Tempest Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 All this talk about prototypes reminded me of something I had heard about years ago. Is it true that someone found a prototype of Ms. Pac-Man by Atarisoft? I remember hearing that it only had one level, no collision detection with the ghosts, and crashed when you picked up the prize. Is this true or is it just some wacky rumor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Psionic Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Not a rumor. I'm pretty sure one of the original Atarisoft programmers (Matt Householder) has or at least had a copy of it. He's a member here. If I remember correctly, the only prototype is stuck in debug mode and is not playable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youki Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 is there screenshot or video of it somewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 What about the supposed Missile Command prototype that only had the title screen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Psionic Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 5 hours ago, youki said: is there screenshot or video of it somewhere? Not that I'm aware of. 2 hours ago, Tempest said: What about the supposed Missile Command prototype that only had the title screen? This has been mentioned numerous times over the years but I've personally never seen any proof that it exists and it was not mentioned here as one of the titles being worked on at Atari. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supergun Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 While we’re on the Atarisoft ColecoVision subject, was another build of the joust proto ever found with the sound programmed? I know that one of the aftermarket/Homebrew publishers has a joust with sound, but, it’s unclear as to wether or not a legit proto surfaced (and that’s where it came from) or if they merely programmed the sound for it themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+lawdawg710 Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 54 minutes ago, Supergun said: While we’re on the Atarisoft ColecoVision subject, was another build of the joust proto ever found with the sound programmed? I know that one of the aftermarket/Homebrew publishers has a joust with sound, but, it’s unclear as to wether or not a legit proto surfaced (and that’s where it came from) or if they merely programmed the sound for it themselves. Seems there was a proto with sound.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted January 23, 2021 Author Share Posted January 23, 2021 14 hours ago, Supergun said: While we’re on the Atarisoft ColecoVision subject, was another build of the joust proto ever found with the sound programmed? I know that one of the aftermarket/Homebrew publishers has a joust with sound, but, it’s unclear as to wether or not a legit proto surfaced (and that’s where it came from) or if they merely programmed the sound for it themselves. I thought a proto WITH the sound had finally been found, but I might be thinking of the homebrew. I know we had the proto without sound and the separate sound code for years. If there's a rom out there with sound and/or a title screen I don't have it. My rom is soundless and has no title screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supergun Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 Agreed. My Joust cartridge (which I acquired from Sean Kelly in person like 20 years ago) is without sound. And I would very much like to upgrade it by replacing the eprom with the version with sound. That rom should be readily available then. (no different then say any of the other authentic protos from the systems original lifespan). No reason it should fall under the umbrella of a “Homebrew” release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIAD Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 I was the one that talked to Sean Kelly in his store some 6-7 years ago about Joust. At the time, I knew he possessed the sound code for Joust and recommended that he contact Pixelboy to see if they could work something out concerning merging the sound code into the "no sound proto". I was under the impression that this is how the Team Pixelboy release came to fruition with the help of Mystery Man, but it sounds like Sean had or came across a more complete proto that he supplied to Pixelboy. Thru it all, it only matters that it got done and the community finally has a complete Joust to enjoy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supergun Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 On 1/24/2021 at 12:24 AM, NIAD said: I was the one that talked to Sean Kelly in his store some 6-7 years ago about Joust. At the time, I knew he possessed the sound code for Joust and recommended that he contact Pixelboy to see if they could work something out concerning merging the sound code into the "no sound proto". I was under the impression that this is how the Team Pixelboy release came to fruition with the help of Mystery Man, but it sounds like Sean had or came across a more complete proto that he supplied to Pixelboy. Thru it all, it only matters that it got done and the community finally has a complete Joust to enjoy. While I understand what your saying here, and I agree with most of it, it is still imperative that we confirm exactly how the rom with sound came to be. The historical record must be accurate. Such that: If Sean was able to locate another proto rom or board or cartridge that was of a later build which had the sound implemented, then it would maintain the classification of “1983 AtariSoft ColecoVision Joust” as an original unreleased ColecoVision proto. If Sean found some floppy disk or other media which contained the additional sound code files or information, then it would classify it as a “patched” rom file; but it would still be considered “original” to its time period. However, if on the other hand some modern day programmer created or hacked together the sound for the rom file, then it would be classified as a Homebrew game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIAD Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 It will be easier getting an answer from Pixelboy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelboy Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 13 hours ago, Supergun said: However, if on the other hand some modern day programmer created or hacked together the sound for the rom file, then it would be classified as a Homebrew game. I classify my version as a homebrew because I had it altered to add a proper title screen. The original prototype (with sound but no title screen) is the "unreleased CV proto". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supergun Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Thank you for clarifying this. And so, a question, and to be clear, I’m not asking for the “dressed up packaged released version” (with the sound and title screen implemented), as I understand it was/is a purchasable item. But, is the version with just the sound available? I ask because I would like to burn a new eprom with that version so I can update my Joust cartridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelboy Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 The original proto with sound and no title screen is still the property of Sean Kelly, as far as I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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