Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Archon to be Revived

Posted by Zonk on from the p4wn3d! dept.

Phoenix-IT writes "How many of you remember the classic strategy game Archon? Curve Software is remaking the original game for DirectX with support for network play. Distribution details are undetermined. There are long term plans to port to Macintosh and UNIX environments, but no details at the moment. The game is not open source because it contains some of the original 8-bit code, which was donated to the project, but a public beta might be on the way!"

90 comments

  1. Archon II by BurntNickel · · Score: 1

    How about Archon II (for the c64 at least)? I liked that game a lot more. Fun stuff.

    --
    And the knowledge that they fear is a weapon to be used against them...
    1. Re:Archon II by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *cough* XArchon *cough*

    2. Re:Archon II by Sigma+7 · · Score: 2, Interesting
      How about Archon II (for the c64 at least)? I liked that game a lot more. Fun stuff.
      If you're going to recommend a sequel, try Archon III. This is a true sequel, unlike Archon II, as it fufills the rule of the original game(s) being much better.

      Getting other people to play that game was a Kodak moment - the realization that the series has been driven into the ground after they saw the wonders of the first two games.
    3. Re:Archon II by BurntNickel · · Score: 1

      I've never been able to get Archon III to run so I've never seen it. Do you know of anyplace that has a description?

      --
      And the knowledge that they fear is a weapon to be used against them...
    4. Re:Archon II by Sigma+7 · · Score: 2, Informative

      I can describe it right here. The game area is a basic ring, with units being inserted on the left and right sides. You control one unit at a time in attempt to go to a one-on-one showdown where all the units basically have a same aura attack. (A bug in the game tends to favour player one, but that's another story.) The final confrontation with the two exeters is basically the same. There is no AI support.

      That's basically it. Anything from the first two archons have been removed entirely, thus making Archon III entirely bad. And as we know, bad sequels are true sequels. :)

      You can download it from arnold.c64.org, and it works fine. But Archon I and Archon II are better download choices instead - they're much more entertaining.

  2. POWER OVERWHELMING by mmkkbb · · Score: 3, Funny

    Where'd they get the Templar Archives? As far as I know, humanity has not yet made contact with the Protoss.

    --
    -mkb
    1. Re:POWER OVERWHELMING by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Same thing I was thinking.

      "Eradicate....Annihilate...Disintegrate!" Man I loved those guys.

    2. Re:POWER OVERWHELMING by andfarm · · Score: 1

      THE MERGING IS COMPLETE.

      --

      TANSTAAFI: There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free iPod.

  3. I remember it on the Amiga by sgant · · Score: 1

    I remember this and Rogue as the first two games I ever played on the Amiga, right when it first came out.

    --

    "Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
    1. Re:I remember it on the Amiga by stoney27 · · Score: 1

      Yea I do too. My roommate in collage had on of the first Amigas that came out. We hooked it up to my stereo and as the men marched on to the board it would play on different channels for the left and right. Hey now that was cool in `85 :)

      -S

      --

      It is said that a child learns wisdom from the parent,
      but the truly wise parent learns joy from the child
  4. 8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by ArmorFiend · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The game is not open source because it contains some of the original 8-bit code

    So, let me get this straight, they want to develop a new archon, but gosh darn it, we can't because we've got this legacy 8 bit code?!

    Gentlemen, this game is mind-numbingly straightforward to code. We're talking IJKL controls moving sprites around the screen. Throw out the 20 year old code. Then open it up. Do or do not, there is no try!

    1. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Godeke · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I had the same thought.. the board cycle and the character attributes are really quite straightforward to understand, and I'm sure *somebody* could draw new pictures for the handful of pieces, weapons and "terrain" such as it was. I loved Archon, but it was basically a chessboard with a sprite on sprite battle on each capture attempt.

      --
      Sig under construction since 1998.
    2. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Poseidon88 · · Score: 1
      Gentlemen, this game is mind-numbingly straightforward to code. We're talking IJKL controls moving sprites around the screen. Throw out the 20 year old code.

