16 Where to from here?

This chapter covers

  • Enhancing our game
  • Extending the NES
  • Publishing your finished game
  • Other types of games

We have put together a simple game over the course of this book. With a few enhancements, it could be made more interesting and a much more professional title.

Our sample game covers only one genre of video games (i.e., a shoot-em-up). Especially with the NES and its extended capabilities, there are quite a few other genres that can be achieved on the hardware. Once you have finished a game, one of the greatest rewards is to see others playing it, whether that be via a free download ROM, sold online, or produced in physical form, perhaps even with a proper box and manual.

16.1 Enhancing our game

Our sample game, Mega Blast, is still quite simple and could do with several features added to turn it into a more polished and professional title—and, of course, make it more fun for the player. We have discussed some ideas for improving things as we have worked through the book, but let’s expand on these as follows.

16.1.1 More enemies

16.1.2 Extra lives

16.1.3 Increased difficulty

16.1.4 Music

16.1.5 Arcade touches

16.2 Extending the NES

16.2.1 What is a mapper?

16.2.2 More sound

16.2.3 Game saves

16.2.4 Extra features

16.3 Publishing your finished game

16.3.1 Free ROM download

16.3.2 Online ROM sales

16.3.3 Physical cartridges

16.4 Other types of games

16.4.1 Platformers

16.4.2 Scrolling platformers

16.4.3 Action adventures