disjaukifa

Hey Guys, I am working on a Galaxian/Space Invaders game which I am hoping to improve on some aspects of both games. I thought I would start a thread to kind of show my work in progress. First let me say I am VERY new to Atari 2600 programming and Batari Basic. Also I am a Mac user, so I am not able to use a lot of neat tools that seem to be available for windows which is fine by me. I am working almost purely in terminal with vim as my editor. I have attached what I have so far. I am trying to figure out how feasible it will be to program my ship to fire two missiles at the same time, I think it will be easily done with missile0 and missile1 but I am not to that stage yet. I literally just got the first missile to fire correctly (Took me the better part of the last 3 hours . . . stupid || instead of && ) I'm really happy with what I have so far, I have a lot to add to get this game finished, but I am enjoying almost every minute of it. I have attached the binary!!! I know this is not much but for 4 hours of work in a language and system I have never programmed for before I am very pleased with what I have accomplished!!!! Seeing as its almost 3am I am going to log off. Tomorrow I am going to list my goals/objectives I want to complete in this game!!! Thanks guys Disjaukifa earth_invaders.bin

I know this is probably going to be complicated, but I am making a Galxian/Space Invaders game called Earth Invaders, and I have my ship, I have the play field, I have the missile . . . well I don't have the missile working yet but hope to soon. Here is what I have yet to figure out, how exactly do I make the enemys??? Also if someone could send me a link that explains frames that would be helpful!!!! Thanks Disjaukifa

Would this work with 2K games, 4K games, and 8K games? In other words, does it matter what size the games are? From reading all the information I can, you would want to get the Harmony but yes the Melody/Harmony can play all the Atari games up to 32K, please correct me if I am wrong Batari!!! OH Batari you have selling a Homebrew Kit I think it would be a good idea if the buyer(the developer) could show you the homebrew they want to sell (IE just send you the .bin and the .bas file) Also make it so they have to agree to something, etc. I still see what you are saying and I am glad you have the interest of the developers at hand!!!! I love this place!!! EDIT 1: Hey Batari if I buy a ticket to Portland can you pick me up so I can buy a Harmony !! HAHAHAH joking! -Disjaukifa

Well I have thought has a name, I would have used Space Nugget Random Terrian but that name has already been used. I was thinking about naming the game Earth Invaders. I like the name its generic and it says what the game is. I am still working on several things before I post anything I have done. Got a question for ya'll. I was thinking about making it the paddles instead of the joystick. What do ya'll think would be better? Joystick or paddles? Thanks Disjaukifa

Batari, I just realized my second edited sounded a bit condescending but its not. What you have been able to engineer is short of remarkable!!!! I'm just one of the people that likes to ticker with stuff so when I get into a situation where its get something that does what I need or I have the option to build and make it myself . . . . I have a difficult choice because I love to tinker!!!! BTW I have a feeling the Harmony is going to sell out very quickly in Portland!!!! Thanks Disjaukifa

Then you don't quite understand what the Harmony cart is - you can develop on Harmony and release a cart on the same hardware. This homebrew hardware is a stripped-down Harmony, called Melody. It will be mass-produced so the price will be competitive with EPROM carts. EDIT: Oops, Nathan addressed this already. Anyway... Mass-produced Melody carts will be available in a couple of months. EDIT2: It may be possible to buy a "Homebrew kit" consisting of a Melody programmer and a number of Melody carts (say, 10 minimum) or some Melody carts separately (again, with a minimum.) This way you could build your own carts without an EPROM programmer or even a soldering iron. I have not decided if "blank" Melody carts will be available to everyone, or just trusted individuals (we don't want people selling others' homebrews without permission!) AHHHHHH ok I was missing that connection there!!!! I didn't realize that Melody was a stripped down low cost cartridge that homebrews were going to be sold through my guess would be the AtariAge store once it comes back online? I am new to the Homebrew community so please forgive my mis-understanding of how the Harmony/Melody work, I just joined a couple of days ago and have been reading information like crazy and its beginning to get all jumbled in my head. So let me see if I understand everything correctly. The Harmony cart is going to be a Developers Cartridge for the 2600 that will allow several nice features which I won't list here to let the dev test their code (presumably games) on a real Atari 2600. Once they are done with dev and want to publish the Cartridge, the dev will somehow be able to contact I presume you or albert or whoever to get them to setup their program (again more than likely game) to be sold as a homebrew on this website. The Homebrew version would be published on a Melody Cartridge which is a stripped down version of the Harmony cart and is aimed at competing with the price of the EPROM carts, however the Melody has more features that allow for more complex programs to be written for it without the need for special hardware. Did I get that correct? EDIT 1: Hey Batari, after the show on Sunday, how will we get our names on the list and how soon do you think we will be able to get the Dev Cartridge??? Also do you have an idea on what the price might be for pre-order list? I have heard its over 100+ units at this point. Wish there was a way I could buy one from you on the 20th but seeing as I am in Virginia I don't think that is going to happen . . EDIT 2: I still thinking about doing the EPROM as I think it would be fun, I like doing stuff like that and it just sounds interesting. I know where I can get the EPROMS and I now where I can get the Programmer as well. Found out I need to cough up a little more money for a pure usb model seeing as I don't have a computer that comes with a Parallel port and all my computers are laptops . . . Still don't know yet if I want to go the Harmony route or the EPROM . . . I guess it depends on cost, I can understand the cost behind the Harmony, I'm not saying its unfair, I think its a very fair price, however I can get the EPROMS, a Socketed 4K PCB board and the Burner for the same price as the Harmony . . . its really a toss up. It would be nice to package and make all the cartridges myself (again I just enjoy stuff like that) but the Harmony sounds like a fantastic device. I not sure what I am going to do at this point . . . Thanks Disjaukifa

