Crystal Castles help...

[btbfilms76]

Hey gang I need some help with an upcoming episode of 7800 Ave. I’m doing an episode on one of my favorite arcade games Crystal Castles and I need a little help. I know there is a physical release on the 2600, I have that, and I know that there was a version on the 7800 that never saw the light of day... I really hope we find that someday. I also know that it was released for the 8 bit line as well, but I seem to be having a hard time tracking it down.

 

Was it an actual release or was it an unfinished prototype that later on someone finished?

Any advice would be great.

I’d like to do an episode on both versions but I want to get my history corrrect before I start on this one.

Thanks

BTB

[RickR]

According to Atarimania, Atari created a version in 1984, but did not release it. 

http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-crystal-castles_6045.html

 

That being said, I remember having a version on disk back then.  Probably downloaded from a BBS. 

[RickR]

And it looks like they finally did make a cartridge release based on the 1984 version in 1988 for the XEGS:

 

http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-crystal-castles_6045.html

 

There are a few of these carts on ebay, but they are very pricey.  It is rare I'd say.

[btbfilms76]

And it looks like they finally did make a cartridge release based on the 1984 version in 1988 for the XEGS:

 

http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-crystal-castles_6045.html

 

There are a few of these carts on ebay, but they are very pricey.  It is rare I'd say.

I did see only one on EBay for 80 bucks. But yeah 84 to 88 I wonder if this was one of those Jack Trimel things where it was ready to ship then they sat on it... who knows

[RickR]

I did see only one on EBay for 80 bucks. But yeah 84 to 88 I wonder if this was one of those Jack Trimel things where it was ready to ship then they sat on it... who knows

I would guess that was the case.  If it was free, he was all for it. 

[btbfilms76]

What I’m wishing for is someone will find that elusive 7800 version that may or may not be floating around somewhere. In the meantime ill play that XEGS version... but I really like the 2600 version as well.

[RickR]

It's always been a difficult game to get right IMO.  The arcade version used a track ball.  Home versions used joystick and are very difficult to control precisely.  What would be really cool is if the 2600 or 8-bit version had an analog track-ball mode.  But alas, no. 

A 7800 version would have been very cool indeed. 

[RickR]

PS - looking forward to your review.  That game doesn't get the coverage or credit it deserves. 

[RickR]

"Marble Madness" is another game that would have been incredible on 7800.  Especially if they offered a track-ball version.  Or 5200 even, which had the excellent track-ball controller readily available.  In fact, why no 5200 Crystal Castles???  Damn it, Atari! 

There's one great feature of the 5200 and that's how many games it had that supported the track-ball correctly.  Space Invaders with TB is such a trip, for example.  Even clunker games like Super Breakout become something special with that controller. 

[nosweargamer]

As far as I know, no one has found a CC 7800 prototype. The tough part about 7800 games rumored to have been planned, is often we have no idea how far they went. Some may have been talked about, but never started, while others may have a fully working prototype on a computer in someone's basement.

 

Here are a couple future references for you.

 

In this video, I showed ever 7800 prototype I could get my hands on. The games range from graphics only (Electrocop) to possibly fully complete (Klax) and everything in between. 

 

Also, AtariProtos.com has a lot of good info. If it's not on his site, odds are it hasn't been found or doesn't exist.

[btbfilms76]

As far as I know, no one has found a CC 7800 prototype. The tough part about 7800 games rumored to have been planned, is often we have no idea how far they went. Some may have been talked about, but never started, while others may have a fully working prototype on a computer in someone's basement.

 

Here are a couple future references for you.

 

In this video, I showed ever 7800 prototype I could get my hands on. The games range from graphics only (Electrocop) to possibly fully complete (Klax) and everything in between. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlH5B9Mbb1g

 

Also, AtariProtos.com has a lot of good info. If it's not on his site, odds are it hasn't been found or doesn't exist.

