+Spaced Cowboy Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 So with the 1088XEL up and running my 6-year-old is getting just as enthusiastic as I used to be at 14 about the XL and its games. Anyone have suggestions for good games for young kids ? So far we've tried Gyruss, Elektraglide, Air Hockey and Boulderdash. Open to suggestions - nothing *too* violent please, though Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoestring Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Hardball is a great game for kids. I played it as a kid on the c64 but it's just as good on the Atari. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam242 Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Ducks Ahoy! is a fun, colorful children's game that I still enjoy having a relaxing go at myself every now and then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Spaced Cowboy Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 @shoestring: That one might be a bit old for him just yet - a bit too complicated on the reading/understanding scale. Thanks for the idea, though @adam242: That looks pretty good. Thanks Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Hardball is a great game for kids. I played it as a kid on the c64 but it's just as good on the Atari. Took me years to find a game on the A8 that was more graphically impressive. I still show this game when speaking to people that didn't grow up with this generation of hardware. Sadly, I doubt I could get my nephew (13 yrs old) to give it more than 30 seconds look. But he'll play Minecraft for weeks on end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoestring Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 How about something more simple like this fantastic Time Pilot port ? http://www.vintageisthenewold.com/time-pilot-after-35-years-the-atari-8-bit-computers-get-an-awesome-port/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Spaced Cowboy Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 @shoestring: The "Time Pilot" port looks pretty much ideal Cheers Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Thag Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Bosconian is phenomenal. Blue Max would be another good one. Dark Chambers is fun multiplayer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Spaced Cowboy Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 Bosconian is phenomenal. Blue Max would be another good one. Dark Chambers is fun multiplayer. Cool thanks - all those three look pretty good ideas to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 My kids are now 8 and 9: their current favourites on the A8 are, by far, Super Pac-Man (5200 port) and Pac-Man Arcade. I'd also recommend giving Spare Change, Drol, and Keystone Kapers a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrathchild Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Clowns and Balloons, Pooyan, Shooting Arcade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Spaced Cowboy Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 "Spare Change" and "Clowns and Ballons", were new ones for me, but all those look like good contenders Thanks and keep 'em coming Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 And speaking of shooting games, I'd definitely recommend Barnyard Blaster for the kiddoes if you've got a lightgun. Yes, the XG-1 is a terrible crime against technology, and accuracy is iffy, but I've always loved it. Crystal Castles is also one of the best and great for kids with its fairy-tale theme and graphics. And this list wouldn't be complete without BC's Quest for Tires, which still has the best cartoony graphics of any A8 game. When your child is older, (s)he'll love the Spy vs. Spy series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Spaced Cowboy Posted March 22, 2018 Author Share Posted March 22, 2018 I'm not sure how I forgot Crystal Castles! We don't have a light-gun, and I can't see my wife going for me getting one either (she's pretty anti-guns-for-kids). I only ever played BC's quest on the TI99/4A (the machine my parents bought for Xmas because "it looked nicer" when I was a kid. I got an Atari the next Xmas Spy vs Spy (and II) are definitely on the horizon, but yeah, he's too young for that one just yet. Frogger is definitely one of the favourites at the moment Thanks for the suggestions, all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Thag Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 I'll second Spare Change, there isn't really anything else like it. Played it a ton in grade school. Both Jumpman games are great too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetick1 Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 (edited) My 7 year old son's favorite game is Ghostbusters. It was a bit difficult for him at first but he learned to catch ghosts. He likes me to finish the game when the Marshmallow man shows up. We play it on my C64 and also on his tablet using VICE. Looks like there is an Atari XL/XE version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph87Lftez5w Frogger , Frogger II , Qbert, Pac-Man, Donky Kong, Park Patrol and Dig Dug have very little violence and my son likes to play them. He has a pretty new 2DS XL but still likes to play above games... When he gets frustrated with a 3DS game playing on his own he says "I want play the simple games now." Edited March 22, 2018 by thetick1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 (edited) Nibbler and River Rat are good for all ages Or take a look at any of the paddles games, they are usually simple and fun. Edited March 22, 2018 by therealbountybob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Have you browsed through the Spinnaker Software library? Perhaps they're a bit too educational, but the games seem tailored to children. http://www.atarimania.com/pgelstsoft.awp?system=8&type=G&publisher=1436&step=25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
advfan Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Matchboxes. A Memory match type of game, simple graphics, but easy to learn and also has a two player mode to encourage competition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 ...River Rat are good for all ages This is a pretty neat little game. But it'd be a lot better if a few things were changed. 1. Only 2 specific speeds and unrealistic switching between the two. Motor boats have have throttles, just as cars and other gas (or electric) powered transportation devices. 2 specific speeds (or more precisely, 2 specific velocities; a 2 speed boat can travel at a number of different velocities) keeps the game from having much dynamics; and the way the boat changes it's velocity from one to the other, almost instantaneously, makes it feel all the more cheaply done. 2. Exploding when contacting the ramps too far off to one side. I probably don't need to explain why this is wrong, but there are plenty of options that would work better than just having the boat explode. I'd think much more highly of the game if the boat would careen off to the side; then it could just explode when it hit land or whatever (see #3); it wouldn't be too hard to do. 3. Immediately exploding when touching land. I suppose -- along with the 2 problems above -- this was done just to make programming the game more simple. I don't find it too annoying, because you see it in a lot of games; but obviously a boat is not always going to explode when it's grounded -- especially when it's traveling at a lower speed. A damage meter might be nice. It could probably just slow you down until your damage meter was depleted. 