Why buy homebrew?

[Atari Master]

Why do you guys buy homebrew games?I don't really like hombrew unless the game is fun and I havent even bought one yet.I wouldent spend no $30 on a pac-man with it's lable ripped off.

 

Are there homebrew Atari systems?

[+-^CrossBow^-]

They say there is no such thing as a stupid question. But statements such as this may challange that saying.

 

I myself have only bought on Homebrew...and that was Andrew Davis's QB game. That game while borrowing ideas from several games is actually quite new and fresh. Plus it is lots of fun and looks like one of the newer released games that Atari themselves might have put out.

 

In truth the reason to buy Homebrews is partly as a collecting thing...and also to provide some small support for the individuals who actually took the time to think them out and program them. The 2600 is not the easiest thing in the world to code for. These guys deserve some reward for their efforts in keeping the machines alive.

 

BTW...I still owe Andrew for the second QB cart...

[ubersaurus]

Because most homebrews are very good, and supporting their efforts is important. Besides, 25 bucks for Thrust or less for another game, or 40 for The Bouncer?

[bcprs1]

I have three homebrew games now, QB, Jammed and SCSIcide. I bought the first two from Hoser and got the third from the author himself. I don't know why I bought them, but I just think it is cool that people are still programming for this system. I figure that if Atari was still making games for the 2600 and 7800, I probably would still buy them.

[Junie]

quote:

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Originally posted by Atari Master:

Why do you guys buy homebrew games?I don't really like hombrew unless the game is fun and I havent even bought one yet.I wouldent spend no $30 on a pac-man with it's lable ripped off.

 

Are there homebrew Atari systems?

---

 

That is easy to anwser, because they are fun! Sounds like you are really asking, "Why does anyone buy any video games at all?". If you need a anwser to that questions perhaps you are in the wrong message board.

 

The games are bought for various reasons the most common are they are collectable and they are simply fun to play.

 

The prices for the Homebrewed games range from $10 - $30 depending on the game size, manual, box, etc.

 

Yes, there are various Homebrewed Atari 2600 systems around. I know of two, the VCSp and the 2600 CE. Neither of which is mass produced, but have/are being created.

[Atari Master]

I ment that it's almost like there fake.I'm going to try and lern to program them one day but the thing is, I need to buy and old programing book.Right now I just buy the originals.

 

I'm not saying homebrews are evil i'm just saying there not official.

[kyle]

Um just play the games and have fun dont ask why buy or play this or that. As far as them not being official well DUH

[ubersaurus]

Yeah, unofficial but good. I mean, if you think about it, alot of the 3rd party games for the 2600 weren't official until what, 1983? Does that make them any less good? Good game is a good game.

[Atari Master]

I know, but I like the originals like Phoenix.And they should atleast sell there games cheeper.

 

You can buy like 30 Atari games for one hombrew.

[NE146]

quote

You can buy like 30 Atari games for one hombrew  

 

eh? I paid $20 - 35 each for just about every single one of my Atari games.. How much is a homebrew??

 

[ 04-10-2002: Message edited by: NE146 ]

[NE146]

of course they were new at the local Sears, but still!

 

[ 04-10-2002: Message edited by: NE146 ]

[kyle]

NE146 you made a good point with out meaning to i think. When you said you bought your atari games new at sears back in the day. Thats the thing with homebrews and why most sell for 15 to 25 bucks at hozer for example.They are new and people have to make the games the labels and boxs and manuels! How much is a new PS2 or XBOX game when it first comes out around what $50 bucks?

[dwh]

I only buy the homebrews that are new ideas/games.I do not buy the 'hacks' like all the space invaders games that are listed at hozer vidio.I also buy the homebrews because I can not program the 2600 and think it is really neat that someone else can, and those programmers should be compensated for doing so.As far as the homebrews not being 'originals',they do work in the original atari 2600/vcs;Besides, I have all the 'original' Atari brand games anyway,and eagerly await each new homebrew that is made.

[ubersaurus]

I've been meaning to order a bunch of games from Hozer, when I have the money to burn for em all ;p Gunfight among them, I would love to see it on my atari 2600, but alas, it doesn't like the cuttle cart. Damndable good game.

