What is SEUCK?
SEUCK = Shoot 'Em Up Construction Kit

SEUCK is an acronym for "Shoot Em Up Construction Kit". SEUCK is an old commercial C64 utility that allows you to create and generate your very own shoot 'em ups or other game ideas with the aid of various sub menus pre-built into the program itself. SEUCK was swiss army knife of games development without needing any knowledge of code. Why was that? It was because there is no programming language required. Your game can be constructed using a set of menus. sprites, objects, background graphics, sound effects (music requires additional custom code), attack waves, player limitations, level settings, play test and even its own disk or tape mastering system. The tape version had its own auto boot tape with built in SEUCK fast loader tape system. Out of many games creation editors, SEUCK is by far the most easiest games creator for the Commodore 64. It is also a whole lot of fun too.

Although you can make fun games with SEUCK. The editor also has its own limitations about what you can or can't do to build your own game. Common pitfalls, are the game engine is very limited or restricted with the number of units available for attack patterns. On the plus side, it is possible to implement clever tricks using the attack waves. For example a boss sprite is formed of linked enemies and will not explode as a whole set after 15 shots. The down side it it is that you will have to kill a boss by shooting each sprite separately. There's also the waiting time for a level to complete after shooting a boss clean. As well as basic game play, SEUCK can also churn out some quality games productions that really outsmart the SEUCK even without programming. Here are a few examples (available on the TND web site) ...

Clever tricks made in SEUCK games - WITHOUT CODE:

VIOS by Carl Mason



VIOS shows quality than quantity. inside the Shoot Em Up Construction Kit. Back in 1994, Carl wrote this game, then in 2011 TND had the pleasure of hosting the special 2011 edition of the same game. Carl made this game as an inspiration to a lot of the classic Japanese console/arcade mech-inspired games. VIOS was a fast paced shoot 'em up in which you have to do battle against a deadly machine. The detail in this game is really amazing and the tricks for the boss fights were stunning. What made it even amazing was that *no programming tricks were used* .

Barakon by Alf Yngve



Back in 2010. Alf Yngve showed more of his talent by creating a mean beat 'em up using SEUCK. Barakon was a fun beat 'em up which you have to do battle against an evil army, the Confederate Militia. The way to get through the battle is to use your bionic battle fists. SEUCK does have its own limitations. It is still possible to make beat 'em ups with this editor. This game did really well in the Official C64 SEUCK Compo 2010 and made second place.

C'notte D'Knight! by Aldo Chiummo



Finally, if you wanted to make a Fire Trap type of game set in Medieval times this game proves it possible. C'Notte D'Knight has you as C'Notte who has to climb up the castles and rescue the princess. There are enemy guards and other hazards which get in your way. The game's design is quite stunning, and the game, itself is also fun to play.

Sideways SEUCK

In 2008, Jon Wells created a Sideways Scrolling SEUCK. This tool still had the same limitations as the original SEUCK, but it scrolled sideways. The Sideways SEUCK allowed gamers to create their own sideways scrolling shoot 'em ups. The majority of those were mainly space shooters. However, here are 3 more games that stood out well with Sideways SEUCK:

Dream World by Gaetano Chiummo



This was a nice push scrolling shoot 'em up, with a sad tale. It was about a boy who was very naughty and got no presents for Christmas. He enters a magical world and attempts to collect toys, while he faces the deadly monsters and other critters. This is a nice cartoon caper push scroller.

Zombie Brain Eaters by Andy / Arkanix Labs



SEUCK is not only designed for shoot 'em ups. What about Operation Wolf type of games?. Zombie Brain Eaters is exactly one of those in which you have to fight deadly zombies - and avoid getting bitten by them otherwise you will lose a life. This game has some really nice graphics, and the monsters are scary.

Barney by Wile Coyote



The final choice for this category has to be one of the best looking sideways SEUCK games I have ever seen. It isn't a shoot 'em up, but a collect 'em up instead. You play Barney, a cowfish who has to navigate through the coral reef collecting pearls and also avoiding dangers that lurk inside the reef. Barney has only one life, which can be short lived - unless of course you play the game well.

What about the SEUCK Compo?

