Defender Arcade Now Available

[Albert]

I've added Bob DeCrescenzo's Defender Arcade hack to the AtariAge Store:

 

http://atariage.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=952

 

Defender Arcade is a significantly improved version the original Defender produced by Atari. This version is actually based on Atari's later release of Stargate, which was a far better effort than Defender. Talented homebrew author Bob DeCrescenzo made many changes to the game to bring Defender fans a 2600 version that is much truer to the arcade classic compared to Atari's initial release of the game.

 

Here are some of the changes Bob made to Stargate to turn it into Defender:

 

1. Title Screen
   
2. Removed enemies that were in Stargate but not in Defender
   
3. Changed the 'Firebomber' into the 'Bomber' (it was the closest one)
   
4. Removed Inviso
   
5. Removed Stargate from screen and scanner
   
6. Removed 'Bonus Stages' (Yllabian Dog Fight, etc)
   
7. Changed Scoring for Pod (s/b 1000 points, not 500)
   
8. Changed Scoring for picking up falling humanoids (not cumulative, 500 points each time)
   
9. Remove 'Phred' and 'Big Red' and replace with Baiter
   
10. Changed Score Font to match the arcade game
    
11. Changed shape of player and enemies to closely match the arcade game
    
12. Removed 'lines' under the humanoids
    

You can choose from one of two different labels created for Defender Arcade by Atariboy2600:

 

 

And don't forget about the other "Arcade" hacks available in the store: Galaxian Arcade, Pac-Man Arcade, and Space Invaders Arcade.

 

..Al

[Atari2600Lives]

Awesome, my favorite all time hack. ordering one of each label today.

Edited May 10, 2010 by Atari2600Lives

[VectorGamer]

I have the Defender, Pac-Man, Galaxian and Space Invaders Arcade hacks and they are all must haves for your 2600 collection

 

Gr8 job!

[Crazy Climber]

One of these will definetily be on my next order!

[SoulBlazer]

Al, I don't know what the policy is on ROM's of homebrews and hacks, so forgive me for asking this, if it seems stupid or has been answered somewhere else.

 

I'm a long time fan of Defender and would love to check this out, but don't have a Atari and do all my 2600 playing through emulation.

 

Might a ROM be made available at some point, either for charge or free?

[Albert]

Might a ROM be made available at some point, either for charge or free?

There's a long development thread available here:

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/91016-2600-defender-arcade-pretty-much-complete/

 

I believe this post may contain the final version of the ROM that was posted:

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/91016-2600-defender-arcade-pretty-much-complete/page__st__175__p__1425814#entry1425814

 

..Al

[lucifershalo]

is it the same as the one Bob released on cart some time ago (a year or so)?

[CPUWIZ]

is it the same as the one Bob released on cart some time ago (a year or so)?

 

Yes, it is Bob's.

[atari_envy]

is it the same as the one Bob released on cart some time ago (a year or so)?

 

Indeed. Bob was nice enough to provide me with one of the last of his original runs. It is a good hack, essentially a tweaked and refined Defender II made to be as close as possible to the Defender arcade version.

[tremoloman2006]

I was lucky enough to score one of these when Bob first completed the hack. It would be a disservice to any Atari 2600 collection not to have this included in your collection. You will never play the official release again once you give this version a try.

 

 

[Trinity]

Does it use one, or two joysticks?

[PacManPlus]

WOW

 

Thanks guys

 

@Trinity - it uses two joysticks, like Stargate does (except no Inviso)

[Difficulty A]

WOW

 

Thanks guys

 

@Trinity - it uses two joysticks, like Stargate does (except no Inviso)

 

Dood! Awesome!

[classicgamingguy]

Very cool

 

Question: How does Stargate play on the 2600? Just curious. Sorry to go off topic, but I've never SEEN Stargate for the 2600.

[VectorGamer]

Very cool

 

Question: How does Stargate play on the 2600? Just curious. Sorry to go off topic, but I've never SEEN Stargate for the 2600.

 

Stargate is probably the best "non-home-brew" title written for the 2600. It requires a second joystick for Smartbomb but it is amazing that this is a VCS title.

[ls650]

Stargate is probably the best "non-home-brew" title written for the 2600.

Eh? I think you'll get a few people disagreeing with that opinion!

[atari_envy]

Stargate is probably the best "non-home-brew" title written for the 2600.

Eh? I think you'll get a few people disagreeing with that opinion!

 

It makes my top 5.

[VectorGamer]

Stargate is probably the best "non-home-brew" title written for the 2600.

Eh? I think you'll get a few people disagreeing with that opinion!

 

So, what titles are you countering with?

[ls650]

So, what titles are you countering with?

Pitfall, Hero!, Adventure, Kaboom, Asteroids, Missile Command, River Raid... I can go on. Stargate was decent, but I wouldn't even put it in the top 20 games, never mind say it's number one!

[VectorGamer]

So, what titles are you countering with?

Pitfall, Hero!, Adventure, Kaboom, Asteroids, Missile Command, River Raid... I can go on. Stargate was decent, but I wouldn't even put it in the top 20 games, never mind say it's number one!

 

I named Stargate because of what an achievement it was in pushing the limits of the 2600. I failed to clarify this in my previous post.

 

So, yes the games that you mention are all excellent titles but none of those pushed the system like Stargate.

 

Our "pals" over at www.videogamecritic.net call Stargate a "masterpiece" with high resolution graphics, "smooth animation and arcade-quality sound effects" and it "is so good that it's actually difficult to believe this is an Atari 2600 game!"

[atari_envy]

So, what titles are you countering with?

Pitfall, Hero!, Adventure, Kaboom, Asteroids, Missile Command, River Raid... I can go on. Stargate was decent, but I wouldn't even put it in the top 20 games, never mind say it's number one!

 

I named Stargate because of what an achievement it was in pushing the limits of the 2600. I failed to clarify this in my previous post.

 

So, yes the games that you mention are all excellent titles but none of those pushed the system like Stargate.

 

Our "pals" over at www.videogamecritic.net call Stargate a "masterpiece" with high resolution graphics, "smooth animation and arcade-quality sound effects" and it "is so good that it's actually difficult to believe this is an Atari 2600 game!"

 

I would agree, but in full disclosure, I am a complete Stargate fanboy. Games like Pitfall, HERO, etc, all make up my top 10+. But what other 2600 arcade port is more faithful and fun? It is one of those few games that I think, wow, can't believe they did this on a 2600.

 

BTW, a great alternative I have found to the two joysticks needed for this game is the foot controller. eBay Auction -- Item Number: 260587799299 Smart bombs were never easier than a quick press of the foot.

[Lord Helmet]

Very cool

 

Question: How does Stargate play on the 2600? Just curious. Sorry to go off topic, but I've never SEEN Stargate for the 2600.

 

Dude...grab the ROM and your favorite emulator and try it out.

[moycon]

Super cool. The original Atari 2600 Defender was fun, but was always one of those games that really only bore a resemblance to the original. Stargate was leaps and bounds better!

[Almost Rice]

Because of all the bad ports of 2600 games I did not even give stargate a chance. It was only after defender arcade was made tha I tried it. It is hands down my favorite 2600 game. Only a proper 800 or 7800 port of this game could get me as excited.

[DGMMX]

Stargate is probably the best "non-home-brew" title written for the 2600. It requires a second joystick for Smartbomb.

Atari's Version of Defender activated the Smartbomb by going to the bottom of the screen and pressing the "Fire" button, rendering it mostly useless.