Simon

June 26, 2002

Talking about "Aztec Challenge": most of the people I spoke to only knew about the first level (named "The Gauntlet"), because they never finished it and never advanced to the other levels. I think that a lot of people consider "Aztec Challenge" consisting ONLY of that first level.

IMHO: the first level is great and the seventh level is good, but the levels in between are not that good. Therefore I want to make a more arcade-style game of the first level containing different pyramids and temples to run towards and run at day/night etc. We'll see.

Concerning the label? I wouldn't have bad feelings towards holding a labelcontest for this game, but 1.) the game development is at the VERY beginning and 2.) due to the fact that it was released back then for the c64 I imagine using a modified version of the original cover-artwork.

But at first I have to finish the production of "Mental Kombat".

Simon

June 5, 2002

This is a funny thing...

So what are you doing the 30 minutes every day? Designing graphics and sprites? ;-)

You can't do anything serious right now, because you don't even know the limitations for graphics, sounds, coding and finally IDEAS at all.

My first game is finally done and I'm working on my second 2600-game, but I really won't like to work for others and realize THEIR ideas instead of MINE.

Thanks for the fun you gave me on this stressful day.

Simon

"I have a vision of a perfect girlfriend, could someone of you bio-scientists out there contact me and build that simple DNA-stuff. The plans are already done and realization should be quite easy..."

May 22, 2002

Thanks for the news-update, Al.

I hope that the production of the headbands works as planned, otherwise I'll have to sell Mental Kombat as shown on the picture...

I'll try and update my development page within this week. Especially the photos of all 100 carts in line should be worth a look then...

Simon

May 22, 2002

Kung-Fu Master was also available for the Amstrad/Schneider CPC and the Spectrum Homecomputers.

There was also a "Kung-fu Master" for the MSX, but this is a different game and dated 1983.

Simon

May 22, 2002

Speaking of "Kung-Fu Master" I found the following information on http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Chamb...711/nes-kf.html :

"KUNG FU (Master)

Developed by Pony / Published Irem

DID YOU KNOW… that the old Arcade and NES classic KUNG FU MASTER is actually based on the Jackie Chan movie WHEELS on MEALS. You see, KUNG FU MASTER in Japan was titled SPARTAN X as was the movie WHEELS on MEALS. In the movie Jackie Chan plays the character THOMAS who with Yuen Biao (David) and Sammo Hung are in search of SYLVIA. The climax of the movie takes place inside a huge mansion where the 3 Brothers bust in and rescue the maiden fair (This is where the legendary fight between Jackie and Benny "The Jet" takes place). Now in the game SPARTAN X you play the role of THOMAS who must rescue his gal SYLVIA from MISTER X. You play through 5 floors of the Devil's Temple, save Sylvia, then repeat it all again only this time it is harder. The game and movie have very little in common aside from the names of the characters. Both the film and the game came out in 1984."

Simon

May 21, 2002

I got some new carts from Hozer and liked the Ebivision game "Merlin's Walls" quite much due to it's technique of displaying the mazes...

Are the maps for the higher levels (map #1 is shown in the manual) available on the net somewhere?

Simon

April 24, 2002

Good to hear that you'd prefer the game including two headbands. As said before, contacts are already made with a production company in Far-East. They want to make an offer soon and I think that it should be possible to get two bands for max. 5 USD, but this is uncertain yet.

I'm going to sell the 100 limited carts with boxes and instructions (and hopefully headbands) myself as soon as I've got all components at home and the price can be set for sure.

The final availability of Mental Kombat will be announced on my development page aswell as here on AtariAge.

Simon

http://www.quernhorst.de/atari

April 23, 2002

Hi,

just to let you all know:

the cartridges are produced, the manuals are printed, the labels are numbered/signed/laminated/stuck to the carts and agreements on printing, cutting and folding the cartboard boxes are made.

At the moment I'm thinking about releasing the special edition of "Mental Kombat" with two headbands (one red, one yellow, both with printing on the front). This would stress the combat-spirit even more...

First contacts concerning the possible production are made, but costs are unclear yet.

What's your opinion? Would you like to see "Mental Kombat" being the first game including TWO headbands ("Kasumi Ninja" for the Jaguar already contained ONE) and spent a few more bucks on that or would you prefer keeping the game as it is planned (cart, manual, box) without the headbands??

Please let me know...

Simon

March 21, 2002

Andrew: my box arrived february, 27th (if I do remember that right). Did I really forget about letting you know when it arrived?

Looking forward to your next update and good luck with the new carts!

Simon

March 21, 2002

Adam wrote "The end game screen appears when you roll the score from 999,990 to 1,000,000".

Are you still able to continue gameplay when the score with the six "!" appears or does the game stop there?

I mean is there really an end of the game or is there just a problem of the rolling points covered by these attention-marks?

BTW: Great maps, Adam!

Simon

March 21, 2002

I just wonder about the following thing: when does the endscreen appear?

If there're 20 levels you might think that the endscreen will appear afterwards. Considering the pictures and maps shown, this is impossible, because the screenshot of the endscreen shows the miner to be rescued on the left side of the screen. The screenshot of level 20 shows the miner on the right side of the screen...

I never played "H.E.R.O." on my 2600, I always used the c64-version. I hopefully find the time to play HERO on 2600 at the weekend to find out myself.

