Irvingnator Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 Why is astro chase 2600 not dumped? A proto is known to exist and so is the ROM. Heck, there is even a screenshot so, why is it not dumped (quote from atarimania The VCS version of this game was announced and advertised, but never released. The ROM is known to exist.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neotokeo2001 Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 That means that a private collector has it and does not wish to share it at this time. He may think that the value of his cartridge would be reduced if the ROM was released, he may have plans to release it in cartridge form or many other variables. Also, First Star Software is still around so there could be legal issues with releasing even just the ROM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 I believe First Star Software's IP owner Mean Hamster Software has told the prototype owner that they cannot release the prototype rom under any circumstances. That's my understanding anyway, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 5 hours ago, Tempest said: I believe First Star Software's IP owner Mean Hamster Software has told the prototype owner that they cannot release the prototype rom under any circumstances. That's my understanding anyway, So does MHS own the rights to the 2600 version of Astro Chase or to the entire Astro Chase IP as a whole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 8 hours ago, Tempest said: I believe First Star Software's IP owner Mean Hamster Software has told the prototype owner that they cannot release the prototype rom under any circumstances. That's my understanding anyway, The owner has changed to BBG Entertainment. Quote As of January 1, 2018 the First Star Software name and website are owned by BBG Entertainment GmbH which also purchased all intellectual property rights pertaining to Astro Chase™, BOiNG!™, Boulder Dash®, Bristles™, Flip & Flop™, Millemium Warriors™, Omnicron Conspiracy™, Panic Button™, Rent Wars™ and Security Alert™. Maybe that opens new possibilities like it does for Boulder Dash? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 32 minutes ago, Thomas Jentzsch said: The owner has changed to BBG Entertainment. Maybe that opens new possibilities like it does for Boulder Dash? I thought that was the case as well but left open the idea that maybe Astro Chase didn't go with the rest of the IPs to the new owners in Europe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddhell Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 Go ahead Tom....you know you wanna.....lol I wouldn't be surprised if you already have it coded, just waiting.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irvingnator Posted February 17, 2020 Author Share Posted February 17, 2020 Why would First Star want to keep it hidden when they've made nothing but boulder dash updates since 2004? Maybe a repro for $10 would entice them to release the game? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 2 hours ago, Irvingnator said: Why would First Star want to keep it hidden when they've made nothing but boulder dash updates since 2004? Maybe a repro for $10 would entice them to release the game? No idea, that's just what I was told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supergun Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 The person who has the proto isn’t the only source for that rom data anyhow. Just run the tables with all the programmers that worked at Parker Brothers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+D Train Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 is there a video of this version in action? took a quick look online and did not see one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 1 hour ago, Supergun said: The person who has the proto isn’t the only source for that rom data anyhow. Just run the tables with all the programmers that worked at Parker Brothers. You're basing this on what now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Psionic Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 On 2/17/2020 at 5:44 PM, Supergun said: The person who has the proto isn’t the only source for that rom data anyhow. Just run the tables with all the programmers that worked at Parker Brothers. More than half of the games published by Parker Brothers across all platforms were developed by outside contractors. The programmer of Astro Chase was commissioned by First Star to do the port, not by Parker Brothers, and the only known prototype is housed in a Telesys cartridge shell. It's not likely that anyone inside Parker would have ever had access to this ROM, but if so they probably would not have been one of the programmers. I'm not even convinced that Parker Brothers would have published the VCS version as opposed to First Star simply releasing it themselves had it actually come out as planned. First Star published Boing, so they certainly had the distribution channels available for producing VCS titles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 13 minutes ago, Psionic said: I'm not even convinced that Parker Brothers would have published the VCS version as opposed to First Star simply releasing it themselves had it actually come out as planned. First Star published Boing, so they certainly had the distribution channels available for producing VCS titles. I think you're right on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 looks like an apple iie color monitor game, not vcs- wow! lets track it down!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 who took the screenshots and chip pics for atariprotos site? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 are you sure those aren't 5200 screenhots, like the one i posted above--- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 you know i bet those shots are NOT from vcs vers- didnt many boxes use different screenshot examples that didnt necessarily match, etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Psionic Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 7 hours ago, chewy said: who took the screenshots and chip pics for atariprotos site? Huh? The screenshot you posted is the 5200 version. The 2600 port has not been reviewed on AtariProtos. 7 hours ago, chewy said: you know i bet those shots are NOT from vcs vers- didnt many boxes use different screenshot examples that didnt necessarily match, etc The Atarimania database has emulator screen grabs of the VCS version. They weren't taken from a box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 Those are indeed screenshots from the 2600 version on Atarimania. I have no idea where they came from though. There's only one prototype that I know of, but maybe another was discovered? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 I'm happy to announce that I am now able to post my review of Astro Chase for the Atari 2600. While the original owner of the prototype does not want it to be released, a second prototype was recently found with more versions possibly coming. Permission was also granted from the current copyright owners to post the rom, so enjoy(?) this long lost Atari 2600 game. http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/astrochase/astrochase.htm Astrochase (10-25-83).bin 6 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris+++ Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 WOW! How incredibly cool! I'm maniacally curious to get this binary file home from work and try the game out, as I've been enjoying the C64 version for years (and the Atari computer version is practically identical). I'm eager to see the extent to which the momentum / bouncy-ship physics survived. The screen shots on atariprotos.com are impressive -- it looks like the outer-space "wallpaper" was the only superficial sacrifice. I guess this would be one of two games known to be converted for the 2600 by First Star, the other being Boing? In any case, this is pretty fascinating. Thank you as usual, Tempest! ("Maniacally curious"?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 If you like the original version you'll like this one. It plays very much the same with only a small hit in the graphics. Personally I just don't like the game on any system. I'm fairly sure this is the final version or pretty close to it. Yes, First Star was only planning Astro Chase and Boing for the 2600. Nothing else. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeafAtariFromKansas Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 WOW!... Finally hit 201st Prototype ROM... Thanks for post ROM here, @Tempest .. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris+++ Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 You're right: The game play is very close! I'm also impressed that you can "lock in" your movement direction, as in the original, leaving you free to fire in other directions. My buddy Adam (BallyAlley) isn't crazy about the game on any platform, either, so he took a picture of me playing, rather than vice versa. He's been trying out this unreleased version, however, and he'd better admit that he's having fun! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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