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Mostly Atari-related projects, and other ramblings. Home of the Artie the Atari comic strip.

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Homebreviews - part 18

Dark Mage 4/5 You are facing a blog entry. > Look You see nothing special. > Scroll There is a game review here. > Use You can't use this item. > Eat You can't eat this item. > Read Dark Mage is a text adventure, in the classic style of Zork. I spent many hours in the early 80's at my friend's house, with the two of us logged into the University of Washington's VAX, playing Zork through a modem hooked up to his TRS-80. I don't recall how long we played it, bu
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

3
 

Homebreviews - part 17

Climber 5 4/5   Climber 5 is an adaptation of a game (also called Climber 5) originally created for the Atari 8-bit computers. I downloaded and tried out the original version prior to writing this review. The object of the game is to climb up a building that's under construction, and retrieve a baseball that's been hit up there. You have to climb ladders, and avoid girder beams moving back and forth. That's about as far as the original game went, and an adaptation of that version is included o
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

5
 

Homebreviews - part 16

So much for the "shorter reviews" theory... Elevators Amiss 3/5 Elevators Amiss was inspired by a game for the Atari 8-bit computers called Elevator Repairman. I even played Elevator Repairman to check out the original, and Elevators Amiss does do an excellent job of paying homage to that game - right down to the way the character's tiny little feet shuffle along. It's just that I don't care for either game very much. The object of the game is very simple - move your character across the
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

7
 

Homebreviews - part 15

Not homebrews this time... but more unreleased prototype reproductions (like the UA Limited games). I've noticed my reviews keep getting longer and longer. So after these two, I'm going to try to write shorter ones again. 3D Rubik's Cube 2/5 This unreleased and long-lost prototype is an accurate simulation of a Rubik's Cube, even extending to the ability to rotate it in apparent 3D space. Unfortunately, it's even more maddening to solve than the real thing. While a visually impressive fe
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

3
 

Homebreviews - part 14

I started writing a parody of the "Theme from Gilligan's Island" to introduce these, but that was too much work. Well, that... and it wasn't turning out to be very funny.   So here, with no additional fanfare, are "the rest..."   Go Fish! 4/5   In Go Fish!, it's eat or be eaten. You play a tiny yet hungry little fish, and must eat other fish to survive. But you can only eat fish your size or smaller. Try to eat something bigger than you, and you'll end up as its dinner. If the bigger fish
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

13
 

Homebreviews - part 13

I'm finally catching up on the rest of my Homebrew Reviews. There's a bunch of them this time, and they're all transplants of one sort or another. But first... I'm now up to 199 unique 2600 games! (Update - that number has since gone up.) Isn't it purty? Fun game, too! I've been looking for a CIB Threshold, and now I have it, thanks to Atarimania75, who is selling off parts of his collection here, here, here and here. He's got some good stuff in there, including some nice rarities, s
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

12
 

Homebreviews - part 12

Continuing with the latest batch of reviews. This time: Puzzle Games! AStar 4/5 AStar is a puzzle game with a unique play mechanic. The object of the game is to move a yellow pie-shaped character (Bob) around a maze, and collect various items. What makes it unique, is that you can only move in straight lines, and can't stop until you run into something. To help you navigate the maze, you can switch over to another character - a yellow square (Alan) - that moves the same way. Using the two ch
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

5
 

Homebreviews - part 11

Despite the fact that it's almost April, any time of the year is gaming season! Holiday Qb (The 2004 AtariAge Holiday Cart) 4/5 Holiday Qb is an action/puzzle game based on the original 2600 homebrew Qb. The goal is to move sliding pieces around a playfield to match displayed patterns, while collecting bonus items and avoiding enemies. The Holiday aspect of it comes into play with modified graphics reflecting a Holiday theme. Santa Claus, elves, wreaths and other items replace the original Q
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

12
 

Homebreviews - part 10

This time... no actual games! Just little black, plastic boxes that do other things. First though, for the Synthcart, I picked up a pair of Atari Keyboard controllers from Atari2600.com. Since the overlay that's available for the Synthcart isn't designed to fit these controllers, I ended up making my own. They're available as a PDF file, for anyone who wants to use them. (Yes, you have to cut out the little black circles by hand.) Then, for the AtariVox, I built a mixing circuit, so I co
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

11
 

Homebreviews - part 1

I always look for reviews before I buy something (especially games), so I can get some idea of what I'm going to plunk down my hard-earned money for. So, after my recent haul of homebrew games from AtariAge, I promised Albert I'd write up some reviews. Be careful what you ask for... The ratings (out of 5) have to do with how much I enjoy playing a game, and how likely it is the cartridge will see a lot of time in my 2600. Technical merit has a little to do with it, but not much. Gameplay an
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

10
 

Holiday Treats

Here's a sneak-peek at a couple of projects I'm working on. They're "mostly done".   First, a label for a new homebrew release. The name has been left off of this picture, although some of you may find the imagery a familiar refrain.   This is a bit of a departure for me. No cartoons. No space ships. Just pure graphic design, meant to convey abstract shapes and rhythm. There's also an intentional division of the label into fourths; and a suggestion of the four directions of the joystick, an
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

8
 

Hey kids, it's vitriolic rant time! (Yay!)

Are you in college, planning to go to college, or planning to send kids to college someday?   Don't ever, EVER take out a student loan from Sallie Mae. Be wary of any loan company that might sell your existing loans to them, as well.   They're evil. I will be well-rid of these conniving, thieving, dishonest, money-grubbing, manipulative, opportunist robber barons, the day I finally get my last loan paid off.   I don't "hate" very often, but I hate Sallie Mae.   I've come to personify the
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

4
 

Herb Alpert Is... A Spoiler-free review

I've been a fan of Herb Alpert since I was a kid. We just about wore out the Tijuana Brass Christmas Album playing it every year. Then for some reason, in my early teens, I started really getting into their music. I'm not sure why, other than it was probably because I was getting into collecting records at the time (the Monkees), my folks already had a number of TJB records at home, and I was playing trumpet in band at school. And, well, the music was fun and catchy. It was already at least a do
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

0
 

Happy March 32nd!

The ridiculousness of some pranks has just taken all the fun out of the whole day.   28 < PreviousIndexNext >
Nathan Strum

Nathan Strum

9
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