Simon

March 18, 2002

I think that my copy of "EdTris" contains a visible unique number, too. I currently don't know if any other homebrew does...have to check that.

"Mental Kombat" will contain the limited number in the intro aswell (#00 to #99).

I don't know if I'll just erase that routine for the unlimited cartridges of MK2600 or replace the numbers by an "unlimited sign" (that symbol looking like an "8" which is roted by 90 degrees). What would you prefer?

March 18, 2002

Hi,

at the start of this topic Andrew posted the following message: "Note the small sticker on each - this is because each is individually serial-numbered in the ROM itself, so they have to be identified for insertion into the correct box."

I played my "Qb" cartridge for some hours already, but never saw the individual number of my cartridge somewhere in the game. Is it only hidden somewhere in the deeper dungeons of the ROM or can the number be watched somehow/somewhen?

Just wondering...

Simon

March 6, 2002

MoonlightKnight: Thanks for your words! Looking forward to your order then...

I'm satisfied with the result of my very first 2600-homebrew project, but I didn't thought of the printwork being that hard to design and manage.

At the moment I consider the time of development of the binary being 2/3 of the whole project time and the time for managing the other stuff (labels, manual, package) being about 1/3.

The next game will definately be cartridge only!

March 6, 2002

Manuel: I have got the german version of that "Hungry Hungry Hippo" game, but I don't remember its german name right now. If you are going to convert it to 2600 let me know, I'm really interested in that game on 2600...

Especially the sound-effects need to be converted very well!

March 6, 2002

I have got "Combat 2 #17" (if I remember it right). A very well produced boxed cart with instructions from 2001.

"Mission Elevator" was also published boxed with instructions by the same dudes, but that game is not totally complete (I would guess that around 10% of the coding are missing or bugging).

Best regards!

Simon

March 5, 2002

Unfortunately I'm not able to tell the final price of "Mental Kombat". The carts are going to be produced within march, but the prices and dates for the whole printwork (label, endlabel, manual, package) are unknown yet.

I got two offers from professional printers, but they were far too high and therefore I have to continue searching.

I expect the final price to be around 30 or 35 USD. This would equal the sales price of i.e. "Combat 2" and "SCSIcide" and should cover all my costs (hopefully). :-)

Simon

March 4, 2002

Sorry, Andrew, I didn't want to ruin your day with my bug-report some hours ago. I hope that you don't fear my future mails...

I hope that you can manage things and hope that you can change all the carts you did not ship already to the new version without extra-cost. That should be possible, shouldn't it?

Good luck and best regards,

Simon

March 4, 2002

MoJoFLTR: It is a 2 player game. No AI this time, but I already scheduled my next project and this will include a single-player-mode aswell. I'll not start working on that new game until I finished "Mental Kombat" totally (incl. sales that means).

March 4, 2002

moycon: I'm not taking orders right now. The first 10 cartridges are already promised to people who helped in development and testing, but all the others will be sold within the official sale.

I will update www.quernhorst.de/atari/ soon and show the latest news there. The final phase of taking orders will be announced on Atari Age aswell. Before that I want to have every cart and piece of printwork ready, so that people won't have to wait too long for their copy.

Best regards,

Simon

March 4, 2002

The releasestrategy of "Mental Kombat" consists of these steps:

1. Release of 100 limited numberes and signed cartridges

2. Release of an unlimited Binary-File for play on emulators and SuperCharger

3. Production of unlimited cartridges by Hozer Video Games

The buyers should be the first to play the game and therefore I decided to do the release this way. Don't you think it's fair?

I think that I described the game quite good on www.quernhorst.de/atari/ and so you can decide whether you may like it or not...

So even the sales are retro as you haven't been able to play Atari-Games before purchase back then, have you? Otherwise Pac-Man would've become famous for selling so bad instead of selling so very well.

Simon

March 4, 2002

Hi everybody,

just to let you know: the first Mental Kombat cartridge (#00) has been produced and works perfect on my VCS, 2600jr and 7800.

I'm very satisfied with this 4k Cart and look forward to the other 99 carts to be produced.

The design for the manual is finished aswell now, Jason Parlee and me are working on the package right now. A professional printer (at affordable prices) is still to be found...

Best regards,

Simon

March 4, 2002

Hi!

I just received Qb #15 and played it for some hours on the weekend already...it's great!

Some pages of the Source-Listing are mixed up (44 and 45 and 54 to 59). Is this only in my copy or are your manual pages a bit disordered aswell?

My box includes a Cart, a CD and that Source-Book. Is there no manual available for Qb or is it just missing in my box?

Off for playing another round of Qb... :-)

Best regards,

Simon

February 15, 2002

Tengen released "Vindicators" for the NES aswell, btw that's the only Tengen title I have got for the NES. :-)

Tengen also released some of the late c64- and c64gs-cartridges namely Badlands, Vindicators and Cyberball. And I love the company just for these three carts... :-)

February 7, 2002

The #15 stays mine, I don't want to switch that...

The "packed" and "posted" notes come closer and closer to #15...can't wait to get that great game!

Andrew: Did you sign all boxes as shown on the photo of Al's box? I'd like to get mine signed like Al's aswell...Thanks!

Simon

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