Jetpac - The Return is a remake of the original game Jetpac for the ZX Spectrum and (I believe) the BBC.  The old version was about a space man with a rocket pack who had to construct his rocket and fill it with fuel before taking off to reach the next level.  It wasn't quite this simple however because aliens and asteroids and all sorts of nasties hindered the space man's mission.
This remake will attempt to stay true to the original formula whilst at the same time improving the graphics and adding lots more baddies, upgrades, features, levels etc, etc, etc.
The game uses SDL to power its graphics.

NEWS:

19/5/2001: Version 0.2.5 is now out. I've really been running short of time because of my exams and revision and everything. There are some pretty big improvements in the game, so check it out! Soon as my exams are out of the way I should have much more time. A Windows version will be available very soon.

20/4/2001: I got my web space extension so I can start thinking about uploading the new version very soon now as it is almost finished. Version 0.3.0 is being based around making the game replayable. I know that dodging asteroids just for the sake of it gets a little boring after a while when there's no overall goal. In the new version levels are split up into 5 stages (including an end of level boss). Every time the player manages to complete the 5 stages (which is meant to be very hard) and get onto the next level a code is presented which will allow them to load that level from the start menu any time they like. This will mean that a player has to complete 5 stages with 2 lives and then they are safe and never actually have to do the previous levels again if they don't like. Some of the graphics has also been improved in v0.3.0. These are small cosmetic alterations that I hope make the game look slightly nicer. I would have liked to have had different rockets for each level eventually, but I think that I will save this for a slightly later version. Oh yeah, and another thing, I know that some of the levels in v0.2.4 were a little annoying with asteroids that were 'super fast'. These have been removed and the game is a whole lot less irritating :) Expect version 0.3.0 in about a week. It would be sooner, but sadly I have a 2 week uni assessment coming up which will slow me down quite a bit. Since uploading the game to www.libsdl.org the game has received a lot of interest which has really inspired me to continue development. I would however be grateful if someone was to send me an email suggesting improvements, telling me what they think etc. thanks...

26/3/2001: Player can now fuel the rocket. Lives implemented, fuel indicator sprites for rocket implemented. Code reorganised to help keep organised. Three levels in the game. More graphics. I spent a week indoors doing this hardly leaving my house. I guess I got a little obsessive :) Oh yeah and theres a whole new title screen with an instructions page (just incase you haven't played Jetpac before)

21/3/2001: Implemented rocket parts into game.  Player can now collect them and drop them onto the rocket base.
20/3/2001: All new "Jetpac-The Return" web site is created.
13/3/2001: Rewrote the entire game core in a more object oriented way.  This caused quite a few problems initially but eventually they were ironed our and the game was back on track.
1/3/2001: Jetpac - The Return project started.
 

SCREENSHOTS:

The following screen shots are available:

(Version 0.2.2 The new menu screen)

(Version 0.2.2 The rocket after construction!)
 

INSTRUCTIONS:

To control the jet man use the arrow keys on the keyboard.  To fire his laser gun press the TAB key.  To quit the game press ESCAPE.
 

DOWNLOADING THE GAME:

You can get hold of the game here.  Currently only supporting the Linux format however.

LINUX:
    jetpac v0.2.5 download(latest version- recommended download)
    jetpac v0.2.4 download

BUGS/KNOWN PROBLEMS:

• ***FIXED*** Pressing the quit button before starting a game causes a seg fault. This isn't anything too bad, its just because it tries to de-allocate graphics that hasn't actually been allocated yet.
• ***FIXED*** Sometimes when a player goes through the rocket carrying fuel it drops into the base without refuelling the rocket. This should be easy to fix.
• When the player takes off from a platform it sometimes leaves behind a little screen corruption.
• *FIXED* When the player goes right up to the edge of the screen and fires his laser it can crash the program.  This is because the laser sprite is spawned off screen.  This will be fixed ASAP.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS:
My ToDo list is currently as follows:

Things to do list for Jetpac:

.
Make a configuration file.
Make a TCL/TK interface to setup options like full screen, key bindings etc.
Make some more levels.

Ideas for the game that may be implemented:

Multiple game modes, i.e. 'classic game mode' and 'normal gme mode'.  This would allow me to implement some all new game features such as the rocket navigating the asteroid field and upgrading the players laser gun without annoying the puritans.

In game shop:  Maybe it is set on a nearby space station, but the player could buy weapon upgrades, special weapons, extra lives and all sorts of things in exchange for something that he collects on the planets (gold?)

If I get the time I may decide to port the game to Windows.  It uses the SDL so it should be fairly straight forward.
 

CONTACT THE AUTHOR:
My email address is james.blewitt @ ukonline.co.uk
It has been broken up to prevent email harvesting software.
My web site address is web.ukonline.co.uk/james.blewitt/
I would be very interested to hear your opinions/ideas etc.