Space Harrier News

[Shawn Jefferson]

That's bs.. They can't sue for trademark infringement on something thats owned by the public.. And if they can do that in the UK, then Id move out of that socialist sh!th*le..

 

You need to do some reading up on trademark laws... Their trademarks are NOT in the public domain, and that's the exact reason why they would be compelled to release the lawyers on this small homebrew game. The only thing that has any residual value from these 80s properties are the trademarks. I'm talking about the name "Space Harrier" and the representation of the hero, etc..

 

Many times (like 99%) of the time, only a C&D is required. Who wants to go head to head with an international corporation with lawyers either employed or on retainer? You stand to lose money even if they lost the suit (which isn't likely).

 

I don't want to derail this thread with a bunch of stuff about trademark and copyright laws though, but it seems there is often a misunderstanding about the differences, and why companies want to protect certain IP.

 

Oh, and I have to say that this SH port is awesome! Can't wait to play it for real.

Edited December 7, 2010 by Shawn Jefferson

[Kjmann]

We will Be Selling Space harrier on Cart for $44.95 usd.

 

That means we will be covering the packing materials, Label, Toner, and the cost of the cart with about $6 to spare (which we would still like to send to sheddy) =).

 

Of course the binary will be free which was sheddy's intention from the beginning. we are only selling this for people who would like it on a cart and don't want to go to the trouble or spend the money to buy the equipment required to make their own cart. (ex: SIO2PC or Cartridge programmer + Blank Cart + Laser Printer and Label Material).

 

-Packaging-

Marc Oberhäuser makes Great Packages. In Fact they're just downright Awesome, but the reason we didn't do it for tempest is that the Packages were very expensive. about 11 euro a box.

 

That translates to about $15.00 a piece. that would have brought the price of tempest to $65 dollars. that's too high. and that is for INK JET Printed boxes. Laser printed would have been about 1000 euros per 300 boxes (Minimum Order).

 

These were quotes directly from mark.

 

-Sega's Concern-

They Don't care! Period.

We have asked them on a couple of occasions about producing games on the 8-bit platform (OutRun for Example). their response is that they consider the 8-bit a DEAD PLATFORM. So Projects of this kind are not a concern to them. Namco and Nintendo have given us Similar Responses to our queries. especially Since the amount of sales do not amount to enough to bother wasting the money to come after this kind of project.

 

-ABBUC-

We Won "Best Game 2009" for Tempest Xtreem.

Why Couldn't Space Harrier win?

 

 

By the way. on a quick note... Merry Christmas (Or Happy Holidays) To Everyone here.

I kind of noticed that this get lost in the shuffle in discussion forums at this time of the year. =)

[Bryan]

Before a company will act against you, it has to be worth their while. If you're actively selling copies of their game/trademarks/etc... then they have a reason to shut that down. If you simply finish a game (& perhaps quickly sell a few special edition carts) then release the binary into the wild, there's really nothing anyone can do at that point. They can tell you to stop, and you'll have already complied.

[svenski]

Well it looks great so far, can't wait to play the whole thing. Great Work!

[nosty]

We will Be Selling Space harrier on Cart for $44.95 usd.

 

That means we will be covering the packing materials, Label, Toner, and the cost of the cart with about $6 to spare (which we would still like to send to sheddy) =).

 

Great! I want one

 

-Sega's Concern-

They Don't care! Period.

We have asked them on a couple of occasions about producing games on the 8-bit platform (OutRun for Example). their response is that they consider the 8-bit a DEAD PLATFORM. So Projects of this kind are not a concern to them. Namco and Nintendo have given us Similar Responses to our queries. especially Since the amount of sales do not amount to enough to bother wasting the money to come after this kind of project.

 

Really good news. I usualy didn't receive any responses from the big companies :/

[pseudografx]

This is an awesome project and I'm looking forward to seeing it completed.

If I understood correctly, you are currently planning to release it just as a cart dump, not a disk image.

Is there a chance for a disk version that can be loaded from an SDrive or a similar device in order to play the game on a stock 800 XL/XE or at least a 130XE without having to buy the cartridge?

Edited December 7, 2010 by pseudografx

[José Pereira]

Great work as ever, Sheddy! :thumbsup:

 

Did you arrive to the perfect software sprites method?

(any big rewrites to the code this year?, you should write a technical doc about your engine sometime!)

 

About your next big thing.. what do you think about Hang-On (or Super Hang-On) and Enduro Racer? Do you think that is possible to have something fun and playable with your current engine?

 

Regards!

 

Hi, we talked about this some Months ago here, including Sheddy...

All this SEGA 3D of that Time were very good.

You have Races: OutRun(s), Power Drift, Enduro Racer, Super Hang-On

You have Shoot'em'Ups: Space Harrier, After Burner, Galaxy Force

 

On the Racing ones, I don't think they will fit in the "Flicker" idea (but you could prove me I'm wrong!...)

