confirmation screens with yes no option, thus the question mark.
// (MOD)Confirm whether to really delete the stored statistics (e.g., high scores).
// Confirm whether to really save the game and exit.
// (MOD)Confirm whether to really end current game and go back to title screen.
// Confirm whether to really exit the game.
// On name entry screen, telling player to enter name.
// Shown at start of level. Level number is appended to this, e.g., "LEVEL 200"
// Shown at completion of level.
// (MOD)%s replaced by level #. e.g., "LEVEL 2 CLEARED"
// Game Over. When player has lost.
// Brightness adjust screen.
// (TODO)Title of Help Menu.
// (TODO)Title of Score Stats Screen.
// (TODO)Title of Levels Cleared Stats Screen.
// (TODO)Title of Bricks Destroyed Stats Screen.
// (TODO)Title of Bonuses Received Stats Screen.
//
// Appears at bottom center during menu and name entry screens.
// These are descriptions of what the currently focused icon
// represents.
//
// Start a new game. 
// Go to statistics menu.
// Go to options menu.
// Exit the game.
// Clear the stored statistics.
// Go to volume adjust screen.
// (TODO)Go to sound effects volume adjust screen.
// %s replaced with current sfx percentage level, e.g., "sfx: 60%"
// Go back to parent menu.
// Resume a paused game.
// Save the game and exit.
// (MOD)Abandon current game and go back to title screen.
// Current control scheme is finger position based.
// (TODO)Current control scheme is wheel rotation.
// Current difficulty is beginner.
// Current difficulty is novice.
// Current difficulty is intermediate.
// (TODO)Current difficulty is pro.
// Current difficulty is expert.
// Answer yes at a confirmation screen.
// Answer no at a confirmation screen.
// Play game music
// Do not play game music
// Play game music iff no playlist playing when entering game.
// Name entry icon for backspace.
// Name entry icon for space.
// Name entry icon to finish entering name.
// Go to brightness adjust screen.
// (TODO)Rename the player profile.
// %s is replaced with current name.
// (TODO)Go to Help Menu.
// (TODO)Show overall statistics.
// (TODO)Adjust volume.
// (TODO)Adjust sound effects level.
// (TODO)Adjust brightness.
// (TODO)Show last game statistics.
//
// Congratulations text shown when transitioning from
// one difficulty(levels 10,20,30,40) to a higher
// difficulty(levels 11,21,31,41).
//
// (TODO)From Newbie to Rookie.
// (TODO)From Rookie to Intermediate.
// (TODO)From Intermediate to Pro.
// (TODO)From Pro to Expert.
//
// Bonus description.
// In-game bonuses are represented as an icon, but
// become text when collected by the player.
//
// Extra life bonus.
// Multiple ball on screen bonus.
// Bat shrinks one size.
// Bat grows one size.
// Multiple bats on screen bonus.
// Bat becomes sticky (ball sticks to bat for some time).
// Bat gets a gun mount.
// Bat gets a laser mount.
// Ball becomes strong, can go through bricks instead of bouncing off.
// Ball speed decreases.
// Ball speed increases.
//
// Brick types.
//
// (TODO)1-hit brick.
// (TODO)2-hit brick.
// (TODO)3-hit brick.
// (TODO)bonus brick.
// (TODO)exploding brick.
// (TODO)unbreakable brick.
//
// Shown at game over screen.
//
// Player's final score. Score is appeneded, e.g., "Final Score: 9234"
//
// Labels for stat bars.
//
// (TODO)Bar shows Best record.
// (TODO)Bar shows Average record.
// (TODO)Bar shows Last Game's record.
//
// Help screens. 
//
// (TODO)Help text title for basic gameplay.
// (TODO)Help text body for basic gameplay.
// (TODO)Help text title for shooting (fire weapon/launch ball).
// (TODO)Help text body for shooting (fire weapon/launch ball).
// (TODO)Help text title for finger position control.
// (TODO)Help text body for finger position control.
// (TODO)Help text title for wheel rotation control.
// (TODO)Help text body for wheel rotation control.
// (TODO)Help text title for bonus types.
// (TODO)Help text title for brick types.
//
// Shown during end level scoring screen.
//
// Past this time, the player will not receive bonus points for
// finishing the level fast.
// Actual time in format mm:ss is appended, e.g., "time to beat: 1:32"
// Player's level completion time. Actual time appended.
// Bonus points player gets. Point value appended, e.g., "bonus: 210"
// (TODO)Record best time for a level. Time appended, e.g., "best time: 1:12"
// Default name if entry is left blank during name entry.
//
// Heads up display in-game. 
//
// Show in corner for current time for current level.
// Actual time appended, e.g., "time: 0:30"
//
// Appears at various points to tell player to press select
// to continue, e.g., title screen, level intro screen, volume
// adjust screens.
//
//
// Progress messages when player needs to wait.
//
// Name of the Game
// (MOD)Legal info.
// -1 Unique ID is to mark end of file. Anything below it will not be processed.

Debugging Functionality#

To do: explain how to enable the debug functions

Press Menu to pause the game, then Previous to skip a level or Next to gain an extra life.

Cheat Codes#

To do: Rip the alternate backgrounds.

Enter your name as the following to activate various cheats: