I've had DirecTV for many years (and Dish Network before that), and only very rarely does the signal go out when it rains. Generally this only occurs during very intense downpours, and usually only for a few minutes. It's happened to me maybe twice in the last year. And I live in Texas, where we get a fair number of severe thunderstorms every year.
Neither the 5200 or 7800 controllers are that great. The 5200 controllers were highly prone to failure, the analog joysticks were not self-centering, and the fire buttons were awkward to use. Atari moved back to digital sticks with the Atari 7800, but these seem to have been designed more for aesthetics than ergonomics, as many people find them uncomfortable to use for any length of time. Between the 2600, 5200, and 7800, only the original CX-40 Joystick has really stood the test of time.
Yes, any joysticks that are electrically equivalent to the original Atari 2600 joysticks will work fine with the adapter. We've tested several different types, such as the great Epyx 500XJ joysticks.
While the various controller units with built-in games are cool, you are limited to the few games built into those controllers. And with the ones I've tried so far (the Atari and Activision 10-in-1 units), the games aren't quite identical to the original versions. Also, the base of the one based on an Atari joystick is a bit thicker than a real 2600 joystick, so it's not quite as comfortable to hold (in my opinion).
Additionally, being able to use 2600 controllers with your computer means you are not limited to just playing 2600 games, but can use any emulators that support USB controllers.
Many games are based on others, there is nothing new here. Manuel Polik's Gunfight is derived from the 1975 Midway arcade game of the same name. Atari also produced a similar arcade game, called Outlaw, which they later ported to the 2600. The Sears title Gunslinger is simply Outlaw rebadged.
Gunfight is much improved over Atari's Outlaw for the 2600. You can see this by downloading the binary for each game (from the links provided above) and trying the two games in your favorite 2600 emulator. Other games in this competition have also been derived from other titles. These include Jammed, Warring Worms, JoustPong, and Climber 5. Even Space Treat Deluxe takes some cues from Frogger. But that shouldn't diminish the works of these authors, as each homebrew game brings something new to the 2600, whether it be an original game or an improvement on an existing title.
I believe this is the first year that 2600 games have been allowed in the competition, and since most 2600 games are 4K, this is why you see many 2600 homebrew authors submitting their games. The following list contains more information about each of the entries, including some that have not yet appeared on the Minigame Competition page:
Additionally, many authors have released the source code to their games, which is invaluable if you're trying to learn how to program the 2600. Some examples relevant to the competition: Gunfight, Qb, SCSIcide, and Space Treat Deluxe.
And finally, some other links people may find useful:
If you're interested in learning more about homebrew games for classic systems, we have a wealth of information over at AtariAge. You can learn about games currently being written in our In Development section, browse our rarity guide for 2600 homebrew games that have already been released, discuss homebrew programming with various homebrew authors in our forums, and purchase new homebrew titles in cartridge form in our online store. Atari 2600 programmer Andrew Davie is writing a comprehensive 2600 Programming For Dummies tutorial for those who are interested in what makes the 2600 tick and want to try their hand at programming this beast. And several homebrew authors have released commented source code for their games, also helping to pave the way for those who would like to program these classic systems.
Right now we're holding a CVDRUM Splash Screen Contest, which lets anyone submit entries for a splash screen to be included in the upcoming ColecoVision CVDRUM homebrew release.
We had over 2,000 people attend the first annual Austin Gaming Expo two weeks ago, and this was only the show's first year. The show featured a mix of classic and modern games, and all the classic systems on display were getting tons of attention. You can look here for picture galleries and recaps of the show.
Additionally, there is a large groundswell of homebrew development taking place for systems such as the Atari 2600, 5200, ColecoVision, and so forth. Numerous homebrew games are released every year and many of them equal or better the games that were released commercially back in the early 80s. We have a section on AtariAge that lists Atari-related titles in development, and we also sell homebrew games in cartridge form through our online store.
As long as people continue to play classic games (whether it be through emulation or on real hardware), I don't see them going away anytime soon!
There actually is a great deal of homebrew development going on for the 2600 right now. In fact, quite a few games have already been released in cartridge form. We use new circuit boards, create high-quality labels and manuals, and only have to recycle cartridge shells. There are some fantastic homebrew games on the 2600 that easily rival the best commercial releases of the past. Some info about our homebrew services can be gleaned here.
You mean like this? This is a hacked version of Atari's Ms. Pac-Man, and is a much better version of Pac-Man than the one Atari originally released. There is also a version of Pac-Man programmed from scratch by Ebisoft, but only a few copies were made.