I thought about After Burner some Months ago, but when I read your Post I remember GALAXY FORCE. Yes, this is probably just replace the Gfxs. mostly of the Times...

Just se it for yourself: MasterSystem GALAXY FORCE

 

What do you think?

Greetings.

José Pereira.

[José Pereira]

Sorry, but just remember asking something to Sheddy, just curious...

 

If we call PF0,PF1,PF2 a Pallete, how maximum number of Palletes you have "flicker" on the same Line?

 

Greets.

José Pereira.

[analmux]

Sheddy: Do you consider to release a .bin image of the game which will work on a flashcartridge? F.e. on the 8Mbit cart made by atarimax.

[snicklin]

If you're not after a follow up project which will take as long as this one, how about creating a new version of the same game but with different bosses / enemies / backgrounds?

 

You'll not have to do any new development, just artwork.

 

If you do not do this, I cannot see anyone else doing it and this'll be our only chance.

 

You can let your imagination go free and not be tied to whatever Sega created.

 

You could even design characters that are easy to compress, saving a few bytes in the process!

 

What do you think?

[Sheddy]

Great work as ever, Sheddy! :thumbsup:

 

About the PAL to NTSC color thing.. I was working in that today and I could say that a fast and simple rule to do the conversion is: add one to colors from 1 to 9 (don't change the brightness). All others should stay the same. You aren't going to get the exact same colors (not that is possible), but is a very good start and you can fine tune hue and brightness later. The only problem is that color 10 from PAL is like "in between" color 10 and 11 from NTSC, so you can choose the one that fits better (Altirra is the perfect test bed by the way).

 

Did you arrive to the perfect software sprites method?

(any big rewrites to the code this year?, you should write a technical doc about your engine sometime!)

 

About your next big thing.. what do you think about Hang-On (or Super Hang-On) and Enduro Racer? Do you think that is possible to have something fun and playable with your current engine?

 

Regards!

 

Thanks for the info, I will try what you suggest with the adding 1 to the colours and Altirra. Though I'm still not really sure how accurate even Altirra is for judging NTSC vs. PAL colour palettes.

 

No, no big rewrites! No such thing as a perfect sprite routine of course What's in SH may be pretty good for bitmap graphic mode games with large sprites, though.

 

PS Hope you continue to get such excellent results with your project

 

This is an awesome project and I'm looking forward to seeing it completed.

If I understood correctly, you are currently planning to release it just as a cart dump, not a disk image.

Is there a chance for a disk version that can be loaded from an SDrive or a similar device in order to play the game on a stock 800 XL/XE or at least a 130XE without having to buy the cartridge?

 

Unfortunately the way I decided to improve things over the demo version means it won't be possible to have a disk image that runs on a standard machine like the cart does. The sprites take up too much memory, but like with most standard Atari carts the sprites can just be bank switched in and out of memory as required (but instantly, not slow like a disk)

 

Sorry, but just remember asking something to Sheddy, just curious...

 

If we call PF0,PF1,PF2 a Pallete, how maximum number of Palletes you have "flicker" on the same Line?

 

 

 

Greets.

José Pereira.

 

José, not sure I fully understand your question, but I'll write some more and maybe the answer will be in there!

Palette on SH changes only every TV frame (50/60 times a second) not every line. There are 2 palettes which alternate, so palette 1, then palette 2, then back to 1 again (50/60 times a second) etc. If you try more than 2 palettes then the flicker is really bad on the eyes. Changing palette every line makes flicker less bad, but takes a lot (most) of the CPU cycles.

EG Line 1 - palette 1, Line 2 - palette 2, Line 3 - palette 1 etc.

Then next frame Line 1 - palette 2, Line 2, palette 1, Line 3 - palette 1...and so on.

Jeff Potter's Colorview shows still pictures with 3 palettes in a similar way. It is probably not so good for a moving game though.

 

Sheddy: Do you consider to release a .bin image of the game which will work on a flashcartridge? F.e. on the 8Mbit cart made by atarimax.

 

Yes, that is the plan, the game is designed for standard 8mbit maxflash cartridge.

[emkay]

We Won "Best Game 2009" for Tempest Xtreem.

Why Couldn't Space Harrier win?

 

 

Why does it hurt my brain to read this - telling always - " i knew it i knew it i knew it"?

The Game is Sheddy's work, your part here is something like "riding on the shoulder of giants". The "possible" prize for this belongs to him only. If he wants to share with people who was helping, it has to be up to him.

 

 

By the way. on a quick note... Merry Christmas (Or Happy Holidays) To Everyone here.

I kind of noticed that this get lost in the shuffle in discussion forums at this time of the year. =)

 

well, not really ....

[MEtalGuy66]

Before a company will act against you, it has to be worth their while. If you're actively selling copies of their game/trademarks/etc... then they have a reason to shut that down. If you simply finish a game (& perhaps quickly sell a few special edition carts) then release the binary into the wild, there's really nothing anyone can do at that point. They can tell you to stop, and you'll have already complied.