4. Too long of a wait to start driving your boat. I suppose this sounds like I'm nitpicking, but I really don't need that much time to prepare to start driving my next boat. I get the idea: it's suppose be like I'm revving up my boat before taking off; but my boat doesn't even appear on screen when it's revving, which makes it seem a little silly. Now if they showed the boat with some smoke coming out of the back end, I probably wouldn't mind. But if not, it'd be nice if it was about 4 seconds shorter. Lastly, just maybe a question at this point: does anything else ever happen? I honestly haven't played it long enough to find out, mainly because I get too annoyed by the things listed above to be able to continue long enough to find out; but I might, if there's something worth looking forward too. I guess this is possibly some type of budget title. So, it's expected to be lacking on some details. But I find it has enough potential (so much that I spent the time writing all these points out). If nothing else, I think it'd be a good basis for a new game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Funny you say that about River Rat as that was the inspiration for my Ramp Rage game, which was originally going to be called River Ramp Rage ! 1. variable speed - yes 2. ok can still crash on the ramps but you can steer into them more 3. you have inbuilt shield allowing contact with most things 4. less delay! 5. Lots and lots of other game elements and then some! You forgot crashing into things from long jumps with no ability to control things; now you can fly Though Ramp Rage is way too hard for a 6 year old but River Rat is not Forgot to mention my "Gwobby Strikes Back!" has a kiddies difficulty mode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 (edited) Funny you say that about River Rat as that was the inspiration for my Ramp Rage game, which was originally going to be called River Ramp Rage ! I am aware of Ramp Rage, and I thought that may have been the case (inspired by River Rat). 1. variable speed - yes Yes, better, with the gradual speed increase (better looking boat graphic too). Although the maximum speed is not too high (or maybe you get power-ups for that?). 2. ok can still crash on the ramps but you can steer into them more What do you mean by "steer into them more"? You mean it allows more time for you to correct not being entirely on the ramp, and thus prevent crashing? 3. you have inbuilt shield allowing contact with most things Yes, you've got that feature as a good improvement over River Rat's "crash on contact" method. 4. less delay! Yes, you've got that part improved on as well. 5. Lots and lots of other game elements and then some! Yes, I see you've really got a lot of variety in the game. The only thing is (I will be honest here), that is one thing that kept me from playing the game more than a few tries. For me, the number of obstacles and things going on was way too overwhelming for a 1st level. In my opinion, if things were simplified to start and simpler to play (less challenging) then more could be added as it goes along. That's one thing I like about River Rat, it's simplicity -- except some things are just a little over simplified. I know some players are sophisticated enough to deal with a lot all at once. But I'm a more casual player, and I much prefer when things are quite easy, at first, to get me started. Then I'm more inclined to stick with it as things progress in difficulty, when I can feel like I have some successes under my belt. Also, it's a matter of learning how to control some new vehicle that I've got no experience with. I like it when I can find out what it's all about in a more open terrain, without all the obstacles hampering my time needed to feel the vehicle out. Once I know how the vehicle handles, then tougher terrain will be easier to deal with later. Don't get me wrong, the game has always looked really neat to me. But this is really a general gripe of mine about a lot of games out there: they have no sense of (pardon the pun) ramping up the gameplay. Even some of the games that I really like a lot, they will at least give you one easier level, for instance, then suddenly it's bloody murder and level 2 is nigh impossible. You forgot crashing into things from long jumps with no ability to control things; now you can fly Actually, I would expect that from a boat jumping game and have no problem with it. However, you've taken and interesting and humorous approach to it. It comes off pretty cool. Another question I have about Ramp Rage is why you chose to make the game play in a downward direction rather than up? It feels more natural, to me, having the nose of the boat point away from me rather than towards. And I will say, this is another thing that I prefer in River Rat. Edited March 23, 2018 by MrFish 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Spaced Cowboy Posted March 23, 2018 Author Share Posted March 23, 2018 ok, so to summarise so far: Gyruss Elektraglide Air Hockey Boulderdash Frogger Ducks Ahoy Time Pilot Bosconian Blue Max Dark Chambers Pacman (and variants, eg: Super Pac-man and Pac-Man Arcade) Spare Change Drol Keystone Capers Clowns & Balloons Pooyan Crystal Castles BC's quest for Tires Q*Bert Donkey Kong Park Patrol Dig Dug Nibbler River Rat Spinnaker s/w. - these *do* look a bit educational, but worth a shot. Ghostbusters is still a bit beyond him maybe. There's a bunch of stuff at the beginning that's text-based and we're still in Kindergarten. Reading is an ongoing skill Shooting Arcade, I doubt that'd pass muster. Thanks very much for all the input, people - I really appreciate it Simon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Two more for consideration before you close off that list: Bristles, which has lots of whimsy for the kids (and Brenda the Brat), along with fast action for adults and some classical music (points to argue for the spouse!), and Mr. Do!, which hides fast, exciting gameplay behind cartoony graphics and delightful music. Its so much better in all ways than Dig Dug (also excellent), even if the concept of a digging clown who drops apples on Creeps is somewhat disturbing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snicklin Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Spaced Cowboy: Elektraglide? As good a game as that is technically, I could never recommend that to a 6 yr old! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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