Hi - my name is Clive Lawrence aka tmwfa
Some [more] exciting news straight from the seventies...
AToM - 1974 - Out Now
I'm pleased to announce that AToM - 1974 - is now available for PC via Steam:
To celebrate the launch, there's a 33% discount in place for the next 7 days (that's 3 modes for the price of 2!). The release trailer - below - should, hopefully, give you some idea of what to expect:
Please get in touch with any comments/feedback on the forums.
What is AToM - 1974?
AToM - 1974 - is a morse code training toy. The device aims to teach you 36 x morse code characters from the international set via level, score and time-driven arcade-styled gameplay:
In terms of launch features, the latest build includes:
3.6E15 possible prompt combinations - 3,656,158,440,062,976 to be precise
36 characters to learn - 26 letters and 10 numbers from the international set
3 modes to master - encode, decode and transcode - see below for more details
Procedural gameplay - challenges are generated as-you-progress
Reactive manual - manual characters are masked/unmasked based on correct/incorrect answers
Auto-clues - provided on incorrect answers: to supplement character-learning
High-score saving - a better score means you are getting faster and/or progressing further
Level-tracking - 30 in total - also tied to 30 Steam achievements
Time-limited gameplay - time pressure increases as you progress
The launch build targets PC-only and keyboard-only input.
Mode Overview
The AToM device includes 3 modes at launch:
1. Encode - translate characters (e.g. A) into components (e.g. .-)
2. Decode - translate components (e.g. .-) into characters (e.g. A)
3. Transcode - encode or decode the given prompts
Some further information is provided below:
Mode 1: Encode
Encode is the OG game mode and the one that's unlocked from start-up. You'll use the space bar on your keyboard to input morse code dots and dashes by tapping or holding respectively. The aim is to translate the given series of alphanumeric characters into their equivalent [morse] components. Example below:
As you input correct and/or incorrect answers, the manual will auto-update and clues will be provided. Correct answers will mask the associated character in the manual: incorrect answers will unmask them whilst also providing clues that hint towards specific and/or similar answers.
Mode 2: Decode
Once you complete level 3 of Encode you'll unlock Decode mode . Here, you'll use the A-Z and 0-9 keys on your keyboard to provide answers. The aim is to translate the morse components - dots and dashes - into their alphanumeric equivalents (i.e. it's the inverse of mode 1). Example below:
As with Encode mode, the manual will update and clues will be provided to help you along.
Mode 3: Transcode
After completing level 3 of Decode, you'll unlock Transcode mode. Transcode combines Encode and Decode gameplay by randomising the type of prompt you're presented with. The feedback light above the central screen let's you know type of challenge in-effect. There's 30 Steam achievements to unlock - tied to completing each level of each game mode - and once you've unlocked all modes you're free to progress as you like. A better score usually means you're getting faster and/or progressing further.
Additional Information
You can read more about the inception and development of AToM - 1974 here:
AToM - 1974 Windows game - IndieDB
You can also check out some unedited gameplay footage from a (slightly) earlier build here:
I'll be doing some updated making-of posts after the game launches.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for further updates.
Clive Lawrence @ tmwfa