I need a showstopper!

[Csonicgo]

Ok, I coudn't come up with a good name for this thread but any mod that can please try and take a crack at it.

In my computer class (where things get as complex as javascript.. *snrk*)I will be presenting a "final project" website... It will be yet another Atari VCS fanpage (like any guy hasn't made one in geocities already!). Any information I find I am citing- I don't want to be spreading misinformation, especially on the specs of the machine. You won't believe how wrong it is on some legitimate publications!

 

I plan to have some history on the 2600, tech specs, its impact on culture, et cetera... and as a final note, I will be using Jstella to show off an Atari 2600 program.

 

I need something that would impress the audience since most of these students probably know Atari from vague memories of pitfall and that atrocious TV joystick game. I don't think most bought the flashback II (as I had). So my idea is this:

 

1. Show Star Ship or any other atrocious 1978 game
   
2. show a 1982-3 game (sub-crash)
   
3. show a crash/post-crash game
   
4. show the most impressive game/program/demo I can find.
   

 

I got the first three down. I need something on the last one that will be an amazing contrast to the 1st on the list.

 

Thing is, which program?

 

Since we won't be playing the games (much), I would probably be best off showing something graphically impressive. But, as we all know, that's subjective, and I'm up for many suggestions. I can't really go on about how "impossible" something would be due to a scanline or whatever. but I can show them pretty flashing colors and music and other nonsense... preferrably organized colors, since, we all know the VCS can make some pretty trippy stuff, but that still isn't impressive.

 

I might be thinking my audience is a little too stupid and would understand the limitations of the console, but I don't want to take that chance just yet.

 

So, what demo/program/game do you think would make an impressive final act? it can be homebrew, a stella mailing list binary, or even a commercial game. but something recent would be best.

[Dino]

Ok, I coudn't come up with a good name for this thread but any mod that can please try and take a crack at it.

In my computer class (where things get as complex as javascript.. *snrk*)I will be presenting a "final project" website... It will be yet another Atari VCS fanpage (like any guy hasn't made one in geocities already!). Any information I find I am citing- I don't want to be spreading misinformation, especially on the specs of the machine. You won't believe how wrong it is on some legitimate publications!

 

I plan to have some history on the 2600, tech specs, its impact on culture, et cetera... and as a final note, I will be using Jstella to show off an Atari 2600 program.

 

I need something that would impress the audience since most of these students probably know Atari from vague memories of pitfall and that atrocious TV joystick game. I don't think most bought the flashback II (as I had). So my idea is this:

 

1. Show Star Ship or any other atrocious 1978 game
   
2. show a 1982-3 game (sub-crash)
   
3. show a crash/post-crash game
   
4. show the most impressive game/program/demo I can find.
   

 

I got the first three down. I need something on the last one that will be an amazing contrast to the 1st on the list.

 

Thing is, which program?

 

Since we won't be playing the games (much), I would probably be best off showing something graphically impressive. But, as we all know, that's subjective, and I'm up for many suggestions. I can't really go on about how "impossible" something would be due to a scanline or whatever. but I can show them pretty flashing colors and music and other nonsense... preferrably organized colors, since, we all know the VCS can make some pretty trippy stuff, but that still isn't impressive.

 

I might be thinking my audience is a little too stupid and would understand the limitations of the console, but I don't want to take that chance just yet.

 

So, what demo/program/game do you think would make an impressive final act? it can be homebrew, a stella mailing list binary, or even a commercial game. but something recent would be best.

 

Ladybug, Thrust, Medievil Mayhem would do the job

[+Random Terrain]

Seems like Stargate should be in there somewhere.

 

 

And would my 1982 and 1983 pages help at all:

 

http://www.randomterrain.com/atari-2600-me...es-history.html

Edited November 10, 2008 by Random Terrain

[Csonicgo]

Ladybug, Thrust, Medievil Mayhem would do the job

 

yes, I already had Ladybug as one of the possibilities. It really impressed me!. i can show a few on the last list, too, so Medieval Mayhem would be good too. I just gotta find the rom for ladybug. The one I have has no music.

 

 

Seems like Stargate should be in there somewhere.

That's a good post-crash game. Thanks!

 

an yes, that list will help a lot! I'll be sure to credit you!

Edited November 10, 2008 by Csonicgo

[CPUWIZ]

Lasertime!

lasertime_by_wAMMA.bin

[+Random Terrain]

Lasertime!

Seems like Doctor: A new demo by Trilobit for the Atari 2600 is way better than that:

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1610459

[Csonicgo]

heh, I wonder at this point if something "second reality"-ish is possible. That last demo was amazing.

[CPUWIZ]

Lasertime!

Seems like Doctor: A new demo by Trilobit for the Atari 2600 is way better than that:

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1610459

 

I know, but I am not sure I would show that to students. LOL

[Csonicgo]

TAKE YOUR PILLS

 

Is that a flashing Dr. Phil? good god, I don't want to scare the children.

 

Also, what are the dimensions for PAL and NTSC? I need to set up the applet to the right size, I'm getting some really wonky pixels. ( I need to add that to my specs section... )

 

 

EDIT: FGHASFAHG what the heck resolution does the doctor use? that's nuts! I didn't even know such things were possible...

