SCSIcide is an original, fast-paced homebrew game released back in 2001 by Joe Grand of Pixels Past. In SCSIcide you play the role of a hard drive read head. As the different colored bits scroll by on the hard drive platter, you need to quickly read them in the correct order before you suffer a buffer underflow. As you complete each level, the data scrolls by more and more quickly! How far can you go? If you're a fan of Activision's Kaboom!, then you'll love SCSIcide.
Joe Grand has spent some time recently updating SCSIcide and has released a new version of the game titled Ultra SCSIcide. This latest version of the game contains many improvements over the original:
- Added support for joystick controllers. Controller type is automatically detected when you press the paddle or joystick fire button to start the game.
- Fixed the flicker that used to occur at the beginning of each level.
- Changed background and data bit color palette to make bits easier to distinguish.
- Reduced track size from 10 to 8 bits, for a more appropriate one byte per level.
- Changed speed increase per level - only two random data bits increase in speed each level.
- Modified the sound and scoring routines to account for longer gameplay and higher levels.
- Changed title screen text and added GIS and Pixels Past logos.
- Added a PAL version of the game.
To help commemorate this new version of the game, Joe Grand and AtariAge have teamed up to create a new label and manual for Ultra SCSIcide. To that end we are sponsoring a contest to create original label artwork that will grace all copies of Ultra SCSIcide that are sold through the AtariAge Store after the contest. This artwork will also be featured on the cover of the manual created for Ultra SCSIcide.
You can download Ultra SCSIcide here, as well as view a few screenshots of the game in action. If you need an Atari 2600 emulator you can find several to choose from here. If you'd like to more about SCSIcide's original development, be sure to visit Joe Grand's SCSIcide Development Log (you might want to read from the bottom up).
Here are two examples of label designs used in the past for SCSIcide:
|
|
Original SCSIcide Label |
PhillyClassic 3 Label |
The winner of the contest will receive a copy of Ultra SCSIcide, labeled with their winning label design. The winner will also receive a Stelladaptor 2600 to USB Interface and a $25 gift certificate in the AtariAge Store.
The contest will run until 11:59pm (CST), Sunday, February 6th, 2005. All submissions must be received by this time! After the contest has ended, Joe Grand will select one of the entries as the label to be used for Ultra SCSIcide.
How to Enter
Both a main label and an end label must be included with
your submission. For your label to be considered, please understand these
guidelines and conditions. Any questions may be directed to [email protected]:
|
Artwork - This is the most important aspect of the labels. There are no restrictions for the artwork so you are free to create anything your imagination (and artistic skills) can conjure up. Please keep in mind that this artwork will also appear in the manual created for Ultra SCSIcide. |
|
|
|
Game Title - The game's title, Ultra SCSIcide, must appear on the main and end labels of the game. "SCSIcide" should be featured prominently, and the text "Ultra" can be smaller and be placed to the left of "SCSIcide" or above it. |
|
|
|
Additional Text - The following text must appear on the main label:
Written by Joe Grand
Use with Paddle or Joystick Controllers
Instead of the "Use with Paddle or Joystick Controllers" text, you may represent these options by using icons to represent the supported controllers. An example of a label where this was done is Marble Craze. |
|
|
|
AtariAge and Pixels Past Logos - The AtariAge and Pixels Past logos must be represented on the label. The logos should be consistent in size relative to each other. Alternatively, you can choose to use the AtariAge and Pixels Past names without the logos, but either the names or the logos should appear (it is not necessary to include both). You can download the AtariAge and Pixels Past logos and text here:
AtariAge Logos
Pixels Past Logos
|
|
|
|
Atari Logo - Do NOT use the Atari corporate logo (the fuji symbol) on your label submission. If you submit a label that features the Atari logo, you will be asked to remove it before your entry is submitted. |
|
|
|
Clearly Legible Text - All text on the label must be clearly
legible at the size the label will be printed (see below for actual
dimensions). Please keep this important consideration in mind while
you are designing your label. |
|
|
|
Multiple Submissions - While we will gladly accept multiple
submissions, we ask that each label be unique from your any previous
submissions in some significant fashion. We reserve the right to reject
labels that differ only in color or some other minor attribute from
previous entries. We will gladly replace previous submissions with new
entries if you so request. |
|
|
|
Use of Copyrighted Images - If you use any copyrighted images,
you must seek permission from the copyright holder before using that
image as part of your label. Likewise, any labels that use artwork from
a previously submitted label will be rejected. |
|
|
|
Permission to Reprint - By submitting an entry (or entries) to this contest, you agree to allow AtariAge and/or Joe Grand to reproduce your submission(s) without your having to grant permission or receiving compensation for the right to do so. |
Labels should be saved in a non-lossy image format such as PNG, TIFF,
PCX, or BMP. If you need to save your image using JPEG for some reason, please use a minimal amount of compression. In order for the label to look good when printed, it should be saved at 200dpi
or better. If you are concerned about large file sizes you can drop
us a line before mailing the file, but generally anything under 10MB
will not be a problem.
Please take care to make sure your label is proportioned correctly. You
may download these graphics to assist in this effort:
Please do not send your labels already attached to these templates, they are provided only to help you properly frame your label. We will shrink and crop your label to the correct size and place it on the templates for inclusion on this page where others may view them. The original, high-resolution submissions will be sent to Joe Grand when the contest is complete.
Actual label sizes when printed are 2 3/4" x 3 3/8"
for the main label and 2 3/4" x 9/16" for the
end label. If you have artwork that goes to the edge of the label, you
will also need a 1/4" bleed around the edges. This
bleed isn't necessary for the contest, but if your label design is chosen
as the winner it will be necessary in order to print the label.
Label submissions and questions about the contest must be sent to [email protected].
We will post submissions publicly on this page as we receive them. The
contest may also be discussed in our Contests Forum. For
some examples of labels submitted in our last 2600 label contests, please
visit the following links:
Remember, the contest ends at 11:59pm (CST), Sunday, February 6th, 2005!
|