The Official C64 SEUCK Compo was first launched by Akira, at shmups.com, but eventually passed the gauntlet to TND to host the compo. Since 2009, the Official C64 SEUCK Compo has been quite successful and it has been continuing (with breaks between) through to 2020. The competition invited people  to write and submit their own SEUCK games without allowing enhancements at first. A few years later the competition allowed innovative game enhancements for compo entries. There have been a lot of amazing entries over the past several years.

This will be the final SEUCK Compo on the TND web site.

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Finally the history of the compo is over. Now let's get to the fun part ... Aim + Categories.

Like with the past few competitions the aim of the Official C64 SEUCK Compo 2021 is to create and generate a fully playable game, with aid of using the Shoot Em Up Construction Kit or the Sideways Scrolling SEUCK. The objective is to make any kind of game genre that you think might stand out in front of the crowd. It will be worth it, since last year's winner managed to create something quite original, well presented and a whole lot of fun. The prize was a fully enhanced version of the game. If you win this year's compo, the same thing can happen to you. 

Here is what is what is suggested for the compo entries (although it is not compulsory):

Presentation and design

- Front end presentation should have at least a logo and credits, rather than a full page with just plain text. SEUCK's front end is very restrictive for designing and creating your very own front end. To create a logo, you can use the character editor in the title screen editor to create chars that form a logo. The easiest way would be to use characters that you don't need (using the Edit Character Set option in the EDIT FRONT END menu. Then manually construct the logo in the front end editor. You might want to use the Action Replay M/C monitor to change the rolling bar colours if there are colours that you don't want. You may use SEUCK School enhancement Action Replay tips to change colours if you want to.

 

Good quality game design and originality

- Game content should stand out well. There should be nice graphics, and the sprites should be clear to see when playing this game. Graphics should have some time spent on them. Rendering PC made graphics/models of your own, then converting those to C64 is one good option. Exploring other background and sprite graphics can be quite helpful as well. Alienator uses a clever example of creating an Operation Wolf style game. It's highly playable and good fun. Also Dodo's Deep Doo Doo shows that you cannot only make shoot 'em ups using SEUCK/Sideways SEUCK. There is no harm in experimenting with new ideas and perhaps bringing those out. :) Another important key is playability. The game should be playable, addictive and fun. Make sure your game has at least one collectible item for the player to grab.

Regarding graphics: You are welcome to use Charpad/Sprite pad and import into SEUCK if you think this method is easier for drawing graphics/sprites ;)



Enhancements and use of SEUCK Redux is welcome but not essential

This year's Official C64 SEUCK Compo is not only open to SEUCK game developers who cannot code, but also it is open to programmers who like to enhance their own or friends SEUCK creations. You are welcome to add some enhancements from the SEUCK School tips (or some of your own ideas) into your games, use the KickAssembler, SEUCK Redux framework or do whatever you like to the game to make it stand out. However, you must prove that the game was made in SEUCK. This can be done by sending the SEUCK All Data file or raw version of the game along with the enhanced version.


Nucleo 448 used SEUCK Redux as a little collaboration project outside the SEUCK Compo.

Every entry will get music

Like with every C64 SEUCK Compo. Every entry that gets submitted will feature a piece of music on the title or in game music (please request title, in game or both when submitting). This year, I would like to do exclusive music for compo entries as a way to say a big thank you. If want to supply your own or friends's music for your production. Please feel free to do so.


DMC V4.0 one of TND's all time favourite music programming utilities.



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Last year's winner was Eleanor Burns with Synthia in the Cyber Crypt.



The winner's game will get full enhancements as a prize and will be emailed to them first before the prize package (at the end of the compo) has been launched on D64 on the TND SEUCK Compo 2021 page and richard-tnd.itch.io as a free download some time in June/July 2021.(Time dependant)

Depending on the type of game's compatibility, The prize version of the game will be tested on SEUCK Redux (If suitable) and showed to the winner - if suitable the platform will be used. Otherwise the prize will be on standard SEUCK engine with additional enhancements. Either way this will include:

- Front end presentation with author's credits and music
- Additional in game enhancements where necessary
- Hi Score table (depending on the game type)
- Full digital tape master with loading picture by an active C64 graphican and music mastered with TapeToolBuild, Tape Master Pro or Freeload (The winner will get to pick the loader they would like to use) :)