Edited November 11, 2008 by Csonicgo

[Christophero Sly]

I believe that Stargate was actually a pre-crash game that didn't get released until later.

Edited November 11, 2008 by Christophero Sly

[Shawn]

Lasertime!

Seems like Doctor: A new demo by Trilobit for the Atari 2600 is way better than that:

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1610459

 

I know, but I am not sure I would show that to students. LOL

 

I would. Can't keep the kids in a plastic bubble forever, and what better a vessel of truth than an Atari 2600

[CPUWIZ]

I would. Can't keep the kids in a plastic bubble forever, and what better a vessel of truth than an Atari 2600

 

Your kid hitting you up for pot yet?

[Csonicgo]

Ok, I showed the demonstration to some friends and one said that it would probably be best if I had something interactive. The whole Doctor thing, while impressive, is borderline psychedelic (ok, it is) so I'm not going to use that.

 

Ok so far I have:

1. Star Ship
   
2. Stargate
   
3. Ladybug (Found the ROM finally)
   
4. Medieval Mayhem
   
5. Stratogems
   
6. Maybe Pitfall II, or Thrust
   

 

anything else I could show? I gotta fill up 5 minutes

 

edit: actually, this might be enough. I might want to show off one more game though.

Edited November 11, 2008 by Csonicgo

[Ben_Larson]

What about F-14 Tomcat? That's a pretty impressive example of a post-crash game...

 

Ben

[ClassicGMR]

Heck... if you want to show them an atrocious game and an improvement show them Pac-Man and then Ms. Pac-Man!

 

[Godzilla]

I think solaris deserves a big nod.

[+SpiceWare]

One thing you may not be aware of was the Atari was originally designed with stereo sound in mind. The 2 speakers were going to be inside the console (if I recall correctly, having a speaker inside the game unit was common at that point in time). This was probably dropped for cost savings and the audio was routed to the TV instead. However, TVs didn't begin to support stereo until the mid 80s, so stereo was no longer a feature.

 

The case mold was already done and you can see where the speakers were going to be installed.

 

Some of the older games, such as Combat, where written before the design change and thus were done with 2 discrete speakers in mind. Not as stereo per say, but with the left player's sound effects coming out the left speaker and the right player's on the right. Later games didn't worry about which audio channel was used as it no longer mattered.

 

You can modify the Atari* to extract the stereo sound, and Medieval Mayhem was written to take advantage of it. You can hear it on my MM online page - the dragon flaps occur left, center, right as the dragon flies across the screen and sound effects for fireball collisions and king deaths come out the proper side.

 

Feel free to use the above photo if you'd like to cover this in your presentation. You may also use my Config File to tell JStella that MM uses stereo sound.

 

The homebrew Skeleton+ also takes advantage of stereo. There may be others.

 

Is this website going to be accessible online somewhere? It may not be a bad idea to have Atari Age users proof it.

 

 

 

*NTSC only - the TIA chip on PAL systems premixes the 2 audio channels and sends it out 1 pin. The other pin was repurposed to output PAL-S. I don't know what PAL-S is, but based on the name I'd assume its a signal required by the PAL TV standard.

[keilbaca]

You are right SpiceWare, Atari was one of the very few consoles that came out in the 70's that did NOT have speakers built into the console. All the pong systems, even the latest one, the Sears Stunt Cycle, had the sound coming out of the system.

 

Modding speakers inside of the Atari is not hard to do, as I have done it a couple times. Its really easy, just tap the audio lead, get a battery powered set of speakers, gut the cases, and I use epoxy to glue them to the case. Add a power switch to the back if you like, and if you like, you can instead tap into the atari power for the speakers. However, you MUST get a different a/c adapter for that. The Atari power pack can't handle that kind of juice.

[Rom Hunter]

Definitely Solaris:

http://www.atarimania.com/2600/dumps/play.php?ID=18342

 

Perhaps Lead?

 

[+DamonicFury]

Heck... if you want to show them an atrocious game and an improvement show them Pac-Man and then Ms. Pac-Man!

 

 

I think ClassicGMR has the right idea. You can take this a bit further, and show Jr. Pacman as the post-crash game (although programmed pre-crash), and Nukey Shay's amazing Hack-Em as the showstopper. It would make for a clear progression of improved graphics as programmers learned more about the system.

[Shawn]

I would. Can't keep the kids in a plastic bubble forever, and what better a vessel of truth than an Atari 2600

 

Your kid hitting you up for pot yet?

 

Nope, but he keeps asking to get a tattoo

[Csonicgo]

Heck... if you want to show them an atrocious game and an improvement show them Pac-Man and then Ms. Pac-Man!

 

 

I think ClassicGMR has the right idea. You can take this a bit further, and show Jr. Pacman as the post-crash game (although programmed pre-crash), and Nukey Shay's amazing Hack-Em as the showstopper. It would make for a clear progression of improved graphics as programmers learned more about the system.

 

very good idea! I'll consider it.

[mimo]

River Raid,

Medieval Mayhem

Brokeback Atari

[mbd30]

"Solaris", of course.

[Shawn]

Brokeback Atari