Atari 2600 Boulder Dash (R) Announced!

[Albert]

Following the recent release of their amazing Boulder Dash® playable demo, programmers Andrew Davie and Thomas Jentzsch, in association with publishers AtariAge and First Star Software, Inc, are very excited to announce that the original game in the Boulder Dash® series, Boulder Dash® Volume 1, will be available for purchase, exclusively from the AtariAge Store, in time for Christmas 2011!

 

Andrew Davie and Thomas Jentzsch have been working on this Atari 2600 port of Boulder Dash® for almost a decade. Together these two Atari 2600 veterans have used their insight and sophisticated knowledge about the Atari console to bring to life a faithful rendering of the classic, action-puzzle game (first released on the Atari 8-bit computer platform in 1984) from First Star Software, Inc. Game-play, sounds, and graphics have been faithfully reproduced, culminating in a game for the Atari 2600 unlike any previously seen.

 

Here's a video of the game showing the title screen and two full levels being played:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Ge6G9sT9E

 

With the full cooperation of First Star Software, Inc., this title will finally be available on the 2600!

 

The game features exact implementations of all 16 caves and 4 intermissions of the original game, playable with 5 levels of difficulty, providing over 80 unique levels of challenging fun. The physics, sound, and graphics are as exact as possible on the Atari 2600, and the game-play and timing are exactly the same as in the original version of the game. In short, this is a not-to-be-missed masterpiece, available in a limited run of only 250 copies.

 

AtariAge and First Star Software, Inc. will be hosting a box and label design competition! Winners will receive a copy of the game signed by Andrew, Thomas, Albert, and Richard M. Spitalny (president of First Star Software, Inc.) . Keep watching AtariAge for announcements of the competition!

 

The game will be available only as a cartridge (with professionally printed box and manual) in time for Christmas 2011, with a purchase price of $75 USD. Pre-ordering will be available soon!

[disjaukifa]

Amazing! Looking forward to the pre-order. Great job! Is the $75 for just the cartridge or for the cartridge, box and manual?

[thexder]

Will definitely be on the list for pre-orders

[tremoloman2006]

This is friggen AWESOME news!

I'm definitely down for at least 1 copy!

 

"Rock" on!

[+cmart604]

Great news, definitely in for one too!

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Is the $75 for just the cartridge or for the cartridge, box and manual?

That's all inclusive.

[high voltage]

I will be on that list for sure (can I be number 250 please)

Edited October 27, 2011 by high voltage

[atarian63]

Same here, never thought it would happen but so happy it is!! I want!

[disjaukifa]

Is the $75 for just the cartridge or for the cartridge, box and manual?

That's all inclusive.

 

I'm sold! Put me down for at least 1!

[Emehr]

YAY!! I'm there! I was #11 on the original preorder list. If these are numbered, can I get #11 again? No real reason except for nostalgia. In any case, count me in!

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Same here, never thought it would happen...

I never lost my faith into this project. And eventually I got rewarded.

[Mark Wolfe]

I'm definitely in for this release. show me where to buy pleeeeze

[StanJr]

Yes, please. Looks awesome! How can you go wrong with these two HB powerhouses?

 

Sweet!

[R4ngerM4n]

I cannot hear any in-game sound in the youtube-video. Not implemented yet? Why are diamonds in triangle shape?

Edited October 27, 2011 by R4ngerM4n

[Andrew Davie]

I cannot hear any in-game sound in the youtube-video. Not implemented yet? Why are diamonds in triangle shape?

 

The video does not have sound, but the game has amazing sound.

 

The diamonds have exactly 4 pixels width to play with. If you can draw a good "diamond" shape 4 pixels wide, let me know!

 

All choices made in the port are the best that Thomas and I have been able to come up with, given the limitations of the platform. I happen to like the diamonds!

 

Cheers

A

[+bennybingo]

Beautiful!!!! I am down for a purchase. Just show me where to sign up!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Thomas Jentzsch]

I cannot hear any in-game sound in the youtube-video. Not implemented yet?

Please check out the demo mentioned above. Almost all sounds are in place there already.

[potatohead]

Awesome!! So happy to see this come to fruition. Great job you two!

[Rom Hunter]

Without any doubt a masterpiece of VCS game programming.

 

Every well known old era VCS game programmer should see this.

 

Hats off, Andrew & Thomas!

 

Incredible achievement.

 

[+Darrin9999]

I`m in for 1 copy..

[Dino]

Amazing work guys! cant wait for the pre-order. Any sneek-peeks at the artwork?

[Gandor]

I'm in for one copy. Awesome work guys.

[+Marc Oberhäuser]

I'm so happy that it worked out in the end! So much afford have been put into this beautiful gem.

[Master Phruby]

I sooo want that! It will be a great Christmas if I get both Boulder Dash and Halo 2600!

[Dino]

I cannot hear any in-game sound in the youtube-video. Not implemented yet? Why are diamonds in triangle shape?

 

The video does not have sound, but the game has amazing sound.

 

The diamonds have exactly 4 pixels width to play with. If you can draw a good "diamond" shape 4 pixels wide, let me know!

 

All choices made in the port are the best that Thomas and I have been able to come up with, given the limitations of the platform. I happen to like the diamonds!

 

Cheers

A

 

How about this?

 

 

i.e. what I'm trying to achieve is this shaped diamond: