RedBeard

Excellent! More ideas to try! I did little research into the XFCE menu gadget and it appears to give people trouble. So I think I will need to learn to edit them by hand. Well, lunch break is almost over, so 'gotta go'! -RedBeard

As it turns out, my repositories have the HATARI emulator. This time, as last, there was no menu item made for it, so I had to find it and link to it. Irritating. But, just like Atari800, you poke around the menu structure inside and locate the roms and disk images etc. for it. So that one is working! And I think I like using it in full screen mode (this laptop's screen is a bit small) because it feels almost like a Color Atari Notebook on my lap. :-) So that's cool. I thought that I'd have more fun with the 8 bit things, but now I'm not so sure. :-) -RedBeard

Thank you, thank you, KrOtki! I appreciate your help. I'm working on the 8 bit emulator first. I was able to put a link on my desktop and launch Atari800. Then, as you said, inside the menu structure there is a spot where one locates the ROMs. So it was working! Of course, then the sound was garbage and the controller (arrow keys) was not working. Then I remember you said Atari800WinPlus works, so I tried that. Sure enough, the install and ROM locating went smoothly under WINE. The arrow keys were just fine, but when running in a larger window, the slowdown was terrible. Pole Position at 1/3 speed? No, thanks. So I still have a few issues to work out, but I'd like to try an RPG game (like Alternate Reality, maybe) where speed of emulation isn't so critical. I think it's time to tackle the other two emulators, but I have a full week ahead of me. So those may take a while. One thing at a time! -RedBeard

Hey, all. I apologize if I didn't do enough searching, but all I really found was the old eeepc thread which didn't help. Here is the situation: I have this old laptop that run PC-OS GNU/Linux. I'd like to run Atari emulators on it (of course). So I did the Synaptic update for Stella and Atari800. I couldn't find Stella. (Side Note: Is there a repository for this around that I can activate Stella?) The install looked normal, but nothing showed up in the menu. If I find the executable and double click, I get nothing. (Actually, see screenshot, just an ERROR MSG.) I have the ROM images on my other computer, but where do I put them? Also, it strikes me that this distro has Wine on it. Can anyone vouch for Wine being able to run Steem, Stella, Atari800, Atari800Win, etc properly? -RedBeard PS: particulars are: HP OmniBook 6000, P3 700 mhz, 384 Mb, 6 Gb HD, PC-OS 2009 (Debian / Ubuntu (Hardy Heron 8.04) derivative)

Thank you. And: MERRY CHRISTMAS! to you, too. ><>RedBeard P.S. And to all you other Atarians, also. oh and Happy Hannuka where appropriate!

Happy Birthday, Atari 8-bit! Here's to the next 30! ><>RedBeard

horseboy: your avatar just cracks me up! ><>RedBeard /* haven't used e-bay much lately, will go check it out soon... */

christianscott27: HaHaHa ><>RedBeard /* truly l.o.l. */

Thanks, y'all! That was very kind. I found a box in the garage marked Atari VCS, so I went to hook it up... no Atari machine in the box. ><>RedBeard /* Lots of other carts, though... so anyways, I'm off to emulation land! */

Regarding the High Score Challenges: are emulators allowed? (I'm sure there are arguments on both sides.) In this case, not TOO many people own a 7800 game system and then chop that number down to those who own a Dig Dug cartridge. You're really limiting the numbers then... I never owned a 7800, though, I've drooled over them before; the graphics, classic games. I'm hesitant to try emulation on a system that I never owned. I don't feel like I have any right to them. For example, I don't know what happened to my old TI 99/4a, but I might emulate Return To Pirates Island and Hunt The Wumpus. I've not even tried emus for Celecovision or Intellivision (even though they're long dead) for this reason. ><>RedBeard /* I maybe could be persuaded to try some other emulators, though... :-) */

Yesterday (24, July) was my birthday. (I tried to post yesterday, but my computer hiccupped...) AND I GOT ATARI VCS CARTRIDGES! YAY! YAY FOR ME! ><>RedBeard /* Including: Haunted House & Video Pinball & Yars' Revenge */

