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Level42

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Posts posted by Level42

  1. Posted

    5 hours ago, Mazzspeed said:

    I haven't found an ATR that won't run off SIDE3 yet, however I believe a select few titles are hard coded to use the default floppy on the SIO port. If such titles are important, as stated, it's not hard to make an SIO2USB lead (or buy one ready made, they're quite affordable) and use RespeQt.

     

    Perhaps these select few titles have now been patched? I'm honestly not sure.

    Yeah I got a SIO2USB connector from Lotharek and also an SdriveMax so in those extremely few cases I can use those. Just paid for the SIDE3, can’t wait !

    • Like 2

  2. Posted

    11 hours ago, CharlieChaplin said:

     

    Well,

     

    I do not own a SIDE-3 cart, but afaik most (all?) A8 bootdisk programs that use their own (custom) SIO routines (and absolutely rely on SIO) will not work with SIDE-3. You want names? Hmmm, there are only a few programs (that I have heard) that use custom SIO loading, e.g.:

     

    - Alternate Reality (The City, The Dungeon; unsure if one or both; CAR versions available, but afaik not fully working yet)

    - Seven Cities of Gold (Electronic Arts)

    - one or two Lucasfilm games (most likely Koronis Rift or Eidolon or both; luckily available in CAR format)

    - a few demos (a bootdisk demo from Copy Service Stuttgart, some polish bootdisk demos)

    - maybe the Big Demo by HTT? (original version worked alright with 1050 drives, but not on the XF551; HTT made a patch available and after I used it, the patched version would work on the XF but not on the 1050 anymore; curious if it works on other/3rd party drives, from harddisks, from carts, etc.)

    - programs that were (are) coded intentionally (on purpose) not to work with U1MB by XXL, in case you are using SIDE-3 together with U1MB

     

    For me it is hard to tell (notice), since I am using real floppy drives, SIO2PC, AVG with SIO cable and SIO2SD and I do not own a U1MB. If the mentioned programs are ultra important for you or not, you have to decide yourself.

     

    Thanks for answering that question. None of these games are ones that I play often and I see even some of those are available in different format than ATR.

    For any software written to deliberately screw owners of U1MB and SIDE cartridges; how pathetic can a person be ? And I’m not interested in running any software from people like that.

     

    I”m going with SIDE3. The AVG used to be a lot cheaper than SIDE3 but not anymore. Including the SIO cable there’s only a 20 euro price difference now so that can’t be a reason for choosing one over the other anymore.

     

    I’m used to and really like FJC’s U1MB firmware and interface and find the AVG’s interface too bare bones for me.

     

    • Like 1

  3. Posted · Edited by Level42

    So....after getting married and my dad passing away (at 87...not much to complain about) I'm getting back to my hobbies a bit and the one thing still irritating me is that I still don't own either AVG or SIDE3.

     

    I still love The!cart for it's interface and ultra-fast search function but I can't get myself to setting it all up to add just a few new games...I really need to be able to simply copy files to SD card and pop it in my A8 (cartridge).

    Anyway: the way I use my beloved 600XL most of the time is simply playing games and demo's. 


    Now, I've read all about ATR compatibility, but nowhere do I see a list of games/demos that won't run on SIDE3......
    I'd think that at least the vast majority of games are available in XEX or CAR and don't need ATR. For demo's, I wouldn't mind using SdriveMax.

    So, what ultra-important ATR games will not work on SIDE3 and will work on AVG ? Names, not percentages please :D 
     

  4. Posted

    If certain colours are too dark with RGB those colour signals are simply too low compare to one or two other of the signals.

    There are lots of variables here.

     

    Remember that the RGB outputs on the 7400/7401 were designed with the SCART input of TVs in mind. Those SCART inputs are terminated with resistors. If, whatever device you are connecting the RGB signal into has no, or incorrect value terminating resistors, the signal can be overloaded, lowering the actual signal.

     

    I have also had high quality RGB cables with PCBs and resistors inside (which were intended well, but were put in there because the guy who builds them misunderstood how SCART termination works)......which ruined the picture, making ALL the colours way too dark....l

     

    HOWEVER......do we actually kno the original RF colours are correct ?

    maybe they used wrong resistors in the original design making some colours too bright, and making the actual RGB output correct. 
     

    Then there is also the fact that the machine was designed as the Odyssey2 in the US and for their NTSC system.

    just like with many other systems, colour can appear rather different between Euro and US systems, f.I. the VCS and A8 machines suffer from this (where I , as a European, much prefer the NTSC machines).

     

    Is there some kind of test cartridge for O2/Videopac that can show a true colour bar ? If so, that could be used to see what the correct colours should be.

     

     

  5. Posted · Edited by Level42

    LOL, somebody stole my idea :)

     

    I just picked up a G7000 and had seen some other mod PCBs and where it was connected to on the main PCB and figured, I could design that in SMD and have it fit right over the pins of the IC on the main board.....

