adamchevy Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 (edited) Will we ever see a re-release of First Star Software Games on the 5200 available for purchase? Bristles - Released in 2004 Flip Flop - released in 2005. Boulder Dash Vol 2 Rockford’s Revenge- was released in 2005. The Original Boulder Dash - Released in 2006. Has enough time passed that it would be worth doing another limited release of these games? The cartridge art and box art is already completed. It would be nice to be able to play these games without paying $250 for each one on eBay. It would be great to have a few more homebrews available to purchase for the 5200 through the Atariage store...hint..hint. Edited September 7, 2018 by adamchevy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamchevy Posted September 7, 2018 Author Share Posted September 7, 2018 (edited) Whoops, I should have posted this in the main 5200 section. If any of the powers that be could move this for me, that would be great. If not, I don't want to double post this, because double posts are annoying. Edited September 7, 2018 by adamchevy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 (edited) report your own thread and post numbers to ask it be moved to the pertinent area Edited September 7, 2018 by _The Doctor__ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DamonicFury Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 If you have a great deal of patience, these do pop up on Ebay from time to time for less than $100. It took me a few years, but I got most of them that way. (I was lucky enough to get a few of them from atari2600.com before they sold out.) But I'm all for a re-release if someone can negotiate one with First Star Software. I would love to see more 5200 fans have access to these games! By the way, there were two other First Star re-releases: Flip & Flop and Rent Wars. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamchevy Posted September 7, 2018 Author Share Posted September 7, 2018 (edited) If you have a great deal of patience, these do pop up on Ebay from time to time for less than $100. It took me a few years, but I got most of them that way. (I was lucky enough to get a few of them from atari2600.com before they sold out.) But I'm all for a re-release if someone can negotiate one with First Star Software. I would love to see more 5200 fans have access to these games! By the way, there were two other First Star re-releases: Flip & Flop and Rent Wars. I should have more patience. I get impatient when I check eBay everyday. I did mention Flip & Flop, but I called it Flip Flop, whoops. I’ve actually never played the game, but if it’s from First Star then it’s got to be somewhat decent? Rent Wars was released in 2007 at a classic gaming expo in Las Vegas. That’s really exclusive. I’m surprised this hasn’t ever seen another release. I’ve never played or heard of Bristles before now. It looks like where Nintendo got the idea for Splatoon. Edited September 7, 2018 by adamchevy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DamonicFury Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Dont forget you can set up automated EBay searches for the titles you want. Flip and Flop is easily my favorite of the five! Really fun to play! Rent Wars was also available on atari2600.com for quite a while... pretty sure that was the last one to sell out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Contact First Star Software and ask them. They are still in business. If there is enough interest I'm sure they would be interested in at least doing something. Maybe a 5 in 1 multicart or something perhaps? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIKE5200 Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Dont forget you can set up automated EBay searches for the titles you want. Flip and Flop is easily my favorite of the five! Really fun to play! Rent Wars was also available on atari2600.com for quite a while... pretty sure that was the last one to sell out Think by now they release there Roms, I still can't get my Flip and Flop to work. There PCB are to thin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DamonicFury Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 I still can't get my Flip and Flop to work. There PCB are to thin! I think I might have the solution for that... I had the same problem with all their titles! What is needed is a piece of plastic jammed into the top of the cart between the black plastic tab at the top of the PCB and the top edge of the cart. This seems to provide just enough downward pressure to let the PCB make contact with the cart slot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamchevy Posted September 8, 2018 Author Share Posted September 8, 2018 (edited) Contact First Star Software and ask them. They are still in business. If there is enough interest I'm sure they would be interested in at least doing something. Maybe a 5 in 1 multicart or something perhaps?I contacted them yesterday and asked them if they would be interested in a limited run. It looks like First Star sold their company to a group in Germany at the beginning of 2018. That makes sense actually. I look forward to getting a response. The name of the company is BBG-Entertainment. Edited September 8, 2018 by adamchevy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 I contacted them yesterday and asked them if they would be interested in a limited run. It looks like First Star sold their company to a group in Germany at the beginning of 2018. That makes sense actually. I look forward to getting a response. The name of the company is BBG-Entertainment. This is a good thing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamchevy Posted September 16, 2018 Author Share Posted September 16, 2018 So I finally heard back:CPUWIZ removed an image for doxing. Don't do that again!I’m not really sure what a good proposal is? Anyone with some experience have any idea? I asked if they would be interested in doing a limited run of each game. I was thinking of 50-100 of each game. I assume that they would like money up front and they create the carts, boxes, and manuals? Or do I just pay a licensing fee up front and do that all on my own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 (edited) So I finally heard back: ... I’m not really sure what a good proposal is? Anyone with some experience have