[Big Player]

quote:

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Atari Master I ment that it's almost like there fake.I'm going to try and lern to program them one day but the thing is, I need to buy and old programing book.Right now I just buy the originals.

I'm not saying homebrews are evil i'm just saying there not official.

---

 

This reminds me of the first time that I ever saw an Activision game, back in 1980. My reaction at the time: "Hey, how can they make games for the Atari? Only Atari can make games for their system."

 

And those first Activision boxes looked like cheap crap as well. Good thing the games were great.

[DEBRO]

I have to agree with Junie. I buy games because I like them. It's a personal taste thing. Not only have I bought a number of 2600 homebrews but I have preordered some 5200 homebrews too. I also like to support homebrewers where I can. To me, getting a fresh game for a classic system is great.

 

Now as for the cost well they vary for different reasons. Most authors ask for just $5 for their game. The other money goes toward production of the cart. Those shells, PCBs, and EPROMS aren't free you know.

 

There has been talk before about 2600 homebrewers distributing the ROM to play on a Supercharger or Cuttle Cart but for me, I like having a cart in hand. Besides everyone doesn't have a Supercharger or Cuttle Cart to run these on the original system.

[liquid_sky]

think of it this way. Why do people listen to smaller bands music and buy thier cds??

 

Because the music is good, the ideas are fresh, and your helping good people out with your support.

[Atari Master]

quote:

---

Originally posted by KBeXpress:

NE146 you made a good point with out meaning to i think. When you said you bought your atari games new at sears back in the day. Thats the thing with homebrews and why most sell for 15 to 25 bucks at hozer for example.They are new and people have to make the games the labels and boxs and manuels! How much is a new PS2 or XBOX game when it first comes out around what $50 bucks?

---

 

Yes, but games of today are seriously powerfull and takes months to develop.I know it takes a wile to develope Atari games but these take about a year.

 

[ 04-10-2002: Message edited by: Atari Master ]

[liquid_sky]

these take just as long or longer. you dont have any fancy SDK (system dev. kits) with the atari, its pure machine code. Nothing fancy, no GUI, flat out 100% machine code. Alot harder to do.

[ubersaurus]

Yeah, how long did Thrust take, 14 months or something? Quite a long time. Alot of effort goes into those games, considering only one person is making a particular game, as opposed to a team. I'd say the prices are quite justified.

[DuckandCover]

I've just recently started trying to learn 6502 machine language, and it can be a

tough language to program in, and is

especially difficult to debug. I can

imagine that it takes a lot of time and

talent to code a quality game in machine

language, particularly considering the

tight memory constraints of the 2600. To

echo what's already been said, I guess I

feel that it's important to support the

people who put the time and effort into

programming these homebrews. They're

producing great games and helping keep the hobby alive.

[Paul Slocum]

Consider that in the early 80's game companies were selling games for about the same price. And many companies then that sold MANY more units than homebrewers do today still went out of business. I sell my cartridges for $30, and I've done rough estimates of time spent versus money made. I figured out that I would make MUCH better money per hour flipping burgers. I charge what I need to in order to make it feasible for me to continue doing it.

 

I have no idea how Randy makes 2k/4k carts for $11. But then again, he's said that sometimes his books are in the red. I can't afford to be in the red.

 

-paul

[Nukey Shay]

Game companies were in the red due to market saturation in the 80's...there was simply too much supply. Since homebrew releases are few and far between, it's kind of a different situation (not enough supply to cover production costs).

[san-d-2000]

quote

or 40 for The Bouncer?

 

don't know that game, do you have an URL?

 

- Sandy

[Thomas Jentzsch]

quote:

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Originally posted by ubersaurus:

Yeah, how long did Thrust take, 14 months or something?

---

Actually it took about 18 months all together.

 

But since this was my very first project for the 2600, I had to learn the 2600 basics first and (of course) made some errors. And remember, Thrust is almost 16K, my "normal sized" 4K Jammed with all the knowledge I had from the previous project, still took about 4 months.