Compromising

[Cybearg]

I've recently had a game idea that I would like to bring to the 2600. It strikes me that DPC+ would be able to accomplish my vision much better, even if it means that there could be no scrolling in the game (a fairly minor point for the design I have in mind, I think).

 

I feel a bit torn, though; while DPC+ could meet my requirements more easily and would allow me to avoid using potentially annoying tricks like simulating 4 objects on screen through the use of flicker or having to deal with no_blank_lines, the price that DPC+ boards add to a finished product, plus the sense that using more modern technology like DPC+ is cheating and would be seen as inauthentic (and thus less desirable), are holding me back from jumping into DPC+.

 

What are peoples' opinions on this? Is being able to work without minute flicker and a few other small niceties worth the +$10 minimum and the sense of "this couldn't actually have been done in the day..."?

Edited October 13, 2014 by Cybearg

[+Random Terrain]

This is what I think:

 

randomterrain.com/atari-2600-memories-cheating.html

[KaeruYojimbo]

I think you should use whatever tools are available to you to create the game you want. This isn't a competition, so who are you cheating? The players get a better game, so they aren't being cheated. You get to create something that matches your original vision, so you aren't being cheated. Don't listen to a bunch of retro-gauches who say that because Adventure was 4K that's all any real programmer needs. In cycling, the hour record used to be one of the most prestigious records. Anyone who was anyone tried to break it. Then, in the 90's, the UCI decided that too many people were setting too many records with fancy new bikes that were lighter and more aerodynamic. They decided that all records after 1972 were invalid and that any future attempts had to be made on a bike built to 1972 standards. Result? People stopped caring about the hour record.

 

If you can make a great game in 4K, do it. If you can make an absolutely awesome game using DPC+, do that instead.

[+Gemintronic]

Go straight to the 7800. Problem solved.

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/222638-7800basic-beta-the-release-thread/

[Cybearg]

Go straight to the 7800. Problem solved.

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/222638-7800basic-beta-the-release-thread/

The irony is that, for what I'm doing, the sprites are easier to make and look great on the 2600 because they're more than 16 pixels tall and some have more than 3 colors each. While I plan to use the 7800 eventually, it might be actually more difficult to match what I want to do in some ways, this time.

 

Thanks for the advice, folks. Appreciated.

Edited October 13, 2014 by Cybearg