Guy1 Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 Hey folks, I've uploaded a longplay of Pondering About Max's (1989). Hope you enjoy. @Mclaneinc, @Gunstar, @Fred_M, @therealbountybob, @erichenneke, @Allan, @ivop 9 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 I was enthralled by the animated lion on the second level of P.A.M, but all the animation in this game is just top-notch and maybe the best in-game animation of any platformer on the Atari. I can't say over-all, as, if nothing else, Lucasfilm's Eidelon creatures come to mind right away. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinroh Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 2 hours ago, Gunstar said: I was enthralled by the animated lion on the second level of P.A.M, but all the animation in this game is just top-notch and maybe the best in-game animation of any platformer on the Atari. I can't say over-all, as, if nothing else, Lucasfilm's Eidelon creatures come to mind right away. I agree, wow this looks really lovely! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrbrevin Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 great fun! not an easy game so its a delight to see it played well ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 Great game skills, almost as good as me back in the day... And if you believe that I'll tell you another... Seriously well played and great figuring out and very appreciated by myself who for many reasons would not see that far in..(Falling out of bed with a spine injury and landing on my neck the other night has not helped) The joys of night terrors.. As Xr said, its a pleasure to see it played well.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 7 hours ago, Gunstar said: I was enthralled by the animated lion on the second level of P.A.M, but all the animation in this game is just top-notch and maybe the best in-game animation of any platformer on the Atari. I can't say over-all, as, if nothing else, Lucasfilm's Eidelon creatures come to mind right away. Yes, a serious amount of work went in to this game, amazed it wasn't seen by many at the time...As said before, I'd not seen it until a couple of years ago on here, I certainly would have remembered that back in the day..Instant classic. Love all the call backs to other games and songs as well, wonder if Nik was asked Donkey kong, Summer or Winter games etc...Nice.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 7 hours ago, Gunstar said: I was enthralled by the animated lion on the second level of P.A.M, but all the animation in this game is just top-notch and maybe the best in-game animation of any platformer on the Atari. I can't say over-all, as, if nothing else, Lucasfilm's Eidelon creatures come to mind right away. Yes, a serious amount of work went in to this game, amazed it wasn't seen by many at the time...As said before, I'd not seen it until a couple of years ago on here, I certainly would have remembered that back in the day..Instant classic. Love all the call backs to other games and songs as well, wonder if Nik was asked Donkey kong, Summer or Winter games etc...Nice.. I wonder if the creator is contactable, would be nice to ask about PM Madness any other more hidden secrets.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy1 Posted October 20, 2020 Author Share Posted October 20, 2020 25 minutes ago, Mclaneinc said: I wonder if the creator is contactable, would be nice to ask about PM Madness any other more hidden secrets.. The Designer was Mark Peters (Change In Heat, Iowa City). Maybe the way to create "PM Madness" is to have everyone Private Message this guy! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 2 hours ago, Mclaneinc said: Yes, a serious amount of work went in to this game, amazed it wasn't seen by many at the time...As said before, I'd not seen it until a couple of years ago on here, I certainly would have remembered that back in the day..Instant classic. Love all the call backs to other games and songs as well, wonder if Nik was asked Donkey kong, Summer or Winter games etc...Nice.. I wonder if the creator is contactable, would be nice to ask about PM Madness any other more hidden secrets.. To me the game play is reminiscent of a few games, Donkey Kong Jr. comes to mind, maybe mixed with a bit of Henry's House (though I haven't played it in over 20 years; time to give it another go...). I just wish it was as colorful as H.H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 puts so many other games on the Atari 8-bit to shame! Shows what could be done with proper graphics and animation design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 6 minutes ago, Gunstar said: I just wish it was as colorful as H.H. Yeah the one weakness is the palette. Maybe get a couple of DLIs in there with slightly brighter colors in the main palette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 51 minutes ago, zzip said: Yeah the one weakness is the palette. Maybe get a couple of DLIs in there with slightly brighter colors in the main palette. And the programmer used DLI's on the title screens, strange he didn't do too on the game screens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Child Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Ok, I think I've solved the mystery of creating "PM Madness", PM referring to Player/Missile sprites. Spoiler I must've tried 1000 things. I did it once and couldn't remember exactly what I did. Finally I re-stumbled upon it and recognized how it happened. I can glitch it in the atari800 emulator (linux) and also in mame's a800xl driver. so what you do is to first jump down to the level where the Eggle is going back and forth and position yourself at the very leftmost spot where you won't get knocked off. Then jump on the Eggle while moving rightward, use him as a springboard, keep jumping onto the spring, you'll reflect off the wall, then jump off the spring again and presto, PM Madness! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF0GqYu7ctI 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beeblebrox Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Cool - I am gona check this game out as I've never heard of or seen it until now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrbrevin Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 2 hours ago, Beeblebrox said: Cool - I am gona check this game out as I've never heard of or seen it until now. theres 3 of them in total - the brawl is amusing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beeblebrox Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 I wonder if someone, (the original coder or someone else with permission), would want to revisit them and add dli colouring? I like the idea of bringing the same wonderful colouring that the aforementioned Henry's house has into this game with the apparent animation already in place. Just watched one of the gameplay vids. Looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy1 Posted April 22, 2022 Author Share Posted April 22, 2022 16 hours ago, Golden Child said: Ok, I think I've solved the mystery of creating "PM Madness", PM referring to Player/Missile sprites. Nice work! Glad to have closure. I've pinned your YouTube comment for visibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beeblebrox Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 (edited) hey, check it out - just found this on Ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265634010635? Edited April 22, 2022 by Beeblebrox 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrshoujo Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 I actually bought a copy of P.A.M. from the ad in Antic Magazine. Great production values. Sadly, I don't have it anymore and I'm forever angry and bitter about it. Please don't have evil family members who don't care about others. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Child Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 3 hours ago, Guy1 said: Nice work! Glad to have closure. I've pinned your YouTube comment for visibility. Thanks, Guy1! After reading about "creating PM Madness" I had to find the answer! Would've been cool if there were a hidden message like Warren Robinett's Adventure. Fun link: XEGS carts that should have been: https://intotheverticalblank.com/2021/03/28/xegs-carts-that-should-have-been-vol-2/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eegad Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 12 hours ago, Beeblebrox said: hey, check it out - just found this on Ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265634010635? $599?!? Curious to see what it actually sells for. I'd gladly sell my copy for a fraction of that! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Child Posted April 23, 2022 Share Posted April 23, 2022 I'd love to read the booklet that came with PAM if you have it and would like to scan it. Seeing the picture of the book in the ad has got me really curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdefabri Posted August 4, 2022 Share Posted August 4, 2022 Just stumbled on this video - I never saw this game before, I'm guessing it came out around the time I started working full-time and my Atari was left in a slumber. I agree with all the comments, the graphics on this are amazing, really well done!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdefabri Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 On 4/22/2022 at 7:05 AM, Beeblebrox said: hey, check it out - just found this on Ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265634010635? The packaging on this game was outstanding...can't believe this wasn't more prominent, I never heard of it before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 3 hours ago, rdefabri said: The packaging on this game was outstanding... Yes, it was/is. 3 hours ago, rdefabri said: ...can't believe this wasn't more prominent, I never heard of it before. It was late in the Atari 8-bit lifespan (at least in the U.S. -- where it was released)... 1989. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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