      I don't think they're talking about bit blitting and sprite handling, here. The game is being re-worked to render in DirectX. That leaves core game logic, which is probably copyrighted. Since they're doing all this with the cooperation of the game's original developer, I imagine they'd like to stay on his good side.

    3. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Furry+Ice · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There is always xarchon. Personally, I prefer to use VICE to emulate the original C64 game.

    4. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I believe that currently, in the US at least, game rules have been deemed not copyrightable by the courts. At least, I believe that's what someone said as to why the Freeciv project is legal. Game art and the implimentation of the rules is copyrightable.

    5. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by j-turkey · · Score: 1
      There is always xarchon.

      What are all of those colors? My brain can't interpret them all at once. I'll bet they even improved the sound. Pff. ;)

      I'm with you on the emulation. I'm actually hoping that the network code adds something extra cool.

      --

      -Turkey

    6. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Destoo · · Score: 1

      The exact text from the site's FAQ.

      Will the game be open source?
      No. Portions of the code contain elements from the original 8bit source code (Icon attributes etc). Jon Freeman kindly provided us with much of the original (and Amiga) "C" code, and ownership remains with him.

      Just remember the original game was published by EA.

      --
      Nouvelles de jeux et technologies en français. TC
    7. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by mrseigen · · Score: 1

      More importantly, it's a Windows-only closed-source game. What the hell is it doing on Slashdot?

    8. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And stranger still, what is a link to it doing in the Apple section of Slashdot?

    9. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Minna+Kirai · · Score: 3, Interesting

      That leaves core game logic, which is probably copyrighted.

      Right on the front page, they brag: "Improved computer AI". That's a change. And once you make one change to the gameplay experience (aside from just prettier graphics and sound), there is no reason to keep on with the old code.

      The only possible explanation to keep the original code in there is if it produced very subtle effects that old-time players could remember with instinctive muscle-memory.

      That explanation just doesn't stand up to scrutiny: the game logic of Archon is hardly any more complex than that of Tetris. It would certainly be less work to re-implement it from the basic design than to deal with creating an 8-bit execution environment on a 32-bit PC.

    10. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by LordOfYourPants · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah man, the code is protected in a hardcore way too. They did a poke 775,171 and EVERYTHING!

    11. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Phoenix-IT · · Score: 3, Funny

      Because classic gaming is übergeek, of course!

    12. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by tgibbs · · Score: 2, Informative

      Right on the front page, they brag: "Improved computer AI". That's a change. And once you make one change to the gameplay experience (aside from just prettier graphics and sound), there is no reason to keep on with the old code.

      One change does not cancel out copyright, it just creates a derivative work. The same goes for a reimplementation based in part on the original code. And in any case, if the original source was donated on the basis that it not be divulged, it would seem that the project is ethically obliged to honor that. And even if they implement new logic, they may well decide to provide an option to play with the original game logic, in the interests of authenticity.

    13. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ANY game with even a glimmer of hope of being on the Mac platform is a boon to the Apple community.

      With all these fantastic new games available... well... I'll have to check the official numbers, but IIRC, this could be the game that gets us into DOUBLE-DIGITS!

    14. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      this could be the game that gets us into DOUBLE-DIGITS!

      Who do you mean when you say "us"? Mac users? I personally know more than nine of them, so I'm positive that they already are in double digits.

    15. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More importantly, it's a Windows-only closed-source game. What the hell is it doing on Slashdot?

      The same as all the other Windows-only closed-source games that Slashdotters care about - it's providing news to nerds who think it's stuff that matters, just like it says at the top of the page.

      Did you make the same comment in every single Half-Life 2 related thread?

    16. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know, Tetris's game logic is actually very important to get correct. For example, if you're used to playing Tetris on the Gameboy and the L piece starts sideways, you get used to it being that way. Also, rotations must act in the exact same way or the game is unpredictable.