And here is a list of games that are currently in development for the various Atari consoles. This list changes pretty frequently, and there are some projects not yet listed as the authors aren't very far along with them (Yes, I know that last link is listed in the linked story, just including it here for the convenience):
And finally, many games that were only released in either NTSC or PAL formats have been modified to work with the other television standard. This is useful for people who have the ability (such as through a Cuttle Cart) to play these binaries on a real television:
I get the impression that they received a 40 page package in the mail, so perhaps someone typed this in from the hardcopy and that's when the mistakes were introduced? It would be nice to see an actual scan of the letter.
Lord British started up a new company called Destionation Games. Looks like they are involved with NCsoft, the Korean company that made the popular Korean game Lineage: The Blood Pledge. From their site, it appears that they are working towards releasing Lineage in the North American market.
Paul did a great job with the Synthcart. We held a Synthcart Beat Contest back in February where users could submit beats that would be included on the final version of the cart. You can listen to all the submissions, at the buttom of the page. Many of them are quite good considering the instrument.:)
Len Charest even created a web-based Synthcart Beat Data Generator for the contest to assist people in generating the beatdata.h file necessary to recompile the beats binary that you could then run on an Atari 2600 to listen to your creations.
As for details of its construction and roms, there are quite a few knowledgable people who visit our message boards, and they can probably answer any specific questions you have.
Although the company we once knew as Atari is long gone, they do still exist, and several games have been released recently on various platforms under the Atari brand. The company's assets (mainly the name and rights to various Atari properties) have been passed around several times over the years, from JTS to Hasbro and now Infogrames.
Slashdot Mirror
Lots of interesting comments about the NEX over at AtariAge.
I've had DirecTV for many years (and Dish Network before that), and only very rarely does the signal go out when it rains. Generally this only occurs during very intense downpours, and usually only for a few minutes. It's happened to me maybe twice in the last year. And I live in Texas, where we get a fair number of severe thunderstorms every year.
Neither the 5200 or 7800 controllers are that great. The 5200 controllers were highly prone to failure, the analog joysticks were not self-centering, and the fire buttons were awkward to use. Atari moved back to digital sticks with the Atari 7800, but these seem to have been designed more for aesthetics than ergonomics, as many people find them uncomfortable to use for any length of time. Between the 2600, 5200, and 7800, only the original CX-40 Joystick has really stood the test of time.
Although not mentioned in the article, Cannon Fodder also appeared on the Atari Jaguar, published by Virgin.
Yes, any joysticks that are electrically equivalent to the original Atari 2600 joysticks will work fine with the adapter. We've tested several different types, such as the great Epyx 500XJ joysticks.
While the various controller units with built-in games are cool, you are limited to the few games built into those controllers. And with the ones I've tried so far (the Atari and Activision 10-in-1 units), the games aren't quite identical to the original versions. Also, the base of the one based on an Atari joystick is a bit thicker than a real 2600 joystick, so it's not quite as comfortable to hold (in my opinion).
Additionally, being able to use 2600 controllers with your computer means you are not limited to just playing 2600 games, but can use any emulators that support USB controllers.
It's actually -hax0r, with a zero.
Many games are based on others, there is nothing new here. Manuel Polik's Gunfight is derived from the 1975 Midway arcade game of the same name. Atari also produced a similar arcade game, called Outlaw, which they later ported to the 2600. The Sears title Gunslinger is simply Outlaw rebadged.
Gunfight is much improved over Atari's Outlaw for the 2600. You can see this by downloading the binary for each game (from the links provided above) and trying the two games in your favorite 2600 emulator. Other games in this competition have also been derived from other titles. These include Jammed, Warring Worms, JoustPong, and Climber 5. Even Space Treat Deluxe takes some cues from Frogger. But that shouldn't diminish the works of these authors, as each homebrew game brings something new to the 2600, whether it be an original game or an improvement on an existing title.
I believe this is the first year that 2600 games have been allowed in the competition, and since most 2600 games are 4K, this is why you see many 2600 homebrew authors submitting their games. The following list contains more information about each of the entries, including some that have not yet appeared on the Minigame Competition page:
Climber 5
Jammed
JoustPong
Gunfight
Qb
SCSIcide
Skeleton+
Space Treat Deluxe
Warring Worms
Additionally, many authors have released the source code to their games, which is invaluable if you're trying to learn how to program the 2600. Some examples relevant to the competition: Gunfight, Qb, SCSIcide, and Space Treat Deluxe.