The prize version of game will be respectably submitted to the game author before release with the SEUCK compo prize package in July/August 2021

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How entries should be submitted:

- Entries are Remote Email based and can only be submitted to: richardcbayliss@gmail.com

- Submissions should be .D64, .TAP, or PRG format. If you submit VICE snap shots, please let the webmaster know which version of VICE was used otherwise if you cannot save your game to .D64, after loading the VICE snapshot try this as a guide line:

Disk
1. Go to Settings / Drive Settings / Enable True Drive Emulation
2. Go to Settings / Drive Settings / Drive Settings / Select one of the 1541 disk options. Then click on OK. The disk drive should then reset
3. Go to File / Attach Disk Image / Drive 8 / Create a new D64, by typing in nameofprog.D64 then click on CREATE  IMAGE, then click ATTACH
4. Go to the SEUCK Storage menu. Ensure menu shows disk and select SAVE FINISHED GAME and type in the filename of your game.
5. Wait some time for the disk to save. You'll see a clock on the bottom right side of the screen
6. After the clock has finished. Wait a couple of seconds. Then go to FILE / DETACH DISK IMAGE
7. Ensure the snapshot is still saved on your PC. Don't delete it as you might need it again. Re-attach the D64 and then HARD or SOFT RESET the VICE C64 and type in:

LOAD "*",8,1

Your SEUCK game should load and run after 3 or 4 minutes

Tape
1. Create a TAPE (.tap) image, by selecting FILE / ATTACH TAPE IMAGE,  save as NAMEOFGAME.TAP and then ATTACH it
2. In the SEUCK Storage menu, select CHANGE DEVICE.
3. Go to FILE / DATASETTE CONTROL  and select RECORD
4. In SEUCK select SAVE FINISHED GAME, enter the name of your game, being saved and wait patiently. After a few seconds or so a clock will appear on screen while writing to .tap
5. After finished recording from tape. Go to file DETACH TAPE.
6. Attach Test load your tape in VICE for your game to load. Depending on which version of SEUCK you should either have the blue+yellow loading stripes turbo or the multi-coloured loading stripes turbo.

Your SEUCK game should load and run after 3 or 4 minutes

Competition rules

• Maximum number of entries = 3.
• Your entry must be your own / group's work. Please credit those who collaborated with you on the title screen. We are not fussed about your own cracktro style intros.
  
• You are allowed to add your own enhancements to your creation with additional code/SEUCK school if you wish to. KickAssembler framework and SEUCK Redux platforms are also allowed to be used.
  
• Avoid using trade-marked/copyrighted material such as existing graphics from commercially released games.
  
• Avoid adding too many enemies/sprites on screen. This will result to SEUCK slowdown syndrome, which could make the game unplayable
• Please keep it clean. We don't want games that involve scenes of adult nature or bad language i.e. sexual swear words.
• Do not release your game compo entry for download until after your entry has been uploaded on to the showcase.
  
• Your entry must be non-commercial - Compo entries submitted will be downloadable from this site as soon as they have been submitted
  
• Think outside the box. Make your game really stands out. We want quality over quantity.
• Do not make a request for additional code/enhancements from the organiser of this competition. The entire game project should solely be your own work.
• Do not use this competition, entrants or its organisers for bullying, raving, political or abusive behaviour.
  
• Once your entry has been submitted and uploaded, you are not allowed to update your entry
• Avoid using existing sound effects from example games / blank SEUCK.
• Avoid using existing attack wave patterns from example games.
• The compo organiser is also allowed to enter the competition
  
• Do not submit updated versions of previously released games. You may recycle graphics to make a new game or sequel, but it should not be the same game.
• Have fun and be creative and innovative. We love creativity.

When submitting - Please provide the following:

Name of game: What is the name of your game?
Author: You can use your real name, or if you prefer, you can use a handle/pseudo name
Musician (if any): If your game already has music added to it, it is wise to credit the musician
Modifications (if any) What enhancements have you added to this game. (If any)
Extras: Does the game come with an ending, multi part, loading picture, intro, etc. Either way, this is still allowed :)

Instructions:
Please also give brief instructions on how the game should be played. A full story, etc.

- Competition starts on 25th December 2020
- Last submission date is 30th April 2021 (with possible deadline extensions)
- Vote sheets will be available some time after the closing submission of the compo.

