dauber

UPDATE: forgot to mention...I'll also be covering Crazy Otto in this episode. So if you have any guts about Crazy Otto, spill 'em!

And a lot of folks might have been disappointed with Xenophobe...I know Jimmy G has many times lamented that you can't be Dr. Kwack, for example...and one of the attractions about Xenophobe in the arcade was that you could play up to three players.

Totally agreed. As long as I've been on AtariAge (about 16 years) I've seen many homebrews and hacks to make Pac-Man more like the arcade version, but I've never seen someone try to do the same with Ms. Pac-Man. Yeah, Ms. on the 2600 is a much better version of Ms. Pac-Man than Pac-Man on the 2600 is of Pac-Man, but I agree with you, Doc -- there's plenty that can be done with Ms.: - Add the intermissions (and include the little sound effect when Pac and Ms. bump into each other -- the only home version I've ever seen that has that little sound is the yet-to-be-released POKEY version of Pac-Man Collection! on the 7800) - Make the mazes more faithful to both the layouts and the colors of the arcade mazes - Maze changing patterns to match those of the arcade (2600 has it change every 2 mazes) - Improve the randomization of the bonus prize after the banana - Add the background noise - And for extra measure, add some special features like configuring when you get a bonus life, high speed option, and maybe "plus" mode. Sound like a lot? Sure. But look at what they did with Pac-Man 8k. And I've said this before on a few occasions, but what I'd really LOVE to see is someone take the existing 2600 Ms. Pac-Man and turn it into a crappy version that would be similar to the Tod Frye Pac-Man. I addressed this in the latest Pie Factory Podcast (or was it the previous one??), but...I don't think Food Fight as a 7800 pack-in would have been a good business move on Atari's part. It would definitely have sold the system, but...thing is, Food Fight is the killer app for the 7800. It would make a lot of the other games pale in comparison. I agree with nsg's assertion that Ms. Pac-Man would have been a better pack-in. It's a game that most people are already familiar with, and it was one of the most successful arcade games of all time, if not the most successful arcade game of all time. Imagine....Christmas time, you get an Atari 7800 for Christmas, and it comes with Ms. Pac-Man. ANYBODY in the family with at least one hand and some mastery of motor skills can immediately fire up the new console and play the game. But Pole Position II?? A racing game being played with the PainLine?? And of course, there's the OCD factor: well, where's the original Pole Position??? Where there's a II, you need a I.

Just a few minutes ago I bought a Special 20. Needed one in Ab for a class. Holy CRAP, those things list price nearly DOUBLED in the last few years!!! List price is over $50....cripes...luckily the store where I got it 1) is non-profit and 2) discounts them significantly, but....youch...

I'm going to be honest: I'm dead shocked I scored so high.... 6,200 via Atari 7800, Edladdin All Play 4/8 Supreme 78 I don't think I even ever got this high on the arcade version!

My wife and I watched the first two so far. I pretty much agree 100% with all of the above. And yeah, Crow's new voice is almost indistinguishable from from Trace Beaulieu's Crow voice! (I was fine with Bill Corbett doing Crow, but this one is WAY better!) I'm not thrilled with Servo's voice, but to me it was important that whoever do his voice also must have a good singing voice...so far, not bad! But yep, often it's hard to tell who's saying what. Gypsy -- I don't like that she's basically an extended overhead neck with a real female voice....I liked her more...I guess "nervous Miss Piggy" vibe....from the first ten seasons. Glad they brought back the invention exchange. They tried to continue it with the Mike episodes but it didn't last long; I'm guessing Joel must have written those and when he left, nobody could quite live up to that standard. (It makes sense; Joel is a prop comic, after all.) I'm not a fan of the set and the "band," though; it makes it look like the show has a budget. I loved the all-around cheap feel of the prior incarnations. I appreciate that the distant shots of the ship have the cheap vibe, but to me, the entire view has to be cheap. BTW, I don't know the answer to this question as I've only seen the first two, but.....are there any short subjects?

