+Andrew Davie Posted January 16, 2002 Share Posted January 16, 2002 Now that the contest for the Qb labels is over, I have everything needed to start shipping the Special Edition. Consequently I have emailed all those on the preorder list (who are guaranteed a copy) with an offer to purchase. The offer includes the following specification... Contents of the special edition are 1) A custom-made wooden box. This box was produced for me, to my specification, by a local sheltered workshop (at great expense, I might add). I decided that it would be A GOOD THING to support these guys by giving them some work. They've done a fine job - and although not terribly sophisticated in design/style, I'm quite pleased with the results. Each box is hand made, and comes with squares of Tasmanian woods affixed to the top (Huon Pine, King William, etc) representing the tableaux of the game during play. Boxes are individually numbered from 1 to 100. 2) A CD-ROM containing a) Multiple binaries of QB during development b) Archive of emails/messages related to the deveopment of the game c) Multiple source-code snapshots of the game d) Actual final source code, in buildable form, of the game as used for the special edition (not available elsewhere) e) Archives of the [stella] list, related to the game production f) Tools required for Atari 2600 development (pending approval by copyright owners) g) Copy of Z26 Atari 2600 emulator and full source code - allows binaries to be played on PC h) Images of all the labels from the Qb competition 3) A manual containing a) Fully commented hardcopy printout of the game code b) Retro-style game-blurb done by an 'industry veteran' (not me!) who actually did this stuff professionally back in the early '80s! c) Post-mortem of the game development, and a personal history of the game. 4) Hand-numbered and signed cartridge containing an individually serial-numbered binary of Qb. This binary is a special release, having some minor visual improvements and refinements which are not present in the regular edition. Each cartridge binary has the serial number as part of the ROM image, so all 100 are unique. The cartridge comes with a label as shown in the competition, and each label is hand-numbered (1-100). I will sign the label if you request it (though I think it would look better without my signature). If you'd like me to sign the box/manual, that's fine - just ask. If you have previously been told you are in the top 100, then you should have received an emiail from me. If you have NOT, then your position is in danger, and you should contact me (adavie@taswegian.com) as soon as possible. Cheers A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted January 16, 2002 Share Posted January 16, 2002 Got my order in!! #74 Come to me!!!.... hehehe.. Great work David can't wait to see the label in the flesh.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackjax Posted January 16, 2002 Share Posted January 16, 2002 I know it's -way- too late to try to get one of these now, but can you post some pictures for us to drool over? Great game btw, didn't play it until the label contest and got hooked instantly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Andrew Davie Posted January 21, 2002 Author Share Posted January 21, 2002 quote: Originally posted by Blackjax: I know it's -way- too late to try to get one of these now, but can you post some pictures for us to drool over? Great game btw, didn't play it until the label contest and got hooked instantly! Producing the Special Edition has been an interesting experience for me. The logistics of arranging 100 cartridges, boxes, a label competition, manual artwork and writeup, etc., CD production and communicating with people on the preorder list has kept me really busy. Really busy. Just handling emails alone is taking hours per day. There are few things I've learned, and a few things I'd have done differently. But overall, things have gone pretty smoothly. The dropout rate (people who preordered but declined to purchase when the time came) has been very low (just 4), but the number of people responding AT ALL has probably only been about 70%. This is good for those who are on the preorder list, but haven't been made an offer yet. I haven't tallied the numbers exactly, but it appears to me that there will be 10 or so additional positions freed up (after accounting for all current orders), so if you thought it was too late - it's not! I am offering the Special Edition at a flat-rate $60 (that includes insured economy-air delivery to anywhere in the world), for those curious as to the price. The cartridges all arrived this morning (all 100!) from Randy Chihfield of Hozer Video Games. I wholeheartedly recommend Randy - his build quality appears excellent, he was most accomodating with regard to my requests, and the cartridges arrived on-time and safely. I've taken a snapshot - this is the last time that all 100 special edition cartridges will be seen in the same spot! Note the small sticker on each - this is because each is individually serial-numbered in the ROM itself, so they have to be identified for insertion into the correct box. David Exton (the label genius) is doing a bit of line-art for the manual, too, so once that is ready the boxes will start rolling out the door. That should be at the end of this week. I am staggering delivery (in the order of payment received) as materials and funds roll in. Cheers A [ 01-20-2002: Message edited by: Andrew Davie ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 Hehehe... Excellent! So..um...which one is number #74? hehe..just kidding...Glad to see you got them all in. BTW: if each one is internally serial numbered...where is this at? On the rom..in the rom code? What? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Andrew Davie Posted January 21, 2002 Author Share Posted January 21, 2002 quote: Originally posted by -^Cro§Bow^-: Hehehe... Excellent! So..um...which one is number #74? hehe..just kidding...Glad to see you got them all in. BTW: if each one is internally serial numbered...where is this at? On the rom..in the rom code? What? Serial numbers are IN the ROM code. Thus, I did 100 different assembles to generate 100 ROMs for Randy, emailed them all to him, and he burned 100 ROMs, one from each binary file. Thus, all Special Edition cartridges are different in the binary contents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liveinabin Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 YAY! which number is mine? Artwork's done and beaming up, scotty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyXB Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 I wish one of the 100 is mine, but I was to late, so I get none of them. Will someone give me his place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liveinabin Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 Andrew, if you're going to do that jigsaw puzzle properly, start with the edge pieces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATARIPITBULL Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 I'm on your list, just not on your top 100 so I hope some how that I can get one of those special editions!