Which new game you would like to play most?

[ilmenit]

Looking for inspiration for the future projects, which new game (not a port) you would like to play the most on 8bit Atari? It doesn't have to be a game "pushing the limits" of the computer, but something that you feel you would spend the most time playing.

[carlsson]

Nice poll. Are you sure all those genres can be pulled off with some decency? I'm sure many have barely been seen on 8-bit systems, and sometimes there may be technical reasons for that.

[ilmenit]

8 minutes ago, carlsson said:

Nice poll. Are you sure all those genres can be pulled off with some decency? I'm sure many have barely been seen on 8-bit systems, and sometimes there may be technical reasons for that.

The most problematic genres are probably real-time 3D games, but I believe a lot can be done using 1MB cartridge, modern programming techniques and tools, even without hardware extensions (either modifications or cartridges like Tomek8).

[ggn]

I cast my vote already, but I'd also like to offer another category that (as far as I can tell) isn't covered in the poll: Puzzle games! But not just old tired puzzles. A couple of examples:

 

Ever since The Witness came out in 2016, shortly after there was a demake released for the NES called "The Wit.nes". I find it totally adorable and I was hella jealous of it not being on an Atari!

 

 

A tamed down version of Stephen's sausage roll. Going 3D might be overkill for an 8bit machine, I'm sure a stripped down 2D would work beautifully.

 

 

I don't want to bore people too much (and apologies to @ilmenit if I did bore him already!) so I'll quickly mention some puzzlescript games like "Skipping stones to lonely homes"

 

 

"Mirror isles"

 

"Enigmash"

 

Right, that's me done, I'll get my coat now

 

[carlsson]

Personally I have a weakness for combining odd genres, if it is done in a smart way. Right now the poll looks to be all over the place, which is good because then you can select pretty much any two or three types of games and make a unique one from those. Perhaps an adventure platform game with racing elements inbetween each world/level. Think a little like the Great American Cross-Country Road Race but with additional gameplay. Over at the Intellivision section, previously I envisioned a Spy Hunter type game that would involve various missions: pick up this document, investigate this criminal, transport these valuable goods etc and the racing would only be one part of the game with increased difficulty and elements as you increase in rank.

[_The Doctor__]

Stevens sausage roll... that I'd like to see done, and it could be pseudo 3D. It's a deceptively designed game in that its' gameplay is simple to learn hard to master- very Atari

Edited August 12, 2021 by _The Doctor__

[Yautja]

Atari lacks good soccer games like "Microprose Soccer"; and beat´em ups like "Shinobi".

[+MrFish]

7 hours ago, ilmenit said:

Looking for inspiration for the future projects, which new game (not a port) you would like to play the most on 8bit Atari? It doesn't have to be a game "pushing the limits" of the computer, but something that you feel you would spend the most time playing.

 

You might get some inspiration (or perspiration) from this thread: Top Games You'd Like to Have for Atari 8-Bits

 

[Yautja]

Also, arcade games like "Bubble Bobble" would be a dream to have in our A8. Well, not a port, but something similar. 

[+Philsan]

CPC Soccer is a new soccer game inspired by Sensible Soccer

 

 

 

[Yautja]

58 minutes ago, Philsan said:

CPC Soccer is a new soccer game inspired by Sensible Soccer

https://youtu.be/yXO6IVjVxJg

I´d be happy with something like this:

 

 

[carlsson]

If you combine football with a 2D platform game, you might end up with something similar to Soccer Kid.

[_The Doctor__]

 

[Atlan_Roland]

My dream would be a "Nox Archaist" for the A8 

Edited August 12, 2021 by Atlan_Roland

[Wrathchild]

Would love to see a stab at Nidhogg (pun intended)

[Atari8guy]

I really like City Building games and RTS's.  I voted for City Building, but if you think there isn't enough muscle to pull off a decent version in those genres. I'd vote for Point and Click  - Something like Monkey Island.

[carlsson]

SimCity was ported to many 8-bit computers but due to low resolution and lack of colours, most look like crap IMHO. That includes BBC, C64 and ZX Spectrum. Possibly the CPC version gets away. I don't know which video modes the A8 could use to pull off a similar game in a resolution where you can make heads and tails of what is going on. I know that you can use Amiga/ST and other mice on A8 (see e.g. NRJ's Pad) so controller probably isn't a problem if joystick is not enough.