Just out of curiosity what EPROM Programmer do you have? I'm looking into multiple ones that are all under 60 bucks, not looking to spend alot of money on a programmer seeing as I just want to program for the Atari 2600. Also were you able to sell all 20 copies of your game and how much did you sell it for?

Actually, the Harmony cart hardware is identical to the forthcoming Melody cart, which will be used for producing homebrews at AtariAge. Effectively, you would be running on the same hardware. However the Harmony comes out on the September 20th . . . . and only in what Oregan and I can't seem to find the official order list??? If you could point me too it that would be great. This is something else I have been wondering, if I make a homebrew game and want to sell on AtariAge how exactly does that work??? Part of me wants to go the EPROM route and make the board myself with parts from 8bitclassics.com and do the labels and everything myself, i think it would be fun. Thanks Disjaukifa

Hey do you know if this will work with 2732 and 27C32? Also are you still satisfied with the programmer? Looking at getting one myself. Thanks Disjaukifa

You can get a Willem eprom programmer pretty cheap from eBay, probably easier than building one yourself. Then it's fully possible to replace the rom with an eprom. Hey not to bring up an older thread but shouldn't this work? It says it can do 2732 chips: Dual Power Willem Universal EPROM Programmer I just don't see spending $100+ when I am going to need it for the 2732 chips. If someone know if this will work please respond. I don't see a reason for it not to work. Thanks Disjaukifa

Thank you for the reply that is exactly what I was looking for!!!! That is a good deal on EPROMS, .50 a piece is not bad at all!!!! Thanks again Disjaukifa

Hey, I am looking at doing some dev on my Atari 2600 in addition with Stella and I have a few questions. I already have found a great deal on an EPROM Programmer that is cheap and will work and I have found the 2k/4k PCB Socketed board I need to make the cartridge, however here is what I don't know. 1st. Is there a difference between the 2732 4K EPROM and a 27C32 4K EPROM. From what I can tell they are exactly the same. 2nd. Where can I buy PROMS and EPROMS? I have found used EPROMS on eBay which wouldn't break my heart to use but other than that where could I get them? 3rd. What should I expect to pay for the PROMS and EPROMS? And if people are wondering why I don't just get the Starpath Supercharger/Cuttle Cart/Harmony Cartridge the reason is I just don't think it would be the same. There is nothing like testing software(games for here) on the actually hardware it will run on, that is the best way to test the code. Thanks Disjaukifa

No I am not, I wish I could use visual basic, I am Mac user, so I am literally using Text Pad and Terminal with Stella to do everything. I have Parallels installed so I can run Windows XP however I have 1st generation Macbook and it just doesn't have the horsepower to do a lot with windows. I mostly use windows to VPN to work with. I messed with bB last night and I was able to get a done. I was able to get a working title screen, with the ship design almost finished minus the colors and I was able to get it moving and I was able to limit where it could go as well, didn't take all that long. I will have to think about the name Space Nuggets I like its . . . I don't know interesting. Thank you so much for the link, I have not read it yet, but I am sure it will be helpful. I was thinking about changing the game play a little bit and making so that you played the games with the paddle controls instead. What do ya'll think about that. I am still trying to decide if that is a good idea or not. I thinking that might be my next games, not sure I want to tackle too many things on my first project. Thanks for the replys and keep them coming. I will be working more on my program tonight. -Disjaukifa

