Williams 8-bit games

[+davidcalgary29]

Could anyone give me a complete list of the Williams arcade games that were released (either by Williams or another company) for the 8-bits?

 

Thanks!

[Callipygous]

I can only think of the obvious ones - Defender, Joust and Robotron. I think Sinistar was rumored but not released. Hmm -- Stargate was also NR, but the proto is available.

[ZylonBane]

Kind of sad that the 2600 actually got more Williams ports than the 8-bits.

 

Anyone else here played Zone Ranger? That proves the 8-bits could have done a dead-perfect version of Sinistar.

 

Little-known fact about the computer version of Defender... it was actually written on an Apple II! That sure explains why it uses none of the Atari's special graphics features.

[El Destructo]

Off the top of my head:

 

Williams games that are available for the 8-bit:

Defender

Joust

Robotron: 2084

Moon Patrol (Irem developed, Williams branded)

 

Williams games that are not available for the 8-bit:

Stargate

Bubbles

Mystic Marathon

Blaster

Inferno (prototype)

Splat! (prototype)

and all the later-era games: Smash TV, Narc, Mortal Kombat, etc.

[Callipygous]

@zylonbane

 

Yes! Good point about Zone Ranger. I am not sure why Sinistar was cancelled, but no proto has surfaced. Might have been during the chaotic times and just never got started. It is on the master list according to DP. However, Atari 800 Defender is considered the best version of the era. Its true that the programmer, Steven Baker, did an unpublished Apple II version as an exercise. He might have used some logic from the Apple game, but didn't he have to use Atari graphics ( Antic modes etc) in the game? Later Atarisoft released an Apple II version, Not sure if thats Baker's or not.

 

@el destructo

Right! Forgot about Moon Patrol. I'll have to check but I don't remember Atari crediting Williams the same way they did Nintendo (which was labeled on all the Donkey Kong carts). Stargate is available at B&C. I have never played it but is supposed to be a finished proto - also by Steven Baker.

[ZylonBane]

Atari 800 Defender is considered the best version of the era.

Which is sad, really, because it has so many flaws and shortcomings. Zero use of player/missile graphics or DLIs. Lots of flicker in the animation. Wimpy sound effects. Many of the enemies don't even look right (the basic Lander being the most egregious example).

 

And check out this quote by the author--

I still have my T-card with 5200 STARGATE.... Its exactly like the standup arcade machine...

I think anyone who's played the unreleased Stargate ROM (yes, that's the one he's talking about) can attest to how far off this statement is.

 

It's a damn shame the guy behind DropZone never got the chance to do an official Defender or Stargate port.

[Tempest]

Callipygous wrote:  

Atari 800 Defender is considered the best version of the era.  

Which is sad, really, because it has so many flaws and shortcomings. Zero use of player/missile graphics or DLIs. Lots of flicker in the animation. Wimpy sound effects. Many of the enemies don't even look right (the basic Lander being the most egregious example).

 

Actually I like the 400/800 and 5200 versions of Defender. I've played many other more "authentic" versions on various systems, yet I always come back to this one. I think you're being a bit harsh.

 

 

And check out this quote by the author-- Steve Baker wrote:  

I still have my T-card with 5200 STARGATE.... Its exactly like the standup arcade machine...  

I think anyone who's played the unreleased Stargate ROM (yes, that's the one he's talking about) can attest to how far off this statement is.

 

Actually I did a short interview with Steve a few months ago. I asked him the same question and he seemed to think that he had a later version of the game. He said he would dig it out some time in the future when had the time.

 

Tempest

[Avram]

Apparently, Archer McClean DID write a version of Defender and has also written an updated version of Dropzone. There's more information in a U.K. magazine called Retro which I'll dig out and post once I get back to Ireland

[video game addict]

Avram That avatar ROCKS man!!

[+therealbountybob]

We're playing William's Blaster in the High Score Club (Fandal has XEX) along with the exceptional Atari Blast! Yes, you can post scores

 

Anyone know more about Blaster? Comments on Atarimania say it's a proto, but it seems really good indeed - anything missing? Can't find any Atari instructions but The International Arcade Museum has good info on the arcade game (strange eh?!)

[Tempest]

It is indeed a proto. Read about it here: http://www.atariprotos.com/8bit/software/blaster/blaster.htm

[carlsson]

So prototype only because Williams wanted an arcade game before a home version, not prototype because the game still was lacking features or buggy? From what I played so far in the HSC, it looks great with a lot of blasting going on so I agree with the article that had it been released for the 400/800 and perhaps 5200 in 1983, it would probably have been spectacular though I don't know if Williams were interested in releasing games for home systems without the arcade connection. Perhaps under a different label, if they had one.

[+therealbountybob]

It is indeed a proto. Read about it here: http://www.atariprotos.com/8bit/software/blaster/blaster.htm

Thanks Tempest, that is a great write-up :thumbsup:

[Lord Thag]

I love Blaster, I play that one all the time.

 

Sinistar and Stargate are both really good on the 8-bit as well. The version of sinistar where the warrior AI is fixed is one of my most played titles on the 8-bit, so much so I have it on it's own cart.

I keep hoping someone will patch startgate to speed it up a bit, as all that's missing is a bit of optimizing. All the game's features are in place.

[+therealbountybob]

I love Blaster, I play that one all the time.

 

Sinistar and Stargate are both really good on the 8-bit as well. The version of sinistar where the warrior AI is fixed is one of my most played titles on the 8-bit, so much so I have it on it's own cart.

 

I keep hoping someone will patch startgate to speed it up a bit, as all that's missing is a bit of optimizing. All the game's features are in place.

Thanks for this, I don't even know if I've played SInistar so that will definitely feature in a future HSC poll.

Stargate (the defender one?) looks good too thanks

[carlsson]

According to Atari Protos, Stargate uses all the CPU capacity which causes the slowdown. It sounds like the entire game engine would need to be rewritten, or the CPU needs to be overclocked to make it run smoother, though I would suppose the custom chips and perhaps RAM would want a word if the CPU wants to go faster, like a 4 MHz version.

[Mclaneinc]

As with some proto's its almost certainly not optimised, I'm sure it could be done but who wants to spend that sort of time debugging code with nothing but raw code to go on.....One that may stay that way for good..

[Lord Thag]

As with some proto's its almost certainly not optimised, I'm sure it could be done but who wants to spend that sort of time debugging code with nothing but raw code to go on.....One that may stay that way for good..

Depends, sometimes there's a doable fix like with Sinistar (this is the fixed AI version for anyone wanting to play it):

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/257536-sinistar-ai-fixed-atarimax-1mb-cart-file/?hl=%2Bsinistar+%2Bwarrior+%2Bai&do=findComment&comment=3609929

 

Many times some of the more tech-inclined folks can patch a game to run better. Another example would be the patched Star Raiders that suffers from way less slowdown.

 

It probably won't happen... but one can always hope. Stargate in particular is soooo close to being a great port.

[Goochman]

I just played a game of Bubbles today - I forgot about this oddball in the Williams catalog. Looks like it could be a pretty easy conversion for the ole 8bit.