Pac-Man Collection (ColecoVision) completed. Going beta test

[+opcode]

After 10 years in making, I finally finished Pac-Man Collection today (way ahead the projected release date of 2011). The game will now enter beta testing, which should take two more months. That means that PMC will probably be available in time for Christmas. The package for the game had been printed early this year, the cases and PCBs are also already stocked, so the finished game image was the only missing piece of the puzzle.

In case someone still doesn’t know, Pac-Man Collection is a collection of Pac-Man arcade games for the ColecoVision, all inside a single 128KB cartridge. Included are Pac-Man and Ms Pac-Man. The CV versions run as close to the original games as possible for a port without going 100% emulation. PMC includes all the arcade features, tricks, mazes, intermissions, animations, bugs, easter eggs, and you can even use the same patterns you used in the arcades to clean the mazes. PLUS, you still get a few surprises. [modesty OFF]I can say that, you aren’t going to find a more faithful rendition of both games (gameplay wise) on any classic video game system, period[modesty ON].

I would like to take the chance to thank everybody involved in making the game, Jess Ragan for creating the delightful manual text, Dale Crum, such a talented artist, for creating the whole package and of course Luc, for coordinating the whole project, keeping everybody on schedule (expect me), keeping me motivated during the hard and bad times and for keeping Opcode Games alive. And of course everybody here for all the comments and nice words during all those years. Did I forget someone? Oh, sure, the beta testers, who will now have the difficult mission of playing the game for hours on end.

Now, before you try to contact us about the game, I would like to ask everybody to wait for an official announcement from Luc (pixelboy). Luc is now the new Opcode Games owner, and he is responsible for game distribution, so please wait for his announcement. While no official announcement is made, this game is still considered to be under development, so no pre-orders will be accepted.

 

Thanks everybody, I love all you guys [join Luc dancing on the ceiling]...

 

Eduardo

[Breakpack]

I think this sums it up for me: "AWESOME!!!!!!!"

[Lord Helmet]

Hell has frozen over

[retroillucid]

GREAT News!!

[darthkur]

I am quite pleased to hear this. Thank you Eduardo for finishing up the game.

I am very much looking forward to getting one of these.

[+opcode]

I am quite pleased to hear this. Thank you Eduardo for finishing up the game.

I am very much looking forward to getting one of these.

 

Thanks a lot guys. You can bet nobody is happier than me to see this game finally finished.

[Vic George 2K3]

And the chorus sings:

Hallelujah!

[JEFF31]

Wow! I sit here at the keyboard and don't know what to say!.

 

This was unexpected... but is GREAT news!! Thanks Eduardo and thanks to Luc and everyone else involved. I been waiting for this game for around 5-6+ years or so! Can't wait to play the game.

 

Hey Eduardo - now you need to change your footer... you are no longer 'Currently working on Pac-Man Collection.' Let the next project begin

[Pixelboy]

[modesty OFF]I can say that, you aren’t going to find a more faithful rendition of both games (gameplay wise) on any classic video game system, period[modesty ON].

Well, the NES versions are pretty close, although I admit I never actually took the time to compare them to the arcade games...

 

Now, before you try to contact us about the game, I would like to ask everybody to wait for an official announcement from Luc (pixelboy). Luc is now the new Opcode Games owner, and he is responsible for game distribution, so please wait for his announcement. While no official announcement is made, this game is still considered to be under development, so no pre-orders will be accepted.

Actually, the game can still be considered under development. The "testable" part of the software is practically done, so we can indeed go ahead with beta-testing, but Eduardo also asked a friend to compose a custom tune for the game-select title screen, and we're hoping that this friend will come through for us before the end of October. So the software will only be truly complete once the title screen has some music and sound effects.

 

For now, I'd like to join in and congratulate you for a job superbly done, Eduardo!

[+opcode]

We have decided for the prolonged beta testing so that we don't face the risk of another bug fiasco like what happened with Magical Tree. That's why we will have 6 people playing the game for two months to make sure that the final game will be completely bug-free.

Here is some of the things I have included with Pac-Man Collection:

 

- The new title screen allows game selection and configuration of the same DIP switches found in the arcade games (difficulty, lives, ghost names, etc)

- Pac-Man available in Japanese (Puck-Man) and US versions (or, if you prefer, Namco or Midway versions). US version is default

- All introdutions and intermissions are included with all games

- Pause key available with all games

- 256th maze bug included in Pac-Man

- 141st maze bug included in Ms Pac-Man

- Secret "Made by Namco" screen included with all games

- Counting the two Pac-Man verions, you get four Pac-Man series games inside a single 128KB CV cartridge

 

Eduardo

[the.golden.ax]

... and how do I get to be a beta tester again?

 

 

AX

[ten-four]

Thanks Eduardo and all involved...

 

That are great "Just In News" we all waiting for in very long time.

[misspent_youth]

Christmas may indeed be quite Merry this year after all...

 

Thanks for the blood sweat and tears to Eduardo and Luc and all those others that have had or will have a part in making my CV so happy.

[duncantoml]

Great!

 

I can hardly wait.

[Almost Rice]

Would this be a reason for me to start collecting Colecovision? I have avoided it since the 80s.

[ScottHuggins]

Umm... YES. I have played it (I am a beta tester).

 

This will be the very best CV homebrew ever. Period.

 

 

Would this be a reason for me to start collecting Colecovision? I have avoided it since the 80s.

[birdie3]

Wicked!! Really looking forward to this one guys.

[+legeek]

Great news Eduardo!

[Murph74]

Great news Eduardo!

 

This may just complete my life. I'm having a hard time imagining things getting any better than this!

 

Ok, that's somewhat exaggerated, but I'm still thrilled! This is the best news I've seen on a Sunday afternoon in quite some time! Thanks to the whole OpCode team for sticking with it and getting this to market!

[+opcode]

Screenshots...

BTW, unlike Space Invaders Collection, you can reset back to the main menu from inside any of the individual games now. No need to press the reset button on the CV.

[darthkur]

^^^^ Those look great! Quite impressive. Pretty much looks arcade perfect.

Edited September 14, 2008 by darthkur

[Greg2600]

Incredible work! Will the carts still be yellow like the mock-up?

[+opcode]

Incredible work! Will the carts still be yellow like the mock-up?

 

Yep...

[Ikrananka]

Fantastic news - now here I am wishing my life away wanting Christmas to come. Well done Eduardo.

[RickO2]

The game looks GREAT! Excellent work to those involved!