Keen 4 unreleased enemy

Bubbatom · Post by **Bubbatom** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:35

I was talking to Tom Hall on Facebook tonight and I asked him about the keen 4 demo tileset. He told me the most prominent outake of keen 4 were these passive cow-like creatures called 'Dorts' that cold take you across harmful surfaces. But later on in development they were replaced with poison slugs.

Sorry if this has already been brought up.

StupidBunny · Post by **StupidBunny** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:28

Oh wow.

Is there any kind of concept art or unused sprites or anything out there?

Bubbatom · Post by **Bubbatom** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:45

I'm waiting for a response as to if there were any unreleased sprites. I think it's very early morning in the us ( where Tom is ) so he's probably in bed.

Grimson · Post by **Grimson** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:20

Well, bounders are kind of similar. Just hop on them, and you can control & move them over fire and other harmful surfaces.

DHeadshot · Post by **DHeadshot** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:40

Grimson wrote:Well, bounders are kind of similar. Just hop on them, and you can control & move them over fire and other harmful surfaces.

Wait, you can control bounders?!

Grimson · Post by **Grimson** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 13:15

Can't tell if sarcasm or serious.

Pokota · Post by **Pokota** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 13:16

Yeah - they go in the direction that you're closer to. If you stand on his left eye, he goes left. Same with the right eye.

DHeadshot · Post by **DHeadshot** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 13:26

Pokota wrote:Yeah - they go in the direction that you're closer to. If you stand on his left eye, he goes left. Same with the right eye.

I never knew that and I've been playing Keen 4 since I was about 5...

kuliwil · Post by **kuliwil** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 15:34

DHeadshot wrote:
Pokota wrote:Yeah - they go in the direction that you're closer to. If you stand on his left eye, he goes left. Same with the right eye.
I never knew that and I've been playing Keen 4 since I was about 5...

SAME!

WOW!

WE'VE BEEN DOING IT WRONG FOR AROUND TWO DECADES! I mean, I knew they seemed to bounce to where you aren't when you aren't on them.... but this!

Also, I love how these lovely creatures were replaced with POISON SLUGS.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure the demo tileset didn't have unknown creatures, so these must have been removed pretty damn early!

Any remnant code? (What am I saying, of course not - efficient programmers!)

I guess Two Cows now becomes "Two Dorts."

Keeper · Post by **Keeper** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 16:04

I found out about controlling Bounders years ago - I noticed that they don't move in any direction when you stand in their center. The next logical thing to do was to move slightly to the left or right... wheeeeee, free ride!

Speaking of in-game secrets, my favorite hint from the Goodbye Galaxy hintbook is this one:

If you are getting too tense, the PAUSE key does work!

I have found that it really helps sometimes - I pause the game, go for a quick walk, and when I'm back I am inspired to overcome whatever nasty challenge lies ahead

Post by **Ceilick** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 21:12

Wow, that is new information, Bubbatom! That's very interesting, did Tom mention anything else about the Demo or outttakes? I really hope he's got the unused sprites lying around somewhere, those would be awesome and inspirational to see.

No. 1 Machop Fan · Post by **No. 1 Machop Fan** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 22:39

DHeadshot wrote:
Grimson wrote:Well, bounders are kind of similar. Just hop on them, and you can control & move them over fire and other harmful surfaces.
Wait, you can control bounders?!

Indeed you can! If Keen stands on the left side of the Bounder, the Bounder will bounce left. If Keen stands on the right side of the Bounder, the Bounder will bounce right.

Benvolio · Post by **Benvolio** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 22:48

Wait, you can control bounders?

Without that gem of knowledge, I doubt you've been saving very many Quillsheep. :-P

That's cool about the 'Dorts'... very much in keeping with the trend in Keens 4-6 to playfully mix 'serious' sprites e.g. Berkeloids and Skypests, with frivolous fun sprites eg Treasure Eaters.

Bubbatom · Post by **Bubbatom** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 2:59

Tom told me that there were sprites done for the Dort but he can't remember where they are.

kuliwil · Post by **kuliwil** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:16

Bubbatom wrote:Tom told me that there were sprites done for the Dort but he can't remember where they are.

Reckon they could be on that code disc that John Romero mentioned?