The Professor

Top 10 AMIGA games. Well, certainly such lists are subjective and I am not saying all or any were exclusives, indeed some may have been better or more popular elsewhere but my fond memories of them originated on AMIGA so simply I will name 10 games that I highly enjoyed going back to those may years ago when I had original Amiga hardware. I will go with - 
 
1. Lemmings
2. Stunt car Racer
3. SkidMarks 
4. Turrican
5. The Chaos Engine
6. Battle Squadron
7. Zany Golf
8. Zenon II Megablast
9. The Secret of Monkey Island
10. Flashback
 
To be clear, this was literally the first things that sprang to mind off the top of my head and could likely change dramatically from moment to moment and I could literally think of dozens if not hundreds more and that is not even including various PD / Shareware / Demos and well if I am honest tons and tons of pirated titles I traded for back in the day. Was such a wonderful platform.

Some people really love Baldies but I could just never put the time into it. Given the Jag CD's limited retail release library, it's an odd addition over cancelled but complete titles like SoulStar, World Tour Racing and Iron Soldier 2. Fortunately, we got those last two from Telegames and a repaired version of SoulStar seems to be on the horizon.

Sty with us, we're working out the bugs as we go LIVE from time to time.

We're LIVE at the Jag Bar - Baldies CD anyone?

Excellent, it is the little aesthetic touches I love that can really make a system stand out but you know Justin this post comes with a extra benefit for me at least. I have several Colecovision controllers of various condition but I have a couple where that aluminum sticker on the top of the joystick (much like the 7800) is either very worn or damaged or in some cases entirely missing I I had been wondering for some time now HOW I can fix this and where would I even find aluminum stickers the exact size needed, Well looking out your parts list I see I can easily make them for myself!! Problem solved. THANKS.  Hell I might do my 7800 controllers in the same fashion you outlined here as well, looks great and I always fine it cool to be just a little different than other people as you noticed people catch on pretty quick when something looks different form stock. 

Here’s A Quick And Easy Cosmetic Mod That Anyone Can Do!
 

 
 
I posted this photo of an Atari 7800 joystick on our Instagram this week. You may notice it’s a little different, and I had a few people comment asking about the controller.
 

 
 
Robert has a good eye. I wasn’t even thinking about it when I took the picture. I have a small stockpile of Atari 7800 joysticks, but the one I grabbed for the picture happened to be one of my original 2 joysticks from my Atari 7800 with the cereal in it that I talk about here.
I was never that happy with the stock 7800 joysticks. (was anyone?) I always sought ways to mod the controller or make it better. One of the earliest mods I made was when I was 12 years old: a cosmetic change to extend the aluminum “streak” from the handle all the way through the top of the controller.
I thought the Atari 7800 joystick looked and felt kind of cheap, as though something better had been designed and the guys in the accounting dept. took a look at it and said “Nope, nope, nope. Too expensive. Let’s save money by cutting costs here, here, and here.” The aluminum band on the console spans the full width of the 7800, shouldn’t the aluminum band on the joystick span the full length of the controller?
Below is an abbreviated version of the slideshow I posted on Instagram as a response to the questions I received about the controller. Obviously this is only a cosmetic mod and won’t improve joystick responsiveness (there are other things you can do!) but this is a quick and fun DIY mod that anyone can do. It looks good and has stood the test of time. If you’re into it and up to it, here’s how to do it:
 
What You'll Need:
 
☑️ Atari 7800 Pro-Line Joystick (cleaned with alcohol)
☑️ Aluminum Tape (HVAC Duct Joint Foil Tape)
☑️ X-Acto Knife
☑️ Q-Tip
 
 
In Pictures, Here's What To Do:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
And that's how it's done!
Now you have a unique Atari 7800 joystick that
looks like it was always meant to look that way.
Enjoy!

I probably won't buy it if it doesn't support 7800 games.

It's been awfully quiet regarding news from this. I hope it's not DOA.

I'm actually really looking forward to this. I do have a 30" widescreen CRT TV that I used to use for classic consoles, but the thing is a beast and currently in storage (though I've got it ready if I ever do get a chance for a dedicated setup some day). That means I'm stuck with the HDTV, and although I think older consoles look ok on it (it's an older LG plasma), they definitely don't look their best.
 
I have a Retron 5 and am pretty pleased with it overall, so for a quick way to play old Atari carts on a modern TV at a low price, this will work pretty well for most people. As long as they keep that price around $50, I'm almost willing to bet that there are plenty of people out there who have some old 2600 carts that they've picked-up over the years or have hung onto since they were younger (probably long after their original VCS or 2600 Jr. failed) that would pick something like this up in a heartbeat. With the also-HD Retron 1 HD selling for $40, there's no reason that they shouldn't be able to keep the price-point low, although they're probably expecting the demand for the 77 to be of a much smaller scale.