HAPPY BLASTING AND HAVE FUN!

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Sideways SEUCK Compo 2010
The official Sideways Scrolling SEUCK Compo, which I ran in 2010.

Also features:
POUR LE MERITE by BAMSE
(Compo winner)



Standard SEUCK Compo 2010
The official Vertical Scrolling SEUCK compo, which I ran in 2010

Also features:
THE MAGE by Gaetano Chiummo
(Compo winner)

Sideways SEUCK Compo 2011
After the success of the last Sideways SEUCK Compo in 2010, I did it again with yet another sideways SEUCK Compo in 2011. Which was yet again, another successful competition.

Also features:
FORGOTTEN FOREST by Alf Yngve
(Compo winner)



SEUCK Compo 2013
After a long break in 2012, with not so much going on ;)... This competition started as a mixed SEUCK compo, and was quite a success. Catering for both normal, and sideways scrolling versions of SEUCK.

Also features:
SHEER EARTH ATTACK by Gaetano Chiummo
(Compo winner)


SEUCK Compo 2014
The second mixed SEUCK Compo which was launched in 2014.

Also features:
DOUBLE OR NOTHING by Alf Yngve
(Compo Winner)


SEUCK Compo 2015
Another quite successful mixed SEUCK Compo 2015. Despite having to increase the deadline now and then for submissions.

Also features:
ABYSSONAUT  by Ant Stiller
(Compo Winner)


Sideways SEUCK Compo 2015
A mini SEUCK compo, which catered for only the sideways scrolling SEUCK compo.

Also features:

RETRO RETO PAN by Errazking
(Compo winner)


SEUCK Compo 2016
A very successful mixed SEUCK Compo 2016, which also ran over to start of the year 2017. Some real stunning entries also.

Also features:
BORDER BLAST 3 by Alf Yngve
(Compo Winner - Back to Basics)


The Spanish SEUCK Compo 2017
Run by Errazking, which I stepped down for a year or so. Features a whole lot of new SEUCK compo entries and also catered for other systems as well as the Commodore 64. Some nice games, some pretty old ones as well.

Also features:
VALKYRIE 2 - The Templar by Eleanor Burns - The Winner of Spanish SEUCK Compo 2017 :)


SEUCK Compo 2018
A themed based Shoot 'Em Up competition

Also features:
VALKYRIE 3 - The Night Witch by Eleanor Burns
(Compo Winner)


SEUCK Compo 2019
A great SEUCK game creation compo which was run last year. It featured some excellent game titles mostly made from the standard SEUCK. There were a couple of Sideways Scrolling SEUCK entries also. The official C64 SEUCK Compo 2019 was the most successful competition in the SEUCK category of all time.

Also features:
Fulgur by Alf Yngve
(Second runner up)


SEUCK Compo 2020
A good SEUCK game creation compo which was run last year. It featured some decent game titles mostly made from the standard SEUCK. There were a couple of Sideways Scrolling SEUCK entries also a true winner: Synthia in the Cyber Crypt by Eleanor Burns






The SEUCK Vault
A SEUCK fan web site, run by Andrew Fisher, featuring a large archive of previously seen/unreleased SEUCK games. Also includes some additional articles, tips and tricks.

SEUCK School
My very own SEUCK enhancement tips page, including various POKEs and assembly / ML listings to help boost the improvement of SEUCK game creations. Also includes the C64 framework for SEUCK, and a few other cool tips.

Sideways Scrolling SEUCK
Jon Well's adaptation of the original Shoot Em Up Construction Kit. Create C64 games, which can scroll across the screen instead of downwards. Also comes with an example game demo called 'Breakthrough'. Current version only scrolls from left to the right, but is still worth checking out. Included on the page, Imaginator and Nyaaaah! 11, for you to play or work files, which you can muck around with.

Martin Piper's SEUCK Redux Framework
Martin Piper's open source framework for SEUCK games, and other bits. With this frame work, you are able to make SEUCK games more stable, and use better pixel perfect collision. You will be required to use the ACME cross assembler compiler (Martin's version is available with his full download pacakge), and a lot of programming knowledge.

Italian SEUCK Tutorial Page
SEUKC Tips on how to make a SEUCK game in Italian by Gaetano and Aldo Chiummo

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