A good walk spoiled?
When loaded, the main menu is rather crude but functional, and is used to commence a new game. Each game, the course is rendered and played via a third-person perspective - we can see ourselves ready to take each shot. You shall note the golfing jargon on the right and basic information like weather, clubs, distance, and a shot meter. These details should help to get that little ball inside the hole as quickly as possible.
The picture I'm painting isn't exactly gleaming, right? I know, I know, but let's view a screenshot...
Select each club carefully and watch out for those high winds!
Slow down and think about it...
With each shot, there is a unique distance to the hole, so a different club is always required. Long stretches require a 'wood' and (from what I can gather) they're rated W1-W9, and a 1W will achieve the greatest distances, whereas the 9W might produce a more acute shot with less power. The 'irons' feel similar to me (a golfing noob), but you might choose a 9I for a more acute shot when in a troubled rough spot.
Finally, the 'PW' is the pitching wedge and is used for those final moments when accuracy is needed to get that little ball into the hole. What a golfing connoisseur, I am. You shall also note a pole in the ground that is casting a shadow of varying angles and lengths. Use that to help determine the current conditions.
Leaderboard has no save game feature but there are many scorecards inside the box. One of mine (see the picture below) has its pages filled in by the previous owner. I love finding stuff like this!!! I think its great and a piece of ST history is preserved...
I wonder who David is and how much he enjoyed the game?
It's all about whacking a ball really hard?
Leaderboard is a simple but still challenging. It's all about choosing the best club for the shot at hand, of course. Correctly hitting the ball is a balance of lining it up and mastering the power and snap meter. That determines how far you wish your ball to travel and whether it should go straight or curved to the left/right.
The weather will affect the direction and conditions your golfer must face. Plus, he has many of the usual pitfalls to contend with, like the rough, trees, puddles of water, and nasty bunkers. It might be an idea for novice golfers to disable those weather conditions while you learn the game's controls and basic mechanics.
Okay, golfing dudes, let's take another gander at another amazingly realistic screenshot...
Get that power and snap meter just right for the current shot and weather conditions
Next-Gen visuals!
Visually, I'm sure many will find Leaderboard far too unrealistic and extremely minimalistic compared to certain other ST games. However, Leaderboard has a nostalgia that I love; the way it draws each scene so methodically is superb, bringing back happy memories during a time when it would have impressed everyone.
The sound effects are on par (see what I did there?) with the visuals. They're more than enough for this quiet stroll through the countryside. Spot-fx are used for hitting the ball, selecting the clubs, and hearing the ball drop into the hole. My favourite is the mushy sound as it falls into the water. Lame yet genuinely brilliant!
I tried hard to get a nice screenshot - so appreciate it and take the time to view it properly...
Oh dear, there are lots of pitfalls to avoid on this hole. Can you do it?
The CryptO'pinion?
I think golfing connoisseurs might foolishly turn up their noses at such an old game in favour of something better. I would say stop and think about that. This is one of the most charming and entertaining moments you can experience with an old computer. It's easy to pick up & play, and very addictive. This is one of the best games (from the earlier years) that you can play on the Atari ST. Truly, this looks poor but is superb.
This is nothing less than a fantastic game. What an odd thing to say when I don't even like golf! lol
You can always print a scorecard from here ;) http://www.atarimania.com/st/boxes/hi_res/leaderboard_birdie_d7_6.jpg
ReplyDeleteNo mate, not the same as having the original thing in your hands. Besides, I never use the AM website. Really sucky!!! ;p
DeleteThat's amazing having someone's actual scores + date of play from so long ago. I never liked Golf but I always enjoyed playing Leaderboard because it did 'immerse you' in being somewhere else when you were playing. Great post Mr. Crypt!
ReplyDeleteThx mate appreciate that:)
DeleteLeaderboard gave me my most fond memories of my STs. Does anyone know how to get the Leaderboard cursor to work with Steem or Hatari? I have tried everything I can think of. I hope Atari releases an ST emulator hardware in 2026.
ReplyDeleteI use Hatari on Mac and it’s fine, have you tried going full screen? CMD F / CTRL F
DeleteThanks for the idea, but no difference. The gamepad button works to hit the ball, but the directional button to move the aiming cursor or change clubs does nothing.
DeleteHi Allan, which download are you using? Let me know and I'll replicate here for ya.
DeleteThe 3 filenames are:
ReplyDeleteLeader Board.st (White screen startup page "LSD Compacter v1.0, Originally cracked by Was Not(Was))"
Leader Board Tournament.st
Leader Board Tournament-Enhanced.st (Leader Board title screen includes text "New Version by Cyborg in 1986")
I am using TOS 1.0 for all 3. I tried newer versions, but they did not boot. I also tried assigning my gampad to both joystick ports and both gamepad ports, but not luck. My XL version of Leaderboard recognizes my gamepad and plays fine, though the graphics obviously don't compare to the ST version. Thank you for trying to help.
Firstly, try to download one of the disks that I have linked above - for floppy. But it'll be best to download the HDD version and then use the GEMDOS from within Hatari's settings. Pick a folder on your computer to act as a GEMDOS drive (ie a Drive C). Then unzip and copy PP's HDD game into that folder. Restart Hatari.
DeleteBut use TOS 1.4 for ST as a min. TOS 1.00 isn't going to be good enough for different reasons. Hatari should boot fine with any tos image tbh
However, this sounds like it's the gamepad? Do you connect that first and THEN launch Hatari? If so, the device may need to be activated for Joystick 1 in Hatari settings. And deactive on Joystick 0/etc
The Gamepad is recognized and displays the XBOX Controller name in Hatari. I ran the new floppy version with the same results as before. I am not sure how to run the HDD version from Hatari. I copied the extracted leaderboard folder to a c: drive subfolder. In Hatari Hard Disk menu / ACSI HD I added the path of the folder, then "reset machine". Nothing loads.
DeleteAh right, well, if the gamepad is recognised then that's as far as I can help tbh. I wouldn't know how to config buttons etc... I imagine that those default? So long as that gamepad is Joystick 1 in Hatari....
DeleteAs for the Drive C, you're almost there :) If you have created a folder on your computer, and extracted the zip file inside that, then great! Now, load up Hatari and you'll see Disks tab in the Settings/Prefs. On that tab you'll see options for Hard Drives (ACSI, IDE, GEMDOS). Chose your folder for the GEMDOS option, not ACSI. It'll then use that folder as a "hard drive" for the virtual ST.
Thanks. I got it to run, but same issue with the joystick. I appreciate your time to help.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome mate, but it does sound like the device rather than your settings or wht you're doing. I hope you get something sorted soon :/
DeleteI just have a bog-standard USB joystick, one button too. So there's little to confuse Hatari!
The fact that the gamepad actually works as expected on the XL version of Leaderboard with the Altirra emulator using the XBOX controller setup is frustrating.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is an Hatari issue? Maybe it supports joysticks or something close to that? Sorry I couldn't help more mate :(
Delete