And finally, some other links people may find useful:
Atari 2600 Emulators
List of Released 2600 Homebrews
Games in Development
Enjoy!
If you're interested in learning more about homebrew games for classic systems, we have a wealth of information over at AtariAge. You can learn about games currently being written in our In Development section, browse our rarity guide for 2600 homebrew games that have already been released, discuss homebrew programming with various homebrew authors in our forums, and purchase new homebrew titles in cartridge form in our online store. Atari 2600 programmer Andrew Davie is writing a comprehensive 2600 Programming For Dummies tutorial for those who are interested in what makes the 2600 tick and want to try their hand at programming this beast. And several homebrew authors have released commented source code for their games, also helping to pave the way for those who would like to program these classic systems.
Right now we're holding a CVDRUM Splash Screen Contest, which lets anyone submit entries for a splash screen to be included in the upcoming ColecoVision CVDRUM homebrew release.
We had over 2,000 people attend the first annual Austin Gaming Expo two weeks ago, and this was only the show's first year. The show featured a mix of classic and modern games, and all the classic systems on display were getting tons of attention. You can look here for picture galleries and recaps of the show.
Additionally, there is a large groundswell of homebrew development taking place for systems such as the Atari 2600, 5200, ColecoVision, and so forth. Numerous homebrew games are released every year and many of them equal or better the games that were released commercially back in the early 80s. We have a section on AtariAge that lists Atari-related titles in development, and we also sell homebrew games in cartridge form through our online store.
As long as people continue to play classic games (whether it be through emulation or on real hardware), I don't see them going away anytime soon!
There actually is a great deal of homebrew development going on for the 2600 right now. In fact, quite a few games have already been released in cartridge form. We use new circuit boards, create high-quality labels and manuals, and only have to recycle cartridge shells. There are some fantastic homebrew games on the 2600 that easily rival the best commercial releases of the past. Some info about our homebrew services can be gleaned here.
Ebivision, even, not Ebisoft. D'oh!
You mean like this? This is a hacked version of Atari's Ms. Pac-Man, and is a much better version of Pac-Man than the one Atari originally released. There is also a version of Pac-Man programmed from scratch by Ebisoft, but only a few copies were made.
Here's a complete mirror of the comics:
Tandy Computer Whiz Kid Comics
Enjoy!
There's also an Atari Jaguar version, for the Jaguar CD.
You'll find this link amusing then:
The Official 2600 Doom Page
(I don't know how long that will last seeing as it's hosted at Geocities, but you can always look at it later).
Here is a fairly comprehensive list of the homebrew games that have been released for the 2600 in recent years:
2600 Homebrew Search Results
And here is a list of games that are currently in development for the various Atari consoles. This list changes pretty frequently, and there are some projects not yet listed as the authors aren't very far along with them (Yes, I know that last link is listed in the linked story, just including it here for the convenience):
Titles In Development
A list of Atari 2600 games that have been hacked to change the graphics, sounds, colors, and more!
Atari 2600 Hacks
And finally, many games that were only released in either NTSC or PAL formats have been modified to work with the other television standard. This is useful for people who have the ability (such as through a Cuttle Cart) to play these binaries on a real television:
Atari 2600 TV Format Conversions
Enjoy!
I get the impression that they received a 40 page package in the mail, so perhaps someone typed this in from the hardcopy and that's when the mistakes were introduced? It would be nice to see an actual scan of the letter.
Lord British started up a new company called Destionation Games. Looks like they are involved with NCsoft, the Korean company that made the popular Korean game Lineage: The Blood Pledge. From their site, it appears that they are working towards releasing Lineage in the North American market.
Len Charest even created a web-based Synthcart Beat Data Generator for the contest to assist people in generating the beatdata.h file necessary to recompile the beats binary that you could then run on an Atari 2600 to listen to your creations.
Here's a handier link,
AtariAge - Moon Patrol Profile
Yes, we have schematics of the 2600 on our site, you can find them here:
Atari 2600 Schematics - NTSC
Atari 2600 Schematics - PAL
As for details of its construction and roms, there are quite a few knowledgable people who visit our message boards, and they can probably answer any specific questions you have.
Although the company we once knew as Atari is long gone, they do still exist, and several games have been released recently on various platforms under the Atari brand. The company's assets (mainly the name and rights to various Atari properties) have been passed around several times over the years, from JTS to Hasbro and now Infogrames.
...who beta tested OS X when it was first released? We better demand our IP rights also!