Free Atari games at Taco Bell...

[user42]

The games are alot of fun!

My only complaint is how small the game window is on my computer.

 

 

Is there any way to run this in full screen?

[JohnBuell]

in Windows XP with Service Pack 3, it ran through each of the three installs each time. Flash, then Air, then the Atari Game. And boy did they RUN slow! I don't know if it's adobe (the asteroids game was sucking over 90% CPU cycles, or perhaps it was getting interference from the anti-virus software, which drags down a lot of things. I didn't take the time to isolate the cause.

 

Are you saying the install process went slow (each of the three installs), or the game is slow for you or both? If you do find out what the cause is on your specific machine, let us know. The dev machine I used was XP with SP3 (Pentium E6300 at 2.8GHz), so it's probably something else you're running that's hogging resources at the same time. I'm actually talking to the guy who broke the story to Otaku and he's got a similar setup that's been working fine for him for all four games/cd's - in fact he's been logging a lot of hours playing (addicted to Asteroids).

 

This is the first fully flash/air commercial CD game I'm aware of, so I want to collect up any issues people may have on an individual basis and address Adobe with them. So far it looks like there's been a very few Mac and XP setups where it's been clunking for no reason. The bulk I've talked to it's been just fine, so that tells me it's an issue with Flash on their machine in general, which is an Adobe frustration.

 

I'm on my Ubuntu partition this morning, so I'll test it when I get home after work. The installs in XP went fine. I thought it was silly that it did Flash each time, although Air then realized, after the first install, that it was okay and didn't update any further. Then it was just a matter of letting each package install into AIR. For Ubuntu, as I said, I just downloaded AIR from adobe.com and then installed each .air package. For my basis I tested Centipede on the Mac, and my XP and Ubuntu partitions. The Mac was speedy as can be, XP/Ubuntu was slow as a dog. Everything crawled - firing, movement of the bugs.... Now one other thing I thought about, and I'll get the specs later, is that this laptop has "built-in" graphics that shares RAM with the PC itself, NOT a dedicated board.

 

Specs on my test laptop: Fujitsu Lifebook E2010 Pentium 4 Mobile 2.00 GHz, 1 GB total RAM (128 MB for video, 896MB for computer). Video is an ATI Radeon IGP 340M, on an AGP 2x bus.

Edited March 5, 2010 by JohnBuell

[Retro Rogue]

I'm on my Ubuntu partition this morning, so I'll test it when I get home after work. The installs in XP went fine. I thought it was silly that it did Flash each time, although Air then realized, after the first install, that it was okay and didn't update any further.

 

Yah, that would be Adobe's faux pas. The Flash and AIR insalls we get directly from them, you actually sign up to get permission to get them. They're cd-only distribution versions so that could be part of the issue on that. Taco Bell was adamant they didn't want anything that had to connect to the internet for kids that may not have internet connections on their computer.

 

On the PC, we just take the PC install software program and script it to launch each Adobe installer and then the game AIR install. For the Mac it was more of a manual process, and while it's easier for adults there was some concern at first that it'd be harder for young kids to follow. So we came up with the look you see for that, and suprise, Al was the one who did the Mac install.

 

Then it was just a matter of letting each package install into AIR. For Ubuntu, as I said, I just downloaded AIR from adobe.com and then installed each .air package. For my basis I tested Centipede on the Mac, and my XP and Ubuntu partitions. The Mac was speedy as can be, XP/Ubuntu was slow as a dog. Everything crawled - firing, movement of the bugs.... Now one other thing I thought about, and I'll get the specs later, is that this laptop has "built-in" graphics that shares RAM with the PC itself, NOT a dedicated board.

 

Specs on my test laptop: Fujitsu Lifebook E2010 Pentium 4 Mobile 2.00 GHz, 1 GB total RAM (128 MB for video, 896MB for computer). Video is an ATI Radeon IGP 340M, on an AGP 2x bus.

