Tempest and Jaguar and Nuon -- Oh My!
Not long ago I purchased a new-in-box Atari Jaguar, complete with Jeff Minter's psychedelic sequel to Tempest, Tempest 2000. It's an amazing game that's been ported to many other platforms, but the consensus is that none are as solid as the Jaguar original. Having played several of the ports, I'd have to agree.
An interesting thing about "the world's first 64-bit console"--it's controller was, as the Brits would say, fairly pants. It was large, sported a calculator-button array for game overlays (like the Intellivision controller), had no shoulder buttons, and featured only a D-pad for directional control. As the arcade original is controlled with a rotary spinner knob, the D-pad falls rather short of providing ideal game control. But, of course, being such a savvy chap, Jeff Minter realized this.
Jeff wrote in support for an analog rotary controller...one that did not exist. Neither Atari nor third party manufacturers produced such a controller in the Jaguar's heyday. Jeff, as I understand it, hacked his own together by wiring an Atari paddle controller into a Jaguar controller. In the years since the Jaguar's passing, a few small operations have offered modified Jaguar controllers with spinners wired into them for purchase. The best one I've seen is the Jaguar ChaosReins Rotary Controller.
A few weeks ago I ordered. It arrived. Gaming ecstasy ensued.
After activating the hidden controller mode in Jaguar 2000 by depressing the magic button combination across two plugged-in controllers, the already-amazing game jumped to a whole new level. My first game on the new controller nearly doubled my previous high score. Hats off to Jeff for doing the right thing and supporting the hypothetical!
But he didn't stop there. Not long after creating T2K for the Jaguar, Jeff found himself working with VM Labs to create software for their in-development "Project X" system. I recall reading about the mysterious and promising Project X in Next Generation magazine back in '96 or so. Well, Project X was released as Nuon, a gaming chipset that took a rather new approach to distribution: it was embedded in various DVD players to add not only gaming capability but also enhanced media capabilities like flexible zoom options, enhanced on-screen menus, visualizations for CD audio, etc. It was finally released in several DVD player models...but no one really seemed to care.
Most Nuon owners were likely unaware that they had access to a rare gaming gemstone--perhaps Jeff Minter's magnum opus: Tempest 3000.
While Tempest 2000 was a rather psychedelic gaming experience, Tempest 3000 is like just way too many 'shrooms. The colors just drip out of the screen, the tubes and walls flex and bend as if floating in a gentle wind, the yak bleats on the level jump caress your senses, and the action is as intense as ever. And, while I've not seen a hacked-up rotary controller for T3K, the analog stick featured on most Nuon controllers is fully supported, offering control far beyond the D-pad.
And, of course, I know all of this becuase, after becoming addicted to the gaming crack that is Tempest 2000 with a rotary controller, I went out and found a Samsung DVD-N501 "Nuon enhanced" DVD player (featuring a 54MHz VLIW Aries 2 processor) on eBay, complete with a three-game bundle including the holy grail itself. And if you're guessing that I've dreamed more than once in the past few weeks that I'm teetering on the edge of a tube, dodging approaching Flippers and Spikers, you'd be correct. The bleeding eyes came as a bit of a surprise, though.
If you aren't prompted to go right out and grab a Jaguar and a Nuon and settle down with lots of chips and Coke, then at least have a look at a few offerings you can try without getting off the couch. Stainless has brought Tempest to the Xbox Live Arcade for 400 MS Points (and they may soon be bringing it to the iPhone--let's hope!). But, perhaps more interestingly, Jeff Minter himself has produced a Tempest-inspired game (that as he reminds players "is not Tempest!") called Space Giraffe. And, though it seemed impossible, Space Giraffe is even more psychedelic than T3K--it's sort of like acid-induced psychosis (that's what happens when our giraffe is in another castle, after all). It's definitely worth the 400 MS Points. And for no charge at all, look at the XBOX 360's music visualizer--it's Jeff's light synth handiwork all the way.
Game on!
Link: http://www.bytecellar.com/archives/000158.php
From: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001153.html
Aliens Vs. Predator Teaser And New Info
When Sega announced Aliens vs. Predator, there was a moment where I thought, "Here we go again?" Outside of the beat 'em up arcade game developed by Capcom, pitting the two species together in video game (and movie) form has been anything but stellar. Sega tapped Rebellion, who responsible for putting the two forces together on the Atari Jaguar back in 1999. Right off the bat this game bears a lot of similarities to that game.