    And now I googled this.

     

    Any plans on doing a run of them ? I’m also in The Netherlands so shipping costswon’t be an issue ;) 

  10. Posted · Edited by Level42

    Hey guys,

     

    I have had this video material for quite a long time but couldn't publicize it any earlier.....the source is straight (digitalized copy) from the Dutch public broadcasting archives.

     

    It's a very nice vintage Dutch TV program mostly about arcades but there's also a nice part from 20.51 with some (simple) demo of an Atari 800, which is quite remarkable as the 800 was never officially imported into The Netherlands. 

    Naturally we Atari freaks also directly recognize Star Raiders as the game being used in the background....

    There are subtitles but I apologize for the poor English up ahead, but at least you can get an idea what is said.

     

    Enjoy !
     


     

    • Like 9
    • Thanks 2

  15. Posted

    3 hours ago, skr said:

    I´ll probably never see that. Level 08 is the end for me. I´m just not able to control Albert as I want to. All three control options are suffering fine control for me. Tried different sticks, but it keeps being a game of luck, and that gets boring quickly.

    It’s not a game of luck, it’s a game of skill.

     

    I only use the default setting for the joystick and use a Suzo Competition Pro with leaf switches which gives very fine control and very short travel and throw.

    you need a great joystick for sure. The trick for the long jumps is to get up to speed by running a short distance and then jumping with diagonal upwards pushing of the joystick...

    • Like 1

  17. Posted

    It’s actually a very fun game. The level design is quite challenging and differing.I think I underestimated it at first.

    So far it has the “one more try” factor which is so important......it’s  addictive and not only insanely beautiful looking. Because that it is, pure eye candy and I can’t believe that they pulled this from our beloved 70s technology box...

    (I appreciate games like Disc’o pop just as much by the way).

     

    I’m at Level 13 now.

     

    I discovered  that you can pause the game by pushing the space bar and if you then move the joystick the screen scrolls around following the stick, making it possible to “see ahead” if you need. I didn’t really need it in gameplay yet though...but it might help to see where you have to jump to next...so far I guesstimated the location of yet unknown platforms...

     

    the fact that the “remaining gems” counter has three digits promises some big levels up ahead....

     

     

    • Like 5

  18. Posted

    8 hours ago, Gunstar said:

    I switched over to Antic PAL hybrid about 15 years ago, and finally went full PAL on my 1200XL four years ago after my 1084S monitor stopped working. I then got an 800, and it was going to be my NTSC machine. But my 1200XL was down for repairs and I realized how limited I was with my NTSC 800, when many of my favorite games these days are PAL. So I converted it to PAL as well. I was thinking about turning my 1200XL back into an NTSC, but there are only a select few games that the slight bump in speed helps, like the Lucasfilm games. But I'd already gotten used to the slightly slower game play on PAL, and when I played them again in NTSC, I really didn't notice a speed increase so much. It was more drastic seeing it slow down when I converted to PAL than the other way around. Bottom line is, it's not enough to make me go back to NTSC, not with so many devices and monitors that support both these days. I've gotten used to the letter-boxed look of the non-overs-canned window and I use over-scanning (with Rastaconverter 240p) too much these days to want to lose it on any Atari. Everything now looks to stretched for me on NTSC screens.

     

    That being said, and to stay on topic, I'm enjoying all the amazing art and color of Albert. I know the graphic shading techniques are limited, but I often wondered why they weren't used in Atari games more often, just far too little use of DLI's in the 80's. Or other Atari tricks for additional colors. Games like Space Harrier, AtarBlast! and The Last Squadron, and now Albert, are proving how good Atari graphics can be when it's hardware is used properly (in other words, ingeniously). Of course there have been others too, Crownland, Demo's Dungeon, etc, hopefully just the beginning of a continued evolution in Atari graphic art.

     

     

     

     

    q.jpg

    This is so funny as I can't stand playing the vast majority of games (the pre 1987 ones I guess) on PAL anymore. Being from The Netherlands, I grew up using PAL A8 machines and never knew better, but once I discovered the NTSC speed, I never wanted to go back. I only switch to PAL ANTIC when really needed, like with these more recent games and demos.

    It's not only the speed increase with NTSC by the way. Many older games only produce the correct colors on NTSC (Pac Man f.i.), but there's also 60Hz which greatly reduces flicker (let's say it eliminates it) and you get the correct aspect ratio as it was intended by the A8 developers. 

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

  19. Posted · Edited by Level42

    6 hours ago, BIGHMW said:

    Yeah but still ANY port of it is great this clearly would've destroyed Super Mario or at least have given the XEGS a significant advantage having this as a pack-in game or at least market it as formidable competition for Super Mario Bros., then how would Nintendo counter THAT??? This could've very easily set up a serious XEGS vs. NES rivalry for sure, and unlike the old 5200 vs. ColecoVision rivalry from back in my days in 1983, Atari would've won HANDS DOWN!!!