Coleco should take notes from that communication style.

Video stores are still alive and well in Alaska, thanks to factors stemming from living in remote locations with spotty and expensive internet coverage, and poor streaming. To me, the funny thing is I already knew this but I had never put it all together. I've seen video stores appear in various Alaska-themed shows that I've watched in the past, usually on the Discovery channel. Alaskans even trade VHS tapes enthusiastically. 
 
 

 
 
From Alaska Dispatch News:
Pricey internet and nostalgia keep Alaska video stores alive
People don't just come for the movies
https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2017/07/30/in-alaska-pricey-internet-and-nostalgia-keep-video-stores-alive/

Thank you for hosting the next Junk Box, Junk Master RickR!! 
 
 
Absolutely!

Retro Junk Box 10 will be starting mid-September, hosted by me -- Junk Master RickR.. Sign up today if you are interested and meet the requirements below.  Let me know if you have any questions!
 
FYI - the shipping cost for a USPS Large Flat Rate box is right around $17 if you buy postage on-line via Paypal Shipnow.
 
We MUST keep this awesome tradition going.  Thanks.
 

 
 
Here's how the Retro Junk Box works

What It Is: Someone fills a large USPS Priority Mail Flate Rate Box full of retro-related items and sends it to another member. They take out what they want, fill it back up and send it to the next person. It keeps going until it returns to the original sender.

History: The first Retro Junk Box started as a collaboration between The Retro League and Cartoon Retrocast podcasts. It has also been done by The Retroist and The Retro Junkies Network.

Who Can Participate: This is open to members in good standing who have reached Orange Status* (or successful traders with at least 50 posts here), have been a registered Atari I/O member for at least 90 days, live in the US and have been active in the forums or chats during the last month. (See your Avatar to see the fruits you have earned).
* Orange Status is mysteriously rewarded between 100 & 150 posts. 

What is Required: Participants must send the box out within 3 days of getting it, pay for the postage to send it out ($18.85) and must post a photo or video of what they took out. (leave the rest as a mystery!)

Items Taken Out MUST Be Replaced With Items Of Equal Or Greater Value: The Retro Junk Box celebrates the generous and friendly spirit of the forums! Those who participate will be expected to contribute to the spirit of the Retro Junk Box, and must replenish the box with items of an equal or greater value than what they chose to take out.

Those who abuse the generosity of other participants will be denied the opportunity of participating again. Egregious violations will result in the offending member losing prize and event participation privileges, or worse, being removed from the site.

Other Notes: Since it is free to do so with Priority Mail, I would insure the box for $50 to help pay to fill another one in the unlikely event that the USPS ever lost it. Please keep the box mostly (at least 51%) gaming related. Newer items are ok if they are retro related in some way. Please try to be fair in what you replace value wise and please no duplicate games on the same system. Please avoid putting in broken items/games if possible. Please use packing material to fill in nooks and crannies to prevent items from getting broken. (Plastic bags work good for this)

Feel free to reuse and decorate the box!

If you meet the requirements and agree to the terms, please let me know by responding to the thread along with what state you are located in so we can begin to order the list. DO NOT POST YOUR FULL ADDRESS HERE  

Also, if you need to be on a certain spot on the list, because you won't be available later, let us know (for instance, if you are going on a trip or work assignment).
 

First footage?
 
https://twitter.com/llamasoft_ox/status/896159971984855040

Well that resolved itself nicely.  A rarity these days. 

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-08-08-tempest-4000-is-real-jeff-minter-is-developing-it-and-atari-is-publishing-it
 