    17. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by Minna+Kirai · · Score: 1

      One change does not cancel out copyright,

      That's not what I said. Copyright is irrelevant here- the thing is, if they're going to change even one little thing about the gameplay, then there is NO reason to use any of the original code whatsoever.

      The other respondant mentioned Tetris, and that's a fine example. Almost any game programmer could clone Tetris from memory, without looking at the original code at all. However, there are subtlties of the way the original Nintendo Tetrises played, which possibly some hard-core fans will recognize and care about. (What are those little differences? I don't know, maybe the piece-dropping order isn't quite uniformly random or something)

      The game rules to Archon are more complex than Tetris, but only slightly. Almost any modern programmer* would find it easier to re-implement Archon based on a few play-throughs than to adapt and update the ancient code for a very different piece of modern hardware. The only motivation to working from the original code is if you want the gameplay to be precisely identical- and since they've decided to intentionally change gameplay, that reason doesn't apply.

      * Except possibly for a guy who specialized heavily in 8-bit emulators.

    18. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by tgibbs · · Score: 1

      That's not what I said. Copyright is irrelevant here- the thing is, if they're going to change even one little thing about the gameplay, then there is NO reason to use any of the original code whatsoever.

      Whether or not they use the actual code, the fact that they have seen it means that it would be hard for them to prove, or even to be sure themselves, that they have not used algorithms from the original code. This is why reverse engineering is generally done under "clean room" conditions by people who have not seen the source of the code to be functionally reproduced.

      Moreover, this is a classic game. Many people are going to want at least an option to have the game play like the original. The best way to do that is to reproduce the original play. Perhaps they can improve on the game's algorithms, but the original game actually played quite well, so they may end up only doing tweaks, and keeping a substantial part of the original logic, if not the actual code.

    19. Re:8 bit propritary code ... hm ... by JVert · · Score: 1

      Yes. We apologize that our licensing does not permit sharing the code. However at least we are not saying we wont share it because we think people swear in the comments. Cause thats just silly.

      (c)1978 bsd.

  5. Wahay, nostalgia-tastic by chihiro · · Score: 4, Funny

    Brings a tear to the eye... brings back memories of my youth, playing it on my trusty. Back when in the age of proper computer games...

    "When I were a lad we only had 48K to play with on my spectrum"

    "48K! luxury! My ZX81 had 1K and a 16K RAM pack that crashed as soon as you breathed on it"

    --
    Memes don't exist. Spread the Word.
  6. Wrath Unleashed by philiptan · · Score: 2, Informative
    There was a PS2/Xbox game released by Lucasarts in early 2004 called Wrath Unleashed. I wouldn't call it an Archon sequel or remake, but it certainly draws lots of inspiration from Archon. Pity about the long load times (at least on my Xbox). If you've got $10 and a preowned bin nearby, and desperately need some console hex-map turn-based strategy, it isn't that bad a game.

    http://www.lucasarts.com/products/wrath/

    1. Re:Wrath Unleashed by vjmurphy · · Score: 2, Informative

      Also, The Unholy War on the PSOne is another Archon-like game.

      --
      Vincent J. Murphy
      Spandex Justice
    2. Re:Wrath Unleashed by Marc_Hawke · · Score: 1

      There's also a really old game by SSI called "Dark Legion." It was more directly a clone of Archon.

      It was from 1994 or 1995. I haven't been able to find any information online about it, but feel free to look. :)

      --
      --Welcome to the Realm of the Hawke--
    3. Re:Wrath Unleashed by Pxtl · · Score: 1

      Darn well should be, since it was the same developers. Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford, AKA Toys For Bob, made several games along the same lines - Archon II, Starcontrol 1, and Unholy War all have similar gameplay (I think their first joing project was A2, A1 only included one of them). There is also a Quake 3 mod out there called Arq that brings the gameplay to an FPS genre.

  7. I don't remember by chia_monkey · · Score: 1

    "How many of you remember the classic strategy game Archon?"

    Not me. Nope. Not a clue.

    What I DO remember is "MacFoxex". When is THAT going to be revived? Now there's old school quality...