    Hmmm, although I will still defend the A8 platform against any ignorant guy who has never actually played it or seen demos on it, I have mostly left my "platform battle days" behind.

    However: with all respect: Albert looks insanely good for game for a 1979 released piece of hardware. BUT..... the gameplay can in NO WAY compete to the complex, fun and challenging game design of SMB.
    Game design is not the same thing as fantastic graphics. I learned that when I first played Dragon's Lair in the arcade: I was AWED by the graphics but after two tries (with double the price of regular games at that time) I walked away, completely disappointed and thinking: if this is the way games are going to go, I'm done with it.

    To make Albert compete with SMB it would need a LOT of work because, fun as it is, the gameplay is rather one dimensional. Apart from "clearing the screen" there are no (sub)goals, there's no way to kill enemies etc. This is all _fine_ but it makes comparing it to SMB rather pointless. it's just a whole different game.

    • Like 7

  20. Posted · Edited by Level42

    8 hours ago, adam242 said:

     

    Here's a modified version which bypasses the PAL flag check. Not tested on real hardware yet, but works fine in Altirra (both NTSC-50 and straight NTSC).

     

    Fantastic game! No disrespect to original programmers.

     

    Albert (no PAL check).xex 103.86 kB · 27 downloads

    THANK YOU !!!!!!!

    The original would fail to run on my 600XL with Sophia RGB (and AntiX set to PAL ANTIC) because of this stupid check.
    This version runs perfectly on it !!!!

    (By the way, when I switch AntiX to NTSC it still runs, but obviously the colors change (not to their advantage) and there's an occasional glitch on Albert. Worst though its that it is a lot _slower_ and speed varies a bit. But at least you can get an idea of the game.  I didn't notice any other graphics issues....

    Now I need to find Bomb Jack and Pang! again.... :)

    • Like 2

  21. Posted · Edited by Level42

    Scored somewhere in the 210000 after a few games. Mind you that was with 3 (small Dutch) beers down the hatch.... :D

     

    I find it a bit unfair that when the bears are shot and dying, they can still kill you when you walk into them, but that's the case with many more games and if the original was that way....surely don't change that :)

     

    Oh I also had a glitch/bug: at one moment one of the drones actually entered a top right corner of one of the boxes. It left a black "hole" but I could still "paint" the box and complete the level. It was in a situation where I was at the top of the screen and the drones where "queuing up" to get me.... 

     

    By the way, there are some "magicians" here on this forum that specialize in creating the most awesome title screens....I'd love to see the C64 title screen version converted (and of course hugely improved) to the A8 ! :) 



    By the way Jon, did you do the C64 version ? As it shows "Digital Monastery" in the scrolling text in the main menu.

    Also, is there some kind of manual for the C16 version of Major Blink ? I know the game is simple enough but I can't find anything online ? 

    While searching for that, I found this very nice interview:  http://classic-games.pl/jon-williams-the-classics-creator-an-interview-english-version/ 
    Really enjoyed reading it (especially that you used an A8 to develop games on the Commodore.... LOL) 

    IMG_4088.jpg

    Schermafbeelding 2021-01-29 om 10.51.33.png

  22. Posted

    On 11/24/2020 at 3:59 PM, Nojeee said:


    Thanks for letting me know ... it just goes to show how bad I am at playing my own games!

    LOL. I once sent my high score (WR) on Donkey Kong on the A8 to Landon Dyer (who programmed it) and he said that it was nuts and that he had never reached anywhere near that score..... 
    Sure is nice to hear.

    I found the new version of Major Blink to be indeed harder....I didn't check scores or levels....let me try again :)

  24. Posted

    I’d go with U1MB because it offers more IMHO.

    F.I. Switching stereo POKEY from the menu (I hate external buttons or switches). It also offers two “generic” outputs that you can control from the menu. I use one for switching between NTSC and PAL ANTIC.

    also IMHO 4 OS ROM slots seem more than enough and so is 1MB.


    someone mentioned video issues caused by U1MB....how do these look ?

  25. Posted

    After months of being inactive I recently again found some spare time to play around with the A8 a bit again.....

     

    I wanted to play Pang since I hadn't played it for quite some time, but to my surprise it's not working, I'm getting a rainbow colored screen after the "Pang" ATASCII screen.

     

    Now, I have Sophia RGB on board and I've noticed that some other games ID this as a NTSC GTIA. I have long forgotten if there's any setting for this on Sophia ? 

    I also recently upgraded my U1MB to the latest full ROM set. (And I have AntiX inside, so I can use both PAL ANTIC or NTSC ANTIC, but neither work).

    I actually don't remember if I played Pang on my main 600XL with all these extra's or if it was another machine (Standard 130XE). 
     

    Anything I can do to solve this ?

    IMG_4039.jpg

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