MrFish

I was answering your initial comment about "if you like cartridges and not disks, the 5200 would be the way to go". But, in any case, if you wanna talk about cart releases only from back in the day, or cart games total available now (which would count 8-bit to 5200 conversions on the 5200 side, and 8-bit disk and executable to cart conversions for the 8-bit side), or total games that could be played from an SD (which would mean the entire 8-bit computer library), the 8-bit computers have many, many more games, no matter how you want to slice it. It's no contest. Some people might not be familiar with just how large the 8-bit cartridge library was from back in the day. So, as a starting point, Atarimania's database of cartridges in its games category currently totals 475, of which they probably have a couple hand fulls of modern cart releases and some protos that wouldn't really be considered playable games. So, it's pretty safe to say there's 450 total in their database that would actually count; and, as I say, those are just from back in the day of the machine's production and sales.

I never liked the graphics for 8-bit/5200 Defender all that much. It's a good/respectable version, but not so compelling to get me excited about playing it very much. Archer Maclean's Drop Zone walks all over any Atari version of Defender, for graphics and smooth gameplay. Drop Zone is a tough game to play though; so, I don't get as much out of it as I could otherwise (except a solid ass kicking). We have a prototype of Maclean's version of Defender (and Stargate), which would have turned out great. Had he completed that version, I'm sure I would have played a lot more Defender on my 8-bit computer.

I really wouldn't call it experimental by the time Apple copied it. The Alto was out in 1973, and the Star was out in 1981. By the time of the Star, it was a very mature hardware and software system, and many features from it didn't appear in Macs or Windows until years later. Early Mac and Windows systems were rather immature by comparison. The Lisa was more mature, but expensive and subsequently unsuccessful. So, we didn't see those features until they finally made it to Macs and Windows.

Here, try this one. Satan's Hollow (Continous Load).xex

For 5200 Super Nerds only.

Try these. Satan's Hollow.rom Davids Midnight Magic [XEGS].rom David's Midnight Magic 2 [Williams].rom Same as above with cart-type extensions. Satan's Hollow.c02 Davids Midnight Magic.c13 David's Midnight Magic 2.c08

With some background color. PAL mrfish - eclipse (color v3).xex NTSC mrfish - eclipse (color v3) ntsc.xex

Here's the NTSC conversion. Aspect ratio is drastic enough that it should probably have it's own version; but I'm in no hurry to do that. mrfish - eclipse (color v2) ntsc.xex

Updated version of this with some color changes. I like this new version better. mrfish - eclipse (color v2).xex

Actually, hyperspace on the 8-bit computers for Defender is easy, because you can hit any alphanumeric key to engage it. So, just hit anywhere in the center of the keyboard and you're good. Man, this stuff is so difficult on the 8-bit computers!!

Yoomp is a good game for stereo, because not only does it use both POKEY chips for the music, but it also enables positional audio for the ball; so the bouncing sound will gradually pan from one side to the other as the ball is moved from one side to the other. I'm not sure there's any other game that does that.

Development progress of the GUI is in no way impeded by the inclusion of multitasking -- the functionality/viability of which has already been quite thoroughly demonstrated. SymbOS has already proven a full system like this can be created without the help of a 68000 or x86. The fact the author @Prodatron urged @flashjazzcat, and in fact helped him, to add multitasking, is a testament to his confidence that it can be brought to full fruition with our 6502 @ 1.79Mhz/1.77Mhz. It's been stated time and time again that progress is hindered by lack of available time. I'm not sure why people feel the need to bring up unfounded ideas like this. Do you have some specific evidence of why it couldn't work, or have you seen something that hasn't worked as it should so far?

I like/prefer cassettes that come in those styles of cases.

Cool bunch of cassettes.

I assumed it to be C1 too. I notice you typed it as C1 in your initial post.

Is the part number supposed to be CI00417 (as you have it in your list), or should it be C100417? I just popped mine open, and it's a Rev. A.

A new Inufuto game has been published for the 8-bit computers and 5200, called AntiAir. All Inufuto Games

Not really. We just have some demos so far; but they're pretty impressive progress. One thing, also, is that the project seems to have stalled. If you check on the Github page, no updates since the demos were released 2 years ago. So, it joins this project in dormancy, atm.

No problem. I think @Fragmare posted his RMT source file too. So, I'm not sure. Anyway, it's a great chip tune.

Look past shelling out essentially $30 for a piece of hardware because Retro Games couldn't be bothered to take the time and get something so basic right? I mean, how hard is it to get the base functionality of a joystick working right, when it's a design that's already been around and working fine for over 40 years? I know there are people who've been able to use them fine as they are; but there seem to be a significant-enough number of people who aren't fine with them. I agree, why should anyone. Are we so desperate for a piece of hardware like this that we should just take anything that gets shoved at us? I'm not, and I won't. They're going to lose business over this joystick; and their attitude of users needing to be more gentle with the joystick isn't a solution. Everybody doesn't use controllers the same, and they should have taken that into account during testing.

Here's @Fragmare's version of "Streets of Rage 2 - Dreamer". SOR2_DreamerPOKEY01c.xex

The Atari 8-bit computers have way more game carts than the 5200 does. You could forget about disks and still have tons more available on carts for the 8-bit computers than for the 5200. The keyboard can be looked at as a positive or a negative. A keyboard has tons more keys than a 5200 controller, which opens the door for games that would be a right pain on any controller.

I'm guessing it may need to be something more permanent than a stick-on pad... but, I can understand your frustration; I hate having to fix stuff that's supposed to work to begin with. Fixing used stuff is one thing; fixing stuff that's brand new...

You're right. My mistake. I was confusing you with @chad5200, who is the one that used "Sponge Tape". Too bad the grommet didn't hold up. The idea seemed to be going in the right direction.