#atari 8 bit

[starborn-scene-demon]

if anyone has a real atari 8-bit, could you test this program? preferably a stock machine! on my ntsc machine (800 XL) it makes some weird distortion, but on my friend’s pal machine (65 XE) it makes a TON of weird distortion. dunno if altirra behaves the same way and I haven’t had time to check

[arconinternet]

Pinball Construction Set (Apple II/C64/Atari 8-bit/DOS (actually PC Booter)/Classic Mac, Bill Budge, 1982/1983/1985)

You can play it in your browser here.

In the DOS version, you'll need to lower the emulation speed by pressed Ctrl+F11 several times (Ctrl+F12 will raise it).

[retrogamingloft]

Pac-Man for the Atari 8-bit computers, released in 1982 by Atari, Inc., is widely regarded as a strong home adaptation of the arcade classic. Unlike the heavily criticized Atari 2600 version, which suffers from flickering graphics and unrecognizable ghosts, this version offers a much smoother experience. The maze structure, colors, and character designs are faithfully recreated, and the ghosts behave as expected rather than moving erratically due to hardware limitations. Blinky remains relentless, Pinky is tricky, Inky is unpredictable, and Clyde follows his usual, less aggressive behavior, making for a more strategic experience.

The core gameplay remains intact. Players control Pac-Man as he moves through the maze, eating dots while avoiding the four pursuing ghosts. Power pellets allow Pac-Man to temporarily turn the tables, giving him the ability to eat the ghosts for extra points. The fruit bonuses that appear at the center of the maze provide additional scoring opportunities. As levels progress, the ghosts become faster and more aggressive, increasing the challenge.

The sound design is an improvement over other home versions of the time. The familiar "wakka wakka" sound is present, along with appropriate effects when Pac-Man eats pellets, consumes a ghost, or loses a life. While not an exact reproduction of the arcade audio, it captures the essence of the original, avoiding the harsh, grating noises found in some other conversions.

Visually, the Atari 8-bit computers take advantage of their superior graphical capabilities over the Atari 2600. The maze is properly structured, resembling the arcade layout without major alterations. The ghosts are colorful and distinct, making it easier for players to differentiate them during gameplay. Pac-Man himself has a more recognizable shape, avoiding the blocky, flickering sprite seen in weaker versions.

Overall, despite being a well-executed port, it isn’t a perfect one-to-one arcade conversion. Some minor differences in movement and ghost behavior set it apart from the original. However, for an early ’80s home computer release, it remains one of the best available, offering a satisfying experience without the major compromises seen in other adaptations.

[mechanicsandmagic]

Over the last few days I‘ve had the joy of restoring this Atari 800 XL to working order. Now it‘s running fine again and I‘ve discovered some retro gems (sound on)! 👾

* * * * * * * * * *

Über die letzten Tage hatte ich das Vergnügen, mit dem Atari 800 XL zu arbeiten. Jetzt läuft er wieder fantastisch und ich habe einige fantastische Dinge entdeckt (Sound an)! 👾

🎥 Mine

[80sheaven]

Atari XE Video Game System (XEGS) from 1987

[ataribbs]

See you at the show this weekend

[devileaterjaek]

[oldgamedebris]

Somehow got the Alternate Reality song stuck in my head again. The lyrics make it extra catchy.

[hardcore-gaming-101]

Agent USA

While console gaming was controlled by the companies that made the consoles themselves, computer gaming was always more unrestrained, allowing for more experimentation, more companies making games, and as a result, could even be called the first true indie scene. Some early computer games are even nearly impossible to classify under a known genre. One of these is Agent USA, a game published by Scholastic – that’s right, the occasionally educational book company best known for non-educational fare such as Goosebumps – and developed by Tom Snyder Productions – yes, the same Tom Snyder who created the cartoon Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.

Read more...

