Donkey Kong 2600 question?

[COMTARI]

Coleco first released Donkey Kong for the 2600. Years later, Atari apparently gained the rights to Donkey Kong so they released Donkey Kong also. Why do both games look the same? Did Atari just copy the Coleco programming? Why wouldn't Atari try to revamp its version to outshine the original Coleco one?

[HP Atari King of Michigan]

Coleco first released Donkey Kong for the 2600.  Years later, Atari apparently gained the rights to Donkey Kong so they released Donkey Kong also.  Why do both games look the same?  Did Atari just copy the Coleco programming?  Why wouldn't Atari try to revamp its version to outshine the original Coleco one?

956717[/snapback]

 

During the late 80's, when the Tramiel's relaunched the 2600 and finally released the 7800 (originally slated for summer 1984), they bought the rights to Coleco's back catalog of 2600 games, as Coleco was falling apart (especially with the release of their ill-fated ADAM computer). Atari also bought the rights to Parker Bros. back catalog (i.e. Red label Q-bert). So the Donkey Kong released by Atari is the same Donkey Kong from Coleco. No changes were made. So, yes, they copied the programming.

Edited October 30, 2005 by HP Atari King of Michigan

[+FujiSkunk]

Why wouldn't Atari try to revamp its version to outshine the original Coleco one?

956717[/snapback]

 

That would've cost more money. Tramiel didn't like spending more money.

 

The funning thing is, I remember the box description for 2600 and 7800 Donkey Kong Junior was the same; both mentioned how fruit could be dropped on the claw traps. The 2600 version doesn't have that feature. I wonder if anyone thought about suing Atari for false advertising at the time.

 

Of course, Atari probably would've welshed out of it with that "we are not responsible for errors in our documentation" clause that all software companies like to throw in.

[Vic George 2K3]

Donkey Kong Jr. for the 2600 could have used a serious revamp -- make that a complete overhaul compared to the 2600 Donkey Kong.

[D.Yancey]

DKJR at least had 3 out of 4 screens. DK only had 2 of 4. JR is not so awful after you get a feel for the handling. I just struggle to get beyond those extremely fast later levels on JR. I need lessons from Todd Rogers on that game.

[+else]

Anyone know if Atari made a new batch of ROMs for these games, or did they just buy up Coleco's and Parker Bros' existing inventory and repackage them?

Edited October 31, 2005 by else

[Foxsolo2000]

According to Tempest Atari bought the rights to release Zaxxon and Turbo off Coleco which leads many to believe that Turbo was actually finished for Atari to even consider releasing it. No prototype though has yet been found