    --

    "He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts...for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang
  8. While you're waiting for this... by ZipR · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Check out this Quake 3 Archon mod. Pretty cool! http://www.planetquake.com/brazen/arq/images.shtml

    1. Re:While you're waiting for this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thank you for this. This is now my favorite Q3 mod ever :)

  9. The best archon-like so far... by Destoo · · Score: 1

    The best archon-like I've played so far was Dark Legions by Silicon Knights.

    Archon Ultra, also distributed by SSI, was good but not quite great, and my floppies died so fast that I never got to really play.
    Both came out in 1994, but I guess my CD version of Dark Legion lasted longer than the floppy version of Ultra. Must have something to do with a 400 watts bass amp sitting next to my PC at the time.

    I still have my archon.exe on more than one hard disk at home.

    --
    Nouvelles de jeux et technologies en français. TC
    1. Re:The best archon-like so far... by Sparr0 · · Score: 1

      hell yeah. times two. i loved both of these games, and still play dark legions under dosbox with an emulated null modem connection on my LAN.

  10. How cool! by j-turkey · · Score: 1

    What awesome news! I've been into old games lately (such as Star Control II/Ur Quan Masters). I wonder if Paul Reiche III had anything to do with this (since he had quite a bit to do with the free release of SC2/Ur Quan Masters) and was on the design team for each of these games. Man, Archon was a sweet game. I can't wait until they release it...with network support, noless!

    --

    -Turkey

  11. DirectX vs. OpenGL by White+Roses · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is a legit question, because, frankly, I wonder. Why can't this particular program use OpenGL rather than DirectX? OpenGL would most likely make the porting efforts less time-consuming, as Linux, most *nix and Mac OS X all support OpenGL, but DirectX is Windows only. OpenGL also works on Windows does it not? Is DirectX so much easier that it's worth the porting time? If you start from the get-go with porting in mind, why use DirectX? Someone please educate me.

    --
    Do not touch -Willie
    1. Re:DirectX vs. OpenGL by Poseidon88 · · Score: 1

      Because they didn't originally plan to port it to other operating systems, and because DirectX is more than just graphics handling. It also handles sound, controllers, and networking, and wraps the whole thing up in a single, unified API. There are similar APIs that are cross-platform, but they are less mature and less stable.

    2. Re:DirectX vs. OpenGL by r_benchley · · Score: 2, Informative
      From the FAQ:
      We now have long term plans to port Archon: Evolution to both MAC and UNIX platforms. We plan to move away from the DirectX for the core game engineat some point, whichwill make such a migration easier.
      They probably started the project as Windows only, and decided after the fact to port it to OS X and other UNIX systems. After they get the 1.0 release out the door, they'll probably move over to a more platform agnostic library like OpenGL.
    3. Re:DirectX vs. OpenGL by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      They should start working with SDL right away instead of writing for DirectX first and rewriting those parts later.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    4. Re:DirectX vs. OpenGL by John+Harrison · · Score: 1

      If maturity and stability are what you value then why not go with OpenGL to begin with? For the other stuff you mention there is SDL. I don't see how it is unstable.

      --
      Lasers Controlled Games!
    5. Re:DirectX vs. OpenGL by White+Roses · · Score: 1

      Saw that as well. I'd infer from that that they were pretty far along on the Windows version before thinking of porting. Otherwise, we're still back to the question of, is DirectX really that much easier?

      --
      Do not touch -Willie
    6. Re:DirectX vs. OpenGL by Phoenix-IT · · Score: 1

      They say in their FAQthat they are looking to move away from the DirectX game engine at some point. Possibly before they finish a future fully 3D version.

    7. Re:DirectX vs. OpenGL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      SDL is completely stable. It's used in most of the native Linux ports of games that I've seen and I've never had any of them crash.

      If anything, at least say that SDL's networking and sound APIs are not as nice as DirectX. However, SDL's own input handling and timing mechanisms are superior to DirectX in my experience (excluding force feedback and other very recent developments).