 

That could be the issue you hit on with the shared memory. Have you tried any other large flash programs on it? Also, have you tried updating to the latest Flash player?

 

Here's a video review that was just put up by the GameGavel/RetroGamingRoundup guy (think he's Parrothead on here?) and it looks like he's running XP as well. This is the speed and stability they should look:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VakUI-WwqEE

Edited March 5, 2010 by wgungfu

[JohnBuell]

Then it was just a matter of letting each package install into AIR. For Ubuntu, as I said, I just downloaded AIR from adobe.com and then installed each .air package. For my basis I tested Centipede on the Mac, and my XP and Ubuntu partitions. The Mac was speedy as can be, XP/Ubuntu was slow as a dog. Everything crawled - firing, movement of the bugs.... Now one other thing I thought about, and I'll get the specs later, is that this laptop has "built-in" graphics that shares RAM with the PC itself, NOT a dedicated board.

 

Specs on my test laptop: Fujitsu Lifebook E2010 Pentium 4 Mobile 2.00 GHz, 1 GB total RAM (128 MB for video, 896MB for computer). Video is an ATI Radeon IGP 340M, on an AGP 2x bus.

 

That could be the issue you hit on with the shared memory. Have you tried any other large flash programs on it? Also, have you tried updating to the latest Flash player?

 

Here's a video review that was just put up by the GameGavel/RetroGamingRoundup guy (think he's Parrothead on here?) and it looks like he's running XP as well. This is the speed and stability they should look:

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=VakUI-WwqEE

 

I ran updates within ubuntu and it says I have adobe's latest and greatest, so I'm leaning toward the older video/shared ram being the hangup. Asteroids is even worse on my install in Linux - the main menu screen keeps flickering under the game screen. Oh well, I'll just have to hog the MacBook for my Atari fix.

[Rik]

I just stopped at Taco bell and they actually had the poster on the wall advertising the games, but they didn't have them in! I had to point to the poster to show the person at the register what I was even talking about. When I showed him the poster, his response to me was, "wow, I've never seen that before". He asked a couple people about it, but no one really seemed interested in helping... they just said they were still on whatever the previous promotion was. I might try another Taco Bell tonight - and several tomorrow, if I'm unsuccessful today.

Geez,you'd almost swear you were in RADIO SHACK!

[mckafka99]

Boooo! on the Taco Bell in Scarborough, ME. I just called and they said (emphatically) "We will NOT be running the Atari games promotion."

[lapetino]

Was able to get mine here in Chicago--at the Taco Bell near Wrigley Field. When I asked if I could buy the games without the kids' meal (though buying something else--yum!) the manager said, "Of course! Everything here is for sale!" He was funny and helpful. Will try them out later today. Thanks to Marty, Curt and everyone else who are keeping Atari alive with these types of things.

[NE146]

Awesome.. I love Mexican food! I'll be there tonight.

[BrianC]

I just picked up all 4 today. Pretty cool, but they run a little slow. Edit: I updated and it seemed to help a bit, but they still run slightly slow (I have a comp with AMD Athlon XP 2200+ 1.80 GHz, over 480 MB of RAM, and a 32 MB S3 ProSavage DDR). I noticed in hard mode on breakout, the controls wouldn't work when the paddle shrunk. On asteroids, the range is a bit short and the hit detection seems off.

Edited March 5, 2010 by BrianC

[mimo]

Aaagh living in the wrong country!!

If anyone has some spares send me a pm please

[ls650]

My best friend is visiting Bellingham, Washington today and she stopped at a Taco Bell. The guy behind the counter said, "Geez, we just got those in today and we haven't opened the boxes yet!"

 

She picked me up one of each of the four disks. Sweet! I get the games _and_ I didn't have to eat Taco Bell!

[jeremysart]

I stopped by Taco Bell today to claim my copy of 4 collectors items and of coarse a Mexican Pizza, and a 5 layer Burrito..