Im going off the 7800 artwork and book created for CC. It could have been just that, artwork and nothing else...or it could be an actual game hiding in a dark box in someone’s basement. That’s what I like to dream about. Great coverage NSG

[RickR]

Oh man.  Plutos and Sirius look really good!

Missing in Action looks pretty bad IMO.  So choppy and those limp sounds!  Chuck Norris wouldn't need all those kicks and punches to defeat those lame dudes.  Everyone (but Atari) knew that! 

 

Pit Fighter and Toki would have been awesome additions to the library of games.

[btbfilms76]

One of these days Ill have a cabinet in the lounge... some day. Does it kill anyone that at one time I had a chance to buy one for 150 bucks? I was still in High School and 150 dollars was a huge amount to scrape up, plus trying to convince my parents I needed that in my room.

 

Oh well

 

One of these days Ill have one. That and Space Harrier and Ill be good.

[RickR]

Please explain what the cabinet is? 

[nosweargamer]

Im going off the 7800 artwork and book created for CC. It could have been just that, artwork and nothing else...or it could be an actual game hiding in a dark box in someone’s basement. That’s what I like to dream about. Great coverage NSG

 

I didn't realize that such existed! I found this picture of the box art and label art. Is that what you are referring to, are there other pictures?

 

 

This looks like non launch artwork, so this would be Tramiel.  Perhaps they were considering releasing it with the XEGS release. Since the box has no screenshots, it's hard to see how much programming, if any, had been done.

 

 

BTW, here's all the games that believe to have been announced, but little to nothing has been found. 

 

NEVER RELEASED

 

ATARI

 

Crystal Castles CX7817

Elevator Action CX78??

Electrocop CX7874 (Graphics have been found)

Gauntlet CX78??

Gremlins CX78??

Lode Runner CX7833

This screenshot may have come from a prototype

Jr. Pac-Man CX7813

Millipede CX7812

Moon Patrol CX7818

Road Riot 4WD CX7894

Sarge CX7830

Sky Fox CX7825

Screen shot from system box

Stargate CX7819

Steel Talons CX7895

Tempest CX78??

The Eidilon CX78??

Toki CX7895 (Working Prototype has been found and being worked on to release)

Track & Field CX7814

White Water Madness CX7864

 

FROGGO

 

Night of the Ninja

Pyromania

Scorpion Squad

UFO

 

TELEGAMES

 

Quest for Quintana Roo

[Atari 5200 Guy]

Hmm...  One person that might know would be Lance at Video 61.  Being an Atari dealer for over 30 years I'm sure he's seen and heard a LOT.  Might ask him to chime in.

 

Jack was bad about not releasing/finishing games.  Jr. Pac-Man, Super Pac-Man, and many other games that were complete or near completion stayed on the back burner to be forgot about.  Many Atari prototypes pay tribute to the Tramiel's way of doing business.  They never really understood the gaming industry or public but they did put out some decent hardware.  I'll give them some credit for that.  Once the Atari we all know and love was sold off and no more these prototypes started showing up.  I never knew of a Crystal Castles on the 7800, have the 2600 version (which is good by the way), and only heard about the 8-bit version, never seen it in person. 

 

I can't wait to see what you dig up.    

[Sabertooth]

I have a few of the "lost" games on cart: Klax, Plutos and Sirius. All are good games and would have made fine additions to the library BITD. I'm still hoping for a Toki release. *fingers crossed*

[CrossBow]

I'm not sure I have anything to add to this thread. But yes, there was a CC version to be made for the 7800 only as has been stated no proto has surfaced. However, the XE version was converted for the 5200 and I actually have a reproduction cart I bought from Good Deal Games at a previous CGE in Vegas. It looks and sounds great, but with stock 5200 controls..just not very playable. And using a Wico or other 3rd party controller doesn't help much.

 

It was also made known that converting the 8-bit or 2600 versions for trak-ball wasn't possible because there isn't enough cycles left for the game to play as it does plus monitor trak-ball motions. So it would essentially have to be remade from the ground up at this point and I'm not sure anyone has picked up that gauntlet.