      Oh wait, you were trying to spread FUD. Sorry!

    8. Re:DirectX vs. OpenGL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      SDL is clearly easier in my experience for small projects like this. DirectX makes you jump through a lot of hoops to get things working. On the other hand, DirectX supports the latest features (like force feedback and all the new graphics developments).

  12. Archon Evolution... by abxpacketloss · · Score: 1

    hasn't evolved much considering it's still using original 8bit code... in all seriousness, Archon was one of my favorites, can't wait to hear the screaming banshee lol...

    1. Re:Archon Evolution... by The+Slashdot+Guy · · Score: 1

      Here is a sceaming banshee, while you're waiting.

  13. Archon was awesome by crow · · Score: 1

    Archon was one of the best games I had for my Atari 800. The idea was fairly simple (as is usually the case with good games): take a chess-style game, but require that the pieces fight when trying to take another piece. Different pieces had different weapons, abilities, and movement. Pieces had different power based on what color of square they were on (and some squares changed colors). You won by killing all of the oponents pieces or by taking five particular squares.

  14. Already a new archon... by marcybots · · Score: 1

    Its called "wrath unleashed" for xbox and ps2, if you like archon you will dig this.

  15. Done and done by T-Ranger · · Score: 2, Funny
    • ftp://arnold.c64.org/pub/games/a/
    • http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Games/Gaming_ Utilities/Frodo.html
    Add network play:
    • http://www.realvnc.com/
    1. Re:Done and done by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks! I was looking for a working c64 rom site today. Now I can play boulderdash!

  16. We miss you..... by Jason+Scott · · Score: 1

    .... Danielle Bunten.

    1. Re:We miss you..... by matthewn · · Score: 1

      Bunten was a contributor during EA's magical first phase (M.U.L.E. was her masterpiece) but did not work on Archon. Archon is the creation of Jon Freeman, Paul Reiche III, and Anne Westfall.

    2. Re:We miss you..... by Jason+Scott · · Score: 1

      Quite true. I was more or less taking the opportunity of a small surge of reinterest in first-generation EA games to remember someone who helped make EA happen.

  17. Huh? by b1t+r0t · · Score: 2, Insightful
    There are long term plans to port to Macintosh and UNIX environments, but no details at the moment.

    Then why was this posted to the front page of apple.slashdot.org?

    --

    --
    "Open source is good." - Steve Jobs
    "Open source is evil." - Microsoft
    1. Re:Huh? by Phoenix-IT · · Score: 1

      I don't know. I submitted it under classic gaming.

  18. Offtopic but I have to ask (Avalon Hill's Galaxy) by wazzzup · · Score: 1

    Does anybody out there have the source code available for Avalon Hill's Galaxy? My friends and I spent hours playing this on our Atari 400/800's and have always talked about how cool it would be to rewrite it in Java or something so we could play it again. The source was written in Basic.

    I know that this isn't about Archon but I figure that if anybody reading this even knows what Archon was they might have an old Galaxy disk laying somewhere.

  19. Another off-topic but... by dogmatixpsych · · Score: 1

    Is anyone ever going to remake Autoduel? Update graphics and everything but keep the gameplay the same. That game was the best! I actually have a copy on my computer that runs in XP, but a remake would be nice.

  20. Why is this in the Apple section? by John+Harrison · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Also, while Archon is great, somebody needs to do a faithful rendition of MULE.

    --
    Lasers Controlled Games!
  21. uh, port? by Time+Doctor · · Score: 1

    So they're going to use Direct X, and probably Direct Play for the networking (horribly unportable, despite openplay), and then have plans of Linux and Mac ports?

    Yeah, right, I'll just type that up on my invisible typewriter.

    --
    Check out ioquake3.org for a great, free, First-Person Shooter engine!
    1. Re:uh, port? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or, you could RTFA, and notice that they said they're porting it to OpenGL so that it can be ported to Linux and Mac more simply after the Windows release.