[Godzilla]

bad ass!

[cimerians]

I got all 4 from a Taco Bell in the Schaumburg area in Illinois.

 

[JohnBuell]

Aaagh living in the wrong country!!

If anyone has some spares send me a pm please

 

Let me do one better. Who is living in the States and doesn't have a Taco Bell nearby, and who outside the US would like copies? I'll do US$5.50 (incl. postage) for a set within the US, and US$7.50 for a set outside the country. I'll take PMs for the next week, and pick up copies next Friday (my next payday).

[Frizo]

I saw them change the sign at my local taco bell.

My brother gets the kids meal, I get the game.

Done

[+save2600]

Asked my GF to stop on her way home in IL and see about the Atari discs since the bastards in J-ville were typically clueless. Sure enough, Machesney Park had 'em, BUT... the manager had her purchase two kids meals in lieu of the 4 discs. Not a problem at all since I figured there was a $1ea. kind of price associated with 'em anyway. Manager and cashier were totally professional, cordial, courteous and accommodating. Wish I was there to witness all those atypical attributes! lol

 

Artwork looks incredible guys!

 

They look too nice to open actually... lol Since my fastest computer is a 2.1ghz iMac G5 w/ 2.5GB RAM, I'm thinking I'll just leave 'em as is and hope to cash in big some day... make 'em part of my retirement... lmao!

 

 

[nathanallan]

Tonight I went and got food there, more copies of the games (score) and then I asked really nicely and they gave me the box they came in!

 

If you ask nicely, you will get what you ask for I made a video about it. Yes, I am a showoff sometimes. Not much, but sometimes.

[Mirage]

I picked up mine today but haven't opened them yet. They look really good though. Apparently the price depends on where you get them. The article said $1.50 each, many here are saying $1 each, but I had to pay $1.75 each. I didn't say anything, whatever.

 

The manager (no one else knew what I was talking about) was really cool though and he was talking to me about how they used to have a bunch of cocktail tables in a place he used to work at, and his favorite was the Asteroids one... he really lit up when he was looking at the cover art with me (he hadn't seen them before, opened the box for me) and talking about the good ol' days of good games. These sort of things really do bring back the memories for a lot of people.

 

Can't wait to try these out later!

[Retro Rogue]

I picked up mine today but haven't opened them yet. They look really good though. Apparently the price depends on where you get them. The article said $1.50 each, many here are saying $1 each, but I had to pay $1.75 each. I didn't say anything, whatever.

 

The manager (no one else knew what I was talking about) was really cool though and he was talking to me about how they used to have a bunch of cocktail tables in a place he used to work at, and his favorite was the Asteroids one... he really lit up when he was looking at the cover art with me (he hadn't seen them before, opened the box for me) and talking about the good ol' days of good games. These sort of things really do bring back the memories for a lot of people.

 

Can't wait to try these out later!

 

Which Taco Bell? The one by me on Pt. Washington Rd doesn't have any.

[Mirage]

 

Which Taco Bell? The one by me on Pt. Washington Rd doesn't have any.

 

I picked them up while traveling. It was the one right off 43 in Delavan, WI.

[Retro Rogue]

 

Which Taco Bell? The one by me on Pt. Washington Rd doesn't have any.

 

I picked them up while traveling. It was the one right off 43 in Delavan, WI.

 

LOL, oh well. Kinda sucks when I can't even find copies of my own games.

[StanJr]

The Taco Bell near me has the sign up in the Kid's Meal display, but won't get the games until Wednesday! :x :x :x

 

I know where I will be Wednesday...

[Ghost Soldier]

Picked mine up on thursday from the TB in Terre Haute, Indiana. Snagged all 4 for .99 a piece and bought lunch for the following day.

[tz101]

Aaagh living in the wrong country!!

If anyone has some spares send me a pm please

 

Register here for my free drawing. I am drawing the winning name tomorrow and will ship free of charge to non-US residents only.