[ilmenit]

Interesting spread of answers. Currently almost 40 people voted and no genre got more than 10 votes.

[Gunstar]

This is a tough one to choose, because there are half a dozen genres I'd love to see on the 8-bit that haven't been done, or haven't been done good enough.  But, I had to settle on a racing game like Lotus or XJ220 as I love both of those games and I still feel the A8 could do so much better than what it's got for racing. TGACCRR seems to be a favorite A8 racer by many, but I never cared for it too much as it just reminded me of Enduro Racer from Activision on the 2600 with *barely* better graphics. I was never too impressed with the Cities rising in the distance because they stayed far away and were too small. I'd have liked to see buildings actually come up and race through like was done with Turbo. But I also never liked the timed only racing and how many cars can you pass racing or a combination of the two. I want REAL racing, with limited number of racing competitors to overtake or that can over take you and a bit of actual A.I. from the computer cars. but I can settle for "close enough" like Lotus and XJ220 if it has decent scenery and at least a few road side objects scaling at a time instead of ONE, like Pole Position and TGACCRR. I know the A8 can do better than what it has, even if it requires a smaller screen area to accomplish it.

 

E-type I think is the best looking racer on the A8, with a decent frame-rate and lots of roadside objects. In that sense, a lot like Lotus Turbo Challenge. But I didn't care for the need to run over the police (or anything) to get more time added on a clock and the fact that you are racing a clock anyway and still just passing random cars instead of actual racing. This game would be fantastic if you were really racing other cars. Again, yet another race against the clock and pass as many cars as you can like so many others on the A8. Even if the actual racing was just one-on-one like the original Need For Speed on the 3DO/PC/etc.

 

No more timed racing and no more pass as many cars as you can either/or and both racers PLEASE!!! I am so BORED of those types, and then to have sub-par graphics on top of it! I say look to E-type for graphic ideas (hopefully improved) but racing real opponents not a clock!

Edited August 13, 2021 by Gunstar

[Atari8guy]

19 hours ago, carlsson said:

SimCity was ported to many 8-bit computers but due to low resolution and lack of colours, most look like crap IMHO. That includes BBC, C64 and ZX Spectrum. Possibly the CPC version gets away. I don't know which video modes the A8 could use to pull off a similar game in a resolution where you can make heads and tails of what is going on. I know that you can use Amiga/ST and other mice on A8 (see e.g. NRJ's Pad) so controller probably isn't a problem if joystick is not enough.

Agreed a SimCity port may not come out too well, but I think some sort of City Building game could be done (by people more clever and creative than me).

[xxl]

19 minutes ago, 8bitguy1 said:

SimCity port may not come out too well

Conversion from BBC Micro is relatively easy and this version is quite ok:

 

 

[popmilo]

Those are some great suggestions. To be honest I've checked each and everyone of them and voted

 

Atari really needs all of those. No wonder you've put them in the list as those are really missing from A8 library.

 

Question is just how hard it is to make one of those, and based on that you'll probably see shooter first and flight sim later.
I'll try to contribute at least in some parts next couple decades I hope. Let's see what we can make

 

[+MrFish]

28 minutes ago, xxl said:

Conversion from BBC Micro is relatively easy and this version is quite ok:

 

You would know: Sim City Conversion

 

Too bad you had to quit.

 

[Atari8guy]

Thanks for that thread.  That's too bad.  Would have been nice.

 

Maybe a port would have come out very well!!!

 

Regardless, the poll said pick a genre but they are not looking to port games... so....I still vote for a City Builder.  

[nebpehtira]

Some of these genres wouldn't really do well on the Atari. Thinking about the limitations of the system, and making the most of what it does well, I think what would do well would be conversions of some fast paced, colourful 2D platformers like Sonic. Taking advantage of modern large, fast storage and programming tools would really let a good programmer showcase just how good the GTIA and ANTIC setup could be. Another game that I wish had made it to the 8-bit (since it did make it to the C64, and also the ST) was Rainbow Islands. 

 

I love city builder games like SimCity and strategy games like Civ, and while I suspect they'd easily be within the system capacity, I don't think they'd really show the platform at its best - the Atari 8 is much more impressive for it's colours and sprite hurling than it is for expansive high res playfields.