Vestigial
Vestigial is a single player "Quad-stick" action mech-style arcade game made by Robin Lloyd-Miller and others.
Gameplay
Description
In Vestigial, the player assumes the role of a gargantuan plant monster (unnamed), whose goal is humanity's destruction. The player pilots the monster using "tank-style" controls to move, and can aim each arm to fire individually at targets. The player can pickup different powerups such as lasers and missiles. The game features four levels, that repeat and get harder. The game ends when the player loses three lives.
Tips & Tricks
There are several mechanics that are not mentioned in the attract mode.
- Dashing
- Dashing into an enemy or building will damage it.
- Dashing into enemy skulls or into blinking building debris will kick the object towards a targeted enemy, and explode on it.
- Firing
- Holding down triggers will make the arm fire faster, but the accuracy will also decrease.
Design & Construction
Cabinetry
Vestigial was a custom designed and built from scratch arcade cabinet. There are two versions.
Version 1
Completed in 2022, The first version was a standing arcade cabinet built primarily from 3/4" Maple plywood. The wood was primarily carved by a CNC endmill. The stickers are laminated and were printed by Sammel Group in Vermont. The video protective layer uses 'smokey' tempered glass.
The computer is a UDOO Bolt V8. The Joysticks plug, using DE-9 Connectors, into a custom board designed as a hat for a Arduino Pro Micro.
The Audio is a Logitech Z333 2.1 system, with the subwoofer in the bottom. The TV is an LG 24LM520D-WU.
Version 1 also features a coin door mech.
Version 2
completed in early 2025, The second version is a Bartop arcade cabinet built primarily from 3/4" Maple plywood. The wood was primarily carved by a CNC Endmill. The stickers were printed by Hall of Grafx in Rhode Island. The video protective layer uses 'smokey' tempered glass.
The Computer is also an UDOO Bolt V8. This cabinet cannibalized the Microcontroller and Joysticks from the first version.
the Audio interface is T-Molding's Arcade Game Audio Kit. The TV is also an LG 24LM520D-WU.
Custom Joysticks
Vestigial has two custom joysticks manufactured by SureGrip Controls. The joysticks have a face button, a trigger button, and an analogue thumbstick. They are one off joysticks and will likely never be manufactured again.
Accessibility
Vestigial Version 2 had an updated build which implements accessibility features which can be set using a QR scanner.
- Colorblind settings
- Toggle shooting vs holding triggers.
- removing screen shake.