GrandviewCoin Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 March - Almost April 2006 Any updates? Or have we hit a wall.. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutchman2000 Posted April 11, 2006 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Here's an update: I still have not received all of the materials from the programmer. There is a lot more to go through but he has been very busy the last 8 months. When he sends me the rest of the materials then I can get started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warriorisabouttodie Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 Ive been waiting for this one for literally 20 years! Sinistar was one of my fav games and I rem reading there was a version for the 8bit coming.. but alas it never came... now I wait again!!! Cant wait to finally play it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin242 Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 any update on this? Is this ever gonna really come out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 The AtariProtos.com site says there is a little color glitch in the death screen but I seem to remember the real arcade machine flashing the screen like that. You would think that once a game is that far along that they would let them finish it in hopes of making back some of the development expense. A couple more weeks work and it probably would have been pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 The AtariProtos.com site says there is a little color glitch in the death screen but I seem to remember the real arcade machine flashing the screen like that. The thing is, it's not flashing in the 8-bit version. It's just a static dark red background instead of the normal black. I assumed that the programmer just forgot to set the background color back to black after he changed it to dark red for the death screen. You would think that once a game is that far along that they would let them finish it in hopes of making back some of the development expense. A couple more weeks work and it probably would have been pretty good. Sometimes it didn't matter how good the game was. There were lots of good games that were basically done that got cancelled. When the market crashed, it seems no one wanted to buy games, no matter how good they were. Now why they didn't resurrect it for the XE line is a complete mystery. They finished and released Crystal Castles after all... Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutchman2000 Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 One word: Licensing. Atari did not own the rights to Sinistar. I am still waiting for more materials to arrive. Once that happens I can evaluate everthing and find the best version to release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin242 Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 One word: Licensing. Atari did not own the rights to Sinistar. I am still waiting for more materials to arrive. Once that happens I can evaluate everthing and find the best version to release. are you still waiting for the same materials you were waiting for over a year ago or this something new? It's too bad someone couldnt just release a rom and call it "prototype" so anyone who plays it will know it might not be the actual most complete version, but at least we could see it for ourselves. If you found a better version you could always release that one and call it version B or SinistarFinal... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Allan Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 One word: Licensing. Atari did not own the rights to Sinistar. I am still waiting for more materials to arrive. Once that happens I can evaluate everthing and find the best version to release. are you still waiting for the same materials you were waiting for over a year ago or this something new? It's too bad someone couldnt just release a rom and call it "prototype" so anyone who plays it will know it might not be the actual most complete version, but at least we could see it for ourselves. If you found a better version you could always release that one and call it version B or SinistarFinal... Plus I wouldn't mind playing with different 'works-in-progress'. Hopefully the author gets motivated to find the final copy. BTW, keep up the great work Dutchman2000. Allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutchman2000 Posted September 5, 2006 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Allan- I hope so too. He has just been really busy and can't find the time to send me out the remaining materials. I don't want to bug him too much, but he does want Sinistar to be released. He only wants to make sure that the best, playable version is released. I want to respect his wishes so we can continue to expect great things. It's possible that he might have more then just Sinistar in his archive. I also want to release a ROM version. Right now the only version that exists is an autobooting disk that doesn't work well on real hardware. I just need to get the source code so I can compile a cartridge ROM version. More details to follow once I have them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Allan Posted September 5, 2006 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Allan- I hope so too. He has just been really busy and can't find the time to send me out the remaining materials. I don't want to bug him too much, but he does want Sinistar to be released. He only wants to make sure that the best, playable version is released. I want to respect his wishes so we can continue to expect great things. It's possible that he might have more then just Sinistar in his archive. I also want to release a ROM version. Right now the only version that exists is an autobooting disk that doesn't work well on real hardware. I just need to get the source code so I can compile a cartridge ROM version. More details to follow once I have them... Thanks for the response. We all know how hard it is to do our hobbies when there's so little time left over from work, parenting, etc. I was just wondering, if Sinistar was written to be on a cart, does that mean it only accesses 16K of RAM at a time? Just wondering how well that might translate over to the 5200 with it's 16K RAM and 32K ROM (or possible a bank-switch cart.)