Hey Guys, After reading numerous threads and documentation for the last 5 hours, I have decided I want to start learning how to make Atari 2600 games with Batari Basic for three reason: 1st: Its a heck of a lot easier than Assembly 2nd: There is an abundant amount of material and tutorials about Basic and batari basic which greatly reduces the learning curve. 3rd: Basic is just easier for me to learn and it seem to be what a majority of people are now using. I'm starting with a Galaxian clone because I have most of it already worked out in my head, plus there is an abundant about of tutorials that basically teach you how to make a Galga/Galaxian clone. My goal is to be able to make several games for the Atari 2600, I have alot of ideas for Atari games, I just don't have the experience with Basic yet. I come from a pure Object Oriented background, but I don't see that hindering my ability to program Atari games, it just means I need to switch my mind set a little. I noticed tonight playing my Atari 2600 that most games that seemed to have come out didn't really push the limits of the system, most games seem basic and not all that well thought out, granted I understand it was the beginning of video games and its vastly different today especially when compared with todays home-brews. If people are interested I can post my Galaxian Clone game as I get stuff finished if people are interested. Let me know what you think. I am still working on a title, I know I will think of something. Thanks guys, Disjaukifa

Yeah after doing hours of reading this evening (about 5 hours starting around 5pm) I have decided I would go the Batari Basic route. Because of tutorials that already exist I am actually going to start with making a Galaxian clone. Its much simpler to start with as there is already an abundant amount of information to do it. In mear hours I have already designed a ship, figured out how to move and I almost have the ability to shoot missiles. I need to make enemy ships, figure out collisons for both my ship and the enemy ships, figure out a score system and figure out how fast I want to be able to shoot missiles. It always bothered me how slow galaxian shot missiles, I always thought it would have been more fun it was just a weee bit faster. I am definitely still going to program my chess games, but there is a whole lot more I have to figure out. I have been a programmer for many years however I have never programmed a game and it is something I have always wanted to do. I think it would be fantastic if I can program a game that is good enough that maybe 20 ~ 30 people might even play it, that would just be amazing. I have to admit its been interesting learning basic, I come from a pure Object Oriented background, so learning how do just do everything with loops has been interesting but challenging at the same time. I have all these idea for games for the 2600 which if I can just get a few under my belt I fell like I could really explore what the Atari 2600 can do. I will keep you updated on my chess game. Thanks Disjaukfia

Here is how to make it permanent when you start Terminal: Open Terminal type: vim .profile then paste this into the file export bB=$HOME/Atari2600/bB export PATH=$PATH:$bB then hit esc once and then type :wq! exit Terminal and start it again and now the variables will automatically be loaded every-time you start terminal. -Disjaukifa

Hey, What is the best way to clean the motherboards on these things? I just bought 3 Atari 2600s at a yardsale with 25 games for 10 bucks. One of them is pretty clean and I have it working, however one of the system is a 2600 Jr that I would love to get working, I just love the way they look so much better. However it is NASTY. The motherboard is just all kinds of crazy nasty. Here are two images of if: Now I have read everything from aclohol with a q-tip to brake cleaner to water and letting it dry to just an air can. What do ya'll think will be the best solution. Thanks Disjaukifa

yeah I thought about that, I know other chess games that will do what I want that already exist, but again 2 reason for doing this . . . well 3. 1st: I want to learn how to program for the 2600 and a chess game with no AI isn't all that difficult 2nd: My wife and I both love the Atari 2600, its something we play together. 3rd: I rather teach her on a couch having fun with our old retro system rather than being on our laptops, its just more fun. -Disjaukifa

Hey Fellow Atari Programmers, As you can see I am new to this site, however I am not new to programming or to the atari 2600. I wouldn't call myself a atari 2600 guru or anything I just found my again after about 5 years, but for some reason is the last week I have been playing my 2600 every night. As for programming I have programmed in assembly before . . . once, but I do code in java, xml, html, javascript, and a little C++ daily so I don't think I will have an issue learn assembly. Anyway, I wanted to try getting myself into some atari 2600 programming and I had a thought. My wife doesn't know how to play chess, and she knows I love chess and she wants to learn how to play. I was thinking I could kill two birds with one stone. I want to learn how to program the atari 2600 so I could make a chess game that is strictly two player without a cpu to play against which will make the coding much easier and at the same time program the game so it would be easier for people to play chess. Here is my idea on how I would make it easy for people to learn. If you select a piece to move, I would then show all the spaces that are valid moves and make it so that player could only choose one of the highlighted spaces to move too. Other than a few other tweaks, that is the premise of my idea. That way I can just hand my wife a control and we can play, she won't have to know how a piece has to move because it will show her all the available options. I don't know if there is already a game like that out for the Atari 2600 but I just think it would be fun to program it as it would help me to learn how to program for the 2600 and I would then be able to also teach my wife and hopefully one day my son how to play chess as well. Let me know what you think, I love constructive ideas and thoughts!!! Thanks Disjaukifa

Hey just out of curiosity when will the store be back online? I am getting into 2600 programming and I keep reading about things that sound useful from the store. Also do you have the old store site saved somewhere so I can browse through it? If not that fine. Thanks Disjaukifa