  22. Atari 800 by SoCalEd · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Archon is one of the main reasons why I still have my old Atari 800XL hooked up and working.

    If that doesn't qualify me to carry a geek license, nothing does....

    I just hope they don't over-engineer it. It was the simplicity which made the game addictive. Ah, how I loved that unicorn...

    --
    Insert witty comment *here*. I'm fresh out of wit...
    1. Re:Atari 800 by Bambi+Dee · · Score: 1
      I bought one a few years ago*, mostly because of Archon. Although I prefer the Amiga version with its extra deadly Banshee, the 8-bit Atari one was the first I'd seen. Fascinating game, could see it built into a stylish coffee table or something like that.

      Hm, screenshots don't seem too over-engineered. Compared to Wrath Unleashed at least...

      (*still not sure what the four metal switches on the back do that some previous owner installed; no manuals and the disk drive's dead)

    2. Re:Atari 800 by Pxtl · · Score: 1

      Why such an old version? I had the NES version which had much nicer graphics and the same, classic gameplay. With a little contact cleaner it ain't too hard to keep an old NES running.

    3. Re:Atari 800 by SoCalEd · · Score: 1

      Nostalgia, plain and simple. I cut my teeth on a Sinclair before moving on to a TI99-4A then the Atari, but the Atari is where I spent my time. Way too much time. Because of Archon, the Infocom games, Jumpman, Seven Cities of Gold, etal., I'll always have a soft spot for my Atari system.

      Oh, and I do still have my NES and Atari 2600 running as well...

      Emulation is great, I have a full-blown MAME project in process, but there's nothing like playing the classics on the old iron.

      --
      Insert witty comment *here*. I'm fresh out of wit...
  23. Archon 1 and 2 by Umopepisdn · · Score: 0

    These games were published by EA and originally developed by Jon Freeman and Anne Westfall. Although, doesn't Electronic Arts own Archon as intellectual property? I never figured out if it was a separate studio that made Archon or if it was internally developed by Electronic Arts.

  24. Direct X by Fwonkas · · Score: 1
    There are long term plans to port to Macintosh and UNIX environments, but no details at the moment.
    Translation: Don't hold your breath.
    --
    COMPUTER! Whatever happened to Blueberry Muffin?
    1. Re:Direct X by spyn · · Score: 1

      There's always XArchon for *nix :)

    2. Re:Direct X by D4ZE · · Score: 1

      I can assure you it *is* happening.

    3. Re:Direct X by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The port will take about as long as a Phoenix-Shapshifter fight...

  25. Meanwhile... by 3waygeek · · Score: 1

    another classic video game has died.

  26. Dark Legions by Marc_Hawke · · Score: 2, Informative

    http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=275

    I found the link to Dark Legions

    --
    --Welcome to the Realm of the Hawke--
  27. Back when? I played it *YESTERDAY*!!! by Cybrex · · Score: 1

    I played Archon on my Mac just yesterday, using the Power64 C-64 emulator and my old Epyx 500 XJ joystick (via Stelladaptor).

    The golden age of classic gaming is today, my friends! Sure, I could dig out my old 64 and the original Archon disk, but why bother when emulation lets me cram all of my best C-64, Atari 2600, and arcade games into a 12" laptop and play during my lunch hour? Hell, I've got a ZX81 emulator as well, though admittedly I don't have much use for it. :-)

    -Cybrex

    --
    Boundless Expansion, Self-Transformation, Dynamic Optimism, Intelligent Technology, Spontaneous Order- BEST DO IT SO!
    1. Re:Back when? I played it *YESTERDAY*!!! by Maserati · · Score: 1

      You can also put hundreds of games on one CD-R.

      If, God forbid, I was in the military and about to be deployed overseas I'd bring a couple DVDs with MAME and console ROMs, and plenty of Apple ][ and C64 games. With many emulators of course.

