solidcorp

Very cool. I know what you mean about running up against what you can do in the meager VBL time on the 2600, I didn't reduce the screen size, though thought about it. I can't wait to see the new job system. I found it so hard to do stuff like that effectively on the 2600 because the overhead outweighed the gain. Even most of my JSR's had to go - I needed the cycles and bytes. For example: initially, the code to draw the cannon in the center of the screen only used 1/4 of the rotation frames and was able to flip x and y to rotate it - it turned out that the code to handle the flipping was larger than the cannon frames themselves. It was faster and smaller just to brute force it lol. If anyone can get the job system to work effectively it's you and Thomas.

I'm basically using KS as a pre-order system to minimize risk and waste. I never anticipated such a fantastic response. I'm ordering the components in bulk to order and not planning on continuing to make cartridges after it's over. 3 days left! Thanks!

I have no way to test it but Star Castle 2600 probably will. It uses standard F8 bank switching (plus a little something for the blinking lights), if Asteroids runs this should.

Thanks for your interest, you've followed this since pretty close to the beginning. I'm making them to order am not planning to overstock or continue to make them.

Only one week left to get your own Star Castle 2600 cartridge! Star Castle 2600 is available in a clear acrylic cartridge with lights inside that flash with the action and it's also available on CD with the source code and much more (all cartridges come with a free CD). Check out the full story and order one here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/698159145/atari-2600-star-castle NTSC and PAL carts available. Check out the high resolution video featuring music by Chupathingy. It will also be playable at the upcoming 2012 Video Game Summit in Lombard Illinois this July, for more information click HERE.

You'll never guess who just pledged and sent me a nice PM on Kickstarter, Steven Scavone, the Jaguar Gorf guy!

Thanks! I was in such a rush to get the shell machined the night before the Video Game Summit, I hadn't realized the machine was racked. It was only a few hundredths of an inch over the approx 4" length of the shell but when you make two cartridge halves open side up, then flip one half over to mate with the other the error is doubled along the edges. It's minor, no one else noticed but bugs the heck out of me. I just started subscribing to Home Machinist and Digital Machinist. There is a heck of a lot for me to learn about machining. I'll try to remember to put the G-Code on the CD - try not to laugh too hard.

Great movie, I saw it at Fermilab in amazing 3-D!!! I didn't make this but I sure was happy to find it http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0932008/ (though it needs some serious updating)

"you're", not "your" See you around!

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you there PH. I absolutely SUCK at chess, and it's not for lack of trying.

Not that I'm aware of. However, others have put LEDs in 2600 carts before. Very cool, do they flash with the game action or just light up? Either way the whole TRON setup is cool and well done. CPUWIZ said that he's been doing it for years too, but I haven't seen any of his boards yet.

R-T, you crack me [and my tailpipe] up on just about every post you make. You can keep hating me but don't ever change man.

Sorry, the rewards are set. Besides, changing them now wouldn't be fair to the people who have already contributed. Perhaps you can work out an arrangement with someone else here on AA for a trade or something. There is no limit.

That's absolutely right. Star Castle 2600 has only ever been on public display at the 2010 and 2011 Video Game Summit and if Crimestopper hadn't taken the time to post what he saw here on Atari Age, we almost certainly wouldn't be here today. So I'd like to offer a tip of the hat to Dan for organizing the Video Game Summit and letting me show Star Castle 2600 there. Thanks Dan. [EDIT] http://avc.atari-users.net/VGS.html

This is going to happen!!! 100% funding in under 4 days! Over 100 cartridges so far and climbing steadily. Star Castle 2600 also appeared on engaget this morning http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/star-castle-atari-2600/ Thanks to everyone who helped support the project by contributing or spreading the word! Knowing that it will be successful this early puts me way ahead of schedule and hopefully that will translate to being able to release the CD's and cartridges sooner. <fingers crossed> Thanks again, Scott

And Star Castle 2600 featured on BoingBoing.com (which is also what I'm doing ~ bouncing off the walls) http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/decades-long-project-to-port.html

Kotaku just covered Star Castle 2600!!! http://kotaku.com/5905464/30-years-late-a-supposedly-impossible-atari-feat-puts-arcade-classic-onto-a-2600-cartridge

I'll double check it on z26, I used to use it. It appears to work perfectly under z26 v2.13 Just out of curiosity, is there any advantage to using the z26 emulator for games?

Star Caste 2600 Kickstarter featured on theverge.com http://www.theverge.com/2012/4/26/2976976/star-castle-atari-2600-port-kickstarter

Mmm, yeah. I've never dealt with this 'Kickstarter' before. I'm considering the $50 pledge as well, but I don't really like the idea of getting charged $50 now, and then waiting a long time for a project to go ahead. If I make a pledge and the project proceeds, what's the timeline like after that...? It's my understanding that no one is charged until the Kickstarter is complete and successful. If it is not successful, no one is charged. Estimated delivery time for cartridges is July 2012. It's all on the Kickstarter page.

The campaign is not limited financially by the goal so it can make as much money as people pledge in the 30 days time. I chose 30 days because it is the most successful time interval, longer and people have to wait too long for rewards, shorter and you may not be able to promote your project adequately. By the end of the 30 days most people who would be interested in this project should have heard of it and had the opportunity to get what they would like.

Star Castle 2600 project featured on Make magazine blog! http://blog.makezine.com/2012/04/26/star-castle-finally-ported-to-atari-2600/

I'll double check it on z26, I used to use it. I'm buried now but I added it to my to-do list. If I don't respond by next week, either re-ping this topic or message me directly. As far as Kickstarter is concerned, all transactions are handled by Amazon - I had to set up an Amazon merchant account to set up the Kickstarter. I *thought* that they didn't charge anything until the campaign is over and only if it is successful, but I wouldn't be surprised if they put a hold on the accounts to prevent fraud. This is all speculation, I don't know for sure.

I just added "Harmony" to the description of the FLASH cartridge and changed the beginning of the FLASH cartridge pledge text to read: "Star Castle ROM on a Harmony FLASH cartridge that works in your Atari 2600 game system. The black cartridge may not have flashing lights but it is reprogrammable..."

Sorry, no, that would be cool but... One $100 option is a pre-programmed stock Harmony cartridge in a dark shell with no lights. ("The cartridge may not have flashing lights but it is reprogrammable.") The other $100 option is a dedicated Star Castle cartridge with flashing lights in a clear acrylic shell.