I think you need someone to play with. Don't you remember sitting side by side with a friend or two playing Atari? Dueling in joust. Cooperating in Mario Brothers. Challenging each others' high scores. Exploring timing, patterns, challenges, etc. together. This was a major drawback for VCS Activision games since many didn't have 2 player options. But you could still pass the joystick back and forth. ><>RedBeard /* Seems like the High Score Challenge is pretty close; certainly worth trying. Remember, though, these were GAMES, meant to be enjoyed then put away like board games. Now AtariAge, that's meant to go on and on and on and on and on... */

I was rereading some of the earlier posts and I may have changed my mind regarding hardware. I think perhaps that carmel_andrews (and others?) were right that a GP2X or similar handheld device might sell big. As he said, load it up with several emulators and a ton of games. Then make sure that there are development tools to encourage more games and shareware etc. (Or The Holodeck , but that might be harder...) The drawback, I suppose is using a keyboard -- if you're including 8 bit disk based games. Touch screen / stylus keyboards are too small to do much typing, really. I wonder if it -- in order to give it the best chance at succeeding -- should include Commodore games? I suppose there's still some Atari vs. Commodore feuding, but in terms of maximizing ther number of possible buyers... I think that a software-only Atari would be too boring. Seriously, who doesn't like the various machines, with their own strengths and quirks and stuph? Something about an old beige 800, for example, just calls to me. ><>RedBeard /* By the way can anyone give us a quick history of what - ever - happened - to - Commodore? Where are the leftovers of their properties? */

WHERE'S MY OTHER POST? I put another one up here and it's gone. Wierd. Here's what I tried to say: Maybe you could legally change your name to Pitfall. And your middle name to Harry, maybe even. I knew a guy who changed his legal name to Bhagwan. No offense to anyone named Bhagwan, it was just odd to know a skinny white guy with long blond hair named Bhawan. ><>RedBeard /* Then again, maybe they wouldn't let you. I seem to recall people trying to name their kids strange things, but being rejected. For example a Chinese couple tried @. And a Danish (I think) couple tried Xxxxxxyyyyyyzzzzzzhhwxyzxyz or something... */

Speaking of Apple clones, I noticed that there is a project under way where you buy Intel Duo hardware with, methinks, Linux OS. Then you buy Apple's OS X and install it. So you get a functional Macintosh clone without paying for the hardware, basically. So (LET On_Topic=1), it's not fruit, but I guess that would make such a computer an Apple Pie; crusty and unsure on the outside, Apple - Based GUI-ness on the inside. ><>RedBeard /* Okay so STs and Macs aren't 8 bit, but any ideas re: the proper fruit type of a stock 520 ST? */

Sorry to get back to this so late... They've been drying out for months, but I'm just so afraid what'll happen when I finally try to turn them on. ><>RedBeard /* We do have some old floppies, etc., but this is a project for a future date. I just can't get to it right now. You know, first you need to find a place to work and get a surge protector and dust 'em off and ... This project will just have to wait a while longer. */

Well, I was proposing that we were turning toward positive and decent relations. At least in the technical and legal sense... and I sincerely hope in the attitudes and behaviors of everyday, normal, thinking people. If you're suggesting that some terrible things were done to the black family structure and normal relations among whites and blacks by LBJ administration (and others like him), you'll get no argument from me. But there, you're squarely in the 1960's, not 50's. ><>RedBeard /* I don't know too much about baseball, but it looks like Jackie Robinson played during the 50's. Thus he was part of turning the hearts and minds for the better. At least for baseball fans. */

I agree that neither retro gaming nor a mascot will save Atari. A mascot may have helped around Jaguar time. Alas, that time is past and ain't coming back. [Edit: I'm not arguing against finding a mascott, but just that it won't help much. I suppose Bentley Bear is a decent choice, but a bear who wears a loin cloth and a magic hat and collects jewels and hops over wierd tree creature things? Very, uh, strange...] Coming back with hardware seems to me extremely unlikely. There are already three hardware platforms going and I don't think a fourth would sail, no matter who invented it. Nothing short of The Holodeck would be enough hardware to bring them back. Coming back as software has more potential, however. Either of two ways, I guess. They invent (or find/distribute) the next Giant Blockbuster game (on the order of a Pac-Man or a Donkey Kong). This would probably be difficult. You'd need to "luck into it", really. Or they find MANY smaller, but lovable and playable and easily distributed games. Imagine your favorite 5 or so games that you play now and then (like Solitaire, Tetris, Snood, Mahjong, whatever) all brought to you by the same company. No matter if they're on your home computer or cell phone or whatever. And then the next several that catch your attention, and then another cool little game (or even application?), and then another etc. Something like that might resurrect the Atari name. ><>RedBeard /* Another alternative, of course, is to get into whatever The Next Big Thing is. What is it? Nobody knows yet. Maybe it's the social network kind of games that Mr. Bushnell was talking about in the article. Maybe not. It remains to be seen. My bet is that it will have something to do with social - networking, hence the rise in popularity of MMORPGs and other online gaming and "MySpacFaceBook" type sites and online PS3/Xbox gaming */