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Night Phantom Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 quote: Originally posted by MattyXB: Will someone give me his place? quote: Originally posted by ATARIPITBULL: I hope some how that I can get one of those special editions!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Good luck to you both! I know I won't be of any help to you—I'm claiming my copy!!! BWA HA HA HA HA HA!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 Cool! Okay so if each rom is internally coded...then do you have the serial number being displayed when the game comes up somehow? I would think you must be in order to even bother putting it into the code. Unless your doing this also to prevent the "Everyone somehow has a copy" pirating that could occur? So unless they knew where to make the change then you would know about dupes. Well..either way, excellence all the same and I can't wait to get it! BTW for anyone wondering...I chose #74 on purpose and not because I was #74 on the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Andrew Davie Posted January 22, 2002 Author Share Posted January 22, 2002 quote: Originally posted by -^Cro§Bow^-: Cool! Okay so if each rom is internally coded...then do you have the serial number being displayed when the game comes up somehow? I would think you must be in order to even bother putting it into the code. Unless your doing this also to prevent the "Everyone somehow has a copy" pirating that could occur? So unless they knew where to make the change then you would know about dupes. The serial number is not displayed. It is just an internal difference in the ROM. It's not really there for piracy prevention - though I will be probably be able to tell, if the binary appears elsewhere, which unit it originally came from. You have to understand, though, I put it there because I'm a perfectionist. I thought it would be nice to have 100 UNIQUE binaries, one for each of the special edition units. And that's what I've done. Those on the preorder list but not in the top 100 - good news - a 2nd round of offers will be going out shortly and I expect that everyone waiting should be able to get a unit, if they wish. Cheers A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloatedmonkey Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 I remember seeing a picture of what the box would look like, but I can't find it now. Is that still around somewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 Why, as a matter of fact, yes. Qb Box - Picture 1 Qb Box - Picture 2 Qb Box - Picture 3 Enjoy! ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 quote: Originally posted by Andrew Davie: The serial number is not displayed. It is just an internal difference in the ROM. It's not really there for piracy prevention - though I will be probably be able to tell, if the binary appears elsewhere, which unit it originally came from. As Andrew will also know, by comparing two special edition ROM dumps, it would be an easy task to find the different byte(s), and perhaps even fake the numbers. But why should somebody do so? The "special" doesn't come from those internally changed byte(s) but from the package. And that will be very hard to fake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahfish Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 i chose #71 because it was the year i was born ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 Then Jahfish and I were on the same thinking... That is also why I chose #74...that was the year of my arrival to this day and age. I figured that I wouldn't be the only one with the year of birth idea for the cart serial number. And I also figure most of us were born in the 70s...so I wanted #74 before it was too late. Can't wait to actually get our carts!!!...hehe.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhindle The Red Posted January 23, 2002 Share Posted January 23, 2002 Well, i just pulled my name off the list (with precious little time before it was pulled for me), so one of you bastards* out there are getting one thanks to me. Now, don't you want to send me something nice as a way of thank-you? No? *sigh* Ah, well.... *(Just kidding with the "bastards" stuff.) [ 01-23-2002: Message edited by: Rhindle The Red ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahfish Posted January 23, 2002 Share Posted January 23, 2002 crosbow and fish .... two clever dudes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahfish Posted January 23, 2002 Share Posted January 23, 2002 my alternative was atari's year of birth, in case 71 was gone .... maybe that one is still free. other possibilities: 99: the pre-millenium cart 83: the crash cart 64: the chevy impalah cart 50: the midlifecrisis cart ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Weis Posted January 23, 2002 Share Posted January 23, 2002 quote: Originally posted by jahfish: crosbow and fish .... two clever dudes! make that 3 clever dudes (#63) for me!! Take Care, Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Andrew Davie Posted January 24, 2002 Author Share Posted January 24, 2002 The 2nd round of offers for Qb Special Edition has just been posted. These are the people who were on the list of preorders, but who were not in the first 100. Some positions had hopened through dropouts and my decision to serve all people before allowing multiple purchases for individuals. Currently there are 65 confirmed purchasers to whom cartridges have been offered (this includes a couple of multiples). There have been 7 dropouts - people who have decided not to buy. There are about 32 people who have NOT responded to the round 1 offer. As orders are confirmed, I will randomly select those places and replace them. It looks like everyone wanting a Special Edition Qb will get one, which leaves me very pleased. If there are one or two left over at the end, I will probably eBay them. One other thing, I have been asked if I will put a list of names-># on the 'net, and I think I will do that, to encourage the openness of the process and to reassure everyone that everything is above-board. Cheers A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyXB Posted January 24, 2002 Share Posted January 24, 2002 Now I am very happy, I have reserved my QB Special Edition. Yes, yes, yes, I get one too. I will send the money as fast as I can. The number is first not so importend for me. If the 78 is free I will it, but if not, the best is I get a Special Edition. As others say, my was birth 78. But only the game is importend, not the number. Thanks to all who don't want it anymore, or don't reply to the E-Mail. Now I get one. 100 times thanks too all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATARIPITBULL Posted January 24, 2002 Share Posted January 24, 2002 YES!!!!!!!!!!, about seven people or so did not want to pay for there copies of QB, so I am now getting my special edition QB game. LIFE IS GOOD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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