any idea? I asked if they would be interested in doing a limited run of each game. I was thinking of 50-100 of each game. I assume that they would like money up front and they create the carts, boxes, and manuals? Or do I just pay a licensing fee up front and do that all on my own? No they won't be interested in making any of the carts,ect. They will want a licensing fee and probably up front and there will be a quality control phase as well depending how many units you want to put out with their name attached to it. That has been my experience working with well established companies the size of First Star (and bigger). And yes it would all be on you to pay it if you are trying to helm such an endeavor unless you had partners in on it with you. I think 100 of each title would be overkill. You don't want to get stuck with a pile of leftovers that you had to pay a per unit royalty on and the costs to build in the first place. That part would suck. I would be somewhat interested in taking on part of this venture as I have the means and contacts to make and source all materials needed for a complete release as you described. Hope this info helps. EDIT: You also have to remember these titles where not programmed by First Star and you would also have to strike a deal with the programmers. That would also be another fee to be paid. Edited September 18, 2018 by CPUWIZ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaserCat Posted September 17, 2018 Share Posted September 17, 2018 If you build it I will come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamchevy Posted September 18, 2018 Author Share Posted September 18, 2018 Someone else will have to build it. I don’t have the time or resources to get into this project. Thanks for everyone’s input. I have to many other priorities in my life right now. Mainly my job and my family. I would really like to see something like this happen someday, but right now it’s not feasible for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Gemintronic Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 Given the costs of licensing and hiring a programmer I'd suggest making a play-alike. The tools for mere mortals to do so are waaaaaay unmaintained. Perhaps it could be a slow going (but rewarding) project via 5200BAS http://sebastianmihai.com/main.php?t=62& 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 Given the costs of licensing and hiring a programmer I'd suggest making a play-alike. The tools for mere mortals to do so are waaaaaay unmaintained. Perhaps it could be a slow going (but rewarding) project via 5200BAS http://sebastianmihai.com/main.php?t=62& Nah, that would be re-inventing the wheel. The games are already there to be had. It's just paying the piper to have them re-released. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 It might work *if* these titles were released as a First Star Multicart. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamchevy Posted September 18, 2018 Author Share Posted September 18, 2018 Seeing as Stephan has been interested in working with me, I am currently looking at the cost of licensing 50 games each. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 Seeing as Stephan has been interested in working with me, I am currently looking at the cost of licensing 50 games each. Are you turning this into the pre-order thread? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamchevy Posted September 18, 2018 Author Share Posted September 18, 2018 Are you turning this into the pre-order thread? Not yet, first I have to see what First Star wants to do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeguychicago Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 No they won't be interested in making any of the carts,ect. They will want a licensing fee and probably up front and there will be a quality control phase as well depending how many units you want to put out with their name attached to it. That has been my experience working with well established companies the size of First Star (and bigger). And yes it would all be on you to pay it if you are trying to helm such an endeavor unless you had partners in on it with you. I think 100 of each title would be overkill. You don't want to get stuck with a pile of leftovers that you had to pay a per unit royalty on and the costs to build in the first place. That part would suck. I would be somewhat interested in taking on part of this venture as I have the means and contacts to make and source all materials needed for a complete release as you described. Hope this info helps. EDIT: You also have to remember these titles where not programmed by First Star and you would also have to strike a deal with the programmers. That would also be another fee to be paid. If you're serious about trying to get a limited run of these games made, you may want to consult with William Moeller of Elektronite since he's recently dealt with First Star in order to produce a limited run of Boulderdash on Intellivision. He would would have info on what specifics First Star wanted for that release and may give you an idea of what kinds of quantities would be required in order to do a 5200 run of games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg2600 Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 Should just release the roms. At this point, how long has it been? How much money could they stand to actually make on these going forward? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamchevy Posted September 28, 2018 Author Share Posted September 28, 2018 Looks like First Star isn’t interested in a release that small. Maybe a Rom only release would be a good option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrathchild Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 (edited) This kind-of irks me. Would a ROM release preclude someone asking the AA store to make a cart version from the ROM and slap their own label on it, i.e. it is done in a predominantly not-for-profit manner? I don't really see that much different from AA doing a small production run - which is probably easier to do. [Edit] - AtariMania nor AtariAge holds the 5200 rom images (e.g Bristles/Astrochase) yet AtariMania does hold the A8 versions. Edited September 28, 2018 by Wrathchild Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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