Tony Cruise

mmm, might have to do a SG-1000/SC-3000 release of EA 70's Arcade Classics now

Yes, you can add labels to individual sprites, each tileset and each tile layout. Just type over the automatically generated name with the new name.

That's a good idea - I will have a look at that for the next update.

I have updated my sprite and tile editor to support CVBasic format, let me know if I have missed anything. New version is available here.

I have updated the sprite and tile editor to support CVBasic format, let me know if I have missed anything. New version is available here.

You can change the format that tool outputs the data in, but saying that a "Output to CVBasic" option with the formatting done would be good, I will add that in the next update

Production Update Colecovision Testing on both a real console and Phoenix with a burnt ROM completed 1st production copy completed Spectravideo Testing on real hardware (both a SV-328 and a SV-318) completed 1st production copy completed And I would like just to point out this is the very 1st new cartridge release for the Spectravideo machines in 40 year! MSX Conversion from the Spectravideo final version is in progress Test cartridge PCB assembled and ready for testing on hardware Game Boxes, Shipping Boxes, and foam inserts were ordered last Friday (take about two weeks to arrive).

Well, the time has come, I am ready to start the pre-order process for EA 70's Arcade Classics with versions for Colecovision, MSX and Spectravideo. I have stock of PCBS, EPROM chips, and cartridge shells to get started (and can get/make more). The final box art has come through, and I am ready to order boxes, but need to have some idea of the level of interest for each system. Pre-orders will come with a numbered signed certificate in the order orders are placed for each system. Prices are in Australian dollars, which gives most of the world a 30-40% discount depending on currency due to the exchange rate at the moment. Copies can be ordered on my website here: https://www.electricadventures.net/pages/shop Pre-orders will run through May, with shipping to start in the 1st weeks of June 2024.

Happy Easter! I have uploaded a new version, I have used the same libraries that @nanochess uses in his wonderful TMSColor application, converted to .Net and now used in the Tile Import section of the application. Now when you press [Import from Clipboard] on the [Character Sets] tab, you will be presented with the following screen: The [Starting Character] box will have the number of the Tile/Character you currently had selected on the main screen, you can change the value manually as well. If the current Clipboard contents is an image it will be displayed on the right, with simple colour palette matching. If you select [Normal Photo] the application will calculate a different mapping, using similar routines to the TMSColor application: If you select [Dithered Photo] the application will calculate a different mapping using a 2x2 dither to allow more colours to be closer together (similar to the 2nd option of TMSColor). If you press the [Import] button with one of the above options selected, the image will be broken down into Tiles/Chars in the current Character Set and a new Screen Layout will be created pointing to the current character set. If you first select 'Use more than one char set', the image will be broken up into 64-pixel high segments and the tile patterns from each section will be placed in three tilesets (new ones will be created as required) and a new Screen Layout will be created pointing to the three character sets. The final output after selecting 'Dither Photo' looks like this. I started with this original image: Then reduced it to 256 pixels wide, and to 16 unique colors, then back to a 256 colour format image (I use Paint Shop Pro for this - I am no good with Photoshop). I then manually removed the edges of the lettering and explosion. This is the image I copied into the paste buffer and achieved the above output using 179 tiles. Another example is my new splash screen for Stunt Cycle, I started with this flyer: I did a bit of trimming and removed the arcade cab, resizing and grabbing a 256 x 192 size section, reduced the colours to 16 (used Ordered Dithering). Increased the colours back up to 256 ending up with the following input image: I then imported it using the 'Photo Dither' option, into multiple tile sets and ended up with the following screen: I had plenty of tiles left to add the Letters and of course the Electric Adventures letters as well. The program will catch any errors from incorrectly formatted images, but let me know if you find anything. Note: The observant will notice the Import from Text options have changed as well. This allows you to import part or all of a tile set in text form from one tileset and then import it in again, just the patterns, just the colour to both, selecting the starting position and the number of characters to import. I haven't tested this thoroughly, but have used it a few times over the last few days.

An update on EA 70's Arcade Classics for the Colecovision, feedback from testers has been pretty good and I have also made a few changes: - Adjustments to main title screen, and more detailed title screens for Depth Charge and Stunt Cycle - Lunar Rescue: fix to start bug when tested on GearColeco, added no move/thrust area just after mothership release, re-spawn more UFOs when you kill too many in a round. - Depth Charge: Screen colour change when you reach Time Extension score, time extension applies correctly, sub point values match depth - Stunt Cycle: Redid the sound effects (still no cheer - work in progress), fixed the score display bug, and reduced the landing area. Will be released on physical cartridge soon, still need to design the packaging, write the instructions etc. Gearcoleco 1.1.0 - EA70sArcade.ROM 2024-03-31 17-54-55_1.mp4

First Beta of EA 70's Arcade Classics for the Colecovision. All three games are merged with a menu selection screen and are working. Just needs a little bit of playtesting, some cover art, a manual etc and it will be ready for release. Gearcoleco 1.1.0 - EA70sArcade-Coleco-240326B.ROM 2024-03-26 20-25-55_1.mp4

EA 70's Arcade Classics will be a collection of three classic 70's arcade games in one cartridge. The three games in the collection are: Lunar Rescue Lunar Rescue a classic early shoot em up game by Taito, ran on Space Invaders hardware. Navigate through the asteroid field to rescue each of the stranded astronauts, then dodge and shoot your way back through the invaders to return back to your mother ship. Depth Charge Your battleship is under attack from squadrons of enemy subs, drop depth charges to take them out before they get you. Time attack game, with extended time gained if you destroy enough enemy subs. Stunt Cycle Very early black and white stunt cycle game, reimagined for 8-bit hardware with a nice splash of colour. There will be versions for Colecovisions, MSX and the original Spectravideo (318/328).

Let me know if you get stuck, I can help with tips for optimizing/moving code to the write place etc

I meant mine is in a box but not trapezoid box.

I have a Joy Sensor controller but it doesn’t come in a trapezoid box. NB: also in the middle of the pacific at the moment so won’t be back until the 2nd February.