[gamesthatwerent]

Time Capsule - an unknown strategy action game from 1987 that is lost

A quick post to end the week, with Time Capsule. A completely unknown strategy action game that was listed as coming soon at the back of the manual for Aliants. Nothing else is known at this stage - have you heard of it? Possibly for #AtariST,#PC,#Commdore64,#Atari8bit and #AppleII

[z2z-gaming-and-random-art-ai]

Back Cover to AI Art S2E23 - Airball

Older video games were notorious for back cover descriptions that have nothing to do with the game so let's see what a text-to-image generator makes of these descriptions. Season 2 sees an increase in art creations for each game up from 1 in the first season to 6 for the second season 

1. Intro - 00:00 

2. Back Cover and Text Description - 00:10 

3. Back Cover and Text Description Continued - 00:30 

4. Creation 1 - 00:40 

5. Creation 2 - 01:00 

6. Creation 3 - 01:20 

7. Creation 4 - 01:40 

8. Creation 5 - 02:00 

9. Creation 6 - 02:20 

10. Outro – 02:40 

Airball is an isometric action puzzle game developed by prolific 80s developer MicroDeal and released across DOS, Atari ST, TRS-80 CoCo and Dragon 32/64 platforms in 1987. The following year the game would be ported to the Atari 8-bit, Amiga and Apple IIgs. 

That was the last time this game would see a release until 2021 when a Windows release of the game was published by Pixel Games UK on Steam. 

For more Back Cover to AI Art videos check out these playlists 

Season 1 of Back Cover to AI Art 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CGhd82prEQGWAVxY3wuQlx3 

Season 2 of Back Cover to AI Art 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CEdLNgql_n-7b20wZwo_yAD

[starborn-scene-demon]

hehehe my gf playin on the atari :3

[arconinternet]

Master of the Lamps (In-browser, Atari 8-bit/Apple II/C64/Amstrad CPC, Activision, 1985)

You can play it in your browser here. C64 controls include numpad 84620 for emulated joystick.

[retrogamingloft]

The Atari 8-Bit version isn't an official release, but despite some small differences, no bonus stage, and being a bit easier overall, it's still fun to play. Honestly, for a public domain game, you can't really ask for much more. Hat tip to Jeff Casbeer for this one. Below is the description...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------Carnival is a classic arcade shooting gallery game released by Sega in 1980. It represents one of the early fixed-shooter arcade games where players aim at targets rather than navigating a character through a world. In Carnival, players control a gun at the bottom of the screen that moves horizontally. The objective is to shoot various targets that appear in rows above: pipes, ducks, rabbits, and other objects. The game features several distinctive elements that made it stand out.

The shooting gallery theme was enhanced by the use of samples from actual carnival music, particularly "Over the Waves" (or "Sobre las Olas"), which gave the game its memorable soundtrack. One of the most innovative gameplay elements was the limited ammunition. Players had to carefully manage their bullets and could earn more by shooting special targets. This ammo management added a strategic layer that wasn't present in many shooting games of the era.

Another unique feature was the presence of letters spelling "BONUS" that would randomly appear among the targets. Shooting all these letters in order would award extra points. The game also included a challenging element: if players missed too many targets as they scrolled off the bottom of the screen, they would lose bullets as a penalty. Additionally, there were wheel targets that would steal bullets if not shot quickly enough.

Carnival was ported to several home systems including the Atari 2600, ColecoVision, and Sega SG-1000. The ColecoVision port is generally considered the most faithful to the arcade original. The game was designed by Sega/Gremlin, with Michael Reutling credited as the designer. While not as famous as some other arcade titles from the early 1980s, Carnival remains a notable example of early fixed-shooter design and helped establish some of the gameplay mechanics that would appear in later shooting gallery games.

[the-legged-one]

I love how the Atari 8-bit port of Tapper replaces all the Budweiser product placement with Mountain Dew product placement.

"What do you mean this game promotes alcohol? It is clearly about drinking Mountain Dew with the boys"

[80sheaven]

Warhawk theme, Atari 8-bit music by the legendary Rob Hubbard. One of my favourites!