Oh. Hey, I'm sorry if I made it too political. I think I "started it" as the kids say. I do happen to like the American Graffiti vibe, though. Just a thing, I guess. As regards your question, hey who knows? My best guess goes something like this: FIRSTLY) you gotta do something, right? I mean what do you do with a guy who hops around on cubes? [He works in a warehouse color coodinating boxes/pallets then racks/aisles? Nah.] B) the archetypes are already there. No need to define real characters, just plug 'em in the template. Easy. C) based on the time frame, you've a generation of children who just watched years of Happy Days. There's an automatic hook there. Besides, what does a hit TV show generate but copy-cats? The industry is full of them. For example: The Survivor --> Beauty and the Geek --> Hell's Kitchen --> I Survived a Japanese Game Show ><>RedBeard /* Also: hops on cubes ... hop ... sock hop ... huh? see now? hey we're on to something... */

Ah, 'back in the day'... It sounds terriffic. I wish I could have been there. If I Recall Correctly, Egghead software used to have STs (and others) set up so people could try out software before laying down cash. Those were the days of actual choices in hardware and software. I understand that the market couldn't bear 8 to 10 machines, but now we have only two, three if you count Linux, which most people still don't know or care about. I don't even think SGI or Sun make hardware any more. (I could be wrong about that, but certainly if they do, it isn't for the average home user.) ><>RedBeard /* If you don't mind my asking, what was the store? If you advertised in Antic or ST Log or whichever, I may have heard of your store. Obviously, if you'd rather not say, I'll buzz off. No problem. */

That's kinda sad, eh. I wonder what are the chances of rehabilitating - rejuvenating such a place. Seems like one could do some stuph without much cash infusion. Like super-cheap rates for the local Little Leage after-party. Or having bringing in Live Music on Friday evenings. (then, of course, you sell overpriced food and drinks...) For just a little bit of cash you could have 'Free Soda Pop Tuesdays' or something. A little more cash and you might be able to upgrade the video games room and attract a young crowd that way. Add a Saturday Night Bring Your Lynx...er, I mean... Wii and maybe you could hold that young crowd. Bring in some street mimes for amusement (or to give the kids someone to beat up, really)... Okay, you tell them I said so. I'd hate to see a place like that just wither and die. ><>RedBeard /* Oh, and bring in Pong, Stunt Cycle and VCS so you can have a real 'dinosaur' collection! *drum shot* Oh! Thank you. I'm here all week! */

That's amazing. I assume you're not kidding... ><>RedBeard /* Have you been able to get various Atari tools & toys onto the Linux eee yet? I hope so. */

Stop. You're cracking me up. I don't think I've ever used those emoticons over there (<---), but I'm tempted to use the laughing one. So let me get this straight. They have OLD games and REALLY, REALLY OLD animals? That's cool! I was wondering about the "mystery hill" part. I've heard about places like this where "the laws of gravity are stretched and suspended" or some such nonsense. Is it actually that trippy when you're there or is it really obvious? Examples: with crooked walls that are supposed to not appear crooked or "straight" lines that make other things look not straight... ><>RedBeard /* Wait, I got it! They got the dinosaurs by extracting the DNA from the mosquitos! Awesome! */

Was there a really short man named Tattoo? ><>RedBeard /* And a tall one who spoke of Fine, Corinthian Leather? */

That is pretty dang cool! I'm glad some folks still remember the classics. ><>RedBeard /* Quick note for those who haven't clicked it yet: it took me thirty to forty-five seconds to see what was going on, so if you're like me, you might need some patience. */