      --
      Veteran, Bermuda Triangle Expeditionary Force, 1992-1951
    2. Re:Back when? I played it *YESTERDAY*!!! by snuf23 · · Score: 1

      Yeah I have the Commodore 64 version installed on my Xbox. I still think that is the definative version.
      If you don't have an old joystick around and you want to get the classic feel - you can always get a Classic Joystick - full Atari style with a USB connector.

      --
      Sometimes my arms bend back.
    3. Re:Back when? I played it *YESTERDAY*!!! by Cybrex · · Score: 1

      Very cool. If you happen to still have them, you can use your original Atari controllers with the Stelladaptor (http://www.pixelspast.com/products/). I have one, and it works wonderfully! It's great being able to play classic games as they were meant to be played.

      -Cybrex

      --
      Boundless Expansion, Self-Transformation, Dynamic Optimism, Intelligent Technology, Spontaneous Order- BEST DO IT SO!
  28. Won't somebody think of the young'uns!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    "How many of you remember the classic strategy game Archon?"

    Not me...

    Uh... Little help?

  29. Re:Offtopic but I have to ask (Avalon Hill's Galax by Neo-Rio-101 · · Score: 1

    There is a Commodore 64 version of that game in BASIC. LOOK HERE

    --
    READY.
    PRINT ""+-0
  30. 8 Bit Code... by boeserjavamann · · Score: 1

    To bad its not OS'd, it would be fun to see those old 8 bit Code surrounded by direct x wrappers :) i'm not sure i would use those code i a newly coded software.

  31. Already been done in OSS GPL XArchon by Jagasian · · Score: 1

    XArchon

  32. A:E will be multi-format! by D4ZE · · Score: 1

    At least I now know why my site has been receiving more hits than usual! I'm the lead (read: only) developer of Archon Evolution and I'd like to make it clear that A:E *is* going multi-platform. I'm currently porting the rendering layer to OpenGL (collisions are giving me problems at the moment) and, once finished, Windows users will be able to play against MAX and Linux users. The DirectX version is being scrapped, although the first public beta will probably be a DirectX build (as it's reached a stable state). Thanks for your interest.

  33. Because.. (+1 INFORMATIVE) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The game is written in Blitz Basic. Blitz Basic makes it easy to program 2D and 3D games, but it only supports DirectX.

    They might port it to OpenGL eventually by porting it to BlitzMAX, a new version of Blitz Basic which is geared more toward professionals (but without a professional price point) and designed for cross platform development.

    With BlitzMAX, you can compile the same code to run on PC, Mac, or Linux.

    1. Re:Because.. (+1 INFORMATIVE) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What kind of retard would want to program the game in BASIC? They must be big-time amateurs.

  34. Sequels, Sequels by David+Rolfe · · Score: 1
    (AL): Jon, Adept is obviously a sequel to Archon. This is something
    fairly new in the game world. But I see you cringe every time the
    word sequel is mentioned.     Would you explain how Adept is or is not a
    sequel to Archon?

    (JF): It is a sequel, in the sense that it was an attempt to do a game
    that would feel -- sensually and emotionally -- like Archon. The planning
    and pacing is similar. There are times when you sit back and think for
    a while. These are followed by periods of very intense excitement and
    action. Then you're back to thinking again. The mechanics -- such as
    the action board, strategy board, picking pieces and casting spells --
    are the same, so that someone who plays Archon can come in, pick up
    the game and start playing almost at once. So in these ways, it is a
    sequel. However, they will not be as good at Adept as they would have
    thought, because the pieces and strategy are so different. Also, the
    whole idea of resource or energy management is totally new.

    I love this comment. Back in 1993 they are talking about sequels to video games as being unusual, and cringing at the thought. Don't you just love the sweet irony?

    I love milking franchises as much as the next guy, don't get me wrong, from Impossible Mission to Final Fantasy :-D I just love how in '93 they didn't see the tie-in treadmill that it is now.
    --
    Read Heinlein's 1953 Revolt in 2100, now more than ever.
  35. ARchon RockS! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is one of the best video games ever made

    Akimow
    http://bastedo.urbanup.com/808834