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Dogpatch (Bally Pro Arcade, 1980)

Mezrabad

Entry posted by Mezrabad

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Dogpatch (Bally Pro Arcade, 1980)

 

I could only find one game as having come out in 1980 for the Bally Professional Arcade - Dogpatch. In playing this game I was reminded of just how far video games have come over the last three decades. So, I created a video that serves to illustrate the vast gulf of differences between a game like this from 1980 and a game like the one to which I've chosen to compare it from a current generation console.

 

Hmm, my YouTube link broke with the forum upgrade. Bummer. Until I figure that out here's a direct link:

 

Dogpatch session with Daughter (Edit, Jun 2022 -- Ugh -- breaks my heart that I may have lost this video. Not only was it something my daughter and I were doing together, but I can make cool banjo sounds with my mouth.)

 

See how far we've come? Before, in 1980, we were pretending to be rednecks sitting out in the backyard shooting at cans with our shotguns, now we're using sophisticated Wii Remote Controllers to shoot at cans which we now know should be recycled. Also different, is that the cans in the Wii version crumple slightly with each shooting, subtly implying that being shot at multiple times may cause things to be blown apart. That realism just wasn't apparent in the 1980 version.

 

Dogpatch is actually a hoot and a holler. It's fast paced, it's challenging - and when you and your co-player get a volley going - it promotes giggling. If I remember my MAME correctly, this is another title that began life in the arcades. The home version is easily as fun. The Bally controller is well suited to the game, as the gun-handle-with-trigger styled controller suits the flavor of the game perfectly. The paddle portion of the Bally controller is also good for controlling the angle of your redneck's shotgun. My daughter and I played two games of "99 Cans" each for the video - and neither of us complained. My son was disappointed to have missed it after seeing the video and has insisted on playing Dogpatch with me later. Sadly, rare is the old game that my children will request playing more than once. Dogpatch is one of those exceptions.

 

By the way, try playing Dogpatch in an emulater... it just isn't the same! You don't have the feel of the controller grip, the trigger action or the smoothness of the paddle rotation. While I'm all for emulating the games which I can't find or afford, Dogpatch is a perfect example of a home version of a game best experienced on the original console's hardware and controllers. Emulators just cannot do it justice.

 

I hope the video will suffice to act as a few thousand words cause I'm done for now. :)

 

I loved being able to put that video effect in with iMovie, not to mention edit the shots down to just the highlights of the gameplay. Before I got the new computer, I had no way to edit the movies and had to do everything in one shot. I'm so glad I don't have to do it that way any more!

 

Next entry we start working through 1980 on the Atari VCS namely: Space Invaders!

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thegoldenband

Great post. It's extremely useful to know when real hardware makes a big difference. Many games lose very little if anything from emulation, but others really do need the original gear, especially the controllers, to get the right "feel".

 

It's also useful to know which games are outright fun, and that game looks like a blast. Nice video editing, too, and your daughter's comments are priceless. Looking forward to your VCS entries!

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Mezrabad
Great post. It's extremely useful to know when real hardware makes a big difference. Many games lose very little if anything from emulation, but others really do need the original gear, especially the controllers, to get the right "feel".

 

It's also useful to know which games are outright fun, and that game looks like a blast. Nice video editing, too, and your daughter's comments are priceless. Looking forward to your VCS entries!

 

Thanks! I was spurred to comment on the emulationability (yes, improving the english language, one made-up word at at time!) of the title by a recent post in the forums about the cost of collecting for real vs. emulation. While I have no problem with emulation as a tool to investigate or even play old games that are hard to find (or pay for), I think anyone who wants to really get a feel for a game owes it to themselves to check it out on the original hardware. Especially games like this one.

 

Dogpatch was always on my list for a possible 2600 conversion. I even did a little tec-demo several years ago :ponder:

 

With the Atari Paddles? That would totally work!

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Nathan Strum

Personally, I liked the banjo music the best. :)

 

Very fun review! I'd also like to see Manuel create a 2600 port of Dogpatch. Sadly though, he's taken to hanging around with a young hussy, instead. :ponder:

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Cybergoth
Dogpatch was always on my list for a possible 2600 conversion. I even did a little tec-demo several years ago :ponder:
With the Atari Paddles? That would totally work!

 

I think I'd go into total controller mayhem and support everything: Paddles, joysticks, driving controllers, even the lightgun :D

 

Very fun review! I'd also like to see Manuel create a 2600 port of Dogpatch. Sadly though, he's taken to hanging around with a young hussy, instead. :D

 

Hehe... unfortunately I'm not even getting around to do that, lately. I see a long winter vacation coming though :)

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Mezrabad
I think I'd go into total controller mayhem and support everything: Paddles, joysticks, driving controllers, even the lightgun :ponder:

 

Wow, Lightgun support would be awesome!

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Nelio
now we're using sophisticated Wii Remote Controllers to shoot at cans which we now know should be recycled

lolol

 

Aaah, it's so nice to back reading your blog. Took me a while to finish 1979 and go through other systems and games from 1980 you don't cover here. Unfortunately, it also means and I'm getting close to the end of the blog. :( I need you back!

 

So, on to the game. I not only had to play it on the emulator, I had to play it alone. :-( So, yeah, I had a subpar experience. Thank god for that video of yours, or I wouldn't have the chance to get an idea of how much fun this game can be!

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