A few homebrew/hack questions

[Pyromaniac605]

1) Why do some of the homebrews not have PAL options?

2) Why do NONE of the hacks have PAL options?

3) For the games that are "AtariVox enhanced" is an AtariVox required?

 

-Darren-

[tetrode kink]

Regarding PAL options, it's because the programmer didn't provide one. Since the programmer has to make sure his program syncs with the TV, and it takes extra effort to work out the timing differences for a different TV system, it's totally up to the programmer whether he/she wants to revise the game for another system. Some make the effort, some don't.

 

Hacks have a much lower chance of offering PAL versions than homebrews for a very simple reason: Graphical hacks can be done by non-programmers. So if there is no PAL version of a game, there will be no PAL version of a graphical hack of that game. A functional hack, which must be done by a programmer, stands the same chance as a homebrew of having a PAL version made of the hacked game, depending on whether the programmer wants to do the extra work.

 

I don't know about all "AtariVox-Enhanced" games, but I know one for sure that doesn't require an AtariVox: "Juno First." It makes game sounds using the VCS's sound capabilities, and AtariVox sounds are a bonus. I'm sure most, if not all "AtariVox-Enhanced" games make the AtariVox optional. It would be foolish to require an AtariVox for a game, since not everyone is going to buy an AtariVox, and presumably the programmer wants as many people as possible enjoy his/her game.

 

-tet

[Albert]

1) Why do some of the homebrews not have PAL options?

Good question. Most homebrew authors are in the US or Canada, and most homebrew game sales are in the US/Canada as well. Games with PAL options tend to be created by authors in Europe.

 

2) Why do NONE of the hacks have PAL options?

Hacks are typically made of an NTSC version of a game. I'm not sure why the PAL version isn't also hacked, since it should be pretty straightforward depending on the complexity of the hack. Again, I'm sure if there was more of a demand for PAL hacks, that we'd see them.

 

3) For the games that are "AtariVox enhanced" is an AtariVox required?

No, all the current AtariVox Enhanced games work just fine without an AtariVox. The AtariVox games add save game support and/or speech/sound effects if an AtariVox is connected, but the AtariVox is not required at all in order to play the games.

 

..Al

[Pyromaniac605]

Thanks Al. Also any idea when the new AtariVox is getting done?

 

-Darren-

[Albert]

Thanks Al. Also any idea when the new AtariVox is getting done?

It's done, hopefully I will have some to sell soon!

 

..Al

[Buzbard]

Thanks Al. Also any idea when the new AtariVox is getting done?

It's done, hopefully I will have some to sell soon!

 

..Al

 

If you're accepting pre-orders then sign me up!

[tetrode kink]

Thanks Al...

 

-Darren-

Uh, You're welcome!

 

IMHO, my answers were at least as (if not more) informative than Al's!

 

[stomps off in fake huff]

 

-tet

[Pyromaniac605]

Thanks Al...

 

-Darren-

Uh, You're welcome!

 

IMHO, my answers were at least as (if not more) informative than Al's!

 

[stomps off in fake huff]

 

-tet

 

Sorry about that didn't notice yours on my computer AA automatically scrolls down to the newest post.

 

-Darren-

 

PS: thank you tetrode

[tetrode kink]

No prob, it was a fake huff, after all.

 

BTW, don't click on the "read latest post" arrow on the right, click on the little "Combat" tank on the left (in the thread list) and it will take you to the first post since the last time you read the thread instead of always the very last post in the thread. If there is no little "Combat" tank next to a thread title, it means there are no new posts in the thread since you last read it.

 

-tet

[Pyromaniac605]

Thanks tetrode thought that was just for show.

 

-Darren-