Ferris

Is this just a one-off that he did specifically for you or is he selling them to anyone? I'd like to get my hands on one of those suckers if he's willing and if the price is right.

Where can I get my hands on a reproduction Tempest cartridge? I've been away at school and out of the loop for some time now, and I dont see this title listed in the AtariAge store. Can someone clue me in? Thanks

I have been asking about that title for about 7 years. So far, no one seems to recall that title, but it still could be a possibility. I never count anything out unless an employee, a vendor, or a piece of paperwork downright denies that it was ever developed or states that it is definately a rumor. I haven't had confirmation either way on this title. Maybe Tempest has had some better luck??

Best Electronics is a good place to go. But VIDEO 61 Atari Sales and Service is where my loyalty is. Lance Ringuqist runs the business and he has been a dedicated Atari vendor for the past 21 years. That's all he does. He knows his stuff, and he has plenty of fresh new stock for the 5200, including rebuilt controllers with all of the newly manufactured parts. (Gold buttons, etc) You can visit his site on line at www.atarisales.com or you can call him at 651-462-2500. No body told me to post this. I just have strong feelings about Video 61 and in the past 15 years I have been dealing with them, I have never been disapointed at all. Never.

That's absolutely correct! I believe the name "Tengen" comes from the same game of GO, of which Nolan took the name "Atari" which essentially means checkmate, or prepare to be conquered. The main purpose of Tengen was to allow Atari to put titles on the NES and get past their little rule of exclusivity. I believe both Tramiel and Warner had some stake in Tengen. Either way, what you said is right on the money.

INKY - Dude, that's beautiful. It *almost* looks like it could be a real prototype. I'd like to see what else you can think up Atari in those days did not operate like the rest of the video gaming companies. Just because Sega and Nintendo did something certainly does not mean that Jack Tramiel took Atari in the same direction. But I'll tell ya what. I'm going to take a leap here and believe you. I know you are flat-out wrong, but I will believe you. I know what it's like to get a hold of something and not have people believe that you have it. That's why evidence plays such a significant role in the process of belief. I'm telling you that what you saw was the EPYX published title for the 2600 and 7800, as a 2600 title. Everybody here will stipulate that this game DOES exist and WAS shipped and sold on store shelves. I own two copies myself. But it's a 2600 game. Bottom line. So I'll make you a deal. I'm going to believe you. In fact, I'm going to make you an offer you cant refuse. You are so adamant that there are published and released copies of California Games which was published *exclusively* for the 7800. You saw them yourself at that store. The clerk even told you. I happen to be doing pretty well for my age and I have some money burning a hole in my pocket. If you can procure one of these 7800 California Games cartridges, complete with label, box, instructions, the whole deal, and it in fact is a version of California Games that only plays on the 7800 and was published by Atari, I will give you $2500.00 cash. Aww hell, let's just make it $2600.00 for Atari history sake. If you can get this title and prove to me that it is what you think it is, I'll buy that cartridge with box and documentation from you for that price. Hey, it's a great offer! Anyway, I hope you can find it. I sure would love to have a copy of that game.

lol

That list from the DP looks pretty familiar. I think they compiled a lot of that from a release list that was sent out sometime in 1990 or 1991. On the other hand, some of those titles look wayy off as far as what I have found in my studies over the past decade or so. But as is often said when it comes to 7800 vaporware...anything is possible. Alien v. Predator sounds about right though. I hear about this title quite often, I just havent found any paperwork, nor have I had an employee *swear* that this title was slated for development. But there has been so much chatter about this title, I would bet money that it was underway.

lol Inky, you're such a smartass.

I agree. I'd place a wager that he has a lot more than he realizes on those drives. There have been some issues that have come up when trying to access the files though. Lance is very passionate about getting new software out. Thing is, its time consuming and very expensive. If he ever gets anything out of those hard drives, I guarantee you he will release the titles for sale on 7800 cartridges. Oh well, I will leave it to Lance to make announcements about what he has.

In 1994 I purchased several dozzen 7800 units for something like three dollars a piece directly from Leonard Tramiel. I also had to purchase a large amount of parts and pay for shipping. Still, it was a great deal. I gave a lot of them away for Christmas and Birthdays. *shruggs*

Message Curt Vendel. He has made them in the past and he has a few original units. I made my own 7800 unit and it came out great!

I speak with Lance on a daily basis. We are working on this issue right now. Lance is very adamant that he has 7800 titles on those drives, its just hard to see the tree thru the forest. I’m not allowed to say anything other than that.

