NE146 Posted January 23, 2003 Share Posted January 23, 2003 Anyone know the story behind these 2 pacmans? (see attached). Pacman (Atari 82 alt).atr: has the same dot-eating sound as the 5200 version and has an attract mode that shows the ghosts names. Pacman (Atari 82).atr has a different dot-eating sound that's more faithful to the arcade version. Since I didn't own an 8-bit back in the day. Which one of these was the standard version that most people had? I had always known that the 8-bit Pacman differed from the 5200 version in that it was lacking the intermissions, but I had never heard anyone mention pacman's chomping sound was different (and BETTER than the 5200's i.m.o.) as well.. thoughts? pacman__atari_82_alt_.zip pacman__atari_82_.zip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEBRO Posted January 23, 2003 Share Posted January 23, 2003 I would like to know the story behind 8-bit Pac-man too. There was also a Datasoft version Which came first? Did Atari get Datasoft to program it? Did Datasoft sell it to Atari? Did Datasoft just rip Atari off and stick their name on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major_Havoc Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 (edited) I have now decided that Pacman (Atari 82).atr is the superior version simply because of the accuracy of the sounds Is there any chance to HACK that sound into the Atari 5200 version. If so THAT would be the definitive of 8-Bit Pacman with 1. Accurate Sound, and; 2. Intermissions Edited July 8, 2005 by Major_Havoc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.atarimania.com Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 (edited) It seems the very first version of Pac-Man had the intermissions... They were actually removed because the game was too big for the allotted 8K cartridge size. The code WITH the intermissions was later ported to the 5200. The Datasoft release was licensed by Namco and HAS the intermissions so they probably just took the old code by Joe Hellesen. The game sold in the UK by US Gold is exactly the same. There are also two weird versions, one where ghosts will block the tunnels and another one where you don't get an extra Pac-Man at 10,000 points. IIRC, they don't have the intermissions... -- Atari Frog http://www.atarimania.com Edited July 8, 2005 by www.atarimania.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 As far as I can tell, none of the Atari released versions have the realistic dot-eating sound. There's also 2 versions of the AI. The 5200 version has much more complex ghost behavior than the 8-bit version. I've also seen a file claiming to be an 8-bit port of the 5200 version but it is, in fact, the 8-bit version with the intermissions added. At one time I was working on documenting all the alterations in the different versions... I wonder if James Andreasen wrote all the versions, or just worked on polishing the 5200 one. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted July 8, 2005 Author Share Posted July 8, 2005 As far as I can tell, none of the Atari released versions have the realistic dot-eating sound. Then what is that 2nd image of then which does have the realistic sound? i.e. Pacman (Atari 82).atr. Is it a hack? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 As far as I can tell, none of the Atari released versions have the realistic dot-eating sound. Then what is that 2nd image of then which does have the realistic sound? i.e. Pacman (Atari 82).atr. Is it a hack? 888510[/snapback] I'm not sure. I've never seen a genuine cartridge that made that sound. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted July 9, 2005 Share Posted July 9, 2005 The 8bit version with intermissions was leaked way back when the cart was released - I had it - but lost it - and now have it again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted July 11, 2005 Share Posted July 11, 2005 As far as I can tell, none of the Atari released versions have the realistic dot-eating sound. Then what is that 2nd image of then which does have the realistic sound? i.e. Pacman (Atari 82).atr. Is it a hack? 888510[/snapback] I'm not sure. I've never seen a genuine cartridge that made that sound. -Bry 888511[/snapback] Odd - the cart I got back in 82 with my 400 has those sounds. It wasn't until my BBS days a few years later that I got a version with intermissions. I never heard a version with those crappy sounds before. Stephen Anderson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geosteve Posted July 11, 2005 Share Posted July 11, 2005 I don't see why cart size would limit having intermissions, the Ms Pac-Man cart has all 4 mazes and all the intermissions of the coin-op, and sound perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FujiSkunk Posted July 11, 2005 Share Posted July 11, 2005 I don't see why cart size would limit having intermissions, the Ms Pac-Man cart has all 4 mazes and all the intermissions of the coin-op, and sound perfectly. 889562[/snapback] Sure, a cartridge containing all the intermissions and more faithful sounds could have been released, but it would have been bigger than the cartridge that was actually released. The company had decided to save on production cost, and skimp on a few memory chips. By the time Ms. Pac-Man came around, either the production of larger cartridges had gotten cheaper, or the company figured the extra financing would result in bigger sales. The same thing happened on the 2600. Pac-Man is in a 4K cartridge, and reportedly the company balked at the idea of an 8K Pac-Man. By the time Ms. Pac-Man came around, the company was more open to publishing 8K games, and the result was a much better game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carmel_andrews Posted July 11, 2005 Share Posted July 11, 2005 Dataosft's Pacman only came about once Atari's licencing deal with namco ran it's course (circa 1984/5) Additionally datasoft's version of pacman only made it to cassette and disk (not cart) like Atari's version (datasoft's version had the 'infamous' U.S.G scrolly type advertising (where most of the titles mentioned were never going to be released anyway) Additionally there were 2 or 3 different versions of dig dug (again datasoft/atari respectively) and two versions of pole position Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velcro_SP Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 I never cared for the 8bit versions of Pacman. One of the things I didn't much like was that the movement was not smooth, I think the players jump two pixels at a time. Another thing was IIRC that the playfield was small given the screen space available. I'd contrast that with Ms. Pacman for the Atari 2600 which is first rate in every possible respect. Even given the hardware limits, it competes well with any other Ms. Pacman or Pacman game. I recall a Pacman-type game in BASIC from the guy (and his girlfriend I think) who authored Attack on the Death Star. What the heck was that called... "Munch" something? Ah, but the guys name was David Plotkin. David Plotkin and Maria Montes. I always wanted to try that Pacman game again, or try compiling it because it was slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 So are there two different cartridge releases for 8-bit Pac-Man? It happened with Dig Dug, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened with Pac-Man as well. I'll have to check what my cartridge does tonight. Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FujiSkunk Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 Another thing was IIRC that the playfield was small given the screen space available. Small? The playfield took up almost the entire screen. If anything, you could call it "stretched" or "disproportionate" compared to the arcade game, but it was anything but small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 I never cared for the 8bit versions of Pacman. One of the things I didn't much like was that the movement was not smooth, I think the players jump two pixels at a time. Another thing was IIRC that the playfield was small given the screen space available. I'd contrast that with Ms. Pacman for the Atari 2600 which is first rate in every possible respect. Even given the hardware limits, it competes well with any other Ms. Pacman or Pacman game. I recall a Pacman-type game in BASIC from the guy (and his girlfriend I think) who authored Attack on the Death Star. What the heck was that called... "Munch" something? Ah, but the guys name was David Plotkin. David Plotkin and Maria Montes. I always wanted to try that Pacman game again, or try compiling it because it was slow. 890249[/snapback] Nir Dary has a neat multi-cart with several of the best A8 games on it that he's dubbed Pac-Mania. It's certainly handy for comparing the various Pac-iterations that made it to the A8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 So are there two different cartridge releases for 8-bit Pac-Man? It happened with Dig Dug, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened with Pac-Man as well. I'll have to check what my cartridge does tonight. Tempest 890263[/snapback] I've heard rumours that multiple versions of Qix were released for the A8, but have only seen the "standard" (not the "5200 version") on an official cart myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 So are there two different cartridge releases for 8-bit Pac-Man? It happened with Dig Dug, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened with Pac-Man as well. I'll have to check what my cartridge does tonight. Tempest 890263[/snapback] I've heard rumours that multiple versions of Qix were released for the A8, but have only seen the "standard" (not the "5200 version") on an official cart myself. 890362[/snapback] Yes I've heard the same thing. When I asked about it I was told that one version had a bug that was fixed (and apperently only appeared at the higher levels). I don't think the 5200 version was ever ported to the 8-bit. Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geosteve Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 While on the mention of differences between 5200 and 8-bit cartridge games, I'm sure you noticed that 'Space Invaders' also has noticable changes. Unlike the 8-bit game, the 5200 version restores the bunkers and has changing invader graphics, and removed the spaceship on the left of the screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartwhois Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Anyone know the story behind these 2 pacmans? (see attached). Pacman (Atari 82 alt).atr: has the same dot-eating sound as the 5200 version and has an attract mode that shows the ghosts names. Pacman (Atari 82).atr has a different dot-eating sound that's more faithful to the arcade version. Since I didn't own an 8-bit back in the day. Which one of these was the standard version that most people had? I had always known that the 8-bit Pacman differed from the 5200 version in that it was lacking the intermissions, but I had never heard anyone mention pacman's chomping sound was different (and BETTER than the 5200's i.m.o.) as well.. thoughts? 210580[/snapback] man..what the heck with your avatar!!! got your legs blwon off...so all you do all day is streach out your noodle??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 It's an actual Atari-2600 sprite (now you know what they do when the console is off). It's from Beat'em & Eat'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted July 14, 2005 Author Share Posted July 14, 2005 Man..what the heck with your avatar!!! got your legs blwon off...so all you do all day is streach out your noodle??? Man.. that's been my modus operandi since day one! So back on subject. Who's gonna make the Atari 5200 hacked version with the correct "wakka wakka wakka pacman sound that's found in second 8-bit version above? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fres Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Has anyone ever seen a file version of the 8k Pac-Man (cartridge ver)? I'm almost sure I had it on disk back in the 80s, but even with all of the versions of pac-man floating around on the internet, I have not found it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogstar_robot Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Has anyone ever seen a file version of the 8k Pac-Man (cartridge ver)? I'm almost sure I had it on disk back in the 80s, but even with all of the versions of pac-man floating around on the internet, I have not found it. You old necromancer you. http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/necromancer.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fres Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Necromancer? Cool. That was an old thread, I must admit. Just wanted to make sure there was plenty of background info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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