Gianna

Gradius
Nintendo Entertainment System
Controller: CONTROL PAD / KEYBOARD / PLAYER'S CHOICE
Difficulty Level: Default
Play on: Real Hardware / Dedicated Console / Emulation OK! ✔
Squad Challenge ends 11:59 pm PST July 14th, 2022
Nominated by @Justin
 
 
Objective
Play for the highest possible score using the difficulty settings defined in the challenge. Post a photo or YouTube video of your score in this thread. Scores must be achieved between July 1st through July 14th, 2022. Screen captures are not allowed as they are more easily manipulated for falsified scores. Multiple submissions are permitted. The player with the highest score at the end of the competition is the victor!
 
Eligibility
Anyone can join in. All players are welcome!
 
Play Rules
Games may be played on real hardware, Flashback / Mini console, or emulation, using any controller or keyboard, following all rules and game settings defined in the challenge. Choosing between real hardware or emulation, and choosing which controller to play on is part of formulating your strategy. Enhancements, rewinds and hacked versions of this game are not allowed.
 
Difficulty Level
We are playing Gradius using the default settings. Simply Press Start to Play.
 
Fair Play
Your integrity is everything. Players should play fairly, be honest, and have fun! Falsified scores will result in your immediate removal from the site. It goes without saying that we will not allow cheats, hacks, cartridge frying, enhancements, rewinds, deceitful photo manipulation, subterfuge, or any other unfair advantage. Everybody hates a cheater.
 
More
To review detailed rules on how to play, please visit the High Score Squad page here: 
 
 
Message
Welcome to our 129th Squad Challenge, the second Squad Challenge for this year's Pizza Party Summer! Atari I/O Summer Pizza Party is now PIZZA PARTY SUMMER and runs from June 15th through July 31st! For this Squad Challenge we're playing one of the most definitive side scrolling shoot 'em up games of the 8-bit era: Gradius for NES! Is this where your love of shoot-'em-ups started? This Squad Challenge will run through July 14th, 2022. ROM and Instruction Manual are provided below. Good luck!! 
 
 

 
 
Gradius.nes Gradius.pdf

Good job @greenween.  I threw down the gauntlet and he picked it up and slapped my @ss with it!   
 

Awesome job, Green!

Congrats to @greenween for the top score!

Congratulations Greenween!
 
Congratulations to "The Mayor" @greenween on becoming Atari I/O's reigning Space Invaders champ!! We played Space Invaders on default settings and had plenty of scores roll over, but it was a fun event and worth spending all this "nerd cred" on rolled scores! @greenween rolled his score twice came in 1st Place with his outstanding score of 23,125 played on real hardware. "The Don" @RickR was hot on Greenween's tail with his out-of-this-world score of 21,945 points, taking 2nd Place in our Final Standings. @Dinobot711 takes 3rd Place in our Final Standings with his incredible score of 8,790 points, @TrekMD takes 4th Place with 6,620, and @Atari 5200 Guy rounds things out in 5th with a solid showing of 6,225 points. @Gianna and I both attempted to join this Squad Challenge and unfortunately my Space Invaders cartridge bit the dust, so we're submitting official scores of "0 points" as we both at least tried to participate. Awesome scores all around, and I hope all of you enjoyed playing Space Invaders! As I always, I'd like to encourage @greenween to post his new high score on the Scoreboard to make sure this Challenge continues! We'll be seeing you in the next event as Pizza Party Summer marches on all summer long!
NOTE: Our next High Score Squad is Gradius for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Be there!
 
 

 
 

 

Oh no! @Gianna and I had both intended to post scores for this Squad Challenge, but my Space Invaders cartridge seems to have bit the dust! I gave it a good cleaning earlier this week. I keep most of my games in nice shape, I think this one is roached. I'll have to call @Video 61 and order another one. If I can get a score in tonight I will. Good luck to everybody playing!
 

Decided to do a little better. Flipped it to 23,125. Played on the 7800 with a 2600 joystick.
 

8790

21,945 - I rolled the score twice.  I give you my nerd-honor word.  Once you get the pattern down, it's only a lack of focus that causes death. 
 
 

I tried to take a picture before the score rolled while still playing but ended up dying because of it.  9935 on 1/b.  I'll try again later and you'll just have to trust me that I rolled the score because I'm not coordinated enough to take the picture while playing
 

7695
This time playing with a genesis controller

That looks like a flower, not a Space Invader.  Now we know where ET is.

I just played this.  Here is the score I got...
 

That's what I do.

Once the shields are gone I start each level with the joystick pushed to the right and the fire button down. Taking out the bottom 2 rows all the way across, then all the way back to the left for the final row. Smooth sailing from there. 🙂

This game is easy to roll the score on default settings once you figure out a pattern.
I didn't roll the score but did get a satisfying score.
 

I figured out a strategy when I was 12 that can pretty much let you play until you're just ready to quit. Snapped a pic right before the score rolled. 9,960.

Cool. This was my most played Atari game growing up so I'm pretty good.  Lol

I considered making this an "Ultimate Space Invaders" Challenge, with difficulty cranked up to the highest levels. I chose to go with default settings to keep gameplay relaxed, easy and accessible to all, since we have so many events going on at one time. I wanted everybody to be able to hop between events, sample different games, and have time for a little bit of everything. So we kept difficulty levels at a normal level. I forgot that might lead to a rolling score on Space Invaders. Let's do our best to be honest and have fun  

@greenween Yikes. I was hoping that wouldn't be an issue. Cheap Atari and their five digit scoring! When it comes to rolling scores we have to go with "the honor system". There are no prizes for this event and it's just for "nerd cred" so hopefully nobody would lie. Let's do the best we can, stay honest, and remember this is about having a good time with friends in the forums.
Providing a photo of your score somewhere around 99,000+ before rolling the score would go a long way to substantiating any claim to a rolled score.
We actually addressed this in the "How To Play - High Score Squad" rules. It says:
 
 
Rolling Scores
We count rolling scores. If you can roll the score, keep on playing as far as you can possibly go. Keep track of your rolls and post your best score. There are no bonuses added to your score in this contest, we are playing on raw scores. 
 
Be Honest, Have Integrity
We're operating on the honor system. I trust that you are all submitting verifiable scores, and we'll be able to spot a Photoshopped image. Dishonest players will be disqualified. 
 
 
You can read more here:
 

Question. I scored 11,050 and realized the score flipped at 10k. How can we handle this?

3410
Fun event! My best so far 

I'm in!  Definitely love me some old school Space Invades.

Let's get the word out about Pizza Party Summer!
The more people participating the more fun the challenge!
Spread the word and invite friends all summer long!