? Anyways, good luck, we're rooting for you. Allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutchman2000 Posted September 5, 2006 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Allan- Sinistar was never intended to be developed for the 5200. The production file mentions nothing about a 5200 port. The programmer only wrote it for the Atari 800 computer line, so it requires at least 48k of RAM to run. A 5200 port may be possible, but it is unlikely. He did tell me that he wouldn't have minded doing a 5200 port if marketing had asked him. He would've gotten more bonus pay that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Allan Posted September 5, 2006 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Allan- Sinistar was never intended to be developed for the 5200. The production file mentions nothing about a 5200 port. The programmer only wrote it for the Atari 800 computer line, so it requires at least 48k of RAM to run. A 5200 port may be possible, but it is unlikely. He did tell me that he wouldn't have minded doing a 5200 port if marketing had asked him. He would've gotten more bonus pay that way. That's interesting that the programmer knew nothing about a 5200 port. The document Curt Vendal posted lists Sinistar as 2 weeks to completion on 8-2-84. Maybe someone else was working on a 5200 version? Allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutchman2000 Posted September 5, 2006 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Remember that list was done by the Tramiels and it is likely that they didn't know it was only for the computers. Also marketing canceled the game before the sale date, so they might've had plans for a 5200 release. They did ask Steve Crandall after he finished Miilipede to port it over to the 5200, so it could've happened. The programmer has told me over and over again that he was NOT asked to do a 5200 port. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin242 Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 I have a feeling it is going to be a long time before we see this game. From what Ive seen of it (obviously pictures only) it is gonna look great but is it playable are the controls all worked out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 I have a feeling it is going to be a long time before we see this game. From what Ive seen of it (obviously pictures only) it is gonna look great but is it playable are the controls all worked out? It plays just fine. The only problem with the game is the enemy AI is somewhat weak, but since Sinistar was obnoxiously hard to begin with this just means it plays like a normal game. Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Still nothing to add I take it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutchman2000 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 I just received two large boxes from him. Hopefully these will contain the materials I need. I will let you know what I find.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Allan Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 I just received two large boxes from him. Hopefully these will contain the materials I need. I will let you know what I find.. And maybe some other stuff? Allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 I just received two large boxes from him. Hopefully these will contain the materials I need. I will let you know what I find.. Ok, you've had almost a week... you have to have found something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutchman2000 Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 Well, There is a LOT of things here. First, I now have the source code printout of Sinistar dated June 1st, 1984. I also have the development file, which has all of his notes when he was writing the game. I have not had a chance to go through all the disks he sent, but at first glance it doesn't appear to have any other unreleased gamees in there. I will examine the source and compare it to the other versions I already have and see which is the best version to release. Once that happens, I will compile a cartridge ROM for release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inky Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 When its released, I Want... No, NEED a copy for my 8-bit. I will gladly sell my children for one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 What someone really needs to do is figure out how to get this working on a 5200. Sure an 8-bit Sinistar is cool, but a 5200 Sinistar would be killer! Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 Well, There is a LOT of things here. First, I now have the source code printout of Sinistar dated June 1st, 1984. I also have the development file, which has all of his notes when he was writing the game. I have not had a chance to go through all the disks he sent, but at first glance it doesn't appear to have any other unreleased gamees in there. I will examine the source and compare it to the other versions I already have and see which is the best version to release. Once that happens, I will compile a cartridge ROM for release. The nice thing about source code is the enemy logic could eventually be fixed and a 5200 version *might* be an option. Sinistar was a real love/hate thing for me. I love the game but it was so difficult I hated it. Dang quarter thief anyway. Being able to play it at home would have been awesome. Too bad they killed the project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdie3 Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 Well, There is a LOT of things here. First, I now have the source code printout of Sinistar dated June 1st, 1984. I also have the development file, which has all of his notes when he was writing the game. I have not had a chance to go through all the disks he sent, but at first glance it doesn't appear to have any other unreleased gamees in there. I will examine the source and compare it to the other versions I already have and see which is the best version to release. Once that happens, I will compile a cartridge ROM for release. Awesome!! Alot of us have been waiting very patiently for this to arrive. Really looking forward to it. I remember you saying in an earlier post that you may also be uncovering some other previously uncovered code in these batches of disks you have obtained. Care to divuldge whether you have discovered any other interesting or unfinished works? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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