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Post by VectorX on Jan 5, 2013 21:09:38 GMT -5
Of course, everyone on here knows about the Vectrex port. And the Kickstarter-funded 2600 version just got released: However, did anyone on here know there was a handheld version? I only just ran across it the other day! www.handheldmuseum.com/Tiger/StarCastleLCD.htmCrazy. Couldn't find a YouTube video of it though. So, with the 2600 version just being released, I figured I'd roll all of these into one post then ;D
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 5, 2013 22:39:16 GMT -5
A handheld version? Wow! And there is still another 2600 version being worked on!
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Post by VectorX on Jan 5, 2013 22:55:11 GMT -5
Really? What's going to be the difference(s) between the one that was just released and the upcoming one?
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 5, 2013 23:07:13 GMT -5
Really? What's going to be the difference(s) between the one that was just released and the upcoming one? I believe it was made using more memory. It has different colors and sounds from the one already released. There are demo files posted on AA.
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Post by VectorX on Jan 6, 2013 0:29:49 GMT -5
Are different people making the two versions?
I just want to see how the gameplay is with the handheld version. I imagine some liberties were taken, like making the Star Castle and player's ship bigger. Plus I figure the rings took a different amount of hits to be destroyed/were kind of blocky or something (but you never know).
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 6, 2013 0:31:22 GMT -5
Are different people making the two versions? I just want to see how the gameplay is with the handheld version. I imagine some liberties were taken, like making the Star Castle and player's ship bigger. Plus I figure the rings took a different amount of hits to be destroyed/were kind of blocky or something (but you never know). Yep, two different people. There's a story behind the whole thing.
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 10, 2013 19:46:38 GMT -5
OK, I finally found a video of the other Star Castle for the Atari 2600: youtu.be/JEk7uTkOlo0 (sorry but the forum software refuses to embed the video) Here are some pictures: As you can see, this version has a completely different title screen, different music, a high score board, etc.
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Post by VectorX on Jan 10, 2013 20:48:30 GMT -5
Looks better than the other one too! Great!
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 10, 2013 20:54:35 GMT -5
Looks better than the other one too! Great! Yes it does. A lot of effort has gone into it and there are plans to sell it on the Atari Age store. One of the reasons is does look better (and sounds better also) is that it was written with more memory. The Kickstarter port is based on a prototype cart that someone bought for some $30,000!
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Post by VectorX on Jan 16, 2013 13:37:34 GMT -5
I wonder what Celtroniclabs thinks of these games, by the way?
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 16, 2013 14:25:21 GMT -5
I wonder what Celtroniclabs thinks of these games, by the way? Good question!
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Post by celtroniclabs on Jan 26, 2013 0:50:56 GMT -5
I wonder what Celtroniclabs thinks of these games, by the way? I had seen both of the Atari 2600 Star Castle games when they first appeared on the Internet. I think they are both good efforts considering the limitations of the Atari 2600 system. It is not a good console for vector style games. If you have ever played the Cinematronics arcade game, you can easily see that both of the 2600 games don't quite live up to the original. The larger 32k Atari version, comes the closest of the two. I do not like how the homing mines function on the Scott D. Williamson version. They never attach to and ride the ring segments, or hop from ring to ring. They are not animated either, just look like simple squares. I had been wanting to program a Star Castle game, of my own, for over a decade. I first started preliminary work on one back in early 2008, using Flash. I never got that one to a fully playable game.. In my opinion what I can do on the iPad with iOS is superior to what I was attempting with Flash. I then started and completed Star Cannon last year. I have to say that displaying the wave number, along with the score, and how many ships are left on the screen (in Star Cannon), was inspired by the 32K Atari game. For me personally, I think the best port of Star Castle is one that looks like the original machine, sounds like the original and also PLAYS like the original. Star Cannon achieves high marks, in all three of those areas. It is not 100% faithful, but it is pretty close and I think captures the feel of the arcade machine. Some aspects I intentionally changed, like having 3 sets of moving pulse lines on the Cannon, instead of 2 like the arcade has. I did that because I thought it looked better. I think my game ended up being easier than the arcade in the early "waves". It is also portrait orientation (Vectrex like) and uses a square virtual vector monitor screen. It is also probably the only "home" Star Castle port that has the "ring regeneration" sound effect. None of the machines shown in videos on Youtube, produce the sound, but there were plenty that made it back in the day. I have vivid memories of hearing it. Star Cannon's regeneration sound is close, but not as cool sounding as I remember in the arcades. It was the best I could produce given what I had to work with. My theory on it is as follows. The 1980 produced Star Castle arcade machines did not have the sound effect. I believe it was added to the 1981 production run of Star Castle machines. Yes, Star Castle was produced for 2 model year runs 1980 and 1981. It was THAT popular.. In 81, Cinematronics continued to build Star Castle machines along with Solar Quest and Boxing Bugs. I created my regeneration sound effect from scratch, based on my memory of hearing it in the 80s.. Maybe Tim Skelly could shed some light on exactly when that sound effect was added.. That would be a question I would ask him, if I had the chance. The game's manual (which I own), printed in 1980, makes no mention of it. Which goes along with my theory of it being added later, in 1981, after the manuals had been printed. To produce the sound, my guess, is a machine has to have a soundboard that was manufactured in 1981 and the late Star Castle Version 3 ROM chips (a.k.a the HARD ROMS) installed in it. Any other combination will not produce the sound. Well, there you have it.. And you did ask for it.. My thoughts on Star Castle ports and the undocumented and somewhat mysterious, ring regeneration sound effect. See what happens when you get me going on Star Castle...
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Post by VectorX on Jan 26, 2013 9:16:43 GMT -5
Well, there you have it.. And you did ask for it.. See what happens when you get me going on Star Castle... Hee hee! I know what you mean, the sound effect was pretty good indeed. I don't recall some machines not having the sound effect from back then, but then I'm not as big on Star Castle as you obviously are. I'm guessing you don't have the handheld version though?
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Post by celtroniclabs on Feb 2, 2013 4:27:43 GMT -5
I'm guessing you don't have the handheld version though? No, I have never owned or played that old handheld version..
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