In Aliens vs. Predator Players can play either as a Colonial Marine, Alien, or Predator. Each of the different classes will have their own storyline in the single player game, and can be used online for what has been called "unique 3-way multiplayer". The plot revolves around a colonist mining group who discover Aliens in a pyramid structure, and as you guessed it: all hell breaks loose.
Even though the story sounds like an aside from the first Aliens vs. Predator movie, which certainly wasn't critically acclaimed. It could possibly work in a video game. Sega has posted some details, and a nice teaser on their blog, so if you're hungry for some more info, as well as in-game pics. Mosey on over there.
Aliens vs. Predator won't be coming until sometime in 2010, as more details are revealed about the game, we'll let you know, when we know.
Link: http://blogs.sega.com/europe/2009/05/20/aliens-vs-predator-new-info...
From: http://www.talkxbox.com/article3187.html
Atari Jaguar Commercials
Very cool compilation of Atari Jaguar Commercials!
Link: http://www.rarityguide.com/forums/atari/4068-atari-jaguar-commercia...
‘Chiptune’ artists make music from Game Boys
The graphics may have been horrible and it may have been a hassle to blow on the cartridges when they froze, but the nostalgia of old-school video games will never die. And neither will their epic soundtracks. For chiptune producers, these soundtracks aren’t just fun memories; they’re inspiration.
The tiny but emerging genre of chiptune music uses classic consoles like Atari, NES, and Game Boy to create low-tech 8-bit electronica tunes. Seattle chiptune artists include leeni, whose more melodic pop sound incorporates vocals almost like a female hellogoodbye set to Game Boys, and Fighter X, with a techno feel incorporating breakbeats and some house-style rhythms.
It’s pretty much like doing a DJ set with my Game Boys,” says Nick Walthew of Fighter X.
The genre was biggest in the mid-eighties, when 8-bit music was the easiest kind for amateurs to create on a computer. Now, in spite of leaps in technology, the movement is slowly beginning to develop a following, enabled by programs like LSDJ and Nanoloop put on Game Boy cartridges to operate as a synthesizer.
But the scene isn’t just for gamer geeks. In fact, Walthew says he was drawn more to electronic music in general before diving into chiptune as a genre.
I never really grew up with a Game Boy,” Walthew admits, citing the Scottish artist Sabrepulse as a major influence entering the genre. “I just thought the idea of taking a console and using its hardware to make music was a cool idea.”
Sabrepulse, whom Walthew considers the biggest chiptune artist in the world, and Fighter X will be sharing the stage with San Diego chiptune DJ trash80 and local duo KGHB at Northwest Folklife this weekend.
KGHB, who mainly use the NES console, are well-known for their stage antics and crazy costumes. Naturally, the audience can expect anyone who makes music with gaming systems to play around, throw in a few surprises, and deliver a show unlike anything you’ve seen before.
I think a lot of people will like that,” Walthew says. “There’ll be lots of fist-pumping in the air.
From: http://blog.su-spectator.com/2009/05/chiptune-artists-make-music-fr...
Alan Alda's Adorable Atari Ads
Last week, after his guest-stint as Jack's father on 30 Rock rekindled my Alan Alda obsession, I did some YouTube searches and found these charming Atari ads that Alan did for the gaming system's more practical features back in the early '80s.
From: http://videogum.com/archives/commercials/alan-aldas-adorable-atari-...
Best game advert of all time?
While researching some MTV footage on YouTube today I stumbled across this absolutely fabulous 1982 advert for the Atari 2600 version of Defender and just had to share it with you. I mean, listen to the amazing lyrics. And look at that guy - see how glamorous gaming was back then?
From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2009/may/21/gamecult...
The 2009 Video Game Summit
Remember how much fun you used to have playing Atari, Nintendo and all kinds of games on your computer? Well, you will have the rare opportunity to play these great games again at the Video Game Summit, Chicago*s premier video game trade show. In fact, several dealers in retro games will be on hand offering games, controllers, systems and memorabilia and will be prepared to buy or trade for the games you have held onto since you were a kid. Who knows, you might just have an Atari cartridge worth $1000 or more collecting dust in your attic.
*Retrogaming,* the playing and collecting of classic video games, is more popular than ever, especially due to next generation systems having *classic* game collections such as Intellivision Lives or a download service such as Nintendo Wii*s Shop Channel where you can buy classic games for systems such has Nintendo Entertainment System and Commodore 64. In fact, a dedicated group of programmers still issues new games for retro game systems, such as the Atari 2600, last seen in retail stores over 30 years ago.
