Albert Posted September 6, 2002 Share Posted September 6, 2002 /software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=2363Eric Ball has released a new Atari 2600 3D maze game that you can download and try, titled Skeleton. In order to escape this labyrinth you need to hunt down and eliminate 80 skeletons lurking about without being killed yourself! There are eight mazes, with each maze containing 10 skeletons. Complete all eight mazes and you'll gain your freedom!. You can look at screenshots and download the binary here. Enjoy! Update: Eric has released Skeleton version 1.1, which fixes a problem with scrolling on the title screen for those of you running the game on a real 2600. You can get the new version here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snider-man Posted September 6, 2002 Share Posted September 6, 2002 Very impressive. Very fun and challenging! (Plus, it's got a horror bent to it that I find....cool.) I certainly hope Eric is making arrangements to have this available on a cart! I'd love to be able to play this on a real console! (Emulators are OK, but there's something about that nice chunky Atari cart.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted September 6, 2002 Share Posted September 6, 2002 Wow! I just played it with a Supercharger. The use of sound was a great idea. I imagine there will be plenty of demand for the carts if they are ever made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanJr Posted September 6, 2002 Share Posted September 6, 2002 WE WANT CARTS! WE WANT CARTS! WE WANT CARTS....! I love games like this! And great way to use the sound! Reminds me of Escape from Mindmaster!!! MEGA SHIBBY! Please release in cart form. I'm not a fan of emu. Skeleton Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricBall Posted September 6, 2002 Share Posted September 6, 2002 I am thrilled that everyone is enjoying my creation. And I read you loud and clear that you want an actual cartridge version. For those of you that want cartridges, I have a few questions: 1. Where do you buy your homebrews? 2. How much would you be willing to pay for an actual cartridge? 3. Plain or fancy? And what sort of fancies? However, before I allow Skeleton to be offered I want to make sure there aren't any bugs still lurking in the code. Wouldn't want people to buy a flawed product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari2600Lives Posted September 6, 2002 Share Posted September 6, 2002 Just a cart with a generic label is fine( or you can print a colored label cheaply on any printer). Keep the cost about $20. For the collectors have a numbered series from 1-100 After 100 are sold sell the rest generic unnumbered. Let's buy it right here from Atari Age! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolenta Posted September 6, 2002 Share Posted September 6, 2002 1. Where do you buy your homebrews?2. How much would you be willing to pay for an actual cartridge? 3. Plain or fancy? And what sort of fancies? 1) Hozer Video 2) $16 - 20 3) Plain (with manual!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanJr Posted September 6, 2002 Share Posted September 6, 2002 1. Hozer Video (or Junies Creations if they were active) 2. in the realm of $20 (but NOT $30+) 3. Somekind of label, and some kind of manual Neither of these need be fancy, but they will help the cart stand out. Usually its fun to hold a label design contest here and let the Artsy Fartsy types battle it out. This ALWAYS brings out a nice label and gives us something to salivate about while we wait for the game! This is a mega-cool game, I'd LOVE to add it to my collection! Thanks Excited Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted September 6, 2002 Share Posted September 6, 2002 While Hozer Video has been the only source for many games in the past, we would like to announce that we are offering cart building and selling services for any homebrew titles, including this one. We have some titles available in our store already, with more to come. So, if you would like to see this or any other game sold at AtariAge, please say so in this thread. We would love your support! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted September 6, 2002 Author Share Posted September 6, 2002 Let me just add to Alex's post and say that we are using this as a means to help support AtariAge, as opposed to methods like placing banner ads on the site, or making some sort of subscription service (blech). We are going to be producing carts with very high quality labels and manuals, and in some cases will be producing boxes. We will also gladly sell homebrew games made by others, for authors who prefer to go that route. Also, we'll have a new online store up in a month or two with a sophisticated shopping cart and lots of really cool features. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fretwobbler Posted September 7, 2002 Share Posted September 7, 2002 @the Al's - the skeleton link in the first post links to the forum index This game rocks! sort of a cross between 3D Monster Maze on the ZX Spectrum and The Bards Tale on the C64, heaven ......mapping it as I type Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted September 7, 2002 Author Share Posted September 7, 2002 @the Al's - the skeleton link in the first post links to the forum index Thank you, kind sir. I have fixed it. Much less painful editing messages on this new server. This game rocks! sort of a cross between 3D Monster Maze on the ZX Spectrum and The Bards Tale on the C64, heaven Yes, this is another game that can scare the pants off you (like Haunted House). When I was playing it earlier today I jumped when I turned a corner and the Skeleton was right there, facing me! Must play at night.. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegaManFan Posted September 7, 2002 Share Posted September 7, 2002 $25 for a cart with a label and instructions, no box necessary. If the author does decide to box it though, I'm sure I'd pay a little more for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Weis Posted September 7, 2002 Share Posted September 7, 2002 Hi Eric, sounds like a great game!! can't wait to buy a cart! fancy label and color manual is good!! box would be a plus!! 20-30$ with manual 35-45$ with box is the going rate.. @the Al's i think i need to check out your store! Take Care, Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fretwobbler Posted September 7, 2002 Share Posted September 7, 2002 @the Al's - the skeleton link in the first post links to the forum index Thank you, kind sir. I have fixed it. Much less painful editing messages on this new server. This game rocks! sort of a cross between 3D Monster Maze on the ZX Spectrum and The Bards Tale on the C64, heaven Yes, this is another game that can scare the pants off you (like Haunted House). When I was playing it earlier today I jumped when I turned a corner and the Skeleton was right there, facing me! Must play at night.. ..Al The Skeleton link in the news item on your front page links to http://www.atariage.com/ as well ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted September 7, 2002 Author Share Posted September 7, 2002 The Skeleton link in the news item on your front page links to http://www.atariage.com/ as well ! Thank you, you think I'd know better since I just (more or less) copied and pasted the text from one place to another! ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanJr Posted September 7, 2002 Share Posted September 7, 2002 The lead story on the front page says that there are 80 "SPIDERS" in the maze. I think this is meant to be SKELETONS instead as I have thoroughly explored the first maze and have yet to see any SPIDERS. Spider-Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted September 7, 2002 Author Share Posted September 7, 2002 The lead story on the front page says that there are 80 "SPIDERS" in the maze. I think this is meant to be SKELETONS instead as I have thoroughly explored the first maze and have yet to see any SPIDERS. It was just a ploy to get you to play the game, Spidey. I must have been sleeping when I wrote up that news item this morning! ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted September 7, 2002 Share Posted September 7, 2002 Now that is nice, weird, and spooky all at the same time! Those skeletons scare me .. I look forward to playing on the cuttle cart. Thanks! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyImpmon Posted September 7, 2002 Share Posted September 7, 2002 I just tried to play them on an unmodified Supercharger on my Darth Vader 2600 to a NTSC TV. The title screen rolls but the gameplay is OK. A problem with unmodified Starpath? A slight bug in the title screen code? FWIW I got the game ROM through Stella list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuckandCover Posted September 7, 2002 Share Posted September 7, 2002 I just fired Skeleton up in z26 this morning, and it is a blast! Nice, spooky atmosphere. Great use of sound. Great action. A really outstanding game, Eric! I hope that carts do become available. I'd definitely be in the market for one. The $25 neighborhood would be perfectly reasonable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inky Posted September 7, 2002 Share Posted September 7, 2002 Two things: 1) This and Berzerk VE would make AWESOME Birthday gifts. 2) I know of a certain weber-grilling ghost whose birthday is wednesday... Who ever could I be talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mitchell Posted September 8, 2002 Share Posted September 8, 2002 I just finished playing Skeleton on the Cuttle Cart. Very impressive! One problem: The intro screen "SKELETON BY ERIC BALL" scrolls on the Cuttle. The game and ending screen "GOT YOU" does not. This does not happen when I tried it on Z26 emulation. I loaded it up three times both fast and slow via playbin and the bug persisted. Has anyone burned an EPROM and tried it out? Eric could you look at this? Also a compass detail or NSEW would be helpful .. but not necessary. This is truely a great 2600 game! Thanks! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyImpmon Posted September 8, 2002 Share Posted September 8, 2002 That means my Supercharger is not at fault for the rolling display. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricBall Posted September 9, 2002 Share Posted September 9, 2002 As CrazyImpmon and Rob Mitchell have discovered, the title screen rolls on a 2600. I've fixed the bug and sent in an update for posting. But you can also simply change the following bytes: $300 - 57 $6ED - 25 $6F1 - 30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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