Uzumaki Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 What was the last commercial game that offered color and B&W mode via color switch? I would think the color switch got left out pretty early on as many 3rd party games didn't use it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maibock Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 B+W Bowling is great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 I know it's not commercial, but I'm working on a game that'll offer a B&W mode, that is, if it gets finished (GoSub) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpecarne Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 I think B&W mode really shines in Video Olympics. A few of those later variations have terrible color choices and it's really hard to see the screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FujiSkunk Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 (edited) I believe Joust (published in 1983) is the last commercial release that uses the B&W switch for its intended use. When set to B&W, the players and enemies change to shades of grey, though the playfield colors don't change. Joust notwithstanding, Atari had abandoned the B&W switch by 1982, during the transition from black labels to silver labels. Several third parties, including Activision and Parker Brothers, still supported the B&W switch in their 1982 offerings. By 1983, though, it was pretty much forgotten about entirely (Joust being the curious exception). I think Pac-Man also has a better B&W palette, personally. On the other hand Space Invaders looks much better with its color palette, even when played on a B&W TV. I should know; I was given a B&W TV along with my first Atari back in the day, so I got a lot of use out of that switch. Edited December 14, 2006 by skunkworx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_79 Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 The B&W switch is used also in Solaris (1986), but the difference is hard to see: in the planet surface screen the switch changes the sky color from blue to black and the mountains from black to gray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxsolo2000 Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 I only ever used the black and white function way back in 82 when my parents gave me an old black & white tv to play my games on. I only ever used it for Combat, Air Sea Battle and Space Invaders. Surprised to learn that Joust still possessed the function though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 The B&W switch is used also in Solaris (1986), but the difference is hard to see: in the planet surface screen the switch changes the sky color from blue to black and the mountains from black to gray. Technically Solaris was coded in 1984 when it was still known as The Last Starfighter. Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
128bytes Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 I believe Joust (published in 1983) is the last commercial release that uses the B&W switch for its intended use. When set to B&W, the players and enemies change to shades of grey, though the playfield colors don't change. Joust notwithstanding, Atari had abandoned the B&W switch by 1982, during the transition from black labels to silver labels. Several third parties, including Activision and Parker Brothers, still supported the B&W switch in their 1982 offerings. By 1983, though, it was pretty much forgotten about entirely (Joust being the curious exception). I think Pac-Man also has a better B&W palette, personally. On the other hand Space Invaders looks much better with its color palette, even when played on a B&W TV. I should know; I was given a B&W TV along with my first Atari back in the day, so I got a lot of use out of that switch. 1) In the day (1982-85) I sometimes disconnected my Atari from our main TV (color) to our basement TV (black and white) if something else was going on upstairs. The B&W switch did help some games come in clearer. 2) Like skunkworx, I used to switch Pac-Man to B&W mode sometimes, even on the color TV, because it made the ghosts MUCH easier to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cybergoth Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 I think Coleco supported B/W in some titles - at least in Mouse Trap. Not sure about the release dates though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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