Aaaaand....demolition of Lincoln Mall has begun.

WHOA...holy crap.....No-Swear Gamer asking for a Mr. Do! game??!??????!!!!

I'm looking for the next episode of the Atari 7800 Homebrew Podcast (you can find it on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or use this feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/homebrew78 ) What are your thoughts on Scramble? This game will be covered on Episode 11. You can also e-mail text or audio to homebrew78 -at- fab4it -dot- com. Deadline is 11:59pm CDT on Wednesday, May 17. Any comments from after then will be addressed in a later episode.

Okay, okay, we get it: Sean needs to see more movies. But hey, listen to him discuss a classic dungeon game and a landmark racing game with Jimmy G, the man with a message. Or an awkward limp. We don't remember for sure. http://www.fab4it.com/piefactory/audio/PFP_Episode053.mp3

Heh...thanks, Justin! I do feel bad that a majority of my posts are related to podcasts...I really need to get more active in the other boards...

Say...I don't know about youse people, but I think it's time for episode 10 of The Atari 7800 Homebrew Podcast; Crazy Brix! What better way to go crazy for the weekend than to listen to the dulcet sounds of a crazy Atarian talk about a 7800 spin on a classic? http://fab4it.com/homebrew78/media/hbh_episode010.mp3

You guys need a good laugh? Just keep watching for *my* score!

All the best, Rows! Can't wait to see what the future has for you!

I'm looking for a future episode of the Atari 7800 Homebrew Podcast (you can find it on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or use this feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/homebrew78 ). THIS IS **NOT** THE NEXT EPISODE!!! I just want to start asking for comments now because this episode is going to be a huuuuuuuge undertaking and a lot of work. What are your thoughts on Pac-Man Collection!? (Note that the title has an exclamation point in it!) I will also be covering Crazy Otto in this episode. You can also e-mail text or audio to homebrew78 -at- fab4it -dot- com. Deadline will be announced at a later date. Thanks!

Actual 7800, actual Mario Bros. cart, actual sucky score: 71,960

Yes, Sean and Jim are back ALREADY with another new episode! Listen to the hosts discuss Las Vegas, record collecting...oh, and maybe an arcade game or two. http://fab4it.com/piefactory/audio/PFP_Episode052.mp3

UPDATE: the board has been claimed! (Someone at Midwest Gaming Classic grabbed it from the "free stuff" box we had at the table. )

Thanks, The! (Can I call you "The"?) Actually, there is a reason that it does not have the Arkanoid-style powerups (you'll have to listen to find out )...actually, two reasons.... BTW, I have to say, I'm only about 1/5 done with my research on this, and already it's got one of the most fascinating back-stories I've seen so far....

BTW, even though National Pac-Man Day was named by Atari in the early '80s and this is the arcade sub-forum, it may seem that this is off-topic. BUT....Atari DID release the arcade game Pac-Mania in the US, so....there ya have it.

I'm looking for the next episode of the Atari 7800 Homebrew Podcast (you can find it on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or use this feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/homebrew78 ) What are your thoughts on Crazy Brix? This game will be covered on Episode 10. You can also e-mail text or audio to homebrew78 -at- fab4it -dot- com. Deadline is 11:59pm CDT on Wednesday, May 3. Any comments from after then will be addressed in a later episode.

Episode 9 is heeeeeeeere! A look at a legendary conversion of a legendary arcade game by a legendary Atari 7800 homebrew developer! http://fab4it.com/homebrew78/media/hbh_episode009_re1.mp3

None so far...

Hello, friends. Just wanted to let you know that it's very likely the next episode will be delayed a day or two. If it's not out tomorrow, it should be out Sunday or Monday. In the mean time, the deadline for Space Invaders feedback is extended to noon (CDT) tomorrow!

I think you're right there. It's definitely in the sides that pins only from 7800 carts would use. I'm thinking it's the set on the left. I tried with a bare Pole Position II board and it felt loose all the way across except on the left...