The Video Game Summit, now in its sixth year, brings together classic and modern generation gamers from all over the country to swap stories, games, compete in the Atari Jaguar Festival Challenge and the Atari 2600 Challenge Tournaments.
The Atari Jaguar Festival Challenge games will be: Tempest 2000, Alien vs. Predator (as marine), and Gorf Classic. Also if you have an Atari Jaguar and a way to network (Jaglink (1 or 2), Catbox or homemade) and any or all of the three following games: Battlesphere, AirCars, or Doom. Then you can participate in the Atari Jaguar network gathering that will take place two hours before the show closes.
The Atari 2600 Challenge games will be: Phoenix and a two game tournament featuring a hack of Activision*s Keystone Kapers called Laserman 2k3 which debuted in cart form at our 2005 show and a new game that is currently a work in progress and done by scratch using a complier called Batari Basic, and is a port of a game I did originally did on the TI-99/4a called Laserman.
Also, we will have a current world record holder who is also our own tournament promoter, Paul *Zimmzamm* Zimmerman, at the event. At the 2009 Midwest Gaming Classic he got the new *unofficial* world record for Phoenix with a final score of 1,124,779. Since then, at home, he got an *unofficial* world record of 2,344,018.
The 2009 Video Game Summit will be the only place to witness his attempt to beat his two scores and possibly make history as he tries for the 3,000,000 mark.
If you register online will you will be allowed to witness his attempt from the start (2 hours before the show starts!). Plus you will get to see the other challenge games as well plus some others.
You will also have the opportunity to compete in the Video Game Quiz show to test their knowledge of video games.
VGS is open to the public and people of all ages with an interest in video gaming are encouraged to attend. According to the event*s organizer, Dan Iacovelli, *we plan to have gaming consoles set up to play* Best of all, admission to The 2009 Video Game Summit is only 3.00 per person (kids 12 and under with adult is free) tables are only 10.00 each
The Video Game Summit is being held on July 18th, 2009 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. at The Heron Point Convention Center, 665 West North Avenue, Lombard ,IL(adjacent from the Fairfield Inn and Suites hotel).
Link: http://avc.atari-users.net/VGS.html
From: http://www.atari.org/
Announcing PLATARIADA 2009
As usual, this year in June will take place PLATARIADA in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
People who usually come have been sent the e-mail in Q1/2009, all other can still read the information at http://platariada.atari.org .
And the date is 12.June 2009 18:00 till 14.June 2009 12:00.
As usual everyone is welcome, promising sun, internet connection, outside games, night camp fire...
Link: http://platariada.wz.cz/
From: http://www.atari.org/
Menta find Tool Beta released
Menta Find Tool (mfind) is an application to search files through the drives attached to the computer. It uses the UNIX command “find” and “grep” to do the search and to find strings inside the files, so it needs to work that both commands are installed. This application is specially made to be part of an SpareMiNT distribution (EasyMiNT).
Link: http://menta-project.atariforge.net/mfind.html
From: http://www.atari-users.net/
The fnal D-Bug menu disk
On the glorious day of the 21st of May, 2009, otherwise known as Outline 2009, we (the management) have released the long-awaited final D-Bug CD to be issued.
But! Being the sneaky D-Buggers we always were, things are going to be different for this, our final voyage into menu land. Less than 30 disks have been produced, and they have been issued to a few select people via mail and Outline. The image for CD200 will not be hosted online by us for quite a while (if ever). Yes thats right, if you want it you will have to get it the old fashioned way - via the postal service! So eagerly await that jiffy bag hitting the doormat one morning in the future!
We ask that if you do receive one you do not make it available for download anywhere, but that you pass it along to someone via mail.
We will be opening a thread on our forum for you to post images of the parcels you receive (please photoshop your address out!) - on request we can even tell you which of the master copies your copy was reproduced from.
So, what is on CD200 I hear you ask? Well, for starters its a tad larger than our normal 820k disks.... as it is a CD-ROM containing
* CD200 Ninja Remix (F30 Amiga TFMX), Jim Power, Robbo, LethalXS Beta,
Substation - All HD installable and F30 fixed (Except LXSBeta!)
* All D-Bug menus released to date.
* All patches released by us over the last few years, and several new
ones that we have not put online.
* The latest build of ULS3 along with supporting documentation and example
files.
* Content from our website.
To everyone active in the Atari scene - we salute you!
Cyrano Jones / Showaddywaddy / GGN / Melcus / Dubmood
Link: http://www.dbug-automation.co.uk/
From: http://www.dhs.nu/