 

Thank you.. Thats my point.. Once the game is released as PD, what are they gonna do? Demand that every single copy of it be deleted from everyones disks who downloaded it? I guess if they are in the mood to waste money, they could systematically go after every site that hosts it for download, but they'd be pissing in the wind, so to speak.

 

And another relevant point is that, if anything, the release of the game for a platform that less than .001% of sega's potential customers actually own, would actually benefit them in name recognition much more than it would cut into any potential profits.. Especially since Sheddy did a much better conversion of the game for the atari than they could have ever paid someone to do, in their wildest dreams..

[Kr0tki]

Thanks for the info, I will try what you suggest with the adding 1 to the colours and Altirra. Though I'm still not really sure how accurate even Altirra is for judging NTSC vs. PAL colour palettes.

There's a thread with screen captures from NTSC and PAL Ataris, which you may find useful.

[Sheddy]

We Won "Best Game 2009" for Tempest Xtreem.

Why Couldn't Space Harrier win?

 

 

Why does it hurt my brain to read this - telling always - " i knew it i knew it i knew it"?

The Game is Sheddy's work, your part here is something like "riding on the shoulder of giants". The "possible" prize for this belongs to him only. If he wants to share with people who was helping, it has to be up to him.

 

 

By the way. on a quick note... Merry Christmas (Or Happy Holidays) To Everyone here.

I kind of noticed that this get lost in the shuffle in discussion forums at this time of the year. =)

 

well, not really ....

 

Please do not get personal. I don't think that is a fair way to interpret Sal's comments. I asked for help with music and Sal came up with the goods, for which I'm very grateful.

[Sheddy]

Thanks for the info, I will try what you suggest with the adding 1 to the colours and Altirra. Though I'm still not really sure how accurate even Altirra is for judging NTSC vs. PAL colour palettes.

There's a thread with screen captures from NTSC and PAL Ataris, which you may find useful.

thanks! I'd forgotten that thread

[DracIsBack]

Truly awesome work, Sheddy! Of all homebrews, this one is among the top interest grabbers for me! Well done!!!

[NRV]

I don't think this conversion will have any problem, but this is an example of what could go wrong sometimes:

 

http://blog.pikimal.com/geek/2010/12/06/8-bit-dj-hero-gets-a-cd/

[carmel_andrews]

one other question for you sheddy, would you be able to play the final/finished game/program on an un-upgraded 800xl or 130/65xe

 

Or am i to guess you will only be able to play the finished program on an expanded system (i.e 256k min)

[José Pereira]

Just to let you all know I've actually got round to posting some new stuff on the website. The website has been redone a bit too - do let me know if it breaks!

 

Probably that "In Development" Page is soo old for all Atari Machines, but I just remembered to see if your new site was there...

You could sent it to the AA admin.

Better if the correct/new site is there.

 

Greets.

José Pereira.

[emkay]

Please do not get personal. I don't think that is a fair way to interpret Sal's comments. I asked for help with music and Sal came up with the goods, for which I'm very grateful.

 

 

You really shouldn't "hide your light under a bushel" .... (just looking at the "title" again)

Your work on the Game takes now Decades (If i remind correctly) while He has done some "several hours job" .

 

 

It's his "modus operandi" that still has my attention. As soon as you give him a finger, he takes the full hand , and later on he tells it was his own...

[Sheddy]

one other question for you sheddy, would you be able to play the final/finished game/program on an un-upgraded 800xl or 130/65xe

 

Or am i to guess you will only be able to play the finished program on an expanded system (i.e 256k min)

 

The finished game cart will work on any XL/XE with 64K or more memory. So pretty much all standard XL/XEs except for the 600XL which only has 16K as standard.

[DEBRO]

Hi there,

 

The finished game cart will work on any XL/XE with 64K or more memory. So pretty much all standard XL/XEs except for the 600XL which only has 16K as standard.

Thanks for the update. I've been following this since its original announcement. It is great to hear this will work with a machine with 64K. I got a 130XE when I first heard it would need 128K and now that machine is no longer working. My 800XL is still alive and well and waiting on this game.

[+Philsan]

Chris and Sal, would it be possibile to add a save high scores feature on Maxflash/Atlantis Game Group) carts?

(Corina cartridge has this feature, I don't know Maxflash/AGG cartridges).

[analmux]

Chris, would it be possibile to add a save high scores feature on Maxflash carts?

(Corina cartridge has this feature, I don't know Maxflash)

 

Writing new data to an already programmed maxflash means: Erasing a 64kB block, and then rewrite it again.

 

There's no problem if the space harrier image is smaller than 8Mbit (or 1Mbit) minus 64kB. But suppose there's a critical case, let's say, the complete 8Mbit is needed. Then in theory it should still be possible, but then the Atari RAM must be used as a buffer. Then contents of RAM will be deleted. But, maybe the game-player only wants to save hi-score before turning off the machine, so there's no real problem.