Atari 5200 FLIP and FLOP Production Details

[Atari2600.com]

I thought others might find some of the production details for Atari 5200 Flip and Flop by First Star Software Inc., interesting. We certainly enjoyed assisting in the production of this very fun and challenging game. In no particular order, here are some stories, facts and otherwise which occurred during the production of the game.

 

Game Controller Coding:

With a game such as Flip and Flop the most important aspect of good game control is accurate motion on the game screen. Early builds of the game code exhibited a problem which I called, "Run-on". With Run-on the character on screen will continue in an uncommanded direction after a change of direction on the controller has been made. Attempts were made to revise the code to expand the range in which the character would change direction. This approach did not work. Finally, our Atari 5200 Conversion Team Member Steven Tucker completely re-wrote the joystick code to dynamically adapt to whatever system/joystick Flip and Flop is run on. The controller code will continue to adjust itself as you play. With this new approach, the game's characters can be very accurately controlled. Comparisons were made between Flip and Flop, Q*Bert, and Pac Man with Flip and Flop easier to control than Q*Bert and equal or better than Pac Man. We hope you enjoy this aspect of development through enjoyable and controllable game play.

 

Game Box Production:

Each Flip and Flop box carries a Serial Number. The Serial Number is matched to the game's start up screen which carries the same number. The Special Editions are numbered 01 through 20. The production release is numbered 021 - 105. The Special Edition boxes were blind embossed with a copper die, then hand assembled. The production releases were printed on a Xerox iGen3 Digital Press, die cut and hand assembled. Both boxes include an internal cartridge holder trey. The box artwork and layout was designed to mimic the original (and rare) Atari Home Computer cartridge box from 1983. The most significant change from the 1983 Computer box is the diagonal band on front announcing, "New For The Atari 5200" which was reused from Bristles by First Star Software Inc., released in 2004. The Special Edition was only sold shrinkwrapped back-to-back with Bristles in a two game pack. Box design and production was performed by Atari2600.com and associates.

 

Flip and Flop Production Notes:

Each Flip and Flop game is unique with slightly different game code. As each game has a unique serial number on the start up screen, each game's code is different to accommodate these serial number differences. Each game's printed circuit board requires 46 solder connections. That's a total of 4,830 solder connections made by hand. All materials used in production are new except for the game cartridge cases. Each cartridge case is a refurbished used Atari brand case. Original Atari silver labels are removed from the game cases which then receive degreasing, cleaning and reassembly. Each reassembled game cartridge is tested before labeling with Flip and Flop labels.

 

Flip and Flop History:

Online research has uncovered a history which is unusual because the Home Computer game appears to have preceded the Arcade machine's release by 1-2 years. First Star Software Inc., released Flip and Flop for the Atari Home Computer in cartridge based format in 1983. According to two internet resources, Flip and Flop was released by Exidy as an Arcade machine in 1984/5. I was unable to locate a picture of the arcade cabinet. One resource stated that none were known to currently exist. The Atari 5200 version of Flip and Flop was released 11/2/2005 and carries a 2005 copyright.

 

If you've received your copy of FLIP and FLOP we would love to hear from you. If you would like additional information about this new Atari 5200 game release visit the Atari2600.com News page HERE and check out the details.

 

JC

Atari2600.com

[video game addict]

Flip and Flop History:

Online research has uncovered a history which is unusual because the Home Computer game appears to have preceded the Arcade machine's release by 1-2 years. First Star Software Inc., released Flip and Flop for the Atari Home Computer in cartridge based format in 1983. According to two internet resources, Flip and Flop was released by Exidy as an Arcade machine in 1984/5. I was unable to locate a picture of the arcade cabinet. One resource stated that none were known to currently exist. The Atari 5200 version of Flip and Flop was released 11/2/2005 and carries a 2005 copyright.

 

 

 

The cabinet contained an Atari 600XL (I think?) with an actual Atari home computer cartridge. The cabinets exist, but how many exist is unknown. There was one on ebay a couple years ago.

[classics]

I also placed a small easter egg in the 5200 version of Flip and Flop.

 

If you hold down the fire button on controller #2 while the production credits are on screen you will receive unlimited lives.

 

Steve

[MegaManFan]

Thanks for the tip Steve, I just got mine in the mail today. I'll try it out.