Ya know while I'm at it, let me post photographs of the prototype cartridge labels for the 7800. Actually, I don't know if I can honestly call these "prototypes" these are more like "early release" cartridges from Spring 1984 when Atari under Warner was developing the 7800 and getting ready for launch. There are very few of these cartridges floating around. The labels look just like the original 7800 box with the holoptic matrix on the aluminum label. These almost look holographic and are definately metallic in some way. The titles are self-explanitory. Enjoy!

Here ya go... Those are off of my OLD website. Ill have some new ones for you in a few weeks. Doesn't look like much of anything new, but it is definately Sky Fox in action.

That would be cool. Most of what I have is paperwork and notes Ive taken down from Atari employees and vendors that I hunted down and harassed until they cried uncle. It's been hard getting my hands on actual prototypes. The screenshots I have have gotten stale now that everyone has seen them. I have shots from KLAX, Rescue on Fractalus, Sky Fox, GATO, and Asteroids 3-D. In 1995 this was something to brag about but it is common now. Im trying desperately to get photos from the 1991 CES where Tramiel was showing off Electrocop. I can't find Julie Wade and no one else seems to have taken pictures that day. *shruggs* Maybe Matt R. will suprise us with something we didn't see before =)

Where is Rescue on Fractalus? I know it exists. I think the original programmer has the demo for it. I believe it only had the cockpit and some slight left and right movement and the gauges. I would still like to find this title though.

Easy. It doesnt exist. DracIsBack is right. EPYX published a version of California Games in the late 1980s that has very nice graphics for the 2600, and could play on the 7800, operating in 2600 mode. EPYX did what a lot of third party Atari developers did at the time, marketing nice 2600 titles as "FOR ATARI 2600 AND 7800 SYSTEMS" so it were to appear as if it were a 7800 game. And in reality it was. You could play it right on the 7800, no problem. It just didn't use the Maria chip technology and didn't harness the real power of the 7800. The California Games I have listed on my page is a version of the title that was underway at Atari during the last days of the 7800. Cali Games proved its self to be a wonderful title on the Atari formats first on the ST and then especially on the Lynx as the original pack-in title for that system. Atari had slated California Games to be ported to the 7800 and announced to the vendors to expect it for late 1991 or 1992. Nothing ever came. I seriously doubt work was started on this project beyond the conceptual stages. If it was, its on some hard drive somewhere out of the Lombard warehouse. Bottom line is whatever clerk you dealt with back then was telling the truth. If he said that California Games was not for play on the 7800, he would be incorrect. That's like saying you cant play Ridge Racer I on PS2. You can, but the graphics are no where near what the PS2 can do. Thats why Sony has put out new versions of Ridge Racer specifically designed for the PS2 Okay that sounds questionable... but alot of these sorts of thigns do. I have a hard time buying into the idea that a flea market dealer developed his own 7800 title and no one has ever heard of it. Then again, stranger things have happened. If you say you actually played it, then we have to take you for your word. What was it like? Was it the fuji track? The primary reason there wasn't a Pole Position I on the 7800 is mainly because it was only the Fuji track, which was included in Pole Position II anyways, so there wasnt any point in it. Good question though with California Games... it shows that someone is actually paying attention to what I put in that database. There is alot of mythology surrounding 7800 vaporware, so questions are bound to arise. Especially with titles such as "Bentley Bear in Q*Bert" etc.

That's exactly what I was thinking. I didn't know his middle initial though. Thank's for the heads up.

Does anybody know any ex-Froggo employees? From all I know about Froggo it was more or less a one-man-band. I don't doubt Pyromania exists. Ive been told that there was a run of the cartridges made at one point but never shipped, but that is questionable to an extent. I just haven't had much luck stalking Froggo employees lately *shruggs*

I'm just really curious as to what those initials mean.

If I recall correctly, a very early Atari internal doc listed Milipede as CX-7813 Curt That's really interesting. The story I heard about 7800 Millipede is that Warner was considering it as one of the very early release titles, but Tramiel scratched this project and allowed Tengen to release it on the NES. Ofcourse, Nintendo had their nice little exclusivity policy at the time. I also have seen CX7813 as Jr. Pac-Man. The Millipede thing is really intriguing. I love this stuff lol.

This is sorta new, but I've been addicted to 7800 KLAX ever since I got my hands on one of the early prototypes a few years back. I thought Block-Out was addictive, KLAX really taked the cake. BTW, towards the bottom of the screen on KLAX there are two sets of initials, JAH and DAD... almost like it is supposed to be a two-player game where you enter your initials when you begin. Then again, I have a slightly different version than most I think. Has anybody else noticed this and does anybody know exacly why those initials are there? I know I must be overlooking something here.

I'd just be happy if someone would step forward with that copy of Electrocop for the 7800 that Tramiel was showing off at the 1991 CES.

Put me down for a copy of The Fall Guy and Tempest. Campaign '84 might be fun too.