 
By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 08/08/2017
Surprise! Atari has announced Tempest 4000, the sequel to the classic arcade game Tempest, is coming out later in 2017 for PC and consoles.
  And get this - Tempest 4000 is being developed by Jeff Minter, creator of Tempest 2000, the 1994 remake of the Dave Theurer 1981 arcade game, Tempest.
Here's the official blurb, courtesy of Atari:
"In Tempest 4000, players are once again in control of the Claw, a powerful spacecraft equipped to destroy deadly creatures and other obstructions with rapid-fire shots on vibrant geometric prisms. With three game modes to choose from and 100 levels to conquer, players must eliminate all enemies as quickly as possible to survive and achieve that coveted spot at the top of the leaderboards."
Those three games mode are standard, pure and endurance. There's a 4K resolution and a retro soundtrack inspired by 1990s techno.
Here's a quote from current Atari boss Todd Shallbetter:
"The original Tempest is a beloved arcade classic with a unique style and intense, edge-of-your-seat gameplay.
"We're thrilled to be able to work with Jeff Minter again, someone who is a legend in the industry and has made a huge impact on the history of video games, to develop this highly-anticipated next installment of the Tempest franchise, updated with today's technology."
News that Minter is once again working with Atari comes as something of a surprise. Back in 2015 Minter said he was "beyond disgusted" with Atari after the company blocked the release of his Vita game TxK on new platforms over similarities with Tempest.
   Follow Jeff Minter  @llamasoft_ox
So yeah all the stuff we had ready or near ready will now never see the light of day.No TxK PC, PS4, Oculus, GearVR, Android. Thank "Atari". 7:34 AM - Mar 18, 2015     8080 Replies       274274 Retweets       6767 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy     TxK, which Minter called a "distantly related sequel" to Tempest 2000, launched on Vita to critical acclaim in February 2014. Martin Robinson wrote in his 9/10 review: "All you need to know right now is that TxK is Minter at his finest, and it's absolutely mint."
 
Well, it sounds like the pair have patched things up. Here's a quote from Minter from Atari's press release:
"At the end of the day, video gamers always win. I am very happy to work with Atari again to bring a long-awaited sequel of Tempest to our legion of fans and a new generation of gamers worldwide."
As for Tempest 4000 itself, Atari hasn't released any screenshots or gameplay footage, but did say the game will be at Gamescom later this month, so hopefully it won't be too long before we see some footage.

The 5200 version of Pac-Man was quite amazing at the time when it came out in late 1982 (compared to the rotten VCS version).  It was even better than the 400/800 version that was released a few months earlier (which lacked intermissions and proper monster AI).  But the first time I played 5200 Ms. Pac-Man, it was apparent that although it looked better (esp from screenshots), it didn't run nearly as smooth as Pac-Man.  The mazes were also smaller, having all this wasted screen space around them.  On top of that, it flickered like crazy!  In fact, it shows the same flickering issues that VCS Ms. Pac-Man had, due to the use of vertical separation and variable flicker.  However, neither of those techniques were required for the 8-bit hardware since that allowed for up to 4 independent sprites (called "player/missile graphics"), instead of the 2 the VCS hardware offered.  And the 4 missiles can be combined to basically make another 'sprite', giving you 5.  Just look at the 1st Ms. Pac-Man intermission - you have 2 Pac-Man characters and 2 monsters, and when all 4 are on the same horizontal 'line' at the end, the 2 monsters alternately flicker - you can't even get a screenshot of them both at that point, and there's only FOUR objects on the screen!  Rather shocking to see just how poorly this version was implemented, being it's basically GCC's flagship title, and considering just how amazing the VCS version is.

3762

 
You know what? I like this game! Yes, it isn't anywhere close to perfect (the controls could be better, colors could be better, collision detection issues could be fixed). However, I still have fun with the game. There are several games that do Pac-Man better than Pac-Man on the 2600 (Ms. Pac, Jr Pac & Aliens) and for me it's not a must have for the system (I have it currently ranked in the middle of my rankings with 65 games ranked higher). But that being said, I find it playable and a bit enjoyable. I also like the sounds effects and Vitamins , even though I'm sure a big part of that is nostalgia.
 
I know I'm in the minority, but I was happy to play this game for the challenge and, since it's the only legal way to own it (as far as I know), I don't plan on getting rid of my copy any time soon and can see myself playing it for fun every now and then.
 
PS - Despite the poor graphics, my 7 year old daughter, who doesn't always recognize game characters, was quick to ask if it was Pac-Man I was playing. So even a 7 year old can tell it's supposed to be Pac-Man!    - - - - 

It's wonderful to see you posting in the forums PacManPlus! It's a real honor to have you here 
 
 
 
I second that! Thanks for all you've done to breathe new life into my favorite system! It's much appreciated.
 
PS - Atari Age links are always welcome here 

Thank you! 

Welcome to the atari.io forums!  An honor to have you here. 

Thank you

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/199637-work-in-progress-bentley-bear-crystal-quest/?p=2857155
 
This should do it.
 
Thanks for your continued contributions to the 7800!

Hi guys!
 
Thank you for the kudos.
I actually did post the final ROM in the "Work In Progress: 'Bentley Bear: Crystal Quest" thread on AtariAge (post # 776).  I'd link to it here, but it doesn't seem to want me to copy / paste a link here.